By Michael Roberts In Japan, a general election is taking place tomorrow, just months after Sanae Takaichi became the nation’s first female prime minister. Takaichi is an arch-conservative, ultra nationalist and a devotee of Margaret Thatcher. She became prime minister last October by winning an internal party race for the presidency of the beleaguered governing Liberal Democrat Party … [Read more...]
Michael Roberts: ‘Two sessions’ China
By Michael Roberts (From Richard Mellor) The Chinese government is just completing its annual ‘two sessions’ or lianghui, where China’s political elite approve the economic policy agenda for the coming year. The ‘two sessions’ refers to two major political gatherings: the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a political advisory committee; and the National People’s … [Read more...]
The New Trade War
A WIN discussion, June 2024. Last week, the trade and technology war between the US and its allies and China took another ratchet up when US President Biden imposed another range of tariffs on Chinese imports. What is the purpose of these tariffs and other restrictions on Chinese goods and companies that began under Trump presidency in 2019? What will be the impact on the world economy and where … [Read more...]
THE TAIWAN ELECTIONS: WHAT NOW?
A WIN discussion January 2024. See it here On Sunday January 13, presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Taiwan, in a very polarised atmosphere. The Western powers celebrated the victory of the pro-Western DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) candidate Lai Ching-te. Was this a major blow for China, or a pyrrhic victory for the DPP? Discussions about a possible military … [Read more...]
Ten Years of Belt & Road
Ten Years of Belt & Road (youtube.com) A WIN Discussion, January 2024. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has probably channelled the biggest export of capital in the post WWII period. Although it started with great promise, a 10 year review now finds that developing countries are in as much debt to China as they have been to the IMF. BRI has been characterized by loans rather than … [Read more...]
WIN Conference 9th/10th September 2023 London and on Zoom
WIN’s recent conference was attended both physically and online by a total of 60 comrades from 20 countries. WIN CONFERENCE 2023 - SESSION 1 - Near War and Class war - the United States and China - YouTube WIN CONFERENCE 2023 - SESSION 2 - THE UKRAINE WAR: AN INTERNATIONALIST APPROACH - Part 1 of 2 - YouTube WIN CONFERENCE 2023 - SESSION 3 - THE UKRAINE WAR: AN INTERNATIONALIST APPROACH … [Read more...]
THE USA AND CHINA – Is there a danger of a new world war?
A Workers’ International Network meeting - May 2023 THE USA AND CHINA Is there a danger of a new world war? - YouTube The United States of America is by far the most powerful country in the world, economically, politically and militarily; but it is in terminal decline. China still has nowhere near the power of the USA, but its economy has grown at an unprecedented rate over the last … [Read more...]
Chinese Investment and Trade Union Rights
A Workers’ International Network meeting - March 2023 THE SUPPRESSION OF THE ROSSING MINERS: Chinese investment and trade union rights - YouTube In August 2020 Namibia's Rössing mine was bought up by China’s state-owned China National Uranium Corporation Limited (CNUC). Its first decisive act was to fire the branch executive committee of the Mineworkers’ Union of Namibia, … [Read more...]
CHINA: One Hundred Years of the Chinese Communist Party
Greg Benton is Greg is the acknowledged leading expert on the history of the Chinese Communist Party and especially China’s Trotskyist opposition and isEmeritus Professor at Cardiff University.Last month marked the centenary of the foundation of the Chinese Communist Party. Just a quarter of a century later, it was already in power. Today it is ruling a population of a billion and a half – almost … [Read more...]
