"We still need to rely on Europe to resolve its debt issue, and we believe that Europe has all the wisdom and ability to resolve the debt issue," Chinese President Hu Jintao stated at a side meeting of the BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—at the G-20 meeting, held in Cannes, France, on November 3rd and 4th. For the leader of a country famed for its hard-nosed realism, these were surprisingly brave words. Kerry Brown, Head of the Asia Programme at Chatham House, explains that even as Hu spoke the Eurozone slid deeper into political disarray, and continues to do so.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the East-West Center or any organization with which the author is affiliated.