Xi Jinping
Friend, Rival, Trap
In his recent summit with Donald Trump, Xi Jinping invoked the “Thucydides trap,” framing China’s rivalry with the United States in terms that serve Beijing — and laying an actual trap for the U.S. president.
Hungary’s Toxic Chinese Factories
Hungary has become the second-largest manufacturer of batteries in the EU, thanks to massive Chinese investment. But locals say they were not consulted about the polluting factories, which are destroying their land and their health, while the secretive agreements with Beijing push the country further into China’s sphere of influence.