East Asia

America's not ready for the consequences of space warfare

The future of war is in outer space — and the U.S. is unprepared for the fallout. Why it matters: An outbreak of space warfare would cripple the global economy by disrupting satellites used for everything from worldwide financial transactions to maritime navigation. It would also hinder the U.S. military's ability to conduct some of its key missions on Earth. The dependence on satellites is precisely what makes them tempting targets for foes. China has made major advancements, such as satellites with robotic arms that could disable U.S. equipment and lasers that can blind military space sensors. Russia lags behind, but U.S. officials fear it may unleash an orbital nuclear weapon that "could pose a threat to all satellites and to the space-enabled services the world depends on." What they're saying: Todd Harrison, the American Enterprise Institute's space expert, said "we've been under the illusion" that an adversary would target only military satellites and leave civil or commercial ones alone. That's no longer the case. "In a future conflict, we could very well see the civilian and commercial space infrastructure that we often take for granted ... being attacked," Harrison said. "Is the American public ready for that? I'm not sure they are." " We're quickly coming to the conclusion that there's no sanctuary in space, not even in a small conflict," he added. Threat level: Last month, U.S. officials revealed that the military had weapons in space — a bombshell admission they said was aimed at deterring adversaries. Yes, but: Doug Loverro, a former top NASA and Pentagon space

“Secure and controllable”: How Beijing is writing Europe out of its systems

Chinese utilities are stripping European technology out of their critical infrastructure on security grounds, while Chinese suppliers are trying to expand across Europe. Closing that gap means treating Beijing’s own risk assessments as a guide to Europe’s vulnerabilities.

Europe's alternative to Trump's China trade war

Europe is testing a new response to China Shock 2.0 , betting that it can confront Beijing's export juggernaut without resorting to President Trump's tariff-heavy approach. Why it matters: More of the world is beginning to confront the threat that China's industrial overcapacity poses to their industries. But protecting individual sectors will not solve the bigger problem: China's factories are cranking out far more than its own economy can absorb. Driving the news: The European Union and China struck a preliminary deal on Friday to sharply limit Chinese hybrid vehicle exports to Europe. The EU plans to initially cap Chinese hybrid and plug-in hybrid imports at 350,000 annually, potentially starting as early as December. The cap would more than halve projected Chinese hybrid shipments, which were on track to reach roughly 800,000 this year, an EU official told reporters . Imports totaled 302,000 in 2025. (Chinese officials Monday noted that the deal still allows its automakers to increase shipments from last year's levels.) Vehicles exceeding the quota would be blocked rather than face additional tariffs. The backdrop: France and Germany last week proposed giving Brussels sweeping new powers to restrict market access over unfair trade practices, a striking shift for Germany, which opposed EU tariffs on Chinese EVs in 2024. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warned in her annual address last month that the bloc's trade deficit with China had reached a "tipping point." "Some say the second China shock is looming. But it's already here," von der Leyen said. Wha

Repairing America’s signaling on Taiwan

Indonesia’s New Aircraft Carrier Tests the Limits of Its Maritime Strategy

Italy's 41-year-old carrier came free. Making it a real capability will cost Indonesia far more. The post Indonesia’s New Aircraft Carrier Tests the Limits of Its Maritime Strategy appeared first on Geopolitical Monitor .

Is China dynamic or dysfunctional?

Assessing the Impact of China-Russia Economic Coordination in Latin America and the Caribbean

The U.S. and Korea Should Be Bold in Their Investments

Chasing China: How should the UK and EU respond to China’s competitive threat?

Chasing China: How should the UK and EU respond to China’s competitive threat? 27 October 2026 — 18:00 TO 19:00 GMT Anonymous (not verified) 12 October 2026 Chatham House and Online Explore how the UK and EU can strengthen their industrial and technological competitiveness in response to China’s scale, speed and state-backed investment. Explore how the UK and EU can strengthen their industrial and technological competitiveness in response to China’s scale, speed and state-backed investment. China’s rapid innovation and strength in advanced manufacturing are intensifying competitive pressure on the UK and EU. The challenge is to protect sensitive technologies and supply chains, and to improve productivity, attract investment and build competitive industries of their own. This event examines the policy choices available to London and Brussels, from industrial investment and trade measures to research partnerships and economic-security tools. It also looks at how a more coordinated approach could deliver greater leverage without closing the door to beneficial engagement with China. This event discusses: How should the UK and EU respond to China’s technological and industrial prowess? Which sectors face the greatest competitive pressure from China? How can research security be strengthened while maintaining international collaboration? What balance should governments strike between openness, resilience and national security? Where should the UK and EU align on industrial policy and investment screening? What would a successful competitiveness strategy look like over the next de

What’s the Renminbi Got to Do With it?

A closer look at the impact of China’s currency on China’s export growth.

Trading Places: The U.S. and Europe on China and Russia

CFR President Michael Froman analyzes Europe’s changing posture toward China and Russia, and how that mirrors what the U.S. approach used to be.

Tracking Trump’s tariffs and other trade actions

Why South Korea and Ukraine are fighting over two prisoners of war

Immigration split screen: Microsoft gets a crackdown and a medal

The Trump administration said Thursday that it was suspending Microsoft from a key program used to sponsor employees for green cards. Later that day , the administration honored the tech giant's CEO with a medal for innovation. Why it matters: The split-screen day highlights the tension between the administration's championing of Big Tech and its immigration policies, which constrain an industry that has long relied on hiring foreign-born workers. Tech leaders have said that restrictions on hiring hamper the country's ability to compete — especially at a moment when the U.S. is in a race with China on AI. Driving the news: The administration's move Thursday also targeted Adobe and six IT services firms over the Permanent Employment Program, or Perm. It's typically the first major government approval step in employers sponsoring workers, often H-1B holders, for employment-based green cards . The administration accused these companies of hiring foreign workers and paying them less, at U.S. workers' expense. State of play: President Trump awarded Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation at the White House's New Golden Age Summit Thursday night. Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and CEO of AMD Lisa Su — like Nadella, all immigrants to the U.S. — were awarded the National Medal of Science. At the event, Trump called the honorees " national treasure s." What they're saying: Vice President Vance addressed the apparent contradiction at a press conference earlier Thursday, saying: "Our message to Microsoft is no

Toward a Thaw in the Cambodia-Thailand Border Conflict

Hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand ceased in late 2025, after two rounds of combat along the frontier. But the truce is under growing strain. To avoid more war, the two countries should restore normal diplomatic ties and resume work on demarcating their shared border.

Understanding the Chinese-Language Media Landscape in Southeast Asia

Russia’s Turn to China Under Sanctions: Sanctions Decay, Substitution Elasticity, and the Challenge of Sustaining Pressure

The Trump Administration’s Shift on Myanmar Is a Disastrous Decision

Washington’s sudden decision to open talks with Myanmar’s government grants further legitimacy to an authoritarian regime and is unlikely to deliver access to rare earths.