Italy has announced its formal withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative after joining the China-centered infrastructure and investment project in 2019.
The timing of the announcement that Rome won’t renew its BRI commitment is notable. It came only a day before the EU-China summit, which kicks off on Thursday. The summit will likely be more contentious than usual, with European leaders expected to push China on the treatment of EU firms amid discussions ...
Day: November 13, 2023
China Deploys Water Cannon in Latest Spat With Philippines in South China Sea
China-Philippines tensions in the South China Sea have risen yet again, with the China Coast Guard deploying a water cannon against a Filipino vessel en route to supply an outpost in the disputed waters. The escalation further positions the region as ...
U.S. Navy Plane Returns to Skies as China-Philippines Face Off in South China Sea
A U.S. Navy plane circled the skies during the latest China-Philippines confrontation in the South China Sea, underscoring the seriousness of the situation and the amount of multinational military hardware in the region. The U.S. Navy has previously deployed a P-8 Poseidon, ...
Philippine President to Meet With U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Amid APEC Summit
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the president of the Philippines, will reportedly make a stop-off in Hawaii to visit the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on his way back from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco later this week. Marcos is scheduled to meet ...
Vietnamese and Chinese Officials Talk Territorial, Border Issues
China said its vice foreign minister held direct and friendly talks with his Vietnamese counterpart in Hanoi that covered bilateral ties, land borders, and maritime issues. Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Vietnam's Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu agreed that ...
“Enough is Enough” – China Takes a Stronger Stand on Israel Crisis
China is using its presidency of the UN Security Council to call for a ceasefire in Gaza amid spiraling civilian casualties. In remarks at a Security Council briefing about the crisis on Friday, Zhang Jun, Beijing’s Special Envoy to the U.N., said: “The world must speak out ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Awkward Timing as Italy Withdraws from BRI
China’s Imports of Iranian Oil Rise as U.S. Eyes Sanctions
China bought an average of 1.05 million barrels of Iranian oil per day for the first ten months of the year, as Iran’s output keeps growing. The data from the shipping tracker Vortexa shows that Chinese imports are the highest since 2018, when the U.S. imposed sanctions against Iran. ...
Chinese Stunt Fliers Hype Fighter Jets at Dubai Air Show
Seven Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets will take part in displays at the Dubai Airshow starting on Monday. They will be flown by the PLA Airforce’s Bayi Aerobatics team in-flight performances, including twenty different maneuvers. The exhibition is aimed at promoting the J-10C, a ...
Four Key Trends in Battery Metals
Amid heightened demand for green technology, prices for critical minerals should be going up, up, up, right? In reality, prices have proven volatile. Even as demand keeps rising, new supply sources are coming online, potentially driving down prices. In addition, geopolitical ...
Israeli Media Reaction to China’s Stance on the Israel-Hamas War
By Amanda Chen As the Israel Defense Forces’ Operation Iron Swords continues in the Gaza Strip, a month after Hamas’ surprise terror attack on southern Israel on October 7, this edition of the ChinaMed Observer delves into the Israeli media’s response ...