In The News

More Countries Adopt China’s Tactics on Currency

David E. Sanger, Michael Wines October 11, 2010
A proposal in the US Congress would impose tariffs on nations that keep their currencies artificially low. “But many around the world fear getting trampled as the United States and the Chinese battle each other,” explains this article in the New York Times. Japan, Brazil and other nations follow China’s lead, taking measures to devalue their currencies and boost exports as internal demand...

China’s Chokehold On Rare-Earth Minerals Raises Concerns

Michael Richardson October 8, 2010
Following a boating mishap in the East China Sea, China swiftly banned exports to Japan of rare-earth materials, essential in high-tech manufacturing. China holds the largest reserves of the minerals required to manufacture cell phones, smart bombs, wind turbines and other high-tech products. In recent months, industries reliant on rare earths have encountered increasing delays, quotas and price...

Wen Warns Against Renminbi Pressure

Alan Beattie, Joshua Chaffin, Kevin Brown October 7, 2010
With the world’s largest population and concentration of manufacturing, China cannot revalue the renminbi quickly, contends Wen Jiabao, China’s premier. And pressuring China to do so could lead to global economic “disaster” is his assessment as reported by the Financial Times. Currency revaluation would lead to job loss and social unrest with Chinese firms already operating on narrow profit...

North Korea’s Succession Poses New Challenges – Part II

Scott Snyder October 4, 2010
Impoverished and hermitic, North Korea’s nuclear weapons and erratic behavior have long been a headache for the region. This YaleGlobal series examines the challenges that North Korea poses for the international community in the wake of its succession drama. In the second article, Korea policy analyst Scott Snyder points out that, from all appearances, China has replaced the US as a foreign-...

North Korea’s Succession Poses New Challenges – Part I

Byong-Chul Lee October 1, 2010
After years of suspense and speculation about the changing of the guard in North Korea, the new leader’s identity has been revealed. But the nuclear-armed nation remains a regional source of anxiety. This YaleGlobal series analyzes the regime’s long-term goals and the challenges they pose to China and the United States. In the first article of the two-part series, North Korea expert Byong-Chul...

Pentagon Loses Control of Bombs to China Metal Monopoly

Peter Robison, Gopal Ratnam October 1, 2010
The US, in search of the low prices, embarked on a privatization kick, and companies turned over many production facilities to China. The US failed to enact industrial polices, subsidize strategic industries and turned to short-term profit grabs. The result is that it now depends on China for rare-earth metals, essential ingredients for state-of-the-art technology, including military applications...

Asia's Currency Market Shakeup

Philip Bowring September 30, 2010
The economies of Asian nations are growing, but currency coordination throughout the region could provide greater certainty and boost. China is not alone in manipulating currency values, points out Philip Bowring for the Asia Sentinel. With China imposing strict controls on yuan bonds that could raise the value of renminbi, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, have little choice but to try suppressing the...