Trump and the Philippines: Will the Squad Top the Quad?

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The Indo-Pacific remains a shining beacon of hope in the United States’ otherwise dim foreign policy predictions. However, just like during President Donald Trump’s first term, securing U.S. interests through trade and reshaping international partnerships accordingly will remain a priority. To ensure U.S. trade, critical military, and technology supply chains,Continue Reading

The Secret Behind Temu’s Rock-bottom Prices

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In just two years, the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has emerged as a key contender in the global marketplace. In France, it ranked as the fifth most-visited online commerce platform in October 2024. In the United States, it is number three; globally it’s ranked second. At the heart of thisContinue Reading

Did the US Just Change Its Taiwan Policy?

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On February 16, 2025, the U.S. State Department quietly updated its fact sheet on Taiwan-U.S. relations, removing the long-standing phrase: “we do not support Taiwan independence.” At first glance, this might seem like a minor bureaucratic change. But in the context of China-U.S. strategic rivalry, the revision could carry far-reachingContinue Reading

Xi Jinping Holds Economic Symposium With Corporate Giants

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In a bid to tackle the country’s economic challenges, top leader Xi Jinping recently met with China’s private sector giants. He attempted to downplay the issues, stressing that “some difficulties and challenges facing the current private economic development generally appear in the process of reform and development and industrial transformationContinue Reading

How the CCP Co-opted an Ancient Buddhist Monk

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Kumarajiva, a fourth-century monk and scholar responsible for translating Buddhist texts into Chinese, is venerated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for developing Mahayana Buddhism in China. He is held up as a historical figure to in pursuit of several key objectives; highlighting the supremacy of Chinese Buddhism as partContinue Reading

How the US Aid Freeze Harms Taiwan’s Geopolitical Interests

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The fate of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington’ primary vehicle for delivering foreign assistance worldwide, has hung in the balance since Donald Trump’s inauguration. The turmoil started with an executive order on Inauguration Day suspending U.S. foreign assistance for 90 days. USAID began laying off contractContinue Reading