Francis Tuchek, Kaoshiung As more nations conduct oil transactions outside the traditional petrodollar system, the erosion of dollar demand is weakening U.S. Treasury bonds and prompting Trump’s geopolitical maneuvers aimed at securing energy resources. Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, they suggest, have become a focal point in this struggle to preserve the dollar’s role at the…
Francis Tuschek, Washington The US ban on imports of new foreign drones discriminates against Chinese companies and should be lifted, Beijing has said. Shenzhen-based UAV manufacturer DJI, the largest in the world, currently sells more than half of all commercial drones operated in the US. On Monday, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) forbade imports…
Richard Sanders In a recent unveiling of the National Security Strategy (NSS) by the Trump administration, analysts spotlighted a notable shift in rhetoric concerning China, especially in relation to Taiwan. Unlike the Biden administration’s strong assertions regarding China as “America’s most consequential geopolitical challenge,” the new NSS takes a more subdued approach, focusing significantly on…
Martin Haffner, Associate Editor The US and Chinese armed forces conducted “frank and constructive” discussions on maritime security this week, as announced by the Chinese navy on Thursday. This engagement marks a significant step in restoring military communications between the two countries after months of heightened trade tensions. The discussions, held from Tuesday to Thursday…
Jake Sanders,Editor The US and China have agreed to reopen top-level military-to-military channels following a recent bilateral meeting of their top brass in Malaysia, according to War Secretary Pete Hegseth. The communications are a key de-escalation mechanism that Beijing cut in 2022 after a formal visit to Taiwan, a self-governed region viewed by Beijing as…
Jake Sanders, Editor US Vice President J.D. Vance has said the resumption of nuclear arms testing by Washington is required to ensure that the weapons remain in working order. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that he had ordered the Pentagon to start nuclear weapons tests, citing strategic competition with Russia and China. “That…
Ed Castro China has agreed to suspend its latest rare earth export controls in exchange for reciprocal US cuts on tariffs and restrictions, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement published on its website on Thursday. Beijing’s earlier limits on the critical materials remain in place. The agreement followed a face-to-face meeting between Chinese…
Ed Castro US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated yesterday that Taiwan should not worry about being used as a bargaining chip in ongoing US-China trade talks. During a flight from Israel to Qatar en route to Asia, Rubio reassured that no trade deal would jeopardize Taiwan’s position or result in favorable trade treatment in…
Francis Tuschek, Seoul The United States has launched a special initiative called Project Portero to combat fentanyl and other drug trafficking originating from Mexico. This effort underscores the U.S. commitment to addressing the opioid crisis and disrupting the flow of illegal drugs across its borders. Yesterday, Mexico handed over an alleged Chinese fentanyl kingpin, Zhi…
Ed Castro US President Donald Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week as part of a trip to Asia, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Thursday. Trump will depart for Malaysia and South Korea, where he will meet Xi next Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC)….