
Ted Galen Carpenter
Senior Fellow, Randolph Bourne Institute
Apr 28, 2023
The Taiwan stand-off between the island, China, and the U.S. has been a simmering point of tension for decades, but with anti-China rhetoric ratcheting up in the West, and bolder American overtures towards Taiwan’s elected leaders, the potential for open conflict seems more and more likely.
Mar 06, 2023
The tattered U.S.-Russia relationship serves as one example of how far a “Cold War” can go when America escalates the situation. And by repeating these same steps with China today, the U.S. might be pushing two of its rivals together - the exact situation that Washington wants to avoid.
Nov 09, 2022
As a new election cycle is upon the American public, candidates are looking to capture votes by pointing at the China-boogeyman - now a bipartisan cause. How we ended up with lashing out at China as one of 2022’s safest political plays deserves a dive into the background and facts.
May 06, 2022
The crisis in Ukraine quickly led China-observers to draw comparisons to the similar provocations that exist in the Taiwan Strait regarding Taiwanese sovereignty and Beijing’s desire to take control of the island. The way Russia’s offensive is unfolding can lead to sobering takeaways for all sides party to Taiwan and China’s standoff.
Mar 04, 2022
After Trump drastically shifted the U.S. approach to North Korea, the Biden administration’s policy seems to be more aligned with the previous decades of stalemated isolation of the small nation. A new approach could normalize relations and stabilize security concerns in Asia.
Nov 30, 2021
The China-Taiwan standoff has been a flashpoint for international tensions involving the U.S. for the better part of the last century. With Biden in the Oval Office and the U.S.’s escalating attention towards China, the latest developments in the space must be watched closely.
Sep 03, 2021
The collapse of Afghanistan’s government has caused a shift in the discourse about other U.S. defense commitments around the world. China has engaged in public saber-rattling when it comes to Taiwan, yet the situation is day and night in comparison.
Jun 22, 2021
Efforts to placate both the United States and the PRC are proving ever more challenging, as the recent Group of Seven and NATO summits have shown.
May 13, 2021
Japan’s balancing act has gotten increasingly more challenging over the years. Tasked with trying to placate both China, its powerful neighbor, and the United States, its long-time ally and protector, Tokyo’s delicate balancing act is becoming ever more difficult to sustain.
Mar 22, 2021
A complete reassessment of Washington’s stance on territorial disputes in the East and South China Sea is long overdue. Implied obligations and strategic ambiguity only increases risks for all parties.