Piers Tang

Piers Tang is a long-term China observer, focusing on China–United States relations, China's industrial ascent, and the differences between Eastern and Western cultures.

Understanding Anti-Chinese Discrimination Overseas

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The experience of discrimination against Chinese people abroad is a complex, multi-dimensional issue. It is shaped by historical migration trends, cultural norms, social perceptions, structural inequalities, and personal reactions. This analysis brings together viewpoints from Chinese individuals, outside observers, and researchers, drawing on lived experiences, social practices, and wider systemic influences. 1. Historical and Cultural … Read more

Why Math Olympiads Miss Research Talent in Education Systems

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I. Mathematical Competitions vs. Mathematical Research 1. The Nature of the IMO and Competitive Mathematics The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is designed to evaluate a very specific set of skills, emphasizing speed, precision, and mastery of elementary topics such as combinatorics, geometry, number theory, and algebra. Participants are trained to recognize patterns quickly, apply technical … Read more

How China Became the Center of Gravity in the Global EV Era

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Introduction: From World Factory to Technology Exporter Over the last forty years, China’s position in the global automotive industry has experienced a profound transformation. Once primarily a recipient of foreign technology in exchange for market access, China has emerged as the world’s leading hub for new energy vehicle (NEV) innovation. Today, it exports not only … Read more

Chinese Americans Reassess Identity Against China’s Rise

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I. The Provocation: Generational Tensions in the Immigrant Experience The provocation at the heart of this generational conflict between first- and second-generation Chinese Americans is not a rejection of immigration itself, but a pointed critique of the assumptions that have underpinned the immigrant journey. Second-generation Chinese Americans, often referred to as ABCs (American-born Chinese), argue … Read more

Why Europe Escaped Overwork While U.S. and East Asia Didn’t

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Level 1: How Institutional Design Governs Work Behavior Before Culture Does At the most fundamental level, patterns of work and competition are determined less by cultural values than by the institutional environments in which individuals operate. When incentives, constraints, and protections are structured in specific ways, behavior adjusts accordingly. Europe offers a clear illustration of … Read more

From Short-Term Gains to Global Power: Cold War Beneficiaries

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The Cold War, lasting roughly from 1947 to 1991, shaped global geopolitics, economics, and technology. Its consequences were uneven: some nations were immediate short-term beneficiaries, while others gained in the long term. This analysis categorizes the effects on major countries and regions and explores China’s unique position. I. The United States: The Ultimate Winner? 1. … Read more

State-Led Capitalism in Action: China’s Mask Manufacturing

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I. How State-Led Capitalism Operates in Practice China’s system of state-led capitalism is best understood as a pragmatic hybrid rather than an ideological extreme. It does not resemble Soviet-style central planning, nor does it follow Western laissez-faire principles. Under normal conditions, production and allocation are largely market-driven, with firms competing, innovating, and responding to demand … Read more

Should China Be Grateful to the West for WTO Accession?

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I. Gratitude or Reciprocity? Reframing the Meaning of China’s WTO Accession At the heart of debates over China’s rise lies a fundamental question: should China’s integration into the global economy be understood in terms of gratitude and patronage, or as the outcome of mutual interest among sovereign actors? The assertion that China “owes” its development … Read more

Why BOE’s Success Reveals Double Standards on China’s Growth

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China’s rise is often framed in Western discourse not as a normal phase of development, but as a systemic disruption. Concepts like “rebalancing” are presented as neutral, technical responses—addressing trade deficits, market distortions, supply-chain vulnerabilities, or national security concerns. Yet, a closer examination reveals that such narratives function less as economic diagnoses and more as … Read more

Why China Resists Containment Unlike the Soviet Union

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1. Civilizational and Cultural Foundations 1.1 Ethnic Continuity and Civilizational Resilience in Comparative Perspective China and the Soviet Union were both multi-ethnic polities, yet their internal cohesion and long-term resilience differed in fundamental ways. China has historically been anchored by a dominant and enduring cultural core, shaped by a civilization with several millennia of continuity. … Read more