S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

Excellence deserves its moment in the spotlight. ✨

In this series, we shine the spotlight on our RSIS Academic Award winners and hear about their experiences, reflections, and what their time at RSIS has meant to them.

Meet Li Yaqi, recipient of the Liow Keng Teck and Dorothy Liow Gold Medal, awarded to the most outstanding student in the MSc International Relations programme.

Yaqi also had this to say: “A shout-out to the RSIS community as a whole — faculty, administrative staff, and classmates alike — for making an international student feel that his perspective was an asset rather than a curiosity. Receiving the Gold Medal is an honour I share with everyone who argued with me in seminars and made my arguments sharper.”

Congratulations, Yaqi!

As the global order continues to evolve, the RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture, “The Future of China-EU Trade Relations: Conflict or Compromise?”, held yesterday, examined what lies ahead for the evolving China-EU economic relationship.

Visiting Ngee Ann Kongsi Professor of International Relations, Professor Xiang Lanxin, explored how shifts in US foreign and trade policy, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Iran War, and Europe’s internal economic reforms are reshaping global supply chains, cross-border trade, and the landscape of great-power rivalry. He also shared his perspectives on why China-EU cooperation will remain increasingly important in a more polycentric international order.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this insightful lecture and discussion!

From evolving pathways to violence to shifting militant networks and tactical alliances, the latest issue of Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses (CTTA) examines three contemporary trends influencing conflict dynamics across Southeast Asia and Africa: nihilistic violent extremism, grievance localisation and cooperation between ideologically diverse groups.

💻 Ami Prindani and Khoirul Annam examine how online True Crime Communities are reshaping pathways to violence among Indonesian youth, and the implications for existing counter-terrorism frameworks.

🔎 Rommel Banlaoi explores the evolution of militancy in the Philippines, from coherent organisations to increasingly clan-based and politically instrumentalised violence.

🤝 Pierre Boussel analyses the growing cooperation between JNIM and the FLA in Mali, arguing that their alliance is driven more by functional asymmetry than ideological proximity.

Read the latest CTTA issue here: rsis.edu.sg/CTTAV18I5
Read other issues of CTTA here: https://rsis.edu.sg/ctta/

Singapore and India bring complementary strengths to the semiconductor industry, which is facing geopolitical shocks and intense demand from artificial intelligence. Their partnership can serve as an operating architecture for resilient logistics, shared research, manufacturing and talent development.

Read more in RSIS Commentary “Trusted Interdependence: A Singapore-India Semiconductor Partnership in an Age of Geopolitical Shocks” by Asha Hemrajani, Senior Fellow at RSIS.

Click the link below for the full commentary:
https://rsis.edu.sg/CO26173

Join us tomorrow for the RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Professor Xiang Lanxin on “The Future of China-EU Trade Relations: Conflict or Compromise?”

From shifting China-US relations and ongoing global conflicts to economic reforms in Europe, the lecture will unpack the forces reshaping global trade, supply chains and great-power rivalry.

💡 Come join us for an insightful discussion on what lies ahead for China-EU trade relations!

🔗 Register here: https://rsis.edu.sg/event/rsis-distinguished-public-lecture-by-professor-xiang-lanxin-2/

You are invited to the RSIS Distinguished Public Lecture by Professor Xiang Lanxin on 20 Aug 2026.

Titled "The Future of China-EU Trade Relations: Conflict or Compromise?", the lecture will explore the complex interplay of factors—including geopolitical shifts between China and US, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Iran War and internal economic reforms within Europe—all of which are exerting a profound impact on global supply chains, cross-border trade, and the new landscape of great-power rivalry.

Details and registration at http://rsis.edu.sg/DPL200826

RSIS warmly welcomes Prof Thierry Balzacq as the S. Rajaratnam Professor of Strategic Studies.

Prof Balzacq will be teaching “Grand Strategy from Ancient Rome to Modern China” in Trimester 1.

The course will explore why states form, manage and sometimes dissolve alliances in times of peace and war, and how leaders, ideologies and institutions shape alliance behaviour. Drawing on cases from Ancient Greece to NATO, AUKUS, the Quad and the China–Russia partnership, students will examine how alliances serve as instruments of national strategy while also creating tensions and challenges in an evolving international order.

"There are few schools that have built such an impressive academic track record in such a short period of time. I very much look forward to working with the students and forging new relationships with colleagues at RSIS" - Prof Balzacq

Earlier this morning, we headed out of the office to visit the Parliament of Singapore! With the help of our lovely guides, we were treated to an insightful, in-depth tour of the Parliament building, as well as a walk-through of the history of Singapore’s parliamentary processes. 🇸🇬 This includes fun little tidbits such as when the wearing of the ceremonial wigs by previous Speakers of the House was discontinued, how the Serjeant-at-arms used to carry a sword, and how the seating arrangements are made in the parliamentary chamber.

Thank you Parliament of Singapore for having us!

US-China relations today stand at the edge of a precarious “Balance of Terror” in which economic and technological interdependence replaces Cold War nuclear deterrence.

At last week’s RSIS Distinguished Lecture titled “US-China Relations: The Precarious Balance of Terror and the Strategic Implications for ASEAN and Singapore”, Professor Tan Kong Yam, NTUC Professor of International Economic Relations at RSIS and Emeritus Professor of Economics at NTU, discussed the asymmetric choke points wielded by both powers and the future of fragmented supply chains.

To watch the full lecture, click here: https://youtu.be/H_8qETUOPUo

This paper takes a closer look at the emerging strategies of disinformation and their long-term impact, as well as new tools and approaches available for the battle against malign campaigns, and seeks to apply them to the Singapore context.

Read more in RSIS Working Paper "Inflaming the Passions: Fake News, Falsehoods and Fabrications – Understanding Disinformation Campaigns" by Leslie Koh here: rsis.edu.sg/WP353

Giving back to a great cause! 💜 Earlier this year, on the occasion of our 30th anniversary, we decided to make our annual staff-students football match a little extra special by adopting a charity as a way of giving back to the community. We decided on The Purple Parade, a national platform to promote awareness and celebrate abilities of Persons with Disabilities, with a vision for them to be fully included, valued and celebrated in Singapore! 🇸🇬

Last Thursday, we met Ms Rachel Ong, Chairperson of The Purple Parade, to present a letter of donation on behalf of RSIS. We also had a wonderful time chatting about the movement of The Purple Parade, and potential areas for collaboration in the future. RSIS was represented by Chief Operating Officer, Mr Benny Oon, and Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Marcus Sia.

The Purple Parade Rachel Ong