Day: June 7, 2025
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Why China Is Watching Trump’s Venezuela Campaign Closely
By Tom Harper Donald Trump’s campaign against Venezuela escalated recently with the U.S. president announcing that the country’s airspace should be considered “closed.” This is a move that has preceded U.S. military interventions in the past, perhaps most notably in Iraq ...
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Tokyo Says Chinese Jets Locked Radar Onto Japan Fighters
By Kyoko Hasegawa Chinese military aircraft locked radar onto Japanese fighter jets southeast of Okinawa's main island, Japan's defence ministry said on Sunday. Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have soured following remarks by new Japanese ...
Chinese National Suspect in Indonesia’s Cesium-137 Contamination
Indonesian police have named a Chinese national as a criminal suspect after radioactive material traced to his scrap-metal company contaminated exports and triggered a U.S. import alert on Indonesian shrimp. Police say the man, Lin Jingzhang, runs PT Peter ...
To Build a Kenyan EV, an Engineer Turns to China… for Know-How, Not Cars
On the outskirts of Nairobi’s industrial zone, Engineer Tadesse Tessema, a soft-spoken power electronics graduate who built Ethiopia’s first car assembly plant nearly two decades ago, is once again trying to do something no one has done in East Africa: create a locally manufactured electric vehicle — ...
Reexporting the Revolution: Kyrgyzstan’s Strategic Role in China’s Electric Vehicle Expansion
Like its Central Asian neighbors Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan is rapidly emerging as a major export market for Chinese automakers, both for traditional and electric vehicles. This surge comes amid tightening restrictions in Western markets on Chinese exports, pushing Chinese manufacturers to deepen their presence across Eurasia. ...
China’s New Aircraft Carrier Enters Service in Key Move to Modernize Fleet
By Peter Catterall China's third aircraft carrier entered service this week, state media said on Friday, marking a key milestone in President Xi Jinping's drive to modernize the military. The Fujian joins China's fleet ...
The Pain of Un-Polarity
“THE G2 WILL BE CONVENING SHORTLY!” This post by U.S. President Donald Trump in the run-up to his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week may end up leaving a more lasting mark than the actual summit he attended. ...
China Bans All Thai Syrups and Premixed Sugar After Safety Failures
China’s Customs Authority GACC has expanded its suspension on Thai syrups and premixed sugar into a full import ban, effective for shipments from Oct. 27. The move follows July–September audits that found none of 10 Thai export-oriented factories compliant ...
UN Celebrates Chinese Peacekeepers in South Sudan Even as Questions Linger Over What Was Achieved
By Felix Brender 王哲謙 When seven hundred members of China’s 11th Peacekeeping Infantry Battalion were awarded the United Nations Peace Medal of Honour in Juba on 23 October 2025, Chinese media celebrated. State broadcaster Xinhua framed the event as proof of ...
Thailand Seeks Joint Ventures to Boost Exports, Aligning with China’s 5-Year Plan
Thailand’s Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun instructed all nine Thai trade offices in China to shift from basic trade matchmaking to pursue joint ventures with Chinese partners. The move, as Suphajee said, is to align their work with Beijing’s newly ...
China’s Exports Drop 1.1% in October, Missing Forecasts
China's exports fell 1.1 percent on-year in October, official data showed Friday, as trade tensions flared before Chinese President Xi Jinping met U.S. counterpart Donald Trump at the end of the month. The figure marked the first drop in shipments since ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: China Criticizes Trump’s Nigeria Ultimatum
Tanzania reopened its border with Zambia, restoring a key transit route for China-bound copper exports. The border crossing, along with the port at Dar es Salaam, had been closed due to a surge of election violence, but officials now say they're clearing a backlog and copper shipments are ...
India and Pakistan Are Still Arguing Over How Many Chinese Fighter Jets Were Shot Down in Last May’s War
More than five months after India and Pakistan engaged in a brief military conflict in early May, the two countries are still squabbling over how many of each other's fighter jets they shot down. The issue resurfaced last week when a ...
New Insights Emerge About Iran’s Secretive (and Very Lucrative) Trade With China
It's been an open secret for years that China and Iran figured out some very creative ways to circumvent international sanctions to conduct billions of dollars in trade every year. Until now, though, it just wasn't clear how they did it. ...
China Exiles in Thailand Lose Hope, Fearing Beijing’s Long Reach
With tears rolling down his cheeks, detained Chinese political exile Zhou Junyi struggles to make his voice heard over dozens of families visiting Bangkok's main immigration detention center. Zhou's China Democracy Party, an exile group, organized a commemoration on June 4 ...
China’s Premier to Visit North Korea This Week
China's premier will pay an official visit to North Korea this week, Beijing said Tuesday, announcing the high-level diplomatic engagement to the isolated nuclear state. Despite periods of strained ties between China and North Korea over Pyongyang's nuclear programme, the neighbours ...
How China is Displacing U.S. Economic Power in Latin America
For centuries, the United States was the undisputed hegemonic power across the Western Hemisphere; however, that is no longer the case today. China is now the largest trading partner for the majority of countries in Latin America and is quickly filling ...
New China-Africa Air Cargo Route From Hainan to Kenya, South Africa
The Kenyan cargo airline Astral Aviation launched new direct service between the southern Chinese island province of Hainan and Africa, with service to both Nairobi and Johannesburg. The first flight took off late last week, ferrying 48 tons of Chinese electronics and e-commerce goods. ...
Zambian Perceptions of China Rebound After Ten-Year Decline, Says Afrobarometer
Public opinion of China among Zambians rebounded for the first time last year after a decade of steadily falling, according to the findings of Afrobarometer's latest survey. While Zambians were more upbeat about China when asked in relation to other countries ...
China Warns Against Gaza Occupation
China has called on Israel to halt its recently announced plans to occupy the entire Gaza Strip. Geng Shuang, China’s envoy to the United Nations, said on Tuesday that Beijing is concerned about the plans, and called on Israel to “immediately halt such dangerous actions.” ...
Chinese Foreign Minister Pledges Support for Brazil in Tariff Fight
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China would support Brazil “in defending its right to development and opposing the bullying practices of arbitrary tariffs,” according to China Daily. He made the comments during a phone call with Celso Amorim, chief advisor to the president of Brazil.
Indian Prime Minister to Visit China as Tensions with U.S. Rise
Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, will visit China for the first time in seven years. Modi will travel to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in late August. The announcement further solidifies the diplomatic thaw between the two Asian giants, as India’s relationship ...
Indonesia’s Imports from China Hit $40 Billion, Surplus Persists
Indonesia posted a $19.5 billion trade surplus between January and June 2025, up from $15.6 billion in the same period last year. The record marked its 62nd consecutive month of surplus, according to official data released Friday by Badan ...
Vietnam Posts $10B Surplus in 2025, Deficit with China Hits $66B
Vietnam posted a $10.2B trade surplus in 2025, but a surging $66.5B deficit with China underscores deepening supply chain dependencies.
The Key Question in Vietnam: Is “Made in China” the Same as “Made by China?”
Manufacturers in Vietnam are still digesting last week's announcement by the United States that the Southeast Asian country will be subject to a 20% tariff for all locally-made exports and a 40% duty on all transshipments, presumably from China. The problem, ...
Li Qiang’s Low-Key Diplomatic Schedule at the BRICS Summit
Chinese Premier Li Qiang maintained a relatively low profile at this weekend's BRICS summit in Brazil, where he avoided the usual "speed-dating style diplomacy" they engage in when attending these kinds of gatherings. Instead, Li met on Saturday with his ...
Why Was Xi a No Show at BRICS?
There's been a lot of speculation as to why Chinese President Xi Jinping opted to stay home from a BRICS summit for the first time and instead sent Chinese Premier Li Qiang in his place. Some suggested that it was because
China Says BRICS Not Seeking ‘Confrontation’ After Trump Tariff Threat
China said on Monday that BRICS, the grouping that also includes Brazil, Russia and India, was not seeking "confrontation" after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to impose an extra 10 percent tariff on countries aligning with the bloc. "Regarding the imposition ...
BRICS Nations Slam Trump Tariffs, Condemn Strikes on Iran
By Facundo Fernández Barrio BRICS leaders at a summit on Sunday took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump's "indiscriminate" import tariffs and recent Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran. The 11 emerging nations -- including Brazil, Russia, ...
Philippines Buys More Korean FA-50 Jets Amid South China Sea Tensions
The Philippine government has signed a $700 million FA-50 jets contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the purchase of 12 new FA-50 Block 20 light combat aircraft, expanding its current fleet as it seeks to bolster its air defense posture in the South China Sea ...
Vietnam’s FDI Surges 40% on Reinvestments Amid Global Tensions
Amid intensifying global U.S.-China tensions and global efforts to diversify supply chains, Vietnam is consolidating its position as a key Southeast Asian industrial hub. In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam's FDI is surging 40% on reinvestments. According to ...
Vietnam’s FDI Surges 40% on Reinvestments Amid Global Tensions
Amid intensifying global U.S.-China tensions and global efforts to diversify supply chains, Vietnam is consolidating its position as a key Southeast Asian industrial hub. In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam's FDI is surging 40% on reinvestments. According to ...
China Calls for Restraint in India-Pakistan Conflict
The Chinese government expressed “concerns” about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. This follows Indian missile strikes on “terrorist Infrastructure” in Pakistan and the disputed region of Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. The strike was followed by heavy artillery fire from both sides along their contested ...
China Calls for Restraint in India-Pakistan Conflict
The Chinese government expressed “concerns” about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. This follows Indian missile strikes on “terrorist Infrastructure” in Pakistan and the disputed region of Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. The strike was followed by heavy artillery fire from both sides along their contested ...
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Moscow Visit a Signal to Global South
Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Russia from 7 to 10 May. He will be one of the most prominent guests at the May 9 Victory Day parade marking Russia’s victory in World War II. He will also meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and will ...
Pakistan is the New Frontier for Chinese EV Expansion
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers are shaking up Pakistan’s automotive sector, challenging the long-standing dominance of Japanese and local players. In the face of economic challenges and climate concerns, the country’s pivot to EVs marks both an important industrial shift and a strategic political move.
Nigeria Backtracks Solar Import Ban Amid China’s Supply Dominance
Nigeria recently floated, and then quickly walked back, a proposed ban on imported solar panels, most of which come from China. The about-face came just a month after the initial announcement, stirring familiar concerns about policy volatility in Nigeria and across Africa. But beneath ...
China’s Xi Aims to Beef up ‘No Limits’ Putin Partnership
Chinese President Xi Jinping headed to Moscow on Wednesday for a key three-day visit including a grand Victory Day parade and a show of support for Vladimir Putin. Moscow and Beijing declared a "no limits partnership" weeks before Putin ordered Russia's ...
China Says ‘Concerned’ by India Strikes on Pakistan, Urges Restraint
China on Wednesday expressed regret and concern over Indian strikes on Pakistan, urging both sides to show restraint in response to a major escalation between its nuclear-armed neighbors. India and Pakistan exchanged heavy artillery along their contested frontier on Wednesday, after ...
Is It Just Because They’re Cheap? Why Chinese Products Dominate the African Market
The popular East Africa-based Chinese online commentator Xiao Nie “小聂说事儿,” who chronicles daily life of Chinese immigrants on the continent, recently published an article addressing common biases about Africa’s consumer market. The piece was written in response to a flood of comments on a previous ...
China’s May Day Tourists Flock to an Unlikely New Hotspot: Central Asia
Over the recent Labor Day holiday on May 1st, an unexpected destination emerged as a top choice for Chinese tourists venturing overseas: Central Asia. While Southeast Asia once dominated the list of overseas travel favorites, recent high-profile cases involving telecom fraud ...
Vanishing Brides, Troubled Desire: The Legal Grey Zone of China-Vietnam Wife Tours
A rural Chinese farmer paid over 200,000 yuan (around $28,000) to join a marriage tour in Vietnam—three months later, his new wife vanished. This is not a rare case: stories like his have circulated on Chinese social media for over a ...
The Future of U.S. and Chinese Aid Programs in the Global South
Two years ago, Daniel Russel and Blake Berger, senior analysts at the Asia Society Policy Institute, embarked on an ambitious project to bring U.S. and Chinese stakeholders together to speak in a safe, controlled setting about their respective countries' aid strategies ...
Zambia Banks on China-Backed Rail Upgrade to Boost Mining Exports
Two great railroads nearly bisect the southern central belt of Africa, stretching from the Atlantic and Indian oceans respectively, poised to shuttle key metals from the mineral-rich center of the continent to markets abroad. For Zambia, the second-largest copper exporter in Africa, these railways represent the future ...
Colombia Moves to Join China’s Belt and Road
By Lina Vanegas Colombia's president on Tuesday said he intends to sign an accord to join Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative during an upcoming China trip, a move sure to damage already frayed relations with Washington.
ASEAN Plans Joint Response to Trump’s Tariffs: It Won’t Work
Trump’s latest tariffs aren’t just an attack on Southeast Asia — they’re a calculated strike at China’s economic flank. Vietnam has a 46% tariff, Cambodia and Laos have 49% and 48%, and Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore have rates between ...
Legal Wrangles Increase Around Panama Ports
The signing of a deal to sell two ports in Panama by the Hong Kong ports company CK Hutchison to the U.S. investment group BlackRock could be delayed by legal proceedings. While China’s competition regulator has undertaken a review of the deal amid growing criticism, Panama’s government ...
“Ugly Monday” Kicks Off China’s Response to U.S. Tariffs
China’s stock market suffered the largest losses since 2022 as investors braced for the impact of China’s countermeasures to cumulative tariffs of more than 50% imposed by the Trump administration. Beijing announced 34% retaliatory tariffs on all U.S. imports on Friday. The announcement came during a long weekend ...
Philippines, U.S. Launch Joint Drills Aimed at ‘Deterrence’
The Philippine and U.S. air forces kicked off joint exercises Monday aimed at boosting operational coordination and enhancing "strategic deterrence," Manila's military said. The drills follow months of confrontations between Bejing and Manila over disputed areas of the South China Sea, ...
Philippines Set to Sign Visiting Forces Deal With Canada
Manila said Friday that the Philippines and Canada have negotiated a deal for the deployment of troops, which will occur once the latest security pact is signed in the face of increasingly tense confrontations with China. Manila's defence department said it ...
Chinese Experts Discuss Trump’s Gaza Plan and the Ceasefire
On January 15, Israel and Hamas agreed to an armistice proposal brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, offering hope for a lasting resolution to the fighting in Gaza. The first phase of the agreement entailed a six-week ceasefire and the release of several Israeli hostages ...
China’s Geopolitical Blueprint on the Global South, Asia, and World Order: Wang Yi Speaks Out
The world is shifting, and China wants everyone to know where the momentum is coming from. “The wind rises from the South, and the tide comes from the South,” declared Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Two Sessions press conference on Friday. ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: China Suspends Beef Imports From Seven Companies in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Mongolia
China will push its steel sector to lower production output to drive up prices. The National People’s Congress was told that restructuring in the sector would be encouraged. The size of the output cuts was not specified. The move comes as many Global South countries have put duties ...
Vietnam’s 2025 Economic Surge: China’s Dual Role Boosts Growth but Deepens Trade Deficit
Vietnam’s economic story in the first two months of 2025 took an interesting turn, driven largely by deepening ties with China. While the country enjoyed robust export gains and a surge in foreign direct investment (FDI), its trade deficit with ...
Pakistan Must Rebuild Chinese Investor Confidence in Its Energy Transition
By Haneea Isaad and Mustafa Hyder Sayed Pakistan’s energy sector investments are on a complex trajectory. Despite government efforts to attract foreign capital and de-risk new projects, investor confidence remains low. In January 2024, a 600-megawatt (MW) solar project in Muzaffargarh ...
Trump, China, and the Big, Baffling World
Amid the upheavals of Donald Trump’s first weeks back as U.S. president, a key point of overlap between his shredding of the Atlantic partnership and his ending of U.S. foreign assistance to the developing world has been largely ignored: the impact of these choices’ impact ...
Mexico to Review Its Tariffs With China, President Says
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, under U.S. pressure not to allow her country to be a backdoor for Chinese goods, said Thursday that her government would review its tariffs with Beijing. Mexico imports "many products from China" that have hit domestic industries, ...
Thailand Repatriates Hundreds More Chinese Scam Center Workers
Hundreds of Chinese nationals freed from Myanmar online scam centres flew home through Thailand on Thursday, as the kingdom said it aimed to repatriate 1,500 such workers a week. Thailand, Myanmar and China have been making efforts in recent weeks to ...
Kenyan-Chinese Robotics Partnership Breaking AI and STEM Barriers for Schoolchildren
China is the world’s factory, but for one Kenyan company, it has become more than just a source of goods—it is a gateway to affordable technology for education. Afribot Robotics, a Nairobi-based firm specializing in STEM education, discovered this advantage ...
The Long Game: China’s Strategy for Cobalt and Critical Resources
By Géraud Neema and Eric Olander In the world of critical minerals, where prices fluctuate wildly and geopolitical tensions loom large, China may be demonstrating a mastery of long-term strategic planning. At a time when cobalt prices have plummeted to just ...
China Slams U.S. ‘Cold War Mentality’ in Latin America
China on Friday condemned a "Cold War mentality" by the United States in Latin America, saying it had complained over comments by Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a visit to the region. Since winning the U.S. election in November, President ...
Cambodia and China: Is the “Ironclad Friendship” Starting to Rust?
Cambodia and China have maintained a seemingly unshakable alliance for decades, strengthened by infrastructure deals, military support, and unwavering diplomatic backing. Cambodia has reciprocated by supporting China's regional and global initiatives, such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), earning their relationship the label of an “ironclad ...
South China Sea Tensions Escalate: U.S.-Philippines Expand Naval Drills, China Warns of Destabilization
A surge in joint naval exercises in waters near the Philippines has drawn sharp complaints from Beijing, which accuses Manila of destabilizing the region by working with external powers. On Wednesday, forces from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Shein, Chinese Fast Fashion Giant Returns to India After Five-Year Ban
China has joined countries around the world in rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to “take over” Gaza and force the displacement of Palestinians to other countries. China "has always believed that 'the Palestinians governing Palestine' is the fundamental principle for postwar governance in Gaza," said Foreign Ministry ...
New Zealand Says ‘Blindsided’ by Cook Islands’ China Overture
New Zealand said Friday it had been "blindsided" by the Cook Islands' plans to sign a major agreement with China and issue its own passports. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said he had not been consulted on the moves by the Cook ...
Infographic: Who Are China’s Top Trading Partners in Africa?
Trade between China and Africa reached more than $295 billion in 2024, an increase of 6.1% on the previous year, according to a recent report by the Chinese customs administration. We break down the trade between the two continents in infographics. ...
[WEEK IN REVIEW] Who Gets to Tell the China-Africa Story?
Chinese engagement in Africa is seen by many people as a classic example of neo-colonial exploitation. China, according to the narrative, is merely the latest in a long line of predatory foreigners seeking to drain the continent's vast reserves of oil, ...
Colombia Moves to Boost Trade With China Amid Tensions With U.S.
Colombia, whose president crossed swords with U.S. President Donald Trump on accepting deportation flights, announced plans on Thursday to strengthen ties with China by adding a new shipping route to Shanghai. Colombia's commerce ministry said the new route would take ships ...
U.S. Sanctions Network Delivering Iranian Oil to China
The U.S. Treasury announced financial sanctions on Thursday, the first under the new administration of Donald Trump, that target an "international network" accused of shipping Iranian oil to China to fund Tehran's military activities. The sanctions target the network for "facilitating ...
Sri Lanka President To Visit China Ahead of Budget
Sri Lanka's president will travel to the island's largest bilateral lender, China, next week ahead of his first national budget, the information minister said Tuesday. The visit comes a month ahead of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's first budget, which is expected ...
Indonesia Formally Joins BRICS
Indonesia has become the latest formal member of the BRICS group. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry announced that the economic powerhouse was unanimously accepted by the group of emerging powers. China’s Foreign Ministry praised the move as “in line with the common interest of BRICS member states and the ...
Wang Stresses Joint Modernization in Namibia Visit
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized China’s support for African modernization during his meetings with senior Namibian officials on Monday. Wang is in the country as part of the annual Foreign Minister tour of the continent, traditionally the Chinese FM's first trip of the year.
Quake in China’s Tibet Kills 95 With Tremors Felt in Nepal, India
By Isabel Kua and Sam Davies A devastating earthquake in China's remote Tibet region killed at least 95 people and collapsed "many buildings" on Tuesday, state media reported, with tremors also felt in neighboring Nepal's capital Kathmandu and parts of India. ...
Why Views About China Are So Different in the Global North and South
China is deeply unpopular in the U.S., UK, Japan, and most other wealthy countries, and given the politics in those regions, there's no indication that's going to change anytime soon. It's a very different story, though, in large parts of developing ...
China’s Foreign Minister Kicks off Africa Tour in Namibia
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Namibia on Monday and hailed the "time-honored friendship" between Africa and his country, which he called the continent's "most reliable partner." The Asian power's first diplomatic visit of the year has traditionally been to Africa, ...
Indonesia Officially Joins BRICS as Full Member, Brazil Confirms
Indonesia has officially joined BRICS as a full member, marking a significant expansion of the bloc, which currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. The announcement came from Brazil on Monday, ...
A Taliban security personnel operating an anti-aircraft gun keeps watch for Pakistani airstrikes near the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Nangarhar province on February 27, 2026 following overnight cross-border fighting between the two countries. Photo by AIMAL ZAHIR / AFP
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif declared "open war" against Afghanistan on Friday amid a surge of fighting between the two South Asian neighbors. Pakistan said it's retaliating against Afghanistan for a series of attacks, including a suicide bombing in early February that killed at least 36 people ...
Philippines Buys More Korean FA-50 Jets Amid South China Sea Tensions
The Philippine government has signed a $700 million FA-50 jets contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the purchase of 12 new FA-50 Block 20 light combat aircraft, expanding its current fleet as it seeks to bolster its air defense posture in the South China Sea ...