Day: July 9, 2025
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Nepal Charges Chinese Company with Corruption
An anti-corruption body in Nepal charged 55 people, including five ex-ministers, with corruption. They are accused of colluding with China CAMC Engineering Co., a subsidiary of the state-owned corporation Sinomach, in corruption related to an airport tender. The body ...
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Chinese Weapons a Trigger in Thai-Cambodia Conflict: Report
Thai airstrikes against Cambodian military facilities on Monday reportedly targeted Chinese-made rockets. Reuters reported a Thai military official saying the strikes were preceded by surveillance showing the presence of Chinese rockets that could hit civilian targets. The Thai military calculated that the ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Vietnam Surpasses China in U.S. Apparel Market
Brazil exported 77 million tons of soybeans to China in the first eight months of the year, more than enough to offset the loss of the U.S. as a supplier, according to new data from the American Farm Bureau Federation. The group also noted U.S. exports of corn, wheat, and ...
Japan, Philippines Inaugural Joint Exercises Begin as China Announces Plans for South China Sea Drills
Japan and the Philippines kicked off a five-day joint air force exercise this week on the central island of Cebu, marking the first time the two militaries have trained together since a Reciprocal Access Agreement was signed last year. The drills, known ...
After Kenya Secures Landmark Railway Debt Deal With China, Indonesia Eyes a Similar Renegotiation
Indonesia's Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani confirmed on Wednesday that talks are underway with Chinese creditors to restructure the $7.3 billion of debt owed by the Sino-Indonesian joint venture that operates the Whoosh high-speed railway. Although the train has been popular with travelers,
China Races to Stockpile Cheap Oil, Expanding Strategic Reserves Amid Global Tensions
China is in the midst of a massive oil stockpiling campaign that will add at least 169 million barrels of crude to its strategic reserves over the next year. So far, 37 million barrels of storage capacity have been built at 11 ...
China Bolsters Export Controls on Rare-Earth Industry
China announced further controls Thursday on the export of rare-earth technologies and items, adding to existing regulations on the critical industry. Rare earths have represented a major sticking point in recent trade negotiations between China and the United States, with Washington ...
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 ...
Beijing Drives New Rail Bridge Linking Thailand – Laos with China
China, Thailand, and Laos have agreed to accelerate the construction of a second Nong Khai–Vientiane rail bridge. This move underscores Beijing’s central role in reshaping Southeast Asia’s transport and trade routes. It is designed to carry trains directly from Thailand ...
BRICS Criticize Tariffs at Muted Online Summit
The leaders of the BRICS countries gathered online on Monday for a summit at the invitation of Brazil, the current leader of the bloc. The gathering saw some sharp criticism of U.S.-led trade disruptions, but the tone was more muted than last week’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) ...
Import Perks End, China EVs Must Be Built in Indonesia in 2026
Indonesia will end tax breaks on fully built battery electric cars, including Chinese EVs, on Dec. 31, 2025, and require automakers to assemble locally starting 2026. The rule puts Chinese brands at the center of the shift: BYD, Geely, ...
The Trump, Xi Foreign Policy Duel in Southeast Asia
Two sharply contrasting foreign policy visions emerged this week from China and the United States. In Beijing, President Xi Jinping outlined an agenda in talks with fellow BRICS leaders that directly challenged Donald Trump’s “America First” doctrine, urging instead for stronger ...
Indonesia Backs Xi’s Global Governance Initiative at BRICS Meet
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has thrown his support behind Chinese President Xi Jinping’s proposals at a BRICS virtual leaders’ meeting last night. The statement is aligning Southeast Asia’s largest economy more closely with Beijing’s call to defend multilateralism and reject ...
BRICS Leaders Denounce Protectionism, Tariff ‘Blackmail’
Leaders of the 11-member BRICS bloc railed against economic protectionism and "tariff blackmail" during a virtual meeting Monday held amid a damaging trade war with US President Donald Trump. The group of emerging economies met via videoconference at the initiative of ...
Xi Tells Putin China Glad to See Improved U.S.-Russia Relations
President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in a phone call on Friday that China was pleased to see Moscow and Washington improving their relations, state media said. Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump are set to hold talks ...
Philippines Says 3 Chinese Ships Spotted Near Islets Close to Taiwan
Three Chinese coast guard vessels were being monitored in the waters off remote islands in the northern Philippines near Taiwan, maritime officials in Manila said on Friday. The vessels were first spotted on Thursday, a day after a YouTube video appeared ...
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, ...
India to Work with Central Asian Countries on Rare Earths
India has reportedly reached a collaboration agreement with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan for the exploration and development of rare earth minerals. The agreement, which was finalized at the recent India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi, follows recent reports that ...
Pakistan to Acquire Chinese Missile Defense System
The official X page of the Pakistani government announced on Friday that it had been offered a range of advanced Chinese weapons. They include the HQ-19 long-range air defense missile system. The system, made by China Aerospace Science and Technology ...
World Economy Nervously Watches U.S.-China Trade Talks
U.S. and Chinese delegations are meeting in London on Monday for their second round of trade talks. He Lifeng, China’s Vice Premier for Economic Policy, will lead the Chinese side, while the U.S. will be represented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson ...
China Exports Slow as Trade War Takes Toll
By Peter Catterall Chinese exports grew slower than expected in May, according to official data Monday, as shipments to the United States tumbled amid global trade turmoil triggered by Donald Trump's tariff blitz. The figures ...
Chinese Aircraft Carrier Enters Japan’s Economic Waters: Tokyo
A Chinese aircraft carrier group entered Japan's economic waters over the weekend, before exiting to conduct drills involving fighter jets, Tokyo's defense ministry said Monday. The Liaoning carrier, two missile destroyers and one fast combat supply ship sailed around 300 kilometres ...
Philippines Trade Deficit Hits $4.13B as Import from China Surge Outpaces Exports
The Philippines' trade deficit widened sharply to $4.13 billion in March 2025, up 23.1% from a year earlier. Surging imports outpaced modest export gains, highlighting persistent structural vulnerabilities in the country’s trade dynamics. Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority ...
Navigating Our Endless Now
Foreign policy writers are in danger of running out of cliches. How often can one reuse the old Lenin line of “weeks where decades happen”? But here we are: in one week, India and Pakistan crept closer to full war, ...
UAE Denies Supplying Chinese Weapons to Sudan Paramilitaries
The United Arab Emirates on Friday denied an Amnesty International report accusing it of providing Chinese-made weapons to Sudanese paramilitary forces at war with the regular army. "The UAE strongly rejects the suggestion that it is supplying weaponry to any party ...
China’s Expanding Copper Influence Forces Strategic Calculations in the Global South
The global copper market is at a pivotal moment, and China sits squarely at its core. In recent weeks, copper prices have slid sharply, rattling commodity markets and dragging down the share prices of major copper mining companies across the globe. This downturn reflects growing investors' ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: China’s CATL Seeks $1B Loan for Major Battery Plant in Indonesia
U.S. President Donald Trump said he won’t consider pulling back the 145% trade tariffs imposed on Chinese goods to spur a trade deal. Asked by reporters on Wednesday if he would consider lowering tariffs to get China to the negotiating table, he simply said, “No.” Asked what he ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: China’s CATL Seeks $1B Loan for Major Battery Plant in Indonesia
U.S. President Donald Trump said he won’t consider pulling back the 145% trade tariffs imposed on Chinese goods to spur a trade deal. Asked by reporters on Wednesday if he would consider lowering tariffs to get China to the negotiating table, he simply said, “No.” Asked what he ...
Sandy Cay Flag Standoff: A Brewing Firestorm in the South China Sea — Here’s Why
A flag war unfolded on a disputed sandbank in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines. No shots were fired, but the symbolism was deafening. Last week, four Chinese coast guard officials conducted maritime control and planted flags ...
U.S. Influence Tested as Colombia Embraces China’s BRI
Colombia’s move to join the Beijing-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) marks a significant shift in the strategic competition between China and the United States in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). At a moment when the U.S. is seeking to counter China’s influence in the region, ...
Model Meets Reality: The Africa–China Export Forecast That Delivered
In an era where economic uncertainty often renders forecasts obsolete before they materialize, Africa’s export performance to China between 2022 and 2026 stands out as a compelling exception. Projections that I made together with Professor Reon Matemane, an associate professor at the University of Pretoria, in ...
Offshore Trading of China’s Currency Sinks to Historic Low, Presenting Yet Another Problem for Developing Countries
China’s offshore yuan fell to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday as trade tensions between the United States and China escalated after days of turmoil over tariffs. The offshore yuan, which is circulated outside mainland China and is ...
U.S. to Vietnam: “Zero Tariffs, That Means Nothing to Us,” It’s Chinese Transshipments That Are the Main Focus
Vietnam is desperately trying to stave off a potentially devastating 46% tariff on all exports to the United States that will on Wednesday. Communist Party General Secretary Tô Lâm appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump personally last week for a 45-day implementation delay in the hope that will ...
Malaysia Says to Host China’s Xi From April 15
Malaysia's government announced Wednesday it will host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a three-day visit next week, as the two countries grapple with tariffs imposed by the United States. The state visit will go from April 15 to 17, Communications Minister ...
The Fate of China’s Global Supply Chains in the New Tariff Era
With new tariff threats from the Trump administration and rising tensions across key markets, companies and governments alike are scrambling to understand what decoupling—or de-risking—actually looks like in practice. From electronics and apparel to solar panels and electric vehicles, China’s ...
Philippines Adds Speedy Warship to Maritime Arsenal
The Philippines took possession of the first of two corvette-class warships with "advanced weapons and radar systems" on Tuesday as it faces growing pressure from Beijing in the disputed South China Sea. The arrival of the 3,200-ton BRP Miguel Malvar is ...
Offshore Yuan Hits Historic Low on U.S.-China Trade Tensions
China's offshore yuan fell to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday as trade tensions between the United States and China escalated after days of turmoil over tariffs. The offshore yuan, which is circulated outside mainland China and is ...
U.S. Will Not Let China Disrupt Panama Canal: Pentagon Chief
By María Isabel Sánchez The United States will not allow China to jeopardize the operations of the Panama Canal, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned during a visit to the Central American nation on Tuesday. ...
Iran, Russia, China to Hold Joint Military Exercises
The navies of Iran, Russia and China will hold military drills off the coast of Iran this week in a bid to boost cooperation, Iranian media reported on Sunday. The three countries, which share a common desire to counter what they ...
Zimbabwe’s Fight for Responsible Mining: Lessons for Africa & China
In recent years, the relationship between Chinese mining companies and local communities in many African countries has been very contentious over allegations of environmental damage, a lack of transparency, and tensions with local civil society groups.
Canada Close to Visiting Forces Deal With Philippines
Canada and the Philippines are in the final stages of negotiating a pact to allow them to deploy troops on each other's soil, the Canadian envoy to Manila said Sunday. Manila already has similar visiting forces agreements with the United States ...
China and Brunei Pledge to Collaborate on Oil and Gas in Disputed South China Sea Waters
China and Brunei are taking a step toward working together on oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, a development that has drawn attention though some experts suggest it may be more symbolic than substantive. In a ...
BYD’s Labor Scandal in Brazil Widens
A partner company to the Chinese auto giant BYD reportedly used irregular visas to bring hundreds of Chinese workers to build a factory in Brazil. It is the latest revelation from an ongoing labor scandal following authorities’ discovery of 163 workers for the contractor Jinjiang working in “slavery-like ...
Wang Yi’s Visit to Chad Overlaps with Armed Attack on Presidential Complex
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Chad reportedly almost took an unexpected turn, with the country’s military saying it foiled an attack on the presidential headquarters in the capital of N’Djamena just hours after Wang’s talks with government officials. At ...
A Bumpy Year Ahead? Three Things To Watch in 2025
By Lukas Fiala A little over a month ago, we argued the upcoming Trump presidency may well present an opportunity for Beijing to push ahead with its quest to transform global order to benefit Chinese interests. With Trump 2.0 fast approaching ...
BYD Leads Indonesia’s Electric Vehicle Market in 2024, Challenging Wuling’s Overall Dominance
Chinese automakers transformed Indonesia’s electric vehicle (EV) landscape in 2024, with BYD emerging as the dominant force in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales and challenging Wuling’s long-standing leadership across all vehicle categories. The fierce competition highlights the growing influence of ...
Africa-China 2025: Tracking Priorities on Both Sides
2025 marks a quarter-century since the first Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit. Since then, Africa-China engagement has been nothing short of transformational - both changing skylines across the continent and reshaping the role of the Global South in world politics more broadly.
China’s Expanding Middle East Footprint: Key Trends for 2025
China’s engagement in the Middle East has grown significantly in recent years, driven by its quest for energy security, global influence, and economic connectivity through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). By 2025, three key trends are likely to shape Beijing’s approach to the region, highlighting both ...
Hundreds Protest Against Illegal Mining In East DR Congo
Several hundred people demonstrated Wednesday in the Democratic Republic of Congo to protest illegal mining in the country's east, where authorities are investigating claims of widespread illicit Chinese involvement. The gathering followed the announcement Sunday of the arrest of three Chinese ...
Fears About China Underlie Trump’s Interest in Greenland
By Camille Bas-Wohlert Greenland, which the U.S. President-elect wants to annex, is a self-governing Danish territory covered in ice, with untapped mineral resources -- and geostrategic importance. In December, Trump said control of the Arctic ...
Panama Canal CEO Says Trump’s Plans Would ‘Lead to Chaos’
Granting Donald Trump's demand for U.S. ships passing through the Panama Canal to get preferential treatment would "lead to chaos," the head of the authority running the waterway said Wednesday. "Rules are rules and there are no exceptions," Panama Canal Authority ...
From 1991 to Today: The Significance of the Chinese Foreign Minister’s Annual Africa Tour
For 35 consecutive years, even during the COVID pandemic, Chinese diplomacy has upheld the tradition of dedicating its first annual diplomatic trip to Africa. This unwavering commitment to Africa is unparalleled by any other country on the UN Security Council, in ...
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 ...
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, ...