Day: July 9, 2025
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Chinese Companies Are Changing the Way They Operate in Africa
By Elisa Gambino and Costanza Franceschini For most of the past 25 years, Chinese construction companies operating in Africa could count on generous financial backing from Chinese banks. Between 2000 and 2019, Chinese funders committed almost $50 billion to African transport ...
A man waves a Palestinian national flag during a protest titled "Stop the genocide in Gaza" in front of the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin on October 6, 2025. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP)
I was in Berlin this week for a conference on the EU’s relationship with Africa in the context of the continent’s growing ties with external actors, many of whom Europe finds acutely worrying. The conference eerily landed on the two-year anniversary of the October 7 ...
Thousands of Chinese Fraud Suspects Repatriated from Myanmar
Around 5,400 Chinese nationals have been apprehended and repatriated to China following a cross-border crackdown on telecom scamming operations in the Myanmarese region of Myawaddy. The operation was jointly conducted by Chinese, Myanmarese, and Thai forces and follows growing cross-border coordination ...
China Threatens Myanmar Militias on Rare Earths
China has reportedly threatened to stop buying rare earth minerals from areas in Myanmar held by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) an ethnic militia battling Myanmar’s ruling military junta. The threat comes as KIA and junta forces have been fighting for control of the town of Bhamo, ...
China Says German Plane Laser Claim ‘Inconsistent With Facts’
Beijing dismissed on Wednesday claims by Berlin that the Chinese military had directed a laser at a German aircraft over the Red Sea as "completely inconsistent with the facts". The foreign ministry in Berlin said on Tuesday that a German aircraft ...
Huawei Out, Washington In: Panama’s 5G Reset
When the U.S. Embassy in Panama announced in June that telecommunications equipment from Huawei—a Chinese tech giant—would be replaced with “secure American technology” at 13 sites across the country, it was more than a routine tech upgrade. It was a clear signal.
Why Iran May Be Forced to Kneel: Chinese Commentator Analyzes the Post-war Power Play
A recent commentary from the WeChat public account “战略观察家 (Strategic Observer)” argues that despite Ayatollah Khamenei’s fiery speeches declaring victory and pledging never to surrender, Tehran could soon agree to major concessions under mounting American and Israeli pressure, including giving up its enriched uranium stockpile and ...
China Backs ASEAN Nuclear Weapon-Free Treaty, U.S. in Review
China has expressed its willingness to sign the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty without reservations in a move that may signal renewed diplomatic momentum for one of the world’s least-recognized nuclear-free zones. The offer, confirmed ...
For China’s Cross-Border Retailers, Africa Is the New Southeast Asia
A recent article from Xiaguangshe, a Chinese outlet focused on global business trends, spotlights the growing allure of Africa’s e-commerce market for Chinese sellers. Many merchants who previously focused on Southeast Asia or the U.S. are now actively exploring Africa as their next big opportunity, drawn ...
Israel May Strike Iran Again With Trump’s Backing, Driven by Politics Not Just Nuclear Weapons, Chinese Commentators Say
A Chinese military commentary argues that a renewed Israeli military strike on Iran is highly likely, especially in light of recent U.S. media reports. The piece suggests that Israel’s push toward conflict reflects not just strategic concerns over Iran’s nuclear program but also deep-rooted political troubles at ...
Rubio Departs for Whirlwind Asia Trip Overshadowed by Tariffs
By Léon Bruneau U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed for Malaysia on Tuesday for meetings with ASEAN allies, a trip that has been overshadowed by fears of a trade war. The brief trip to ...
Berlin Says China Targeted German Plane With Laser Over Red Sea
Berlin on Tuesday said the Chinese military had targeted a laser at a German aircraft participating in an EU-led mission to protect marine traffic in the Red Sea. "Endangering German personnel and disrupting the operation is entirely unacceptable," the foreign ministry ...
Southeast Asia’s Responses Split Over Trump’s August 1 Tariffs
Southeast Asia’s biggest exporters are responding differently under the newest U.S. tariff pressure. Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia are pursuing divergent strategies to head off duties of up to 36%, set to begin August 1. Donald Trump sent letters to 14 countries, ...