China-US trade war

Passengers wait for trains at Hongqiao Railway Station in Shanghai on 29 September 2023. (Rebecca Bailey/AFP)

Will China's economy 'collapse' again?

Despite speculations about the decline of China’s economy, Chinese academic Han Heyuan says that history has shown that such contrarian sentiments have been proven wrong time and again, for example in the case of the US, Japan and even China during the turn of the century.
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk together after a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' week in Woodside, California, on 15 November 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)

Fruitful summit a sign of improving US-China relations?

Both China and the US needed a successful summit to take place for their own domestic reasons, and the San Francisco meeting achieved that, says EAI senior research fellow Lance Gore. However, the real question is whether the US is actually going for a win-win cooperation with China, or a lose-lose situation hoping that China will lose more?
US President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, on 14 November 2022. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The Middle East shadow on Biden-Xi meeting in San Francisco

While there are some expectations that the US and China may agree to work more closely on preventing the Gaza conflict from escalating into a wider regional war, their starting points when they meet in San Francisco may be too far apart. Academic Alex Arduino examines the issue.
People walk at the venue of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China, 6 November 2023. (Casey Hall/Reuters)

China International Import Expo: A good start amid challenges and criticism

The annual China International Import Expo (CIIE) is back this year as a fully in-person event after three years of the pandemic. However, while the authorities say that the results are looking good, participants may not be saying the same thing. Despite positive attendance numbers, is the CIIE truly effective at expanding global business activities and promoting market openness in China?
A logo of Tik Tok is seen during a media tour at the company's headquarters in Singapore on 7 September 2023. (Roslan Rahman/AFP)

[Big read] How Chinese enterprises de-risk by ‘Singapore-washing’ amid China-US tensions

Singapore has become a favoured business hub to set up headquarters for foreign companies, especially Chinese enterprises. However, this may come at a cost for the country, including a negative reputation and soaring real estate demand. Lianhe Zaobao senior correspondent Chew Boon Leong speaks with analysts to find out why international businesses are moving from their home base and the implications.
An employee works on a large construction equipment at a factory in Haian, Jiangsu province, China, on 16 October 2023. (AFP)

China’s family-run businesses face succession issues

China's economic boom has driven the flourishing of private entrepreneurship and led to the emergence of tens of millions of family businesses in the country. But many of these businesses are facing a challenge now: who will be their successor? Caixin journalists tell us more.
US President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, 14 November 2022. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

US and China cannot defeat each other: They are their own biggest enemies

Healthy competition between systems to see what works best to improve the lives of the people would be a more productive framework of engagement between China and the US, which each have their flaws, says US academic Zhu Zhiqun. A little cultural humility in the process of self-exploration and self-critique will go a long way.
In this picture taken on 30 August 2023, workers assemble a motorbike at the Northstar Precision Vietnam factory in Vinh Phuc province.  (Nhac Nguyen/AFP)

The global south's rare development opportunity as big countries de-risk

EAI academic Chen Gang notes that although the Chinese authorities are against the Western notion of “de-risking”, it has itself taken steps to de-risk, with ASEAN overtaking Europe and the US as China’s largest trade partner. As major countries are gaining ground in their de-risking strategies, the global south is set to benefit.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden along with world leaders arrive to pay their respect at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Raj Ghat on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi on 10 September, 2023. (PIB/AFP)

China and India are not playing a zero-sum game in the global south

With the announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor at the recent G20 summit, it could be easy to assume that India has made its strategic decision to join the US-led West to counter China, or that the IMEC is a natural rival to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. But complementary multilateral structures may not be a thing of the past.