Dialogue

China and the United States appear poised to open a new chapter in their relationship following in-depth exchanges between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump. A new vision is emerging: building a relationship based on constructive strategic stability. What’s the significance of such a new framework? How can the two powers expand cooperation while setting boundaries for their competition? And how will they handle sensitive issues such as trade, technology, Taiwan, and global security?

Chinese President Xi Jinping and visiting U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability. What does that mean in practical terms? How could this important concept shape what is arguably the world's most consequential bilateral relationship? And what challenges could stand in the way of achieving "constructive strategic stability" between the two largest economies?

The Taiwan legislature has approved a record high 24-billion-U.S.-dollar arms procurement bill, sparking intense debate across the island. Critics are questioning the scale of spending and the lack of transparency. Who will benefit from such massive spending? Can these weapons truly make Taiwan safer? Where is the Taiwan question heading next?

China and the U.S., the world's two most consequential powers, are moving in very different directions. China is doubling down on self-reliance, while the U.S. continues to preserve global dominance. But despite mounting tensions, the two sides also appear to be managing competition carefully and perhaps uneasily. Can this uneasy balance last? How can Beijing and Washington avoid confrontation? Can people-to-people exchanges succeed while official diplomacy struggles? Is peaceful coexistence a realistic outcome or just wishful thinking?

The 48th ASEAN summit has focused heavily on three urgent issues, oil, food and migrant workers. Regional anxieties have deepened following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran alongside sweeping tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on ASEAN economies, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. How serious is the energy crisis in the ASEAN region? What do these converging issues mean for its member states? And what solutions might be available to address these growing challenges?

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held talks with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing. The meeting came one day after the U.S. suspended its efforts to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz. What can China's diplomacy achieve at this moment? Is Washington moving toward a deal with Tehran, or simply changing tactics after military operations have paused? And can the region achieve a more durable peace?

As China continues to develop, a growing number of Western scholars and policy makers are calling for a reassessment of how the country is understood, urging a move beyond long held stereotypes and ideological bias. At the same time, we are seeing a steady stream of Western leaders visiting China. What's driving this shift? Is the West beginning to rethink its approach to China? How resilient is China's economic model in an increasingly fragmented global landscape?

The Japanese government has convened the first meeting of an expert panel to begin revising three of its most important security documents - the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Buildup Program. The move marks the latest step in Japan’s accelerating defense shift, following months of rising military spending, expanded security cooperation, and changes to its arms export policies. What is driving the revision of these key strategies? Is Japan laying the groundwork for a further military buildup? Could its long-standing “no introduction” principle on nuclear weapons come under review?

Europe is finding itself in a growing strategic bind: still reliant on the US for security, yet struggling to manage its economic relationship with China amid mounting transatlantic pressure. From Washington's "good versus bad" NATO framing, to Brussels' sanctioning Chinese entities and Beijing's swift response, these are not isolated developments, but signs of deeper structural tensions. Has Europe, in effect, created its own strategic dilemma in navigating ties with Washington, Beijing, and Moscow? Can it move toward genuine autonomy in security and foreign policy? What is holding it back from improving relations with China?

In recent talks with leaders from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against a return to a "law of the jungle," where the strong dominate the weak. He emphasized that the rule of law must not be "applied selectively" based on convenience. This raises important questions: Are we still operating within a law-based international system, or are we drifting toward a "law of the jungle"? What would be the consequences if "might makes right" becomes the norm, and what alternative visions of global order could offer a path forward?