In 2011 an eighteen year old Hmong woman from Northern Vietnam arrived at her remote hill village, bewildered and bedraggled, only reaching it after four terrifying days of being chased on foot. She was lucky, one of the many women… Read More ›
environmental crime
China’s Near Abroad: Relations with Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos
This week I take a look at Chinese ties with Indo-China, I’ve spent some magical times in this part of Asia both on holiday and business. It doesn’t get much better than eating Vietnamese soft shell crab, washed down with cold beer overlooking the bustle of Saigon or lying… Read More ›
Industrialisation, Immigration and Free Trade Zones: The Future of the Sino-African Axis
In August last year the Chinese State Council published its white paper on China – Africa relations. Fifteen years ago this would have been an obscure text read by a handful of bureaucrats and academics. Now it is widely scrutinised… Read More ›
The Cowries and Rice Podcast on China’s Economic Slowdown and African Employment
Last weekend I had the pleasure of recording a podcast on the Chinese economic slowdown, African employment and how they are connected. I joined Winslow Robinson and Dr Nkemjika Kalu to discuss these topics, which are going to become of urgent… Read More ›
My top five films and books about trade, smuggling and international crime
During the Christmas period I spent a lot of time watching mainly terrible movies, and reading some amazing books. It also got me thinking about which films and books cover the same ground as my blog, the results are below,… Read More ›
East Asia, Africa and Ivory Smuggling
US Secretary of State Clinton spoke out against the threat of wildlife crime in a recent speech, she highlighted the rising danger to animals across the world and also the increased security threat as the proceeds from these crimes are… Read More ›
The Death of Chut Wutty
On 13 July the Frontline Club hosted a discussion on logging in Cambodia and showed a clip from an upcoming documentary film “Rubbernaut” which explores the issues of illegal logging and development in the country. The film interviewed the charismatic… Read More ›
