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The Maldives: An Intersection of Climate Crisis and International Politics

February 5, 2024 World Affairs Council Blog

Turquoise water gently moves over soft, white sands. Palm trees dot the landscape. Boardwalks lead to over-water huts, showcasing its appeal as a favorite destination for tourists. Behind these picturesque beaches lies more than just natural beauty. The Maldives has emerged as a crucial battleground in the escalating struggle for influence between the U.S. and China, a conflict intensified by the rapid reshaping of the islands due to climate change.

Reflecting on this, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Republic of the Maldives, stated at COP28, “In our island nations, every coral, every grain of sand, every fish, and every palm tree, carry value. Their loss is a loss to our economy. For our country.” This sentiment highlights the profound impact of climate change on the Maldives, where rising sea levels threaten not just its environment but its very essence.

By 2050, rising sea levels may render most of the nation uninhabitable. This environmental urgency intertwines with an expanding geopolitical struggle. For the U.S., national security interests extend beyond environmental concerns in the Maldives, largely due to its strategic position on key maritime routes. This is due to the nation’s strategic location along vital maritime routes. In this delicate balance of environmental and geopolitical interests, the U.S. has the opportunity to leverage climate change mitigation as a powerful diplomatic tool in the Maldives, creating a stark contrast with China’s approach. 

The U.S. can make a significant impact in the Maldives through targeted climate diplomacy, emphasizing local development and ecosystem preservation. Key initiatives could include blending traditional knowledge with modern science to support ecosystems and renewable energy, as well as responsibly scaling up sand dredging for island elevation, mindful of the ecological balance. Investing in research to minimize environmental impacts during island reclamation is also vital.

This innovative approach, focused on long-term climate adaptation, contrasts heavily with China’s infrastructure-centric strategy. Chinese infrastructure projects in the Maldives, a highlight of the Belt and Road Initiative, have prioritized fast construction. However, this rapid pace often overlooks the environmental cost, especially the carbon emissions that contribute to global warming, a critical concern for a nation like the Maldives. While boosting infrastructure, this strategy creates significant risks to the Maldivian people. The increased carbon footprint and potential ecological disruption from these projects don’t align with the Maldives’ urgent need for sustainable development. As a nation with one of the lowest elevations, the Maldives faces existential threats from climate change, and the environmental impact of large-scale infrastructure projects cannot be overlooked. 

The U.S., pivoting towards sustainability and adaptability in climate change measures, faces a complex landscape. China’s assertive presence in the region necessitates thoughtful implementation of the US’ climate-focused strategy. The recent appointment of a China-friendly President in the Maldives adds another layer of complexity. In this context, adopting a grassroots approach to climate change mitigation could prove effective. Aligning closely with the concerns of the Maldivian population, who are very conscious of their environmental vulnerabilities, underscores the importance of climate resilience at the local level.

When navigating these challenges, the U.S. stands at the forefront of defining how global powers can meaningfully engage in climate diplomacy in a rapidly changing world. By leveraging climate change mitigation as a strategic tool in the Maldives, the U.S. not only counters China’s dominance but also supports a sustainable path that resonates globally. This action goes beyond being a policy choice, it’s an ethical necessity in a world facing unprecedented climate challenges. As the Maldives struggles with the threats of climate change, the actions of the U.S. could set a standard for environmental protection and diplomatic innovation in the 21st century. 

Written by: Elizabeth Feller, a candidate in Northeastern University’s M.S. in Global Studies and International Relations.

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China and Japan: A Return to a Rocky Relationship of the Past?

August 29, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

On Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 1:30 Japan officially began its plan to release treated radioactive waste water from the Fukushima Disaster into the ocean. This event was the culmination of planning and research since 2019 by the UN’s International Atomic Energy Association in cooperation with Japanese scientists, researchers, and government officials to find a way to move this treated wastewater, as the massive tanks holding much of this radioactive water have lost most of their capacity to continue doing so.

Though some experts have commented that the amount of radiation that will be released into the ocean will be minimal with “negligible effects” on people and marine life, China has been quick to condemn Japan in its efforts to release this treated wastewater, labeling Japan’s action as an “extremely selfish and irresponsible act that disregards the international public interest.” Furthermore, the same Thursday that Japan started to release its wastewater, China’s customs agency issued a ban on any aquatic products, namely seafood, being imported from at least 10 of Japan’s prefectures. 

With such quick and unrelenting measures being taken by the Chinese government, concerns from Chinese citizens have also begun to rise, as many have taken to Chinese social media platforms, like Weibo, to express their concerns. Both on and off-line, criticism towards the Japanese government and citizens has slowly increased, as calls for boycotting other Japanese products have grown. Though less common, other acts ensuing out of anger have emerged, such as a reported incident of stones being thrown in a Japanese school in China, though no students were harmed. Within Japan, both governmental and non-governmental entities have been receiving harassment from phone calls by many angered at this wastewater release plan. This has prompted the Japanese foreign ministry to urge China to protect the rights of Japanese citizens in Mainland China at all costs.

As the relationship between the two countries has begun to strain, the question of legitimacy on China’s part has risen: is it fair for China to make the argument that Japan is out of line, while also contributing to the deterioration of the environment? After all, China’s own Fuqing nuclear plant was reported to have released radioactive waste in liquid form in 2020.

Thus, uncertainty has sparked over the past few days as some have started to doubt whether or not this is actually an issue of concern for the oceans and environment. China and Japan’s rocky history could partly explain China’s actions. In 2012, Japan nationalized a group of islands in the East China Sea, which were claimed by both Tokyo and Beijing. This event provoked protests all across China, as many cried for boycotts of Japanese goods in China, with eventually some of these protests turning violent, harming Japanese businesses and generating overall anti-Japanese sentiment. With this history, and previous tensions predating 2012, China’s ban could very well mean that the issue at hand is just another way for China to find a way to exert power over Japan. 

In its current state, Japan is focusing on trying to use diplomatic means to get China to overturn its ban. With officials such as Japan’s prime minister urging the Chinese government to change their policy, and other figures such as mayors trying to find ways to keep their seafood sectors sailing smoothly with the absence of a Chinese export market, Japan has yet to give up. Yet, with China’s track record, it seems that they are also reluctant to give up, and will continue in supporting their ban. It is imperative that both countries find a way to meet in the middle; if both continue on the current route, the chances for escalation in tensions is very likely, and a return to the relationship they had in 2012 can materialize faster than imagined. 

Written by Special Projects Intern, Noor Razmdideh

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Fentanyl: The New Chapter of Addiction

August 16, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

Fentanyl is causing massive destruction to communities all across the United States. 

107,000 Americans overdosed last year and two-thirds of that figure are overdoses estimated to be caused by fentanyl. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is unique in its ability to cause overdoses, as just 2 mg of fentanyl is enough to cause an overdose, roughly the same as a shake of salt. 


Fentanyl, which was originally developed in Belgium in the 1960’s as an opioid to relieve chronic pain has now become a nationwide crisis. Many experts in the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) are arguing that while fentanyl has rapidly become one of the most lethal illicit drugs to enter the US market, it shows a greater pattern of substance addiction and abuse. It is estimated that 140,000 Americans lose their lives every year to alcohol every year. These experts argue that the fentanyl crisis is just the most recent drug of choice in America’s battle against addiction. 

In the 1990’s, the dangerous drug OxyContin, an opioid like fentanyl, rose to national attention for its addictive traits. With users of OxyContin and other opioids using it to treat chronic pain, along with other individuals predisposed to addiction being prescribed these opioids, it quickly became a nationwide crisis. In the late 90’s, the US government made a conscious effort to prescribe less opioids to its citizens in an attempt to lessen OxyContin’s impact, however without treating the millions of Americans with substance abuse disorders or addiction these individuals found other sources to ease their pain.
 

With the decline of prescription opioids we begin to see the rise of fentanyl as well as heroin use increase in the United States. Fentanyl, due to its incredibly high potency as well as its chemical makeup, is incredibly affordable and, unfortunately for US border security, easy to traffic.

The recent fentanyl crisis is creating lasting impacts on both the United States’ relations with Mexico, the US’ largest trading partner, as well as China, which many view as the US’ largest rival. Historically, China banned the production of fentanyl along with the United States around 2017, however it is unclear if the exporting of precursor chemicals,  the chemical materials required for the production of fentanyl, stopped as well. While Mexican and Chinese officials have both denied the production of fentanyl or the shipping of precursor chemicals, many US politicians believe to stop the flow of fentanyl into the US, we need stronger border security, others advocate for more aggressive domestic policies. One Mexican cartel in particular, invested in the production and shipment of fentanyl into the United States. The Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico’s most organized cartels, has been caught several times at US border crossings bringing fentanyl tablets. It is also important to note that not just Americans are losing their lives to fentanyl, overdose deaths in Mexico have increased due to the popularity of the drug in the United States as well. 

It is clear that there is not one simple solution to the current fentanyl crisis, as it has connections to a wider addiction and substance abuse issue within the United States. Domestically, politicians need to support resources for those who struggle with addiction, in all of its forms. Internationally the United States needs to continue to bolster strong relations with Mexico in order to protect lives on both sides of the border. 

If you or someone you know is struggling from addiction,, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Written by: Administrative Intern Charles Larkin

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Striking a Balance: South Korea’s Path to Cooperation in the Face of U.S.-Sino Tensions

July 26, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

In recent times, South Korea has gained recognition as a global hub for entertainment, fashion, and technology. This piqued the interest of many global netizens who are eager to learn about the country’s culture with a desire to visit it. The widespread popularity of K-pop also helped expand South Korea’s soft power when conducting diplomacy. However, amidst these achievements, the nation is grappling with substantial pressure arising from one of the most significant geopolitical tensions of the 21st century—U.S.-Sino relations. 

As South Korea navigates its way in balancing relations between these two superpowers, it will encounter an increasing set of challenges preventing them from fully leveraging the benefits of each state. For South Korea to not be sandwiched by the two great powers, President Yoon must carefully outline Seoul’s national interests to determine a suitable path for South Korea, especially as the international arena is heading towards a polarized world. Nonetheless, South Korea is of importance to both the US and China due to factors including its strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region for trade, peace, security, and regional influence. Positioned at the center where authoritarianism meets democracy, Seoul is given the perfect opportunity to emerge as a key player in shaping global power dynamics between the East and the West.

Geographic Location as a Means to Preserve International Stability

South Korea’s impoverished yet dangerous neighbor forces Seoul to place peace and stability at the forefront of its agenda when evaluating US-Sino relations. North Korea’s unwavering commitment to upholding socialism and expanding its missile program is problematic to all states in the region. Even China, as one of North Korea’s only allies, has a hard time keeping North Korea in line; the regime did not hesitate to conduct a missile test during China’s 2017’s Belt and Road Initiative Forum, ignoring the diplomatic sensitivities of the occasion. Earlier this year, Pyongyang claimed to have developed “tactical” nuclear weapons capable of short-range attacks, thereby jeopardizing peace in the Asia-Pacific region. Moreover, the increasing threat from the North poses a significant risk to the economic stability of the region. The Asia-Pacific region tops the world as the fastest-growing economy, accounting for nearly half of all preferential trade agreements, while South Korea secures a position amongst the top ten largest economies. Despite differences in governance and opposing foreign policy agendas, Washington’s and Beijing’s shared commitments to upholding stability in the region emphasize the significance of both parties’ maintaining bilateral cooperation with Seoul.

Trilateral Diplomacy Through Chips?

South Korea has established itself as a technological leader, with Samsung and SK Hynix dominating the global market. Just as Seoul relies on the global supply chain for exports, Washington and Beijing rely on South Korea for imports and access to knowledge and expertise to create more advanced chips. This makes South Korea an attractive long-term partner. Furthermore, with the world’s reliance on technology increasing, a consistent supply of high-quality and dependable semiconductor chips is crucial for protecting national security. 

Recognizing South Korea’s expertise, the United States appealed to strengthen economic relations with South Korea, safeguarding its national interests while mitigating potential risks associated with China’s influence. In 2021, both Seoul and Washington agreed to enhance cooperation in chip manufacturing, requiring Samsung and SK Hynix to invest over $30 billion in creating new plants in the US. However, Biden’s proposal would put limitations on Yoon from partnering with China, preventing Seoul from accessing its largest consumer market. 

Xi’s proposal to Yoon is not unimpressive when compared to Biden’s offer. China’s crucial role in the global distribution of rare minerals, essential for advanced technological equipment, adds to the appeal. Notably, China dominates the global production of rare minerals, such as nickel, copper, lithium, and cobalt, making it an appealing partner for South Korea as both parties seek to advance their semiconductor industry. Geographically, China’s proximity to the peninsula provides logistical advantages. Deepening bilateral relations with Beijing can potentially result in reduced production costs for Seoul while fostering economic growth through increased trade with China and its trade partners. However, a partnership with Beijing will increase China’s sphere of influence in the region, posing a threat to South Korea’s political and economic stability, as witnessed with THADD deployment and Shen Yun performance.

Road to Cooperation

In an era marked by escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and China, South Korea finds itself at a critical crossroads. In order to avoid falling into a pattern of appeasement during the next couple of decades, South Korea should adopt a comprehensive strategy that leverages its advanced semiconductor industry and strengthens its regional partnerships. The importance of South Korea’s role in the global tech supply chain should not be underestimated. With leading semiconductor companies like Samsung and SK Hynix deeply involved in the manufacturing processes of major US firms like Microsoft and Apple, as well as Chinese entities like Baidu, South Korea’s potential extends beyond being confined to legislation such as the CHIPs Act or its economic relations with China. 

South Korea should also strengthen cooperation with regional actors, specifically Japan and Taiwan, to create an Asia Pacific trilateral partnership on shared interests. This newly formed alliance can create a new global tech supply chain that includes the United States and China. The cooperation will be led by South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, ensuring a balanced influence of all actors. The role of South Korea, along with Japan and Taiwan, will be to act as a mediator in the production and distribution of chips and semiconductors to both countries while creating policies to ensure that no actors in the production or consumption process will use chip information to sell national security information to any other players. If this can be achieved, it will promote greater stability in the region, foster dialogue between the United States and China, and maximize the benefits Seoul can receive from both countries.

Of course, the implementation of these proposals poses some challenges. First, while the start of a new relationship between South Korea and Japan seems promising, it is important to ensure that cooperation and the positive trajectory of the relationship are sustained over the long term. The durability of the partnership will be tested once Prime Minister Kishida and President Yoon’s terms are over and will depend on how their successors continue to prioritize and foster the bilateral relationship. In addition, China has repeatedly asserted claims over Taiwan, making it difficult for South Korea to conduct formal diplomacy with the island. Nonetheless, it is crucial for South Korea to gradually build and expand cooperation with Japan and Taiwan, accounting for geopolitical dynamics and economic considerations. By taking greater investments in its semiconductor industry and its regional partnerships, South Korea will be taking the initiative to facilitate dialogue with the two great superpowers and ultimately become a major actor in de-escalating tension between the East and the West, creating a more cooperative space in international relations. 

Sandy Zheng is a MS candidate in Northeastern University’s Global Studies & International Relations program. 

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The Great Pharaoh of China and the Struggle to Let the Uyghur People Go

July 20, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

Picture this: it’s 2:30 a.m.  You, your spouse, children, and newly adopted dog are sound asleep.  Out of nowhere, you’re awoken by the sound and the fury of banging at your door.  Doorbells don’t exist yet because it’s 1939.  You only speak Polish, and four men dressed in military fatigues brandishing SS insignia who only speak German scream at you, barge into your home and forcefully relocate you to what appears to be a prison.  You’re forced into a shower room with 100 other men, the tinge of a noxious smell hits your olfactory perception, and that is the last thing you ever feel.  What did you do wrong, you wonder in your last moments.  It turns out it was nothing more than the mezuzah on your door frame that gave you away.  Sound familiar?  This is what happened to over 6 million Jews during the Holocaust between 1939-45.

Close to a century later, a similar scenario is playing out in a largely unknown part of the world to a largely unknown group of people.  Who are the Uyghurs, you may wonder.  They are a minority Sunni Muslim group of Turkic origin totaling a global population of 11-12 million, primarily living in Xinjiang, China.  Xinjiang is the most Northwestern province of China known for its austere environment and, contemporarily, the location of modern-day debatable genocide.  But to understand what’s happening in Xinjiang, we must go back about 70 years.

After the defeat of the Kuomintang by Mao Zedong and the establishment of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949, the People’s Republic of China was established.  However, the “People” in the title can be a little misleading.  According to recent data, Statista shows that 89.43% of China is Han Chinese, with the remaining number being minority groups.  Moreover, World Population Review estimates the current Chinese population is 1.425 billion people.  This amounts to the Uyghur people accounting for only .772% of the Chinese population.  

This means that the “People” in the People’s Republic of China belong to the Han Chinese people, with all outsiders being seen as a nuisance, burden, and unnecessary, much like the Jews in Nazi Germany.  In the early 90s, with more and more Han Chinese settling in Xinjiang, a historically inhabited land by the Uyghurs, this naturally led to civil strife.  Elizabeth Economy, a senior fellow at Stanford, details how the situation reached a boiling point in the 21st century.  Beginning in the late 2000s, numerous terrorist attacks, mass killings, riots, and protests erupted in Xinjiang, resulting in the deaths of large numbers of Han Chinese.  In 2014, China, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the supreme despot of China, launched his “Strike Hard Campaign Against Violent Terrorism,” essentially turning Xinjiang into a police state ruled by a Gestapo-like group of what Mao would have labeled the Red Guards.  Under this anti-terrorism campaign, many traditional Muslim traditions, including praying, were outlawed.  Contemporaneously, the Xi regime began building large numbers of concentration camp-like facilities in Xinjiang and started imprisoning large numbers of minority Uyghurs.

China acknowledges the presence of these camps yet labels them “reeducation” camps aimed at reforming would-be terrorists into model Communists.  According to numerous sources ranging from scholars Lindsay Maizland, writer for the Council on Foreign Relations, IGOs and NGOs, to include major institutions such as the UN and Amnesty International, and prominent journalists, including Philip Wen and Olzhas Auyezov of Reuters, one thing is for sure: A genocide is brewing in Xinjiang, China.  According to all the previously mentioned sources, it is estimated that between 800,00 to 2,000,000 Uyghur people have been illegally imprisoned in the 385 detention facilities currently located in Xinjiang.  Within the confines of these detention facilities, it has been reported that brutalities such as torture, forced sterilization, forced labor, and forced indoctrination into Chinese Communist ideology are commonplace,.  The most challenging part, however, is proving it.  Like George Orwell’s 1984, Xinjiang is one of the most Big Brother-like, heavily policed regions in the world.  Xinjiang is also extremely austere, situated in a highly isolated and landlocked region of Asia largely inaccessible to the media.  Moreover, China has severe restrictions on freedom of the press and access to social media and the internet, making it nearly impossible for local people to report the truth.

What is occurring in Xinjiang today parallels almost perfectly with what occurred in 1932 in Germany, with the death of Von Hindenburg and the rise of The Third Reich and Adolf Hitler.  After the Great Depression, Adolf Hitler made great strides in recovering from the Depression through significant infrastructure projects (such as the Autobahn) and rebuilding the Wehrmacht (the German military).  This came at the cost of seeking a scapegoat onto which to project society’s woes, in the former case, the Jews.  Once Germany maintained its hegemonic status in continental Europe, it simply attempted to rid society of the scapegoat.  Today, with the rise of the People’s Republic of China like a Phoenix from the ashes and the supreme leadership of Xi Jinping as the ultimate leader of the Chinese Communist Party, China too has its scapegoat onto which to cast its Mein Kampf-like ideologies.  According to the Lowy Institute Asia Power Index, China ranks second in the world in comprehensive power and first globally in economic relationships and diplomatic influence.  In simpler terms, China, with its global political influence, economic strength, and military prowess, will sooner rather than later reach and even overtake the U.S.’s hegemony on the world stage.  Once this occurs, and China is given carte blanche to do anything that it feels.  Through simple historical precedent, the Uyghur people will become yet another statistic in the Guinness World Record Genocide Fact Book.

Resolving this conflict diplomatically is the equivalent of asking Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, or Jefferson Davis to stop being mean to your minority populations.  A hyper-extreme conservative state like China does not tolerate activists like Martin Luther King Jr or Gandhi.  Individuals like them have no voice or ability to petition a draconian communist government with a redress of grievances.  Additionally, nation-states with a dominant ethnic population and no significant obstacles preventing them from acting in an anti-social fashion toward minorities tend to engage in the universal art of ethnic cleansing.  Saddam did it with the Kurds, the Ottomans with the Armenians, and even the pioneers with Native Americans.

The most realistic option to stymie an impending genocide could be to use whatever IGO, NGO, and Western political influence are left to attempt to relocate the Uyghur people to an ethnically similar, sovereign territory to China’s Northwest.  Xinjiang lies on the border with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan (all three being former parts of the Soviet Union, Sunni Muslim, and of Turkic and Persian ethnic origin).  According to the CIA World Fact Book, 69.6% of Kazakhstan is ethnically Kazakhy (a Turkic ethnic group) and 70.2% Sunni Muslim.  Kyrgyzstan is 73.8% Kyrg (a Turkic ethnic group) and 90% Sunni Muslim.  And Tajikistan is 84.3% Tajik (a Persian ethnic group) and 95% Sunni Muslim.  The assisted relocation of the Uyghurs would produce what, in science, is called a symbiotic effect.  Symbiotic because it would mutually benefit both sides of the conflict.  China would benefit by ridding a clearly unwanted ethnic group from its territory and preventing the continuation of ethnic Han and Uyghur clashes in Xinjiang.  Conversely, the Uyghur people are saved from impending doom by relocating and inhabiting more friendly lands.  

If this (pragmatically realistic) plan were to come to fruition, it would be one of the largest assisted mass migrations in history.  Let us only hope that a 21st-century Muslim Moses exists that can help foster such an arduous undertaking and entreat China’s Pharaoh Ramses Jinping to let his people go.

Andrey Volfson is a MS candidate at Northeastern University in the Global Studies & International Relations program. 

References:

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023, May 30). Uyghur. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Uyghur

 China: CCP members by ethnic group 2021. Statista. (2022, July 1). https://www.statista.com/statistics/249994/number-of-chinese-communist-party-ethnic-minority-group-members-in-china/ 

China Population 2023. China population 2023 (live). (2023). https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/china-population 

Economy, E. (2022). The world according to China. Polity. 

 Maizland, L. (2022, September 22). China’s repression of

Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-xinjiang-uyghurs-muslims-repression-genocide-human-rights#:~:text=Most%20of%20the%20people%20who,sterilizations%2C%20among%20other%20rights%20abuses

Map – Australian strategic policy institute. The Xinjiang Data Project. (2021). https://xjdp.aspi.org.au/map/ 

BBC. (2022, May 24). Who are the Uyghurs and why is China being accused of genocide?. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-22278037 

Maizland, L. (2022, September 22). China’s repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-xinjiang-uyghurs-muslims-repression-genocide-human-rights 

Wen, P., & Auyezov, O. (2018, November 27). Tracking China’s Muslim Gulag. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/muslims-camps-china/ 

Central Intelligence Agency. (2023, June 15). Kazakhstan. Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kazakhstan/#people-and-society 

Central Intelligence Agency. (2023b, June 20). Kyrgyzstan. Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kyrgyzstan/#people-and-society 

Central Intelligence Agency. (2023c, June 20). Tajikistan. Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/tajikistan/#people-and-society 

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Shifting Allegiances: U.S. and Chinese Competition for Strategic Partnerships in the Middle East

June 27, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

Tensions run high in the Middle East as a host of conflicts continue without end. Many Arab states are under the impression that the United States is making a strategic pivot in its foreign policy away from the Middle East and its partnerships with Arab and North African states. In the wake of a U.S. less committed to its partners and allies in the region, the Chinese government has taken up an interest in filling that void. According to the Arab Youth Survey in 2022, which surveys thousands of young people across North Africa, the Levant, and The Arabian Peninsula, 78% of respondents stated that they view China as a close ally, compared to only 63% stating that they view the United States as a close ally. This rise in popularity of the Chinese has emerged for a few key reasons.

Young Arabs remain skeptical of the United States’ dedication and support for Israel, which many Arab nations see as both an existential threat to peace in the region and many labeling the Israeli state their number one enemy. Where U.S. relationships between Arab states are dwindling, Israel remains one of the United States’ closest allies. Chinese recent accomplishments look promising and young Arabs are more open to working with the Chinese especially after the Chinese government brokered an end to hostilities between two major regional powers: Saudi Arabia and Iran, in 2023. The Chinese entrance into diplomatic affairs in the Middle East stood in contrast to the previous economic involvement that China had in the region and looks promising. The Chinese are also not stepping down their efforts, attempting to reach another agreement between long standing rivals Israel and Palestine. Economically, the previous Chinese economic assistance has been helpful in the past for Arab states creating a strong working relationship between Beijing and Riyadh that has fostered trust and respect. Finally, another reason for the rise in popularity of Beijing is the declining acceptance of Russia as an ally. The survey showed that Russia has fallen significantly among Arab countries when asked to list allied nations most likely due to the war in Ukraine and it will likely be a while before states feel comfortable listing Moscow as a friend again.

The Middle East has just opened into an even greater arena between the United States and China. Can the U.S. regain its support among Arab states as the great negotiator or will the peace between Tehran and Riyadh allow for greater Chinese involvement into the Middle East? Either way, the hegemony of the United States is being threatened as states are beginning to look for other leaders among the international community.

Written by Administrative Intern, Charles Larkin

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China’s A4 Protests: The Blank Paper Revolution

December 20, 2022 World Affairs Council Blog

China has been in a tumultuous state since the coronavirus pandemic. Strict quarantine enforcement over the course of the last two years have left citizens feeling uneasy and have drawn more attention to human rights issues surrounding the Uyghurs, a Muslim minority within the country. Following an apartment fire at a Uyghur neighborhood in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China, where 10 Uyghur residents died, students gathered to hold vigils honoring the victims and protest the government. The fire’s high death count was suspected to have been in part to the strict Covid-19 restrictions that barred the victims in with the fire and slowed rescue attempts. 

A popular way students have been protesting while attempting to circumvent Chinese media censorship is through the “blank paper revolution”. Videos of protestors standing in solidarity holding pieces of white A4 paper have gone viral. Criticism of the Communist party government and President Xi Jinping have been mounting alongside the sporadic bursts of activism, and experts are viewing this as a possible turning point in Chinese politics. 

Written by Program Management Intern, Cindy Tse

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WACOC Annual General Meeting: Will the Global Economy Survive the US-China Trade War?

September 26, 2019 World Affairs Council Home, Past Speakers/Events, Slide, Upcoming Events

Annual General Meeting

Will the Global Economy Survive the US-China Trade War?

Wednesday, September 25th, 2019

A Dinner and Lecture Event

with

Professor Gordon Hanson

Pacific Economic Cooperation Chair in International Economic Relations at UC San Diego

Director of the Center on Global Transformation

Member of the Council on Foreign Relations

Co-Editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives

Register Here

 

The state of the global economy reaches nearly everyone’s well-being and livelihood in some manner. We are all impacted, whether directly or indirectly, by the health of the integrated global economy and, in turn, each nation’s response further impacts the dynamics of the overall performance and strength of that economy. Recent talk of an upcoming recession spurred by threats of growing trade wars, restless populations and forced immigration, trade treaties dissolving, the EU’s challenges to stay in tack, China’s ongoing currency manipulation and threatened retaliations to President Trump’s own warnings, all serve to raise serious concerns on the future of the US economy as well.

The World Affairs Council of Orange County is very pleased to have as its guest speaker Dr. Gordon Hanson Ph.D. He has served as: Director of the Center on Global Transformation, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Chair in International Economic Relations and as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. After 20 great years at the University of California, San Diego, Professor Hanson will be joining the Faculty of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. A renowned expert on International Trade and Global Economics, he will share with us his views and predictions on the current and future state of the Global Economy as well as the impact of a trade war between the world’s two largest economies the US and China with imposition of Tariffs as a precedent. Certainly the recent worried talk by many of the economic pundits that we are heading toward a recession merits further discussion and in depth explanation. No one is better situated to address these concerns than our guest speaker Dr Hanson. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technologies MIT, and a BA from Occidental College.

 

Date:

Wednesday, September 25th, 2019

 

Time:

Reception/Registration: 5:30 pm

Lecture/Dinner: 6:15 pm

 

Location:

Pacific Club

 4110 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660

 

Price:

Premium Members: $75

General Members: $75

Premium Member Guests: $75

General Member Guests/ Non-Members: $85

Students (with a valid student I.D.): $55

Table of 10: $750 (member rate)

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Our goal is to help our future leaders gain a better understanding of the world in which they live; the challenges and opportunities they will face, and how they can contribute and benefit from the growing internationalization of their community and nation.

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