https://www.scmp.com/rss/500431/feed Maximilian Mayer is an assistant professor in international studies at the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com US President Donald Trump seems to be promoting war with China, but what kind of war does he want? A cold war, a perpetual trade war, a war of words for re-election or something more? A new cold war is already unfolding, and pandemic control measures have advanced Washington’s vision of decoupling and strategic repositioning. The trade war appears endless while the war of words is accelerating daily, with Republicans and Democrats competing over who’s tougher on China. Trump has long blamed... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3085006/how-close-has-coronavirus-pandemic-brought-china-and-us-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3085006/how-close-has-coronavirus-pandemic-brought-china-and-us-military?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2020 17:00:17 +0000 The communications of the European Commission rarely receive international media attention, even on days when they do not have to compete with a possible pandemic and the impeachment drama of an American president. It has to be admitted that the eight-page document released on February 5, regarding a new system for European Union accession negotiations, does not stir much excitement. The gist of the proposal is to offer credible EU accession prospects to the Western Balkans. It also provides a... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3049840/proposed-eu-criteria-new-members-show-wary-europe-has-china-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3049840/proposed-eu-criteria-new-members-show-wary-europe-has-china-its?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Feb 2020 22:00:13 +0000 Britain’s counter-intelligence chief recently said he believes the United Kingdom’s intelligence-sharing relationship with the US will not be hit if Britain adopts Huawei technology in its 5G mobile phone network. This is the latest twist in a deepening saga with major implications for Huawei, US-China relations and global technological progress. In Germany, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier has been criticised for comparing Chinese with US surveillance capabilities, as the European Union laments... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3046357/trumps-campaign-against-huawei-symptom-digital-orientalism-ignoring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3046357/trumps-campaign-against-huawei-symptom-digital-orientalism-ignoring?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jan 2020 22:30:10 +0000 The past three years have seen increasingly vocal European criticism of China’s involvement in the continent. This culminated in March with the European Commission’s designation of China as a systemic rival. What is behind such hostility? Is it China’s growing global footprint through its gargantuan “Belt and Road Initiative”? Is it Beijing’s bonhomie with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe? Of all the factors that explain European wariness, the underlying one is the realisation that... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/3004542/how-make-most-chinas-accidental-rise-european-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/3004542/how-make-most-chinas-accidental-rise-european-power?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:00:06 +0000 The agreement between North Korea and the United States that both heads of state will meet for the first time in history to engage in face-to-face negotiation is a risky gamble. On the one hand, the news renewed hope that the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula might be resolved peacefully. On the other, a war seems almost unavoidable if the talks fail. Either way, the outcome will shape the future of East Asia in unexpected ways. While many observers overestimate China’s power, the surprise... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2137498/how-chinas-failure-watch-its-own-backyard-let-us-gain-upper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2137498/how-chinas-failure-watch-its-own-backyard-let-us-gain-upper?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Mar 2018 01:45:15 +0000 Europe’s, and especially Germany’s, strategic culture has not risen to meet current security challenges. The main threat stems from Europe’s proximity to an escalating major power conflict, partly enabled by the Western programme to democratise the Middle East. Though the EU only hesitantly supported that mission, it is now experiencing major ramifications from it. Europe is almost defenceless on its southeastern frontiers. Turkey is expanding militarily into Syria and Iraq and strongly... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2131068/europe-needs-real-defence-strategy-deal-threats-its-doorstep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2131068/europe-needs-real-defence-strategy-deal-threats-its-doorstep?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Jan 2018 03:37:16 +0000 The recent United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ruling favouring Philippine over Chinese claims in the South China Sea has highlighted ongoing tensions between neighbours in the region. In public, these discussions often highlight sovereignty and rights to resources. While such interests cannot be discounted completely, “access” is less a matter of national sovereignty over a specific region than it is to capital, technology and markets. In fact, the deeper concern in the South China... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2000901/how-make-south-china-sea-more-secure-both-china-and-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2000901/how-make-south-china-sea-more-secure-both-china-and-its?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Aug 2016 09:02:01 +0000