Zhang Zhixin, Research Professor of Institute of American Studies, CICIR
Jul 30, 2025
Attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities showed the pragmatism of U.S. foreign policy. The airstrikes were neither purely isolationist nor ideologically preemptive. Instead, they were a calibrated, interest-driven move to neutralize a threat while avoiding overcommitment.
Dan Steinbock, Founder, Difference Group
Jul 25, 2025
Since fall 2023, Israel has engaged in genocidal atrocities in Gaza. So, why hasn’t the Genocide Convention been used to preempt the violence? Why has the Convention proved ineffective since its creation? The West’s long struggle against the Genocide Convention is one of the central questions of Dan Steinbock’s new book, The Obliteration Doctrine.
Wang Zhen, Professor and Deputy Director, Institute for International Relation Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences
Jul 21, 2025
The answer will depend on whom you ask. But one thing is certain, the attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran’s nuclear facilities did not advance the cause of peace in the Middle East. They only added to suspicions and made a resolution more difficult to attain
Sajjad Ashraf, Former Adjunct Professor, National University of Singapore
Jul 11, 2025
The United States has launched a review of the AUKUS pact—a trilateral security arrangement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, signed in 2021. Established behind closed doors and announced with little warning, the agreement abruptly terminated a multi-billion-dollar submarine deal between Australia and France, provoking fury in Paris. France branded the move a “stab in the back,” accusing its allies of deceit.
Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General Emeritus, International Atomic Energy Agency; Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Jul 09, 2025
In 1966, the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, and China not only were the only countries that possessed nuclear weapons; they also had enough wisdom to recognize the dangers posed by nuclear proliferation. Despite their many and deep political differences, they arrived at a consensus to halt the further dissemination of “nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.”
Tong Liqun, Associate Researcher at Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong & Macao Studies, Shanghai Institute for International Studies
Jul 09, 2025
An extreme imbalance of power appears likely to emerge in the future. Donald Trump’s personal attitude will be a critical factor influencing the sensitive political dynamics of the island, and doubts about the reliability of U.S. support will continue to grow.
He Wenping, Senior Research Fellow, Charhar Institute and West Asia and Africa Studies Institute of the China Academy of Social Sciences
Jul 04, 2025
Was the so-called 12-day war a triple victory or a triple defeat? Will Americans tolerate a policy of “Israel first” over “America first”? The answers to these and other key questions will determine whether, and how deeply, the United States could be drawn into the fray again.
Sheng Zhonghua, Researcher and Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre on Contemporary China and the World, The University of Hong Kong
Jul 04, 2025
Data security governance has become a global priority amid rising competition over data resources, with the U.S., EU, and China adopting distinct models: the U.S. favors a market-driven, security-conscious approach with public-private cooperation; the EU relies on strict regulatory frameworks like the GDPR; and China enforces centralized, party-led oversight. Despite their differences, all three aim to strengthen data security within their respective systems.
Ted Galen Carpenter, Senior Fellow, Randolph Bourne Institute
Jul 04, 2025
Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party faces mounting political turmoil and scandal, weakening its ability to govern despite recent electoral wins. At the same time, doubts about U.S. security support under Trump leave Taiwan increasingly vulnerable amid rising tensions with China.
Adnan Aamir, Journalist and Researcher, Islamabad, Pakistan
Jul 04, 2025
The May conflict between India and Pakistan brought Chinese weaponry, particularly the J-10C fighter jet, into the global spotlight, as Pakistan used Chinese arms to shoot down Indian aircraft in a rare, real-world test of their battlefield effectiveness. This unexpected validation has boosted Chinese arms sales, strengthened China's defense ties with countries like Pakistan and Indonesia, and expanded Beijing’s geopolitical influence in South Asia at the expense of declining Western engagement.