US to deepen chokehold on China’s AI chip access

By:
On:
In: Asia

A new set of regulations that aim to stop Chinese businesses from sourcing American-made high-end artificial intelligence ( AI ) chips through various channels are expected to be announced by the United States.

Washington plans to introduce fresh regulations that may limit some superior AI cards to China, according to an unnamed US official who spoke with Reuters. According to the report, the US is considering whether to forbid exports of the H800 scrap from Nvidia to China. & nbsp,

According to Bloomberg, the US will step up its efforts to see if any Chinese companies are getting around export restrictions by sending shipments through various countries. Additionally, it will demand that foreign manufacturers obtain a US permit before placing orders with Taiwanese chip design companies. According to the information, the new regulations will be released early this year.

According to Wang Wenbin, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry,” China opposes US politicizing, instrumentalizing, and weaponizing commerce and technology problems.“

The principles of marketplace economy and fair competition are violated by arbitrarily putting curbs in place or violently seeking decoupling to further social agenda, the global economic and trading order is undermined, global commercial and supply chains are disrupted and destabilized, and ultimately the interests of the entire world are harmed, he claimed. & nbsp,

China, according to Wang, did closely monitor advances and steadfastly protect its legal rights and interests.

Interchip data rates

The Biden administration ordered US chip manufacturers to stop sending 600 gigabytes per second interchip graphics chips to China and Russia in August of last year. This new law applies to AMD’s MI250 device as well as Nvidia and H100 chips.

Later, Nvidia unveiled the 400 and 300 gigabytes per second A800 and H800 computers, between, for Chinese areas. Both chips meet the export standards set forth by the US government.

With US device bans in thinking, Nvidia’s A800 computer was designed for export to China. Photo: Facebook

Although it has not yet announced the regulations, press reports in June of this year claimed that the Biden presidency would soon forbid the import of the A800 and H800 to China.

A US official recently informed Reuters that a” performance density” factor will take the place of the bandwidth factor to help avoid further workarounds. & nbsp,

Just AI cards with performance criteria that fall within the export ban guidelines can be shipped to China. & nbsp,

Chinese tech behemoths BAT( Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent) and ByteDance just ordered US$ 5 billion worth of A800 bits from Nvidia, according to a report by The Financial Times on August 9.

According to the report, 100 000 A800 chips worth$ 1 billion are expected to arrive this year, with the remaining ones arriving in 2024. & nbsp,

According to tech experts, the A800 now performs at 70 % of an A100. It’s unclear if the new regulations will forbid the delivery of the A800 and H800 to China.

A Beijing-based journalist claimed in an article published on Monday by the systems news website AI era that the H800 is now a slower version of H100 but that it may still be prohibited from being shipped to China. The upcoming US limits may hinder Chinese businesses’ ability to develop their Intelligence technologies, according to nbsp.

trade solutions

According to a Reuters report from June, some shops in Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei area were discovered to have purchased small quantities of A100 cards at prices twice as high as usual, costing$ 20,000 each. & nbsp,

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army( PLA) frequently purchases commercial off-the-shelf AI systems from Chinese academic institutions and private companies, which are not easily blocked by US restrictions on military end-users, according to a research report published in June of last year by the Washington-based think tank Center for Security and Emerging Technology( CSET ). & nbsp,

The CSET stated that it would be difficult for US authorities to launch a targeted assault on the PLA’s intermediate device suppliers due to the challenges associated with tracking AI cards and the variety of potential vendors. & nbsp,

Nearly all of the 97 AI cards the CSET was able to identify from public Army acquire records were created by Nvidia, Xilinx( today AMD ), Intel, or Microsemi. The CSET added that the PLA is placing orders for AI cards created by US companies and produced in Taiwan and South Korea. & nbsp,

Huawei is evading US device regulations. Photo: Twitter

As the 7nm AI computer uses the company’s self-developed Da Vinci structures, sanctioned Chinese technology huge Huawei Technologies can also transfer the production of its Ascend 910 device to Taiwanese TSMC.

More than 20 Chinese towns have used Ascend cards in their AI services, according to a CITIC Securties studies document that was released in July, and Huawei currently holds the 79 % market share for AI technology centers in China. & nbsp,

Zhang Dixuan, CEO of Huawei’s Atlas Data Center Business, announced on July 6 that the company may increase the number of Ascend 910 tickets in its Altas 900 Supercluster from 4, 000 to 16, 000 after this month.

An That writer named Yao Yue claims that such a grouping is sufficient to teach an equal chatbot to GPT3.0.

Read: Shanghai’s plans to develop an AI hotspot may be derailed by the microprocessor war.

What’s behind Samsung and SK Hynix device war discounts, you ask?

@ jeffpao3 Follow Jeff Pao on Twitter at & nbsp.

Continue Reading

How China’s Belt and Road Initiative is changing after a decade of big projects and big debts

By:
On:
In: Asia

BEIJING: After ten years of significant projects that increased business but left significant debts and raised environmental concerns, China’s Belt and Road Initiative aims to be smaller and greener. The change occurs as officials from all over the developing world travel to Beijing this week for a government-organized community onContinue Reading

China tightens curbs on foreign travel by bankers, state workers

By:
On:
In: Asia

Reuters was unable to ascertain whether destination-specific limits changed. A state politics system in an eastern Ningbo capital city issued directives in September, and the National Council for Social Security Fund issued another earlier this year, among the official finds seen by Reuters. Both emphasized the need for stricter vettingContinue Reading

Russia of two minds over Hamas terror attack

By:
On:
In: Asia

The Hamas terror attacks in Israel have divided Soviet mind manufacturers, reflecting a polarized social climate in Russia.

In response to the Hamas problems, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,300 Israelis, including hundreds of children and adolescents, the Kremlin has been working to project an air of” impartiality.” The establishment of a Palestinian state has been emphasized by Putin and top Russian officials as they reiterate their well-known stance that the Middle East needs” a just and lasting serenity.”

However, the public’s response is very diverse, and the majority of Russian media has disregarded the official position. Instead, Russian media outlets concentrated on the savagery of the Hamas attack, which included the killing of civilians.

This was an unspeakable horror of atrocities— there were 40 baby bodies in a kibbutz completely exterminated in the most brutal way … It is unthinkable, the worst kind of crime ,” the headline of the left-wing, mass-circulation Moscow-based newspaper Moskovky Kimsooletz’s October 11 coverage of” Horror in Israel.”

The television station for the business news Kommersant remarked,” For decades, the Soviet Union one-sidedly supported the Arabs, and it didn’t work out too well.” Perhaps we should keep that in mind now that we are companions with Israel.

According to the Kommersant paper, sales of Israeli-related books have increased by 30 % in Russia since October 7, with books on Israeli history taking second place and those on the Mossad intelligence agency coming in second.

The Arab extremists have been branded as war criminals by some Russian advertising. Given the Kremlin’s power over Russian media and television, this attitude, which was most obvious in the days immediately following the Hamas attack, was probably given tacit approval. Since then, the voice has been somewhat subdued, probably to maintain the appearance of” neutrality.”

This place within a sizable portion of Russian culture is natural given the close ties between Russia and Israel, the broad family reunifications between Russians and Israelis, Israel’s rising appeal as vacation destinations, and the visa-free regime in place between the two nations.

Moreover, there is an underlying prejudice against fundamentalist Muslims that is not explicitly expressed, especially in light of the two Chechen wars and the terrorist attacks on Islamic fundamentalism in Russian cities.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that not everyone in Russia is on Israel’s side. Even though their numbers are declining, some, particularly among the older technology influenced by Soviet-era education, continue to support the Palestinian cause.

Russia has not made any concrete efforts to support the Palestinians, either socially or physically, despite the Kremlin’s official position. While there are political efforts being made to address the issue, Israeli air forces are actually free to operate in Arab airspace and have carried out several airstrikes against Hezbollah targets, including important airports in Damascus and Aleppo, while Russian S-400 and SU-27 aircraft have remained casually stationed in their Syrian bases. This latest strategy might be viewed as a successful way to support Israel.

Why doesn’t Russia help Israel more forcefully and directly? Some Kremlin-related people give two principal explanations.

First of all, despite American sanctions, Moscow is eager to maintain its connection with Iran, which has emerged as a vital ally for Russia in army and arms assistance. This marriage would be in danger if Tel Aviv received any substantial support.

Second, Russia feels degraded by the latest Israeli government’s activities. Israel has given Ukraine significant assistance, including military experts, trainers, and electrical equipment, even though it did not join European sanctions against Russia. This mainly irritates the Kremlin, who sees Israel’s behavior as a betrayal of friendship.

However, it is undeniable that the majority of Russians support Israel in its fight against terrorism, and it’s very possible that they will keep their support for the Palestinians to political cliches.

Continue Reading

Will US, Russia prevent or goad a wider Gaza war?

By:
On:
In: Asia

Henry Kissinger flew to Moscow on October 21, 1973, during the Yom Kippur War. Because Adolph Dubs, the Charge d’Affaires for the US Embassy, was in Kissinger’s Moscow workplace when he went straight to the Kremlin, I can clearly recall his entrance there. & nbsp,

Dubs wasn’t briefed or invited. ( Dubs later served as the US ambassador to Afghanistan, where he was abducted and killed in 1979. ) Before the Soviets took any military action in support of Egypt, Kissinger’s goal was to speak with them. Washington was concerned that the Russians might attack Israel’s makes in the Sinai with nuclear arms. & nbsp,

A few days afterwards, I boarded a commercial flight from the Soviet Union to Kiev. I got off the plane, which was parked a ways from the terminal, along with the other people, and the aircraft officials told us to rush on the tarmac. For us to see, the Russians put on a military show to demonstrate how the Soviet Union was preparing for military action. I informed the British embassy in Kiev of that right away.

On the eastern part of the Suez Canal, on 100 kilometers from Cairo, Israel had surrounded Egypt’s Third Army by October 24. I discovered this by listening to the VOA on my portable radio radio. While American broadcasts were hampered, Communist clogging at the time was not very effective.

US troops were stationed at DEFCON 3 on October 25, including the Sixth Fleet, Continental Air Defense Command, European Command. Between January and May 1974, Kissinger continued his” bird geopolitics,” putting an end to the conflict.

Will the major power therefore participate seriously in the ongoing Gaza conflict? Anthony Blinken, the secretary of state, has previously visited Israel, and Lloyd Austin has also visited Jerusalem once more. Since no British leader has ever visited Israel during preceding wars and conflicts, President Joe Biden is scheduled to arrive in Israel this year. & nbsp,

Both the Russians and the Chinese have now requested a cease-fire. A & nbsp, a second carrier task force( USS Eisenhower ) is en route, and the US has deployed an aircraft carrier mission( the USS Ford ) in the eastern Mediterranean. & nbsp,

Although Washington is silent about where they will be based, the US is also increasing its airpower in the area by committing A-10 surface attack aircraft and F-15Es. & nbsp,

A – 10s are on a battle goal over Syria.

If the US needs to act against Hezbollah in Lebanon, its stand in Jordan, Iraq, and Syria would be useful. According to news reports reportedly from trustworthy sources, the US persuaded Israel to refrain from attacking Hezbollah after it attacked Israel, telling Israel that the United States had stand up for Israel in its defense.

The US Air Force is sending the A-10, a powerful ground invasion aircraft, to the boneyard on the grounds that it is no longer important. Unfortunately, if the task is to clean out Hezbollah weapon foundations, it is the ideal aircraft.

One major problem is that Russia and the US are at odds over Ukraine, and neither country is really discussing the Ukraine problem with the other. It is more challenging for both major powers to intervene to quiet the Middle East before the war breaks out because neither atomic power is actively involved. & nbsp,

This is unfortunate for Russia in particular because, should the war break out, Syria— where the Russians have naval and air outposts— will serve as a battlefield. To prevent Egyptian rockets from entering Syria from Hezbollah, the Israelis have now half bombed the airport runways in Damascus and Aleppo. Israel thinks Iran is attempting to provide long-range precision missiles that will be fired at Israel’s defence facilities and important government buildings. & nbsp,

Israel has made it clear that it intends to eliminate Hamas in Gaza. Perhaps because Israel second wants to try and save as many hostages as it can, it has yet to start a earth operation in support of that goal. ( The number of victims that are still alive and under Hamas’ control is unsure. ) & nbsp,

The US is supporting Israel’s effort to free Gaza from Hamas’ rule. Although the launch of at least 40 US residents who were taken prisoner in Gaza is the US’s top priority, it is unclear how long it will help the Israeli operation. Hamas has no supported Iran’s state that the victims will be released if Israel stops bombing Gaza.

Over 150 Israeli citizens were abducted by Hamas jihadists, who then transported them again to Gaza. Screengrab / NDTV image

The world is waiting to see how Israel handles the prisoner situation and whether it launches an offensive against Gaza on the ground.

There is no chance of conversations with Hamas by the major powers, unlike in 1973. Some, like Egypt, have attempted to design humanitarian corridors for Gazan non-combatants, but it is difficult to tell soldiers apart from civilians. & nbsp,

Since starting a war may give Israel the justification it needs to destroy Iran’s nuclear services and its long-range missile sites, the Iranians appear to want to lower their profile. Local stress against Hezbollah is increasing in Lebanon as a result of the potential for war, which may ultimately lead to the demise of an already shaky Palestinian state.

It is difficult to say whether the war will continue or no. If Russia chooses to do so, it is quiet down the Iranians. As it may have done with Hezbollah, the US does preserve Israel’s attention on the Gaza issue. It’s a rush and observe circumstance.

The Near East Subcommittee of the United States’ team director was Stephen Bryen.
As a lieutenant director of security, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and nbsp
is currently a senior fellow at Yorktown Institute and the & nbsp, Center for Security Policy.

His Substack, Weapons, and Strategy was the original subject of this article & nbsp. & nbsp, Asia Times is republishing it with their consent.

Continue Reading

Chinese tourists lose confidence

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia
Chinese tourists lose confidence
At Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, visitors circle the temple three times while holding flower fragrance lamps as a form of worship. Varuth Hirunyatheb( picture )

After the shooting incident at the Siam Paragon buying mall on October 3 damaged Chinese travelers’ trust in Thailand, hotels and hospitality business owners in Chiang Mai are urging the government to tighten weapon controls to ensure protection for the tourism industry.

Following the Siam Paragon firing, which left three deceased, including one Chinese tourists, and four injured, around 60 000 visitors from the nation have canceled their trips to Thailand. According to statistics from Thailand’s flights, the number of Chinese visitors has decreased by 9.2 % from 650, 000 to 590,000 since the event.

Prior to the crisis, China was Thailand’s largest foreign tourist destination, with about 11 million Chinese visitors in 2019.

However, less than half that number — roughly 5 million — are anticipated to travel to the nation this year, according to tourism officials.

A holiday snaps a picture of her companion at the Kew Mae Pan viewpoint in the Chom Thong neighborhood of Chiang Mai’s Inthanon mountains. Varuth Hirunyatheb is shown in the image.

The majority of Chinese tourists are welcomed in Chiang Mai, so much so that five Chinese airlines have established flights to the state.

They are Air China, Sichuan Airlines, Juneyao Air, and Spring Airlines for China Eastern Airlines.

In order to assess the situation in the northeastern province following the shooting and solicit suggestions on how the government can ensure the safety of visitors from around the world, The Bangkok Post spoke with hotels, hospitality business owners, and hospitality officials in Chiang Mai.

effect of a shopping center shooting

Chutidech: Optimistic but still

The Bangkok Post reported that the death of a Chinese person during the shooting rampage had partially lower tourists’ confidence. Chutidech Promkaewngarm is an assistant manager at Standard Tour Co Ltd, one of the largest tour companies in the northern area.

He claimed that some Chinese tour companies had postponed their trips to Thailand even though not all of their doubts had been canceled.

He claimed that some Chinese internet users declared that they would never travel to a place where possessing firearms is not prohibited, and that on the Chinese social media site Weibo, onlookers at the scene shared their experiences, saying that their first trip to Thailand would also be their past.

According to Mr. Chutidech,” the number of Chinese visitors is now less than 50 % of that in 2019 or before Covid – 19.

In 2019, Standard Tour, he claimed, operated 100 % of Chinese tour groups, with an average of 20,000 participants per month. His company now brings between 8,000 and 9,000 Chinese tourists these each month, with more than 70 % of them coming from families.

Mr. Chutidech claimed that in addition to the firing in Bangkok, other factors may have contributed to a decline in Chinese tourists given that China is currently experiencing financial difficulties of its own.

” Some Chinese companies have not completely recovered.” If Chinese visitors are to return, we need to be on the lookout during the busy time and significant festivals like Loy Krathong, New Year’s Day, and Songkran, he said.

But, Mr. Chutidech expressed optimism and thought the North’s hospitality sector should maintain a positive outlook.

Chiang Mai Airport may be available around-the-clock in November, maximizing its ability to accommodate more airlines.

weapon handles that are tougher

” Publicimage takes hit ,” says Somrit.

The firing was not a common event that would have affected tourists’ trust, according to Somrit Haikum, managing director of Pacific World Chiangmai and sin president of the Chinese Mai Chamber of Commerce, who reported to the Bangkok Post.

However, in order to prevent a repeat, the government has take preventive action, such as intensifying firearms control measures.

In order to lessen its reliance on foreign tourists, Thailand, according to Mr. Somrit, may also improve its popularity and explore new markets in Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia.

He asserted that as more tourists then pay attention to things like carbon-neutral travel, tourist accommodations in the northwestern region may also transition to an environmentally friendly design.

The Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce is keeping a close eye on the circumstance. Thailand and the North will reduce tourism profit if the shooting event has a significant, long-term impact. If commerce is negatively impacted, we will have to wait and see for a few months, according to Mr. Somrit.

Paisarn:” Laws enforcement essential.”

The event has alarmed tour operators and business owners whose jobs depend on tourism, according to Paisarn Sukcharoen, chairman of the Northern Thai Hotel Association.

Even though there may not be any indications of long-term harm to the nation’s hospitality, he said that more than 30 % of resort reservations had been postponed right away, and the number of Chinese tourists arriving during high season needs to be reevaluated.

According to Mr. Paisarn, hotel occupancy did undoubtedly decrease between October and November.

In addition to the fact that the number of Chinese tourists has decreased below 2019 levels, tour operators in the South have also revealed that Malay tourists have canceled their travel to Thailand.

” Gun control measures will restore some confidence, but what matters is how [ the government ] puts them into practice.”

The government recently amended the Building Control Act, which enables little hotel companies to list their properties as licensed hotels. Associations of tour operators and business sectors argue that incentives should be provided to increase tourism.

The world’s tourism industry will suffer if tourists’ confidence is never restored, according to Mr. Paisarn, as it is still recovering from the pandemics’ effects on commerce and the economy.

Visa entry is free

Patthara – Anong:” Forecast to high.”

The government’s visa exemption, which is available until February of next year or during the high season, is continuing to draw more visitors from China and Kazakhstan, according to Patthara – anong Na Chiang Mai, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand ( TAT ) Northern Region. ”

Nevertheless, she claimed that the TAT’s estimate of five million Chinese visitors was accurate.

The data indicates that there may be more than 4.2 million Taiwanese tourists overall in 2023.

A total of 1.8 million Taiwanese tourists spent between 30 000 and 100 000 baht per person during the second quarter, staying in Thailand for 4 to 10 days on average.

According to Ms. Patthara-anong, between January and September, 156,102 Taiwanese tourists flew straight from China, while 62,626 came from Taiwan, 38,457 from Hong Kong, and 37,000 from Malaysia.

Continue Reading

Princess urges better ways to manage water

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

charm made as dearth rises

17 October 2023 at 06:51 PUBLISHED

Princess urges better ways to manage water
On Monday, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn arrives at the Asia-Pacific office of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Bangkok. The lady is urging more action to address the risk of liquid lack in the area. Government House( picture )

More action is needed to address the risk of water lack and put better water management systems in place throughout the region, according to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, an FAO Special Goodwill Ambassador for the Asia-Pacific.

At the Asia-Pacific World Food Day Observances held at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s ( FAO ) headquarters in Bangkok on Monday, Her Royal Highness made an appeal as a special guest of honor.

Almost 2.5 billion people reside in water-stressed nations now. As water becomes less accessible, competition over this valuable resource makes the issue more pressing. However, she added,” it is essential to produce more food for the expanding populace of our region.

A call to action has been issued. No one should be left behind. We need to start managing and sharing our water more properly. With less waters, we may produce more food. The lady continued,” And we must make sure that fluids is distributed evenly so that everyone has access to food safety.

Authorities in water asset management have issued a warning that the competition for access to fresh water in the Asia-Pacific area is getting worse. They claim that this could have serious repercussions for the region’s sizable agricultural sector and, in the end, could obstruct the normal and reasonably priced access to food for millions of residents.

About 90 % of water is used for agricultural purposes in the Asia-Pacific area, which is significantly more than the 75 % consumed globally. More than 90 % of the country’s population now faces an impending water crisis, and three-quarters of its water supply is insecure.

Water supplies are declining, as well as a rapid increase in water waste and the effects of climate change, while water demand is rising due to population and economic growth, urbanization, and need for more water-intensive agricultural products.

During the show’s opening remarks, Jong-Jin Kim, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, said,” We know that ensuring the responsible use and access to our beautiful freshwater sources is key to achieving the entire 2030 agenda for green development.”

” However, we have strayed far from the truth in that respect. He claimed that the rate of water lack is alarmingly rising.

Continue Reading

Belt and Road Initiative: Is China’s trillion-dollar gamble to transform the world working?

By:
On:
In: Asia
Chinese President Xi Jinping makes a toast at the beginning of the welcoming banquet at the Great Hall of the People during the first day of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, May 14, 2017.shabby graphics
Tessa Wong
BBC News’ Asia Digital Reporter

China is hosting a sizable party this week to commemorate its Belt and Road Initiative( BRI ), one of its most significant global engagement initiatives.

In Beijing, authorities and influential people from all over the world will take part in a high-level conference honoring the 10th anniversary of the BRI. From Vladimir Putin to the Taliban, members are anticipated to attend. The BRI’s accomplishments are widely covered in Chinese media, including a six-part video on state television.

The BRI, President Xi Jinping’s personal initiative, aims to use investments and infrastructure projects to bring China closer to the rest of the world. China boasts that it has changed the world with an unprecedented abundance of cash pumped into roughly 150 countries, and it is not bad.

Beijing’s enormous spend, however, hasn’t exactly turned out the way it had hoped. Was it worthwhile?

A” win-win” in terms of financial success?

It was obvious that China had expansive interests from the moment the BRI was unveiled in 2013 and compared to the historic Silk Road.

While” Road” denotes a maritime network connecting China to significant ports through Asia to Africa and Europe,” Belt” refers to overland routes linking China with Europe through Central Asia, as well as to South Asia and South East Asia.

Large state-driven investment in challenging infrastructure abroad was the beginning of it. Energy and transportation projects like power plants and railroads have received the majority of the estimated$ 1tn($ 820 billion ).

Chinese workers stand at the construction site of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) during the presidential inspection of the SGR Nairobi-Naivasha Phase 2A project in Nairobi, Kenya, on June 23, 2018.

YASUYOSHI CHIBA

Beijing hailed this as a win-win for the business and assured different nations that these investments would spur development, while at home it sold the BRI to support Chinese businesses, strengthen the local economy, and improve the reputation of the nation.

It had some success in achieving some objectives, like internationalizing the renminbi and addressing the overcapacity of Taiwanese businesses.

However, China benefited greatly economically from business. Access to more resources, including oil, gas, and vitamins, increased as a result of numerous agreements, particularly as the BRI’s concentrate expanded to include the Middle East, South America, or Africa. In the previous ten years, China and BRI nations traded about$ 19.1 trillion worth of goods.

According to senior scientist Jacob Gunter at the Mercator Institute for China Studies,” it’s about Chinese state-owned companies going internationally… to help promote the flow of tools that China needs.” ” As solutions to the progressive developed world, it’s also about growing and developing trade markets.”

At a time when China is more at odds with the West and its supporters, this growth has become essential.

Consider soy as an illustration. The US used to be a major source of products for China, the nation’s largest supplier. However, Beijing was forced to rely on North American sources, particularly Brazil, which is thought to be the state’s top BRI receiver, as a result of the tariff dispute with Washington.

According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies( IISS ), China’s dependence on Japan, South Korea, and the US has decreased as a result of gas pipelines from Central Asia and Russia, as well as imports of oil from countries like China, Iraq, Brazil and Oman.

Belt and Road map

Bill capture diplomacy

China is now the largest international bank in the world thanks to the BRI, which has made it the lender of last resort for some small – or middle-income nations.

Due to the fact that many of the loan contracts are shrouded in secrecy, it is unknown what the true scope of loan is, which is estimated to be at least hundreds of billions of dollars.

Countries are currently struggling with BRI debts, including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Laos, and Kenya. The Taiwanese government is now in a precarious situation.

A” debt bomb” has already been created domestically due to a real estate crisis and local governments’ generous loans; it is thought to be worth trillions of dollars. History youth unemployment and a weak post-Covid market haven’t helped.

In order to assist consumers in making timely payments, China has restructured BRI loans, extended dates, and allocated an estimated$ 240 billion. However, it has declined to pay off the debt.

According to Christoph Nedopil, the founding director of the Green Finance and Development Center( GFDC ), which monitors BRI spending,” For China to simultaneously engage in debt write-downs abroad while domestic economic issues are not fully resolved- it will be politically challenging internally to promote that.”

Beijing’s status has been damaged by this. Some critics charge China with using” debt trap politics” to persuade less wealthy nations to participate in costly projects so that Beijing can ultimately acquire control of the assets pledged as collateral. This was a charge brought by the US against Sri Lanka’s contentious Hambantota slot job.

Although there isn’t much evidence for this, some experts claim that Beijing is using the BRI to destroy other people’s independence.

China has also come under fire for its so-called” hidden debts”; governments are unaware of how exposed their loans institutions are, making it challenging for nations to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the BRI.

Infographic showing Chinese BRI investment and construction in different sectors

BRI projects have also been charged with producing inefficient” white elephants ,” fostering local corruption, escalating environmental issues, exploiting staff, and breaking promises to create jobs and prosperity in nearby communities over the years.

According to a recent study by the study test Aid Data, these issues affect more than one-third of tasks. Some nations, including Malaysia and Tanzania, have been forced by a growing reaction to revoke BRI agreements.

Presentational grey line

Read more of the content in our line commemorating 10 years of BRI here:

Presentational grey line

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Chinese lenders and businesses are partially to blame for” poor risk control and a lack of attention to detail and coherency.”

However, other observers point out that saving nations are also at fault, as in the Hambantota circumstance, which was partially brought on by Sri Lanka’s individual poor financial management.

Additionally, they claim that China offers solutions with fewer restrictions, making them less arduous than offers from foreign lenders or the West.

According to Mr. Gunter,” China exhibits a” one-stop shop” mentality.” These are our banks and companies, and we do everything from start to finish ,” and if you sign now, we will conclude that railroad and it will be finished in time just as you run for your next election ,” he said.

The fact that you can complete it in one to three times with minimal documents is a major selling point. Your railway may be finished, even if it’s a little dirty and there are labor rights violations.

a triumph in diplomacy

However, China has succeeded in achieving one of its main objectives — expanding its influence.

China has not only built relationships through railroads and bridges. Beijing invests in soft power and establishes itself as a world leader by funding thousands of Chinese college scholarships, cultural change initiatives, and Confucius Institutes. China has also been credited with the growth of the Brics buying union.

According to Pew Research, numerous middle-income nations, including Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, have developed more favorable sentiments toward China over the past ten years.

In this photograph taken on November 13, 2016, trucks are seen parked at the Gwadar port, some 700 kms west of Karachi, during the opening ceremony of a pilot trade programme between Pakistan and China.

AFP

Mr. Gunter observed that more and more nations in the Global South do not want to take factors in their conflict with China. China hasn’t changed some nations from a Western perspective, but the fact that it has moved the needle to the middle ground has already resulted in significant diplomatic success for Beijing, he said.

However, observers have even raised worries about potential monetary coercion, wherein foreign governments feel compelled to support Beijing’s policies or run the risk of China ceasing to invest.

Deal clauses that” probably allow the lenders to control debtors’ domestic and foreign policies” were discovered in a One Aid Data study of loans made by Chinese state-owned entities to foreign governments.

According to the IISS, China has” corralled additional states into momentary partnerships” at the UN to oppose measures essential of Beijing, and participation in the BRI has prompted some EU members to obstruct or weaken China-critical plans.

The BRI, according to the think tank, has evolved into one of China’s” key tools” for isolating Taiwan diplomatically. It noted that BRI cash has been given to numerous countries that have switched their recognition from Taiwan to China over the past ten years.

While Laos and Thailand have drawn criticism for detaining or permitting the violence of Chinese activists sought by Beijing, Cambodia has consistently resisted conviction of China’s activities in the South China Sea.

” Minor and lovely.”

China then understands that some points must alter.

Beijing promotes the idea of” small and beautiful ,” and the BRI can be more relevant through low-investment, high-yield projects.

State media cite programs for bamboo and bamboo knitting in Liberia, gas technologies projects in Tonga and Samoan, and the promotion of mushroom-growing technology in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Rwanda as examples.

China has also unveiled a brand-new” modern silk road” that focuses on connectivity and modern facilities. According to experts, this would lessen the effects of European bans on Chinese 5G products and provide Chinese businesses with a more stable stream of earnings.

China has reduced borrowing with this new approach. According to a GFDC analysis, it has placed restrictions on Chinese banks’ ability to lend money abroad, and investment deals are now almost 50 % smaller than they were five years ago. Additionally, it has established a program where other nations can contribute money rather than being the sole borrower in the BRI.

Beijing, which now claims that the BRI is the cornerstone of” the global community of shared future ,” has even grander plans for it.

Beijing claimed in two white papers published this month that its approach to globalization would be more equitable, inclusive, and less judgmental than the” hegemonic” Western powers’ pursuit of a” zero-sum game.”

It stated that the BRI is a common road that is accessible to everyone and not merely the secret journey owned by one party. China asserted that it is” helping people to achieve while seeking our own achievements ,” far from seeking dominance as critics claim.

China’s perspective is that” globalization is currently in risk.” According to Wang Yiwei, a professor who teaches the BRI at Renmin University of China, the West is actually” de-China – risking” in the name of” risking.” How can the BRI establish common connection and prevent a new Cold War is the main challenge.

The trillion dollars test in Beijing has produced a potent instrument for influencing people. But the real issue is whether the rest of the world wants a Chinese-led purchase.

Further information provided by BBC Monitoring.

Related Subjects

Continue Reading

Putin in China aiming to strengthen anti-West coalition

By:
On:
In: Asia
Chinese vendor selling Russia-related paraphernalia at the border town
authored by Stephen McDonell
BBC China editor

President Putin, Vladimir is traveling to China, Russia’s most significant friend, in an effort to forge a relationship with the West and strengthen relations between China and Russia.

Short presentational grey line

Along China’s borders with Russia is the tiny area of Heihe. There aren’t many native tourists who come here to take a look at neighboring Blagoveshchensk, which is just across the river.

In an effort to draw customers, a tour boat sits motionless on the water, pumping out upbeat Foreign music, but it doesn’t seem like it will be moving all day because no one is purchasing cards.

A Russian navy fleet is parked across the water, and soldiers pass the time by exercising on board in the chilly autumn sun.

Putin, Vladimir and Xi Jinping announced a fresh” no limits” relationship when they traveled to Beijing for the Winter Olympics’ starting at the start of last year.

China’s position media has been praising the benefits of this relationship now that the Russian president is back in the Chinese capital.

It has been advantageous for both institutions in one way. Pictures of their handshakes are helpful in trying to convince their own people that everything is typical with such strong friends standing together. They can comfort one another when they are frozen out on the planet stage. However, it doesn’t seem like organization in their frontier regions lives up to the social language.

You can watch a recently constructed gate into Blagoveshchensk from Heihe for an hour without spotting even one car traveling in either way, despite the fact that it was celebrated as the image of an era in cross-border business.

Map of Heihe and Blagoveshchensk

Two sizable multi-story shopping centers have been shut down in the center of the town, behind the little groups of tourists taking photos across the river, due to a lack of business. We’ve been told that one has been vacant for seven times and that the other only closed a few months ago.

Some of the original stall owners are parked outside the first creating, selling Russian trinkets and accessories from the trunks of their vehicles.

” Company isn’t doing well. There aren’t enough travelers, according to one person.

The territories haven’t been empty for very long after Covid. There aren’t enough Russians in the area. They are at war and are inadequate.

Others who are selling merchandise nod in agreement as she says this.

A person in a small shop in the local city is selling Chinese-made hats made of Russian hair. She claims that although they were once quite well-liked by both Russian and Chinese users, her company has recently been having problems.

She asserts that” you cannot compare the present to the history.” Simply look around at the roads. They are vacant. They used to be crowded with prospective customers.

Lorry driver in Heihe

The vehicle drivers who are waiting to enter the steamboat port, however, are one group that is more optimistic about the trade between Russia and China.

One driver claims,” I’m transporting soy, wheat, and grain from Russia and it’s busier than earlier.”

” From Russia, I’m transporting dust and fuel. People are transporting food containers, according to another.

Additionally, it appears that the port’s access is active as various materials are being brought in and out. Cranes are removing dust, coal, and metal frames from ships and lowering them onto the looking lorries.

The individuals claim that using a boat to travel between the nations is less expensive than using the new gate, which may help to explain why it is more popular.

According to other entrepreneurs in Heihe, the new Russian taxes on some Chinese goods have slowed down industry.

However, China has been assisting its mate, who was hit by sanctions after its invasion of Ukraine, by injecting more Russian natural oil into Heilongjiang, a state in the north-east of the country.

Additionally, Putin, Vladimir’s war efforts has received support from the majority of the Chinese people under the leadership of Xi Jinping.

It has accomplished this through state-controlled media, which speak of a Russian operation that is justified to counter Nato’s and, in particular, the United States’ expansionist tendencies rather than an” invasion” or even” war” in Ukraine.

You only need to talk to people on the street in Harbin, Heilongjiang’s provincial money, to assess the effectiveness of this advertising tactic.

The Saint Sophia cathedral in Harbin

Perhaps the ancestors of these families have since left, despite the fact that Russian people and Russian society once ruled the area. With only traces of its former Soviet past, the city is now entirely Chinese.

Tourists from different Taiwanese provinces pose for photos in front of the stunning Russian Orthodox church.

One person remarks,” Russia and China have a great connection.”

Putin is a capable chief, the person standing next to her adds. a man who values judge.

Another says,” Putin is a person with iron hands ,” while visiting with his buddy. He’s strong, and being tough is good.

Does he, however, understand why Russia’s president is at conflict with Ukraine?

He responds,” Common folks like us doesn’t notice on that.”

By depleting Nato resources and, in the eyes of some, encouraging the idea that a relationship with the US could lead to risk and yet panic, Russia’s war may be helping Beijing achieve its geostrategic objectives.

On the other hand, the conflict in Ukraine could enhance Nato’s power while harming the already fragile Soviet economy. Additionally, it has exposed China’s Communist Party to the suffering and financial suffering that may result from a walk to annex Taiwan by force.

2019 photo of Xi Jinping and Putin, Vladimir in Moscow

Reuters

Vladmir Putin will formally enroll the forum in China this week to discuss the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi Jinping’s favorite project. It is a worldwide program for building transportation system that connects China with nations to its west but has occasionally come under fire for trapping poorer countries in debt.

The rulers of China and Russia will celebrate the conditioning of their relationships as they work to form a larger coalition against the West with another like-minded governments when they convene on the sidelines of this meeting.

And you can see how this will help them.

However, there is still much work to be done for China’s industry with Russia to meet that of many of the same European nations that are criticized as philosophical rivals.

Related Subjects

More information about this tale

Continue Reading

Thais as collateral damage of Hamas-Israel war

By:
On:
In: Asia

In an effort to secure the release of 17 underprivileged Thai workmen held by Hamas, who had already killed 28 of them during its attack in Israel, BANGKOK – Buddhist-majority Thailand’s new prime minister flew to Palestinian-friendly Malaysia and reached out to other Arab countries.

Weeping families in desolate rural Thai villages claimed that their unfortunate relatives had traveled to Israel to settle home debts or improve their small standard of living.

In an effort to obtain philosophical assistance for their imprisoned loved ones and the deceased, family in Thailand attended nearby beams and held rites that combined Buddhist, Hindu, and monotheistic beliefs.

After learning that her 40-year-old father Owat Suriyasri had been taken as a hostage, worried Kanyarat Susani remarked,” We have many bills, and working abroad pays better than in Thailand.”

Since 2021, Owat has toiled in Israel, saving thousands of dough to help Kanyarat and their two children construct a home in Thailand.

She remarked to a cable agency news service,” I had hug him and state:’ I’ve missed you, I didn’t let you somewhere far away again.

Wannida Ma – asa bluntly remarked,” I hope he survives ,” about her husband Anucha Angkaew, who was kidnapped from an Israeli avocado farm.

In order to express her gratitude to her ancestors for guarding her sweetheart Phadung Buddmo, 26, Suphatra Asanok, 28, said,” a top Buddhist priest told us to maintain a ritual to worship them.”

According to the Bangkok Post, he was shot twice in the back by Hamas during an attack on a farmworkers’ tent.

The deceased in Thailand have not yet been transported back for burial or cremation.

There aren’t many Israeli surveillance and emergency personnel available to help with the retrieval of dead bodies because the majority of them have been sent to fight areas, according to the Post.

More than 7,000 terrified Siamese workers in Israel want to flee to Thailand, but another 23, 000 believe they will stay.

Due to their need to pay back hundreds of dollars owed to Vietnamese brokers who assisted them in finding work on farms and construction crews in the desert, some men were reluctant to leave Israel.

If a Thai agent is used to secure the job, Thai workers’ contracts are frequently for five years and are relatively cheap to organize.

The worker may still owe the seller money if a fleeing employee violates the contract.

For Thailand’s recently elected top, Srettha Thavisin, a former real estate tycoon who is in charge of an extensive coalition government made up of military-aligned parties, the Hamas-Israel war is the first global crisis.

In Putrajaya, Srettha ( L ) and Anwar( R ) are out and about during a crisis. Picture: Handout

On October 11, Srettha took a plane to Malaysia to join Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is in favor of the Palestinians’ social needs.

In a recent post on X, Anwar described desert disputes that date back to the middle of the 20th century, saying that” the[ Israeli government ] relentlessly confiscates land and property owned by the Palestinian people.”

According to a statement from the Malaysian foreign ministry on October 8,” Palestinians have been subjected to the prolonged illegal occupation, blockade and suffering, the desecration of al-Aqsa ] mosque ], as well as the politics of dispossession at the hands of Israel as an occupier.”

According to reports, Thailand pleaded with Muslim-majority countries like Malaysia, Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and others to persuade Hamas to free the Thais.

According to Thai spokesperson Kanchana Patarachoke,” Hamas would never hurt foreigners because they are not involved, and it does not need to increase the disputes.”

The foreign ministry of Thailand issued a negative statement following the Hamas attack:

Thailand joins the global community in condemning any use of murder and indiscriminate attacks and calls on all parties involved to desist from any activities that would further exacerbate tensions.

Two Thai personnel perished in a Hamas rocket attack on Israel in 2021.

Srettha, who is also Thailand’s innovative finance minister, visited Malaysia as part of an earlier scheduled trip that included stops in Hong Kong, Brunei, and Singapore to talk about local trade and investment. It is said that his visit to Malaysia was primarily focused on those topics.

Malay-Thai Islamists are waging a raging separatist conflict against Thailand along its southern borders with Malaysia.

Bangkok has a long-standing plan to” contain” the violence in the South, which has claimed the lives of more than 7,000 people over the past few years on all sides.

When Bangkok acknowledged Palestine as a country with pre-1967 borders and forged diplomatic ties by supporting the Palestinians’ 1988 declaration of independence, Israel expressed sorrow.

But, Bangkok’s covert nonconfrontational political abilities have historically been incredibly effective with Arab Islamists.

Trained Israeli Black September guerrillas stormed the Jewish Embassy in Bangkok fifty years ago and threatened to blow it up and kill the six Israeli diplomats who were in.

Dark September listed the names of 36 Palestinian prisoners and threatened to kill their six captives if they weren’t released from Israeli prisons and sent to Egypt.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej was appointing his brother as crown prince and heir to the throne at the same time in an elaborate ceremony held throughout the area.

The guerrillas were warned by Egyptian adviser to Thailand and Vietnamese military officials that it would be tragic if the issue marred the prince’s royal investiture on December 28, 1972.

” We sincerely apologize for not being aware of this today. We cherish your monarch. One of the Arab rebels told the Bangkok Post,” He is very good and wonderful.

” We hope the Thai people may be aware of our issue. After hanging a Israeli flag in the embassy’s glass so it could be seen from the outside, he declared,” This is our territory.

After an agreement was reached, the captives were swiftly released, and the Palestinians took off for Cairo.

Air Chief Marshal Dawee Chullasapya, Thailand’s then-Sufficient Command Chief of Staff, stated at the time:

” They apologized. They claimed they had no concern for Israel but had for Thailand and its ruler. They didn’t need to sow discord between the Arabs and Thailand.

To work out a bargain, the militants invited Dawee to breakfast inside the Jewish Embassy.

Dawee remarked at the time,” I brought in curried corn and meat.” Before they touched it,” I had to have” a meal. They should be our friends on a trip to Cairo, I suggested after haggling with them all day.

One Black September gunman said,” I hope some of the Thai people will become Palestinian soldiers with us ,” before they took off for Egypt.

British foreign editor Richard S. Ehrlich has been reporting from Asia from Bangkok since 1978. excerpts from” Rituals ,” two of his most recent nonfiction books. Killers. Conflicts. & amp, Sex. Here you can find” Apocalyptic Tribes, Smugglers & amp, Freaks” as well as” Tibet, India, Nepal, Laos,” Vietnam, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and New York.”

Continue Reading