As China, US meet for tariff talks, how will Art of the Deal match up against Art of War?

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Who has the higher hand when top officials and business leaders board planes flying from Washington and Beijing to the Swiss negotiating table?

As US and Chinese officials meet in Switzerland this weekend for their first face-to-face business discussions since President Donald Trump’s sweeping new taxes go into effect, analysts said the imbalance in negotiating power is already obvious.

The meetings, which are scheduled for Saturday ( May 10 ) and Sunday, will be led by Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Vice Premier He Lifeng may lead the government on Beijing’s area. &nbsp,

Despite its individual regional economic pressure, China enters the discussions with stronger requirements, a clear communication, and more corporate patience, according to observers. The United States, on the other hand, has downplayed the hopes of a package and balanced expectations.

Wang Dan, chairman of China at Eurasia Group, said that” China does have the upper hand because the US is reaching out.”

” The US’s domestic situation is primarily what caused the discussions,” the statement states. No one expected this level of volatility in the market, despite the fact that some folks had anticipated some difficulties.

According to Dexter Tiff Roberts, a foreign senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, both China and the US are “feeling true economic problems from these outrageously high taxes.”

While China struggles with a decline in export-related work, the US is threatened by empty store shelves and higher customer costs.

However, Roberts did point out that the Chinese have a higher tolerance for pain than other countries, with the Chinese saying” chin ku,” which means to “eat bitterness” or to experience pain. &nbsp,

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China’s top negotiator strikes bullish tone on economy ahead of US trade talks

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He Lifeng, who was preparing to lead a critical opening round of trade deals with US officials after this week, expressed confidence in the country’s ability to attract foreign investment.

He stated during a conference with the head of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority in Beijing that” China’s market is off to a good start this year… society’s confidence and expectations continued to rise.”

According to a display released by the Chinese authorities on Wednesday,” We welcome international financial organizations and long-term buyers… to come to China to expand their business and promote advancement opportunities.”

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He made these notes in his first public appearance since Beijing announced that he would direct the Chinese group meeting this weekend in Switzerland with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

The talks will be the first official trade negotiations between China and the United States since US President Donald Trump’s return to office in January, with many hoping that the meeting will mark a first step towards de-escalating an unprecedented trade war between the world’s two largest economies.

Trump has imposed an eye-watering 145 per cent of additional tariffs on Chinese goods so far this year, leading Beijing to hit back with 125 per cent of retaliatory duties. The sky-high levies have already triggered a sharp slowdown in trade, rattled financial markets, and sparked concerns about millions of potential job losses in both countries.

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However, researchers have cautioned that the road to a fruitful US-China trade agreement is still arduous and long.

Investors don’t mistake China’s engagement with Chinese deals as yet another illustration of markets “getting way over their skis,” Tarry Haines, creator of US-based auditing firm Pangaea Policy, wrote in a word on Tuesday.

Haines argued that the debate between the US and China were more driven by political concerns than by simple financial concerns. The US administration’s aim was to alter China’s political choices, which would not occur right away.

In remarks made soon after his division announced the meeting with Taiwanese trade negotiators, the US Treasury Secretary himself was among the first to attempt investors to suppress their enthusiasm.

” It seems to me that this will be about de-escalation, never the large trade offer,” he said. We need to de-escalate before we can move forwards, Scott Bessent told Fox News on Tuesday.

Many people in China are also skeptical about the US’s ability to make a bargain given the current circumstances.

” Do not believe that you can hit a long-term, healthy and robust deal with Trump.” This is now obvious to all nations, so they are less and less eager to strike a deal with him,” said Chen Dongxiao, leader of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, in an interview with the government paper Jiefang Daily, which was released on Tuesday.

Even so, it is wholly possible to reach agreements in a few small, specialized, and localized areas, Chen continued.

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Singapore navy exploring how to adapt cheaper, off-the-shelf drones to counter emerging threats

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The Republic of Singapore Navy ( RSN) is considering incorporating cheaper, off-the-shelf robots into its set of capabilities in order to combat emerging threats, especially those posed by unmanned techniques, and will upgrade its boats with guns that are effective against fast-moving targets.

The maritime domain is experiencing what Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Sean Wat described as an “increasingly complex set of challenges,” according to Wat on Friday ( May 9 ).

Standard problems continue to exist in the area, including sea robberies, piracy, trafficking, and unlawful, undetected, and uncontrolled fishing, though they are managed by littoral states.

RSN is monitoring the risk of sea terror attacks, as well as geopolitical conflicts and unresolved territorial disputes, he said, which are played out in more aggressive and assertive exercises and activities at sea.

The RSN is looking into how to react lower-cost, economically off-the-shelf drones in a written exam with the media following the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference Asia 2025 in light of this landscape.

He argued that this is crucial because it would reduce the capability-development cycle and reduce the need to address emerging threats. &nbsp,

We” concern that we will run a mix of high-end, purpose-built robots, as well as low-cost uavs to meet the range of our functional needs.”

The Singapore navy needs to  develop innovative and practical solutions in order to combat these growing unmanned aerial systems ( UAS ), its chief said.

The RSN may gradually upgrade our boats with the Strales 76mm guided gun in order to combat challenges posed by robots, both in the air and on the ground, according to RADM Wat.

In addition to providing a more affordable option than conventional arms like expensive weapons, this also offers a cost-effective option. We are even looking into other options.

Direct Ammunition Recovery Technique ( DART ) is included with the Strales gun, which allows the target to follow the target through a homing system.

The Singaporean military currently combats threats from the air and the ground using a combination of missile and gun platforms. It posted a story on Instagram last month about using the Aster missile system to shoot down an underwater drone off the French coast during a live-firing exercise.

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Booze ban eased on Buddhist holy days in selected areas from Saturday

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New announcement to “benefit the commerce business”

PUBLISHED: 9 May 2025 at 16: 02

Alcoholic drinks will be sold in selected places on five Buddhist holy days from Saturday. (Photo: Bangkok Post)
On five Buddhist divine days starting Saturday, alcoholic beverages may be sold in a few locations. ( Photo: Bangkok Post )

In another effort to promote commerce, Thailand will start selling alcohol on five Buddhist festivals starting on Saturday, including those in international flights.

According to the statement made by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee on Wednesday, which was signed by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the limited sales only apply to international airports, entertainment venues, hotels, and locations hosting national or international occasions on five important Buddhist holidays.

It will take effect on Saturday and was published in the Royal Gazette on Friday.

Visaka Bucha, Makha Bucha, Asanha Bucha, and the final and final weeks of Buddhist Lent are the so-called “big” Buddhist divine time.

The guidelines ‘ rest, according to government official Jirayu Houngsub, were in line with the campaign’s Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Time 2025. Companies in the tourism sector will profit in the process. He continued.

This year’s May 11th, Visaka Bucha, occurs. The commission president, Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, has promised to begin selling liquor in some places on that day.

Drinking were cautioned against beginning a celebration of the adult beverage industry in Thailand by People’s Party MP Taopiphop Limjittrakorn. Only some establishments that are permitted to sell beer are exempt from the restrictions.

” The new statement does not include roadside food booths, convenience stores, eateries, and supermarkets. He wrote on his Instagram page that” they still can’t buy alcohol.”

According to Mr. Taopiphop,” I don’t want to see someone being detained because of this miscommunication.”

This time, Visaka Bucha falls on May 11, Makha Bucha on February 12, Asanha Bucha on July 10, and the final two weeks of Buddhist Lent are July 12 and October 21.

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Jail, caning for man in fishing trip that turned into boat chase with coast guard

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SINGAPORE: A man who got into a boat chase with the Police Coast Guard after illegally entering Singapore waters was sentenced to four months and six weeks’ jail and three strokes of the cane on Friday (May 9).

Muhammad Rasidi Bin A Razak, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of navigating his boat rashly and one count of entering Singapore illegally.

A third charge of failing to stop his boat when he was ordered to do so by a coast guard officer was considered for sentencing.

The court heard that Rasidi, a Malaysian, had been working as a full-time boatman for about one month at the time. He drove a motorised fibreglass boat.

In March, two individuals, Kiew Yuke Hua and Surinarayanan Subramaniam, contacted Rasidi to arrange a fishing trip on Apr 18.

On the morning of the trip, Rasidi met them at a jetty in Johor and they set off at about 8am. They fished until past 1pm.

Rasidi then steered his boat to the waters off Pulau Sarimbun, which is near Singapore’s northwestern coast.

This was despite Rasidi knowing that he should not go within 100m of Singapore’s shore, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Law Yan An.

At about 2pm, a coast guard officer who was on patrol spotted the boat 1m from the shore of Pulau Sarimbun. This was about 0.27 nautical miles within Singapore’s territorial waters.

On seeing the coast guard vessel, Rasidi panicked and immediately accelerated towards Malaysian waters, said Mr Law.

The coast guard officer activated his vessel’s police blinker and pursued Rasidi’s boat.

Despite limited space and shallow waters, Rasidi navigated his boat at high speed in order to evade the coast guard officer.

During the chase, the coast guard officer tried to intercept Rasidi’s boat but he continued at high speed.

This resulted in a collision that threw his two passengers overboard.

Rasidi tried to move the boat to retrieve them. He did not comply when the coast guard officer asked him to stop, instead steering towards the coast guard vessel and causing a second collision.

It was only when the coast guard officer drew his service pistol and asked Rasidi to stop that he did.

The two passengers were then brought on board. The coast guard officer suffered a minor cut on his leg, and there were light scratches on the coast guard vessel.

A second coast guard vessel arrived and the officers conducted checks on Rasidi’s boat. They did not find any valid travel documents, and arrested the trio.

In mitigation, Rasidi asked the judge for leniency as he was a first-time offender, the sole breadwinner of his family and had to take care of his sickly mother and aunt.

The judge meted out the jail term sought by the prosecution, but gave Rasidi three strokes instead of four strokes of the cane on account of this being his first offence.

The punishment for entering Singapore illegally is up to six months in jail and at least three strokes of the cane.

For navigating a vessel in a rash manner that endangered human life, an offender can be jailed up to one year, fined up to S$5,000 (US$3,900) or both.

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Will India treat Kashmir like Israel has Gaza? – Asia Times

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After India launched missile attacks on its long-time foe, killing more than 30 people, tensions between India and Pakistan reached a new high this week.

India was responding to a terror attack that occurred on April 22 in Indian-controlled Kashmir that resulted in the deaths of 26 residents, the majority of whom were Indian. A Pakistan-based violent party has been given the blame for the event in New Delhi.

Pakistan has pledged retaliation for the attacks, calling them an “act of battle.”

The two atomic power would not have fought over the disputed region of Kashmir before if a full-scale conflict did develop between them. In reality, the two parties have been at odds with one another since 1947.

However, the people of Kashmir are stifled by this political conflict and stranded in a security state with much hope for the future.

Before the evil attack on April 22

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration had repeatedly claimed that “normalcy” was returning to the area prior to the attack on the visitors next month.

But, Kashmir continues to be one of the most military regions in the world, and the population has long suffered from human rights violations that the American government justifies on the grounds of counter-terrorism.

The Modi authorities removed Jammu and Kashmir’s exclusive reputation and high degree of autonomy from Article 370 of the Indian Constitution in 2019.

Jammu and Kashmir, which is now a “union territory,” was given total control by the Modi government in New Delhi as a result of the withdrawal of this article.

Not in conversation with Kashmiris, this decision was made. There was a strong sense of betrayal when I spoke with Kashmiris in 2020 as part of my continuing investigation into the area.

One of the interviewers who I spoke with claimed that American security causes were “instilling anxiety and emotional warfare” in Kashmir. Another claimed that an American protection force’s “exaggeration” exists after every three kilometers and that it has a station there. During the Covid crisis, the situation gotten worse with more lockdowns and restrictions.

Some optimism came true last September when Kashmiris had the opportunity to cast their ballots in local council elections for the first time in a century.

The new regional assembly would be able to pass laws, debate nearby issues, and endorse decisions for the territory, especially those relating to education and culture, following the election. However, this does not imply that Kashmir was back to normalcy or that it was pleasant.

In February of this year, there were rumors that American security forces had carried out operations against suspected militants, leading to a quarantine and the detention of 500 people. A fresh Kashmiri man reportedly suffered torture by police in February, and he later committed suicide. Another man was shot dead by the military the following day.

These two situations only serve as examples of a larger pattern of crime that Kashmir has adopted.

What comes after April 22?

The central government has increased its heavy-handedness in Kashmir following the holiday attack on April 22 under the guise of counterterrorism.

Increased security, new lockdowns,” ring and seek operations,” social media monitoring, house demolitions, and other punitive measures have been used against Kashmiris.

Since the assault, according to authorities, about 1, 900 Kashmiris have been detained and interrogated. Without a doubt, this figure may increase even more.

Before India launched missile attacks on its neighbor, it is no question Kashmiris were saying “everyone life in anxiety.” Pakistani reprisal or a wider conflict is on the cards right now, with Kashmiris once more on the front lines.

The fact that right-wing Indian media sources and social media posts are then encouraging the American state to listen to the terror attack in the same way that Israel has retaliated against Hamas in Gaza raises a very alarm.

Some observers see the April 22 invasion as India’s edition of the Hamas assault on southern Israel from October 7 and as a dangerous example of what the future holds for Kashmir.

Israel recently stated that it backed India’s straight to” self-defense.”

Additionally, right-wing language is becoming more prevalent, increasing the likelihood of antisemitic assaults on Kashmiris and other Muslims in India in general.

The path to peace,

Each conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir has come to an end through negotiations and agreements.

Bilateral cooperation has been tried numerous times over the years, and it would be a better course of action if the issue were to escalate.

In the end, Kashmiris suffer the most when tensions between the two nuclear forces escalate. One young man just said,” As you know, this is true.

I am not permitted to leave my house. Every day I receive a call, I experience a storm of worry, imagining it might be the authorities.

Kashmir may be a paradise, a miniature of Switzerland, or a heaven for some, but for us, it is an available jail. All experiences fear. What do we have in store for the future?

Collier University professor in foreign relations Leoni Connah

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

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6 members of Thai-African fraud gang arrested for swindling Japanese firm out of B228m

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PUBLISHED: 9 May 2025 at 15: 21

Senior cybercrime police interrogate a Ghanaian fraud suspect over his alleged involvement in swindling a Japanese firm out of 228 million baht. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)
A Ghanaian scam suspect is questioned by top crime officers over his alleged role in getting a Japanese company paid out of 228 million ringgit. ( Photo provided/Wassayos Ngamkham )

Five Thais and a Ghanaian have been detained in connection with the arrest of six people of a scam crew for tricking a Japanese company into giving them more than 200 million ringgit.

Five Thai nationals and a African regional were detained by police in Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, and Nonthaburi on suspicion of scams.

Two additional crew members, a Thai believe and a Nigerian think, remained at large. According to Royal Thai Police Inspector-General Pol Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, permits have been issued for their arrest.

The gang was charged with defrauding a Japanese company into depositing 228 million baht into one of its people ‘ Thai bank accounts.

Pol Gen Thatchai, who made the announcement that the suspects had been arrested, claimed that the CCIB was able to thaw almost all of the funds but that the crew was able to get 13 million baht with ease. Older crime officers, including police Lt. Gen. Trairong Phiewphan, commander of the CCIB, and

The group had established a business in Thailand in order to extort money from a Japanese company that had been tricked into transferring funds to pay for the purchase of its goods. Another business reportedly was established by the crew was also present. CCIB authorities intended to extend the investigation to determine whether the business had been chosen as a candidate for the group’s organization.

The scam group, according to Pol Lt Gen Trairong, had been planning the crime for a while. They had incorporated a North Korean lover company, which they later used to launch a business in Thailand. The South Korean business partner’s email was finally compromised by the gang, who then sent the Japanese company invoices promising to deliver goods there.

The Japanese business therefore transferred the funds to a Thai company bank account. The Chinese firm’s staff of fraud audit discovered there were irregularities in the cash transfers. The CCIB therefore requested their participation in the investigation, which resulted in the arrest of the suspects, according to Pol Lt Gen Trairong.

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