One of the most important geopolitical issues in world politics is the trade war between the USA and China. Its development affects almost every other country due to the sizes and influences of the two biggest economies in the world. Thus, the project will be dedicated to analyzing this phenomenon, its origins, and further escalation. The primary source I will be focusing on for my project is Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China’s Last Golden Age by Stephen R. Platt. This book describes China’s history, its relationship with England and other European countries during the infamous Opium Wars in the 19th century. These two wars (1840-1842; 1856-1860) were fought over the trafficking embargo of the substance to China by the British East India Company. The reasons and consequences of the conflict will be highlighted in this project.
The modern trade war does not involve an armed confrontation between the rivals. Nevertheless, it is a global issue that has a significant influence on the world’s economy. The current event article related to the theme is the U.S. – China trade war timeline by Global Trade Magazine. It provides the description and summary of the main events taking place in this war. This project is enough to use only one media source because the given article provides infographics. Analysis of the statistics and key points of the current trade confrontation allows the understanding of the global economic situation and the ways both countries participate in this conflict. Because the USA and China have different domestic and foreign policies, they put themselves in a conflict situation. Back in the 19th century, it was more efficient to deploy military events, however, now the consequences could lead to a Third World War. That is why both China and the United States make efforts to weaken each other in the economic field.
Analyzing the primary source alongside the news article, it becomes possible to trace the development of worldwide economic conflicts. As the trade war continues and grows in scale, it is necessary to monitor the conflict’s escalation in the media. It is essential to use American sources and observe how the situation is presented in the Chinese media. Such usage will provide a complete picture of the problem and lead to a better understanding of the issue.
References
Platt, S. R. (2020). Imperial twilight: the opium war and the end of China’s last golden age. Penguin Random House.
Durkin, A. (2020). U.S. – China trade war timeline. Global Trade Magazine. Web.