Beijing Signals There Are Security Conditions to Energy Cooperation With Manila A strongly worded People’s Daily commentary suggests Beijing is hardening its position on any renewed oil-and-gas cooperation with the Philippines, linking deeper cooperation to Manila’s behavior in t...

China appears to be linking future energy cooperation with the Philippines to maritime restraint, sending a pointed warning as Manila deepens military ties with the U.S. and Japan.

Seized Iranian Ship Puts China Trade Link Under Scrutiny An Iranian-flagged cargo ship that was seized by the U.S. was part of a sanctioned fleet that regularly sailed to China. The MV Touska made two calls at the Chinese port of Zhuhai within six weeks bef...

An Iranian-flagged cargo ship that was seized by the U.S. was part of a sanctioned fleet that regularly sailed to China.

What does digital sovereignty actually mean in practice?

Bulelani Jili uses Kenya’s push to build technical skills as a lens to explore how African states navigate power, dependence, and control in a global tech system heavily shaped by outside actors.

U.S. Firm in Key Congo Minerals Deal Overstated Its Mining Experience, Documents and Sources Show By Clement Bonnerot A U.S. firm central to the Trump administration's push to secure critical minerals from Congo overstated its mining experience, Reuters has found. Virtus, which bought Chemaf's min...

A U.S. firm central to the Trump administration's push to secure critical minerals from Congo overstated its mining experience, Reuters has found.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar from April 22 to 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday. In Cambodia, Wang and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun will hold strategic talks with local officials.

China’s Xi, in Call With Saudi Crown Prince, Calls for Strait of Hormuz to Remain Open Chinese President Xi Jinping called for normal passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz to be maintained, in a phone call on Monday with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held as Be...

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the normal passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz to be maintained in a phone call on Monday with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as Beijing steps up efforts to help end the Iran war.

Mozambique Promotes Energy and Mining Ambitions to Chinese Investors Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has been promoting his country to Chinese investors during his first official visit. He spent time in China’s Africa-focused agricultural trade hub of Changsha, Hunan...

Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has been promoting his country to Chinese investors during his first official visit.

Chinese Aircraft Carrier Sailed Through Taiwan Strait, Taipei Says The Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Monday, the Taiwanese defence ministry said, in the first transit of the sensitive waterway by such a vessel since late ...

The Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Monday, the Taiwanese defence ministry said, in the first transit of the sensitive waterway by such a vessel since late last year.

China Offers Vietnam New Rail Support China will reportedly “guide” its enterprises to join railway construction projects in Vietnam, according to a joint statement released at the conclusion of a landmark visit by the country’s leader to...

China will guide firms into Vietnam railway projects, expanding funding, technology transfer, and logistics ties after Tô Lâm’s landmark visit.

Africa’s Tech Ecosystem: China Builds the Infrastructure, America Owns the Apps

U.S. Begins Philippines War Games in Thick of Middle East Conflict Thousands of American and Philippine troops, joined for the first time by a significant contingent of Japanese forces, began annual military exercises Monday set against the backdrop of the Middle Eas...

Thousands of American and Philippine troops, joined for the first time by a significant contingent of Japanese forces, began annual military exercises Monday set against the backdrop of the Middle East war.

Most Chinese exports to Africa in 2025 flowed into only 20 markets.

Here are China’s strongest export markets in Africa for the year 2025.

What does digital sovereignty actually mean in practice?

Bulelani Jili uses Kenya’s push to build technical skills as a lens to explore how African states navigate power, dependence, and control in a global tech system heavily shaped by outside actors.

China’s Energy Strategy Pays off as Mideast War Cramps Supplies: Analysts By Peter Catterall China's long-term strategy of diversifying energy sources and building stockpiles is helping it weather disruptions from the Iran war, although some sectors still face major snags, ...

China's long-term diversification and construction of strategic reserves plus storage leave it better prepared for Middle East supply shocks.

China’s Sulfur Export Ban Exposes a Hidden Chokepoint in Global Metals Supply Chains By Andy Home The Iran war has already caused turmoil in the global aluminum market, but now the fallout is spreading to both copper and nickel supply chains. The conduit is sulfur, a by-product of the...

China's export ban and disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz closure are intensifying a global sulfur squeeze.

Flurry of Diplomatic Meetings in Beijing As War Shakes Global Confidence China’s President Xi Jinping led a series of high-profile meetings with global leaders in Beijing this week, as the global economy nervously eyes the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. China's For...

China’s President Xi Jinping led a series of high-profile meetings with global leaders in Beijing last week, as the global economy nervously eyes the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

New Zealand Defends Military Patrol Flight Near China New Zealand on Saturday defended the actions of a military patrol aircraft flight near China after Beijing said it had undermined its security interests. China's foreign ministry said on Friday that a...

New Zealand on Saturday defended the actions of a military patrol aircraft flight near China after Beijing said it had undermined its security interests.

Australia, Japan Ink Multibillion Dollar Warship Deal Japan agreed on Saturday to a deal to provide Australia's navy with the first of almost a dozen stealth frigates, part of Canberra's wider military build-up aimed at boosting its long-range firepower ...

Japan agreed on Saturday to a deal to provide Australia’s navy with the first of almost a dozen stealth frigates, part of Canberra’s wider military build-up aimed at boosting its long-range firepower to deter China.

Turkmenistan, China Launch Expansion of Giant Gas Field Turkmenistan and China broke ground Friday on works to expand production at the giant Galkynysh gas field, strengthening Beijing's already dominant position in the secretive Central Asian nation's ene...

Turkmenistan and China broke ground Friday on works to expand production at the giant Galkynysh gas field, strengthening Beijing’s already dominant position in the secretive Central Asian nation’s energy sector.

China Says Its Military Activities Around Taiwan ‘Reasonable, Justified’ China's regular military activities around Taiwan are

China says People's Liberation Army activities around Taiwan are entirely justified and reasonable, defending sovereignty and territorial integrity.

China, Russia Ties Driving N. Korean Economic Recovery: Seoul North Korea's economy is showing signs of recovery as Pyongyang deepens trade and diplomatic ties with Russia and China, South Korea's unification ministry said in a report sent to AFP on Friday. Rigi...

North Korea’s economy is showing signs of recovery as Pyongyang deepens trade and diplomatic ties with Russia and China, South Korea’s unification ministry said in a report sent to AFP on Friday.

Trump Says China Agreed Not to Arm Iran, Amid Reports of Help President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed not to send weapons to Iran after he personally asked Beijing to hold back, inserting China more directly into the diplom...

Trump says Xi agreed not to send weapons to Iran after a personal request, as disputed intelligence reports deepen scrutiny of China’s role in the conflict.

China Pushes Iran to Reopen Hormuz, Keep Ceasefire on Track Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi used a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqhchi on Wednesday to urge efforts to restore normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while also backing con...

China’s Wang Yi urged restored navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during talks with Iran’s Abbas Araqhchi.

Xi Meets Russian Fm as Leaders Flock to China Over Middle East War China's President Xi Jinping met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday as a string of leaders of countries affected by the Middle East war flocked to Beijing. Lavrov joins Spanish Prime ...

China's President Xi Jinping met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday as a string of leaders of countries affected by the Middle East war flocked to Beijing.

China FM Tells Iran Beijing Supports ‘Momentum of Peace Talks’ China's top diplomat told his Iranian counterpart that Beijing

China's top diplomat told his Iranian counterpart that Beijing "supports maintaining the momentum of the ceasefire and peace talks" in a phone call on Wednesday, as negotiators from Pakistan landed in Tehran to discuss a second round of U.S.-Iran talks.

China’s Economy Poised for Q1 Rebound but Iran War Jolts 2026 Outlook By Kevin Yao China's economy likely picked up speed early in 2026 on strong exports and policy support, but the momentum is fraying as the Middle East conflict pushes up energy costs, cools global dem...

China's economy likely picked up speed early in 2026 on strong exports and policy support, but the momentum is fraying as the Middle East conflict pushes up energy costs, cools global demand, and threatens to squeeze already-thin corporate margins.

Flurry of Diplomatic Meetings in Beijing As War Shakes Global Confidence China’s President Xi Jinping led a series of high-profile meetings with global leaders in Beijing this week, as the global economy nervously eyes the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. China's For...

China’s President Xi Jinping led a series of high-profile meetings with global leaders in Beijing this week, as the global economy nervously eyes the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

In our latest podcast, we discuss the mood in policy and think tank circles in Washington, the strategic implications of China’s engagements, and why many African countries are placing less emphasis on ties with the U.S. as they pursue other economic and development partnerships.

China’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Removed Sun Weidong, one of China’s top foreign policy officials and a seasoned Asia-focused diplomat, has been removed from his post. An announcement by China’s Ministry of Human Resources, citing the State ...

China’s unexplained removal of Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong has drawn sharp attention in South Asia.

China Calls U.S. Claims of Military Pressure on Taiwan a ‘Distortion’ The United States' claims about China exerting military pressure on Taiwan are distorted, and demonstrate its

The United States’ claims about China exerting military pressure on Taiwan are distorted, and demonstrate its “malicious intentions”, a government spokesperson in Beijing said on