“Because of Afghanistan’s placement in the centre of Asia, the knock-on effects of its past and current policies resonate beyond its own borders becoming regional and international concerns.” In 2021, after the twenty-year insurgency in Afghanistan, the Taliban, a fundamentalist group, returned to power. […]
During the last decade, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, international opinion on China’s global role has rapidly polarised. On the one hand, much of the world remains closely connected to the Chinese economy. On the other, some mainly Western states regard this dependency as
Event Description Following the announcement of the Indian-Middle Eastern Economic Corridor (IMEEC) at the recent G20 Summit, renowned Scottish historian and author William Dalrymple highlights the historical significance as an ancient Red Sea trade route mentioned in his latest book, ‘The Golden Road’, soon to be
Unveiling ‘The Golden Road’: The Ancient Trade Route That Shaped Our World Read More
China is going all-in on AI. From e-commerce to agriculture to law enforcement, few other countries have embraced artificial intelligence with the same speed and enthusiasm. In just a few years, it has turned up everywhere: whether opening a bank account or watching a shopping
Artificial Intelligence and Education: Lessons from China Read More
Edinburgh Zoo’s beloved giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang have returned to China. Their twelve-year stay has been a triumph for wildlife conservation and China-Scotland co-operation, while, as the UK’s only resident pandas, the pair have been a huge draw for Scottish tourism too.
(Very) Soft Power: Twelve Years of the Edinburgh Pandas Read More
Media plays a key role in information and decision making. It can reflect and shape the expectations of policymakers, investors and business groups. But the lack of enough key information can prevent countries and firms from understanding enough about other countries, firms and the market.
China and the West: Media, Information and Artificial Intelligence Read More
In late July, the Royal Institute of International Affairs hosted a fascinating webinar focusing on China’s attempts to achieve technological self-reliance, or the ability to foster indigenous tech industries, from semiconductors to electric cars. The webinar was lively, with diverse panellists covering everything from the
Can China achieve technological self-reliance? Read More
Is India set to replace China as a centre for manufacturing and consumer retail? Last month, in a study of Apple’s global strategy, The Wall Street Journal threw its hat into the ring and reported that the mega-corporation has set its sights on India as
India, China and the future of manufacturing Read More
It’s graduation season in China, but this year’s students are finding little to celebrate. Nowhere is this clearer than on social media. Instead of smiling for the cameras and throwing their caps in the air, as they would in better years, some students are having
Does China have too many graduates? Read More
In a recent webinar, Susan Shirk, a renowned research professor and chair of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California San Diego, and Rana Mitter, director of the University China Center at the University of Oxford, shed light on China’s evolving geopolitical
Overreach: A Deep Dive into China’s Geopolitical Ambitions Read More
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) means different things to different people and provokes a wide range of reactions. For some, it is an international expression of China’s economic rise, while for others, it is China’s neo-imperialist program. The BRI, also known as One Belt
Making Sense of China’s Belt and Road Initiative Read More
Watch Recording Event Description For three decades after Mao’s death in 1976, China’s leaders adopted a restrained approach to foreign policy. They determined that any threat to their power, and that of the Chinese Communist Party, came not from abroad but from within—a conclusion cemented
Overreach: How China Derailed its Peaceful Rise | Susan Shirk Read More
