Geopolitics
Tensions in the South China Sea Remain High Despite China-Philippines Agreement
In July, Beijing and Manila reached an agreement on a “provisional arrangement” over the Philippines’ resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal with the hope of de-escalating the situation in the South China Sea.
Putin’s North Korea Visit: China’s Calculus
China’s minimal media coverage of Putin’s 18-19 June visit to North Korea reflects Beijing’s calculus that closer Russia-DPRK cooperation is complicating China’s security environment.
Investing in China. Minimizing risk and maximizing opportunities.
Despite perceptions to the contrary, China still offers significant market and investment opportunities. However, it also brings risk and complication, which means that US companies need to make well-informed decisions.
Chinese Media Criticize US-Israel Military Ties to Bolster China’s Influence
Beijing has not publicly reacted to the Biden administration’s announcements on the supply of weapons to Israel. However, Chinese state-run media criticism of US-Israel military cooperation in the Hamas-Israel war aims to bolster China’s influence in the Middle East and undermine US leadership in the region.
Xi Jinping Advances China’s Agenda with Serbia and Hungary
Chinese President XI Jinping visited Serbia and Hungary on 8-9 May for the final leg of his first trip to Europe since 2019. Xi’s visits advanced China’s agenda of leveraging EU divisions and amplifying a shared authoritarian agenda with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, especially as China-EU tensions rise.
China Opposes US Army Deployment of Typhon Missile System
China’s increasingly assertive behavior in the South China Sea prompted the US to deploy more advanced weapons systems to the Philippines and conduct high-profile military exercises with Indo-Pacific allies and partners.
Bilateral Tensions Persist Despite US Secretary Blinken’s China Visit
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent visit to China did not resolve fundamental differences on key issues between the US and China.
China Challenge Intensifies US-Japan-Philippines Cooperation
The United States and two major Indo-Pacific allies – Japan and the Philippines – are intensifying diplomatic and military cooperation in direct response to China’s “strategic challenge.”
US-China Tensions Persist Despite Biden-Xi Call
Pamir observes that US and Chinese official readouts indicate that fundamental disagreements on priority issues – Taiwan, the South China Sea, trade, and technology –continue to strain the relationship. US-China relations are likely to remain turbulent for the rest of 2024.
China’s Position on Hamas-Israel War
On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched a major terrorist attack against Israel. Israel retaliated with massive military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in huge civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis. As the Hamas-Israel war escalated, China took a seemingly neutral position by refusing to denounce Hamas but stating instead that China opposes attacks on civilians by any party.
Pamir's Dr. Mercy Kuo podcast interview with China in Context, SOAS China Institute
Did you catch this latest podcast interview with Dr. Mercy Kuo from China in Context, China Institute, London?
US and Japan To Upgrade Defense Pact
The US and Japan are expected to announce an upgrade to their defense pact at the April 10 meeting between President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington.
Generative AI transforming big pharma drug design
Generative AI is transforming the expensive and slow process of drug design and offers the opportunity for the discovery of novel drug compounds.
China Update - Chinese experts see no likelihood of major improvements in US-China relations - 13 December 2023
Chinese government propaganda hailed the meeting between presidents Biden and Xi in San Francisco on 15 November as a “historical milestone” in Sino-US relations, claiming that Xi reached at least three objectives.
China-Philippines Maritime Dispute Intensifies
Chinese and Philippine naval and coast guard maritime maneuvers around Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea are heightening regional tensions. Pamir assesses that the intensifying maritime dispute is steadily increasing the likelihood of accidents that may negatively impact commercial shipping lanes and supply chains.
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