Category: Thinking About China

China’s Problem Is Lack of Demand, Which Is Not Easy to Boost

Commentary Now in 2023, China is again the focus of the economic outlook. Most forecasts, whether from the public or private sector, believe China will continue to be the key growth engine worldwide. Admittedly, China is producing a very high growth number compared to many other large economies. However, the 4-5 percent real GDP (year-over-year)…


How Will a Hot War With China Start?

Commentary The near collision over the South China Sea on Dec. 21, 2022, between a Chinese J-11 fighter aircraft and a U.S. Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance aircraft compels the recognition that an incident at sea or in the air between Chinese and U.S. forces might lead to a rapid escalation…


Beijing’s Dubious Yuan Dreams

Commentary Chinese leader Xi Jinping just completed a successful trip to the Middle East. There he stressed trade relations with oil-rich nations, especially Saudi Arabia. Xi also made clear a strong desire for oil contracts to settle in yuan and not, as usual, in dollars. He made no secret that his goal was to advance…


Thailand: A Southeast Asian Paradise Now Dominated by China

Commentary When you picture Thailand, what images spring to mind? Gloriously sandy islands, luxurious royal palaces, bustling night markets, and great weather. However, beneath all the undeniable beauty, Thailand shares a deep, dark bond with China. As someone who visits “The Land of Smile” frequently, I have been shocked by how much influence China has…


Saudi Arabia Reluctant to Accept Chinese Yuan for Oil

Commentary Saudi Arabia is unlikely to accept the Chinese yuan for oil despite strengthening ties with China. On Dec. 8, Saudi Arabia and China signed an agreement to have Huawei provide the Kingdom with 5G. Protests from the United States regarding national security are being ignored as Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States court the Chinese…


The Undoing of the Unscientific Zero-COVID Policy in China

Commentary Communist China has been reeling due to the relaxation of its three-year-long zero-COVID policy, with as many as 250 million infected Chinese last month. That number includes an incredible 37 million who were infected on Dec. 20 alone. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) implemented its zero-COVID policy in an attempt to contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus…


‘No Christmas’ and China’s COVID Outbreak

Commentary Every December in recent years, quite some people in China shouted: “no foreign festival” (bo yao yang jei)  to tell people to boycott Christmas, which is increasingly regarded as a national shame. However, this year, such voices almost died out due to China’s reversal of its Zero COVID policy after the “White Paper Revolution.”…


Land of the Rising Nukes?

Commentary The U.S.-based security alliance in the Asia-Pacific region as we know it is all but dead. For the first time since the end of World War II, Japan has announced that it will double its defense spending. Over the next five years, its defense budget will increase from about 1 percent to 2 percent…


New Year’s Resolutions and the Betterment of America

Commentary It’s that time of year again when people across the United States (and beyond, of course) make vague New Year’s resolutions. They vow to become better humans, healthier individuals, or more scrupulous savers. The thing about most of these resolutions is that they are usually focused on the betterment of an individual. They revolve…


4 Steps the US Can Take to Win the Competition With China

Commentary President Joe Biden on Dec. 23 signed the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, approving $1.7 trillion in federal spending into law. Not many people are discussing an important section of the intelligence bill, which “requires reporting on the wealth and corrupt activities of the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).” This is a significant…