Politics & Foreign Policy

Explore global affairs through expert op-eds, research, and insights. Stay updated on key conferences and events shaping politics and international relations. Whether you're a policymaker, student, or global citizen, discover discussions that drive the world forward.

How Do We Know What’s Happening in China?
In this essay, Jeremy Wallace notes that China’s political landscape has become increasingly opaque under President Xi Jinping, making it more difficult to gather reliable information. But despite rising geopolitical tensions and tighter controls on information, various sources—from government reports to market data and satellite imagery—offer insights into China’s complex realities, challenging simplistic portrayals.

By Jeremy Wallace — November 4, 2024

The Upside to Uncertainty on Taiwan
In this review of The Struggle For Taiwan, SAIS Dean James B. Steinberg examines historian Sulmaan Wasif Khan’s viewpoint that the U.S. and China’s policies on Taiwan have been marked by confusion and missed opportunities. Steinberg makes the case that strategic ambiguity, despite its flaws, has maintained peace and stability, offering a nuanced path through a complex geopolitical landscape.

By James B. Steinberg — October 16, 2024

America should think twice before replacing sanctions with tariffs
Teaser Needed

By Henry Farrell — September 19, 2024

The Case Against the China Consensus: Why the Next American President Must Steer Toward a Better Future
The U.S. approach to China is a topic of intense debate, with bipartisan agreement on the competitive threat China poses but little clarity on what victory would look like. Jessica Chen Weiss argues for a more balanced strategy that recognizes the necessity of economic and technological cooperation to preserve U.S. interests while avoiding an overly confrontational stance that risks undermining both countries’ stability and global leadership.

By Jessica Chen Weiss — September 16, 2024

The Perils of Estrangement
Teaser Needed

By Jessica Chen Weiss and James B. Steinberg — May 30, 2024

Taiwan and the True Sources of Deterrence - Why America Must Reassure, Not Just Threaten China
This essay argues that effective deterrence in the Taiwan Strait requires not only a credible military threat but also clear assurances to China, preventing it from perceiving an existential choice between war and unacceptable outcomes. The United States must balance strengthening Taiwan’s defense with diplomatic efforts to reassure Beijing that peaceful unification remains an option, while avoiding actions that could push China toward aggression or provoke Taiwan’s independence aspirations.

By Bonnie S. Glaser, Jessica Chen Weiss, and Thomas J. Christensen — November 30, 2023

The Ezra Klein Show, "Is this how a Cold War with China begins?"
Teaser Needed

With Jessica Chen Weiss — January 27, 2023

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