China's role in Africa
China has grand plans for Africa. It has pledged to increase its investment in the continent, thus "narrowing the North-South gap and supporting and assisting other developing countries in acceleratin...
14 Mar 202315min
Can China match America's soft power?
China is conducting a sustained global campaign to promote its interests. In some cases, it tries to win support by investing in the infrastructure of other countries. It also makes a concerted effort...
7 Mar 202315min
Italy's relationship with China
The Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will play a prominent international role in 2023. She will attend a summit of G7 leaders in Japan and Joe Biden may well invite her to Washington to try to sh...
28 Feb 202315min
China and the G7
The Japanese prime minister, Fumio Kishida issues regular warnings to the leaders of other G7 countries about risks to international security. His concerns include Russia's invasion of Ukraine, North ...
21 Feb 202315min
How do young people in Taiwan view Cross-Strait relations?
Young men in Taiwan must ramp up their battle skills. From 2024, they will be conscripted into the army for a full year. During this time, they will receive training in how to fight at close-quarters ...
14 Feb 202315min
Will China get old before it gets rich?
In 2022, China's population fell by an estimated 850,000 people, triggering dramatic reporting in the media. A headline in The New York Times said it heralded a demographic crisis. Reuters talked of "...
7 Feb 202315min
The significance of the white paper protests
The international media asked an important question in November 2022: Is China experiencing the start of a revolution? The debate was sparked by the actions of protesters in many Chinese cities, inclu...
1 Feb 202315min
Japan's relationship with China
In the view of Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, East Asia could be the next Ukraine. He has warned that "the situation around Japan is becoming increasingly severe with attempts to unilaterally ...
24 Jan 202315min
