James A. Fok is a financial markets veteran who most recently worked as a senior executive at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEx), the company that runs Hong Kong’s stock market. During his time there he worked on establishing share and bond trading links between Hong Kong and mainland China. Fok has worked as an investment banker in Asia and Europe. He holds a BA from the School of Oriental and African Studies of the University of London. In his recently published book, Financial Cold War, he describes the economic and financial background to the current tensions between the U.S. and China. He talked to The Wire about some of the themes underpinning the book in this lightly edited interview. James Fok. Illustration by Lauren Crow Q: In your book you argue that the U.S. and China aren't engaged in a Cold War, in the same sense as the U.S. and the Soviet Union were, but that a financial Cold War is in progress. Can you explain the argument that you're making? A: I find