9 h. ago Before Maduro’s capture in Venezuela, US spoke with minister who is his loyal ally

Trump administration officials had been in discussions with Venezuela’s hardline Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello months before the US operation to seize the country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, and have been in communication with him since then, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. The officials warned Cabello, 62, against using the security services or militant ruling-party supporters overseen by him to target the country’s opposition, four sources said. That security...

Politics

8 d. ago China ready to deepen cooperation with Venezuela amid evolving political situation, spokesperson said

China ready to deepen cooperation with Venezuela amid evolving political situation, spokesperson said  news.cgtn.com

Politics

9 d. ago Singapore’s Lee Hsien Loong says US raid in Venezuela is worrying for small countries

The United States’ intervention into Venezuela would have worrying long-term consequences to the international system and small countries in particular, Singapore’s former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday. Senior Minister Lee, who stepped down as prime minister in May 2024, noted that Singapore had always stated its position unequivocally and voted accordingly on such matters that were contrary to international law and the UN Charter, listing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the...

Politics

1 week ago Energy markets are political – Venezuela is the latest proof

The United States’ forcible removal of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro from power has reignited a debate over international law and sovereignty. But this risks obscuring a more consequential fact: global energy markets are not governed primarily by liberal market logic, but are shaped by geopolitical strategy. Venezuela matters less as a case in itself than as a signal of how energy is being repositioned amid intensifying US-China economic competition. For decades, many assumed that energy...

Politics

1 week ago Innovation and exports will winnow China’s car industry in 2026

China’s car industry is expected to stagnate this year as it tries to catch its breath after years of growth. New energy vehicles (NEVs) are likely to continue increasing their market share but growth will be much lower than in recent years, with the penetration rate reaching around 60 per cent. “Involution” was the major theme last year, and despite efforts by the government and manufacturers, the situation is unlikely to improve until the second half of the year, due to a tepid economy and a...

Politics

1 week ago US’ Asian allies reluctant to slam Trump over Venezuela despite his ‘cowboy tactics’

The mild responses by America’s Asian allies in response to the US military strike on Venezuela stem from a desire not to “bite the hand that feeds” them, analysts have said, noting that some countries were buying time by claiming to monitor the situation. Following the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday to face narcoterrorism charges on US soil, President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that Washington was “in charge” of the South American nation, including its...

Politics

1 week ago Philippine lawmakers say US move on Venezuela complicates Manila’s rules

The Philippines’ long-standing alliance with the United States has come under fresh scrutiny after Washington’s move against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with critics in Manila warning the action had complicated the country’s claim to champion a rules-based international order. Opposition lawmakers and analysts said the US operation, which resulted in Maduro being captured and brought to the United States to face charges, had left the Philippines “compromised” and exposed to charges of...

Politics

2 w. ago U.N., China condemn U.S. strikes on Venezuela ahead of Security Council meeting Monday

U.N., China condemn U.S. strikes on Venezuela ahead of Security Council meeting Monday  Florida Politics

Events

2 w. ago Pacific Snapshot: Japan's Jet Market Roiled by Diplomatic Spat With Beijing

Pacific Snapshot: Japan's Jet Market Roiled by Diplomatic Spat With Beijing  Energy Intelligence

Politics

3 w. ago How Trump ‘stunned’ China; why Western hegemony has ended: 12 key interviews from 2025

Catch up on some 2025 entries in Open Questions, SCMP’s series of in-depth interviews with global opinion leaders. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Delusional’: Jeffrey Sachs on why Western hegemony has ended American economist sees China as key to the global energy transition to zero-carbon energy, especially in markets outside US and Europe. 2. Ex-diplomat Kerry Brown on how Trump ‘stunned’ China with his ‘lack of caution’ King’s College, London...

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