Xiaolong (James) Wang
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The Wet Foundations of the Digital Age
The global race for artificial intelligence is usually framed as a battle over chips, code, and national security. But behind the scenes, the AI economy runs on something far more basic: water. From cooling data centers to manufacturing semiconductors, modern computing depends on enormous and growing volumes of freshwater. As…
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Korea’s Rise and America’s Retreat in Southeast Asian Defense
As the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting convenes in South Korea amid heightened geopolitical tensions, Southeast Asia’s systematic shift toward Korean and European defense systems represents a critical challenge to American strategic influence in the region. While the US pursues renewed engagement through expanded defense agreements and strengthened alliances, Seoul’s emerging…
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The New Iron Curtains of AI: How US and Chinese Rulebooks Are Rewiring Power
AI policy has become industrial policy, export control, and alliance management at once. Since 2020, Washington and Beijing have converged on a blunt insight: whoever writes the rules for models, chips, and data flows sets the pecking order. Both are building regulatory perimeters that do more than “keep us safe.”…
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Singapore’s Crypto Clampdown: Can Regulation Build the Next Fintech Hub?
As global regulators scramble to restore trust in digital finance, Singapore is charting a path that few others dare to follow. While much of the crypto world eyes a rebound driven by new capital, token launches, and looser rules, Singapore is moving in the opposite direction—tightening consumer protections, raising compliance…
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ACFTA at a Crossroads: Balancing Growth and Dependency in ASEAN-China Trade Relations
The strategic partnership between the United States and ASEAN has never fully recovered from the shock of the Trump administration’s 2016 turn away from multilateralism, erratic diplomacy, and rising protectionism. Years of unpredictable US policy have eroded trust, leaving ASEAN leaders doubtful about Washington’s long-term reliability. Into this vacuum steps…
Sino-Southeast Initiative 