Welcome to the 219th edition of Trade War.
In unprecedentedly direct language, NATO calls China a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that poses “systemic challenges to Euro-Atlantic security.” And Beijing lashes back, accusing the organization of “Cold War mentality and belligerent rhetoric.”
Hungary’s far-right leader Victor Orban makes surprise visit to Beijing, meeting Xi Jinping and discussing Ukraine. That is followed by a visit to meet Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. And for the first time in almost a quarter century, the Republican National Committee’s party platform has no reference to Taiwan.
Exports unexpectedly surge while imports shrink. Chinese are losing faith that their country’s system is fair. And auditor PwC starts mass layoffs in Beijing, Shanghai and other China offices.
Notable/In depth
The one-child policy accelerated the opening—and rapid shutting—of China’s demographic window.
“Beijing’s intention is to render the United States irrelevant. It’s not to conquer us,” says former Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger
And a good explainer on the Third Plenum from the Asia Society Policy Institute
Nato calls China ‘decisive enabler’ of Russia-Ukraine war
In unprecedentedly direct language, NATO has called China a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and says it poses “systemic challenges to Euro-Atlantic security.”
Meeting in Washington DC on its 75th anniversary, the 32-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization focused to a degree it has never done before on the threats posed by China—including China’s close relationship with Russia, growing nuclear weapons arsenal, and cybersecurity intrusions.
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