Lim Min-hyuk
Conventional diplomatic wisdom says that there is no such thing as a failed summit since every point on the agenda, communique and step on the itinerary is worked out in advance by working-level officials while the leaders smile vacuously for the cameras and read their prepared statements at the end.
Diplomats are expert at making even the smallest events look like monumental achievements. When President Moon Jae-in made his first trip to the U.S. in June of 2017, the Foreign Ministry said it was the first time that then-U.S. president Donald Trump had hosted a banquet for a visiting foreign leader and first lady. In fact, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been treated to a White House banquet before Moon. Ah, said the spin doctors, but he was there alone, and Moon came with his wife. The Park Geun-hye administration was no different. The U.S. at the time called the Washington-Tokyo alliance the cornerstone of peace and security in Asia but the Washington-Seou
Modi’s new clothes
May 20, 2021
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity was once considered bulletproof. He continued to lead the BJP to victory in election after election, despite also presiding over unmitigated disasters like demonetisation, poor economic policies and growth, disastrous military campaigns against China and Pakistan, and haphazard initial response to Covid-19. Much of this was attributable to his allies in traditional media and manipulation of new media. But his premature victory dance regarding Covid-19, followed by India being hit by the world’s worst outbreak of the disease, appears to be the straw that finally broke the camel’s back. Even his media allies are now abandoning him.
Fresh political heat gripped West Bengal today as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called a virtual meeting of chief ministers convened by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "super flop", saying she along with her counterparts from non-BJP-ruled states was not allowed to speak. After the meeting, held to discuss the Covid-19 situation in India, a furious Mamata claimed that