Trade ties between the rival powers remain fraught, even as Bessent held “frank” talks over video with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng on Saturday, with the pair set to hold fresh in-person negotiations this week. Yet, amid the tensions, Trump appears to have shown some restraint by not antagonising his counterpart, Xi Jinping, or challenging Beijing’s…
China’s recent high-profile diplomatic activity, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin and the Victory Day parade in Beijing in the same week, conveyed more than international headlines suggested. Although much of the media spotlight focused on the optics of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and North Korean leader…
The legal fight over US President Donald Trump’s global tariffs is deepening after a federal appeal court ruled the levies were issued illegally under an emergency law, extending the chaos in global trade. A 7-4 decision by a panel of judges on Friday night in Washington was a major setback for Trump even as it…
US President Donald Trump’s signature budget bill, signed into law earlier this month, marked a startling pivot towards fossil fuels and nuclear power, reigniting a fierce debate over how best to balance the country’s energy future with its national security. The act, known officially as the One Big Beautiful Bill, rolls back Joe Biden era…
US President Donald Trump, apparently impatient with the slow progress of negotiations, on Monday slapped 25 per cent unilateral tariffs on Japan and South Korea and equal or higher import taxes on several other nations ahead of a self-imposed Wednesday deadline. Analysts said the move shows that the mercurial American leader is using threats to…
New rules on certain Communist Party organs suggest China’s ruling party is aiming to standardise its decision-making process and that President Xi Jinping might be delegating more of his power, according to observers. One analyst said the move could hint at his plan for succession. The 24-member Politburo, the party’s top echelon, on Monday reviewed…
Tensions between the world’s two largest economies appear controlled after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, belying months of anti-China bluster from the new US leader. Three days ahead of his January 20 inauguration, Trump had a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss issues including fentanyl and trade, an exchange he…
When Rwandan President Paul Kagame spoke at the recent Doha Forum, he sang China’s praises. “We have been benefiting from the cooperation and the attitude of bringing everybody to the table where everyone feels they are winning in the process,” he said. “That is, to my understanding, what China presents.” Kagame is not alone in…