The China-Russia partnership is a highly consequential geopolitical alignment driven by a shared goal of countering U.S. hegemony and reshaping the international order into a multipolar system. While not a formal alliance, this relationship is strengthened by Russia's increasing economic reliance on China following Western sanctions, which allows Beijing to leverage its influence. Policymakers should note that while the partnership projects deep solidarity (as seen in high-level summits), it remains complex and limited by mutual mistrust and competing strategic interests. This enduring alignment poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests and requires continued diplomatic vigilance.
Will the new world order put the brake on trade?
English Summary
The article argues that the shift toward domestic-focused economic policies and the decline of U.S.-led 'hegemonic stability' are creating a precarious environment for global trade. Drawing on historical precedents like the Pax Britannica and Pax Americana, it suggests that trade growth flourishes when a dominant power fosters international policy alignment, which is now fracturing. Consequently, rising protectionism threatens to trigger a vicious cycle of economic decline, disproportionately harming emerging and developing nations that rely on open market integration.
中文摘要
本文指出，轉向以國內為中心的經濟政策，以及美國領導的「霸權穩定」衰退，正在為全球貿易創造一個動盪的環境。借鑒大英帝國和平（Pax Britannica）與美國和平（Pax Americana）等歷史先例，文章認為，當主導大國促進國際政策協調時，貿易增長便能蓬勃發展，而這種局面目前正在瓦解。因此，日益抬頭的保護主義威脅著要引發經濟衰退的惡性循環，這對依賴開放市場整合的新興及發展中國家造成的損害尤為嚴重。
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