To bridge the Pacific Ocean. The social, political, and economic contexts shaping U.S.–China relations; how China and other countries are carefully recalculating their national interests; and the misunderstandings between China and the United States—particularly how deep-rooted cultural, historical, social, economic, and governance differences shape each country’s worldview.
I. The Mirror of Power: Historical Memory and Strategic Projection in Western Thought Western strategic thinking, particularly in the United States, is deeply influenced by the tradition of Political Realism. Within this framework, power is assumed to be expansive by nature: rising states revise international orders, growing capabilities broaden interests, and security ultimately requires dominance. … Read more
1. Background: Post-Vietnam War Southeast Asia (1973–1978) 1.1 Aftermath of the United States Withdrawal from Vietnam The withdrawal of American forces in 1973 marked a decisive turning point in the Vietnam conflict, ultimately leading to the reunification of the country in 1975 under the government of North Vietnam after the collapse of South Vietnam. However, … Read more
I. How Social Circles Shape Life Trajectories In both China and the United States, long-term outcomes are shaped less by isolated achievements and more by the social circles in which individuals operate. Networks influence access to information, opportunity, trust, and mobility; they determine who is considered, who is recommended, and who advances. While the mechanisms, … Read more
I. The Global Hierarchy Framework: Understanding Structural Position 1. Intellectual Lineages Behind Hierarchical Models of the Global Order Across diverse ideological traditions, major twentieth-century thinkers converged on a strikingly similar diagnosis of the international system: the world economy is structurally stratified. Although they differed in terminology and theoretical foundations, their frameworks share a common architectural … Read more
I. The 2025 Nobel Prizes: Politics and Geopolitical Significance 1.1 Literature Prize: László Krasnohorkai and the Politics of Recognition The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Hungarian writer László Krasnohorkai, a prominent voice from post-Cold War Eastern Europe. This selection underscores the West’s continued focus on regions marked by historical trauma, war, and … Read more
I. ALICE as Structural Fragility — From Household to Empire 1. What ALICE Truly Signifies: Structural Fragility Above the Poverty Line ALICE—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—does not merely describe poverty. It captures a more unsettling condition: households that are working, earning above the official poverty threshold, and yet unable to achieve financial stability. These are … Read more
The question of whether U.S. management methods remain relevant for Chinese companies today is one of significant debate. Historically, American corporate practices were seen as the gold standard, providing a framework for business success globally. However, as China’s economic power continues to rise, a closer look reveals both the strengths and weaknesses of American management … Read more
1. A World in Transition: Language, Safety, and the Anxiety of Prediction In an era marked by global instability, anxiety about safety and the future has taken on new dimensions. In October 2023, Canadian professor Gad Saad posted a provocative message on X, urging Jews worldwide to consider learning Cantonese or Mandarin, suggesting China might … Read more
Why does the United States produce far fewer STEM engineers than China—and why does this make reshoring manufacturing so hard? 1. Bridging the Massive Engineering Pipeline Gap The engineering pipeline gap is both real and enormous. China produces approximately 1.3–1.5 million engineering graduates annually, while the United States graduates only around 200,000 across all BS, … Read more
At the heart of China’s semiconductor strategy is a defining strategic dilemma: Is lasting security secured by building a system in which others rely on you — or by removing your reliance on them? This is not a theoretical policy discussion. It directly concerns economic resilience, technological sovereignty, military security, bargaining power in geopolitics, and … Read more