... noted during the first half of 2018 vis-à-vis 87 throughout 2017. The 2018 tally included 32 cases in Southeast Asian waters and 48 along African shores — representing 75% of the total. To put this figure into perspective, Asian behemoths India and China — despite their vast shorelines — recorded only 2 cases of piracy each during the study period. Russia had none. In terms of hostages taken, the IMB tally read 102 in H1 2018 vs 63 in H1 2017.
Piracy adds to shipping and retail costs worldwide ...
Working Paper No. 44 / 2018
The Working Paper focuses on possible impacts of related technologies, such as machine learning and autonomous vehicles, on international relations and society. The authors also examine the ethical and legal aspects of the use of AI technologies. The present Working Paper of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) includes analytical materials prepared by experts in the field of artificial intelligence, machine learning and autonomous system, as well as by lawyers...
... missile defence system may be turned from a defensive weapon (against Iran) into an offensive one (against Russia).
Other Nuclear Powers and the Future of the INF Treaty
Other official nuclear powers could play a positive role in the current crisis. China is a very important component of the equation: on the one hand, it is has the largest number of missile systems, both nuclear and conventional, which may be covered by the INF Treaty definitions; the United States
estimates
that up to 95 per cent ...
... Agreement
By withdrawing from the INF treaty, the U.S. is giving itself free rein not only in Europe but also in Asia. Beijing is likely to feel the impact of the U.S’s decision. Sooner or later, the Pentagon may start expanding its arsenal for deterring China to ensure that it maintains “escalation dominance.” Intermediate-range systems could play a significant role toward this end if U.S. allies in the region agree to host them.
Global security will also lose out. The nuclear nonproliferation regime,...
On June 14–15, 2018, Beijing hosted a regular 7th World Peace Forum, one of the most representative and authoritative events on the international security issues and strategic stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The Forum is traditionally organized by Tsinghua University and Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA).
On June 14–15, 2018, Beijing hosted a regular ...
RIAC and CASS Policy Brief #17 / 2018
The period of 2017–2018 marks the beginning of a new political cycle in the internal development of both the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China. The starting points for this cycle were the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that took place in October 2017 and the victory of Vladimir Putin in the Russian presidential election held on March 18, 2018. The National ...
The SCO will be able to claim the status of not only the largest, but also the most influential union in Eurasia
The G7 summit in Quebec (Canada) and the SCO summit in Qingdao (China) took place at almost exactly the same time and once again clearly demonstrated the ever growing multipolarity of global and trans-regional development. However, while the Group of Seven meeting took a step backwards of sorts – or, put simply,...
... security challenges in Northeast Asia. The nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula remains the most pressing among these. Despite the recent positive developments, its long term solution remains far from guaranteed. The task of accommodating the growing China’s influence is another challenge to be dealt with by the three powers.
The global context of deteriorating relations between Russia, on the one hand, and the U.S. and its Western allies, on the other, further complicates the situation in the region....
... context of the weakening role for the United States. For example, it was stated that the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA does not automatically mean that the international agreements will disintegrate. Chinese experts underscored the important role of China in the development of the Middle East economies. In addition, the experts discussed the role of Russia and China in the post-conflict reconstruction in Syria, the opportunities to create industry in Syria and Iraq in situation of sanctions.
Representatives ...
... application of precision munitions. This trend calls for reappraising space-based equipment as a possible destabilizing factor, given the direction in which technology is evolving.
Research into the militarization and weaponization of space as a threat to international security specifically focuses on conventional anti-satellite weapons. The test conducted by China in January 2007, and America’s response in February 2008, can also be described as conventional, but there are reasons to believe that the technologies used in both instances will no longer define the future of anti-satellite weapons. The reason: ...
