Articles by Zha Daojiong

China may power Southeast Asia’s nuclear future

As Southeast Asian countries ponder the use of nuclear power, China looks set to be a key player, given its advantages in technology, delivery and support. Academic Zha Daojiong notes that selecting a partner in nuclear energy is a long-term decision that goes beyond financial considerations.

Zha Daojiong

21 May 2026

China’s global south dilemma: Ally, leader or outsider?

As the debate on China in the global south versus China and the global south continues, hard realities mean it may be difficult for the “global south” to act collectively. Chinese academic Zha Daojiong ponders the issue. 

Zha Daojiong

13 Aug 2025

Beyond the blame game: Why US-China scientific cooperation on fentanyl is crucial

China should continue to demonstrate to the rest of the world that the “control of [illicit] drugs is essential to the future of humanity”, as reiterated in the preface of its white paper just published. Doing that entails continuous cooperation with all countries, the US included, says Chinese academic Zha Daojiong.

Zha Daojiong

03 Apr 2025

Talk of a US-China war: How frightening?

Rhetoric by the Chinese elite of an America in decline has US political circles guessing at China's intentions. In truth, even if talk of "decoupling" or "de-risking" from China is on the rise, this is still insufficient cause for war. Echo chambers amplifying the issue is the last thing both countries need.

Zha Daojiong

05 May 2023

The Chinese offer of a Global Security Initiative: Anything new?

Last week, the Chinese foreign ministry launched "The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper", following from the Boao Forum for Asia in April 2022, when Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the concept of a Global Security Initiative, which includes respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, abiding by the UN Charter, and taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously. What does all this mean for ASEAN?

Zha Daojiong

27 Feb 2023

[State of our world] Is the world really heading into disorder?

Shutting out the din of international debates on US-China competition, Professor Zha Daojiong puts perspective on changing global dynamics, asserting that China is circumspect about its place in the world and the prospect of decoupling is further than people think. Besides, other players, albeit smaller ones, hold sway over the changing global order too. This is the first in a series of four articles contemplating a changing world order.

Zha Daojiong

05 Sep 2022

Even as US-China competition intensifies, the world can look forward to a few good things

Post Covid-19, while it seems that a world economy with two centres of dynamism - one America, the other China - is setting in, and "decoupling" and "deglobalisation" are becoming catchwords of the new era, academic Zha Daojiong notes that there are a few bright spots amid the gloom. Moreover, the new normal in China-US relations may be more stable and less worrying for Southeast Asia than commonly thought.

Zha Daojiong

14 Dec 2020