Great Power Politics

List of Great Power Politics articles

A large screen in a hearing room shows side-by-side images of a Chinese frigate and a U.S. Navy combat ship under the words "China's New Frigate Design Looks Awfully Familiar"
A large screen in a hearing room shows side-by-side images of a Chinese frigate and a U.S. Navy combat ship under the words "China's New Frigate Design Looks Awfully Familiar"

Why the U.S.-China ‘Cold War’ Framing Is So Dangerous

A Cold War crouch is inimical to a free, open, and flourishing society.

A visitor looks at a lighted map of Chinese pipelines at the China International Energy Saving, Emissions Reduction, and New Energy Science & Technology Expo in Beijing.
A visitor looks at a lighted map of Chinese pipelines at the China International Energy Saving, Emissions Reduction, and New Energy Science & Technology Expo in Beijing.

Stop Worrying About Chinese Hegemony in Asia

U.S. fears are not only irrational—they’re a potential self-fulfilling prophecy.

A closeup photo shows Xi and Biden standing next to each other and smiling at each other with a Chinese flag in the background.
A closeup photo shows Xi and Biden standing next to each other and smiling at each other with a Chinese flag in the background.

Is the Biden Administration Going Soft on China?

A policy shift toward economic engagement with Beijing seems to be underway in the White House.

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar participates in a foreign ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Benaulim, India, on May 5.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar participates in a foreign ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Benaulim, India, on May 5.

China’s Meeting of the Minds Is Little Talk and No Action

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation likes to think of itself as an alternative to the United Nations, but it’s even less effective.

A Congolese boy looks up toward a sign advertising a commercial center selling Chinese products in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Nov. 3, 2006.
A Congolese boy looks up toward a sign advertising a commercial center selling Chinese products in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Nov. 3, 2006.

Are China and Russia Bad for Africa? That’s the Wrong Question.

Westerners should ask instead what kind of partnerships their own countries offer to the continent.

A man in sunglasses walks past a group of buildings.
A man in sunglasses walks past a group of buildings.

The Long Arm of China’s Overseas Influence Operations

Illegal police stations are just the tip of the iceberg.

Lula and Xi walk side by side in front of a military honor guard.
Lula and Xi walk side by side in front of a military honor guard.

Why Lula’s Visit to Beijing Matters More Than Macron’s

The world’s economic dynamism is shifting to the global south.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen during a ceremony to commission two ships from the United States into the Taiwan Navy.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen during a ceremony to commission two ships from the United States into the Taiwan Navy.

Why Does Taiwan Matter to the U.S.?

The Pentagon’s top policymaker, Colin Kahl, details why the island is consequential to U.S. national security strategy.

Flags of the US and China are placed ahead of a meeting between US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and China's Agriculture Minister Han Changfu at the Ministry of Agriculture in Beijing on June 30, 2017.
Flags of the US and China are placed ahead of a meeting between US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and China's Agriculture Minister Han Changfu at the Ministry of Agriculture in Beijing on June 30, 2017.

Ukraine and Russia Need a Great-Power Peace Plan

How Washington and Beijing could stop the war in Europe.

An aerial view of a lithium mine that shws tripes of white and gold, and a crane in one of the stripes.
An aerial view of a lithium mine that shws tripes of white and gold, and a crane in one of the stripes.

The 21st-Century Gold Rush

Will there be a new cold war over lithium?

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (left) and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud exchange documents after signing a memorandum of understanding in Beijing on April 6.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (left) and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud exchange documents after signing a memorandum of understanding in Beijing on April 6.

The Real Motivation Behind Iran’s Deal With Saudi Arabia

The agreement is about far more than just normalizing ties with Riyadh.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen arrives at the boarding gate of the international airport in Taoyuan as she departs for a 10-day international trip on March 29, 2023.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen arrives at the boarding gate of the international airport in Taoyuan as she departs for a 10-day international trip on March 29, 2023.

Taiwan’s Diplomatic Dance

The best lines from Ryan Hass, Zongyuan Zoe Liu, and James Palmer on the latest China-focused FP Live.

A wide view of the delegations sitting at tables arranged in a triangle shape.
A wide view of the delegations sitting at tables arranged in a triangle shape.

China’s Good Offices

With the Saudi-Iran deal, Beijing shows there’s a place for its less judgmental, see-no-evil diplomatic approach.

Iran’s top security official, Ali Shamkhani (right), China's top diplomat, Wang Yi (center), and Saudi National Security Advisor Musaid al Aiban pose for a photo after Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume bilateral diplomatic ties after several days of deliberations between top security officials of the two countries in Beijing on March 10.
Iran’s top security official, Ali Shamkhani (right), China's top diplomat, Wang Yi (center), and Saudi National Security Advisor Musaid al Aiban pose for a photo after Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume bilateral diplomatic ties after several days of deliberations between top security officials of the two countries in Beijing on March 10.

4 Key Takeaways From the China-Brokered Saudi-Iran Deal

Anyone who believes we’re on the cusp of a golden era between Tehran and Riyadh should lie down until the feeling passes.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks with dignitaries and employees at U.S. technology company ViaSat in Carlsbad, California, on Nov. 4, 2022.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks with dignitaries and employees at U.S. technology company ViaSat in Carlsbad, California, on Nov. 4, 2022.

The Risks of the CHIPS Act No One’s Talking About

Governments are almost endlessly prone to throwing good money after bad.

US China Hawk in Washington
US China Hawk in Washington

Washington’s China Hawks Take Flight

The story of how decades of U.S. engagement with China gave way to estrangement.

Dalton speaks while sitting at a table alongside other U.S. officials.
Dalton speaks while sitting at a table alongside other U.S. officials.

The U.S. Overreacted to the Chinese Spy Balloon. That Scares Me.

So unused to being challenged, the United States has become so filled with anxiety over China that sober responses are becoming nearly impossible.

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