When it was announced in 2023 that the African Union would become a full member of the G20, I darkly joked on a podcast that the AU’s entry into the body could very well mark the moment the G20 lost its status as one of the most important global coordination forums. Mark my words, I said, soon The Economist will be like “Uhhh, the G20 is OVER – it’s the ...
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China Launches Military Drills Simulating Blockade of Taiwan Ports
By Peter Catterall with Joy Chiang in Taipei China launched live-fire drills around Taiwan on Monday that it said would simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports, prompting Taipei to condemn Beijing's "military intimidation."
China’s Aerial Confrontations With Japan and Philippines Stoke Regional Anxiety Amid U.S. Silence
Tensions surged over the weekend after two dangerous mid-air confrontations between Chinese and Japanese fighter jets and another with a Philippine aircraft over disputed territory in the South China Sea. Tokyo and Beijing on Monday sought to portray the other ...
South Africa and China Launch Joint African Modernization Initiative
South Africa and China announced a new joint initiative aimed at boosting African modernization. The initiative was announced on Sunday during the closing of the G20 summit in Johannesburg. The text of the announcement emphasizes that the initiative will harmonize with ...
Africa and China Moving Towards Greater Economic Integration: Chinese Scholar
Following the go-go 2010s, when every week seemed to bring a new announcement of a headlining Chinese project in Africa, the 2020s are frequently framed as an era of cooling economic relations. This is a misreading, argues Tang Xiaoyang, the
China Boasts of Crackdown on Scam Centers on Myanmar Border
Chinese authorities are boasting of a sweeping crackdown on scam centers across the country's southern border with Myanmar, days before a key political meeting in Beijing. Government statements published since Wednesday mention the arrests of more than 57,000 Chinese citizens for ...
Apple to Work with China’s BYD in Vietnam Amid Pledges to Invest in China
The U.S. tech behemoth Apple announced it will produce a range of new home appliances in Vietnam. The appliances include indoor security cameras, a hub from which home appliances can be controlled remotely, and a tabletop robot. While the move is being framed in the tech press ...
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 ...
Active Non-Alignment in the Era of U.S.-China Rivalry
From Panama to Kenya to Indonesia, a growing number of developing countries are being pulled into the intensifying rivalry between China and the U.S. For these middle powers, the stakes are high as they must carefully navigate the tension to avoid ...
How Chinese EVs Are Powering Africa’s Mobility Revolution
Chinese e-mobility technology is poised to transform large swathes of Africa's transportation ecosystem in the coming decade, but in very different ways than in other regions where EVs are the primary focus. Bicylces, scooters, tricyles, tractors, cars, minibuses, and full-sized coaches, all ...
Why the India-China Détente May Be Over
After several months of steadily improving ties, India-China relations appear to be cooling once again following the recent clashes in Kashmir. China’s military support for Pakistan during the conflict earlier this month has triggered fresh concerns in New Delhi, with ...
China’s Mideast Strategy in the Trump 2.0 Era
Donald Trump’s return to the Middle East marks a shift toward transactional diplomacy, emphasizing trade, investment, and a retreat from human rights rhetoric. In a striking parallel, China has long pursued a similar approach in the region—prioritizing business ties over political entanglements. ...
Somaliland’s Strategic Gamble: Betting on Trump, Backing Taiwan, Defying China
The tiny breakaway nation of Somaliland is making a bold geopolitical wager: deepening ties with Taiwan, courting conservative power brokers in Washington, and positioning itself as a rare pro-U.S. ally in a region where China holds significant sway. ...