2025 Issue 42

The last week has seen a significant escalation in the economic battle between the United States and the PRC with some analysts pointing out that Beijing’s actions are coming from a position of weakness, not strength, as many of Trump’s critics claim.

The New York Times highlights that the dependency that the United States has on the PRC for rare earths is matched by its dependency on the PRC for most of its basic medicines. Addressing vulnerability will require sustained and costly effort to resolve.

Beijing’s gambit to attract foreign talent is backfiring as years of xenophobic propaganda and a terrible crisis of youth unemployment means that Chinese citizens are outraged that the CCP would privilege foreign scientists.  The CCP’s appeal for Indian talent is being met with particular outrage as racism against Indians is deeply ingrained in the culture Chinese leaders have shaped since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

A short video on the missteps by President Trump over advanced semiconductors and the race with the PRC over dominance of artificial intelligence.