Category: Politics
U.S., China Both Operating Carrier Strike Groups in the South China Sea
The tensions that were stoked Sunday when Philippine and Chinese vessels collided in the South China Sea come at a time when China and the U.S. have numerous warships deployed in relatively close proximity. The U.S. Navy’s current South China Sea-focused ...
China Comes to Philippines Confrontation With Cameras Ready
In previous confrontations between China and the Philippines at sea, the Chinese were slow to release video and to rebut Philippine allegations of what transpired. Not this time. Chinese state media and influencers were quick ...
China-Philippines at-Sea Collisions Prompt Mutual Recriminations and Questions Why This Happened Now
The Philippines and China are trading accusations of “provocative” actions after their vessels in the South China Sea collided twice on Sunday — raising already white-hot tensions after multiple aggressive encounters in the region recently. The run-ins occurred near the disputed Second ...
China Limits Exports of Graphite to Counter U.S. Technology Restrictions
The Chinese government announced it will soon restrict the export of three grades of graphite, a key ingredient in EV batteries and nuclear power plants, in retaliation for U.S.-led restrictions on technology sales to Chinese companies. China's Ministry of Commerce ...
Pentagon Report Shows Not Much Has Changed in Chinese Military Engagement in the Global South
The Pentagon has issued its annual report on China’s military capability. While it notes an increase in China’s overall military strength, especially how fast it’s building up its nuclear arsenal, not much has seemingly changed in terms of China’s military expansion in the Global South.
Can’t Be Ambiguous and Mediate: The Limits of China’s Involvement in Israel-Palestine
By Felix Brender 王哲謙 and Lukas Fiala Invigorated by having kicked the Saudi-Iranian deal over the finish line earlier this year, China had initially tried to appear neutral and present itself as a potential mediator in the most recent escalation in violence between Israelis ...
Belt and Road Forum Concludes as Geopolitical Clouds Gather
The Belt and Road Forum has wrapped up with an eye-watering list of new initiatives and events, and commitments. Some of these are strikingly vague and/or abstract and working out exactly what they entail will take a while. What is notable ...
Wang Yi to Challenges Western BRI-Rivals: Bring it On
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a press conference following the closing ceremony of this week’s Belt and Road Forum that summed up the sprawling event as an example of a confident China’s openness to working with the world (and especially the Global South) to boost mutual development.
Vietnam’s “Multi-Alignment” Strategy: Friend to All, Ally to None
Most developing countries around the world have stated repeatedly and emphatically that they do not want to be drawn into a new Cold War between the United States and China -- few, though, have moved with as much determination as Vietnam to ensure that never happens.
Philippines-China Rail Cooperation In Crosshairs as Maritime Tensions Escalate
The Philippines is in a juggling act as tensions with Beijing escalate in the South China Sea but the countries remain engaged in multiple infrastructure projects. The two sides recently updated a Belt and Road deal prioritizing construction of two bridge ...
Why the Israel Crisis Has Implications for China in the Global South
The carnage in Israel and Gaza seems to signal an inflection point, not only because of its omnidirectional horror but also because it again demonstrates the centrality of Israel and its West Asian neighborhood in the U.S. political imagination, a reality that has implications for China’s global ...
What’s It Like to Study China-Africa Relations at Harvard University?
Only a handful of universities around the world teach area studies courses in China-Africa relations. It's a field that was once quite popular but less so today as interest in studying Chinese affairs more broadly has fallen precipitously. ...



