Maxwell School News and Commentary
Filtered by: East Asia
McFate Weighs In on North Korea’s Failed Military Reconnaissance Satellite Launch in The Independent
Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs, says the North's satellite launch is mostly for "domestic political consumption" and unlikely to have a substantial impact. "Kim’s autocracy is legitimized by the 'enduring threat' of the U.S., and this demonstration shows he’s fulfilling his social contract with North Koreans."
See related: Defense & Security, East Asia, International Affairs
Murrett Talks to the Daily Beast About North Korea’s Missile Tech Advances
“North Korea’s recent development and initial testing of a long-range solid-fuel ICBM does represent a significant step forward in its ongoing development of potentially nuclear-capable delivery vehicles,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs.
See related: Conflict, East Asia, International Affairs, U.S. National Security
McDowell Talks to Foreign Policy About De-Dollarization
“To me, de-dollarization just means a government’s ability to reduce its dependence or reliance on the dollar,” says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science. “I think the key thing here is to try to distinguish or separate the concept of de-dollarization from the end of dollar dominance. I don’t think those two things have to go together.”
See related: China, Economic Policy, Government, International Affairs
McDowell Talks to The Guardian, VOA About China’s Push to Internationalize Its Currency
"Over the last 15 years or so, we've seen some policies aimed at promoting its [renminbi] international use, but we've also seen a lot of policies that make it less attractive," says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.
See related: China, Economic Policy, Government, International Affairs
McFate Weighs In on US Developing Portable Laser Weapons in South China Morning Post Article
“Everyone wants light and portable laser weapons but it’s far off. Essentially, you also need a portable power plant, which is unrealistic…Lasers are more hype than reality, and the U.S. is investing US$1 billion a year to bridge this gap. However, it may go on for years,” says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.
See related: China, Defense & Security, International Affairs
McDowell Comments on the Use of China’s Renminbi as a Global Currency in The Wire China
“China had economic motives to de-dollarize that predate sanction concerns,” says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science. “When the U.S. economy had a financial crisis, China ended up getting hurt. China figured, we should probably promote our own currency now.”
See related: China, Economic Policy, Government, International Affairs
Gueorguiev Quoted in NBC News Article on India Overtaking China as World’s Most Populous Country
What matters to China is consumer and investor confidence, "so it is not hard to see why Chinese officials are pushing back on the argument that a population decline spells economic decline," says Dimitar Gueorguiev, associate professor of political science.
See related: China, India, International Affairs
McFate Comments on China’s Military Capabilities in South China Morning Post Article
Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs, says China is far from being able to take the island. “China’s military is not ready to take Taiwan, which is why Xi Jinping ordered the military to be ready to take Taiwan by 2027, if told to do so,” he says.
See related: China, Conflict, East Asia, International Affairs
Murrett Discusses China’s Taiwan-Targeted Military Drills in Politico Article
That show of force was as much for “domestic consumption inside China” as it was for Taiwan, says retired Vice Adm. Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs. And the scale and intensity of the drills “were calibrated very, very carefully,” to minimize threat perceptions, he says.
See related: China, Conflict, East Asia, Government, International Affairs
McDowell Weighs in on Brazil-China Relationship in Washington Post Article
“When China and Brazil sign an agreement like this, it’s trying to put into place the infrastructure that would make it possible to use China’s currency, but that doesn’t mean that individual firms are going to choose that,” says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.
See related: China, Economic Policy, International Affairs, Latin America & the Caribbean