Day: August 2, 2025
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Iran and Türkiye Agree on Joint Construction of Cross-Continental Rail Line
Iran and Türkiye have agreed to cooperate on building a rail line that will connect to a Eurasian logistics network connecting China and Europe. On Sunday, the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan at a ...
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Backgrounder: A Chinese Security Crisis on the Afghan-Tajik Border?
A total of five Chinese workers have been killed and a further five injured in successive attacks on the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The Chinese embassy in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe advised Chinese nationals and firms to leave the area.
Why the Myanmar Side of the China–Myanmar Railway Can’t Move Forward
In 2022, China opened a new railway between Dali and Baoshan in Yunnan. It was meant to be the first step of a much bigger vision: a rail line running across Myanmar to the deep-sea port of Kyaukpyu, giving China’s southwest a direct outlet to the Indian ...
Why Argentina Is Turning to China’s Natural-Gas Buses in an Age of EV
Argentina recently committed $45 million to purchase 150 natural-gas buses from China’s King Long, a move that may seem counterintuitive to readers accustomed to seeing Latin American cities embrace full electrification. But an article on a WeChat public account focused on Latin America’s economy explains that ...
China, Japan in Fresh Incident Around Disputed Islands
Japanese and Chinese vessels engaged in a fresh standoff around disputed islands on Tuesday, the two countries' coast guards said. Relations have been strained since Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested last month that her country could intervene militarily in ...
From Geoeconomics to a Chinese Diplomatic Shift on the Western Sahara? Moroccan Press Coverage of FM Bourita’s Visit to Beijing
Disclaimer: The terminology and analysis presented here do not necessarily reflect the personal views of the author or the official stance of the ChinaMed Project, T.wai. For the sake of consistency and clarity, this piece employs the commonly recognized term “Western Sahara.”
Tajikistan Says Two Chinese Citizens Killed in Latest Attacks on Afghan Border
Tajikistan on Monday said two more Chinese citizens died in new attacks on the border with Afghanistan last week, as it urged Kabul to ensure security in the region. The former Soviet republic shares a lengthy mountainous border with Afghanistan and ...
Philippines, Canada Sign Visiting Troops Deal
The Philippines signed a visiting forces agreement with Canada on Sunday, the latest in a series of pacts aimed at countering Beijing's assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea. The Philippines and China have engaged in frequent clashes in the crucial ...
China Tops Indonesia Trade, August Surplus Highest Since 2022
China was Indonesia’s top buyer and top supplier as Indonesia’s goods trade surplus reached $5.49 billion in August. The number is the highest since November 2022, according to the Indonesian statistics agency. Indonesia recorded a $29.14 billion trade surplus ...
Colombian President Fires Beijing Embassy Staff for “Sabotaging” China Outreach
Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered staff at his country’s embassy in Beijing to be removed, accusing them of undermining outreach efforts to China. “There is a foreign ministry that feels ashamed of engaging with China and sabotages relations. All those ...
Albanese “Concerned” About BHP Iron Ore Halt
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he is “concerned” about reports that China has halted iron ore orders from the Australian mining giant BHP. Shipments have reportedly been paused amid price disputes between BHP and China Mineral Resources Group, a Chinese state entity overseeing iron ore ...
Eye-Rolling Through the Apocalypse
November’s COP30 gathering in Belém, Brazil, marks three decades since COP1 in Berlin in 1995, and raises a sobering reminder of how deep we’ve sunk into a climate morass of our own making amid non-stop warnings. The evacuation of millions of people and the deaths ...
China-Central Asia Weekly News: Multi-Sector Integration and Strategic Depth
This is a free preview of the upcoming Critical Minerals Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in 2026. China's engagement with Central Asia is shifting toward a more comprehensive economic integration model that combines traditional infrastructure development ...
China Sends Pointed Message with South China Sea Flag-Raising
The Chinese Coast Guard held a flag-raising ceremony to mark China’s National Day off the Scarborough Shoal, a zone in the South China Sea also claimed by the Philippines. The ceremony, which was broadcast on the state TV channel CCTV and social media, seemed designed to ...
China–Malaysia in Rare Earths Refinery Talks, With Tech Transfer
China and Malaysia are in early talks on a rare-earth processing project. The potential collaboration could involve Chinese state-linked firms partnering with Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional to build a refinery in Malaysia, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Beijing Pushes Palm Oil, Rubber Supply Guarantees from Jakarta
China asked Indonesia to guarantee long-term supplies of crude palm oil (CPO), natural rubber, and edible bird’s nest during bilateral farm talks in Jakarta on Tuesday, Indonesia’s vice minister of agriculture, Sudaryono, said. “Indonesia is open to cooperation in this ...
Chinese Online Outrage Over $80 Billion Zambia River Suit
More than six months after 50,000 liters of toxic water from a Chinese-run mining site spilled into Zambia's Kafue River, there's still no resolution to what's become a massive environmental crisis. The government is siding ...
Critical Minerals Weekly Digest: U.S. Expands ‘Critical Minerals’ List as Global Race to Bypass China Inten
This is a free preview of the upcoming Critical Minerals Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in Summer 2025. Policy shifts this week widened Washington’s definition of “critical minerals,” as state-owned companies and trading houses stepped up ...
Xi Launches Global Governance Initiative
In addition to China’s President Xi Jinping’s diplomatic blitz at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and this week’s upcoming military parade, he also launched the Global Governance initiative. It is the latest - and possibly the most prominent - of a series of initiatives that emblematize China’s ...
Commitment Tracker: What Xi Promised at SCO Summit
This year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit will likely be remembered for its optics dominated by embullient hugs between China’s President Xi Jinping, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as the launch of the Global Governance Initiative.
What a Ukraine Deal Would Mean for China’s Energy Security
In August, President Trump hosted a marathon of meetings aimed at delivering on a Ukraine-Russia peace deal. Previously, the Trump Administration hinted at reducing or lifting sanctions on Moscow as part of a final deal. A Ukraine peace deal that rolls back sanctions on Russia may undercut ...
Indonesia Trade Surplus Masks a Persistent China Deficit Problem
China has tightened its hold on Indonesia’s economy, emerging as the largest buyer of non-oil exports (22.64%) and the largest source of non-oil imports (40.35%) of Indonesia's trade from January to July 2025. China is Indonesia’s top buyer of non-oil ...
Putin Tells Xi China-Russia Ties Are at ‘Unprecedented Level’
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday that their countries' ties were at an "unprecedented level" during talks in Beijing ahead of a massive military parade. World leaders, including North Korea's Kim Jong Un, are gathering in China's ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: China, Russia Set Joint Sea 2025 Drills Near Japan
Two gatherings in Beijing on Wednesday set the scene for China’s response to ongoing global economic disruptions. A meeting of the CPC’s Politburo pledged to maintain current macroeconomic policy, to “stabilize the fundamentals of foreign trade and investment,” and to support companies impacted by economic shocks. Chinese President ...
China E-Mobility Weekly Digest: Leapmotor Bets on Hybrids to Crack South Africa
This is a free preview of the upcoming Chinese E-Mobility Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in Summer 2025. China’s electric mobility push is gaining traction across Africa — on roads, in factories, and through battery value ...
Critical Minerals Weekly Digest
This is a free preview of the upcoming Critical Minerals Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in Summer 2025. This week’s developments underscore a clear shift in the critical minerals landscape, from fragmented exploration to full-spectrum geopolitical ...
China-Central Asia Weekly Digest
This is a free preview of the upcoming Central Asia Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in Summer 2025. This week's developments highlight the intersection of China's digital technology capabilities with Central Asia's urgent modernization requirements across financial ...
Trump’s Vietnam Trade Deal Signals Harder Line on China Supply Chain Diversions
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he had struck a trade deal with Vietnam under which the country would face a minimum 20 percent tariff and open its market to U.S. products. The deal comes a week ahead of Trump's self-imposed ...
India’s Modi Visits Ghana en Route to BRICS Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due in Ghana on Wednesday, the first Indian leader to visit the cocoa-rich country in three decades as the Asian nation competes with China and Russia for economic influence in Africa. He is scheduled to hold ...
China Sanctions Philippine Senator Who Crafted South China Sea Claim
The Chinese announced sanctions against Francis Tolentino, the former Senate majority leader of the Philippines. The move bars Tolentino, whose term ended on Monday, from traveling to the Chinese mainland, Macau, and Hong Kong. Tolentino was the main author of the
Youthful Technicians Building Malawi’s E-bikes Driven by Chinese Tech
An electric vehicle (EV) company in Malawi, one of the continent’s smallest and landlocked economies, is making groundbreaking efforts to electrify transportation in the country, which is also one of the poorest in the world. Despite the challenges of raising capital ...
In China, Ecuador’s Noboa Looks for Breathing Room and Bargains
With a tightening fiscal clock and the weight of geopolitical balancing on his shoulders, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa touched down in China last week with more than just a forum appearance on his agenda. His trip to the 2025 Summer Davos Forum in Tianjin doubled as a ...
How China is Challenging Russia’s Nuclear Dominance in Central Asia Through Kazakhstan
Having reshaped Central Asia’s oil and gas infrastructure and challenged Russia’s long-standing dominance of the region’s traditional energy sector, China is now setting its sights on nuclear power as the next frontier. This next step is not just about energy diversification. ...
Indonesia and China’s Battery Alliance Must Be Built on Sustainability
In a bold display of ambition and diplomacy, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stood beside Chinese executives last week to break ground on what is touted as Asia’s largest integrated electric vehicle (EV) battery ecosystem. Backed by $5.9 billion in ...
Fake War Footage Clouds Israel-Iran Conflict, Say Chinese Fact-Checkers
A recent investigation by Mingcha (明查)—the fact-checking and fake news verification desk under The Paper, a major Shanghai-based digital news outlet—has revealed how an avalanche of AI-generated images, video game footage, and recycled clips have flooded social media during the recent Israel-Iran conflict. ...
Thailand’s Political Crisis Poses Risk to China’s BRI, Warns Scholar
In a recent analysis published by Shanghai-based news outlet The Paper, Yu Haiqiu, a prominent Chinese scholar of Southeast Asian politics, offers a deeper look at the roots and implications of Thailand’s escalating political crisis, focusing on its historical tensions with Cambodia and the fallout for ...
China’s Internet Shines a Light on the Hidden Struggles of Construction Workers in Israel
As the Israel-Iran conflict drags on, a typically overlooked workforce has suddenly entered the public eye: Chinese construction laborers in Israel. Despite its image as a high-tech nation, Israel relies heavily on foreign manual labor—especially in construction. Chinese workers, in particular, dominate skilled trades like tiling, carpentry, ...
What Next for China-Israel Ties After the Iran War
In the first few months of this year, it seemed that China's ties with Israel were on the mend after entering into a deep freeze following the October 7th terrorist attack by Hamas. China had begun to soften some of its ...
U.S., Japan, India, Australia Pledge Mineral Cooperation on China Jitters
By Shaun TANDON U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Tuesday with counterparts from Australia, India and Japan, shifting focus to Asia after a tenure so far marked by crises elsewhere and domestic priorities. Rubio ...
Chinese Commerce Minister Visits South Asia
Wang Wentao, China’s Minister of Commerce led a large business delegation to Sri Lanka. Speaking at the Sri Lanka-China Trade and Investment Forum in Colombo during the weekend, Wang promoted a three-pronged strategy to strengthen ties: increased trade, expanded industrial investment and strengthening global multilateralism in ...
Philippine Defense Chief in Testy Exchange at Shangri-La Dialogue
Gilberto Teodoro, the Defense Secretary of the Philippines, got into a tense back-and-forth with Chinese officials at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday. During a plenary session, two People’s Liberation Army officers asked him if Manila would adopt a friendlier attitude to China or serve as a U.S. ...
U.S.-China Tensions Rise at Defense Dialogue
Global tensions ticked up this weekend as U.S. Secretary of State Pete Hegseth said China wants to “fundamentally alter” security relations in the Asia-Pacific region. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, Hegseth said possible Chinese action on Taiwan is “real and could be imminent.”
China’s Industrial Machinery and Mechanical Equipment Drives Indonesia’s Imports in 2025
Nearly four in ten non-oil imports entering Indonesia now originate from China, most of them industrial machinery. In just four months, Chinese goods worth $25.7 billion entered Southeast Asia’s largest economy, underscoring China’s role as a key driver of ...
Silence on AUKUS: A Missed Opportunity in the Indonesia–China Strategic Dialogue
What wasn’t said in Beijing last week may prove far more consequential than what was. At their first-ever 2+2 ministerial-level dialogue, China and Indonesia marked 75 years of diplomatic ties with warm words and ceremonial handshakes at the prestigious Diaoyutai Guesthouse. ...
The New Realities About Chinese Development Finance in Africa
Chinese overseas development finance is unrecognizable from what it was just a few years ago. After suffering tens of billions of dollars in losses, Chinese lenders have moved to de-risk their lending to countries in Africa, Asia, and across the Global ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Apple Plans to Moves U.S. iPhone Production from China to India Amid Trump Tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the economic impact of the trade war on U.S. consumers in an interview with ABC News. He said he doesn’t believe that hard times are ahead for the U.S. and that China will likely absorb the impact of the steep trade levies imposed ...
The India-Pakistan Crisis and Conflict in a Multipolar World
By Saniya Kulkarni Tensions have escalated rapidly between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Kashmir last week, resulting in the killing of 25 Indian tourists and one local. Indian security forces have attributed the attack to ...
Silence on AUKUS: A Missed Opportunity in the Indonesia–China Strategic Dialogue
What wasn’t said in Beijing last week may prove far more consequential than what was. At their first-ever 2+2 ministerial-level dialogue, China and Indonesia marked 75 years of diplomatic ties with warm words and ceremonial handshakes at the prestigious Diaoyutai Guesthouse and missed discussing Aukus.
WEEK IN REVIEW: Apple Plans to Moves U.S. iPhone Production from China to India Amid Trump Tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the economic impact of the trade war on U.S. consumers in an interview with ABC News. He said he doesn’t believe that hard times are ahead for the U.S. and that China will likely absorb the impact of the steep trade levies imposed ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Apple Plans to Moves U.S. iPhone Production from China to India Amid Trump Tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the economic impact of the trade war on U.S. consumers in an interview with ABC News. He said he doesn’t believe that hard times are ahead for the U.S. and that China will likely absorb the impact of the steep trade levies imposed ...
Xi Echoes Modi’s “Dragon-Elephant Dance” Language as Relations Warm Up
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Indian President Droupadi Murmu that the two countries should work more closely together. In a call to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, Xi told Murmu that the two giants should move together in a "Dragon-Elephant tango."
U.S. Approves $5.58 Billion Fighter-Jet Sale to Philippines Amid Regional Tensions
The U.S. State Department said it was green-lighting the sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets and related equipment to the Philippines. The jets will be built by Lockheed Martin and the $5.58 billion sale also includes missiles and radar systems. The ...
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) on the Chopping Block: Can China Save It Again?
General Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is set to make his appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week in the annual appropriations ritual. Normally, these are rather mundane affairs, where Generals ask lawmakers for more money. ...
China’s AI-Powered Translation System Speeds Myanmar’s Earthquake Rescue Efforts
China launched an AI-powered translation platform based on its DeepSeek system after the deadly earthquake in Myanmar. The platform was critical in bridging communication gaps and supporting rapid rescue operations. Developed in just seven hours, the platform ...
Lessons From Southeast Asia on How to Manage Great Power Rivalries
China and Vietnam have taken two distinctly different approaches in how they manage their territorial disputes with China. The Philippines is leaning into its alliance with the United States along with new security pacts with more than half a dozen other ...
Beijing Ready for ‘Constructive Role’ to End Ukraine Conflict: China FM
China is ready to play a "constructive role" in ending the conflict in Ukraine but will back Russia to defend its "interests", top diplomat Wang Yi told Russian state media in an interview published on Tuesday. Moscow and Beijing have deepened ...
U.S. Approves $5.58 Billion Fighter-Jet Sale to Philippines
The United States said Tuesday it has approved a sale of $5.58 billion in F-16 fighter-jets to the Philippines, as Washington backs its ally in rising tensions over China. The State Department said it was green-lighting the sale that includes 20 ...
China Says Launches Military Drills in Taiwan Strait
The Chinese military announced new exercises Wednesday in sensitive waters near Taiwan, a day after Beijing launched drills to surround the self-ruled island it claims as its own. The exercises in the crucial Taiwan Strait waterway aim to "test the troops' ...
Chinese Developer Under Scrutiny Over Bangkok Tower Quake Collapse
By Sally Jensen and Chayanit Itthipongmaetee A Chinese construction company is facing questions over the deadly collapse of a Bangkok skyscraper -- the only major building in the capital to fall in a catastrophic earthquake that has killed more than 2,000 ...
China’s Electric Vehicles Dominate Indonesia’s EV Market in January 2025
China’s electric vehicle (EV) brands continue expanding rapidly in Indonesia, with BYD and Chery leading the charge in January 2025. The latest sales data show Chinese Battery Electric Vehicles BEVs dominating the market, as demand for seven-seater and off-road ...
China’s XPeng Expands in Indonesia: Local EV Production and Nickel Battery Plans
Chinese Electric-Vehicle EV manufacturer XPeng officially entered the Indonesian market, partnering with Indonesian Erajaya Group. Announced late last week, XPeng's entry into Indonesia highlights its push for localization, with plans for domestic production and the potential use of Indonesia’s vast nickel reserves for EV batteries. ...
U.S. Issues Thailand Security Alert After Uyghur Deportations
The United States issued a security alert to its citizens in Thailand on Friday, warning of the possible risk of reprisal attacks after the kingdom deported dozens of Uyghurs to China. The Thai government has suffered intense criticism from around the ...
China Condemns U.S. Tariffs: Fentanyl Is America’s Problem
China on Sunday forcefully criticized the United States' decision to impose a 10% tariff on Chinese exports, calling Fentanyl is America's problem and warning of severe economic consequences. Beijing vowed to take "necessary countermeasures" in response, accusing Washington of ...
Trump’s Tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico Spark Swift Retaliation, Fueling Trade War Fears
Trump's tariffs, U.S. trade war, China retaliation, Canada and Mexico tariffs dominate the headlines as United States President Donald Trump announces sweeping tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, setting the stage for what could become a global trade war. The ...
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 ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: China, Russia Set Joint Sea 2025 Drills Near Japan
Two gatherings in Beijing on Wednesday set the scene for China’s response to ongoing global economic disruptions. A meeting of the CPC’s Politburo pledged to maintain current macroeconomic policy, to “stabilize the fundamentals of foreign trade and investment,” and to support companies impacted by economic shocks. Chinese President ...
China E-Mobility Weekly Digest: Leapmotor Bets on Hybrids to Crack South Africa
This is a free preview of the upcoming Chinese E-Mobility Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in Summer 2025. China’s electric mobility push is gaining traction across Africa — on roads, in factories, and through battery value ...
Critical Minerals Weekly Digest
This is a free preview of the upcoming Critical Minerals Weekly Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in Summer 2025. This week’s developments underscore a clear shift in the critical minerals landscape, from fragmented exploration to full-spectrum geopolitical ...
China-Central Asia Weekly Digest
This is a free preview of the upcoming Central Asia Digest, part of the new CGSP Intelligence service launching in Summer 2025. This week's developments highlight the intersection of China's digital technology capabilities with Central Asia's urgent modernization requirements across financial ...