Category: Week in Review
WEEK IN REVIEW: China Pushing for Free Trade Agreement With South America’s Mercosur Bloc
China is pushing for a free trade agreement with South America’s Mercosur bloc or any of its individual members (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.) The recent election in Brazil could be a game changer, with rumors that trade talks could be on the agenda of incoming President Lula ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: U.S. Launches New “China House” Initiative to Coordinate Foreign Policy Towards Beijing
The U.S. government drew on its Cold War history on Friday with the launch of a new "China House" initiative that aims to coordinate foreign policy towards Beijing. The new office will house an expanded inter-agency team of China experts who will focus on competition with China in ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: More Details About Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery Program Is Emerging
More details about Sri Lanka’s economic recovery program is emerging as the country struggles to restructure its debt, about a fifth of which is owed to China. The country’s Foreign Minister, Ali Sabry told Reuters his government is expecting as much as $5 billion in loans next year ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: United States to Increase Its Military Force Presence in Northern Australia
The United States announced it will increase its military force presence in northern Australia in response to "China's dangerous and coercive actions" in the Asia-Pacific region. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday the Pentagon will step up troop rotations that will also include the deployment of added ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Saudi Arabia to Mark Chinese President Xi Jinping’s State Visit Next Week With a China-Arab Summit
Saudi Arabia will mark Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit from 7 to 9 December with a China-Arab summit, according to Saudi diplomats. Invitations to Middle Eastern and North African leaders have reportedly already gone out. The summit will come at a delicate moment in U.S.-Saudi relations, which ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Beijing Considering Hosting a Third Belt & Road Forum Next Year
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Beijing is considering hosting a third Belt & Road forum next year, the first time a major BRI event would be convened in China since the beginning of the pandemic. The key question is whether China will relax its strict COVID travel restrictions ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: The G77 Bloc of Countries Together With China To Propose a New “Loss and Damage” Fund at the COP27 Summit
The G77 bloc of countries together with China is reportedly going to propose a new "loss and damage" fund at the COP27 summit to provide finance to poor countries impacted by climate disasters. The fund appears to be a repackaged version of the failed "climate adaptation fund" that wealthy ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden to Attend Next Week’s G20 Summit in Bali
Indonesian President Joko Widodo confirmed that both Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden will attend next week's G20 summit in Bali but said it's still not certain if Russian leader Vladimir Putin will be there. President Xi will spend much of next week traveling in ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Canada To Become Newest Member of the U.S.-Led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)
Canada will become the newest member of the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a loose group of Asia-Pacific countries ostensibly aimed at countering China. Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said the move is part of a new Canadian initiative to "deepen engagement with the U.S.” in the Asia-Pacific region. ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: A Military Stand-off Between a Chinese-Run Mining Company and the DRC’s State-Owned Mining Giant Gécamines Heading to Arbitration
A military stand-off between a Chinese-run mining company and the DRC's state-owned mining giant Gécamines is heading to arbitration. Congolese army forces took control of two of the Australian-based, Chinese-controlled company MMG's mines in Haute Katanga. After the company's appeals to Congolese authorities went unanswered, MMG is now ...