Author: HeraldStar

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD In the complex landscape of 21st-century geopolitics, few relationships carry more weight than that between China and the United States. After years of tariffs, technology controls, and mounting strategic distrust, the recent Beijing summit between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump has introduced a measured and forward-looking concept: the building of a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability. This approach does not ignore the deep differences or pretend that the relationship can rewind to earlier decades of easy engagement. Instead, it seeks to establish a more resilient framework — one where competition is bounded,…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The recent summit in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump has yielded tangible early results in the economic and trade domain, offering a glimpse of how the world’s two largest economies might navigate their complex relationship. While deep structural differences remain and the relationship cannot revert to the asymmetries of earlier decades, these outcomes suggest both sides are investing in practical mechanisms to manage tensions and expand mutual benefits. For countries like Pakistan, which value strong partnerships with both powers, such stabilisation brings a measure of relief and opportunity in…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The recent summit in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald J. Trump marks a significant moment in bilateral ties. After years of turbulence, tariffs, and strategic mistrust, the two leaders engaged in extended discussions that produced a shared vision: building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability. This framework does not pretend that the past can be restored. It acknowledges a changed world where both powers pursue their core interests while seeking to manage differences and expand cooperation. For countries like Pakistan, which maintain strong partnerships with both Washington and Beijing,…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The era when the United States could treat China primarily as a junior partner in the global economy, or when Beijing viewed Washington as an unquestioned source of technology and markets, has clearly ended. What began as a relationship of convenience has matured into one of strategic competition, marked by tariffs, technology restrictions, and competing visions of international order. Yet this shift, while irreversible, does not have to lead to confrontation or permanent hostility. A more stable, if more guarded, coexistence is possible—if both sides recognise the limits of their leverage and the costs of…

By Wania Tahir In the evolving security landscape of East Asia, Japan’s accelerating military modernisation deserves measured international attention. While framed as a necessary response to regional challenges, the speed and scope of this transformation — actively supported by the United States — warrant careful scrutiny. Washington’s strategic embrace of a more assertive Japan risks overlooking historical sensitivities that continue to shape regional perceptions. Prudent calibration, rather than unchecked encouragement, would better serve long-term stability in the Indo-Pacific. Japan’s post-war identity was deliberately anchored in pacifism. Article 9 of its 1947 Constitution, shaped under American occupation, explicitly renounces war as…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The recent hantavirus cluster aboard the Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship MV Hondius in the South Atlantic serves as a sobering reminder that infectious disease threats continue to emerge in our interconnected world. In early April 2026, the vessel departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, with 147 passengers and crew. By early May, several cases of the Andes strain of hantavirus were confirmed, resulting in three tragic deaths. While the World Health Organization assesses the broader public risk as low and no sustained community transmission has occurred, the incident underscores the need for stronger international collaboration — particularly…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD As the United States approaches its November 2026 midterm elections, the contest carries consequences that reach far beyond domestic politics. With President Donald Trump’s administration confronting stagflation risks, supply chain vulnerabilities, and complex global tensions, the composition of Congress will heavily influence America’s ability to pursue a calibrated China policy. From Pakistan’s vantage point, a strong Republican performance offers the best prospect for policy continuity — enabling Trump to shift from confrontation toward pragmatic cooperation with China in ways that deliver tangible benefits to American businesses, consumers, and workers. Midterm elections often serve as a…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD President Donald Trump’s state visit to Beijing on May 13-15 marks the first trip by a sitting US president to China in nearly a decade. Occurring against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty and ongoing Middle East tensions, particularly the conflict involving Iran, the summit provides a critical opportunity for the world’s two largest economies to manage their rivalry through pragmatic engagement rather than escalation. For nations like Pakistan, which maintain important relationships with both Washington and Beijing, the outcome carries implications for regional stability, trade flows, and development cooperation. The visit, originally postponed due…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD In an era of intensifying strategic competition, the persistent reliance of American enterprises on the Chinese market and supply chains offers a sobering counterpoint to narratives of easy decoupling. From consumer electronics giants to leaders in artificial intelligence, many US companies continue to depend on China as both a critical marketplace and a manufacturing backbone that remains difficult and expensive to replace at scale. As Washington considers further restrictions, the practical economic realities facing corporate America deserve honest examination. This dependence stems from decades of integration. China is the world’s second-largest consumer market and possesses…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD As the United States grapples with stagflation risks — sluggish growth coupled with persistent inflation — pragmatic trade engagement with China offers a practical buffer. Billionaire investor Ray Dalio has warned repeatedly in recent weeks that the US economy has entered a stagflationary period, driven by high fiscal deficits, sticky inflation, and external shocks including energy price volatility. In this environment, disrupting ties with the world’s leading manufacturing base risks amplifying domestic pressures rather than easing them. Bilateral trade remains substantial despite tensions. In 2025, the US imported $308.4 billion in goods from China while…