Genevieve Donnellon-May
Asia-Pacific Analyst, The Red LineArticles by Genevieve Donnellon-May
Economy
China wants US soybeans. Its buyers prefer Brazil
In China’s soybean trade, state-owned enterprises tend to help fulfil bilateral commitments while private processors weigh up the costs and benefits. This means that the recovery of US exports depends less on bilateral agreements and more on commercial justifications, says researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
28 Oct 2026
Economy
China’s beef tariffs reveal the limits of trade diplomacy
China’s beef tariff safeguard reflects domestic pressure to protect China’s cattle producers, but its country-specific quotas distribute the costs unevenly as seen by the Brazilian case, says researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
22 Oct 2026
Economy
Can China burn away Indonesia’s waste crisis?
Indonesia awarded 11 waste-to-energy (WtE) projects in under a year. It should not come at a surprise that Chinese firms won most of them, and are also making inroads in other Southeast Asian capitals. But WtE comes with tradeoffs, say researchers Kevin Zongzhe Li and Genevieve Donnellon-May.
Kevin Zongzhe Li, Genevieve Donnellon-May
15 Sep 2026
Economy
Who governs food security now? Why Beijing’s answer matters most
Global food governance is increasingly dispersed across overlapping institutions and frameworks. Few countries are better positioned than China to bridge them, but whether Beijing chooses to do so remains the defining question, says researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
10 Jul 2026
Economy
High-tech farming cannot rescue China’s smallholders
China has grand plans for innovation-driven productivity in the agricultural sector, but how will these initiatives trickle down to the regions and the large proportion of smallholder farmers? Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May discusses the issue.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
26 Jun 2026
Economy
Deflation: Beijing’s blind spot or its strategy?
China’s deflation reflects both weak demand and deliberate industrial strategy. But the model depends on consumption eventually catching up, raising questions over sustainability and regional spillovers for Southeast Asia. Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May explains.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
18 May 2026
Economy
China’s seed war for food security and supply chains
China is turning seeds into a strategic frontier — balancing domestic food security needs with global ambitions in agricultural supply chains, biotech dominance and the geopolitics of food production. Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May explains.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
27 Apr 2026
Economy
China leads Northeast Asia’s nuclear buildout
Is Northeast Asia’s nuclear revival a response to the Iran war crisis, or the result of deeper forces already reshaping the region’s energy future? Australian researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May ponders the question.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
16 Apr 2026
Economy
Transition under constraint: China’s energy strategy in an era of geopolitical risk
China reaffirmed that it would increase the share of non-fossil fuels in its energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions per unit of GDP under its 15th Five-Year Plan. Achieving this would require a carefully managed transition. Australian researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May assesses how China is striking a delicate balance between decarbonisation, economic growth and energy security.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
07 Apr 2026
Technology
From moonshots to market share: China’s Space+ strategy
China is unifying its space activities into a unified national ecosystem as it moves beyond mission-specific exploration to industrialisation and ecosystem building. Australian researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May explains how economic pursuits align with the strategic shift in how China views its role in the global space order.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
17 Mar 2026
Politics
Post-election Bangladesh: How China prepared while India lost ground
Facing Bangladesh under newly installed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, India finds itself in greater diplomatic uncertainty while China sees it as more of a political adjustment rather than strategic disruption. Singapore-based Indian researcher Amit Ranjan and Australian researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May analyse the situation.
Amit Ranjan, Genevieve Donnellon-May
26 Feb 2026
Society
China’s population turn: The start of long-term decline?
China’s latest population statistics show a fourth consecutive year in decline, with births falling to 7.92 million in 2025. A shrinking, ageing workforce is likely to constrain economic growth, but on the flipside, could a smaller population have its benefits? Researcher Genevieve Donnellon-May looks at both sides of the coin.
Genevieve Donnellon-May
24 Feb 2026