Indo-Pacific 5x5: July 10th 2025
The Indo-Pacific, the EU & disinformation - China and global standards - India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor - Indonesia's middle class over time - the Quad group's recent moves
Building Bridges: Euro-Indo-Pacific Cooperation for resilient FIMI Strategies
Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
"At the bilateral level, there are multiple noticeable examples of cooperation. Among these, the EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership of 2023 laid the groundwork for a closer security partnership, including in disinformation and information manipulation. Both sides share concerns over state-sponsored FIMI [Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference] activities and are exploring joint responses, though operational initiatives remain nascent. Similar nascent efforts have been undertaken with other actors in the region. For example, India and the EU have completed their eight India-EU Cyber Dialogue, a set of fora where issues concerning the cyberspace – including FIMI – are discussed by both parts. Although the cooperation is still at an early stage, there is potential for further expansion of such collaboration. In comparison, more structured cooperation frameworks have been established between the EU and South Korea. The 2023 ROK’s summit with the EU elevated security cooperation to include countering disinformation alongside cyber defence. Regular EU-ROK strategic dialogues are being set up, signalling closer coordination against FIMI. However, concrete joint programmes are still underdeveloped."
"More broadly, the EU engages ASEAN on information integrity through capacity building and human rights frameworks. In January 2024, the ASEAN human rights body, AICHR, and the EU held a joint Disinformation and Misinformation Dialogue to share best practices, know-how and foster a common understanding. The EU supported programmes like the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI) to facilitate such exchanges. At the same time, the consensus-based approach within the ASEAN and its varying political will with regards to FIMI could hinder any deeper and structural cooperation. "
https://hcss.nl/report/building-bridges-euro-indo-pacific-cooperation-resilient-fimi-strategies/
Standardisation with Chinese Characteristics?
Clingendael, Netherlands Institute of International Relations
"Standardisation is emerging as a strategic battleground in global technological competition. Once confined to the realm of technical experts and engineers, standard-setting now plays a central role in shaping industrial ecosystems, global trade, interoperability, innovation flows and dependencies embedded in digital infrastructures and applications, ranging from 5G to AI chips and from steel quality to digital public passports. As the geopolitical dimension of technology becomes more pronounced, the ability to influence standards is a key driver to competitiveness and sovereignty."
"The active role of the government in China’s standardisation approach is evident in the multitude of state bodies involved in the process. The Standardisation Administration of China (SAC), operating under the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the State Council, primarily sets overall strategies and oversees China’s standardisation efforts. SAC is responsible for strategic coordination, project approval and represents China in the ISO and IEC. In the ITU, China is represented by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). National and sector standards are developed by Technical Committees (TCs), composed of experts from both the public and private sectors. TCs report to their corresponding ministries, on a sector basis."
https://www.clingendael.org/publication/standardisation-chinese-characteristics
Can India's IMEC trade corridor vision become a reality?
"IMEC isn’t just another infrastructure project; it’s a multi-billion-dollar gamble. While $20 billion has been pledged, mostly by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the EU is yet to roll out a solid investment plan. And considering each section of the corridor could cost about $3 to $8 billion, funding gaps remain a major concern."
"There’s also the cost of logistics. Nearly 40% of IMEC’s route is rail, and rail freight is three times costlier than ocean freight. Add the constant loading, unloading, and reloading of cargo between ships and trains, and costs could quickly spiral."
"China has mocked IMEC as a 'knockoff' of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) route. And it has reasons to be smug. China produces 3 million shipping containers a year, while India barely makes 20,000 to 30,000. So, if China decides to restrict container supply to India, it could slow IMEC’s rollout. And something more concerning here is Haifa, the crucial Israeli port on IMEC’s route. The catch? Two parties - Adani Group and a Chinese company called SIPG - run it. And that gives China significant leverage over the corridor's operations as well."
https://finshots.in/archive/can-indias-imec-trade-corridor-vision-become-a-reality/
Growing or Shrinking? How Indonesia's Middle Class is Really Doing
"Indonesia’s middle class is the backbone of its economy whose growth relies mostly on household consumption. The middle class accounted for 38.3 per cent of total household consumption in 2024. They also pay a significant share of all indirect tax revenues and help create jobs as business owners. There has, however, been some debate about whether Indonesia’s middle class is shrinking or growing. It is important to get the narrative right."
"Relatedly, financial savings are also drawn down. The monthly growth of third-party funds in savings accounts under IDR100 million has steadily declined since January 2018, from 8.5 per cent to below five per cent in January 2024. The average balance per savings account below IDR100 million dropped by 40 per cent between 2019 and 2024."
"The middle class generally relies on holding good and secure jobs to afford middle class lifestyles, as a World Bank jobs report shows. But the quality of jobs has been deteriorating with the informality rate increasing from 49.5 per cent in 2018 to 51.5 per cent in 2023 (Figure 2), and underemployment increasing from 28.8 per cent in 2018 to 31.0 per cent in 2023."
https://fulcrum.sg/growing-or-shrinking-how-indonesias-middle-class-is-really-doing/
A Streamlined Agenda as Quad Cooperation Continues
"Over the past several months, to little notice, the Quad has been continuing to cooperate in a variety of ways. The four countries’ activities include a joint sail by the four countries’ Coast Guards to Guam, a simulation to leverage each other’s logistics for humanitarian assistance, the sale of sensors to India for the Quad's maritime initiatives, a workshop on pandemic preparedness, and coordinating humanitarian assistance with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the earthquake in Myanmar. The Quad was also highlighted in the United States’ joint statements with India and Japan in February 2025. These statements mentioned priorities such as delivering infrastructure investments, deploying telecommunication networks, and conducting joint maritime patrols in the Indo-Pacific region."
https://orfamerica.org/orf-america-comments/streamlined-agenda-quad-cooperation
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Disclaimer: Headlines, and content selections, presented here are taken directly from the referenced articles and online platforms, and do not reflect any personal value judgment, statement or opinion. I make no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or truthfulness of the content of these articles. All news and information presented should be carefully scrutinized, considering the credibility of each source, the documented or discernible facts, the statements presented, and the strength of supporting evidence. Readers should form their own conclusions through the application of informed critical analysis. In detail >