This week’s readings include the latest Sinology piece by Andy Rothman (Matthews), an interview with Steve Bannon from the recent Delivering Alpha conference, how a US-backed university in Vietnam unleashed old demons, Andy Xie on why escalating the US trade war is not in China’s interest and thoughts on poverty alleviation from Luis Miranda.

• Is China tanking?: Latest from Andy Rothman.
• Steve Bannon: Interview at the Delivering Alpha conference. Worth a watch.
• How a US-backed university in Vietnam unleashed old demons: Former Senator Bob Kerrey thought he could help heal the wounds of war. Instead, he reopened them.
• Escalating the US trade war is not in China’s interest: Reform is what it must do.
• Where Professor Yunus and I agreed to disagree: Taking a hard re-look at poverty alleviation.