In recent years, Czechia has emerged as one of Taiwan’s closest partners in Europe and has been among the most active countries in engaging with the island democracy. Cooperation in semiconductors has particularly flourished and is poised to continue even after a skeptical government took charge in Prague. Key takeaways: Czech-Taiwan semiconductor cooperation is starting… Continue reading Czechia-Taiwan semiconductor cooperation: From political symbolism to tangible results
Putin’s latest visit to China was both ceremonial and routine. While nothing occurred during the visit that might suggest a crisis in bilateral relations, the “partnership without limits” is not without its critics in Russia. Key takeaways: The Russian political elite is aware of Russia’s deepening existential dependence on China, especially when it comes to… Continue reading The Xi-Putin summit: Russian elites chafe at Beijing’s grip, but Moscow can’t afford to walk away
Taiwan is widely celebrated as one of Asia’s leading democracies. Yet its treatment of Tibetan Buddhist monks reveals a quieter contradiction. While religious practice is permitted, access to basic rights remains restricted—driven less by legal status than by a security logic shaped by cross-Strait tensions. The result is a system in which monks can enter,… Continue reading The Securitized Monk: Tibetan Buddhism between China’s persecution and Taiwan’s democratic contradictions
China’s domestic ecosystem is improving, but it remains constrained by several hard bottlenecks, especially in photolithography equipment and memory production. This post provides an overview of domestic Chinese AI chip making, from design to manufacturing to packaging, explaining key terms and concepts as they come up. The Chinese government has for many years given top priority… Continue reading Where China’s AI chip supply chain stands in 2026
