Beijing’s Tech Scrutiny: Why Another 2021-Style Crackdown Is Unlikely

Beijing has shifted toward a targeted regulatory strategy for its technology sector, prioritizing economic stability and AI competitiveness over the sweeping crackdowns that defined 2021. While officials have recently launched antitrust probes into industry leaders like Trip.com and summoned major firms over pricing practices, analysts from Evercore and DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group suggest these measures are … Read more

Australian Trust in the US Hits Record Low: Lowy Institute Poll

Australian trust in the United States has reached a record low, with only 31 per cent of Australians believing the U.S. will act responsibly in world affairs, according to the latest Lowy Institute poll. This decline, driven by widespread disapproval of the Trump administration’s policy agenda, has narrowed the trust gap between the U.S. and … Read more

Why Excluding China from G7 Summits Could Be a Strategic Error

The G7 excludes China because the organization is limited to democratic nations dedicated to individual liberty. Despite China’s massive economic influence and a projected $1.2 trillion trade surplus for 2025, its authoritarian government prevents it from meeting the G7’s fundamental requirement of being an open, democratic society. Why is China excluded from the G7 despite … Read more

Xi Jinping to Visit North Korea Next Week

A New Chapter for Beijing and Pyongyang: Navigating the Geopolitical Tightrope The upcoming state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to North Korea marks a pivotal moment in East Asian diplomacy. As Beijing and Pyongyang look to move beyond the pandemic-induced isolation that shuttered their shared border for years, the international community is watching closely. … Read more

USTR Proposes 10% Tariffs on Most Trading Partners

The landscape of global commerce is shifting beneath our feet. For decades, the primary driver of international trade was a simple, ruthless calculation: cost versus efficiency. But as recent moves by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) suggest, a new era is dawning—one where human rights, ethical sourcing, and geopolitical leverage are becoming just as influential … Read more

China’s Role in Steering Iran Away From Extremism Post-Summit

The Great Power Balancing Act: Can Washington and Beijing Redefine Global Stability? The recent high-stakes summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping has sparked a global debate: are we entering an era of managed competition, or is the world drifting toward an unavoidable clash? As China’s Ambassador to Israel, Xiao Junzheng, recently articulated, … Read more

What China’s State Banquets Reveal About Its Diplomacy

The Art of the State Banquet: How China Uses Gastronomy as Silent Diplomacy In the high-stakes world of international relations, the most critical negotiations often happen not in boardrooms, but over dinner. In Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, a state banquet is rarely just a meal; it is a meticulously curated diplomatic sentence where … Read more

Trump-Lai Call: Risks of US-China Turbulence

The High-Stakes Diplomacy of the Taiwan Strait The geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific is shifting once again. Recent remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding a potential direct dialogue with Taiwan’s leader, William Lai Ching-te, have sent ripples through international capitals. While the prospect of a phone call may seem like a simple diplomatic gesture, … Read more

Xi and Putin reaffirm unity but gas pipeline deal eludes Moscow again

Putin’s Pivot: How Russia-China Relations Are Reshaping Global Power Dynamics By [Your Name] May 22, 2026 12 min read Russia’s Energy Gambit Fails: Why China’s Stance on Gas Pipelines Signals a Power Shift Russian President Vladimir Putin left Beijing last week with a stack of bilateral agreements—but no breakthrough on the Power of Siberia 2 … Read more

Vladimir Putin meets ‘old friend’ Xi Jinping in Beijing and secures more than 20 agreements

The Putin-Xi Summit: How China’s Balancing Act Is Redefining Global Power Dynamics BEIJING — When Vladimir Putin stepped onto the red carpet at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on May 20, 2026, the spectacle mirrored the grandeur of Donald Trump’s recent visit—complete with military honors, chanting schoolchildren, and a gun salute. But beneath the … Read more