Until policymakers recognize this paradox, talk of “decoupling” would describe a world that does not exist. US–China trade remains substantial despite escalating restrictions, still exceeding hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Chinese outbound investment is increasingly directed toward Southeast Asia, while investment flows to the US remain subdued. Countries outside the US–China binary should be viewed not as passive bystanders, but as the infrastructure on which the new system runs. It is whether policymakers would recognize the system that capital has already built or continue debating about one that no longer exists.

Source: Taipei Times April 05, 2026 17:45 UTC