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 15, 2023
U.S. Lawmakers Weigh Sanctions, Criminal Charges Against Chinese Companies Over Child Cobalt Mining in DR Congo
U.S. legislators are proposing much stricter measures to counter China's dominance of the cobalt supply chain, including sanctions that would restrict the import of any cobalt mined by Chinese companies in the DR Congo. The proposed law by New Jersey ...
While Global Powers Fight a Bipolar Battle, the World Is Calling for the Menu
As Presidents Xi and Biden meet amid calls for decoupling, a new survey reveals many countries want to work with both the United States and China in an “a la carte” way. A new public opinion survey by Oxford University and ...
ASEAN Defense Ministers Meet Amid Growing China-Philippines Maritime Tensions
China-Philippines tensions in the South China Sea are atop the agenda for this week's gathering of ASEAN defense ministers in Jakarta. The bloc’s defense chiefs held talks on Wednesday on a range of issues, including the frequent — and at times dangerous ...
Philippines Will Give Up ‘Not One Inch’ of Territory in South China Sea
The photo above, posted on X by reporter Joseph Morong of Philippine news outlet GMA News, shows part of an exhibit at a Manila mall entitled “Not One Inch." Other poster-size photos at the exhibit featured China Coast Guard ships that have ...
Thailand Promotes Land Bridge Project at APEC
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is pitching a $28 billion project aimed at bypassing the Straits of Malacca at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this week. He also promoted the project at China’s Belt and Road Forum in October. Thavisin told potential ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Awkward Timing as Italy Withdraws from BRI
Thai Leader Debunks Idea of Hosting Chinese Police for Joint Patrols in Tourist Zones
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the country would not be inviting Chinese police officers to patrol Thai tourist destinations after reports of such a plan sparked an outcry. Tourism officials had recently raised the idea of having Chinese and Thai ...
India-China Dispute Has Lessons for Other Countries: Report
China’s choice of a show of force on its border with India in 2020 had unintended consequences that put the relationship in crisis. It also offers lessons for other border disputes, particularly in the South China Sea. This is the finding