With U.S.-South Africa ties in the deep freeze, it was notable to see the sheer size of the U.S. delegation sent to this week’s Mining Indaba in Cape Town – one of the most prominent industry gatherings and one of the few where the Global South gets a prominent voice.
The Trump administration’s famous Afrophobia seems (momentarily at least) tempered by its greed for minerals. It is reportedly walking ...
Day: December 14, 2023
Related Posts
COP28 Ends With Fossil Fuel Compromise, Many Unanswered Questions
This year’s COP28 will likely be remembered for its epic fights about fossil fuel use. For the first time in the gathering’s history, an explicit commitment to “phase out” fossil fuels was on the agenda. The delegates didn’t get there, committing to “transition away” from hydrocarbons instead. ...
Chinese Mining Companies Are Pushing Down the Price of Cobalt, U.S. Committee Wants to Do Something About It
There's a growing awareness in Washington, D.C., that the rock-bottom prices of certain critical resources used to manufacture electric vehicle batteries provide China a competitive advantage while jeopardizing U.S. national security. A massive glut of cobalt, nickel and other EV battery ...
Chinese Nickel Miners in Indonesia Are Becoming Very Anxious About Falling Prices
The year-long slump in nickel prices is endangering the economic viability of some of the many Chinese mining companies in Indonesia that dominate the sector. Chinese-owned mines account for 60-70% of all investment in Indonesia's nickel mining business, which is significant ...
South Korea Moves to Reduce Reliance on China for EV Battery Metals
The South Korean government introduced new measures this week to reduce its dependence on China for 185 different critical resources, many of which are used to manufacture EV batteries. The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy announced on Wednesday new measures that ...
Chinese Arms Arrive in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially received a consignment of weapons from China on Wednesday. The arms include armored fighting vehicles, personnel carriers, machine guns, and pistols. The weapons were handed over by China’s ambassador, Zhou Ding. While framing the consignment as a donation, Mnangagwa ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Thailand’s China Tourist Woes Set to Worsen After Woman Charged Following TikTok Video
Thai police are pressing charges against a Chinese social media influencer after she posted a video from a Bangkok nightlife area she claimed was dangerous for women — in a move that could further scare away potential Chinese tourists. Wang Ziyu — ...
Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Illustrate Striking Divide in South Pacific Country Allegiances
Leaders from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are making it clear where their loyalties lie as China and the West jockey for influence in the strategically important South Pacific. Papua New Guinea signed a defense agreement with the U.S. ...