Matthew Fulco has reported on China for more than 11 years, from both Washington, DC and Taiwan.
American defense contractor Lockheed Martin’s recent announcement that it had been awarded a $694 million contract by the US Air Force to produce a new air-launched hypersonic missile is the latest sign of an accelerating tripartite arms race involving the US, China, and Russia.
The 31st meeting of the Chinese and Russian heads of government held in St. Petersburg on October 21 was notable for its focus on cooperation in the Arctic, where Beijing and Moscow are increasingly challenging the United States and its allies.
In 2022, Ukraine relied almost entirely on Chinese components for its military drones. While that dependency has now been drastically reduced, Ukraine still relies on Beijing for essential parts that remain difficult to replace at the necessary scale and cost.
When U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met last month, they failed to make headway on one of the most contentious issues in the bilateral relationship: Beijing’s sweeping critical minerals export restrictions that have roiled Pentagon and commercial supply chains alike.
Ahead of a high-stakes US-China summit planned for September 24 at the White House, Beijing appears to be spotlighting its influence over Iran to gain leverage during negotiations with its chief geopolitical rival.
