35 h. ago China blasts ‘immoral’ US trade practices, courts Asean on free trade unity

China’s top diplomat drew sharp contrasts in trade practices between Beijing and Washington as he pressed Southeast Asian countries to protect free trade and not undermine the interests of “the third party” while the region confronts sweeping US tariffs. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called US trade practices “unreasonable and immoral” during a meeting on Thursday in Malaysia with Md. Touhid Hossain, adviser for foreign affairs of the interim government of Bangladesh. “China-Bangladesh...

Events

3 d. ago Will Myanmar block East Timor’s Asean entry? The junta draws a red line

As East Timor edges closer to joining Asean, Myanmar’s military rulers are seeking to block its entry, in a warning to it – and governments everywhere – against engaging with the war-torn country’s opposition forces. Last week, sources cited by public broadcaster Thai PBS revealed that Myanmar’s military regime had formally notified Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of its intent to withhold support for East Timor’s membership when the bloc convenes in...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump advisor Peter Navarro blasts Tim Cook for making iPhones in China

Trump advisor Peter Navarro blasts Tim Cook for making iPhones in China  New York Post

Politics

4 d. ago Trump’s Vietnam tariff pact challenges Asean unity in key summit

Southeast Asian nations are scrambling to recalibrate their approach to US tariffs ahead of a key diplomatic gathering that starts in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, as Washington’s preference for one-on-one trade deals casts doubt over Asean’s collective bargaining power. US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a delay to the next round of his sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs – pushing the deadline from July 9 to August 1 – to give time for finalising deals with 18 major trade partners,...

Politics

6 d. ago Brazil blasts the West ahead of Brics summit, while China avoids talk of tariffs

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and New Development Bank (NDB) president Dilma Rousseff accused the US, its allies and the Western-dominated financial order on Friday of weaponising tariffs and sanctions. They also used the opening of the Brics bank’s annual meeting to call for new models of development and cooperation across the Global South. Speaking before finance ministers and governors from Brics nations and new members in Rio de Janeiro, Lula said the NDB was proof that...

Politics

6 d. ago ‘Brics bank’ blasts West ahead of leaders’ summit, China mute on tariffs

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and New Development Bank (NDB) president Dilma Rousseff accused the United States, its allies and the Western-dominated financial order on Friday of weaponising tariffs and sanctions. They also used the opening of the Brics bank’s annual meeting to call for new models of development and cooperation across the Global South. Speaking before finance ministers and governors from Brics nations and new members in Rio de Janeiro, Lula said the NDB was proof...

Politics

9 d. ago Blast from the past: US ammo hub for Philippines sparks China retaliation fears

A proposal to build a US ammunition manufacturing and storage hub in Subic Bay – the site of a former American naval base in the northern Philippines – is raising fears of strategic entrapment, local economic disruption and Chinese retaliation, despite tentative backing from Manila’s defence chief. Experts said while the move could help plug logistics gaps in the Indo-Pacific and deepen alliance coordination, it might also undermine the Philippines’ policy of strategic ambiguity and reignite...

Politics

3 w. ago Von der Leyen blasts China's 'blackmail' in appeal to Trump at G7

Von der Leyen blasts China's 'blackmail' in appeal to Trump at G7  Euronews

Politics

3 w. ago Von der Leyen blasts China's 'blackmail' in direct appeal to Trump at G7 summit

Von der Leyen blasts China's 'blackmail' in direct appeal to Trump at G7 summit  Euronews

Politics

3 w. ago Trump tariffs challenge Asean’s unity and economic stability

When US President Donald Trump’s tariff chaos eventually calms, its long-lasting consequences will significantly affect the area just south of China and east of India – Southeast Asia – and its organisational bloc, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Trump’s focus on protectionism is likely to replace uniform tariffs with varying import taxes for different countries. This shift could create divisive and harmful effects for Southeast Asia and Asean, which are interchangeable but...

Economics