Muhammad Faizal

12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum: Reflections on China’s Strategic Messaging The 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum was portrayed by the Chinese media and experts as a platform for promoting solutions to international security issues.

𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗷𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗫𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺: 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴

The 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum was portrayed by the Chinese media and experts as a platform for promoting solutions to international security issues.

By Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman

moderndiplomacy.eu/2025/10/12/1...

Indonesia ready to facilitate closer ties between N. Korea and ASEAN Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono has expressed Indonesia’s readiness to facilitate closer engagement between North Korea and the Association of ...

“Minister Sugiono reaffirmed Indonesia’s readiness to facilitate closer engagement between the DPRK and ASEAN, including through the DPRK’s enhanced participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF),”
en.antaranews.com/news/385609/...

“Although the government saw from the early hours of the night that the drone attack was coming from Russia, false claims that Ukraine sent the drones to start war, flooded Polish cyberspace…”

Poland says cyberattacks on critical infrastructure rising, blames Russia WARSAW - Poland's critical infrastructure has been subject to a growing number of cyberattacks by Russia, whose military intelligence, has trebled its resources for such action against Poland this yea...

“Along with the Russian drone attack on September 10, there was a correlated cyberattack on Poland, the largest since 2022, when the war broke out in Ukraine…”

www.straitstimes.com/world/europe...

Philippines and Japan signal defence pact’s depth via aid to quake-hit Cebu The humanitarian mission is partly aimed at addressing regional concerns over the pact’s objectives, analysts say.

Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman, a research fellow at Singapore’s @RSIS_NTU, said the joint deployment of troops for humanitarian mission could help alleviate tensions arising from the dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea.

www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...?

US Senate confirms Dr Anjani Sinha as new ambassador to Singapore Dr Anjani Sinha is a surgeon specialising in orthopaedics and sports medicine.

Dr Sinha is a surgeon on the East Coast specialising in orthopaedics and sports medicine.
www.channelnewsasia.com/world/anjani...

And growing importance of defence diplomacy amid rising risks of military conflicts.

Elaborated on the purpose of ASEAN Community Vision 2045 as a framework for the region to face these challenges.

Lastly, highlighted the risks that U.S. tariff war pose on stability of countries globally, including ASEAN countries.

Covering intra-regional issues and global issues (Major power rivalry, Ukraine-Russia & Middle conflicts, cyber & info warfare, tech) with impact on stability and economic security of ASEAN.

At the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, I gave a wide-ranging interview to Southern Weekend.

infzm.com/wap/#/content/…
nvan alil

Singapore urges UN to curb Security Council vetoes and reform for greater inclusivity "We need a more representative and a more inclusive UN that reflects current realities," says Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

“The increasing, and if I may add, cynical use of vetoes by the P5 must be constrained,” said Dr Balakrishnan, adding that the wider UN membership must reach an agreement on how this veto is exercised in the future.

www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/vi...

Keynote address by China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun at the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

Wiring the Domains – Episode 22: Muhammad Faizal on How as Cyber Threats Grow, Singapore Walks a Careful Line on Identifying State Actors

Catch my latest RSIS | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies podcast that discusses the intersection of geopolitics and cybersecurity.

open.spotify.com/episode/3fmf...

Agree. Everything is justifiable to them

This incident also suggests that alliance/partnership with the US - albeit necessary strategically - may not protect a state from conventional military threats from an aggressor.

Israel military says it targeted Hamas leaders, after blasts rock Doha Isarel's military said the "precise strike" targeted senior Hamas leadership, without specifying where the strike took place.

Israel launched attack on the capital of Qatar.
International law and principle of state sovereignty means little or nothing to powerful states.

www.channelnewsasia.com/world/israel...

What became of ASEAN’s military hotline in the Cambodia-Thailand Conflict? Military hotlines are a crucial confidence-building and security measure in international politics, although there is no guarantee that they will always function effectively.

My latest analysis on ASEAN regional security and Cambodia-Thailand conflict. Published by @FACTSAsiaOrg
www.factsasia.org/blog/what-be...

Why homeward shift by Pentagon may signal US decline in ‘bad news’ for Taiwan US Defence department officials have reportedly called for prioritising domestic and regional threats over countering China.

- My brief analysis in this news article by @SCMPNews

Why homeward shift by Pentagon may signal US decline in ‘bad news’ for Taiwan
www.scmp.com/news/china/m...?

@kxachen.bsky.social

Commentary: Donald Trump wants more than gifts and flattery from US partners The different treatment of South Korea and India underlines a troubling reality about how to win the US president’s favour, says Kevin Chen from S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Good piece by @Kevin Chen.

“Gifts and flattery can help to buy Mr Trump’s favour, but what he really wants is for countries to meet all his demands. Anything less than complete capitulation could trigger a furious reaction.”

www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/s...

Research Fellow Muhammad Faizal, @RSIS_NTU | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies moderated the session on “New Disruptive Technologies and Security Challenges: AI, Blockchain, and Cyber” at the Thailand Security Dialogue 2025 (TSD).

youtube.com/live/vKkTVXRMR…

Happy Independence Day to colleagues and contacts from Vietnam 🇻🇳

IP25084 | AI in Defence: The Way Forward for ASEAN’s ADMM Cooperation SYNOPSIS The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat in February 2025 adopted the joint statement on Cooperation in the Field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Defence Sector. As the 19th...

The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat in February 2025 adopted the joint statement on Cooperation in the Field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Defence Sector.
By Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman

rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publica...

Denmark summons US envoy over ‘outside attempts to influence’ in Greenland This followed reports that US citizens have been conducting influence operations in Greenland. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

www.straitstimes.com/world/europe...

Trump suggests many Americans ‘like a dictator’ [WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump on Monday suggested many Americans would like a dictator as he signed orders to tighten his federal clampdown on the capital Washington and to prosecute flag-bur...

Trump suggests many Americans ‘like a dictator’
www.businesstimes.com.sg/internationa...

In Trump’s second term, far-right agenda enters the mainstream President Trump's administration has also hired several people with a history of making racist or antisemitic remarks. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

All of these developments have taken place as the official X account for Mr Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has posted some messages with thinly veiled white nationalist content.
www.straitstimes.com/world/united...

Philippines reports surge in Chinese ships after ‘embarrassing’ collision Analysts are divided over the motive, with some calling it an ‘image repair manoeuvre’ while others point to regional military drills.

My brief analysis on the situation after the collision, in this @SCMPNews article.

“Philippines reports surge in Chinese ships after ‘embarrassing’ collision”
www.scmp.com/week-asia/po...?

Happy 80th Independence Day to my friends and contacts from Indonesia 🇮🇩

Coming from the U.S. President, this may be significant. In short, powerful states could seize territory and displace people because they can.

A dangerous precedent for international order and small states?

The Straits Times - Breaking news, Singapore news, Asia and world news & multimedia The Straits Times - Get latest breaking news, business, sports, lifestyle, tech & multimedia and more news in Singapore, Asia & rest of the world at straitstimes.com.

President Donald Trump … said that Kyiv should make a deal with Moscow because "Russia is a very big power, and they're not."

www.straitstimes.com/world/europe...