US-China – a relationship going sour
Like partners in a bad relationship, the US and China can’t find much right with each other these days. I discuss with Monocle radio:
Taiwan Diplomacy – Stopovers and Symbolism
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is heading for visits with two of the island’s 18 remaining official, formal allies with diplomatic relations (Paraguay and Belize), with all-important symbolic stopovers in the United States. I discussed the issue on Monocle radio.
What’s In A Name – Taiwan, Chinese Taipei, Province, Country, Region, Whatever?
With Beijing successfully pressuring foreign airlines to stop referring to Taiwan as a separate region, and instead show the implication that it is a part of China, the issue of the island’s status is again in the news. I discussed the issue on Monocle radio 24.
Putin-Xi Bromance Shows Up Fractured G7
Russia’s Putin flies to meet China’s Xi in Qingdao just as a fractured G7 shows its divisions in Canada. That the big two nations show their bromance — meeting more than 25 times already — on the eve of the US/North Korea summit shows that geopolitics is not a game for the faint hearted. I..
Taiwan Plays War Games During Tense And Busy Asia Diplomacy Period
Taiwan is conducting its “war game” simulation just weeks after China did its own – all this in a key period of Asia diplomatic maneuverings. On June 12, the US will open its revamped quasi-embassy in Taipei, the very same day that President Trump is due to meet North Korea’s Kim Jun Un. Monocle Radio..
Trump’s Head-Spinning ZTE Tweet Is All About Getting The Win
Donald Trump tweets about China’s tech company ZTE and suddenly the door to corporate death-row is thrown open. What’s going on? And how does it fit with the looming Sino-US trade talks and the situation on the Korean peninsula? I discussed these issues with Monocle radio’s The Globalist program. The whole program is available here..
In Playing The Taiwan Card, Will It Come Up Trumps?
China’s air force is again flying encirclement runs around Taiwan, giving stark evidence that the issues of the island and its sovereignty, autonomy or independence could easily become a serious world flashpoint – particularly as the US administration of Donald Trump seems to want to play a “Taiwan card” to tweak China’s dragon tail. Monocle..
My views on China’s First Domestically-built Aircraft Carrier
Making a huge statement about wanting to project military might, China is beginning sea trials of its first home built aircraft carrier, the same week it conducted exercises with its first carrier, a rebuilt Soviet ship bought from Ukraine. The country began a massive modernization program for its military in the 1990s. One catalyst was..
Clowns To The Left Of Me, Jokers To The Right
NewsDecoder, a non-profit startup I support aimed at getting millennials involved in the news, asked me write a few lines on China, North Korea and the United States. The original is available here. The complete text is: By David Schlesinger Pity China’s foreign policy leaders. An unpredictable, mercurial, untested, perhaps irrational leader in its neighbor,..
China and Trump – So What About Human Rights
I wrote the following for a discussion on ChinaFile. It will be published at https://www.chinafile.com/conversation/how-should-trump-deal-china-and-how-should-china-deal-trump on November 11 U.S. time. CHINA AND TRUMP – SO WHAT ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS By David Schlesinger Pity the Chinese human rights campaigner or intellectual who looked to the United States as a beacon, a model, a source of..