When asked about the Dalai Lama fleeing to India from Tibet in 1959, Mao allegedly said: “Better in India than in the USA.” He was surely right then. Now, 66 years later, the 14th Dalai Lama is 90, and the choice of his reincarnation can become a very sensitive international affair. The key issue is […]
American and Chinese Lessons from Iran
The regime is falling apart, and this could trigger tidal changes not only in the region but globally. America and China could be the first to take notice. After a week of “long-distance” fighting, Iran is crumbling. Russia, overstretched in Ukraine, can’t offer help. China, after failures in Ukraine and Gaza—where it believed Moscow and […]
Trump’s Taoist Solution
The situation is explosive, but Trump has a way out—do nothing, wu wei. It’s easier than pushing for something that grows harder by the day. An unstable mix of long- and short-term pulls is stoking tensions and bringing everyone closer to an unpredictable blast. Short-term US hesitation and zig-zags put many countries close to the […]
A US Cavalier in Asia
Hegseth’s speech in Singapore about China may not have reassured but worried allies and adversaries in the region. Is something that is not quite right in America today? Washington should deeply rethink its steps. In his recent speech in Singapore, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pledged to defend the region against Chinese aggression and […]
Slumber into Total War
BRI, BRICS, and the US retreat are fraying the old global order and kindling sudden flare-ups. China needs essential reforms to lead the world, but they are tricky. The US could make it, but its bets are high risk. Is everyone sleepwalking into destruction like before WWI? The recent brief but violent clash between […]
Pope Leo and Four Ways for War
The May 11 trade agreement between the US and China was beneficial for calming the markets, which were edgy about a massive tariff war that could upset the global economy. It was also important as it established a mechanism for constant exchanges to keep bilateral tensions in check and avoid sudden disruptive explosions. However, behind […]