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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 ...

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 ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

BRICS Announces Numerous New Initiatives

The BRICS group wrapped up its two-day leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The summit’s final communique is a 16,000-word doorstop that covers numerous issues from economics to education.
The communique avoids any direct mention of the United States, and references to “unilateralism” and other coded criticism are also relatively scarce. Rather, the communique keeps the focus on the BRICS’ vision of the strengthening and reform of the global multilateral system ...

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 ...

China’s C919 Ramps Up Production, Aims to Break Boeing-Airbus Duopoly on Global Market

China’s homegrown C919 passenger jet is accelerating production in a bold challenge to the Boeing-Airbus duopoly, ramping up capacity amid Beijing’s broader push for aviation self-sufficiency. However, while the jet is proving reliable in domestic operations, global expansion ...

Is Europe Facing a “Lost Decade” Across the Global South?

By Lukas Fiala With Europe scrambling to adjust to a world in rapid transition, two key events will shape the continent’s ability to sustain competition with China across the Global South. The first was exemplified by Germany’s election last Sunday, which ...

French Nuclear-Powered Carrier Makes First Visit to Philippines

Rising tensions in the South China Sea have made freedom of navigation exercises "even more important," France's ambassador to the Philippines said Sunday, as the nuclear-powered Charles De Gaulle made its first port visit to the country. The aircraft carrier strike ...
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