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Back-door diplomacy

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the Diet in Tokyo on 13 November 2025. © Kaname Yoneyama/Yomiuri/The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP

Spotlight | Japan, Taiwan
PM Sanae Takaichi hints at revolution in security relations with Taiwan

Having long been involved in the question of Taiwan relations, Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has raised hopes in Taipei as Tokyo looks to update its national security strategy by 2027.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 14.11.2025

Deep Dive | Ukraine
Andriy Biletsky: the Azov founder aiming to shape Ukraine's new martial identity

Ukraine's strongmen in war (4/4) – At the head of Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps, Andriy Biletsky exerts his power through alliances with oligarchs, technological partnerships and propaganda. His denunciation of corrupt elites worries the presidency, which sees him as a rival in uniform with close ties to the far right.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy Deep Dive - Ukraine's strongmen in war 13.11.2025

The cover of the brochure for the trip to Russia organised FOR December by the Franco-Russian Dialogue group. © Franco-Russian Dialogue

France, Russia
French pro-Moscow group plans lavish networking trip to Russia

A French pro-Moscow association co-chaired by far-right MEP Thierry Mariani is planning its second trip to Russia this year, with the help of a travel agency linked to the Moscovite elite.

Subscribers only Information wars, Back-door diplomacy 13.11.2025

China, Europe
China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

Chinese President Xi Jinping, 12 November 2025, Beijing. © Maxim Shemetov/Pool/EPA/MaxPPP

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 13.11.2025

France, Philippines
French embassy in Manila wants to help Philippine coastguard dock at Sibutu

Paris-Manila (2/2) – Following on from the contract signed in May by French shipyard Ocea with the Philippine coastguard, French diplomats are looking at potentially building a naval base on an archipelago off the coast of Malaysia.

Subscribers only Defence, Back-door diplomacy 12.11.2025

Azerbaijan, France
'State hostages': Paris shifts focus on Baku after Tehran prisoner breakthrough

The conditional release on 4 November of two French professors detained in Iran provided much needed relief for French diplomacy and the intelligence services, which are now turning their focus on Baku to secure the return of other French nationals held there.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 10.11.2025

France's President Emmanuel Macron and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 2 October 2025.

France, Iran
Intelligence chief Nicolas Lerner key architect of French prisoners' release

The head of France's DGSE foreign intelligence service played a key role in the conditional release on 4 November of French nationals Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris held prisoner in Iran on charges of spying for the French state.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 07.11.2025

The head of France's DGSE foreign intelligence service, Nicolas Lerner.

Afghanistan, China
Beijing shuts the door on Afghan opposition

Despite months of diplomatic efforts and secret meetings in Beijing, the Afghan opposition has failed to convince the Chinese authorities to lend political and logistical support. For China, regional stability is the top priority.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 07.11.2025

Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, 16 September 2022.

Saudi Arabia
Riyadh deports French official over alcohol possession

Despite hopes of Westerners working in the Saudi kingdom, the legalisation of alcohol remains largely hypothetical. A French embassy official in Riyadh recently found out the hard way and was sent out of the country.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 07.11.2025

France
French foreign ministry think tank hires Ukraine and Russia expert

Céline Bayou, who currently heads the French defence ministry's DG for International Relations and Strategy's Ukraine-Russia department is to join the foreign affairs ministry, where she will run the Center for Analysis, Forecasting, and Strategy.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 05.11.2025

Europe, France, Taiwan
Taiwanese diplomats make discreet visits to NATO and Paris

Foreign minister Lin Chia-lung met in Paris with key Taiwanese diplomats based in Africa, while a delegation went to NATO in Brussels and met with European officials to present Taipei's new strategy for cooperation in defence and AI.

Subscribers only Defence, Back-door diplomacy 03.11.2025

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung.

Spotlight | China
Beijing expands means for decentralised diplomacy abroad

Following an internal review of its subnational diplomacy operations, the Chinese Communist Party has decided to boost investment in this method of building influence in the United States and Europe.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 03.11.2025

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea.

Yemen
Tunnel wars rage as fractured loyalists fail to counter Houthis

Between Saudi disengagement and the fragility of the loyalist front, the Yemeni conflict, now entering its twelfth year, is bogged down in a military and political impasse. On the ground, Intelligence Online observed that the regular army in particular appears weakened.

Subscribers only Defence, Back-door diplomacy 03.11.2025

Soldiers from the Yemeni army in Marib, near the front line.

China, Taiwan
How the Kuomintang undermines Taiwanese research

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is using its slim majority in Taiwan's parliament to expand its campaign against the island's scientific institutions, imposing audits, budget cuts and cooperation agreements that benefit Beijing.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 31.10.2025

The Academia Sinica institute in Taipei was the first target of Chinese-backed efforts to weaken conditions for research in Taiwan.

UAE, United Kingdom
London confirms cyber consultant's imprisonment in UAE

Friends of UK-Australian national Andrew Grunstein say they have not heard from him since his arrest in the UAE on suspected national security charges in January. Abu Dhabi authorities remain silent, but the UK government has confirmed Grunstein's plight.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 30.10.2025

Thailand, United States
FBI probes Russian-Thai sanctions-busting aviation network

Intelligence Online deepens its investigation into an intriguing network circumventing international sanctions in the civil aviation sector. From Arizona to Florida, the FBI is on the trail of implicated individuals and companies.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 30.10.2025

The entrance to the FBI headquarters building in Washington DC.

China, Taiwan
Cheng Li-wun, the Kuomintang's bid to reassure Beijing

Cheng Li-wun's troubled election as head of Taiwan's Kuomintang Chinese nationalist party has provided Beijing's intelligence services with a stable interlocutor while avoiding the party's implosion. Xi Jinping has agreed to meet her.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 29.10.2025

Cheng Li, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party).

United States
US diplomacy seeks private sector expertise on critical minerals

First it was the US intelligence community. Now, the State Department is also expanding its capabilities in the strategic field of critical minerals, Beijing's weapon of choice in the trade war with Washington.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel, Back-door diplomacy 28.10.2025

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, in 2019.

Iraq
Iraqi spymasters eye up prime minister job ahead of elections

The two-stage election of Iraq's next prime minister is rousing ambitions among several intelligence and security veterans. Neighbouring powers with key stakes in their relations with Baghdad are watching closely.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 28.10.2025

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, September 2025.

South Korea, United States
Seoul intel weighs options as Trump seeks summit with Kim Jong-un

US President Donald Trump's request for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the sidelines of this week's APEC summit in South Korea has stirred up a frenzy among Seoul's intelligence services, which have scrambled to explore the implications.

Subscribers only Back-door diplomacy 28.10.2025

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Back-door diplomacy

Spotlight | Japan, Taiwan
PM Sanae Takaichi hints at revolution in security relations with Taiwan

Deep Dive | Ukraine
Andriy Biletsky: the Azov founder aiming to shape Ukraine's new martial identity

France, Russia
French pro-Moscow group plans lavish networking trip to Russia

China, Europe
China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

France, Philippines
French embassy in Manila wants to help Philippine coastguard dock at Sibutu

Azerbaijan, France
'State hostages': Paris shifts focus on Baku after Tehran prisoner breakthrough

France, Iran
Intelligence chief Nicolas Lerner key architect of French prisoners' release

Afghanistan, China
Beijing shuts the door on Afghan opposition

Saudi Arabia
Riyadh deports French official over alcohol possession

France
French foreign ministry think tank hires Ukraine and Russia expert

Europe, France, Taiwan
Taiwanese diplomats make discreet visits to NATO and Paris

Spotlight | China
Beijing expands means for decentralised diplomacy abroad

Yemen
Tunnel wars rage as fractured loyalists fail to counter Houthis

China, Taiwan
How the Kuomintang undermines Taiwanese research

UAE, United Kingdom
London confirms cyber consultant's imprisonment in UAE

Thailand, United States
FBI probes Russian-Thai sanctions-busting aviation network

China, Taiwan
Cheng Li-wun, the Kuomintang's bid to reassure Beijing

United States
US diplomacy seeks private sector expertise on critical minerals

Iraq
Iraqi spymasters eye up prime minister job ahead of elections

South Korea, United States
Seoul intel weighs options as Trump seeks summit with Kim Jong-un

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Benjamin Netanyahu

CIA

FSB

Houthis

DGSE

Back-door diplomacy

Spotlight | Japan, Taiwan PM Sanae Takaichi hints at revolution in security relations with Taiwan

Deep Dive | Ukraine Andriy Biletsky: the Azov founder aiming to shape Ukraine's new martial identity

France, Russia French pro-Moscow group plans lavish networking trip to Russia

China, Europe China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

France, Philippines French embassy in Manila wants to help Philippine coastguard dock at Sibutu

Azerbaijan, France 'State hostages': Paris shifts focus on Baku after Tehran prisoner breakthrough

France, Iran Intelligence chief Nicolas Lerner key architect of French prisoners' release

Afghanistan, China Beijing shuts the door on Afghan opposition

Saudi Arabia Riyadh deports French official over alcohol possession

France French foreign ministry think tank hires Ukraine and Russia expert

Europe, France, Taiwan Taiwanese diplomats make discreet visits to NATO and Paris

Spotlight | China Beijing expands means for decentralised diplomacy abroad

Yemen Tunnel wars rage as fractured loyalists fail to counter Houthis

China, Taiwan How the Kuomintang undermines Taiwanese research

UAE, United Kingdom London confirms cyber consultant's imprisonment in UAE

Thailand, United States FBI probes Russian-Thai sanctions-busting aviation network

China, Taiwan Cheng Li-wun, the Kuomintang's bid to reassure Beijing

United States US diplomacy seeks private sector expertise on critical minerals

Iraq Iraqi spymasters eye up prime minister job ahead of elections

South Korea, United States Seoul intel weighs options as Trump seeks summit with Kim Jong-un

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Spotlight | Japan, Taiwan
PM Sanae Takaichi hints at revolution in security relations with Taiwan

Deep Dive | Ukraine
Andriy Biletsky: the Azov founder aiming to shape Ukraine's new martial identity

France, Russia
French pro-Moscow group plans lavish networking trip to Russia

China, Europe
China sees EU call for Hong Kong students as springboard for United Front revival

France, Philippines
French embassy in Manila wants to help Philippine coastguard dock at Sibutu

Azerbaijan, France
'State hostages': Paris shifts focus on Baku after Tehran prisoner breakthrough

France, Iran
Intelligence chief Nicolas Lerner key architect of French prisoners' release

Afghanistan, China
Beijing shuts the door on Afghan opposition

Saudi Arabia
Riyadh deports French official over alcohol possession

France
French foreign ministry think tank hires Ukraine and Russia expert

Europe, France, Taiwan
Taiwanese diplomats make discreet visits to NATO and Paris

Spotlight | China
Beijing expands means for decentralised diplomacy abroad

Yemen
Tunnel wars rage as fractured loyalists fail to counter Houthis

China, Taiwan
How the Kuomintang undermines Taiwanese research

UAE, United Kingdom
London confirms cyber consultant's imprisonment in UAE

Thailand, United States
FBI probes Russian-Thai sanctions-busting aviation network

China, Taiwan
Cheng Li-wun, the Kuomintang's bid to reassure Beijing

United States
US diplomacy seeks private sector expertise on critical minerals

Iraq
Iraqi spymasters eye up prime minister job ahead of elections

South Korea, United States
Seoul intel weighs options as Trump seeks summit with Kim Jong-un