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Tom Harper

Lecturer in International Relations, University of East London

Tom Harper is a lecturer in international relations at the University of East London. Prior to 2014, he graduated from the University of Kent in 2012 and the University of Sussex in 2013. He received his PhD from the University of Surrey on the subject of China's international relations in Africa and has written on the subject of Chinese foreign policy in the developing world for several online platforms. Prior to coming to UEL, he taught at Neijiang Normal University in China and is currently studying for the HSK 5 Chinese proficiency exam.

His other works have covered Chinese foreign policy in Latin America and Central Asia as well as the rise of patriotic cinema in China, with his work on Wolf Warrior 2 being republished by the Independent and his most recent work was on the influence of Chinese Gen Z consumers. In addition, he speaks English, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.

What the spiralling trade war means for relations between the US and China

Apr 12, 2025 11:51 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics Economy

Donald Trump has partially walked back on his so-called liberation day tariffs on nearly all US imports after fears mounted that the move would result in a global recession and much higher borrowing costs for the US...

TikTok users migrate to RedNote in an unexpected success for Chinese soft power

Jan 21, 2025 12:52 pm UTC| Insights & Views Technology Life Business

The new US president, Donald Trump, has given TikTok a reprieve one day after a law came into effect banning the Chinese-owned app in the US on national security grounds. Trump, who has previously expressed admiration for...

Global Geopolitics Series

What Xi got out of his meeting with Biden

Nov 19, 2023 05:44 am UTC| Politics

Chinas leader Xi Jinping flew into San Francisco to meet US president Joe Biden on November 15 for his first visit to the US since 2017. The meeting, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) conference, was...

Taliban: why China wants them as a friend and not as a foe

Oct 29, 2023 11:16 am UTC| Insights & Views

The Talibans presence at the massive October jamboree in Beijiing to celebrate the 10th year of Chinas ambitious trade plan, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is part of Beijings regional strategy. This was one of...

How 'Chollywood' blockbuster Wolf Warriors 2 echoes changes in China's foreign policy

Aug 28, 2017 14:21 pm UTC| Entertainment

When Hollywood is not being criticised for being a liberal mouthpiece, it is often viewed as a front for American foreign policy. The time-honoured example of this is the Rambo series wherein Sylvester Stallones invincible...

Economy

U.S. Inflation Cools in January as Gas Prices Fall, Core CPI Signals Sticky Price Pressures

U.S. consumer prices rose less than expected in January, offering modest relief to households as gasoline and rental costs eased. However, persistent increases in service-related expenses suggest the Federal Reserve may...

U.S. Stocks End Mixed as January CPI Cools, Treasury Yields Slide

U.S. stocks closed mixed on Friday after a volatile trading session, as investors reacted to softer-than-expected January CPI data and falling Treasury yields. The SP 500 finished flat at 6,835.08, while the Dow Jones...

Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Stabilizes Ahead of U.S. CPI Data

Asian currencies edged lower on Friday as the U.S. dollar steadied, with traders closely monitoring upcoming U.S. consumer price index (CPI) data for signals on the Federal Reserves interest rate outlook. Despite the daily...

Oil Prices Steady but Head for Weekly Loss as Supply Glut Concerns Weigh

Oil prices were mostly steady during Asian trading on Friday, yet both benchmark crude contracts remained on track for weekly losses after a sharp selloff in the previous session. Brent crude futures for April delivery...

Fed Governor Stephen Miran Warns Tight Monetary Policy Threatens U.S. Economic Growth

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran cautioned that the central banks current monetary policy stance could pose a significant risk to U.S. economic growth. Speaking at a Dallas Fed event on Thursday, Miran argued that...

Politics

Anduril Eyes $60 Billion Valuation in New Funding Round to Expand Defense Manufacturing and Autonomous Fighter Jet Development

U.S. defense technology firm Anduril Industries is reportedly in discussions to raise billions of dollars in fresh funding at a valuation of at least $60 billion, according to a recent report by The Information citing...

Trump Maritime Action Plan Targets U.S. Shipbuilding Revival and Port Fee Funding

The Trump administration has unveiled a sweeping Maritime Action Plan aimed at rebuilding U.S. shipbuilding and strengthening the nations broader maritime industry. The more than 30-page strategy outlines a long-term...

Peru Congress Schedules Debate on Motion to Remove President Jose Jeri Amid Scandal

Perus Congress has scheduled a key debate for Tuesday on a motion to remove President Jose Jeri, intensifying political uncertainty in the country. Congressional leader Fernando Rospigliosi announced the decision on social...

Starmer Calls for Stronger European Defence Cooperation to Reinforce NATO and Reduce U.S. Reliance

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to call for closer European defence cooperation to reduce NATOs reliance on the United States, emphasizing greater integration across Europes defence industry. Speaking at the...

U.S.-Iran and Russia-Ukraine Talks Set for High-Stakes Geneva Meeting

Two critical rounds of diplomatic negotiations focusing on Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war are scheduled to take place in Geneva on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the matter. The high-level meetings signal...

Science

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates

Elon Musks SpaceX is shifting its near-term space exploration strategy, choosing to prioritize a return to the Moon before pursuing missions to Mars, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar...

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Technology

Grok AI Market Share Surges as xAI Faces Scrutiny Over Image Generation Controversy

Elon Musks AI chatbot Grok is rapidly gaining traction in the U.S., even as it faces mounting global criticism over the generation of non-consensual and sexualized AI images. According to data from app intelligence firm...

Lockheed Martin Secures $101M in U.S. Defense Contracts for AEGIS, F-35, and Missile Systems

Lockheed Martin has been awarded three U.S. Department of Defense contracts worth approximately $101 million, reinforcing its role as a leading defense contractor in advanced military systems, fighter jet support, and...

GE Aerospace Expands Singapore Engine Repair Hub with Automation and AI to Tackle Aviation Bottlenecks

GE Aerospace is accelerating automation and AI-driven innovation at its Singapore engine repair hub as global airlines grapple with maintenance delays, parts shortages, and extended turnaround times. At the center of this...

U.S. Commerce Department Reaches $252 Million Settlement With Applied Materials Over China Exports

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced a $252 million settlement with Applied Materials, resolving allegations that the semiconductor equipment maker illegally exported U.S. chip manufacturing technology to China....

Russia Moves to Fully Block WhatsApp as Kremlin Pushes State-Backed MAX App

Russia has reportedly attempted to fully block WhatsApp, the popular messaging service owned by Meta Platforms, as part of its broader efforts to tighten control over the countrys digital space. According to a company...