Every Wednesday, The Diplomat’s editorial team gazes out across the web to find our readers the best material involving all things China. From Beijing’s relations with its neighbors, its growing military might, and a rapidly growing and evolving economy, to amazing arts and culture, we present a diverse grouping of articles for your reading pleasure.
Here is our top five this Wednesday. Have we missed something? Want to share an important article with other readers? Please submit your links in the comment box below!
1. Ambassador Takes Issues With U.S. on Diaoyu Islands: (ChinaDaily) – "China's ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, expressed dismay on Tuesday over remarks by US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel regarding the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea."
2. Right Time To Enhance China-EU Partnership (The People's Daily) – "The recent visits to Beijing by French President Francois Hollande and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Margaret Ashton have again put China-EU relations in the spotlight.
China and EU are partners not rivals, and their cooperation is mutually beneficial, officials and analysts increasingly say."
3. Xi's War Drums: (Foreign Policy)- "China's new leader is using the military to consolidate his power. But has he unleashed forces beyond his control? "
4. China Struggles To Tap Its Shale Gas: (The Washington Post) – "Energy needs and pollution drive the country’s push for resources, but obstacles lie above the ground, not below."
5. Long Live China's Slowdown: (Project Syndicate)- "But slower GDP growth is actually good for China, provided that it reflects the long-awaited structural transformation of the world’s most dynamic economy. The broad outlines of this transformation are well known – a shift from export- and investment-led growth to an economic structure that draws greater support from domestic private consumption. Less well known is that a rebalanced China should have a slower growth rate – the first hints of which may now be evident."