China’s economic pressure toolkit is back in focus because Beijing is expanding the ways it can punish, pressure or warn other countries without firing a shot. Reuters reported that China has broadened its economic tools during a trade truce with Trump, giving Beijing more leverage even while formal US-China trade talks continue. That is the … Read more
The Iran war is becoming a global economic crisis because it is hitting the world through energy, shipping, inflation, food and trade at the same time. This is no longer a conflict that only affects the Middle East. When oil routes are disrupted, LNG flows are reduced, fertilizer prices rise and growth forecasts are cut, … Read more
A Hormuz shock would hurt China. Pretending otherwise would be stupid. China is the world’s biggest crude importer, and the Strait of Hormuz is still one of the most important energy chokepoints on earth. But China may still be better positioned than many countries to absorb the disruption because it has built buffers that a … Read more