Jul 17, 2019

Tensions between the U.S. and China in the lead up to the G20 summit in Osaka was nothing new, but what is new in this decade is the development of a working relationship between the Chinese and Japanese governments.

May 31, 2019

American farmers and the U.S. agriculture industry has taken a big hit since the US-China trade war began last year. With recent negotiations breaking down and little progress being made, American agriculture will have to brace for more trying times ahead.

May 10, 2019

During the Second Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Summit last month, the Chinese government notably shifted its focus and is now downplaying fears of debt encumbrance, corruption, and environmental degradation. But this should not distract us from the key fact that participation in the BRI continues to grow, including from traditional U.S. allies in Asia and Europe.

Feb 28, 2019

In a rare harmony of interests, both China and the United States are pushing to stabilize the yuan. What remains to be seen is how this hypothetical agreement will bear on China’s long-term journey toward the yuan becoming one of the world’s principal reserve currencies.

Jan 10, 2019

Apple announced last Wednesday that it failed to meet sales expectations in China. This, along with other warning signs, suggests that the Chinese economy is slowing down. And as China acted as one of the main engines of the global post-2008 recovery, this spells trouble for the global economy.

Dec 12, 2018

The arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was another blow in the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China. Wanzhou’s arrest prompts two important questions: First, what are the immediate implications for Huawei and the rest of the tech industry? Second, what are the wider implications for U.S.-China trade and technological competition?

Sep 13, 2018

North Korean leaders carefully cultivated the tone of the recent 70th anniversary celebrations to avoid antagonizing both Beijing and Washington. This could offer reason for cautious optimism regarding the continuing negotiations, but significant remaining differences in U.S. and North Korean aims and expectations should temper any early celebrations.

Jun 15, 2018

After the G7 and SCO summits last weekend, it is tempting to paint a simplistic picture of a Western world unraveling at the seams and an increasingly cohesive alternative order led by powers like China. While there is an element of truth in this narrative, it is important not to overlook the enduring motives for cooperation within the Western bloc and obstacles to cooperation between the SCO powers.

Apr 19, 2018

The Trump administration has come back around to the TPP for the same reasons that the Obama administration pushed the deal in the first place: its use as a bargaining chip in the struggle for Asian hegemony.

Mar 14, 2018

Regarding China, Pompeo is likely to offer more of the same mixed approach that has thus far characterized the Trump administration’s policy. On the one hand, Pompeo has endorsed the notion that China is an economic threat to the United States, and on the other hand, Pompeo has spoken positively of Xi Jinping, particularly with reference to China’s role in helping to place pressure on North Korea.