The Fight for Freedom is Over. Hong Kong is Finished.
A Hong Kong Police Department riot officer brandishes his weapon at protesters in a metro car. On June 4, thousands of Hongkongers defied a ban on large gatherings to commemorate the thirty-first anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s infamous violent crackdown on protesting students and workers. The anniversary comes one […]
Can China and Japan End Their Game of Chicken in the East China Sea?
As the world combats COVID-19, China has been increasing its maritime activities in the East China Sea. On May 10, the Japanese foreign ministry lodged an official complaint with China over an incident where two Chinese ships chased a Japanese fishing boat close to the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands. A month later, four Chinese vessels, one […]
Designed in China
Innovation is critical for high-tech manufacturing. Firms and governments constantly seek cutting-edge design and advanced manufacturing capabilities to produce the latest consumer goods and machinery. High-tech manufacturers drive economic growth—especially in advanced economies—and enable a country to compete in the global economy. China is seeking to dominate high-tech manufacturing. While China has made massive economic […]
Are Cold Sino–American Relations Solely Trump’s Fault?
Trump leads America in an era of poor relations with China, but have relations with China ever been good? Donald Trump’s foreign policy has been rightfully criticized by many Americans. American prestige and credibility has taken an extraordinary nosedive since Trump came into office. There is, however, one relationship Trump has perhaps taken unjustified criticism […]
Modern Maoism Prevails: Xi Jinping and the Use of “Red Memory”
In recent years, worldwide authoritarianism has been exposed to a new sort of “nostalgic nationalism,” where leaders increasingly rely on extreme loyalism and patriotic sentiment to promote an agenda. Within this genre of civic manipulation is a concerning phenomenon: heads of state reverting to tactics of bygone eras and rose-tinted propaganda to fuel support and […]
Censorship and Self-Censorship: China and the NBA
Illustration by Ellie Strayer “Tank Man”—the photo of a man defiantly standing in front of four advancing tanks during the Tiananmen Square massacre 30 years ago—is one of the most iconic photographs of the twentieth century. Search for it in the United States and Google returns millions of hits. Search for it on the Chinese […]
Is Enough Enough?—Farmers’ Dilemma Heading Into 2020
As America heads into another presidential election, trade relations with China continue to be a complicated issue. Just recently, Chinese officials canceled planned visits with US farmers in Montana and Nebraska. This was a surprise, as the White House had announced hours prior that they would temporarily spare more than 400 Chinese products from tariffs. […]
Re-Examining Japan’s North Korea Strategy—What Can Be Done?
On October 3, North Korea launched a missile into the Sea of Japan. It was the eleventh missile test this year, and the first one launched from a submarine. Japan claimed that the missile landed in its exclusive economic zone—an area two hundred nautical miles around the island. In response, Japan’s Self Defense Force (SDF) […]
Hong Kong Attempts to Criminalize the Basic Right to Protest
Photo courtesy of Aidan Marzo June 1989 marked a flashpoint for Hong Kong activism, when one million Cantonese people protested the massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Many Hong Kongers continue to observe June 4th to remember those who died in the crackdown. Martin Lee is one such observer. Lee is the founding […]
Into the Reiwa Era — Japan’s Unique Position in the World
Japan can pursue a smart diplomatic strategy that would make the most of the current dilemma and cement its status as an international leader in the new Reiwa era.