10 h. ago China's rise is exposing the cost of America's alliance with Israel

China's rise is exposing the cost of America's alliance with Israel  Middle East Eye

Politics

14 h. ago Baidu signs deal with Uber to deploy Apollo Go robotaxis in Asia, Middle East

Chinese search engine and AI giant Baidu and global taxi-hailing firm Uber Technologies have agreed to work together to deploy thousands of Baidu Apollo Go robotaxis in markets outside the US and mainland China, a move that comes as Tesla seeks to expand its robotaxis in the US. The multi-year deal will see robotaxis deployed in Asia and the Middle East later this year, according to a joint statement. It was unclear whether the partnership would include Hong Kong, where Baidu’s Apollo Go...

Economics

2 d. ago ‘More Asean, Middle East flights needed for Hong Kong under belt and road plan’

Hong Kong is striving to enhance its connectivity with countries under the Belt and Road Initiative by increasing flight frequencies to strategic destinations such as Xinjiang, Riyadh and Dallas, as well as launching new direct routes to second-tier Asean and Middle Eastern locations, the city’s chief for the national plan has said. In an exclusive interview with the Post, Commissioner for Belt and Road Nicholas Ho Lik-chi also said the global volatility brought by US President Donald Trump’s...

Transport

5 d. ago How U.S. Energy Dominance Could Overtake China’s Influence in the Middle East—and Beyond

How U.S. Energy Dominance Could Overtake China’s Influence in the Middle East—and Beyond  The National Interest

Science

6 d. ago China set to up Iran support, cyborg bee is unveiled: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China likely to strengthen backing for Iran as it looks to secure interests Beijing is likely to step up support for Tehran as it tries to secure its strategic interests in the Middle East, analysts say, amid concerns over how the recent Iran-Israel war will reverberate across the resource-rich region. 2. ‘Whatever they do is wrong’: Chinese exporters...

Politics

6 d. ago China, Russia Should Work Together for Middle East Peace, Beijing Says

China, Russia Should Work Together for Middle East Peace, Beijing Says  Asharq Al-awsat - English

Politics

6 d. ago China likely to strengthen backing for Iran as it looks to secure interests

Beijing is likely to step up support for Tehran as it tries to secure its strategic interests in the Middle East, analysts say, amid concerns over how the recent Iran-Israel war will reverberate across the resource-rich region. But one analyst noted it was a balancing act for Beijing to avoid compromising ties with Arab countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council nations. The assessment was made as policymakers around the world are closely watching how the 12-day conflict in June – briefly joined...

Politics

7 d. ago China denies giving Iran air defence systems after conflict with Israel

China has denied transferring surface-to-air missile batteries to Iran following Israel’s attacks on the Islamic Republic last month. The British-based platform Middle East Eye reported on Monday that Chinese air defence equipment had been sent to Iran after it struck a truce with Israel last month, citing an Arab official familiar with the intelligence. One source told the platform that China – the biggest recipient of Iran’s oil exports – had received payment in oil shipments, but the report...

Politics

8 d. ago Germany Blames Chinese Warship for Laser Attack on Aircraft in the Middle East

Germany Blames Chinese Warship for Laser Attack on Aircraft in the Middle East  USNI News

Events

9 d. ago To quieten drumbeats of war in US and China, cool heads must prevail

While the Ukraine war drags on and new conflicts rage in the Middle East, we cannot overlook the drumbeats of great power tension across the Pacific at levels unmatched since the Cold War. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, a known China hawk, frames diplomacy through strategic confrontation. He has said the United States aims to “re-establish deterrence” against “China’s aggression” in the Indo-Pacific. This includes upgrading the US-Japan command to a “warfighting headquarters” and pushing...

Events

1 week ago China’s Wang Yi urges new international deal on Iran after US, Israeli attacks

China’s top diplomat Wang Yi has called for a “new international agreement” on Iran while accusing the United States and Israel of destabilising the Middle East through military actions on Iranian nuclear facilities. Speaking at a joint press conference with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris on Friday, Wang also voiced deep concerns about escalating tensions in the region and warned of the looming spectre of a “nuclear disaster”. His remarks came as Beijing, a key ally of an...

Politics

1 week ago Will the Maghreb States Have to Pick Between the U.S. and China?

Will the Maghreb States Have to Pick Between the U.S. and China?  Middle East Council on Global Affairs

Politics

2 w. ago Russia and China's influence wanes in the Middle East after 12

Russia and China's influence wanes in the Middle East after 12-Day War – analysis  The Jerusalem Post

Politics

2 w. ago Why the US could be China’s biggest ally in reining in Asia’s nuclear ambitions

Iran’s crushing defeat in its brief but devastating war with Israel has sent shock waves far beyond the Middle East, casting fresh doubts on the viability of nuclear non-proliferation and raising fears of a renewed global push to acquire nuclear weapons. Without a credible nuclear deterrent, Tehran proved unable to effectively defend or retaliate against Israel’s pre-emptive strikes on key personnel and nuclear facilities, despite its much-touted strategic alignment with China and Russia. While...

Events

2 w. ago China’s energy security and ambiguity in the Middle East crisis

China’s energy security and ambiguity in the Middle East crisis  Middle East Monitor

Events

2 w. ago Losing the Long Game: China Advances As U.S. Refocuses on the Middle East

Losing the Long Game: China Advances As U.S. Refocuses on the Middle East  RealClearDefense

Politics

2 w. ago China’s US trade deal warning, Japanese princess flies economy: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China warns countries not to sign US trade deals at its expense 2. Why China may be keeping a close eye as Trump gets drawn into the Middle East 3. Dozens left stranded by Hong Kong’s Cathay after flight from New York cancelled 4. Palace intrigue conquers global screens: has China cast its new...

Events

2 w. ago China’s soft power, Cathay flight leaves dozens stranded: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China warns countries not to sign US trade deals at its expense 2. Why China may be keeping a close eye as Trump gets drawn into the Middle East 3. Dozens left stranded by Hong Kong’s Cathay after flight from New York cancelled 4. Palace intrigue conquers global screens: has China cast its new...

Politics

2 w. ago As attacks on Iran show, Russia can now do very little for its allies

The recent war between Iran and Israel has laid bare a truth long obscured by Kremlin bluster: Russia is no longer a superpower. Moscow’s muted response to Tehran’s plight is not an anomaly but the latest – and perhaps most telling – chapter in a pattern of strategic neglect that stretches from the Middle East to the Levant and South Caucasus. Driven by President Vladimir Putin’s neo-imperialist fantasies, Russia plunged into Ukraine to find itself in a quagmire that has bled its military,...

Events

2 w. ago Ronnie O’Sullivan ‘hasn’t given up on Hong Kong’, immigration chief says

Snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan, who obtained Hong Kong residency last year through a talent scheme, “has not given up” on the city, the immigration chief has said, despite the newlywed seven-time world champion recently revealing plans to move to the Middle East. Asked about O’Sullivan’s intentions after he confirmed two days ago that he had married actress Laila Rouass, Director of Immigration Benson Kwok Joon-fung said on Sunday that he had been in touch with him and had stressed that Hong...

Politics