Foreign Policy

Biden to reopen overflow shelter for influx of unaccompanied migrant children

An increase in illegal immigrant minors crossing into the United States from Mexico is evidently forcing the government to reopen a costly and short-lived residential shelter as an overflow facility. With a capacity of about 1,300, the camp is situated

China

Professor charged with stealing $1.75 million in research for China

Communist China has long benefitted from American-funded research stolen by Chinese academics who infiltrate colleges throughout the United States. This month a criminal indictment sheds light on a recent scheme allegedly masterminded by a Chinese professor at one of the nation’s top-ranked

Foreign Policy

Despite pandemic, Mexican cartels remain criminal threat to U.S.

Mexican cartels adjusted to restrictions imposed by the global pandemic last year to smuggle huge amounts of narcotics into the U.S. and remain the greatest criminal drug threat to the country, expanding the market as methamphetamine deaths skyrocket. The government

Foreign Policy

Marijuana legalization won’t curb Mexico’s drug cartels

BY RYAN C. BERG Mexico is poised to become just the third country in the world to fully legalize marijuana (after Uruguay and Canada). If legalized, the size of the country would make it the world’s largest legal cannabis market. Already, headlines are

Foreign Policy

China’s economy probably shrank in 2020

BY DEREK SCISSORS The Chinese Communist Party appreciates American media praise. Yes, China halted COVID-19 and engineered a clear economic recovery. But the party has always denied or distorted major mistakes. Last year it lied about initial virus spread and, consequently, about

Foreign Policy

Alexei Navalny’s calculated risk

BY LEON ARON On his return from Germany, where he recuperated from an attempt on his life by Russian secret services, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested at the airport and sentenced to 30 days in prison for allegedly violating the

Feature 1

American funding of China is becoming dangerous

BY DEREK SCISSORS Key Points American investment in the People’s Republic of China probably exceeds $1 trillion, most occurring in the past six years. The vast majority is portfolio investment—holdings of bonds and, especially, small equities stakes. The amount is

Foreign Policy

The case of ‘authoritarian learning’ in Nicaragua

BY RYAN C. BERG Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice President and First Lady Rosario Murillo are on the offensive again. The latest move in their dictatorial rule is a draconian law aimed at non-profit organizations and foreign media outlets. The law

Foreign Policy

China, how may we sanction thee: Let us count the ways

BY CLAUDE BARFIELD Recently, Columbia law professor Tim Wu penned a forceful op-ed titled “A TikTok ban is overdue.” Wu bases his case strictly on reciprocity grounds, though he also raises broader issues regarding China’s oppressive authoritarianism. Citing TikTok and

Foreign Policy

Brazil’s political institutions clash over COVID response

BY RYAN C. BERG Brazil recently surpassed a grim statistic: 100,000 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus, which barrels on in the second worst outbreak in the world. Under increasing pressure at home — over 30 impeachment motions have been introduced by opponents in Congress

Latin America

Can Latin America’s coronavirus schooling crisis be prevented?

BY ANDRES MARTINEZ-FERNANDEZ By most measures, Latin America has become the new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, with the region struggling to cope with both the pandemic and the resulting socio-economic crises. Now, governments are forced to make difficult decisions