Texas takes the lead in deeper decoupling from China – Asia Times

The government of Texas has mandated that Texas ‘ state cash stop funding Chinese investments and issue warnings to all state companies to protect themselves from potential attacks and intrusions from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). &nbsp,

Texas ‘ governor since 2015, Republican lawmaker Greg Abbott, who has been in office since 2015, has issued three executive orders and a letter to the governors of both Texas and Texas, inviting them to cut ties with China. &nbsp,

Two days after Republican Donald Trump won the November 5 presidential election, his enquiries came in. As part of Trump’s massive illegal immigrant imprisonment program, Abbott offered 1, 402 acres of land along the US-Mexico frontier near Rio Grande City to build infrastructure along with it.

In recent days, Abbott has issued:

    a law preventing the People’s Republic of China ( PRC ) or the CCP from coercing and harassing Texans of Chinese descent;

  • an executive order to shield Texas ‘ crucial system from PRC and CCP risks,
  • an executive order to protect the state government from the PRC and CCP’s covert spy activities,
  • a letter to Texas ‘ state companies urging them to stop making risky investments made in China.

On November 18, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Houston warned Texans that the PRC perhaps be harassing and pursuing Chinese dissidents who oppose the CCP in Texas.

According to Abbott,” The CCP has engaged in a global harassment campaign against Chinese rebels in efforts to violently transfer them to China.” More than 250, 000 people of Chinese origin who legitimately reside in Texas are subject to abuse and force from the CCP or its terrible intermediaries.

To detain and return suspected financial crime suspects, the Chinese government launched a covert world procedure known as Operation Fox Hunt in 2014. However, the procedure was apparently used to jail and harass&nbsp, social dissidents&nbsp, around the globe.

In July 2020, the Trump presidency ordered China to “cease all businesses and occasions” at its embassy in Houston, Texas within 72 hours. &nbsp,

The State Department claimed at the time that China had been conducting extensive improper eavesdropping and control operations for years and that those pursuits had significantly increased in recent years.

In retaliation, China ordered the US Consulate in Chengdu, Sichuan state to continue activities.

Important infrastructure

Abbott stated on November 20 that he had given the Texas Division of Emergency Management ( TDEM) and the Public Utility Commission of Texas ( PUC) instructions to prepare for potential threats from a hostile foreign government or their proxies.

” China has made it evident that they can and will target and assault America’s important infrastructure”, Abbott said in a press release. ” Just this past year, a hostile Chinese state professional targeted America’s contacts, power, travel, water and wastewater techniques, threatening our national protection”.

He claimed in an interview with Fox News that the Biden administration is unaware of the CCP’s challenges to America’s protection. &nbsp,

In September,” Salt Typhoon,” a group of Chinese hackers connected to the Chinese government, reportedly breached the network of a number of US broadband services, including AT&amp, T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies, according to The Wall Street Journal’s October 5 report.

A joint venture called Shanghai Symphony Telecommunications ( SST ) was established in December 2000 between Texas-based AT&amp, T, China Telecom Corp, and a government-owned business. In 2017, AT&amp, T and China Telecom agreed to launch new services such as the Internet-of-Things ( IoT ) and big data via SST. &nbsp,

Texas is the best oil and gas state in the US, producing 42 % of crude oil and 27 % of marketed natural oil in 2022, according to its government’s website. It has 32 petroleum refineries, which are the most of any state, and process more than 5.9 million barrels of crude oil per day ( 32 % of the US refining capacity ).

If Texas, a powerhouse of the US, were to experience energy grid paralysis caused by Chinese cyberattacks, Abbott claimed it would be a catastrophe.

The Houston-based Exxon Mobil Corp, a supplier of liquified natural gas ( LNG ), chemicals and lubricants, has grown its China businesses through ExxonMobil ( China ) Investment Co Ltd in Shanghai since the late 1970s.

Halliburton, a Houston-based fuel services company, has been providing services in China since 1984. In 2014, it signed an agreement with Petrotech ( Xinjiang ) Engineering Co Ltd, an affiliate of the Beijing-based SPT Energy Group Inc, to establish a&nbsp, joint venture&nbsp, focused on hydraulic fracturing and production enhancement services in Xinjiang.

The Texas state has not yet urged private companies to keep China. Chinese observers also do n’t think these businesses will shut down their profitable businesses in China. &nbsp,

Abbott is presumably doing what Trump wants by preventing US opportunities in China, according to a journalist from Guangdong. He said Texas Instruments, a Dallas-based silicon manufacturer, may then feel the heat. &nbsp,

According to reports in May 2022, Texas Instruments ‘ computer (MCU) research and development staff was disbanded in China. The business emphasized that there had not been any cuts.

Decoupling from China&nbsp,

Abbott mandated the sale of state cash ‘ assets in China and Hong Kong on November 21. He said he had told the University of Texas/Texas A&amp, M Investment Management Company ( UTIMCO ), which manages nearly US$ 80 billion, to divest from China earlier this year.

At the end of August 2024, the Texas-based Teacher Retirement System ( TRS ) reported its annual report to have$ 111.5 % under management. It has about$ 1.4 billion worth of Tencent Holdings shares worth$ 385 million, including$ 1.4 billion in Chinese and Hong Kong dollar assets. &nbsp,

Chinese analysts speculated that Abbott’s desire to sell Chinese stocks may be to blame for the decline in the Hang Seng Index and Shanghai Composite Index, which both fell 1.9 % and 3.1 %, respectively, on November 22.

The US Federal Retirement Terror Investment Board ( FRTIB ) announced in November 2023 that it had decided to forego using Hong Kong-listed shares in its international fund benchmark indexes.

Future Union, a non-partisan trade organization, said last December that 74 US public pensions, including the TXRS, have allocated more than$ 70 billion of funds to companies in China and Hong Kong.

The Asia Times has Yong Jian as a contribution. He is a Chinese columnist who specializes in Chinese technologies, economy and politics. &nbsp,

Read more: China opens a “bathing center” port in Peru to ally itself with Trump in a trade dispute.

Read more about China’s analysis of the effects of its regaining the position of most popular state.

Read: US income bank’s exit may tremble Hong Kong markets

Read: Beijing: With Huawei restrictions, US pushes’ decoupling’

Read: No end in sight for US-China embassy tit-for-tat

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How China could strike back at Trump’s tariffs – Asia Times

America’s companies, including defence, contracted tens of thousands of key elements to China during the past 20 times. US manufacturers do n’t produce capacitors, accumulators, pumps, compressors, switching equipment and other essential equipment for US electrical utilities.

When produced in large quantities, none of these are expensive or difficult to make. However, it may cost a lot to rebuild business ability for a wide range of crucial inputs. America is vulnerable to Chinese retribution in the event of a business battle because of its significant dependence on Chinese exports.

The US Congress Select Committee on China wants to remove China’s Most Popular Nation buying standing, which could lead to levies of 100 %, while President-elect Donald Trump has proposed 60 % tariffs on Chinese imports.

China’s exports to the US peaked at over 10 % of its GDP ( in US dollars ) in 2005, but have fallen to just over 2 % of GDP today. If business relations with the US tear, which side did incur more? It’s difficult to reckon with all the elements, but the United States well might also come up worse.

Graphic: Asia Times

The Great Re-Shoring charade, April 6, 2023, was the first study to show that China had routed a significant portion of its export to the US via next places.

The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Bank for International Settlements, and Senator Marco Rubio‘s business have since released encouraging data. Vietnam and Mexico currently export 25 % of their GDP to the US. As noted, China exports little over 2 %.

Graphic: Asia Times

America’s failing to scale up production of munitions for Ukraine should be a reminder to politicians. In February 2024, the US produced only 30, 000 155mm shell a quarter, or three days of Russian use. The Pentagon says it hopes to increase this amount to 70, 000, or a year’s fair, by early 2025.

The United States ca n’t gear up to produce artillery shells, a century-old technology. By ten or ten, the artillery tank barrier is one hundred times the number of ways to visualize the effects of specific Chinese trade bans.

Some experts have expressed worry about America’s exports of medicine from China, particularly medicines. A trade war in healthcare is doubtful, though, because China is also a big supplier of British medicine, for example cancer medicines.

The Chinese may have stopped producing rare earth in the US, as well as its new trade licensing laws for the minerals used in semiconductors, such as gallium, tungsten, and graphite. A careful threshold of important industrial components that targets fragile industries would be more worrying.

Graphic: Asia Times

Offer chains for critical system are severe and self-inflicted, according to the author. The US and its supporters have allowed themselves to become captive to Chinese cartels that control creation of electronic parts, high-powered magnetism, printed circuit boards, computers, drones, rare world metals, wind turbines, solar cells, cellular phones and lithium batteries … In fact, nearly every aspect of the technology-based digital smart grid is dependent on Chinese-made components”, Brien Sheahan, a former major US regulatory standard, wrote in April 2023.

Output has also been outsourced to China by the US defence sector. Greg Hayes, the CEO of Raytheon, stated in an interview with the Financial Times on June 19 that coupling is difficult because his company has” many thousand suppliers in China.” We may de-risk but no decouple”, adding that he believed this to be the situation” for everyone” in US production.

Hayes added,” Think about the$ 500bn of trade that goes from China to the US every year. More than 95 percent of unusual world materials or metal come from, or are processed in, China. There is no option. It may take us some, many years to regain that capacity, whether internally or in other helpful nations, if we had to leave China.

Raytheon makes Tomahawk cruise weapons, Maverick air-to-surface weapons, Javelin anti-tank weapons and other cornerstones of the American army.

US orders for manufacturing equipment have n’t increased in 20 years, according to the Producer Price Index for private capital equipment, which is adjusted for inflation. The ten years that followed the 2008 crisis, which saw a quick recovery, have stagnated.

Graphic: Asia Times

Additionally, there are serious shortages of experienced manufacturing workers in the US. When manufacturing exercise (using the Federal Reserve’s index ) peaked in 2007, just 85, 000 stock work went empty. Now there are 500, 000 empty manufacturer jobs. The shortage of qualified workers, according to manufacturers and their industry associations, is the main obstacle to their work.

Graphic: Asia Times

To start up a generation line, you need tradesmen. The United States has merely 270, 000 tradesmen, compared to 470, 000 in 2000.

Graphic: Asia Times

The issue may be solved by wiggle production, which uses highly automated production and system regulates. However, the United States is still developing. America has just 285 industrial robots installed per 10, 000 staff, compared to 392 in China and 1, 012 in South Korea.

The United States could fund essential production with crash training programs for business workers, employ the Defense Department budget to fund these issues, and use all available resources for American industry to address these issues. But a quarter-century of industrial outsourcing, workforce shrinkage and underinvestment in capital equipment ca n’t be undone in a matter of weeks or months.

Following David P Goldman on X at @davidpgoldman

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Who would and wouldn’t arrest Israel’s Netanyahu – Asia Times

Ever since the October 7, 2023, Hamas extremist attack on Israel, the Albanese government has consistently said Australia respects Israel’s right to defend itself, but how it does so things.

These phrases, in the eyes of an intercontinental attorney, are the equivalent of a solicitor who can use them to defend one’s right to self-defense while upholding international humanitarian law. In consequence, remaining compliant with the laws of war.

Australia and other like-minded nations are now faced with a problem as the International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and past Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

In July, Australia, Canada and New Zealand issued a joint declaration that said, in part:

Israel must take into account the problems of the global community. International humanitarian law mandates the safety of citizens, which is of paramount importance. Palestinians must not be forced to pay for Hamas’s defeat.

Canada, a number of European nations, and others have made it clear they will assault Netanyahu if he enters their countries since the arrest warrants were issued last year. Did New Zealand and Australia soon follow suit?

International authorities and the conflict in Gaza

The propriety of Israel’s activities in Gaza and its effects on the Israeli population have become more important in recent years.

This was first noted by South Africa’s claim that Israel was to blame for the massacre of the people of Gaza in a late December event before the International Court of Justice ( ICJ) brought this up.

In July, the ICJ issued a independent expert view arguing that Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories violated international laws and called for its endangerance.

The International Criminal Court ( ICC ) then issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for their alleged roles in the Gaza war’s prosecution, which they claimed were responsible for.

The ICC’s attorney, Karim Khan, had also been seeking arrest warrants for three Hamas officials. Two have been killed in recent months, while the second, Mohammed Al-Masri, more commonly known as Mohammed Deif, is even believed to be dead. He was also the subject of an additional permit issued by the ICC.

The control of the ICC over the Gaza war, however, is never clear-cut because Israel is certainly a celebration to the Rome Statute. The court was established by this convention and established its authority to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Palestine’s accession to the 2015 Israel and Gaza statutes as a basis for the judge’s authority in these matters. Because Palestine is not a state that is recognized internationally, there was a lot of legitimate, political, and political debate surrounding that.

Additionally, the Rome Statute grants control to the court over alleged crimes committed in nations that are not ICC members. The UN Security Council you send these steps to the judge for research, though given the divide between the United States, Russia and China on the Security Council, it’s doubtful they’d get agreement on Israel.

The propriety of the arrest permits

Two additional important legal issues that declares will likely consider when deciding how to answer had been raised by the ICC’s arrest warrants.

First, the ICC was designed as a” court of last resort” in relation to allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This implies that regional war crimes investigations and trials are treated with respect. If Israel launches its unique inquiries, there is a chance that the arrest warrants for Gallant and Netanyahu may be revoked.

An interior company oversees the Israeli military’s efforts to look into alleged breaches of international code of conduct. Human rights organizations have, however, criticized the military for being lenient with its own warriors and for lacking clarity. And there is no proof that Jewish social officials acted in a wartime manner.

The second problem is that the international law recognizes the concept of “head of state immunity,” which states that a nation’s leaders are exempt from arrest for alleged acts.

This process, however, does not qualify under the Rome Statute. And because Netanyahu does not participate in the ICC, typical worldwide law does not apply to him.

It is extremely up for debate whether this exemption applies to specific international crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This was put to the test in the late 1990s when Chile’s dictator Augusto Pinochet was detained in the UK following an arrest warrant issued by a Hispanic prosecutor for alleged abuse committed against Spanish residents there. As a previous head of state, Pinochet argued for resistance. Although he was not extradited to a trial, American courts rejected his claim.

European nations have not given much weight to this idea since the ICC has arrested Vladimir Putin for his deeds in the Ukraine conflict.

South Africa’s murder event

While the new emphasis has been on the ICC’s activities, the Judge has also been reviewing the propriety of Israel’s do in Gaza.

The ICJ concentrates on the responsibility of states for violating international law, while the ICC is a legal judge that seeks to keep people responsible for alleged acts.

The International Criminal Court ( ICC ) in The Hague, Netherlands. &nbsp, Photo: Remko de Waal / ANP / EPA via The Talk

Since January, the ICJ has heard South Africa’s event against Israel four times in a row. Based on what the court deems to be a “plausible” circumstance of murder, three pieces of provisional measures against Israel have been issued.

This circumstance, however, remains in the early stages and has many years to work. To prove conclusively that Israel has committed murder, there is a really high legal table. Proof of murderous purpose will be much more compelling.

Israel’s followers today face a alternative

In order to maintain Israel and its officials accountable for their actions, international law has become more crucial in light of these legal processes.

And this, in move, has placed Australia, New Zealand and like-minded states that have previously been powerful friends and supporters of Israel in a diplomatic and political issue.

Australia supports the rules-based, global order established after the Second World War, which has a strong historical foundation and strong bipartisan support. This global order’s foundation is served by the ICC and ICJ. A judge from Australia serves on the Judge, and he has vehemently supported Putin’s arrest over Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

As a thick power, Australia’s international pursuits are deeply embedded in this global order. Without backing these techniques and their outcomes, Australia runs the risk of further destabilizing the global order, despite how difficult it has been for them to see Israel and its head in the international legal light.

Australian National University professor of international rules Donald Rothwell

The Conversation has republished this post under a Creative Commons license. Read the original post.

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Campaign over, Trump must make real-world foreign policy choices – Asia Times

Donald Trump’s and his Republican Party’s overwhelming success in the US election on November 5 certainly signals a significant shift in the world’s role, at least for the next four decades but also likely for many more.

Trump’s presidency in 2017 and 2018 cannot be characterized as being inconsistent with the standard international authority pattern of the United States. We must now accept the absurdity and the fact that Trump is defining a new standard with his partial restoration of the well-known style of American management.

However, despite what it may be, acknowledging this does not provide an immediate understanding of how the new classification of American leadership will affect the country or the earth in the wake of the 2028 presidential election or elsewhere.

Let’s set aside Trump’s and his supporters ‘ potential impact on America’s judicial system and its institutions of government, though important, on a domestic level. This will have an impact on America’s reputation as a democracy and liberal society, but it wo n’t have an impact on foreign policy unless unavoidable internal conflict arises.

We are certain that the new Trump administration will approach foreign affairs with a aggressive, transactional, and based on the guiding principle of” America First” if that phrase is truly regarded as a rule. In many respects, the management will also be unstable, as it is well known that President-elect Trump is a guy who typically changes his mind, yet quite abruptly.

But beyond that, much is sure.

Two factors lie behind this confusion. One is just the distinction between regulating and fighting. To plan is to inspire and to get recognition, to manage, as the old saying goes, is to choose. Despite any significant inconsistencies in his promises, Trump’s fighting style has a crucial quality: his determination to say something that he thinks will appeal to voters or keep him in the spotlight. When governing, decisions may be avoided.

The second reason is that besides having the largest economy in the world, America also has a lot of international financial and security concerns and exposure. Due to this truth,” America First” is much more difficult to put into practice than it might have appeared on the campaign trail. The depth and breadth of America’s global safety and business interests make this a distant possibility, despite the widespread concern that many people will turn to isolationism and detachment in the 1930s.

Look only at Elon Musk, the billionaire who backed Trump’s plan most conspicuously and who since the poll has stuck close to his part: Musk’s electronic vehicle business, Tesla, builds cars and components in factories in Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and China as well as the United States, his Starlink satellite-based internet business is world, and his SpaceX business has customers worldwide too, all depend on global supply chains for their manufacturing. ” America First” means much to him, and could even pose a threat to his companies.

The fighting and the guarantees are thus riven with contradictions. Trump’s repeated demands that allies in NATO and bilateral security alliances in Asia may add more to security wasting and military capabilities, and his declarations that he plans to implement higher tariffs on American imports from Japan, Europe, and other countries, are at odds with what is most important with international affairs. Because Europe and other countries rely on them for a lot of crucial supplies, this may make it harder for those allies to add more and raise America’s personal defense procurement costs.

Another contradiction is that Trump campaigned fervently for the idea that he may seek “peace through strength” by increasing America’s unique defense spending and confronting China in every way required, but his plans threaten to erode that really strength by eroding America’s alliances in the Indo-Pacific.

The American defense sector relies heavily on co-production with allies and partners, particularly Japan and South Korea, to meet the country’s current military needs.

Even Republican Party strategists believe that convincing neighboring nations in the area to at least stay neutral or ideally lean toward America has long been a key part of America’s China strategy. Slapping high tariffs on goods from India, Vietnam, the Philippines and other” strategic partners”, in the preferred diplomatic jargon, is hardly the best way to seduce them.

Therefore, much depends on how these contradictions are resolved and what America First actually means. Trump’s campaign pledge to “end” Russia’s war in Ukraine by negotiating a peace raises a serious issue. He will also need to consider Russia’s strategic partnership with China and its use of soldiers and munitions from North Korea. He and his national security team will need to determine how to compete with China while engaging in trade wars at the same time.

Even the most zealous of America Firsters cannot deny the significance of US military installations in Japan and Japan’s own defense development, so there may be room for compromise in the case of Japan. However, many nations that do n’t have such close ties to the US will view recent moves to join China-led alliances like the BRICS as prudent bet hedging.

There is no denying that the Trump administration will face China with the same level of brutality as the Biden team. The contradictions concern the potential effectiveness of that policy, not its direction. In exchange for Taiwan’s support and protection, the Trump administration wo n’t knowingly attempt to entice a Chinese takeover. We can anticipate Trump trying to meet with Kim again despite his previous discussions with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose conflict with Russia is likely to be slowed down by any attempt at personal communication.

The re-election of Donald Trump spells the end, for now, of the old form of American leadership. With the world’s largest economy and military force, and with interests all around the globe, America will still, however, remain a leader. Where and how long-term it will be possible is something we have n’t yet learned.

Formerly editor-in-chief of The Economist, &nbsp, Bill Emmott&nbsp, is currently chairman of the&nbsp, Japan Society of the UK, the&nbsp, International Institute for Strategic Studies&nbsp, and the&nbsp, International Trade Institute.

The Mainichi Shimbun published an English version of an article from November 17 that was originally published in English as the original. It is republished with permission.

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Was Jesus Palestinian? – Asia Times

The name figure and her father Joseph are being played by Jewish players, so the approaching biblical film from Netflix, Mary, has received criticism on social media.

The criticisms are based on the argument that Mary and Joseph, and their son Jesus, a Jewish man born in Bethlehem, were, in fact, Palestinian. Some critics of the Netflix casting are concerned that Israeli actors portraying Palestinians as historical figures while Israeli bombs kill contemporary Palestinians.

According to director D J. Caruso, it was important for us to select Israeli actors in order to ensure authenticity while selecting the majority of our main cast members.

So, were Jesus and his parents Palestinian?

Bethlehem is now a city located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank of the Palestinian Territories, about ten kilometers south of Jerusalem. So the short answer is: yes, Jesus was a Palestinian, according to modern geopolitics at least.

One could also argue that he was n’t Jewish and was born in a political vacuum before Palestine.

Paula Fredriksen, a historian of ancient Christianity, made this point in March. She described Jesus ‘ claims as” an act of cultural and political appropriation” in the Washington Post.

Some have criticised the casting of Israeli actors Ido Tako ( as Joseph ) and Noa Cohen ( as Mary ) in Netflix’s Mary. &nbsp, Photo, Christopher Raphael / Netflix via The Conversation

A Jewish man from Bethlehem

According to the New Testament, Jesus was born somewhere around 4-6 BCE during the reign of Herod the Great, in Bethlehem. Bethlehem’s location was in an area then known by the Romans as Judea – the land of Judah, then occupied by the Jewish people ( the Judeans ).

The Roman historian Tacitus was the first to mention the existence of Jesus as a Judean, outside of the New Testament, in his Annales ( 115-120 CE).

According to Tacitus, the Christians were to blame for the fire that destroyed Rome in 64 CE, as the Emperor Nero had predicted. They were named, he wrote, after ( Jesus )” Christus”, who was executed by Pontius Pilate when he was governor of” Judea, the first source of the evil”.

According to the Old Testament, the 12 tribes of Israel conquered Canaan ( later to become known as Palestine, then Judea, then Palestine, and then Israel ) around 1200 BCE. In the area south of Jerusalem, the tribe of Judah made its home.

This made Jesus a Judean ( in Hebrew, a Yehudi), from which the English word” Jew” is derived. As a Judean, Jesus was part of the Jewish religious tradition, which was focused on the temple in Jerusalem, known as the second temple.

‘ Palestine’ has a long history

The name” Palestine” for that region also had a long history, though. It first appeared in the writings of Herodotus, a Greek historian, in the fifth century BCE.

He wrote of a “district of Syria, called Palaistinê”, between Egypt and Phoenicia, an ancient region that corresponds to modern Lebanon, with adjoining parts of modern Syria and Israel. So, the land ( or part of it ) was called” Palestine” by the Greeks before it was called” Judea” by the Romans.

The Bar Kokhba revolt, which dates from 132-135 CE, was a pivotal period in the creation of Palestine. The Jews were killed, displaced or enslaved. They did n’t start relocating to Palestine until after World War II, when Israel became a Jewish state.

The Emperor Hadrian changed the name of the Roman province from” Judea” to” Palestinian Syria” in c. 138 CE. The region’s Jewish identity was removed by this name change, which implied that it was more Syrian and Greek than Jewish.

We might say that from this moment on, Jesus was a Palestinian.

His religious affiliation to the Jewish religion and his ethnicity both had changed, but his location had also. The Judean had become a Palestinian.

Back then, this mattered little. After all, Palestine was just another name for Judea.

Politicizing” Palestine” and” Israel”

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the boundaries of Palestine were vague and uncertain. ” Palestine” did not refer to any specific political identity, so no precise geographical determination was needed.

The crusaders preferred” the Holy Land”, or” the Kingdom of Jerusalem”. Up until the end of the first world war, Ottoman dominance over the region was overthrown, Palestine’s borders remained ambiguous until it joined the Ottoman Empire in 1516.

British and Allied forces seized Jerusalem in December 1917. The British would continue to rule Palestine until a mandated end date in 1948, and the area was already occupied by them by October 1918. In May 1948, after an estimated 750, 000 people who lived on 77.8 % of the land in then-Palestine were displaced, the modern state of Israel was declared.

On Christmas Day in Bethlehem’s West Bank city, Christians gather to pray in the Grotto under the Church of the Nativity, which is traditionally thought to be Jesus ‘ birthplace. &nbsp, Photo: Mahmoud Illean / AAP via The Convesation

Palestine’s historic geography has since come back as crucial. Prior to the establishment of the new state of Israel, Palestine would now be defined as a constrained, determined geographical space.

This new state built upon its original Judean, or Jewish identity. But with its new name, it created a new understanding of itself. A new kind of Jew, an” Israeli”, had arrived in the place formerly known as Judea.

The new Jewish” Israelis” established themselves against the previous inhabitants, the” Palestinians”. According to the Bible, they restricted the Palestinians ‘ access to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, which the Israelis still believed to be the Promised Land that God had given them.

The Arabs of Palestine, for their part, began to use the term” Palestinian” to defend the nationalism of the Palestinian people and their right to an independent state.

A common humanity

Jesus could be both a Palestinian and a Judaean when Palestine and Judaea shared essentially the same geographical area. Back then, it did n’t matter.

He can no longer be both in a modern Middle East that is divided along binary lines ( between Jew and Arab, Israeli Jew and Palestinian Muslim or Christian ).

From all of this, Jesus is the only one who knows. However, we should be questioned about the validity and significance of such binary distinctions once we realize that Jesus is both a Jew and a Palestinian.

After all, Jews, Muslims and Christians believe we all come from one original pair of humans: Adam and Eve.

Beyond the arbitrary and impermanent divisions of people and places created by the changes and chances of history, that story leads us to a recognition of common humanity.

Philip C. Almond is emeritus professor in the history of religious thought, The University of Queensland

The Conversation has republished this article under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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US, Israel not winning their war on Yemen – Asia Times

On November 14, 2023, a fortnight into Israel’s murderous assault on the Palestinians in Gaza, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, one of the rulers of Ansar Allah and of the state of Yemen, delivered a discourse that was broadcast on Al-Masirah broadcast.

He said,” We keep an eye on any Israeli ship while it is constantly being looked for.” ” The enemy relies on camouflage in its movement in the Red Sea, especially in Bab al-Mandab, and]does ] not dare to raise Israeli flags on its ships”.

The Bab al-Mandab, the Gate of Grief, is the 14-nautical-mile vast lake between Djibouti and Yemen. What is exciting is that, by United Nations convention, a state claims 12 nautical miles as its regional control, this means a huge part of the lakes are within Yemen’s control.

Five days later, Yemeni soldiers flew in a helicopter over the cargo ship Galaxy Leader, which is partly owned by Abraham Ungar ( one of Israel’s wealthiest men ), but is registered in the Bahamas and runs by the Chinese NYK transport line.

The ship continues to be held within Yemen’s regional waters in the harbor of Saleef, with its 25 staff members as captives in Al-Hudaydah governorate. This abuse on Galaxy Leader, and then on some other Israeli-owned arteries, halted the transportation of goods to the Port of Eliat, which sits at the end of the Gulf of Aqaba.

This port, which squeezes between Egypt and Jordan and is the only port in the Mediterranean Sea that allows Israel to access the Mediterranean Sea, is no longer capable of handling cargo ships, and the port’s personal operator has declared it to be about bankrupt.

The port has been the target of drone and missile attacks from Bahrain, Iraq, and Yemen over the course of the previous year.

US strikes hardly working

If Israel stopped its murderous war against the Palestinians, Yemen’s government said it would refrain from attacking. Since the Israeli invasion continues, Yemen’s problems have also continued.

These Yemeni problems have resulted in numerous attack on Yemen’s now unstable infrastructure, including frequent American missile strikes and Jewish strikes on Yemen’s port town of Hodeidah in July.

When US President Joe Biden was asked if the US strikes and weapon strikes on Oman were working, he answered frankly:” When you say’ working,’ are they stopping the Houthis? No. Are they going to continue? Indeed”.

In other words, Yemen’s government, mistakenly called the Houthis after the Zaydi history of Islam, is still attacking Israel despite US and Israeli pressure.

The Zaydi group, the Ansar Allah movements, and the Yemeni government are among the Yemenis who are most opposed to the Jewish holocaust. Yet Tawakkol Karman, who received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2011 and is a writer of the Yemeni state, has been outspoken in her criticism of Israel.

Biden was correct in saying that US missile strikes wo n’t stop Yemen from attacking. Saudi Arabia bombarded Yemen from 2015 to 2023, killing a lot of the country’s system.

The Yemenis continue to fire at Jewish target despite this. In October 2024, the US defense deployed B-2 Spirit aircraft to reach what the Pentagon called, “five underwater goals”.

Although it was unclear whether these arms stores had been destroyed, it does indicate how desperate Israel and the US are to prevent the Yemeni attacks. The names of the US missions ( OPE Poseidon Archer and OP Prosperity Guardian ) sound intriguing.

A number of ship strike organizations that work to defend Israel and to reach Yemen as well as those that work to stop Israel’s genocide are supporting them. At least 40 000 US soldiers are stationed in the Middle East, and at least one ship strike party can be found using ships and aircraft carriers at once.

As USS Abraham Lincoln departs from the Pacific Ocean, the US Navy reports that there are two destroyers en route to the Mediterranean Sea ( USS Bulkeley and USS Arleigh Burke ) and two in the Red Sea ( USS Cole and USS Jason Dunham ), both of which are anchored by the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.

In the area surrounding Israel, US weapons is present.

A social alternative

Biden is not the only one who claims that the US’s strikes on Yemen were futile. US Vice Admiral George Wikoff, who leads Operation Prosperity Guardian, addressed an market in Washington, DC from his office in Bahrain in August.

According to Wikoff, the United States is unable to “find a central center of gravity” for Yemenis, which would mean putting forth” a typical punishment policy.” If the United States ca n’t stop the Yemeni government’s leadership from attacking Israeli shipping and infrastructure, then it ca n’t stop the attacks.

According to Wikoff,” We have undoubtedly degraded their capability,” in reference to the US weapons ‘ robots and weapons. Wikoff did not mention that US missiles and drones used by Yemeni soldiers cost about US$ 2, 000, whereas US weapons used to shoot them down charge US$ 2 million.

In the end, Yemenis may be responsible for degrading the US military ( the Wall Street Journal reported in October that the US is running out of air-defense missiles, and the same newspaper reported in June that the US has spent$ 1 billion on its war on Yemen since October 2023 ).

Like Biden, Wikoff reflected:” Have we stopped them? No”. In an intriguing away, Wikoff said,” The answer is not going to come at the end of a weapon system”.

The only thing Israel can do is put an end to its murder, according to the Yemeni government. But yet a ceasefire might not be enough. In early November, the United Nations national Louise Wateridge posted a video on X of the loneliness in northeastern Gaza, and therefore wrote,” An whole world now a cemetery”.

If Israel continues to pursue its improper policies of murder, ethnic cleansing, and segregation, the Yemeni government’s capacity to halt shipping to Israel and impose sanctions on the country off its coast might encourage it to do so.

Both Wikoff and Biden both acknowledge that the US policy has n’t worked, and Wikoff even claimed that using military force will be the answer. It will have to be social.

Globetrotter provided the content for this article, which is now republished with authority.

Vijay Prashad is an American writer, director, and journalist. He is a writing brother and chief editor at Globetrotter. He is an director of LeftWord Books and the producer of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.

He has written more than 20 publications, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest ebooks are On Cuba: Views on 70 Times of Revolution and Struggle, Struggle Makes Us Human: Learning from Actions for Socialism, and ( with Noam Chomsky ) The Removal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of US Power.

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The nations likely to win, not lose, from Trump’s tariffs – Asia Times

Donald Trump’s returning to the White House brings with it the high possibility of renewed taxes, a basis of his” America First” plan.

While his critics see isolationism, others see an opportunity—an extreme method to balance global trade and defend American manufacturing. Trump’s taxes, however, are likely to have a far-reaching impact beyond US borders, opening up new opportunities for nations that are ready to step up and fill the void.

For&nbsp, Vietnam, &nbsp, India, &nbsp, Mexico, &nbsp, Malaysia and&nbsp, Thailand, Trump’s method could be a game-changer. As businesses intensify diversification efforts and change supply chains away from China, these countries stand to gain from the world realignment that may result from fresh tariffs.

These nations was experience unprecedented financial transformation if Trump builds on his earlier successes with a more sophisticated technique.

1. Vietnam: Trade battle success

Some countries capitalized on Trump’s 2018-19 trade war with China as efficiently as Vietnam. As American levies hit Chinese goods, companies scrambled to travel production, and Vietnam immediately became a major target. Its low labor costs, corporate closeness to China, and robust US trade agreements made it a good choice.

If Trump reinstates taxes, Vietnam could once again draw companies who want to avoid China’s higher costs. From technology to fabric, its import basic is well-prepared to meet British demand. Trump’s demonstrated willingness to negotiate individual business agreements may strengthen Vietnam’s standing as a preferred partner.

2. India: a proper alliance

Trump’s second term saw a strengthening of US-India relationships, driven by a shared need to counter China. His leadership improved trade and established security partnerships, giving India a significant role as a regional ally.

India’s growing producing center and focus on self-reliance—championed through its” Make in India” initiative—align completely with Trump’s focus on reducing US dependency on China. Trump’s support for bilateral agreements might help India stable trade agreements that support its emerging industries, such as medicine and electronics.

Under Trump, India may grow not just financially but carefully, more merging into US-led efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

3. Mexico: the descriptions superstar

Mexico was one of the biggest beneficiaries of Trump’s first-term taxes. His renewal of NAFTA into the USMCA boosted American firms ‘ ability to link their supply chains more closely while providing a stable platform for business. Mexico’s geographical closeness and cost-competitive work marketplace gave it a healthy advantage.

If Trump renews tariffs on Chinese imports, Mexico’s part as a descriptions hotspot will only increase. With streamlined logistics and lower travel costs, industries like electrical manufacturing and customer goods are likely to grow even further.

Trump’s border laws, though provocative, are unlikely to outweigh the monetary dependence between the US and Mexico.

4. Malaysia: a high-tech lover

Malaysia is truly positioned to benefit from Trump’s focus on cutting-edge business. It is a significant player in the global technical supply chain because of its expertise in manufacturing electronics and technology.

Malaysia became a focal point for businesses looking to reduce their reliance on Chinese manufacturers in delicate business both during Trump’s second word and as Biden did thereafter. If Trump reinstates taxes on Chinese tech materials, Malaysia’s advanced manufacturing industry may see a surge in demand.

Trump’s administration had more incentivize US expense in Malaysia, solidifying it as a trusted companion.

5. Thailand: the dynamic candidate

Thailand is a good winner thanks to its varied economy and robust manufacturing base. Its advantages in automotive manufacturing, technology, and agricultural exports fit well with US business needs.

Thailand benefited directly from the trade war as businesses looked for alternatives to China during Trump’s second term. A second round of tariffs may enhance its role in supply ring growth, particularly if Trump pursues diplomatic trade agreements. Thailand’s ability to balance relationships with both the US and China may be important in maximizing these options.

Why Trump’s strategy may work

Trump’s reviewers often paint his business plans as problematic, but the information suggests they have spurred long-term adjustments that benefit international business dynamics. Trump accelerated shifts that are now required for economic resilience by requiring a reevaluation of China’s centrality in supply chains.

For countries like Vietnam, India and Mexico, Trump’s unapologetic focus on tariffs created openings that might never have emerged under more conventional leadership. His potential return gives these countries a chance to strengthen ties with the US, draw investment, and secure a larger share of global trade.

The balancing act

Of course, the risks remain. Trump’s transactional style and steadfast pursuit of success may rekindle tensions, especially if tariff disputes or trade imbalances arise. But these five countries have shown they can adapt to volatility, leveraging Trump’s bold moves to their advantage.

If Trump learns from the lessons of his first term, refining his strategy to focus on sustained partnerships, his return could usher in a new era of economic collaboration. For Vietnam, India, Mexico, Malaysia and Thailand, the opportunity is immense.

As Trump reshapes global trade, these nations are well-positioned to rise alongside America’s renewed economic ambitions.

Kurt Davis Jr., a Council on Foreign Relations member, is a Millennium Fellow at the Atlantic Council. He is also an advisor to private, public and state-owned&nbsp, companies and their boards as well as creditors across the globe on a range of transactions.

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Intelligence sharing doesn’t necessarily mean policy alignment – Asia Times

Pacific Forum published this article at its original publication. It is republished with authority.

Japan and New Zealand announced in June 2024 that the two countries had come to terms on an data protection arrangement. &nbsp, While information on the specific characteristics of the contract are yet to be published, it might be safe to assume that this is a step toward further bilateral security assistance, given New Zealand ‘s&nbsp, increasingly vigilant approach&nbsp, to the emerging&nbsp, regional security infrastructure.

However, it’s crucial to remember that sharing intelligence does n’t always translate to aligning security policies.

The&nbsp, New Zealand Intelligence Community consists of three organizations:

  • the Cabinet and Prime Minister’s Office’s National Assessment Bureau is responsible for assessing brains.
  • the New Zealand Intelligence Security Services ( SIS ) for domestic security intelligence, and
  • the Bureau of Signals Intelligence, part of the government connections and safety.

New Zealand has increased its activities in Asia, particularly since the UK joined the European Union, as pointed out by both&nbsp, academics&nbsp, and&nbsp, experts. New Zealand has always maintained its place among the Five Eyes society, even though it retreated from the US and Australia’s 1951 ANZUS Treaty in the 1980s.

The states ‘ monthly summits and ministerial meetings are a key part of the Five Eyes framework’s institutional strengths, which coordinate their positions, set their goals, and share ideas. They also co-ordinate their positions, and share ideas.

Despite their differing viewpoints, the New Zealand government often deviates from the conversation of other member nations. A new and striking case had been 2021, when New Zealand&nbsp, stepped back&nbsp, from involvement in joint denunciation against China’s treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority by the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia.

This is especially at conflict with the fact that the Five Eyes group just recently declared&nbsp, a more expanded relationship&nbsp, with another member states to include the political sphere.

Therefore, a question: What enables cleverness sharing to help to plan alignment?

Intelligence-sharing systems and agreements usually develop shared viewpoints. Similar types of analysis on comparable details, which have resulted in comparable opinions in various countries, have contributed, and have gained more knowledge that one’s partners also have comparable conclusions.

Establishing such mechanisms second requires acknowledging shared safety concerns and fostering trust in the companion nation’s handling of sensitive information.

Although we can conclude that these agreements will benefit both parties, the existence of an intelligence-sharing system does not always mean that the participants ‘ regional security policies will be in line with one another.

Policymakers&nbsp, with cleverness assessment inputs – no intelligence companies themselves – generally participate in policymaking. Therefore, policy will depend on how eloquently the intelligence agencies ‘ risk assessments affect policymakers ‘ attitudes.

Bisher, it seems as though New Zealand’s intelligence services and local politics have had little effect on the political landscape. In comparison to more effective institutions in another Five Eyes nations, the intelligence role is also constrained, and their influence is less developed.

However, within New Zealand culture there is also lingering suspicion of the region’s intelligence agencies originating from the&nbsp, Kim Dotcom incident, in which the agencies supposedly conducted unlawful surveillance of the accused.

Similar to other Five Eyes nations, New Zealand’s intelligence companies have since made more effort to improve their public relations and communication skills. But, just in 2023 did New Zealand publish&nbsp, a risk assessment report, with the following of its kind coming in first September 2024.

Although these more common engagements will have a greater impact on policy, their discussion is not entirely in line with that of other government agencies. For example, New Zealand’s intelligence agencies described the People’s Republic of China as generally framed as New Zealand’s and its traditional security partners ‘ corporate competitors. This seems to be a variation from New Zealand’s standard approach.

David Capie, a leading New Zealand professor, &nbsp, described&nbsp, it as a shock to the earlier New Zealand institutions that have spent much of the past decade rejecting perfectly that frame. He also noted and appreciated the significance of the SIS’s recognition that, in addition to being proper competitors, it also comes from apparently friendly nations, particularly in light of Five Eyes ‘ suspicions of India.

The American government was first accused by the American state of organizing Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death in June 2023. In October 2023, New Zealand joined another Five Eyes nations in condemning New Delhi for threatening to formally withdraw American officials ‘ protections and immunity unless Ottawa reduced the number of delegations it had in India.

The question is whether these intelligence agencies ‘ attitudes, which are more in tune with their traditional surveillance partners, will eventually result in actual and consistent plan alignment.

The risk assessment report states that it is not a federal policy record but rather an independent assessment by the SIS, which is one caveat to answering this question. This is unusual because the New Zealand government is responsible for the publication of the report. What should this be understood as? Any corporate report must be reviewed and approved by senior government officials and political decision-makers, according to the standard operating procedure for federal papers. The key players in the state are typically essential people, not all politicians and government officials, according to the argument. So, we ask what made the Sisters include such a disclaimer.

According to my understanding, there was no discussion among the New Zealand government before the release. On page 14, the report states that it does not want to securitize some ethnic communities, but other topics might warrant discussion. Another cause could be that New Zealand officials are generally&nbsp, skeptical&nbsp, of intelligence firms, which made it difficult to get the natural light from senior officials to challenge the record as the government’s official status.

The recent SIS security assessment’s analysis serves as one more instance of how the views of New Zealand intelligence agencies have been accepted in the wider domestic policy community. The New Zealand intelligence agencies have less influence on the current Luxon government’s foreign policy and its alignment with its Five Eyes counterparts because of a relatively underdeveloped intelligence community and a low level of confidence in the policy/political community.

There is still work to be done, despite Japan and New Zealand’s intelligence cooperation offering both opportunities: more information on North Korea and China in Japan’s and New Zealand’s cases.

In order to maintain democratic control over the government, it is crucial to establish an oversight mechanism in both the parliament and the government as intelligence agencies venture into uncharted territory regarding cooperation. The scope and authority of the intelligence agencies must be enshrined in law for them to function properly, or even be established, and after that, political authorities can carry out appropriate supervision.

Japan currently lacks proper intelligence agency governance and will benefit greatly from an established, organized, and official agency with oversight. In order to bridge the gap between the intelligence agencies, on the one hand, and the government and the public, New Zealand will gain more public trust by including former intelligence officials in its oversight committee.

Rei Koga ( rei. koga@kcl .ac. uk ), a PhD student in international political economy at the Department of European and International Studies, King’s College London, is a WSD-Handa research fellow at Pacific Forum.

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Among Trump advisors, a battle for GOP’s soul rages – Asia Times

As a business who loves offers, Donald Trump may be overjoyed with all the free tips he’s getting as president-elect.

In the times between the vote and the opening of a new leader, would-be advisors appear. They demand that this campaign promises be kept, rather than that one. They advocate carrying out specific strategy promises to the maximum or minimum. They suggest which of the counterpart’s procedures may get continued and which axed.

All this happens with any approaching leader. Due to the ongoing fight for the Republican Party’s core, it is happening frequently with Trump. Oversimplified, it’s a battle between the conservatism of Ronald Reagan and what some visit Big Government conservative.

The essential principles of Reagan conservative include tax breaks, small government, restructuring, free business and a skeletal foreign policy. Some Trump liberals are friendly to immigration, though firmly opposed to illegal immigration.

As the name implies, Big Government conservatism is n’t about shrinking the government, but about making it work harder for American workers. More Americans should be given high-paying work and the middle school to return, with particular attention.

According to its supporters, sealed borders mean that both legal and illegal immigrants are dependent on both legal and illegal immigrants, which would only raise the wages of native-born Americans who would otherwise be able to fill those positions with more lucrative pay. For the same purpose, big-government conservatives believe that taxes promote manufacturing work.

Like Reagan liberals, the big-government liberals tend to favor restructuring. Economic legislation in certain puts energy-industry jobs at hazard, in their perspective.

Unsurprisingly, they approve of the Democrats ‘ push to pass the Network and Chips Act subsidies for new businesses. They’d maintain that industrial plan, maybe even increase it.

Big government does n’t mean big Pentagon. These conservatives dislike cheap overseas war. Home revival is their goal.

Although Donald Trump may have long since distanced himself from Reagan conservative, his two most significant accomplishments in his first term, tax cuts and restructuring, were straight out of the Reagan playbook. Even though Elon Musk might not be off to it, he has accused him of shrinking the state.

From Big Government conservative, Trump has chosen isolationism, closed borders and foreign-policy caution. How far should taxes and closed borders be concerned, as well as whether new businesses should continue receiving industrial-policy subsidies, are two questions that prospective advisors are trying to control.

Tariffs

The President-elect has promised big new tariffs – as much as 20 % on all incoming goods except Chinese imports, which he’d hit with a 60 % tariff. He’s getting a lot of tips to be more restricted.

Companies and economists are warning consumers that they will experience a fresh wave of prices. Agriculture and other exporting nations are concerned about buying companion reprisals. According to Aaron Friedberg, tariffs against China wo n’t work unless they are coordinated with other, China-fearing governments.

Robert Lighthizer, the US deal representative in Trump’s second name who is said to be Trump’s selection as business” king” in this one, is highly pro-tariff. But he’s also a realist.

Higher taxes are a clarity. It’s also unclear how wide and how great.

Closed edges

It may be challenging to implement the massive arrests of illegal immigrants that member Trump promised. Thousands of them exist, and many of them have been working in the sector for centuries. A lot more border-control officials would need to be hired to round them off.

The flow of new fugitives will definitely be stopped by a Trump administration that is stronger than it was in the past. Any person who has been found guilty of a crime or has received a deportation order from a prosecutor will likely be deported. It’s hard to believe the persecution will be huge, though. If they are, they may tremendously destroy the economy.

Industrial coverage

Trump dislikes the grants, but many of them are already building. In the legislative districts where those companies are being built, many of which are red says, it would be a vote-loser to ban them.

Could he be persuaded by big-government liberals to support him in more ways? It does n’t seem likely. However, JD Vance has a great lover in Donald Trump Jr., whose views seem to have a bearing on his father, and he leans toward the huge government side.

Setting up a review committee of withdrew generals and admirals to weed out serving three- and four-star military officials is one of the worst recommendations the president-elect is receiving. Trump, who viewed commitment as the top priority in his first word with officers who believed their commitment to the Constitution, is undoubtedly drawn to the idea.

An ignorant or disobedient agent has the power to sack them as president. However, it’s a terrible idea to conduct a fidelity check for a particular politician. Officials may be promoted on the basis of significance, not politicians.

Urban Lehner, a former Wall Street Journal Asia journalist and writer, is DTN/The Progressive Farmer’s editor emeritus. &nbsp,

This&nbsp, content, originally published on November 20 by the latter media business and then republished by Asia Times with authority, is © Copyright 2024 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved. &nbsp, &nbsp, Follow&nbsp, Urban Lehner&nbsp, on X @urbanize.

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China opens Peru ‘bathing base’ port to fight Trump in trade war – Asia Times

China has pledged to expand business with South American nations through the use of its new container harbor in Chancay, Peru, and establish a new route for the shipment of goods there. &nbsp,

In 2019, the state-owned Cosco Shipping Ports acquired 60 % of the Chancay interface from a Colombian sulphides worker for US$ 225 million. The port’s switch cost US$ 3.5 billion before being completed. According to Xinhua, the initial phase of the slot project reduces shipping times between China and Peru by 35 to 23 days, resulting in a 20%-plus-2 % reduction in shipping charges.

On November 14th, Xi Jinping, the Taiwanese president, held a meeting online in Peru to officially launch the Chancay megaport. Since then, Taiwanese press and commentators have been promoting the agency’s anticipated contribution to China’s expansion of trade and implementation of its Belt and Road Initiative. According to the pundits, the claims that Chinese exporters you relabel their goods or resell them and send them to the US are of particular interest to US trade warriors.

It’s still to be seen how that may turn out. Mauricio Claver-Carone, an assistant to US President-elect Donald Trump’s transition group, has said that the 60 % tariffs that Trump has vowed to impose on Chinese products may also apply to items that go through the fresh Chancay deep-water dock from any state.

” Any product going through Chancay or any Chinese-owned or controlled port in the region should be subject to 60 % tariff, as if the product was from China”, Bloomberg quoted Claver-Carone as saying in a phone interview.

He added that the work would protect the US from cargo, a process that allows Chinese goods to enter the US through a third region and finally re-export to the US at lower tax rates than strong shipments. &nbsp,

He said cargo in Latin American countries, like as Mexico, has been a vital issue to the US for some time.

Follows’ cleaning outposts’ in Vietnam, Mexico

Some Chinese experts point out that this is not China’s first “bathing bases” set up abroad for the transshipment of its goods.

More and more Chinese firms are willing to “take a bath” by putting” Made in Vietnam” names on their semi-finished goods and re-export them to the US and Europe as a result of the growing business tension between China and the US, according to a Hubei-based journalist who uses the moniker” Yinlujiao” in an article.

He claims that China’s renewable products account for more than 90 % of the world’s business share and that the US and Europe are primary import locations for them. However, in recent years, Foreign thermal product manufacturers have been forced to set up factories and assemble their semi-finished goods in Vietnam to avoid additional tariffs due to trade barriers in Europe and the US.

He claims that Chinese center managers, suppliers, and manufacturers have all contributed significantly to Vietnam’s rapidly expanding cotton and technology industries.

In addition, many Chinese manufacturers of automobile, computer, and construction equipment have established factories in Mexico, trying to “wash away” their products ‘ country of origin and rebrand them as” Made in Mexico.”

Powerful re-exports

The new levies, according to the Global Times, are mostly symbolic because the US is not a major market place for Chinese steel and aluminum materials, despite US officials ‘ claims that the walk might close a significant gap that China had relied on to avoid US taxes. &nbsp,

Since the US-China trade war broke out in 2018, Chinese companies have relied on Vietnam and Mexico as shipping centers to avert an additional 25 % US price, according to Ma Yu-chun, an assistant research fellow at the Chung-Hua Institute for Economic Research.

According to Ma, Chinese manufacturers gradually increased their local production capacities in Vietnam and Mexico to maintain low US tariffs when Washington began to complain about these transshipments. In such circumstances, he says, the US has to tighten its rules further – for example, by imposing tariffs on products that use Chinese components. &nbsp,

According to a writer in Beijing who uses the pseudonym” Huashan Qiongjian,” the Trump administration might not want to impose additional tariffs on products from Peru because the US has a trade surplus with the South American nation. &nbsp,

If steel products from Mexico are melted and poured in Mexico, Canada, or the US, the Biden administration announced in July of this year that they will be subject to a 25 % tariff. &nbsp,

Trump frequently criticizes South American nations, including China and Mexico, but he says he rarely criticizes those who have a trade surplus with the US. &nbsp,

Besides, he says, Chinese goods can first go to Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia before departing for Chancay port. He claims that this approach can promote trade between China and its neighbors. &nbsp,

In short, Beijing’s strategy to fight Trump’s war is simple: Ship its products to and assemble them in third countries before re-exporting them to the US. The US is unable to impose additional tariffs because the network’s sophistication makes it more difficult to do so.

Yong Jian, a Chinese journalist who specializes in Chinese technology, economy and politics, is a regular contributor to Asia Times.

Read: US slaps’ symbolic’ tariffs on China steel, aluminum

Read: Note to Trump: Targeted tariffs can work, broad ones never do

Read more about China’s analysis of the effects of its regaining the status of most popular nation.

Read more about Trump’s tariffs as a plot to smuggle China.

Read: Indonesia rebuffs China’s Global South trade drive

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