博客

Bangladesh has formally commenced campaign activities for its landmark February 12 parliamentary elections, marking the nation’s first electoral process since the 2024 uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina’s prolonged authoritarian rule. The South Asian nation of 170 million people stands at a critical juncture, with these elections poised to reshape both domestic governance and regional power dynamics following extended political instability.

The electoral atmosphere remains charged with both anticipation and apprehension. Recent security concerns include the murder of a student leader involved in the anti-Hasina protests last month, while authorities have issued warnings about coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting the electoral process. European Union observers have designated these elections as the “most significant democratic exercise of 2026.”

Political mobilization has reached unprecedented scales, with mass rallies expected to draw hundreds of thousands of supporters. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, has initiated its campaign from the northeastern city of Sylhet. Rahman, who returned from 17 years of exile in December, assumed party leadership following the death of his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

The campaign traditionally begins in Sylhet, home to the centuries-old Sufi shrine of Shah Jalal, despite Jamaat-e-Islami’s ideological opposition to Sufi interpretations of Islam. This Islamist party instead launched its campaign from Dhaka, led by Shafiqur Rahman. The National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by student leaders of the uprising and now allied with Jamaat-e-Islami, similarly commenced its activities in the capital.

Overseeing the transition is Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate who returned from exile in August 2024 to lead a caretaker government as “chief adviser.” Yunus describes inheriting a “completely broken” political system and has championed constitutional reforms aimed at preventing a return to authoritarianism. A referendum on these reforms will occur concurrently with the elections, proposing strengthened checks and balances among government branches.

Yunus has expressed particular concern about the impact of disinformation on the electoral process, noting that social media platforms face coordinated attacks spreading false information from both foreign and domestic sources. Meanwhile, regional relations have shifted significantly, with neighboring India providing refuge to the deposed Sheikh Hasina, who received a death sentence in absentia for crimes against humanity during her crackdown on protesters.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, foreign policy experts articulated a significant evolution in US-China relations, noting both nations are transitioning toward pragmatic risk management frameworks despite persistent strategic competition. The panel discussion “US and China: Where Will They Land?” featured prominent analysts who emphasized that bilateral relations in 2026 will be characterized by mutual deterrence and stabilized through enhanced communication channels rather than seeking permanent resolution to fundamental disagreements.

Harvard Professor Graham Allison, renowned for his work on the “Thucydides Trap,” cautioned against interpreting temporary easing of tensions as permanent settlement. “A landing point, as if we had a permanent place to land, is not likely,” Allison stated, noting that mutual deterrence—where both nations recognize their capacity to inflict significant harm on each other—creates a stabilizing effect on the relationship.

Allison emphasized the critical importance of establishing multi-level technical communication networks between the two powers, citing the Sullivan-Wang diplomatic channel as a model for preventing misunderstandings from escalating into crises. He also observed that Washington increasingly acknowledges China as a “full-scale economic peer,” representing a more realistic assessment of bilateral dynamics.

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, now serving as Ambassador to the United States, framed the central challenge as developing practical mechanisms for “managed strategic competition” rather than seeking definitive endpoints. Rudd identified three critical arenas—tariffs, technology, and Taiwan—that will determine the trajectory of US-China relations and their impact on global stability.

University of Southern California law professor Angela Zhang Huyue expressed measured optimism, citing three factors contributing to potential stability: Washington’s recognition that containment strategies have accelerated rather than hindered China’s technological advancement, clearer understanding of mutual vulnerabilities following economic tensions, and both nations’ shared interest in avoiding instability.

US Senator Christopher Coons noted bipartisan support for “clear-eyed engagement” with China while highlighting artificial intelligence as the most pressing bilateral issue. He cautioned that military communication channels remain insufficient to prevent accidental escalation.

Chinese scholar Zhao Hai of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences challenged the “tech war” narrative, advocating instead for cooperative AI regulation frameworks. “AI is not a zero-sum contest but a shared challenge,” Zhao asserted, warning that technological advances could threaten humanity’s collective security without bilateral governance mechanisms.

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was briefly hospitalized for a stress-induced abdominal condition this week, though the leader quickly returned to official duties while downplaying concerns about his health. The 68-year-old president attributed his medical episode to the pressures of governance and aging in a video statement released Thursday.

Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed that Marcos underwent medical observation before being discharged to resume his schedule, including two private meetings. Appearing in good spirits wearing a white office shirt, the president assured the public: “I’m fine. I’m feeling very, very different from the way I was feeling before, but the problem has been fixed.”

The chief executive disclosed he had been diagnosed with diverticulitis, describing it as “a common complaint amongst, apparently people who are heavily stressed and people who are, I have to admit, growing old.” This inflammatory condition affects small pouches in the digestive tract, typically causing abdominal pain, fever, and digestive disturbances.

When questioned about political opponents who might capitalize on his health situation, Marcos responded with characteristic humor: “Don’t get too excited yet because it’s not a life-threatening condition.” He further quipped, referencing Mark Twain’s famous line: “Don’t worry. The rumors of my death are highly exaggerated.”

The hospitalization comes amid mounting challenges for Marcos since assuming office in mid-2022. His administration currently confronts multiple crises including escalating tensions with Beijing over South China Sea claims, natural disasters ranging from destructive earthquakes to severe typhoons, economic instability, strained relations with his vice president, and a widespread corruption scandal involving powerful legislators that has provoked public anger.