People often ask me if it’s worth learning Chinese. Usually, the question is posed by those who have the option of taking it in high school or college and have been told that “it’s the language of the future,” so are considering whether it’ll be advantageous to learn. The short answer, perhaps surprisingly, is probably […]
One of the principal ways to ensure a deal is successful from beginning until its resolution is to achieve a high level of understanding of the counterparty’s negotiation style, and of their expectations for the various steps in the process. Chinese business persons and government employees meticulously study US negotiating styles and mores, but the […]
Donald Trump’s election overturned many assumptions about US foreign policy, leading to great uncertainty among the international community as to whether the US would continue to stand by the institutions that support the rule of law across the world. As Trump’s inauguration approached, and his rhetoric grew increasingly combative, Xi Jinping announced at the January […]
Earlier this week, Italy announced that it will be joining Xi Jinping’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). Today, Lichtenstein became the second European Union country to join the hugely ambitious project. I was initially surprised to see a second EU country join so quickly after Italy, especially considering that many online publishings were of the […]