Development, Deposits, And Debts: A Decade of BRI in Africa

In September 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping formally announced the Belt and Road Initiative, a sprawling infrastructure investment program intended to connect the world over land, air, and sea. A decade later, nearly every African nation has signed on, leading to a variety of results within the continent, ranging from shiny development projects to saddles of debt.

Russia-China Relations Are Defined By One Common Goal: Challenging U.S. Power

At the end of March, a historic visit took place, between Chinese President Xi and Russian President Putin. Although Chinese-Russian relations have had a tumultuous relationship in the past, the two powers can now agree on one thing: they want to confront U.S. and Western dominance.

The U.S. Has a Deep-Rooted Sinophobia Problem

American protectionism against China was born out of, and continues to propagate, an antagonistic relationship that is only further intensified by the U.S.’s longstanding problem with systemic racism, culminating in an unfortunate increase in hate crimes and racism against Asian people in America. The present conflict may be international in nature, but it has serious domestic consequences.

Singapore the Closer

Amid rapidly escalating tensions between the United States and China, many countries around the world find themselves holding their breaths in anticipation of the course that these contentions will take. Amidst this uncertainty, Singapore, a small nation caught between both powers has emerged as a potential mediator of possible conflict.

Will Nigeria’s Infrastructure Gaps Push it Closer to China?

One of the biggest, if not the biggest, challenges to Nigeria’s economic growth is its lack of quality infrastructure. To compete on the global stage and address problems such as poverty and lagging human development, Nigeria needs improved infrastructure to service its economy and development goals.

AfricaBy Tammy DongMay 25, 2023Nigeria, China, Infrastructure, Development, energy, climate, power, BRI, belt and road, sovereign debt

China’s Lianghui: Its Implications of a Shakier Sino-U.S. Relationship

The Chinese Community Party (CCP) National Advisory Committee and parliament met in March for their annual meetings, also known as the lianghui (“two-sessions”). The meetings themselves are public displays, rather than substantive policy meetings that pose any drastic implications for the future of China. Nevertheless, these two sessions established that President Xi Jinping will not budge in his foreign policy agenda.

China Brokers Saudi Arabia-Iran Diplomatic Agreement – Implications for Yemen’s Civil War

The China-brokered agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran marks a significant shift in relations between the two regional rivals and may pave the way for humanitarian recovery in Yemen, a country devastated by the proxy war between the two nations. The deal involves reopening embassies, respecting state sovereignty, and avoiding interference in foreign affairs.

Of Factions and Friends

India and Australia have significantly strengthened their relationship in recent years, with both nations being key members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. As they seek to expand trade and deepen military cooperation, their mutual interests in containing Chinese aggression and maintaining a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region drive the partnership, despite India's complex relations with Russia and China.

Japan’s Sanction on China Semiconductor Industry

The U.S. and Japan, once rivals in the semiconductor industry, are now cooperating to counter China's rise in the sector. The two nations are working together on export controls, with the U.S. banning chip exports to several Chinese companies and Japan recently agreeing to similar measures, though potential limitations and countermeasures from China may affect the effectiveness of these efforts.

Nuclear Weapons: The Unfortunate Solution to South Korean National Security

South Korea is facing a dilemma about whether to possess nuclear weapons due to North Korea's continuous military advancements and nuclear pursuits. The failure of South Korea's conventional deterrence system and the actions of China and Russia have increased the urgency for South Korea to bolster its national security, even if it means breaking prior agreements.

Close Calls: How China and the United States Toy with War

China and the United States have a complicated history of diplomacy, with several near-misses that could have reshaped the power balance of East Asia at enormous costs.

The Ongoing Anti-corruption Movement in Vietnam

Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigned due to the corruption of many officials handling COVID-19; his resignation is part of Vietnam’s broader anti-corruption campaign that has seen thousands of party members investigated and removed from office.