The Hub with Wang Guan

We now live in an era of extraordinary possibilities. Technology connects continents in seconds. Trade fuels shared prosperity. And global challenges, like climate change, demand collective actions across borders. Yet even as nations grow more interconnected, divisions deepen. Misunderstandings and mistrust threaten to pull us apart. In today's world, no nation can do it alone. How can the world's two largest economies – the United States and China – balance competition with collaboration? Can trade and investment survive the rising storm of suspicion? What happens to the rest of the world if they can't? And when rhetoric turns toxic, who will suffer greater loss – the powerful or the people?

On June 9, up to 700 Marines were mobilized to Los Angeles, aiding the over 2,000 National Guard troops deployed by the federal government to California without the state's consent—the first such unilateral action since 1965. This came on the heels of immigration raids targeting Latino communities, triggering unrest marked by tear gas, rubber bullets, and attacks on journalists. What's fueling this rupture in the American political fabric? Does this latest clash expose deeper fractures in the United States' domestic and democratic institutions?

China is quickly emerging as a top travel destination, with a notable surge in inbound tourism. To enhance visitor experience, the country has rolled out a series of traveler-friendly measures, including extended visa-free transit policies. Earlier this year, China launched a nationwide instant tax refund system aimed at further boosting tourism and consumer spending. The new policies lower refund thresholds, streamline application procedures, expand the number of tax-free stores, and broaden the range of eligible products. How does this instant tax refund system actually work? And what do international travelers think about it so far?

Starting June 1, 2025, China will implement a visa-free policy for citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. With China already the top trading partner for countries such as Brazil, Peru, and Chile, the visa-free policy is expected to bring even stronger business and cultural links. But beyond mere convenience, how will the new visa-free policy further stimulate bilateral political, economic, and trade relations? And how are young people, travelers, scholars, and businesses likely to benefit from all these policies? How does China's continued opening-up help strengthen its soft power and give the world a more authentic understanding of the country?

China's economy has made a solid start in 2025. In the first quarter, GDP grew by 5.4% year-on-year, surpassing expectations. From January to April, retail sales increased by 4.7%, indicating a mild recovery in consumer confidence, while total trade rose by 2.4%, despite ongoing global uncertainties and U.S. tariff pressures. What's fueling this resilience? How is China managing to navigate through these challenges?

Over the past decade, China and countries across Latin America and the Caribbean have developed a partnership built on growing trust and shared goals, despite the distance between them. With 22 countries in the region now signed on to the Belt and Road Initiative, cooperation is expanding fast. How far have we come in the past ten years? And where is this relationship heading next?

The Hub covers hot-button geopolitical and economic issues, as well as interesting stories and trends in culture, education, technology and lifestyle. It aims to connect people, cultures and societies across the East and the West.

China has set the target for full-year economic growth at around 5 percent for 2025. Is it realistic? The answer is yes, according to high-level Chinese officials. They point out that China has ample leeway to achieve this year's economic and social development goals and tasks despite current uncertainties. How so?

April 2nd, 2025, was the Trump administration's self-proclaimed "Liberation Day." But the question is, liberation from what? Common sense? This whiteboard of tariff math simply fails in the real world where supply chains don't obey MAGA algebra.

Global education is facing headwinds from policies in the US framed as "national security safeguards." For the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the world's largest private educational testing and assessment organization, these are indeed testing times. But it's also creating plenty of opportunities. From reimagining standardized testing to AI-driven innovations, ETS is trying to shape the future of learning worldwide. How is ETS leveraging cutting-edge technology to redefine educational benchmarks? When cross-border collaboration encounters geopolitical friction, can international education forge a third path forward, transcending all these zero-sum paradigms?