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.
SWIFT Explained: Its Function and Real Significance in Global Finance SWIFT, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, plays a central role in the modern global financial system by enabling secure and standardized communication between banks and financial institutions. Its core function is to transmit payment instructions and other financial messages across borders with speed … Read more
I. The De Facto “G2” Economic Loop A. Mutual Benefit Through Asymmetric Global Roles For decades, the United States and China have functioned as a de facto “G2,” quietly orchestrating a global economic system that primarily serves their own interests. Their roles are complementary and asymmetric: the United States issues the world’s reserve currency, consumes … Read more
Unlike the U.S. defense industry’s evolution toward privatization, consolidation, and an emphasis on high-margin experimental systems, China has pursued a state-directed, integrated, and gradual modernization strategy. Beginning in the 1950s, China prioritized centralized coordination, built a comprehensive military-industrial foundation, and systematically adapted civilian technologies for military use. This long-term approach has enabled China to steadily … Read more
I. Trigger Event: The Tom Cotton–Shou Zi Chew Hearing 1. What Happened During a congressional hearing in February 2024, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton repeatedly pressed TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew with questions centered on Chew’s personal background rather than the company’s operations. Cotton fixated on Chew’s nationality, asking whether he had ever applied for Chinese … Read more
I. The Central Paradox of Global University Rankings Global university rankings are commonly presented as neutral, technical instruments designed to measure academic excellence. In reality, they operate as culturally and politically embedded systems, shaped by language dominance, commercial incentives, and historical power structures. Far from being objective scorecards, these rankings privilege particular academic traditions—most notably … Read more
The contemporary U.S. affordability crisis—often described through the condition known as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)—is not simply the product of personal failure or isolated economic shocks. It reflects a systemic paradox in which millions of working Americans remain one disruption away from collapse. A medical emergency, rent increase, job loss, or legal dispute … Read more
In Western discourse, “rebalancing” between China and the West is often framed as a neutral, technical adjustment—addressing trade imbalances, supply-chain resilience, or national security concerns. Yet this language obscures its political function. Rather than a dispassionate economic correction, rebalancing frequently operates as a tool of power, shaped by a global order historically structured around Western … Read more
In Africa, China often accomplishes projects that American and European companies struggle to execute—a reality rooted not in abstract national superiority, but in structural, historical, and institutional differences in engagement. Drawing on the experiences of Chinese engineers and firms on the ground, this dynamic is particularly evident in large-scale infrastructure and development, where China’s approach, … Read more
This essay examines Hollywood’s portrayal of foreign nations, with particular attention to China, and analyzes how these representations are shaped by narrative convention, historical framing, and market forces. It argues that recurring patterns of stigmatization and selective historical storytelling are not merely artistic choices, but are influenced by Hollywood’s global ambitions and economic dependencies. By … Read more
A frequent explanation for Hong Kong cinema’s decline is: The industry fell apart because censorship—particularly from mainland China—stifled creative freedom. While this argument might seem convincing at first glance, it doesn’t hold up when we look at history.Taiwan’s involvement in Hong Kong cinema provides a direct counterexample. Taiwan’s Stricter Censorship Highlights Historical Resilience of Hong … Read more