Category: Week in Review
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 ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Singapore Prime Minister Said There Is No Consensus yet About China Joining the Trans-Pacific Trade Pact CPTPP
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long said there is no consensus yet about China joining the trans-Pacific trade pact CPTPP. Although Prime Minister Lee said on Tuesday that he personally believes China would be able to meet the bloc's admission requirements, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell is on ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: A Massive Strike in South Africa Threatens to Cripple the Country’s Logistics Sector, Jeopardizing Vast Amounts of China-Bound Exports
A massive strike is now underway in South Africa that threatens to cripple the country's logistics sector, jeopardizing vast amounts of China-bound exports including strategic resources like cobalt. 76,000 workers at SA's state-run port and rail operator walked off the job to demand higher wages. Already one company, ...
WEEK IN REVIEW: Zambian Is Preparing for the First Round of Talks With Creditors on How to Restructure Its $14.87 Billion Debt
Zambian Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said his ministry is preparing for the first round of talks with creditors on how to restructure the country's $14.87 billion debt. During a public meeting on Monday, Musokotwane refused to provide any details on when and where those negotiations would take place but added ...