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Iran Recalls European Ambassadors After Failure of China-Led UN Vote

Iran recalled its ambassadors to the UK, Germany, and France, following the defeat of a China-led draft resolution in the UN Security Council to prevent the reimposition of sanctions against the country. China and Russia pushed the delay in the ...

French Fighter Jet Purchase in Indonesia Met with Online Push for Chinese J-10s

Indonesia’s $8.1 billion deal to purchase 42 Rafale fighter jets from France marks a significant step in the country’s military modernization. However, the agreement has also attracted attention in another arena: Indonesia’s information space, where narratives—not just policies—are shaping perceptions of national defense, trade, and foreign ...

Western Aid Cuts Cede Ground to China in Southeast Asia: Study

China is poised to expand its influence over Southeast Asia's development as the Trump administration and other Western donors reduce aid, a study by an Australian think tank said on Sunday. The region is in an "uncertain moment", facing cuts in ...

China Denies Rafale Smear, France Points Finger, Indonesia Silent

China has forcefully denied allegations from France that it mounted a coordinated campaign to undermine and sabotage sales of France’s Rafale fighter jet, pushing back against claims made by French intelligence that Beijing used its embassies and online influence to steer countries like Indonesia toward Chinese-made alternatives ...

After Rafale, Now J-10C? Chinese Netizens React to Indonesia’s Ongoing Fighter Jet Procurement Moves

In late May, Indonesia surprised many Chinese military watchers by signing a defense agreement with France, which included the purchase of Rafale fighter jets—despite the J-10C’s widely publicized performance advantage during the ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

How to Lure Chinese Financing Back to the Global South: Report

Global South countries face increasing financing pressure, endangering their ability to keep developing while also implementing measures to deal with a growing climate crisis. The disruption of global trade is coupled with a larger megatrend: flows of international capital to the developing world have turned negative. This means that countries are now routinely paying more to service loans than they receive in disbursements.

The vast majority of Global South borrowers ...

Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C

Many Chinese military fans were surprised when Indonesia announced on May 28th that it had signed a defense agreement with France, including plans to purchase Rafale fighter jets, despite the Chinese J-10C’s impressive performance in the much-discussed 2019 India-Pakistan aerial skirmish. In that engagement, Pakistan’s J-10C reportedly ...

Macron Urges Asia, Europe to Unite to Resist ‘Spheres of Coercion’

By Damon Wake and Francesco Fontemaggi French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday urged Europe and Asia to build a new alliance to hold off big powers seeking to build "spheres of coercion", in a swipe at China and Russia.

French President’s Southeast Asia Tour Draws Skepticism on Chinese Social Media

Chinese netizens have been buzzing about French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to Southeast Asia, where he aimed to offer Vietnam and other regional countries a "third option" beyond the U.S. and China. One article, titled “Macron Just Arrived in ...

Macron Gives Vietnamese Students a Lesson in ‘Impulsive’ Superpowers

By Francesco Fontemaggi Between jabs at Donald Trump's U.S. trade tariffs and criticism of Beijing's assertiveness in the South China Sea, French President Emmanuel Macron warned Vietnamese students Tuesday that "on the impulse of a superpower, everything can change".

France’s Macron in Vietnam to Offer Third Way Between U.S., China

By Francesco Fontemaggi France's Emmanuel Macron will hold talks Monday in Vietnam at the start of his Southeast Asia tour, an opportunity to test his "Indo-Pacific strategy" in a region caught in the middle of the confrontation between the United States ...

Macron Arrives in Vietnam, Offers French Partnership Amid U.S.-China Rivalry

By Tran Thi Minh Ha French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Vietnam on Sunday for the first leg of a tour of Southeast Asia, where he will pitch his country as a reliable alternative partner to the United States and China. ...

Chinese EV Tech Complements Others in Senegal’s E-Boats

Empowering local mechanics through hands-on training to reduce dependence on imported fuel is creating opportunities in tourism, fishing, and green innovation, demonstrating scalable solutions for Senegal’s clean energy future in e-mobility. This week, we spotlight ...
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