After nearly five years of tension, China-India relations have thawed significantly in 2025, with increased interactions between the two sides over the past year. Amid the backdrop of Trump’s tariffs, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Shanghai in August, where he highlighted the importance of closer ties between the two giants Looking ahead, what are the prospects for China and India’s ability to deepen their ties across realms like trade and t...

India is racing ahead in modernising its payment systems, from the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)’s instant rails to the e‑rupee pilot. Can it set the benchmark for regional standards? What lies ahead for cross‑border digital currencies, cryptocurrencies, and stablecoins under evolving regulation and governance structures? EAI Director Prof Alfred Schipke speaks with Mr P. Vasudevan, Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India, on the technology, governance, and policy choices shaping ...

How is China responding to trade policies under Trump 2.0? EAI Senior Research Fellow Dr Sarah Tong speaks with Dr Su Qingyi, Head of the International Trade Department from the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). They discuss China’s response to US trade policies, China’s role in global trade governance and prospects for China-ASEAN collaboration. Key Highlights: 00:00 Differences in trade policies under Trump 2.0, compared to Trump 1.0...

Southeast Asia isn’t choosing sides—it’s hedging. EAI Deputy Director Dr Chen Gang speaks with Prof Cheng-Chwee Kuik of the National University of Malaysia about how Southeast Asian countries are navigating intensifying U.S.-China tensions. Prof Kuik unpacks the logic of hedging—why it’s a deliberate, adaptive strategy—and reflects on how the region’s deepening ties with China bring both opportunities and risks. Key Highlights: 00:00 How Southeast Asia-China relations have evolved in r...

EAI Visiting Research Professor Frank Pieke speaks to Mr Steve Okun, Founder and CEO of Singapore-based consultancy APAC Advisors, in this episode of East Asia Pulse. They discuss China’s response to the imposition of “reciprocal tariffs” by US President Donald Trump and the effectiveness of the use of tariffs as part of the US' strategy to contain China, following the 100-day mark of his second presidency on 29 April. They also weigh in on the prospects for a trade...

EAI Director Prof Alfred Schipke speaks to Prof Li Chen, Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Centre for China Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, in this episode of East Asia Pulse. They discuss how geopolitical developments have impacted China’s financial sector development and the role that Hong Kong plays in connecting China's onshore financial market with global financial markets. They also weigh in on how Hong Kong stacks up against Singapore as a ...

EAI's Head of Korea Centre Dr Lam Peng Er speaks to Prof Lee Shin-wha, EAI Visiting Fellow and Professor of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Korea University, in this episode of East Asia Pulse. They discuss how South Korea’s multilateral strategy could evolve amid the unilateral and transactional nature under the Trump 2.0 administration. They also weigh in on South Korea’s ability to pursue a successful multilateral strategy abroad given its on...

EAI Director Prof Alfred Schipke speaks to ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School Prof Rana Mitter in this episode of East Asia Pulse. They discuss how Europe can close the gap with the US and China as it confronts a "technology shock" that threatens its competitiveness in key industries. They also weigh in on how the EU can navigate US-China rivalry and leverage its competitive advantages to transform its dual dependencies on the US and China into “dual opportunitie...

EAI Visiting Research Professor Frank Pieke speaks to Dr Scott Kennedy, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), about the evolution of US-China relations under the Biden and Trump administrations. They discuss China’s potential strategic responses to Trump 2.0, including the preparation of retaliatory moves, the strengthening of its domestic economy, the expansion of international partnerships. They also weigh in on how US policies on trade...

In the launch episode of East Asia Pulse, EAI Director Alfred Schipke sits down with Professor Meg Rithmire, James E. Robison Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, to discuss the geopolitical outlook for businesses amid Trump 2.0. They weigh in on how companies should evolve governance practices to deal with geopolitical and national security risk and better prepare for disruptions stemming from US-China tensions, particularly in the context of China's unique ...