Alex Gintz

Taiwan lives under a constant shadow — not of war itself, but of how to live with its possibility. In his latest, Liam Kierans examines how civil defense, media, and daily life intersect in a society preparing for a war that may never come.

📖 Read more: www.theasiacable.com/p/the-art-of...

ICYMI: North Korea has sent 12 million munitions and thousands of troops to Russia, becoming an indispensable part of Moscow’s war effort. Drake Tien writes that this growing dependence could reshape U.S. and allied strategy.

Read more: www.theasiacable.com/p/the-changi...

#NorthKorea #Russia

Examining the Mistrust Between Iran & Pakistan Bound by geography and divided by history, the two Islamic Republics remain uneasy neighbors.

Despite perpetually tense relations, outright hostility between Iran and Pakistan has been rare.

Sapna Suresh examines the state of relations between the two Islamic Republics and the "cold peace" that has constrained the deep mistrust between them.

www.theasiacable.com/p/examining-...

China Confirms 4th Plenum for October With Growth Constraints Front of Mind With weak household demand and strained local finances, China’s long-term growth strategy faces mounting structural pressure ahead of the 15th Five-Year Plan.

#China has confirmed its Fourth Plenum for October — but the agenda breaks with tradition.

By putting economic planning at the center, the Party is signaling that growth stabilization is now its top domestic priority.

✍️ @alexmgintz.bsky.social

www.theasiacable.com/p/china-conf...

From Exile to Endangered: Thaksin's Political Revival on the Verge of Collapse His house of cards is trembling and his dynasty may not survive the fall.

Thaksin’s house of cards is collapsing, and his dynasty might go with it.

Nattan Plewissara breaks down the unraveling of #Thailand’s most controversial political comeback. The Shinawatra family may be facing its most precarious moment yet.

www.theasiacable.com/p/from-exile...

The Last Holdouts: Resistance in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan Armed resistance to the Taliban continues, but its impact remains limited.

Resistance in #Afghanistan persists, but barely.
As James Calderon writes, groups like the NRF and AFF are active, but fragmented and unsupported.

The #Taliban’s biggest threat? Collapse from within.

www.theasiacable.com/p/the-last-h...

Repression Without Arrest: The Invisible Weight of Fear in China China’s quiet war on dissent is more effective — and more exportable — than it looks.

In China, control often looks like silence rather than punishment.

Most dissent doesn’t end in arrest, but in withdrawal: fewer public statements, canceled events, careers quietly redirected. Liam Kierans takes a closer look at self-censorship in China:

www.theasiacable.com/p/repression...

Moving Beyond Ceasefires: Barriers to Peace in Myanmar Despite temporary halts in fighting, deep-rooted ethnic tensions, fragmented resistance, and weak international pressure continue to obstruct any path to lasting peace in Myanmar.

Ceasefires offer brief pauses, but rarely peace.

Myanmar has yet to confront its long history of ethnic suppression. Without reckoning with that past, will any ceasefire hold?

Alexander Stump tackles this question.

www.theasiacable.com/p/beyond-cea...

Why Differences Regarding India & Pakistan Will Not Cause a Major Rift Between Russia & China Despite backing opposing sides in South Asia, Moscow and Beijing remain aligned in their flexible, anti-Western partnership.

Russia backs India. China backs Pakistan. Their partnership endures despite these differences.

Sapna Suresh breaks down how strategic flexibility, not shared regional goals, keeps the Russia–China relationship intact.

www.theasiacable.com/p/why-differ...

A "Golden Year" Built on Sand China and Iran Eye Closer Ties in 2025 — but the Foundation Is Far from Solid

Iran has hailed 2025 as a "golden year" for China-Iran ties. But in reality, this partnership is constrained by conflicting regional interests and symbolic gestures rather than firm commitments.

✍ @alexmgintz.bsky.social

Editing: @raelrm.bsky.social

www.theasiacable.com/p/a-golden-y...

I'm gonna stick my neck out here and say Oscar Piastri will hold his composure and win the #F1 championship this year.

What an evolution we've seen from him and McLaren since 2023.

I would really like to have something to say about the #JapaneseGP and how it played out. But, it barely played out?

Good on Yuki Tsunoda finishing ahead of Liam Lawson. Good on Andrea Kimi Antonelli taking the fastest lap (youngest to do so) and good on the fans staying for the "show"?

Next plz.

Max Verstappen Takes 1st Win of 2025 at the Japanese Grand Prix The win is Verstappen's fourth in a row at Suzuka.

Max Verstappen took his first win of the 2025 #F1 season in Suzuka, his fourth consecutive victory at the circuit.

frontstretch.com/2025/04/06/m...

Yoon Suk Yeol's Impeachment Is Upheld Yoon is formally dismissed from the office of the presidency following a ruling by the Constitutional Court of Korea.

Yoon Suk Yeol has been removed as President of South Korea following a unanimous ruling by the country's Constitutional Court. A presidential election will be held within the next 60 days.

www.theasiacable.com/p/yoon-suk-y...

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment has been upheld by the country's Constitutional Court. He will be officially dismissed from office immediately.

Kind of. I’m not sure about Joe’s experience but a crude explanation would be to say the Great Firewall comes and goes. The only time I’ve ever had an ounce of difficulty accessing a free internet in China was when Chinese New Year was approaching, during which time VPNs become harder to use.

Assessing the Limits of the UAE's China Strategy Increasing Global Tensions Narrow the Window for Strategic Balancing

In an era of renewed great power competition, the UAE 🇦🇪 has pursued deep economic ties with China 🇨🇳 while relying on the West for its security umbrella.

How sustainable is this balancing act?

✍️ Alex Gintz

Editing: Rachael Rhine Milliard and Audrey Scott

www.theasiacable.com/p/limits-uae...

I’ve touched on this once or twice for FS because I likewise don’t care for the Shanghai circuit. Chengdu makes a ton of sense, but travel from coastal to inland China would be a pain. IndyCar also learned the hard way how politics get in the way when they tried to set up in China back in 2012.

Lol sorry I’m late. I’ve touched on this before and the answer is… kinda, but not quite.

There are Grade 2 circuits in Chengdu and Zhuhai, the former opened in 2023 and the latter nearly hosted F1 in 1999. There’s also Grade 2s in Ningbo, Ordos, Tianjin, Zhejiang (my personal pick) and Zhuzhou.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli Climbs to 4th-Place Finish in Australia The Italian rookie turned his weekend around in a big way after a disappointing qualifying performance.

The 5-second time penalty handed to Andrea Kimi Antonelli for an unsafe release has been rescinded, bringing the Italian to a fourth-place result in the Australian Grand Prix.

frontstretch.com/2025/03/16/a...

Lando Norris Wins an Action-Packed, Rain-Soaked Race in Melbourne Norris held off Max Verstappen to win by less than a second.

Lando Norris kept his car in one piece and facing the right way through a chaotic Australian Grand Prix to beat Max Verstappen to the win.

frontstretch.com/2025/03/16/l...

Lewis “Leave Me to It” Hamilton

#F1 | #AustralianGP

I will not accept any responsibility for what happened to Isack Hadjar.

Sense of speed on the T-cams seems to be enhanced this year.

#F1

Zhou woulda put it on pole

I did not have Antonelli and Lawson both out in Q1 on my radar.

#F1 thing after another it seems.

Heh heheheh heheh

a cartoon of spongebob in a bathroom with a bucket and a mirror ALT: a cartoon of spongebob in a bathroom with a bucket and a mirror

Me rn

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Arrested on ICC Warrant Rodrigo Duterte, former President of the Philippines, was arrested on Tuesday (March 11) morning while returning to Manila from a trip to Hong Kong, the Presidential Communications Office has confirme...

Rodrigo Duterte, former President of the Philippines, has been arrested in Manila on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Duterte faces accusations of crimes against humanity related to atrocities committed during his controversial war on drugs.

www.theasiacable.com/p/rodrigo-du...