Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, stated on 28 December 2022 that in order to protect regional security, Taiwan and Japan should work together with other democracies. She also made clear that Taiwan wishes to strengthen security relations and develop ties with Japan when she met with the delegation at the Presidential Office in Taipei.
The President added, “The nation would also engage in closer cooperation with democratic countries such as Japan, the US, and European nations. It wants to serve the common goals of maintaining peace and security and achieving free trade and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region”.

National Defense Plan

Taiwan is considering creating a civilian militia and is required to support its reservist system under the national defense plan. The delegation’s leader, Japanese lawmaker Hiroshige Seko, praised the new defense strategy. Moreover, the new strategy calls for higher spending on the purchase of weaponry. Also, it emphasizes the acquisition of next-generation missile weapons, demonstrating Taiwan’s determination to assume control of its own defense.
Seko asserted that Tokyo has made it clear in its most recent national defense paper that it will not accept unilateral alterations to the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait.
Moreover, the two sides also reviewed Japan’s revision of three crucial national security texts in light of China’s growing threats. This demonstrated Tokyo’s ability to respond to “contingencies” involving Taiwan.

Additionally, Seko emphasized that Japan recently amended its National Security Strategy and made a commitment to considerably raise defense spending. It seeks to increase its military capability, readiness, and ability to react to regional events.
The lawmaker expressed his hope that in the future, “we will further uphold the free and open Indo-Pacific advocated by former Prime Minister Abe, including India, Australia, and other like-minded countries, and do our best to unite and maintain peace and stability in the region.”
According to Seko, Japan listed Taiwan as a “very significant partner” in the strategy paper that was adopted on December 16.

Drones were sent into North Korea’s air space by South Korea on December 26, 2022. After the leadership, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent five unmanned aerial vehicles into its airspace. This led to an unprecedented tit-for-tat military action by South Korea. Drones were exchanged as Kim Jong Un kicked off a significant political meeting to decide on security, economic, and political policy for the upcoming year.

The first drone crossed the border at 10:25 in the morning and returned after traveling for roughly three hours, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. Four more were seen, but they later disappeared off radar. In addition, fighter jets and military helicopters were dispatched by South Korea’s military in response.

In this regard, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea reported that South Korea afterwards sent manned and unmanned reconnaissance assets into North Korea and border regions to perform reconnaissance and take pictures of military installations.

Furthermore, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said the incursion showed the need for South Korea to bolster its defenses. At a cabinet meeting, Yoon underlined, “We were planning to establish a drone unit for surveillance on North Korea’s major military facilities. But with South Korea’s response to North Korea, we will expedite the establishment of the drone unit as much as possible”.

South Korea Military Budget

According to the country’s Defense Ministry, South Korea would spend 560 billion won ($441 million) on improving its drone defenses. According to the country’s recently released budget, until 2027, South Korea plans to spend 331.4 trillion won ($261 billion) on defense, with an average yearly growth of 6.8 percent.
Moreover, President Yoon declared that regardless of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, any provocation by the country must be addressed with immediate action.
However, these actions raise the likelihood of the first significant violent conflict in years. In 2010, Yeonpyeong, a South Korean border island, was heavily bombarded by North Korea.
In 2022, Kim Jong Un launched a record-breaking 70 ballistic missiles, updating his arsenal to make the weapons more easier to hide, quicker to deploy, and harder to knock down. South Korea, on the other hand, has stated that it anticipates Kim will conduct a nuclear bomb test soon.

Introduction

Japan has increased its military power in response to the region’s shifting security dynamics in the twenty-first century. China’s growing diplomatic and military influence in the area, North Korea’s growing nuclear capability, and a resurgent Russia are all posing increasing security concerns to Japan. Japan outlined its plan to increase national security budget and strengthen its military force in response to these challenges.
The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida said, “Unfortunately, in the vicinity of our countries are carrying out activities such as enhancement of nuclear capability. Activities for the rapid military build-up and unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force is also being witnessed”.
To help Japan’s military force strengthen its capabilities, three documents have been released by Japan.

Documents ensuring Japan’s national security

Three documents—the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Buildup Program would serve as the foundation for Japan’s defense strategy and its goals to secure national security.

“Under the concept of a Free and Open-Indo Pacific, it is vital for Japan’s security to collaborate with friends and like-minded countries to ensure peace and stability in the region,” the National Security Strategy states. Over the next five years, it will also influence Japan’s diplomacy, defense, economic security, cyber, technology, and intelligence. Second, the three components of the Self-Defense Force will be shaped by the National Defense Strategy, with a focus on developing counterstrike capabilities and strengthening space and cyber capabilities. Thirdly, arrangements for defense spending will be shown in the Defense Buildup Program. This five-year plan will allocate almost $320 billion for national defense.

Japan’s defence budget

Japan’s Ministry of Defense will reserve a budget for innovation in civilian research and development and spending. On December 23, the Japanese government approved a record 6.8 trillion yen (about 51 billion dollars) defense budget for the coming fiscal year.
The cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida approved a budget at 114.4 trillion yen ($863 billion). This was mainly brought on by an increase in social security costs due to an aging population and an increase in military spending. According to the proposal, Tokyo will purchase US long-range missiles that can destroy enemy launch locations in the event of an assault. It also intends to improve its capacity for cyberwarfare.
Kishida added that by 2027, Japan’s defense spending would account for 2% of GDP.

China’s concern about Japan’s increasing budget

The considerable increase in Japan’s defense spending worries China. They disagree with Japan’s position on national security. Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, encouraged the Japanese side to use caution while speaking and acting in the military and security spheres.
According to Wang, Japan is escalating regional tensions while pursuing military advances. This is viewed as harmful and has caused its Asian neighbors to have serious worries. The international community has also expressed concern over it. They worry that Japan would not follow a policy and course of peaceful development that is solely focused on defense.
Wang stated, “The Japanese side should seriously reflect on its history of aggression. They should speak and act prudently in the military and security fields to not lose further credit with its Asian neighbours and the international community”.

Security threats to Japan

Japan’s national security is under danger due to China’s rapid military modernization and a number of military drills. China is referred to as “the greatest strategic challenge” for Japan in the new national security plan. Japan still views China as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, and continues to engage it in trade based on norms recognized worldwide.
Furthermore, the dangers to Japan’s national security from North Korea’s reckless acts and ongoing nuclear operations are unparalleled. The most significant threat to Japan, according to the national security plan, is North Korea’s aspirations.
Moreover, Japan perceives the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a danger, which has forced several nations, particularly in Europe and East Asia, to strengthen their militaries. Japan and the West worked together to impose sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Near Japan’s borders, the Russian military has increased military exercises.

US-Japan alliance

The US applauded Japan’s action because it will increase regional deterrence. The US Secretary of State also thinks that the agreement shows an important convergence of the goals of the two countries. Japan was referred to as “the indispensable partner” in maintaining global stability by the US Secretary of State. The national security policy is the culmination of “the Abe Doctrine” to secure the nation and a fantastic chance for the US-Japan alliance to effectively solve regional concerns.

Introduction

China has seen phenomenal progress over the last decade more of which is economic and technological. Under President Xi Jingping, the trend of Chinese globalization and China’s interaction with the world market increased manifold. Xi Jingping is not China’s President by any luck, he had a great political skill and thought for this which he is now showing in China’s foreign policy and economic statecraft. It has invested huge in infrastructure and trade in developing states as well as partner states through its Belt and Road Initiative.

Despite the challenges imposed by the US, China continues to grow its economic influence and market as well as in the field of technology. China will become world’s largest economy by 2030 and one of the leader states in the field of technology with an access to a greater world market through President Xi’s initiatives of ‘New Economic Policy’, ‘Made in China 2025’, ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ and many other collaborations with foreign states.
China’s expanding economic influence and President Xi Jingping’s economic aims pursuing strategic goals has gathered the world’s focus towards China’s economic statecraft.

Economic Diplomacy became an integral part of the foreign policy of China since last two decades. The Chinese government re-structured and reformed its international economic policy by bringing an effective and proactive leadership to exercise greater influence in the international sphere. Under President Xi Jingping, these trends have accelerated in the form of more concrete initiatives and the development of a more aggressive economic statecraft . China’s “going out” strategy of encouraging outward investments by Chinese firms was repackaged into the sweeping Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which is now part of the Party’s constitution and is seen as Xi Jingping’s signature foreign policy initiative.

Chinese Globalization and OBOR:

China is advancing in the liberal capitalist order and accepts the free market phenomenon because this continues to bring prosperity for the country. Many developments are made for the promotion of economic liberalism which supports the idea of free market and laisse faire economic policies. One Belt One Road (OBOR) is among the developments made by China to give a boost to economic liberalism. China have shaped its new economic model on the lines of neoliberal ways and OBOR is successfully fulfilling this criterion. China’s prosperity depends on the continuation of the existing order i.e. the liberal capitalist order, which allows it to trade and invest. Similarly, OBOR is a project which is compatible with the existing order and drives trade and investment which ultimately lead towards globalization.

China and the Developing World:

China’s role in the developing countries gained its momentum in the early 21st century. Its economic interests proved to be a driving force for their involvement. This economic drive led China to have a have a grip on its political and strategic interests in these parts of the World. Although Chinese economic interests are global, but it is more active in its neighbor developing countries where its strategic interests are most prominent. China have shown interest in some of the regions of the World which mostly consists the developing countries, namely South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, Middle East and the Latin America.
In its early period of reform and opening, China affirms its identity as the developing country but as the developments progressed in the country it evolved and considers itself as the leader of the developing countries as it continues to assist them and simultaneously trying to fix its image in the global World for greater supremacy.

China’s Technological Progress:

Since past two to three decades’ China is constantly achieving mile stones in almost every field and setting new records of growth. But specifically in case of technology, China has been through a long journey till now by becoming the emerging superpower in technology sector. In recent times it is said that China may be the new global technological leader. China has a great plan to make China a global leader in artificial intelligence by 2030, taking the AI related industry up to 1trillion yuan. China expects the major benefits of AI in military sector as well as digitally planned cities.

Conclusion:

China’s progress under Xi Jingping has been phenomenal and it is successfully on its way to be World’s largest economy, World’s Technological Hub and a Super Power Challenging the US hegemony. Xi’s attitude towards US policies regarding China has been of a political statesman. Clearly China’s authoritarian regime has no danger and its policies of free trade outward and capital control inward has given her unimaginable success. The concerns that we see is what China is now, will it be the same in future? Does the agenda of peaceful economic rise will be the same in future or it will turn strategic? In the field of international relations, there is always room for new possibilities, challenges and threats but as for now China has brought positive sum game with economic progress and prosperity for herself and for its trading partners. What is most important is that other great powers digest this rise and find new cooperative and interactive ways for peace and stability of the world avoiding war and conflict and preserving the universal values so that the nobody will lose and the world will gain.

On 12 December 2022 in Kabul, Afghanistan, a terrorist attack occurred on a hotel building having a majority of Chinese nationals. In this incident, five Chinese nationals were injured and some Afghan security officers were killed. The government of Afghanistan reported that a branch of the ISIS extremist group in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attack.
This incident was of great concern to the Chinese government. Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the terrorist attack and told the Afghan government to take steps to protect Chinese nationals in Afghanistan.

In response to this incident, Wang Wenbin, the Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson, said that the Chinese side considers the terrorist activity unacceptable. Wang emphasised that China vehemently opposes terrorism in all its manifestations. Furthermore, he noted that the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan immediately complained to the Afghan interim administration following the attack. The embassy asked them to take all necessary steps to identify and save Chinese people.
Additionally, the Chinese embassy urged the Afghan side to fully investigate the attack and punish those who are guilty. They also demanded that security measures for Chinese nationals and institutions in Afghanistan be greatly enhanced.
We extend our condolences to the members of the Afghan security forces who lost their lives in this incident, as well as our sympathies to those who were hurt, Wang said. It was also reported that China applauds the Afghan security forces’ prompt response to the attack and their attempts to save Chinese nationals.

In this regard, China pays great attention to Afghanistan’s security situation. They assist Afghan efforts to protect national security and stability, as well as to combat all forms of terrorism and violence.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson asked the Afghan interim government to act quickly to protect Chinese citizens, organisations, and projects in Afghanistan.
Furthermore, the task force of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan also came to the site of the incident. Together with the Afghan side, they carried out rescue operations, provided medical attention, and located housing for the injured.

Introduction

Despite being distant neighbours, China and the Arab states share a long history that dates back about 2,000 years. Relations between China and the Arab states have improved significantly over the past ten years, with collaboration extending into a variety of fields. Relations between China and Arab states will improve following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent official visit to Saudi Arabia for the China-Arab States Summit.
At the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chinese President Xi Jinping went to Saudi Arabia from 7 to 10 December. This visit welcomed the first China-Arab States Summit which was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The China-Arab States Summit was attended by President Xi Jinping and other Arab states. Xi held meetings with representatives of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Palestine, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, and other Arab nations during his visit. China emphasised its support for the autonomous development paths taken by these Arab partners during these discussions, and both China and Arab states expressed their strong belief in international multilateralism.

China-Arab Cooperation

Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Hua Chunying released a report on China-Arab cooperation in the new era prior to the summit. The report considers the summit a historic occasion and mentioned that Beijing will use it as an opportunity to create a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

President Xi Jinping’s Keynote Speech

At this summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech entitled “Carrying Forward the Spirit of China-Arab Friendship and Jointly Building a China-Arab Community with a Shared Future in the New Era”. During the speech, President Xi underlined various topics of discussion including the relationship between the two sides, regional security and stability, cooperation and agreements.
President Xi emphasised that China and Arab countries have had friendly relations for a very long time. As strategic allies, they ought to sustain the spirit of friendship. They should strengthen their ties of solidarity and collaboration and endeavour to forge a more cohesive China-Arab community with a shared future.
Xi also emphasised that China is ready to expand its strategic alliance with Arab countries and safeguard each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity. The importance of cooperation in the trade, infrastructure, and energy sectors was also stressed.
China calls on the international community to respect the rights of the Middle Eastern people, who are sovereign over their own lives.
President Xi also emphasised the need for both parties to encourage the sharing of government experience, reinforce inter-group ties, and boost personnel exchange. He also said that both parties should cooperate to fight Islamophobia, advance deradicalization, and reject the notion that any one racial or religious group is to blame for terrorism.

Eight Major Cooperation Initiatives

During this keynote address, Xi Jinping emphasised that China will collaborate with the Arab side to advance eight significant cooperation measures across a range of sectors. These include youth development, inter-civilizational discourse, food security, public health, green innovation, energy security, and stability and security.
The speech also emphasised that it is unacceptable to keep ignoring the historical wrongs done to the Palestinian people. China, according to Xi, would continue to support the livelihood programmes in Palestine and provide the country with humanitarian aid.

Made In India

Indian policy is to increase its military, air, and naval enhancement along with technological development as a goal towards indigenization and promoting “Made in India”. India has already started exporting its weapons to other Middle Eastern and African states. It also wants to overcome its trade deficit with China and has banned several Chinese company’s access to its market. Moreover, to counter increased Chinese investments, India and Japan have launched Asia-Africa Corridor to facilitate access to African states as far as in the East Asian region.

China-Arab Community

Both countries’ decision to establish a China-Arab community with a common destiny in the new era marked a historic turning point in China-Arab relations during the summit. In this regard, the eight significant ideas for collaboration that President Xi proposed were warmly reiterated by the Arab leaders present at the meeting. The “Outline of the Comprehensive Cooperation Plan Between the People’s Republic of China and Arab States” was also released at the summit.
China and Arab leaders signed a number of cooperative agreements during Xi’s visit to Saudi Arabia that covered energy, infrastructure, banking, education, technology, and other crucial areas. Also, future collaboration between China and Arab states would see fresh waves of prospects with these recently concluded agreements and MOUs.

China as a Reliable Partner

Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the energy minister for Saudi Arabia, said that Saudi Arabia will remain China’s reliable and trustworthy energy partner. President Xi’s state visit to Saudi Arabia will also advance the comprehensive strategic relationship between China and Saudi Arabia. Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud, the governor of Riyadh, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the foreign minister, and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF), all received President Xi Jinping upon his arrival.
The China-Arab States Summit will mark a turning point in the evolution of China-Arab ties. This represents a fundamental shift in the policies of the Arab governments, giving China the power to meet its energy needs. By strengthening its economic and geopolitical relations with one of the largest economies in the world, China, the Arab states will also be assisted in taking advantage of the shifting global order.

Introduction

India sits in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It defines the region as “extending from African littoral to Southeast Asia”. With the world’s geopolitics shifting towards the Indian Ocean, India has also started stretching its maritime muscles in the Indian Ocean. India has considered the Indian Ocean as its traditional sphere of influence and aspires to achieve regional power status. However, the rise of China and its increasing footprints in the Indian Ocean has alarmed India. Beijing’s initiatives and power projection in the region threaten India’s maritime interests and power aspirations. Moreover, India wants the US presence in the region but to a limited point. An increased presence would tarnish India’s status in the region as a ‘net security provider’ and the ‘preferred security partner’. It is also concerned that increased US presence in the region could shrink India’s sphere of influence in the neighbourhood.

Significance of the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean has gained strategic importance as world politics has shifted towards Asia in all aspects. As it connects three continents, the Indian Ocean is a maritime bridge for trade. It connects energy-rich states of the Middle East and North Africa with the consumer and energy-deficient states of East Asia. The region comprises geo-strategically important sea arteries namely, the Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, and the Horn of Africa. These are Sea Lines of Communication, which ensure the smooth functioning of global trade. Politically, the Indian Ocean region has the presence of emerging power and major powers like the USA and China. The importance of this region is immense for the world powers to establish or maintain their global power status at large.

India’s Maritime Power

India has historically been unable to project its power in the Indian Ocean because of economic insufficiency and domestic political division marked by several separatist movements. In recent years, however, India has embarked on the path of economic development and has emerged among the world’s top 10 economic powers. India and China both are the biggest crude oil importers and depend heavily upon the Indian Ocean for trade. India feels threatened by the Chinese developments in the Indian Ocean Region and regards it as the ‘strategic encirclement of India’. To counter Beijing’s influence India has adopted many policies and strategies.

India’s Act East Policy

In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed India’s Look East Policy to Act East Policy. The vision underlying this policy is Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). The SAGAR initiative is part of India’s greater proactive foreign policy. It is a strategic move to protect its national interest in the Indian Ocean Region. Under this policy, India has entered into various regional agreements, multilateral and multilateral agreements. It has become part of various regional forums such as ASEAN, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, Asia Cooperation Dialogue, and Indian Ocean Rim Association. In terms of trade connectivity, India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project are the major initiatives taken by India. Moreover, India has enhanced strategic and economic cooperation with East Asian nations such as Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

Made In India

Indian policy is to increase its military, air, and naval enhancement along with technological development as a goal towards indigenization and promoting “Made in India”. India has already started exporting its weapons to other Middle Eastern and African states. It also wants to overcome its trade deficit with China and has banned several Chinese company’s access to its market. Moreover, to counter increased Chinese investments, India and Japan have launched Asia-Africa Corridor to facilitate access to African states as far as in the East Asian region.

India’s Changing Naval Posture

India has changed its strategic orientation from a ‘brown water navy’ to an expanding ‘blue-water power projection capability. Under this initiative, many new projects are launched to make India a blue-water navy by 2030. Under this policy, India aims to become a Net Security Provider in the Indian Ocean Region.

Indian Defense Involvement in the Indian Ocean

Moreover, under the Made in India Policy, India is also modernizing its navy and is taking several initiatives in the Indian Ocean Region. These include upgrading the Indian Navy, building ports in many island nations in the region, conducting bilateral and multilateral military exercises, building coastal radar networks and strengthening relations with Island nations in the region.

Conclusion

The Indian Ocean is the future of world politics. Since India became the 6th largest country in the globe, bypassing France, it has inevitably started to establish itself in the region. Chinese interest in the region expresses a concern for India. Moreover, considering the geostrategic and geoeconomic significance of the region, the US has been keen to maintain its presence in the Indian Ocean. Previously, it was in the form of Obama’s ‘Pivot to Asia’ or “Rebalancing Strategy” and now it is the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy”. All this has raised security concerns for India. Keeping this in context, India is expanding its maritime power in the Indian Ocean to secure its interest and maintain regional dominance.

On December 9, 2022, a clash broke out between Indian and Chinese forces in the Tawang area of Arunachal Pradesh, a state in far-northeast India that is claimed by China. Since the tragic clashes of June 2020, when Chinese and Indian soldiers fought in hand-to-hand combat in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh, this incident is considered to be the first between the two countries.
The Indian army said on 12 December 2022 that this clash had resulted in injuries, making it the most serious event along their disputed Himalayan frontier since the soldiers from the two major countries were killed and captured in June 2020. They believe that People’s Liberation Army PLA forces approached the border in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian army’s statement further emphasised that local commanders met to discuss the conflict as both parties swiftly evacuated the region.

Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister of India, while addressing the Indian Parliament, accused Chinese troops of entering Indian Territory. He claimed that China is “unilaterally altering the status quo.”
The spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, on the other hand, emphasised that he had no details while responding to India’s charges. He described the border situation as “stable”.

“Through diplomatic and military channels, the two sides have consistently maintained effective communication on border-related matters”, Wang emphasised.
Additionally, the incident resulted in the deaths of twenty Indian and four Chinese soldiers. Tens of thousands of soldiers from both countries were deployed along the Line of Actual Control, supported by artillery, tanks, and fighter jets.
However, China and India, for a long time, have had a variety of conflicting claims along their border, which stretches nearly the entire Himalayan range. During the deadly, high-altitude struggle between the two countries in 1962 over the disputed territories, Arunachal Pradesh was taken over by China before being returned to India. Arunachal Pradesh, according to China, is a part of South Tibet.

Malaysia’s tenth Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, has taken the oath of office. On November 24, 2022, at the palace in Kuala Lumpur, the 75-year-old senior politician took the oath of office in front of King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
After Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition won the most seats in the weekend election, King Sultan Abdullah assumed leadership of the process of selecting a new government. Both PH and the rival conservative Malay-Muslim Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, which had the second-highest number of MPs and was led by former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, started discussions to establish a government.

In order to get their opinions on who should head the new administration, the King met with Anwar, Muhyiddin, and recently elected members of parliament. Anwar was named as the leader following a gathering of the royal houses on November 24 because the monarch believed he had the backing of Malaysia’s 222 members of the parliament.
King Sultan Abdullah urged all politicians to cooperate for the good of the nation, saying that there are “no absolute winners and no absolute losers.” Anwar promised to carry out the responsibilities assigned to him with “utmost humility” following his inauguration. According to the ambitions of the people, “I will carry out this enormous obligation based on the people’s aspirations,” he declared.

Reforms

PH supporters continued to chant “reform” at rallies, hoping for a government that will combat corruption, uphold democratic freedoms, and guarantee the independence of crucial institutions like the legislature and the judiciary.
In response to a potential economic slowdown, Anwar promised supporters that his administration would also reduce the size of the cabinet and lower ministerial pay and benefits.

Votes

A great number of Malaysians were present in the election, according to official results. PH received 5.81 million votes, followed by PN with 4.67 million and BN with 3.43 million.
A constitutional amendment that gave 18-year-olds the right to vote and established automatic voter registration resulted in an expansion of the electoral roll, which made the conclusion even more uncertain.
Beginning in 1971, when he founded the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim began his political career as a student activist. He later led demonstrations against rural poverty and other socioeconomic issues. When Malaysia gained independence in 1957, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which has been in power since then, saw his activism and convinced him to join.
Anwar had a reputation as a charming, ambitious, and reform-minded politician as he advanced swiftly through the ranks to become Finance Minister and deputy Prime Minister.

Bali, Indonesia hosted the Indonesia-Pacific Forum for Development (IPFD) from December 7–8, 2022. Ministers, senior officials, and ambassadors from several nations participated in the IPFD, which was hosted by Indonesia.
Under the banner of “Grow and Prosper Together,” the Participants spoke on how they perceived the Pacific as a region of collaboration and solidarity.
Additionally, they emphasised the significant regional potential and common issues, such as minimising the Covid-19 pandemic’s consequences and hastening the economic recovery following the pandemic. The forum considered how to enhance collaborations for infrastructure development. They concentrated on ways to increase connectivity between people as well as between regions and islands.

Furthermore, it was acknowledged that climate change poses an existential threat to the area right now. The attendees applauded the commitments made at COP27, particularly the decision to fund “loss and damage” for weaker countries. They reiterated the need for technological development in this direction in order to establish a low-carbon economy.
The importance of strengthening ocean preservation measures was also acknowledged by IPFD because the ocean is a significant source of food and livelihood. A coordinated effort to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing was also demanded by the participants.
During an IPFD workshop on disaster management, the Participants stressed the necessity of increasing collaboration in disaster risk reduction.

Participants also considered strategies to strengthen collaborations to promote the area’s digital transformation, particularly by developing affordable, high-quality digital infrastructure and boosting digital literacy and skills.
The representatives stated a desire to increase women’s participation and roles in all areas of society. They held a session on women’s empowerment during IPFD.
The Participants were aware of the connection between education and the potential for independence in the next generation. They emphasised the need for collective action to ensure that everyone has access to education. The IPFD also talked about how to cooperate to combat the growing threats posed by global organised crime and non-traditional security challenges.
However, IPFD emphasises the tremendous opportunity for collaboration between Indonesia and the countries and territories of the Pacific area.
IPFD is a platform for developing partnerships between Indonesia and the countries of the Pacific, with the aim of assisting them in cooperating to create a prosperous, peaceful Indo-Pacific region.