China
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Bolivia's $2bn lithium deals with China and Russia suspended by court ruling
A court in Potosí halts $2bn lithium projects with Russia’s Uranium One and China’s CBC in Bolivia, home to the world’s largest lithium reserves, over legal and environmental concerns tied to direct lithium extraction plans.
Hungary top European destination for Chinese FDI for second year in a row
Hungary was the top European destination for Chinese foreign direct investment for the second consecutive year in 2024, according to a report by the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency.
BERTRAND: ASEAN, GCC countries and China come together, forming the world’s largest economic bloc
China, the countries of South-East Asia (ASEAN) and the Arab states (GCC) just held a summit in Kuala Lumpur to forge what could become the world's largest economic bloc, covering everything from free trade agreements to de-dollarisation.
LATAM BLOG: The elusive dream of connecting two oceans by rail
The Bi-Oceanic Railway promises to connect Brazil’s Atlantic coast with Peru’s Pacific port of Chancay. Yet this grand vision remains more geopolitical statement than reality, facing immense logistical, environmental, and political challenges.
White House orders cessation of semiconductor tech sales to China
The announcement caused initial stock declines for Synopsys, Cadence and potential acquisition target Ansys. Meanwhile, Chinese EDA firms like Empyrean Technology, Primarius and Semitronix are expanding their market presence.
Combined effort to tackle Asian climate change gaining momentum
Over the past five years Asia has witnessed unprecedented heatwaves, with countries like Bangladesh recording temperatures up to 43.8°C in 2024, leading to nationwide school closures affecting tens of millions of children
India’s remote Northeast emerges as a green energy frontier
India’s Northeast is gaining renewed strategic and economic significance as the country recalibrates its regional posture amid evolving geopolitical dynamics
Gulf States, China dominate ASEAN Summit with a pledge to strengthen ties
Meeting in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, the GCC, China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations issued a joint declaration committing to “chart a unified and collective path towards a peaceful, prosperous and just future.
Central Asian states ready to meet rising global demand for critical minerals
China has stranglehold on rare earths needed for emerging technologies.
US admits to 500 troops in Taiwan testing Beijing’s red lines
The US has admitted that it has approximately 500 military personnel stationed in Taiwan, breaking previous pledges not to post soldiers on the contested island.
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China shifts from global banker to leading debt collector
Once the primary provider of capital across much of the world, Beijing now finds itself at the receiving end of record repayments, particularly from some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable nations.
ASIA BLOG: Taiwan on the international stage – inclusion is not a concession, it is common sense
It is increasingly absurd – and even dangerous – that Taiwan continues to be excluded from key international organisations such as the WHO, Interpol, ICAO and most prominently, the UN.
COMMENT: How Nepal and Bhutan navigate the India-China rivalry
While New Delhi flexes its military posture to signal resolve both to Beijing and Islamabad, neighbouring microstates like Nepal and Bhutan find themselves compelled to recalibrate their security interests and economic alignments.
US tariffs: threat or opportunity for ASEAN’s clean energy ambitions?
In April, when US President Donald Trump announced steep import tariffs targeting a swathe of sectors, reigniting concerns among many ASEAN countries that have flourished under the China+1 strategy.
South Korea and Japan eye strategic icebreaker advantage in US tariff talks
Japan’s Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, has signalled interest in positioning icebreaker cooperation as a key point in negotiations with President Donald Trump, scheduled for final talks during the G7 summit in Canada this June.
BERTRAND: China, leading Asian countries, set up rival to International Court of Justice
China and a group of about 20 other countries (including Indonesia, Pakistan, Algeria and Serbia) are launching this week the "International Organization for Mediation" to rival the International Court of Justice.
BERTRAND: Indonesian President Prabowo hails China as the new moral leader of geopolitics
President Prabowo Subianto has hailed Indonesia’s deepening ties with China, calling it a “pillar of peace and prosperity” in the Southeast Asia region, in an implicit rebuke of Western “imperialism and colonialism.”
COMMENT: Ranking the top 60 economies’ exposure to US tariffs
US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 50% tariff hike on the EU has put the cat amongst the pigeons again. If he follows through then Europe, which is highly dependent on US trade, will be amongst the most damaged economies in the world.
COMMENT: Why Japan-China relations remain key to Asian economic and regional stability
While headlines often dwell on the China-United States rivalry or regional disputes in the South China Sea, it is Sino-Japanese relations that may well determine the trajectory of Asia’s economic prosperity.
MACRO ADVISORY: Mongolia rising, but critically linked to China
Three years ago, Mongolia was broke and facing a possible debt default. It suffered a big drop in the volume and value of copper and coal exports to China during 2020-2021. Now it is doing better, but its fate is tied to China.