China EV maker BYD closes in on Tesla as sales jump

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BYD, a Chinese car manufacturer, increased its sales by 5 % at the end of last year as it battles with Tesla to become the top-selling electric vehicle ( EV ) manufacturer in the world by 2024.

The firm says it sold 207, 734 EVs in December, taking its yearly total to 1.76 million, as incentives and discounts helped get customers.

It comes as Tesla is scheduled to release its own monthly sales numbers afterwards on Thursday.

The US electric vehicle manufacturer had a sluggish lead over BYD in the previous third, but the Shenzhen-based company has been closing the gap.

BYD’s total vehicle sales jumped more than 41 % in 2024, year-on-year. Profits of its hybrid cars primarily contributed to the boom.

As powerful competitors and government incentives caused consumers to exchange their old vehicles with Vehicles or other more fuel-efficient options, the company has benefited from a rise in auto sales in its home business.

In China, BYD has a lead over international brands like Volkswagen and Toyota, which means that it sells 90 % of its vehicles.

The success of BYD and another Chinese EV manufacturers contrasts with the difficulties faced by some established car manufacturers, who have struggled in big European markets.

Last month, Honda and Nissan confirmed that they were holding merger talks, as the two Japanese firms seek to fight back against competition from the Chinese car industry.

Also in December, Volkswagen announced it had reached a deal with the IG Metall trade union which will avert plant closures in Germany and avoid immediate compulsory redundancies.

The German car manufacturer had earlier warned it might have to shut down plants in the nation for the first time in an effort to lower prices.

Earlier in the month, the boss of car making giant Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, quit with immediate effect following a boardroom clash.

His dramatic exit from the business- which owns brands including Vauxhall, Car, Fiat, Peugeot and Chrysler- came two months after Stellantis issued a gain notice.

In the third quarter of 2024, BYD saw its revenues soar, beating Tesla’s for the first time.

It posted more than 200bn yuan ($ 28.2bn, £21.8bn ) in revenues between July and September- a 24 % jump from the same period last year, and more than Elon Musk’s company whose quarterly revenue was$ 25.2bn.

However, Tesla still sold more electric vehicle ( EVs ) than BYD.

Chinese automakers have been attempting to increase sales of their electric vehicles outside the nation, but some big businesses have reacted in favor of their efforts.

In October, European Union tariffs of up to 45.3% on imports of Chinese-made EVs came into force across the bloc.

The US has also imposed a 100% duty on EVs from China and President-elect Donald Trump is expected to impose further tariffs on imports.

However, BYD has been expanding its grip in emerging markets.

Last month, it faced a setback in Brazil – its largest overseas market – with authorities halting the construction of a BYD factory, saying workers lived in conditions comparable to “slavery”.

BYD claimed to have cut ties with the included construction company and maintained a “full compliance with Portuguese legislation.”

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Actress Lin Meijiao gets a 61st birthday surprise on SIA flight thanks to her pilot niece

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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have your birthday celebrated in midair with the Singapore Airlines ( SIA ) cabin crew? Veteran Mediacorp artist Lin Meijiao&nbsp, knows the answer to that.

On Christmas Eve, Lin, who turned 61, recently shared an amazing experience on her latest Square 26 trip to Germany on Instagram.

” For a great way to travel, my favorite Singapore Airline”, gushed Lin, who was on Business Class with her child Chantalle Ng, as well as her girl.

How’s what made their trip more specific.

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South Korea’s Yoon resists arrest over martial law bid

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REFUSED QUESTIONING Lawyers and authorities are squabbling in response to a political problems that saw the nation recently regress from the shadows of military rule. But the military legislation order- which he said was aimed at eliminating “anti-state components”- simply lasted a few hours. Greatly armed forces stormed the tower,Continue Reading

Trump exposes EU bankruptcy on trade, war and climate – Asia Times

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Europe is haunted by a ghost, Donald Trump’s ghost. The rulers in Europe did not anticipate him returning, and even worse, they had no idea how to counteract him.

The Eurocrats had a dream about” proper independence” when Donald Trump was still the 45th President of the United States when I was elected to the European Parliament in 2019. In 2020, Joe Biden followed Trump, whispering:” America is back to lead the earth once” and all of Brussels rejoiced.

The EU leaders have since followed a plan that is entirely dependent on US progressives ‘ policies and is oriented toward them. The EU has cut ties with Russia and China in terms of trade policy, accepted the threat of the global south, accepted every US sanction against its neighbors, reneged on its own foreign policy freedom, and usually renounced everything that might be in the way of a woke America’s ideas and interests.

And then Donald Trump is reclaiming his position as# 47. He represents the very opposite of a woken America. He may end the war in Ukraine, which will embarrass Western foreign policy. He has announced that he will leave the Paris Climate Agreement, giving the US a significant cost benefit over the heavily taxed German business.

He wants to impose huge trade taxes, forcing Europe’s trade industries to invest in the US. Trump has exposed the wrongheadedness of every Western political decision made in the last four decades.

Trump may make it even worse for the Eurocrats to deny their losses, making things even worse. The EU’s test to judge social networks – above all Elon Musk’s X – through the Digital Services Act may face fierce opposition from Washington, as Vice President-elect Vance has previously announced.

In this situation, the Union cannot actually revert to the old phrase of” strategic freedom”. Unlike in 2016-20, neither China, India, South Africa, nor Turkey believes whatever this EU is saying, not to mention Russia.

Yet before 2020,” proper freedom” was only a brand, never whatever of element: European politicians are too stupid and the EU is too weak to stand up an independent foreign and business plan. They have always been powerless. The only gimmick is that there will no longer be buffed people around.

The social landscape has undergone significant changes as a result of this circumstance. The most devoted Atlanticists have been the Brussels and Berlin leaders ‘ since Politico’s election of Ursula von der Leyen as” Europe’s American President,” but they now sound like Gaullists who sworn by European freedom.

Unlike the real General de Gaulle, to be sure, they have neither ideas nor resources to influence for freedom. On the other hand, functions that have traditionally been wary of America, like Germany’s AfD, have discovered their political ties to Trump and his MAGA perspective and have at the same time received significant press backing from Elon Musk.

Previous Blackrock legislator and board member Friedrich Merz, who is likely to be the next German Chancellor, has spent the last few years relentlessly criticizing the AfD’s opposition from the proper as well as Sarah Wagenknecht’s left-wing opposition for their pretended skepticism regarding the transatlantic alliance.

Now it is obvious to him that these alleged enemies of America sound similar to Trump and Vance, but Merz and the approaching Administration disagree on all important issues.

At the level of the EU, Hungary’s Viktor Orban was the whipping child for all of Biden’s toadies, who reproached him for his politics with Putin, Erdogan, Netanyahu, and Xi. When Trump re-enters the White House, Orban will now have wealthy exposure.

Kaja Kallas, the new EU foreign affairs commissioner, is standing in opposition to Orban. Kallas was hired solely because she is a zealous Russia hater. Her position did fall as a result of a peace deal being reached in Ukraine, making it a remnant of a moment that, hopefully, will soon be put to the end and of no use in the present.

The Eurocrats are the turning points of social life, but they are nothing more than gamers, which exposes them. They are checkmated. They may explain why everyone went against what they had been expecting because they have placed everything on a single cards.

But that isn’t just a problem of conversation, but rather one of economy: The Ukraine conflict was expensive, and the Russian restrictions did more harm to the EU and especially Germany than they did to Russia. And to what end? The weather craze has ruined German economy —and to what purpose, then that the US is abandoning it?

The political proper, which is now feeling the wind coming from America, is energized by this change. The organized European parties were at once in deal that there couldn’t possibly get any assistance with the AfD.

They also spoke of a “firewall” against the AfD. Elon Musk has since resurrected the AfD on X and in the widely circulated Die Welt news. That raises the question of which means the router is directed: against the AfD and Elon, or against the German political idiots?

Donald Trump is altering the political scenery around the world. The German political wealthy and its echo chamber in the mainstream press, with all their ideas and capabilities, have no place in this new environment. For the political right, by contrast, unanticipated opportunities are opening. They only need to be recognized and taken advantage of.

Trump has made it clear that despite having a sizable trade deficit, it can’t continue to support global demand. In the Global South, Europe must look for fresh markets. Trump has warned Europe that it cannot ignore its own defense while clinging to America’s defense umbrella.

Instead of wasting their resources on counterproductive proxy wars, European patriots must provide for the defense of their countries. The patriotic right to rule as opposed to just to complain is now in order. There is no loss, but there is a world in which to triumph. Patriots of the world, unite!

The European Parliament is represented by Maximilian Krah.

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China’s J-36 stealth fighter another blow to US air superiority – Asia Times

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China has unveiled a new era of crewed cunning fight plane in what is being reported as a surprise development that could change the way we approach air combat and possibly problem America’s flying dominance in Asia. &nbsp,

The first novel plane, designated but never officially confirmed as J-36, lacks standard tails and features a customized terminal aircraft design, The War Zone reported.

The Chengdu Aircraft Corporation ( CAC ) was likely the producer of the aircraft, according to a report from The War Zone, though the identity and specifications of the aircraft are still unknown. The J-35 and J-35 have both been confirmed as the highest quantity so far in the Jianjiji fighter jet line, which is noteworthy.

The plane’s style coincides with China’s aspirations for superior airpower, emphasizing secrecy and long-range capabilities. The bipedal design is intended to reduce sensor name and increase aerodynamic effectiveness, although it may affect maneuverability, The War Zone report says.

The plane’s three motors suggest a focus on suffered high-speed journey and operations at higher altitudes. The Chinese Ministry of Defense has not yet made any comments regarding the new plane.

The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation ( SAC ) was the country that first revealed its next-generation tactical jet, according to The War Zone’s report.

The War Zone says the plane, designated the J-50, features secrecy technologies, including mammal designs that boost small observability and minimize radar signatures. Unlike the three-engine J-36, the report notes that the J-50 has a twin-engine configuration.

While China’s new jets have been touted as” sixth-generation fighters”, this loosely defined term could easily flaunt military capability for propaganda purposes.

A sixth-generation fighter is described by John Tirpak as an advanced combat aircraft concept that emphasizes extreme stealth, adaptability, and technological integration in an October 2009 article for Air and Space Forces Magazine.

According to Tirpak, such a plane would have features like morphing aircraft, directed energy weapons, and” smart skins” embedded with sensors for unmatched situational awareness.

He claims that it would be developed for both manned and unmanned operations, with advanced networking capabilities and facilitating seamless collaboration with other platforms.

Tirpak mentions that these aircraft would be constructed to be efficient across all flight modes and might have variable-cycle engines and directed energy defenses.

Sixth-generation fighters aim to maintain air dominance while addressing upcoming operational challenges, he claims, with the aid of cyberwar capabilities and lower lifecycle costs.

While China’s new-generation stealth combat aircraft may have some characteristics of sixth-generation fighters, not enough is known about their capabilities to warrant that designation.

Nevertheless, China’s idea of a sixth-generation fighter may differ vastly from Western and other definitions, reflecting its unique requirements.

As to these aircraft’s possible capabilities, Bill Sweetman mentions in an article for The Strategist last month that the J-36 represents a significant leap in aviation technology. According to Sweetman, the J-36 is the second-largest combat aircraft developed in China in 35 years.

Sweetman says the J-36’s double-delta wing design enhances its supersonic performance and all-aspect stealth capabilities. In terms of dimensions, he says the aircraft has a length of approximately 23 meters and a wingspan of 19 meters, with a substantial wing area of around 200 square meters.

He points out that the main weapon bay on the J-36 is approximately 7.6 meters long and has side bays for smaller weapons, which indicates a significant payload capacity.

He also mentions that the aircraft’s three-engine configuration, with two engines fed by caret-shaped inlets and a third by a diverterless supersonic inlet, suggests a focus on achieving supercruise capabilities without relying on afterburners.

Sweetman claims that the J-36’s design places emphasis on stealth because it has no vertical tail surfaces and flexible skins that line the hinges.

Defense Express reported last month that the J-50 twin-engine aircraft has wings that are estimated to be 145 square meters and spans an area of roughly 22 meters.

The report says that the J-50 may have a maximum take-off weight of 40 tons, a top speed of Mach 2 and a combat radius of 2, 200 kilometers.

The report notes that the J-50’s design includes several weapon compartments, the largest capable of housing four PL-17 air-to-air missiles, each with a range of up to 300 kilometers and that it can carry one YJ-12 anti-ship missile, which can fly at three times the speed of sound with a range of 400 kilometers.

In contrast to China’s next-generation airpower advancements, competing US efforts seem to be in disarray.

Due to budget constraints, technological advancements, and evolving threats from armed drones, the US Air Force is considering changing its Next-Generation Air Dominance ( NGAD ) fighter program, according to Asia Times in September 2024.

Acquisition chief Andrew Hunter and Vice Chief of Staff James Slife suggested reevaluating requirements when US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall made the announcement to pause the NGAD program in July 2024.

The review will examine whether the integration of new technologies like Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA ) and existing aircraft like the F-35, F-15EX, and F-22 will lead to improved air superiority. Advancements in autonomy and other technologies since the initial NGAD analysis have prompted this revision.

Significant factors are the high costs associated with the NGAD program, estimated at nearly US$ 250 million per aircraft, and the need for a more cost-effective approach.

The US Air Force also faces expensive costs associated with the B-21 Raider and Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM ) programs, as well as delays with the F-35 program.

China’s ongoing air force modernization has significant regional and global security implications, and it signals a crucial shift in its military strategy.

The US Department of Defense’s 2024 China Military Power Report says that the introduction of advanced fighter designs, including stealth-capable aircraft like the J-20 and ongoing development of sixth-generation systems, underscores the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s ( PLAAF ) ambition to achieve parity with or surpass US and allied air capabilities.

The report notes that these developments reflect an integrated approach to air dominance, focusing on network-centric operations, electronic warfare capabilities and enhanced missile platforms.

China aims to increase its ability to project power both within and outside the First Island Chain by transferring naval aviation units and integrating air defense systems into the PLAAF, according to the report.

According to the report, the PLAAF’s emphasis on indigenization and cutting-edge technologies aligns with China’s broader military goals of “intelligentized” warfare, incorporating AI and quantum computing. These advancements challenge US air force superiority and present a risk of an escalation in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.

The report notes that as these systems become operational, they may alter the strategic framework of neighboring states and make defense planning for the US and its allies more difficult, particularly in tense Indo-Pacific airspaces.

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Singapore’s economy grew 4.3% in Q4 of 2024: MTI advance estimates

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According to preliminary estimates released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry ( MTI ) on Thursday ( Jan 2 ), Singapore’s economy increased at a slower rate in the last quarter of 2024, growing 4.3 % compared to the same period last year.

In the second quarter, the business grew 5.4 per cent.

For the whole time, but, GDP growth stood at 4 per cent for 2024, faster than the 1.1 per share reported in 2023. &nbsp,

Economic growth in 2024 was above aspirations, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his New Year text, adding that&nbsp, most staff in Singapore received wage rises that outpace inflation.

In November, Singapore&nbsp, upgraded its socioeconomic development estimates to around 3.5 per share, above the range of its previous forecast.

In the third quarter, the construction industry grew by 5.9 per share, and the wholesale and retail trade business, together with the transportation and storage business, grew 5.6 per share.

On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally-adjusted base, the business expanded by 0.1 per share, less than the 3.2 per share reported in the fourth quarter. &nbsp,

Advance quotes are generally based on data from the first two weeks of the third, in this case, in October and November. They are intended as a preliminary sign, and they may be updated as needed.

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Police to tackle rising cybercrime

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Jirabhop: Time to 'amputate' networks
Jirabhop: Time to ‘ limb’ network

The Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ) is placing a high priority on studying online scammers ‘ tricks and behaviors in order to prepare for the constantly evolving nature of tricks, given that the crime trend for 2025 focuses primarily on cybercrime and call center scams.

Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, the CIB Commissioner, just spoke with the Bangkok Post to discuss the state of crime in the last year.

He claimed that between Jan 1 and Sept 30 279, 861 petitions about cybercrimes were submitted to the Thai Police Online ( TPO ) platform, which resulted in damages totaling at least 28.01 billion baht.

Most of the petitions– 123, 865 in overall– involved company scams, while purchase scams caused the highest economic losses of 10.229 billion baht.

The CIB also found that the majority of victims were working-age individuals ( 25–45 years old ) due to their higher purchasing power, followed by elderly people ( 55 years and older ) due to their limited digital knowledge.

Threats will continue to be the main legal pattern in the coming year, according to Pol Lt. Gen. Jirabhop.

Swindlers are shifting their focus from call center schemes to those that cause even more extensive harm, such as purchase schemes, as the government becomes more aware of how to prevent particular schemes.

Scammers engage in emotional deception to confuse victims into unintentionally engaging in their schemes. According to the CIB’s research, their main goals are to promise incredibly higher income and build a trustworthy reputation.

Pol Lt. Gen. Jirabhop outlined how to create a reputable image can be accomplished in a variety of ways, including by promoting luxurious lifestyles online, holding seminars, or displaying honours. Additionally, it might require fake identities and celebrity endorsements.

According to him, “CIB studies show that fraud groups promise unattainable profits while presenting strong credentials to increase their reliability.”

The CIB director noted that patients ‘ emotional states, especially greed and fear, play significant roles in schemes. Scammers use emotional ploys to manipulate these factors, including making victims make quick decisions under time pressure.

” These parts are greatly concerning, as they contribute to the future trends in cybercrime”, he said.

Public recognition is essential.

The CIB has long worked with related businesses to advance its public relations efforts to prevent violence, according to Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop.

The CIB is working on raising awareness of frauds through online channels, such as Facebook, Line, and TikTok, using genuine cases and patients as recommendations for easier explanations.

He claimed that the project expanded to seminars held in schools and communities, with topics addressing issues like setting up protection features in mobile bank applications and checking for the legitimacy of each call or website, as well as security concerns.

Additionally, the CIB has collaborated with Taiwanese authorities on searches and the recovery of victims of call center scams.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI ), whose joint operation targeting the “911 S5” malware network in May, is a highlight of the year, is also a beneficiary of this cooperation.

” We have also worked with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB ) to establish cyber patrol task forces and partnered with AIS to provide a scam-call alert service via *1185#. Also, we launched a area system called Cyber Police Volunteers to help report attacks”, he said.

Despite these attempts, Pol Lt. Gen. Jirabhop acknowledged the difficulties of battling foreign-based fraud sites.

” We are aware that virtual criminals have the tools and training to carry out their acts,” said the group. Many of these sites operate worldwide, making it difficult for the CIB to take immediate action”, he said.

The CIB has adopted four tactics to clap again at the hoax sites in order to fight crime and properly “amputate” those sites, according to Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop.

One is digital forensics application, such as data evaluation from the TPO for offense trends. It also included the scammers ‘ website analysis, to which authorities are required to pursue financial transactions, such as lender accounts and cryptocurrency, using empirical technology as a key tool, such as IP addresses and the scammers ‘ communication system.

CIB officers are tasked with honing their technical abilities, from learning how to use artificial intelligence ( AI ) and machine learning to study scammer behavior to developing and analysing program.

The CIB actively works with mobile providers to search SIM cards and search SIM boxes. Additionally, it collaborates with social media platforms to help prevent inappropriate content before enforcing appropriate laws and procedures in each situation, according to Pol Lt. Gen. Jirabhop.

” We prioritised blocking suspects ‘ access to tools and equipment]to prevent the crime], such as sim cards, internet systems, and even mule bank accounts”, the chief added.

Despite the police’s best efforts, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said that the public is still encouraged to stay away from scams despite their best efforts.

The public should not be fooled by any offers that appear to be too good to be true, he said, and they should check the information themselves if any investments have unfavorable results and offers.

They should always avoid sending money to strangers and clicking on foreign URLs from mobile messages. For greater online safety, police also suggested switching between passwords across platforms and choosing two-factor authentication.

If you suspect fraudulent activity, contact the police and your bank immediately to suspend the affected accounts, “he said”. We advise people to be cautious and seek out expert advice whenever in doubt because scammers rely on psychological strategies to elicit immediate responses, “he said.

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What is aortic stenosis? Why is this deadly heart condition hard to detect and underdiagnosed in women?

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Patients who have the signs described above and have experienced severe aortic stenosis are advised to undergo surgeries.

” A ordinary valve opens to about three to four square centimetres. When the valves never opened more than one circle centimetre, or even less, this is considered severe”, Assoc Prof Ho said.

He added that the rate of red blood cell flowing across the center valve, which is a critical consideration for doctors, is because a tighter heart valve causes faster blood cells to go.

This cautious approach to operation is because of its high risks, particularly for older patients with various medical problems, Assoc Prof Ho said.

He said,” We need to time these procedures properly so that people don’t come away from them before they’ve already had enough of their therapy.”

Operation AND Treatment FROM AORTIC STENOSIS

Typically, open heart surgery with medical valve replacement was the main therapy option for cardiac stenosis. In this treatment, doctors make an incision in the chest to get the heart, recognize the narrowed valve, replace it, and remove it with either a natural or silver valve.

However, since 2009, a minimally invasive procedure, the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation ( TAVI ) has been available in Singapore. According to Assoc Prof. Ho, NHCS treats about 100 patients annually with this technique.

TAVI involves a little fracture, usually to the knee or thigh area. A replacement natural valve (usually made of animal cells ) within a metal catheter is located within the narrowed gate by a catheter inserted through the arteries and directed to the center.

The new gate takes over its role by allowing for improved blood flow from the brain to the rest of the body as it expands and pushes the ancient, narrowed gate to the side.

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Five things at the top of China’s agenda for 2025 – Asia Times

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The time 2024 has been a tough one for China. It has handled the complex issues of an empire with Russia abroad as its government has addressed domestic economic issues. There are also five potential problems that China might face in 2025, despite its continuing to contribute significantly to the world market.

1. renewed conflict with the US

After Donald Trump takes office in January, the most immediate problem for Beijing will be the resumption of a highly aggressive US coverage toward China. Trump has previously threatened China and a number of other countries with 60 % taxes, which suggests a progression of the trade war he started during his first term in office.

China will face a major problem if their relationship with the US becomes more controversial, but Beijing is aware of this and has taken lessons from the preceding US trade war. This can be seen in the way Chinese companies like Huawei have tried to reduce their reliance on US products and technologies while gaining experience in various industries.

China has just put a stop to the trade of rare earth elements (used for chargers and catalytic converter ) as evidence that it has been more lenient with the US. In consequence, Beijing is better positioned than it was in 2017 to start a business conflict.

2. International systems battles

While tariffs did certainly get the most attention, it’s probable that another battle may be waged over China’s technical development, which poses a significant challenge to US trade supremacy.

With Beijing looking to increase employment and production in this business, in part by increasing its imports, technology has become a more important component of China’s programs. Similarly, preventing this has come to be a top priority for the US, as evidenced by its efforts to obstruct Chinese admittance to silicon technology, one of the new essential battlefronts.

It is a battle over setting the bar for technologies, as well as a competition to gain control over key technologies. This is demonstrated by what has been referred to as the” Beijing effect,” which states that China aims to establish standards for digital system in the same way that the EU does for data management and private in its GDPR policy. A decision like this might give China a head start in the technology industry.

3. International taxes

China and Europe have an extremely contentious business conflict, manifested in a number of tit-for-tat taxes, with Beijing imposing import tariffs on European brandy as a reaction to EU restrictions on the import of Chinese electric vehicles to EU member states. These developments occur as China begins to invest in solutions that were once reserved for different countries.

Beijing might be in trouble if a trade conflict with the EU is followed by new discussions about expanding NATO’s influence in Asia, particularly if Brussels and Washington are more in tune with one another. Trump’s steadfast stance toward China might benefit if it indicates that the EU is looking for new colleagues.

4. Allying with Russia

On the surface, China has grown increasingly dependent on Russia for its natural resources and areas, while China is a major financial supporter for Moscow. But, this assistance has severely affected China’s ties with Western states, some of which have seen Beijing as a mediator of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Similarly, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing conflict does continue to be a useful diversion for Beijing, keeping US focus away from China.

Trump’s proposed harmony strategy for the Ukraine battle, if successful, could help the US to focus again on China. A solution to that conflict might open the door for a reconciliation between Washington and Moscow, which did favor Beijing.

5. Middle Eastern conflict

The extreme instability in the Middle East is a growing source of worry for China. As with Russia, the area has grown to be a significant source of solutions and areas for Beijing, as demonstrated by the Zhuhai airshow, where countries from the location were major buyers of Chinese weapons.

Iran’s ability for a local conflict, which was the former country’s main oil source, has been another source of concern for Beijing. These supplies may be interrupted if not completely cut off in the event of an armed conflict, which may lead to more financial issues for Beijing.

Likewise, President Xi Jinping has been concerned about an area of concern as a result of the Palestinian civil war’s resumption. Chinese Uyghurs, a largely Muslim ethnic group, have been involved in efforts to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, particularly as a member of the Turkestan Islamic party ( TIP ). In the ongoing fight for a independent state in the Xinjiang region of China, where the Tamils are based, some Idea people have been threatening to employ weapons acquired in Syria.

In the past few years, Xi’s troops have rounded up around a million Uyghurs and placed them in confinement tents, and put in place a plan of intense surveillance and re-education that has drawn international condemnation for its methods and dictatorship.

Although all of these things suggest that China will have to deal with challenges in 2025, there are also indications that Beijing is working to help. Last but not least, China will be studying the sanctions regime that the west has in place against Russia, and it is likely to be used against China in a Taiwan-related fight.

Finally, how 2025 works out for Beijing may be vital to whether it decides it needs to make fresh allies, build new markets, and make new financial strengths in the technology industry.

Tom Harper is a University of East London lecturer on foreign relations.

This content was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original post.

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