Will China be the new champion of globalisation amid US protectionism?

Mr Alex Capri, Visiting Senior Fellow in the Department of Decision Sciences at NUS Business School opined that while Beijing may seem to be pushing its own form of globalisation, such as through the rising levels of Chinese foreign investment and outward­looking ventures such as the grandly named "One Belt, One Road" scheme, this should not be confused with the promotion of an open trading system. He summed up that China undoubtedly has a major role in shaping the next phase of globalisation, but this does not mean that others will toe its line or emulate China's business model. In the near term ­ unless America changes course ­ there simply will be no clear global leader for free trade.

• The Business Times, 9 March 2017, p27