Why the ‘Belt & Road’ region will be the main locomotive of the world economy

16th May 2017 Socialist Action 0
The following article by John Ross, explaining why the Belt & Road region is now the main locomotive in the world economy, was previously published by Socialist Economic Bulletin.

The importance of the Belt and Road (B&R) summit for China and participating countries is well known. What is not so widely grasped is that the B&R region is now by far the most powerful locomotive not only of the regional but of the global economy. To be precise:

· Measured at current exchange rates the IMF projects that in the next five years’ growth in the B&R region measured in absolute dollar terms will be almost twice that in North America and four times that in Europe.

The economic logic behind Trump’s foreign policy – why the key countries are Germany and China

29th March 2017 Socialist Action 0

The following article by John Ross, setting out the economic fundamentals confronting the US, was previously published by Socialist Economic Bulletin.

This article was published in Chinese before the recent summit between Chancellor Merkel and President Trump – which strongly confirmed its analysis.

The first steps by Trump as US President confirmed that he will pursue an anti-China policy but also that he will use different tactics to Obama and Clinton.

The world will be listening to Xi Jinping at Davos

17th January 2017 Socialist Action 0

The following article by John Ross, examining the significance of Xi Jinping’s participation in the Davos World Economic Forum, was previously published by Socialist Economic Bulletin.

Xi Jinping is the first Chinese president to speak at the Davos World Economic Forum. This visit has attracted even greater international media attention than the normally high levels of interest in a trip by China’s leader. As the Financial Times chief foreign affairs columnist Gideon Rachman put it, “The big star of this year’s forum is certain to be Xi Jinping.”

It’s China, stupid: Trump and US foreign policy

16th January 2017 Socialist Action 0
The following article by Jude Woodward, about Donald Trump and the current fight over US foreign policy, was first published on the New Cold War blog.

The furore in the US and Europe over Trump’s relations with Russia is not just a storm in a teacup but the manifestation of a serious fight at the heart of the US foreign policy establishment over how the US should orient strategically to Russia in the context of the chief question that the US confronts internationally – the rise of China.

China’s statement on the death of Fidel Castro

27th November 2016 Socialist Action 0

Below is the official statement made by Chinese President Xi Jinping on the death of Fidel Castro. It is highly interesting as it could not offer greater praise to the Cuban leader. This indicates relations between Cuba and China and the character of the Communist Party of China itself. The message was formally addressed to Raul Castro, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba.

After Trump’s victory China is the main strategic pillar for globalisation

21st November 2016 Socialist Action 0

The following article by John Ross, examining the significance of Donald Trump’s election for world trade, was previously published by Socialist Economic Bulletin.

Trump’s election as US President means 2016 is ending with a stark public contrast between the positions of China and the US on global trade. The US has its first president proclaiming support for protectionism since World War II, while China states its support for increased international trade and economic globalisation.