November 16, 2021 The lack of an acknowledged breakthrough on the Taiwan issue in the wake of the summit between Presidents Biden and Xi is, to put it mildly, alarming. We’ve previously summarized some of the reasons for Taiwan’s importance to both China and the United States, hence the irreconcilable … Continue reading
Category Archives: China
China, the U.S. and Taiwan
October 9, 2021 A month ago Presidents Biden and Xi had a crucial telephone conversation that according to the White House, covered a number of unspecified issues. Then, almost a month later, President Biden acknowledged that Taiwan was one of them and that the two had agreed to abide by … Continue reading
Clouds of War Gathering Over Taiwan
October 4, 2021 The Global Times, a de facto speaker for the Chinese government, has stated in no uncertain terms that it is “time to warn Taiwan secessionists and their fomenters: war is real.”
China Sent 56 Warplanes Toward Taiwan
October 4, 2021 China sent 56 warplanes toward Taiwan, so far the largest show of force.
China Timeline
October 1, 2019. China deploys new missiles to counter U.S. April 2020. China launches the digital yuan in four cities: Shenzhen, Suzhou, Chengdu and the Xiongan zone near Beijing.
The Opium Trade
The opium trade of the 18th and 19th centuries was Britain’s solution to its chronic trade deficit with China. The reason for the deficit was an extraordinarily high demand for Chinese commodities in Europe and little or no demand for European goods in China. The problem was compounded because the only commodity that China accepted in payment … Continue reading
A Questionable Strategy
June 12, 2021 Historical Background When they “opened” China in 1972 President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger did not anticipate the consequences that would follow. Nixon’s primary motive was to take advantage of the then adversarial Sino-Soviet relationship to open another front in the Cold War with … Continue reading
Thucydides & Tariffs
June 26, 2018 President Trump has decided to levy tariffs primarily on Chinese, European, Mexican, Canadian, Indian and Turkish products, and in so doing, he has alienated them all. Presumably, following the same logic –that the trade deficit is unsustainable- at some point he’ll have to do the same with … Continue reading
Military Cooperation Between Russia and China
[google-translator] April 3, 2018 While visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Defense Minister Wei Fenghe of China emphasized that the firm determination of their armed forces to strengthen strategic cooperation was coordinated directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Speaking Of National Security Strategies
December 25, 2017 Background President Trump did not cause America’s decline; it’s been many years in the making. Once the preeminent surplus nation with a strong manufacturing base, it has morphed into an alarming case of perennial trade deficits and a (growing) $20.1 trillion national debt, the worst in history. … Continue reading