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Quantum security refers to the use and implications of quantum technologies—such as quantum computing, quantum key distribution (QKD), and quantum sensing—to protect information, communications, and critical infrastructure. It emerges from the “second quantum revolution,” which applies the principles of quantum mechanics to practical technological systems with transformative security implications. Peace studies, by contrast, is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the conditions for sustainable peace, conflict prevention, disarmament, and international cooperation, drawing on international relations theory, ethics, and security studies. The convergence of quantum security and peace studies has become increasingly salient as quantum technologies reshape global power structures. While these technologies offer new tools for verification, secure communication, and early warning in peacekeeping and arms control, they also introduce destabilizing risks, including cyber insec...

Political situation: Nepal is in political flux following the September 2025 Gen Z–led protests, which began over a social media ban and evolved into wider demands for accountability and constitutional reform. The unrest exposed weaknesses in the 2015 Constitution, triggered violent clashes, and led to an interim government headed by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. Public trust remains low, with critics accusing the interim leadership of failing to address corruption or prosecute protest-related violence. Politics has opened beyond traditional party elites, with business figures, journalists, influencers, and activists entering the arena, alongside a new party fielding LGBTIQ candidates. However, entrenched corruption scandals—especially involving senior figures like former PM KP Sharma Oli—continue to undermine credibility. International actors, notably India and the United States, are pressing for early elections as a path back to democratic stability. Social situ...

Thailand, a U.S. treaty ally, has significantly increased its procurement of Chinese weapons over the past decade, including VT-4 tanks, VN-1 armored vehicles (with recent 2025–2026 follow-on deals worth ~1 billion baht), FK-3/FN-6 missiles, and the long-delayed S26T (Yuan-class) submarine (contract amended in 2025 for Chinese engines, delivery expected ~2028). Military Reasons - Cost-effectiveness — Chinese systems are 30–50% cheaper than Western equivalents, enabling faster modernization within limited budgets (~1.5% of GDP).   - Quick delivery & fewer restrictions — No stringent end-user agreements or delays common in U.S. sales.   - Diversification — Reduces over-reliance on U.S. hardware (e.g., F-16s) and improves border/maritime capabilities (e.g., amid 2025 Thai-Cambodian tensions). Recent Thai feedback highlights good quality and reliability in many systems. Political Reasons - Hedging & bamboo diplomacy — Balances U.S. alliance with deepe...

China’s ongoing military purge reached a critical point on 24 January 2026 with the announcement that General Zhang Youxia , Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), longtime ally of Xi Jinping , and fellow “princeling,” is under investigation for “grave violations of discipline and law.” At the same time, General Liu Zhenli , Chief of the CMC Joint Staff Department, was also targeted. While the purge has unfolded in waves since 2023—encompassing the Rocket Force scandal, two former defense ministers, He Weidong’s expulsion in October 2025, and multiple senior officers—Zhang’s downfall is unprecedented. He was Xi’s closest military confidant, retained his post beyond retirement age, and was one of the few senior PLA leaders with real combat experience from the 1979 Vietnam border war. Key Drivers Absolute loyalty: Xi is signaling that political reliability outweighs expertise or personal ties. Targeting a trusted “sworn brother” underscores that no on...

In the long-standing territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia, conventional military assessments often focus on troop movements and tactical positions. However, a deeper analysis suggests that the traditional definition of "winning" is obsolete. While Thailand may project military strength, the reality is a "total loss" scenario in which Thailand has sacrificed far more than Cambodia. By evaluating the conflict through the lenses of international law, economic opportunity costs, and national resilience, it becomes clear that Cambodia has emerged as the more strategic and moral victor. The Burden of Illegal Occupation To understand who "wins," we must first define the term. If winning is defined by the physical occupation of land along the borderline, that "victory" is a hollow one. Under modern international law, contested occupation is not an asset; it is a permanent diplomatic and legal burden. The International Court of J...

Internet scamming and Chinese-linked criminal operations—particularly scam centers operating across Southeast Asia—are among the most visible harms associated with China’s outward economic expansion under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, these criminal activities represent only one dimension of a much broader set of negative consequences tied to the initiative. Launched in 2013, the BRI is a vast infrastructure and trade program spanning more than 150 countries. While often promoted as a development engine, it has drawn sustained criticism from institutions such as the World Bank, the Council on Foreign Relations, and numerous independent think tanks for its economic, environmental, social, and geopolitical risks. 1. Debt Sustainability and Economic Vulnerability A central concern is debt distress. Many BRI recipient countries have taken on large, opaque loans for infrastructure projects that generate limited economic returns. In several cases, this has resul...

Cambodia at an Economic Crossroads: Managing a Triple Shock in an Era of Rising Risk Cambodia’s economy—once praised for its rapid post-pandemic rebound—is now under mounting strain from a convergence of global, regional, and domestic pressures. Economist Jayant Menon has described this convergence as a “triple whammy”: external geopolitical shocks, regional disruptions, and deep-seated internal vulnerabilities. By early 2026, these pressures have intensified, growth expectations have been revised downward, and structural risks have sharpened—particularly following the renewed Cambodia–Thailand border conflict. This analysis builds on Menon’s framework while integrating recent economic trends to assess Cambodia’s risks, constraints, and strategic options as it navigates a period of heightened uncertainty. The Triple Shock: Global, Regional, and Domestic Pressures Collide At the global level, Cambodia faces rising protectionism and deteriorating trade conditions. Increased U...

Subject: Current Trends, Evidence-Based Analysis, and Policy Challenges 1. Executive Summary The intersection of drug addiction and youth violence is one of Cambodia’s most pressing social challenges. While official usage statistics among minors remain relatively low, environmental exposure is nearly universal. Substance abuse serves as a primary driver for gang formation and violent crime, yet the national response remains heavily skewed toward punitive enforcement rather than health-based rehabilitation. 2. Prevalence and Environmental Exposure Contemporary data suggests that Cambodian youth live in environments where narcotics are highly visible, creating a "normalization" of drug culture. Awareness vs. Usage: Among youth aged 13–18, 92% report high awareness of illicit drugs, and 80% have witnessed drug use or trafficking within their own communities. Direct Impact: Approximately 4% of youth report being introduced to drugs, with 3% admitting to active use. Re...

One may choose to align with a particular major power for many reasons. But for a small country like Cambodia, our primary motivation has never been to serve as a pawn in the rivalry of great powers. Our goal is simple and fundamental: survival. Any country that criticizes such a choice without understanding our circumstances fails to grasp how the world truly works. Small and powerless nations do not have the luxury of grand strategies or global influence. We do not expect other countries to take our side—Cambodia is far too small to offer the strategic benefits that larger nations can provide. What we hope for instead is fairness: that countries act with a sense of justice when dealing with us. If the international community can approach small nations with fairness and humanity, then even the most vulnerable countries can enjoy a measure of peace, just like everyone else.

A common misconception is that international law begins and ends with the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In reality, the global legal order is a decentralized ecosystem built on state consent, reciprocal interests, and centuries of customary practice. Even in a hypothetical scenario where the ICJ or similar judicial bodies were paralyzed by political deadlock or a lack of enforcement power, the framework of international law would remain not only relevant but essential. 1. The Tripartite Foundation of International Law International law does not derive its authority from a single "supreme court." Instead, as outlined in Article 38 of the ICJ Statute, it is rooted in several independent sources: Treaties and Conventions: These are formal contracts between states (e.g., the UN Charter or the Law of the Sea). Their validity is based on the principle of pacta sunt servanda (agreements must be kept), which binds states regardless of whether a court is active. Cu...

Structural reform has become one of the most discussed—and most misunderstood—topics in Cambodia today. I do not intend to debate specific policy positions or promote any particular reform agenda. Instead, I offer a reflection drawn from experience—one that may be relevant to the current national conversation. My central argument is simple: structural reform cannot rely on good ideas alone . It must also be practical, context-sensitive, and correctly timed . Without these elements, even the most morally appealing theories can produce damaging and unintended consequences. When Good Theory Fails in Practice In the early 1990s, I made a mistake that continues to shape how I think about reform. I helped establish a development NGO inspired by a widely respected theory at the time: “putting the last first.” The idea was to prioritize assistance for the poorest families in a community. Many international donors strongly supported this approach, and on paper it appeared ethic...

Short answer: China does not oppose Gen Z as people; it opposes what Gen Z–led movements represent politically —unpredictability, horizontal organizing, and challenges to centralized control. Autocracy, by contrast, offers predictability. Here’s the logic, clearly and directly. 1. China prioritizes stability over legitimacy China’s foreign policy is built on one overriding principle: regime stability . Autocratic governments can guarantee contracts , protect infrastructure, and suppress unrest. Gen Z movements tend to demand systemic change , transparency, and accountability—all of which introduce uncertainty. From Beijing’s perspective, a stable autocrat is safer than a popular uprising , even if the uprising is morally justified. 2. Gen Z movements threaten China’s own system China is governed by a one-party authoritarian model. Supporting youth-led democratic revolutions abroad would: Legitimize similar movements inside China Undermine the CCP’s claim that...

Thailand’s tilt toward China is less a sudden “switch” and more a pragmatic recalibration shaped by politics, security needs, and regional realities. Several factors come together: 1. Fallout from the 2014 military coup After the 2014 coup, the United States downgraded relations , suspended some military assistance, and publicly criticized Thailand’s political direction. For Bangkok—especially the military—this was read as conditional and unreliable support . China, by contrast, did not criticize the coup and continued engagement without political conditions. That made Beijing an attractive alternative partner. 2. Defense diversification and fewer strings attached Thailand deliberately moved to diversify its arms suppliers : Chinese weapons were cheaper, delivered faster , and came with no democracy or human-rights conditions . This suited a military-led or military-influenced government. Cooperation expanded beyond purchases into joint exercises, training, and a...

ការវិនិយោគបរទេសជាឧបករណ៍ការពារជាតិរបស់ប្រទេសតូច នៅពេលនិយាយអំពីការការពារជាតិ មនុស្សភាគច្រើនតែងតែគិតដល់ទាហាន រថក្រោះ ឬយន្តហោះយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រ។ ប៉ុន្តែសម្រាប់ប្រទេសតូចៗ កម្លាំងយោធាតែមួយគត់មិនគ្រប់គ្រាន់ដើម្បីធានាសុវត្ថិភាពជាតិឡើយ។ ដោយហេតុនេះ ប្រទេសតូចជាច្រើនបានជ្រើសរើសយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រមួយផ្សេងទៀតដែលស្ងប់ស្ងាត់ និងមើលមិនឃើញច្បាស់ គឺការប្រើសេដ្ឋកិច្ចជាឧបករណ៍ការពារ។ ក្នុងទំនាក់ទំនងអន្តរជាតិ វាត្រូវបានហៅថា «ការទប់ស្កាត់តាមសេដ្ឋកិច្ច»។ ឧទាហរណ៍ល្បីមួយគឺ «Silicon Shield» របស់តៃវ៉ាន់ ដែលធ្វើឲ្យការប៉ះទង្គិចក្លាយជារឿងថ្លៃថ្នូរខ្លាំងសម្រាប់ពិភពលោកទាំងមូល។ គោលការណ៍មូលដ្ឋានគឺសាមញ្ញ៖ ប្រសិនបើប្រទេសមួយក្លាយជាអ្វីដែលពិភពលោកមិនអាចខ្វះបាន ការវាយប្រហារលើប្រទេសនោះនឹងបង្កការខូចខាតមិនត្រឹមតែចំពោះប្រទេសគោលដៅប៉ុណ្ណោះទេ ប៉ុន្តែថែមទាំងប៉ះពាល់ដល់អំណាចធំៗទូទាំងពិភពលោកផងដែរ។ បម្លែងការវិនិយោគឲ្យក្លាយជាការការពារ ការវិនិយោគបរទេសទំហំធំអាចដើរតួជាប្រព័ន្ធការពារដោយមិនប្រើអាវុធ តាមរយៈមធ្យោបាយសំខាន់ៗជាច្រើន។ ១. ចំណាប់អារម្មណ៍រួម បង្កើតសុវត្ថិភាពរួម នៅពេលអំណាចធំៗវិនិយោគប្រាក់រាប់ពាន់លានដុល្លារនៅក្នុងប្រទេសតូចមួយ ដូចជា...

An Urgent and Heartfelt Appeal to the Royal Government of Cambodia From a Concerned Citizen of the Kingdom Phnom Penh, December 27, 2025 Your Excellency Prime Minister Hun Manet,   Honourable Members of the Royal Government,   Brave Commanders and Soldiers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces,   And all fellow Khmer people, Today, our beloved Cambodia stands at a crossroads of profound pain and historic opportunity. The recent fierce clashes along our border with Thailand—beginning in July and tragically reignited in December—have brought immense suffering to our nation. Our brave soldiers have sacrificed their flesh and blood, defending our sacred soil with unwavering courage. Families mourn their fallen heroes, while hundreds of thousands of our innocent civilians flee their homes, carrying only the clothes on their backs and the hope that peace will soon return. We cannot let their sacrifices be in vain. We cannot allow the blood of our patrio...

The world urgently needs an international legal framework requiring thorough background checks before any nation or military force can purchase powerful weapons systems — such as fighter jets, missiles, attack drones, or other major conventional arms. Even in strongly pro-gun countries like the United States, civilians cannot purchase firearms without background checks designed to prevent dangerous individuals from acquiring them. Yet when it comes to entire armies or governments — some of which have documented poor human rights records, ongoing war crimes, ethnic cleansing, or severe ethical violations — For example the Thai army, there is often no equivalent mandatory, transparent, and binding screening process before they are allowed to acquire weapons capable of causing mass casualties and widespread destruction. If we recognize the need to screen individuals to prevent small-scale violence, it is only logical — and morally necessary — to demand rigorous scrutiny of sta...

The well-known saying "with great power comes great responsibility" reminds us that anyone — or any institution — with significant strength should use it carefully, accountably, and in ways that respect others' rights and international rules. Thailand stands out in Southeast Asia for its long history of military involvement in politics. Since the country shifted from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in 1932, it has experienced around 12–13 successful military coups (more than any other nation in modern times), plus several attempted ones. The most recent major one was in 2014, when the army took control after months of protests. This pattern has led to repeated periods where the military directly ruled or heavily influenced civilian governments, often suspending parts of the constitution and limiting freedoms. International groups like Human Rights Watch have documented ongoing concerns, including: - Reports of torture and abuse of military conscri...

The Contentious Peace Theory proposes that durable peace between neighboring states—particularly in regions affected by border disputes, territorial tensions, and recurring bilateral crises—cannot be secured through diplomacy and economic integration alone. Instead, it argues for an innovative political mechanism that directly aligns the electoral incentives of governments with the lived interests of cross-border populations. While this approach challenges conventional understandings of national sovereignty, it targets one of the central drivers of interstate conflict: political leadership that benefits domestically from nationalism, even when such policies impose severe costs on ordinary people. Rather than treating peace as a fragile outcome maintained by elite agreements, the theory reframes peace as a participatory system in which citizens affected by cross-border policies gain meaningful influence over the governments shaping those policies. CORE PROPOSITION In regi...

Abstract Peacebuilding scholarship has historically concentrated on intra-state conflict, privileging frameworks that emphasize reconciliation, institutional reform, and social cohesion. While these approaches have proven effective in post–civil war environments, they remain insufficient for addressing contemporary interstate conflicts characterized by power asymmetry and weak enforcement of international norms. This article argues that the degradation of multilateral institutions—particularly the United Nations—has exacerbated conditions in which powerful states increasingly abuse weaker states with limited accountability. The article calls for a reorientation of peacebuilding theory to address interstate aggression in an era of declining global governance. Introduction Peacebuilding theory has evolved largely in response to intra-state conflicts, especially those emerging in the post–Cold War era. Civil wars, identity-based violence, and post-authoritarian transitio...