December 16: China’s man in Riyadh

In which, President Xi flexes in the Gulf, the border crisis intensifies, and I get all the feels over Moroccan soccer.

A brief word on Morocco’s World Cup run

I’m not a soccer fan and only casually watch the World Cup as I have the opportunity. But one of the most memorable World Cups for me was the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. During that tournament, I was in Morocco doing language and culture training while living with a Moroccan family in the old city of Fes. Most nights during my stay there, my classmates and I found ourselves watching the games in cafes and host homes in large cities and small towns across the country, and it was amazing. The energy one felt as people watched the contests on the pitch and cheered on favorite teams and players was electrifying. Given that the tournament was happening in South Africa and featured a talented team from Ghana also fed a certain continental pride in the watchers. 

So, it is with a great amount of happiness that I congratulate Morocco’s national men’s soccer team on their incredible run to the World Cup semifinals. 

That country and its people gave me a new respect for the sport of soccer and insight into the power of sports to elevate national communities. The success of Morocco in the World Cup in many ways parallels that country’s continued success in economic development as well.

China’s man in Riyadh

Last week, I reported on Xi Jinping’s high profile trip to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. The trip has largely been heralded as a success given the numerous deals that were struck and papers signed. But what does the trip portend for the region and America’s role there? Is it really a watershed moment indicating a changing of the guard for the region’s external hegemon?

It certainly puts a strong Russia-backer squarely behind OPEC countries, which will certainly have effects on global oil production down the line. In other words, the influence America has already lost in this area this year will likely continue. Some suggest that it may also signal the emergence of yuan as a challenger currency to the dollar if China can persuade Saudi Arabia to accept cash for oil rather than other commodities.

So far, Saudi Arabia has resisted such inducements while also refusing to ditch the US as its primary arms supplier. 

That being said, the willingness of China to attempt such a bold attempt at geopolitical restructuring with a historically close American ally (potentially alienating Iran no less) while also challenging India on the disputed border between the two countries is significant. Despite the major protests over zero-Covid (which have largely died down), it seems clear that Xi sees the next couple of years as being the time to make moves and test China’s strength against the US diplomatically and economically.

Will that test include a military contest over Taiwan? Not in the near future it would seem, but I wouldn’t rule it out. China’s decision to move on Taiwan will likely take its cue from the degree to which America is willing to fight for continued influence with allies. In this respect, Xi may conclude from his Gulf trip that America won’t push back all that much. 

Cold fronts and hot borders

Winter approaches and Arctic fronts are pounding the northeast and midwestern regions of the US. But while cold fronts swoop in from the north, immigration and border politics in the south are turning up the heat in Washington.