Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 26, 2019

Tasha Wibawa, ABC News Online: China hails 'historic' Europe trip as Xi signs billion-dollar deals with France, BRI with Italy

Chinese President Xi Jinping is wrapping up his overseas jaunt of the year, visiting Europe on a mission to strengthen Beijing's ties to the region.

The trip was described as being of "historic significance" to China, according to state media, with the country's powerful leader visiting Italy, France and Monaco and signing a series of multi-billion-dollar deals over the past few days.

But one aspect of Mr Xi's trip has Western observers and European allies particularly concerned — Italy's decision to sign up to Beijing's controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as well as more than two dozen other trade and infrastructure agreements.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 26, 2019

China played the long game to see who ‘blinks first’ when US trade war spiralled out of control in 2018, central bank’s ex-adviser says -- Xie Yu, SCMP

U.S. Must Put a Ban on Google Helping China Develop a Global Digital Dictatorship -- Gordon G. Chang, Daily Beast

China’s space program soars -- Kent Wang, Asia Times

Worries Rise About a Clash Over Taiwan -- Lara Seligman, Foreign Policy

How Donald Trump can still engage North Korea, whether or not nuclear testing resumes -- Brian P. Klein, SCMP

Why Trump recognised Israel's claim on the Golan Heights -- Joe Macaron, Al Jazeera

Washington's Worst Kept Secret: The Islamic State Isn't Defeated -- Daniel R. DePetris, National Interest

What’s Next for Kazakhstan? -- Nargis Kassenova, Project Syndicate

Is this Algeria's Arab Spring? -- Michael Greco and Karim Rizk, National Interest

What Is Going On With Hamas in Gaza? -- Anna Ahronheim, Jerusalem Post

Mali's security crisis: A cycle of exploitation and corruption -- Ineke Mules, DW

What Is at Stake in Ukraine’s Election? -- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Is Russia Throwing Its Lot in With Maduro? -- Stratfor

Mueller Provides Scant Real Relief for Russia -- Mark Galeotti, Moscow Times

As the Mueller Probe Ends, New Russiagate Myths Begin -- Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone