History

 China Israel Relations Evolution: For portions of their roughly sixty-year history, Sino-Israeli relations were characterized by asymmetry rather than reciprocity, and extended periods of virtually no relationship at all. Israel recognized the People’s Republic of China soon after its establishment, becoming the first country in the Middle East to do so.  However, it was not until nearly forty years later, in 1992, that formal diplomatic relations were officially established between the two countries. This gap is telling of the complexity of Sino-Israeli relations and the evolution of China’s strategy in regards to the Middle East. But despite a rocky start and official recognition period that only spans a short 25 years, the bond formed between China and Israel has already evolved into a strong multifaceted relationship consisting of cultural, political, military and economic ties. From a historical perspective, the relationship between China and Israel can be divided into four distinguishable…

Effect of Technology on Traditional Chinese Culture: In an age where children as young as grade school carry mobile phones and shopping can be done from bed, it is undeniable that technology has transformed modern living. Ranging from having unprecedented access to all scopes of information at the tips of our fingers, to altering the essence of interpersonal relationships, modern technology has created a new era, dubbed by many as the “digital age”. Of these technological advancements, social media is among the most noteworthy. As in the West, the introduction of social media in China has had substantial impact on many aspects of Chinese life. China is a country whose rich culture and history has long been a source of its pride and joy. But as it has adapted to the changing technological times, so to have certain core cultural elements evolved accordingly. Ranging from Chinese philosophies, to mentality and national…

China Economic Growth Model: “When the wind of change blows, some build walls while others build windmills.” This classic proverb perhaps best encapsulates China and its evolving philosophy towards dealing with changing times. China of the late imperial era was a classic “wall-builder”, characterized by stubborn nationalistic pride and an oblivious sense of superiority that inevitably brought upon the Opium Wars and a century of humiliation. But ever a nation of the resilient of spirit, China’s traumatic era birthed a new understanding and stark 180 degree change in attitude that taught it to “build windmills” rather than resist the natural flow of times.  Indeed, since the enactment of the Opening-Up Policy in 1978, China has consistently adapted and embraced the changing global patterns to great effect, often even revolutionizing and dictating the trends of the future. It is therefore no surprise that Li Keqiang, China’s State Council Premier, chose to…