The threat posed by Covid over the Lunar New Year, 2023
There is a mood of anxiety as China celebrates the Lunar New Year. With families and friends gathering for a season of feasting, there is a worry that there could be a surge in Covid-19 infections, co...
17 Jan 202314min
What are the economic implications of a Chinese attack on Taiwan?
There would be catastrophic consequences if China invades Taiwan and tries to reunify the island with the mainland by force. Taiwan has said it will fight back with advanced weapons supplied by the US...
10 Jan 202312min
Why Taiwan matters to the United States
The U.S. Department of Defense maintains that China is using increasingly aggressive and bullying behaviour on the Taiwan Strait and is planning an invasion. Beijing dismisses this as an exaggeration ...
13 Dec 202214min
Britain’s aid relationship with China
Politicians in the UK are careful about how the official aid budget is spent. The money is expected to meet the needs of refugees coming to Britain, as well as helping people in regions affected by wa...
6 Dec 202214min
How Chinese state media portrays America
Chinese state media keeps itself busy finding things to criticise about other countries, with America the number one target. Contentious elections - such as the recent US midterms - gain a lot of atte...
29 Nov 202215min
The 20th Party Congress in historical context
At the 20th Party Congress meeting held in Beijing, Xi Jinping reassured the faithful that he will remain at the helm of the vessel, even though he warned that high winds, choppy waters and even dange...
22 Nov 202214min
Priorities for Xi Jinping’s third term
As the General Secretary of the Communist Party, Xi Jinping has capacity to take decisive action on many issues, especially as he has surrounded himself with loyalists on the Standing Committee of the...
15 Nov 202213min
Xi Jinping’s view of China’s role in the world
The Chinese Communist Party believes that the nation is destined to lead the world, with Xi Jinping at the helm. Yet in Washington, there’s bipartisan consensus that China presents a serious threat to...
9 Nov 202213min
