As I conclude 2025 from Beijing, I don't claim to have the ability to predict the future. Predictions often fall short when judged by accuracy. However, years as a journalist have taught me something even more valuable: knowing what truly important questions to ask. And as 2026 approaches, there are some big questions that are hard to avoid, especially as the world has just experienced a tumultuous year—tariff wars, technology restrictions, and volatile financial markets. One of the most intriguing issues comes from the relationship between the United States and China. In late November, US...
Tensions between China and Taiwan have once again become a major focus of global markets, amid escalating military activity and diplomatic pressure in the Asia-Pacific region. This situation has sparked concerns about regional stability, given the potential for a conflict to involve major powers such as the United States and Japan. For financial markets, this geopolitical escalation has heightened investor caution. Riskier assets such as Asian stocks tend to be under pressure, while market volatility increases as investors reassess their risk exposure to the region. Conversely, safe-haven...
Tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated again after a series of military escalations involving airstrikes and missile retaliation. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian formally declared the country was in "total war" against Israel and its Western allies, including the United States and European countries, following a 12-day military operation targeting Iran's nuclear facilities. This conflict has deep roots in geopolitical and ideological rivalries in the Middle East and has continued since a major escalation in mid-2025 that caused dozens of casualties and damage to critical...