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U.S.–CHINA RELATIONS

Night view of a brightly lit, modern Chinese metropolis with towering skyscrapers and heavy traffic, symbolizing external economic confidence and internal pressure

China 2026: Power abroad, fragility at home

Beijing enters 2026 with unprecedented geopolitical swagger, flaunting economic resilience and technological ambition. Yet, as highlighted in the latest MERICS assessment of China’s trajectory, this polished narrative conceals a far more brittle domestic reality—one that could ultimately derail the country’s strategic ambitions

Group of suited officials and security personnel walking together on a red carpet inside a conference venue with ASEAN 2025 banners overhead

China’s ACFTA 3.0: A quiet triumph or a Trojan Horse?

While Washington was distracted, Beijing methodically upgraded its ASEAN trade pact. The new ACFTA 3.0 deal promises deeper integration, but it also tightens China’s economic embrace, leaving the region wonderfully exposed to risk

A high-resolution, horizontal, minimalist image showing the U.S. flag on the left and the Chinese flag on the right, split by a jagged, glowing white lightning bolt. Magnetic field lines curve outward from both flags, symbolizing opposing forces. The dark background enhances the tension and visual contrast between the two sides

Curtain up on another U.S.–China trade drama

As Washington and Beijing unveil another “breakthrough” on rare earths, what emerges is less a deal and more a performance—an endlessly repeated drama where power, perception, and policy blur on cue