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The British Government’s stance on China is riddled with contradictions and a historical lack of understanding. A recently published report from the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) characterises the threat from China as less James Bond and more Jeff Bezos. It is the overt, by-the-book economic ties that underpin our relationship with the worlds secondContinue reading “From the golden era to the dark ages: where does the British China relationship go from here?”

Those who are waiting for the Middle Eastern states to sacrifice trade with China in protest of their treatment of Muslim ethnic minorities, will be waiting forever. China’s economic and diplomatic relationships with Middle Eastern (ME) states have flourished in tandem with its intensifying national policies of ‘de-Arabisation’. This has caused many western commentators toContinue reading “The struggle to understand Middle Eastern support for China”

Last week Xi Jinping chaired the inaugural ‘China-Central Asia Summit’. The five autocratic leaders of the ‘C5’ (Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) travelled to Xi’an, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, to discuss energy, trade, education, and regional security. With Russia and the US both drained by costly and unpopular wars inContinue reading “The Belt and Rifle Initiative: a sea change in Central Asian security relationships is coming”

In many ways that pertain solely to the war in Ukraine, the G7 leaders are more aligned and steadfast than ever. But on uncertain questions about the future of the international order, and China’s intentions and role within it, their very different priorities keep them as divided as ever. The 49th G7 summit was heldContinue reading “G7 on China: All for one and one for all?”

27/03/2022 China’s full frontal assault on its tech giants cannot be written off as another example of autocratic paranoia. International anti-trust action against global techbehemoths is too important. On April 10th of last year, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) kicked off a regulatory assault on China’s tech companies, by slapping a fine ofContinue reading “China’s regulatory blitzkrieg in perspective”

13/03/2022 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is clearly a watershed moment for the worlds commercial and security relationships, but as of today it is not clear why. Recent events in Ukraine have thrown the grand narrative of China’s unstoppable rise into the air, leaving analysts scrambling to see how the lay of the land will changeContinue reading “How do sanctions on Russia affect China’s unstoppable rise?”

Consumption, innovation and industry take centre stage, but striking long term political goals are hiding in plain sight. On Friday the 5th of March, the first session of the annual National Peoples Congress commenced in Beijing. The meeting of the worlds largest parliamentary body typically lasts between 10-14 days, and is mostly tasked with ratifyingContinue reading “The fourteenth five year plan”