Author: wenxiang

Given China’s recent track record with political prisoners, it seems rather encouraging that they have now released Jigme Gyatso, allegedly due to ill health. While political actions against higher profile individuals continue, this may mark a shift in China’s policy, focusing on key individuals rather than suppressing dissent groups en masse. Given the CCP’s focus on… Continue reading China and Political Prisoners →

China’s increasing presence in Africa has been the result of a gradual buildup in economic relations since the turn of the century. Although this relationship has been the focus of much negative publicity in the western media, the fact remains that China has surpassed the United States as the largest trading partner of Africa (as… Continue reading Sinoafrican Trade →

With China continuing to project a 7.5% annual growth target, questions continue to arise regarding the sustainability of the CCP’s model of political legitimacy. Although the announcement additionally called for a targeted inflation rate of 3.5%, the economic slowdown is likely to have wide-reaching economic consequences beyond the nation’s borders. Of particular concern is the… Continue reading Economic Growth →

Chinese and Japanese navies have engaged in yet another case of saber-rattling over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands. Although it is unlikely that the issue will escalate further in the near future, the ambiguous political climate and lack of resolve to truly resolve the dispute has led to a further straining of relationships between the two nations. In the face… Continue reading Diaoyu/Senkaku →

As China’s (rural) population increasingly embraces the migrant lifestyle, the nation’s transportation infrastructure will come under immense strain during the biannual golden weeks, when the migrant population returns home to celebrate the holidays. The government has consistently poured much of its stimulus into infrastructural spending, often at the risk of contributing to the ongoing housing… Continue reading Migration and the changing (economic) landscape →