China expresses ‘resolute opposition’ to US defence act

SHANGHAI: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday (Dec 24) expressed “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” towards the US National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law by US President Biden the day before. It charged that the US$858 billion military spending measure, which authorised up to US$10 billionContinue Reading

Japan prosecutors to indict suspected Abe assassin: Reports

TOKYO: Japanese prosecutors have decided to indict the man suspected of shooting former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, Kyodo news agency and other Japanese media reported on Saturday (Dec 24). The decision follows psychiatric examination of the suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, an unemployed 42-year-old. Abe was killed with a handmade gunContinue Reading

US, China and the art of the chip war

US and Chinese policymakers are inflicting incisive blows on each other. The Biden administration is less bombastic in speech than its predecessor while being louder in its policy actions. Yet restrictions that aim to slow China’s rise to the technological frontier of semiconductor technology may unintentionally help it marshal investment and effective business strategies. Former […]Continue Reading

Indonesia bauxite ban drops a trade war gauntlet

JAKARTA – Doubling down on Indonesia’s value-added mineral policy which has drawn fire from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and European importers, a defiant President Joko Widodo insists his administration will go ahead with its plan to ban bauxite exports in June next year. Widodo made the announcement only days after returning from a visit […]Continue Reading