Decoupling

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.
A central processing unit (CPU) semiconductor chip is displayed among flags of China and US, in this illustration picture taken 17 February 2023. (Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters)

China’s new export controls on rare metals for chipmaking: Latest tit-for-tat in US-China tech war

The China-US tech war has heated up again as China imposes export restrictions on two rare metals widely used in strategic emerging industries. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Yang Danxu notes that this is a tit-for-tat move against the US for its export restriction of advanced chips and chipmaking technology to China. How will this latest move in the tech war affect the semiconductor industry and China-US relations?
Clothes are displayed on hangers at a Chinese fashion brand Shein pop-up store in Paris, France, on 4 May 2023. (Christophe Archambault/AFP)

Chinese e-commerce's growing markets in US and beyond: Opportunities and challenges

While Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu have been doing well in achieving fast and high growth in the US market, they face commercial and regulatory challenges too and would need to undertake several risk mitigation strategies.
A street sign is displayed before pedestrians on a street in New York on 26 May 2023. (Ed Jones/AFP)

Decoupling by another name: The risks of de-risking from China

Former journalist Goh Choon Kang notes that while talk of decoupling has changed to de-risking, the strategic intent behind it, targeting China, has not changed. But just relying on allies is not the best solution, and countries in Asia affected by the tide of de-risking would need to work together to jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade.
The chip battle wears on amid greater technological rivalry between China and the US. (Florence Lo/Reuters)

Micron ban: Will there be a winner in the China-US chip war?

With China barring domestic operators of critical information infrastructure from procuring products from US chipmaker Micron as the latest move in the China-US chip war, there are concerns about whether moving too strongly might lead to China hurting itself instead. Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing takes a look at how the chip war might play out.
Paramilitary police stand guard south of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on 5 March 2023. (Greg Baker/AFP)

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.
A general view of the rush hour traffic in Taipei, Taiwan, 17 January 2023. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

Taiwan's economy is breaking away from China's

Heritage Foundation researcher Min-Hua Chiang observes that China is fast losing its grip on its economic coercion strategy vis-à-vis Taiwan. With supply chains regrouping after a period of US-China trade war and geopolitical tensions, Taiwan has found greater support in its efforts to delink cross-strait issues with its economic survival.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a joint press conference at the State Department in Washington, US, 11 January 2023. (Joshua Roberts/File Photo/Reuters)

US Secretary of State Blinken’s visit to China is paved with thorns

Amid ongoing tensions, a high-level visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China in the coming week shows hope for improved relations between the two economic powerhouses. Zaobao correspondent Yu Zeyuan notes that while the meeting may not produce practical results, it is a much needed exchange to manage and control China-US relations from worsening.
Pedestrians in the Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai, China, on 20 December 2022. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

Tug of war: Taiwanese businesses in China tussle with decoupling and integration

While investments by Taiwanese enterprises in mainland China have declined due to geopolitical factors and Covid-19, many still have one foot in the massive domestic market. As a result, a number of Taiwanese enterprises have turned into “new mainland enterprises” as they integrate into the mainland’s domestic market. Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han looks into where Taiwanese enterprises are moving towards.