%20(1536%20×%201024%20px)%20(5).png?VersionId=UUGTjPacWZxb0ybrUDhQuTC9zZXgkBkY&w=1536&resize=1536,0&ssl=1 "Asian Insider: Is Putin’s Leadership Unraveling? | WeChat Pay for tourists in China")
Global Courant
Dear ST Reader,
The biggest news of the past week was the short-lived Wagner mutiny in Russia. The events may have occurred thousands of miles away from many of us in Asia, but their aftershocks could reverberate around the world for months or even years to come. Global Affairs correspondent Jonathan Eyal writes in this excellent analysis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s authority seems to have been dented, but Beijing will likely assist him, Chinese observers say. Ukraine’s allies must also avoid exaggerating Putin; an injured animal is weaker, but also more prone to lash out.
At the World Economic Forum in Tianjin this week, Chinese Premier Li Qiang warned world leaders against politicizing economic issues. while Beijing is trying to counter the narrative of a risk reduction strategy that is hardening in Europe and is now being adopted by the United States. Separately, the Chinese technology giant Tencent revealed on the forum that the WeChat Pay feature would soon be made available to tourists visiting China.
In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., one year into his presidency, is still extremely popular with his people. But cracks are starting to show in his formidable alliance with his vice president, Ms. Sara Duterte, says Philippine correspondent Mara Cepeda.
%20(1536%20×%201024%20px)%20(5).png?VersionId=UUGTjPacWZxb0ybrUDhQuTC9zZXgkBkY&w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1&description=Asian+Insider%3A+Is+Putin%E2%80%99s+Leadership+Unraveling%3F++%7C++WeChat+Pay+for+tourists+in+China){kind=link}