Richard Javad Heydarian, Professorial Chairholder in Geopolitics, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Aug 08, 2025
The second Trump administration has combined aggressive diplomatic engagement with a confrontational trade policy that alienates allies and risks triggering a global recession, despite legitimate concerns about America’s industrial decline. While Trump's trade agenda aims to restructure global commerce to favor U.S. interests, its unilateral execution and failure to build a coalition undermine its effectiveness and may isolate the U.S. rather than restore its manufacturing strength.
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.
Li Yan, Director of President's Office, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations
Mar 24, 2025
With the Global South rising, Europe’s renewed emphasis on strategic independence from the United States could partially offset its relative decline in hard power and accelerate global multi-polarity.
Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General Emeritus, International Atomic Energy Agency; Nobel Peace Prize Winner
Dec 03, 2024
At 82, I have lived through countless political and social upheavals, enough to become somewhat inured to history’s recurring cycles. But recent developments have left me profoundly shaken and afraid. The bedrock principles of international law, established in the aftermath of World War II, are being flagrantly undermined. The ban on acquiring territory by force, the obligation to protect civilians during conflict, the limitations on the right of self-defense, and the United Nations Security Council’s mandate to “maintain international peace and security” are all unraveling, with little regard for the consequences.
Zhou Xiaoming, Former Deputy Permanent Representative of China’s Mission to the UN Office in Geneva
Sep 11, 2024
The multilateral trading system faces an existential challenge as Washington and Brussels look to continue, or even boost, protectionism. With the very survival of the WTO at stake, the world should stand up to the challenge.
Gu Bin, China Forum expert at Tsinghua University, Associate Professor of Law at Beijing Foreign Studies University
Oct 11, 2023
It is based on American-style multilateralism but transcends it. China wants to optimize the existing order rather than create a new one. It wants to inherit the American style’s merits but correct its defects and add an element of consultation.
Zhou Xiaoming, Former Deputy Permanent Representative of China’s Mission to the UN Office in Geneva
Jul 29, 2022
Europe’s interests require that it strongly back the global trading system and establish multilateral independence toward other countries, especially China. Strategically autonomy, however, means the EU must break away from its reliance on Washington.
Zhang Yun, Professor, School of International Relations, Nanjing University
May 31, 2022
Thirteen countries in the Indo-Pacific region have joined the initiative, which indicates interest. But there are problems with the framework as presented that raise questions about its ability to succeed and endure.
Zhang Yun, Professor, School of International Relations, Nanjing University
May 28, 2021
The Biden administration is pushing a multilateralism based on shared ideals, alliances and partnerships. For the United States, only homogeneous countries can ensure quality and efficiency. But the differences between Chinese and U.S. understandings go beyond diplomatic practice. There are theoretical differences as well.
Fu Ying, Founding Chair of Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University; China's former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
May 17, 2021
The principle should not be used to maximize the interests of any single party. When major countries follow the principles of multilateralism, they restrain themselves from seeking their own interests at the expense of others. Instead, they consider the overall good.