economy
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The Geopolitical Impact of China’s 2D Chip Revolution
In May 2025, news broke that researchers at Peking University had developed a bismuth-powered 2D chip that is reportedly 40% faster and 10% more energy-efficient than Intel’s best 3nm silicon chips. The significance of this breakthrough is massive, not only for the semiconductor industry but also for the geopolitical and economic dynamics of the 21st Continue reading
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Understanding China’s Rapid Growth: Lessons and Future Insights
I. The Miracle We Missed in Real Time Watching an expat couple marveling at Shenzhen’s transformation from a tiny fishing village of 300,000 people in 1978 to a 13 million-strong megacity in 2025 isn’t just impressive—it’s staggering. But Shenzhen isn’t unique; it’s just one visible fragment of a nationwide civilizational upgrade that unfolded across China Continue reading
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BRICS Without China: An Ineffective Alliance
“Without China, BRICS is a frustrated club. With China, it becomes a viable alternative to the U.S.-led global system.” 1. China & BRICS For years, BRICS—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—has been spoken of as a rising power bloc. Media headlines painted it as a sleeping giant poised to reshape the global order. In Continue reading
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Supply Chain Disruptions: Who’s Hoarding What?
I. Introduction The shelves are still full for now. But behind the scenes, a quiet frenzy is building. With rising tensions between the U.S. and China and sweeping new tariffs on the horizon, a new class of opportunists is getting ready to strike—not with policy or politics, but with pallets of inventory. These hoarders aren’t Continue reading
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Strategic Importance of Copper in Today’s Economy
In typical economic downturns, industrial metals like copper usually face declining demand and falling prices. But today’s global economic landscape—reshaped by intense tariff wars, geopolitical rivalry, and splintering supply chains—is anything but typical. Copper, the backbone of modern technology and infrastructure, could not only survive but potentially thrive in this complex environment. 1. The Shift Continue reading
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The Decline of Dollar Dependence: Implications for SWIFT and U.S. Finance
For decades, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) has quietly powered global financial transactions. Its widespread adoption solidified the U.S. dollar’s role at the heart of international finance. But recently, there’s been a steady rise in alternative payment networks—particularly spearheaded by China and the BRICS nations. Is the era of SWIFT dominance at Continue reading
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East Asia’s Advantage in the New Trade Landscape
Introduction: A Double-Edged Sword In 2023, U.S. tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles topped 100%, pushing firms like BYD to ramp up automation in Thailand and Mexico. This isn’t an isolated shift—tariffs, designed to shield domestic industries, are instead accelerating a global race toward AI and automation. The twist? East Asia’s networked economies are poised to Continue reading
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Understanding China’s Strategic Decoupling from the West
In recent years, discussions about China “needing” the West have flooded media narratives, policy circles, and boardroom forecasts. But dig deeper, and a more nuanced—and sobering—picture emerges. While economic ties between China and the West remain intact, they are evolving fast. Beneath the surface, China is not just hedging—it is strategically decoupling on its own Continue reading
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Trump’s Tariffs: China’s Strategic Economic Response
President Trump’s decision to raise U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports up to 245% has triggered significant economic and geopolitical tensions. China initially retaliated with a 125% tariff but quickly announced it would disengage from further escalation. Instead, Beijing has limited diplomatic engagement with Washington, avoiding high-level discussions while consistently criticizing U.S. policies on the global Continue reading
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