US-China Relations
Japan follows the US and the Netherlands in restricting the export of chip-making equipment
After months of pressure from Washington, Japan has joined the US and the Netherlands in restriction the export of advanced chip-making equipment, as the technology race with China ramps up.
US to restrict select private-sector investments in sensitive Chinese technologies over national security concerns
In an unprecedented move, the US Treasury will be given powers to monitor and restrict select US private-sector investments in Chinese sensitive technologies, specifically those that could advance China’s military, intelligence, surveillance, or cyber-related agendas.
Is recent US-China diplomacy a sign of thawing relations?
A series of three meetings between senior US and China officials and diplomats failed to deliver any concrete results, but is it a sign that both parties are willing to open the lines of communication?
Tensions mount as Taiwan elections draw nearer
Washington is having to tread a delicate diplomatic tightrope as China starts to ramp up pressure on Taipei in advance of Taiwan’s presidential elections in January 2024.
China Update - China Decries US-ROK Summit - 4 May 2023
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol paid a state visit to the US from 24 to 30 April to mark the 70th anniversary of the US–South Korea (ROK) alliance.
The Netherlands imposes restrictions on the export of chip-making equipment to China
New export controls imposed by the Netherlands will limit ASML Holdings NV exports of advanced chip-making equipment to China.
US-Philippines relations warm amid Chinese provocations
The Philippines is having to walk a thin line between appeasing China and supporting US and allied regional security.
China targets US companies
After five years of trade and technology restrictions placed on China, spearheaded by the Donald Trump and Joe Biden administrations, Chinese authorities are increasingly targeting US and Western interests in retaliation. In recent months, China has begun to punish US firms for military sales to Taiwan, CHIPS Act restrictions, perceived or contrived infosec vulnerabilities, and domestic financial misconduct.
US-Taiwan-G7 Leaders: Building trade partnerships and mitigating risk from China
As the US and Taiwan foster closer trading partnerships and increased bilateral trade flows, China has retaliated with sanctions on US and Taiwanese companies and has conducted military drills near the island, as growing trade tensions threaten to spill over into military tensions, increasing the risk of sea and air miscalculations.
G7 Leaders discuss China at recent summit
During the recent G7 leaders’ summit in Japan, President Biden commented on US-China relations during a press conference which were picked up by international media: Biden sees shift in ties with China shortly.
China’s amended Counterespionage Law is creating an unpredictable risk environment for US companies
Despite promoting foreign investment, China’s introduction of its amended Counter Espionage Law is “spooking” both foreign investors, as well as the foreign local business community after a spate of local US office closures and the detention of foreign executives.
China, Taiwan and the US – Pamir’s analysts assess Taiwan Strait tensions
At the end of March The Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world, reported that Americans are increasingly worried about China-Taiwan tensions. According to Pew, 47% of US adults say tensions between mainland China and Taiwan are a very serious problem for their country, up 4% since October 2022 and 19% since February 2021.
China Update - Blinken-Wang meeting does nothing to reverse the deteriorating trend of US-China relations -1 March 2023
Beijing believes the Biden administration wants to force China to serve a US agenda. The Chinese leadership perceives Washington’s measures – supporting Taiwan independence, inhibiting trade, increasing military pressure around China, and imposing a technology blockade – as efforts to undermine China’s development.
US and China up the ante on export controls
Both sides are expanding and tightening export control enforcement of sensitive technologies and export violations that threaten national security in the escalating technology race between China and the West.
China Update - Absence of top-level comms hinders US and China from mitigating risk - 16 February 2023
China has taken an increasingly confrontational stand against the US in the wake of the spy balloon incident, accusing the US of engaging in “information and public opinion warfare.”