Can China be separated from global value chains? Rising wages and the onset of recent tariffs slapped onto Chinese manufacturers by Trump have turned companies away from China towards safe havens in Southeast Asia and India, with foreign direct investment in Southeast Asia increasing by 11% in 2017. However, lack of infrastructure and immature logistics mean that for now, China’s manufacturing capabilities remain unrivaled. … Continue reading The Weekly Pigeon (September 30, 2018)

Why is China pursuing ports abroad? Recent exploits have signaled Chinese intent to control key infrastructure in the Middle East. Chinese operational takeover of the Israeli port of Haifa, previously a US home port, cast a shadow on the US-Israel strategic partnership. Plans of a Chinese partner firm to build a port at Doraleh in debt-ridden Djibouti have sparked accusations of ‘debt-trap’ diplomacy. Conversely, China’s … Continue reading The Weekly Pigeon (September 23, 2018)

Are Russia and China natural friends or uncomfortable allies? This Tuesday, it was reported that China is taking part in Vostok 2018, Russia’s largest military exercise since the Cold War. Some observers, such as Mikhail Barabanov of the Moscow Defense Brief, claim that “The Russian military is interested in seeing and assessing China’s progress in the military field” due to China and Russia’s “mutual interest in … Continue reading The Weekly Pigeon (September 16, 2018)

Debt-trap diplomacy in Africa? This Monday, President Xi pledged another $60 billion package in aid, investment, and loans to Africa at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Additionally, President Xi suggested that the debt of the poorest nations may be written off, lending credence to Senegal’s President Macky Sall’s statement that “Everything we do with China is perfectly under control, including on the financial and debt side.” Nonetheless, there … Continue reading The Weekly Pigeon (September 9, 2018)