East Asia

China’s Parliamentary Session Begins: Main Foreign Policy Takeaways
Noa Teiblum Noa Teiblum

China’s Parliamentary Session Begins: Main Foreign Policy Takeaways

 Yesterday marked the start of China’s 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, a week-long meeting attended by top Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership including Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Politburo Standing Committee, and over 3,000 delegates from across the country. The session, also known as Two Sessions, is a means for top leadership to convey decisions about the priorities of the CCP for the next year, including economic and foreign policy decisions.

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Japan and the Philippines Bolster Defense Ties Amid South China Sea Tensions
Lanie Tang Lanie Tang

Japan and the Philippines Bolster Defense Ties Amid South China Sea Tensions

 As China’s assertiveness grows in the South China Sea, Japan and the Philippines have further deepened their security partnership. Building on the 2024 Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which allows Japanese forces to deploy in the Philippines for military and humanitarian operations, the two countries signed a new defense framework enhancing technology sharing. The initiative signals mounting regional concerns over China’s actions and reflects Japan’s expanding role as a key security player on the global stage.

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China’s Position on Russia-Ukraine War
Noa Teiblum Noa Teiblum

China’s Position on Russia-Ukraine War

Following U.S.-Russia peace talks on the Russo-Ukrainian war, Chinese officials argue that all necessary parties should be involved in discussions. Chinese involvement in negotiations evokes questions about their connections to Russia, Ukraine, and North Korea. 

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Beyond the Ban: China's Path to AI Supremacy
East Asia Elizabeth Sawers East Asia Elizabeth Sawers

Beyond the Ban: China's Path to AI Supremacy

The United States’ strategy of export restrictions on computing chips has proven futile as Chinese companies find ways to circumvent these barriers. As China surges ahead with state-backed investments and open-source innovation, the U.S. risks losing its technological edge unless it reevaluates its approach in this escalating AI competition.

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China & Russia Seek Closer Security Cooperation Amidst Growing American Influence
East Asia Tai Halpern East Asia Tai Halpern

China & Russia Seek Closer Security Cooperation Amidst Growing American Influence

On Tuesday, April 9, Chinese State Official Wang Yi hosted his Russian counterpart Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing for talks on economic and security cooperation. The new cooperative measures are set to displace American influence in Asia and Europe, the United States’ most strategically important region and former most strategically important region, according to political scientist and professor John Mearsheimer.

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China’s Credit Downgraded amid Negative Future Forecast
East Asia Tai Halpern East Asia Tai Halpern

China’s Credit Downgraded amid Negative Future Forecast

This week, U.S.-based credit rating agency Moody downgraded China’s economic outlook. Though not an official credit downgrade — China’s credit remains rated A1 — the news still carries heavy significance, as an outlook downgrade is generally the first step taken before credit is downgraded in the future.

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APEC Summit: Biden’s Bittersweet Meeting with Xi Jinping
East Asia Tai Halpern East Asia Tai Halpern

APEC Summit: Biden’s Bittersweet Meeting with Xi Jinping

On Wednesday, Nov. 15, US President Joe Biden hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Filoli Estate in San Francisco for a four hour one-on-one discussion. The meeting comes amidst the backdrop of this year’s Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit where leaders from twenty-one Asian-Pacific nations gather to discuss economic cooperation and trade integration.

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Economic Meltdown: China Faces Capital Outflow
East Asia Tai Halpern East Asia Tai Halpern

Economic Meltdown: China Faces Capital Outflow

For the first time in twenty-five years, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into China has fallen below zero. That is, there is more capital currently leaving China for other markets, than there is foreign capital being invested into China, a phenomenon called capital outflow.

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A New Chapter: Japan and South Korea Soften Relations
East Asia Tai Halpern East Asia Tai Halpern

A New Chapter: Japan and South Korea Soften Relations

On Sunday Oct. 21, Japan, South Korea, and the US conducted their first joint aerial exercise near the Korean Peninsula. The exercise comes on the heels of revived tensions between North Korea and its two Northeast Asian neighbors, as well as continued efforts to soften South Korean-Japanese relations due to the growing threat of China.

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