China

HALLIGAN: Trump's tariffs are either madness or genius – it could go either way

Liam Halligan in London April 4, 2025

Donald Trump has referred to tariffs as “the most beautiful word in the dictionary”. And now the US President has unleashed the most aggressive surge in American trade protectionism in almost a century.

Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs will accelerate BRICS bloc trade cooperation

bne IntelliNews April 4, 2025

BRICS avowedly seeks to challenge Western-dominated institutions of global economic governance, as well as to displace the US dollar from its entrenched role in the world economy. Its job just got easier thanks to Trump.

Where the world is charging most tariffs - Statista

Katharina Buchholz for Statista April 3, 2025

The Trump administration's recent move to impose tariffs on Chinese, Mexican and Canadian goods as well as steel and aluminium imports in general is once again breaking with long-standing US trade policy, Statista reports.

Trump threatens extreme secondary sanctions on countries dealing with Russia if Putin doesn’t do ceasefire deal

Ben Aris in Berlin April 2, 2025

President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind a sweeping bipartisan bill that could impose 500% secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t do a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.

Myanmar junta fires at Chinese Red Cross convoy during earthquake aid mission

bno - Bangkok Office April 2, 2025

Myanmar's military junta attempted to stop a Chinese Red Cross convoy carrying aid for earthquake recovery by firing warning shots, a spokesperson said on April 2.

Beneath the bluster, US Senator holds meeting with Chinese VP in Beijing

bno Singapore Office - Rocco Kohlmeyer April 2, 2025

Montana Republican Senator Steve Daines, “carrying President Trump’s America First agenda”, held a meeting in the Great Hall of People with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in late March.

India’s energy growth to follow unique low-carbon path

bno - Mumbai Office April 2, 2025

India is expected to become an important player in global energy markets, following a distinct growth path marked by lower energy intensity, a diverse energy mix and expanding commodity imports, according to Wood Mackenzie's latest Horizons report.

Chinese firm wins project management deal for Iraq oilfield

Editorial April 2, 2025

Chinese company HQC has secured a contract to provide project management services for Iraq's West Qurna 1 oilfield

Beijing blocks BlackRock's Panama port deal amid US-China tensions

Alek Buttermann April 1, 2025

The proposed sale of two key Panamanian ports by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to a consortium led by BlackRock has hit a roadblock, as China exerts pressure to halt the deal.

COMMENT: Brazil’s Lula builds economic bridges across the Pacific

Ricardo Martins in Utrecht April 1, 2025

Brazil's President Lula boosted ties with Japan and Vietnam during his Asian tour last week, securing aircraft deals, beef markets and partnerships.

What exactly is Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision for the transactional multipolar world?

Ben Aris in Berlin March 31, 2025

Did Russian President Vladimir Putin just endorse US President Donald Trump’s plan to annex Greenland? And what exactly is Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision for a multipolar world?

US Defence Secretary Hegseth downgrades Russian threat, focus exclusively on Taiwan in new foreign policy strategy

Ben Aris in Berlin March 31, 2025

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has reoriented the US military to prioritise deterring China’s seizure of Taiwan and shoring up homeland defence, but has downgraded Russia to a second tier, along with several other potential enemies.

Survivors pulled from the rubble in Myanmar as the death toll rises following M7.7 earthquake

bno - Bangkok Office March 30, 2025

More people have been rescued from the rubble over two days after a powerful earthquake struck in neighbouring Myanmar, where the death toll in the country now exceeds 1,700 with some indicators that it may rise further.

Death toll in Myanmar earthquake could hit 10,000 claims US agency

bno - Bangkok Office March 29, 2025

The death toll from the March 28 M7.7 earthquake in Myanmar has reportedly moved past the 1000 mark. It is expected to climb further with some claims hinting at several thousand people still unaccounted for.

Trump and Carthage: The end of history revisited

Ben Aris in Berlin March 28, 2025

What has gone wrong with the world? Protests and wars have broken out across the globe. Analysts are warning that weak countries could face problems but the strong ones are suffering from a deeper long term rot that will change the world order.

M7.7 earthquake leads to Bangkok building collapse – fatalities confirmed

bno - Bangkok Office March 28, 2025

Two construction workers have been confirmed dead at a Bangkok building collapse with more fatalities expected.

Magnitude 7.7 earthquake rocks much of Southeast Asia

bno - Bangkok bureau March 28, 2025

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar on Friday, March 28 at 2.20 pm, with the tremors felt as far away as neighbouring Thailand and China to the northeast as well as Bangladesh and India to the west.

Indian defence reforms stymied by lack of funds

bno Chennai bureau March 28, 2025

India’s plans to modernise its military and strengthen domestic defence production are facing mounting challenges due to financial constraints, despite a net boost in the country’s defence budget.

Myanmar junta chief to attend regional summit in Bangkok

bno - Bangkok Office March 27, 2025

Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, is expected to attend a regional summit in Thailand in April, marking his first visit to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations member state since 2021.

Indonesia joins BRICS' new development bank

bno - Jakarta bureau March 27, 2025

Indonesia has formally decided to become a member of the BRICS-affiliated New Development Bank, just months after fully integrating into the China-led economic alliance

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