Foreign Interference

Prince Andrew and the British establishment’s ‘target-rich environment’ for spies

— A UK tribunal upheld the ban on a Chinese businessman, citing national security risks. His links to Prince Andrew underscore concerns about foreign influence and lapses in public scrutiny.

War in Ukraine

Trump wants China’s help in making peace in Ukraine. He’s unlikely to get it

— Donald Trump’s invitation to Xi Jinping for his inauguration aims to involve China in Ukraine peace talks, but Beijing’s interests likely align with prolonging the conflict, favouring its geopolitical dominance.

China

China leads the pack: Global manufacturing’s undisputed champion

— China has cemented its status as the world’s manufacturing leader, driven by strategic reforms, abundant labour, and infrastructure investment, shaping global trade while exposing supply-chain vulnerabilities.

COMMENT

Trump and the world: Mapping reaction a fortnight after election win

— Donald Trump’s global impact is divisive, with world leaders expressing mixed reactions. Europe grapples with populist surges; Russia sees opportunity; Ukraine fears abandonment; China anticipates trade clashes, while India remains cautiously optimistic.

Geopolitics

China needs to pick a side, and it just might pick the West

— Russia’s frustration with China’s limited support for its Ukraine war led to a North Korean peace treaty aimed at pressuring Beijing. Meanwhile, Western criticism of China’s role intensifies, urging it to reconsider its alignment.

2024 US Presidential Election

A Trump-Vance White House could undermine European security – and end up pushing Russia and China closer

— Donald Trump’s pick of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as running mate could shift US focus from Europe to China, sparking European fears of diminished American support. Vance’s stance might weaken transatlantic security ties.

China

Chinese nationalist groups are launching cyber-attacks – often against the wishes of the government

— The Chinese Communist Party has inadvertently given the country’s nationalist movement influence that it’s struggling to contain.

US-China Relationship

Xi and Biden spoke on the phone for 105 minutes: What does this say about their relationship?

— Biden and Xi discussed stabilising US-China relations, covering Taiwan, TikTok, tariffs, and support for Russia in a 105-minute call, indicating a thaw in relations amid deep-seated mistrust.

2024 General Election

China’s UK election hack – how and why the Electoral Commission was targeted

— British elections are pencil and papers affairs, which makes them difficult to hack. But the breach of millions of people’s details is still a deeply serious matter.

2024 US Presidential Election

US election: Turning off TikTok is a big risk for the Democrats

— Accusations against TikTok include data held in China, censorship, and disinformation. US Democrats face dilemmas over its potential closure, impacting their outreach to young voters and the 2024 election.

UK Politics

Why David Cameron’s past and present relations with China could be Rishi Sunak’s first big political headache of 2024

— David Cameron’s ties with China present challenges for the current UK Government. As Foreign Secretary, Cameron’s more dovish stance clashes with the party’s current China-sceptic position, creating internal tensions and complicating UK foreign policy.

OPINION

Bangladesh polls no longer make ‘battle of the begums’ headlines and that’s sad

— Bangladesh’s 2024 election resulted in PM Sheikh Hasina’s anticipated win, as the main opposition boycotted, alleging a sham to maintain ruling party dominance and raising concerns about democratic decline, underscoring global challenges to democracy in the year ahead.

US Foreign Policy

Why Russia and China have been added to Republicans’ new ‘axis of evil’

— The term ‘axis of evil’ is being revived by some Republicans to describe China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. However, the new grouping differs in principles and has more tenuous links to US policy. It also appears driven by Republicans in Congress rather than the White House.

COMMENT

The upshot of ‘He said, Xi said’: More pandas to the US

— Joe Biden and Xi Jinping participated in a crucial summit during the APEC forum in San Francisco. Acknowledging competition, the leaders underscored the importance of averting conflict and committed to resuming military contact.

Geopolitics

What Joe Biden’s meeting with Xi Jinping means for geopolitical tensions

— In a high-stakes meeting at the APEC summit, US President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed to ease tensions in a complex relationship shaped by economic interdependence. Resolving grievances requires ongoing dialogue and cooperation.

China-Russia Relationship

Xi-Putin meeting: Here’s what it says about their current, and future, relationship

— Vladimir Putin’s first trip outside Russia in 20 months is to attend Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) anniversary summit. Both leaders aim to challenge the Western-dominated order but their partnership leans towards China.