Where is China’s incoming Communist Party chief, Xi Jinping? When he canceled a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, it was attributed to a back injury or perhaps unhappiness with the U.S. But as he has canceled meetings with other visitors, including the Singaporean prime minister, rumors have arisen …
An ongoing sale of communications satellites to a Hong Kong–based company is attracting a great deal of attention at the moment. Space Systems/Loral, a major U.S. satellite manufacturer, contracted in 2011 to manufacture two communications satellites, AsiaSat-6 and AsiaSat-8, for Asia Satellite Telecommunications (AsiaSat). The contract was initialed soon after …
China’s State Administration for Foreign Exchange is buying $1.5 billion worth of pension assets from General Motors. The assets are positions in funds held by the Carlyle Group, Blackstone, and CVC Capital. This is the latest in a surge of Chinese investment in the U.S., investment that benefits all the …
Rare earths and other strategic minerals are front and center again, with a bill being brought to the House floor this week. When Members of Congress consider “critical” materials, they should bear in mind that the materials aren’t actually critical and that government should therefore play a very limited role. …
The House is considering new legislation concerning economic espionage. While the private sector should play the key role in combating this, there is bipartisan support for policy measures—and with good reason. The U.S. relies on innovation. It has become more important in driving internal growth and, externally, America’s comparative advantage …
When Indian officials are pressed about their failed policies, they typically talk about their nation’s fundamentals still being sound. Most observers (even most critics) accept this, but what if India’s fundamentals were, in fact, deteriorating? Recent policy failures have expanded to include a long delay in the Land Titling Bill. …
A major political struggle in Japan is coming to a head this week, one that could empower the current government or ultimately bring it down. The battle is ostensibly about economic policy but is mostly about politics, as the policy in question is largely symbolic. When the government’s survival may …
The G-20 meetings in Mexico over the weekend might actually have accomplished something. Mexico was today invited to join the nine countries, including the U.S., currently negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an investment and trade agreement. If nurtured properly, this development has the potential to improve the global trading system. …
