India, Pakistan and slumbering toward total world war – Asia Times

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The new small but violent conflict between India and Pakistan was unexpected and demonstrated the extreme volatility of the historic moment.

The parallel wax of China’s Belt and Road Initiative ( BRI ) and BRICS ( the cooperation started by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa ) and the wane of the US global system started in the middle of some deep, long-term trends that are emerging.

Despite having competing goals with their members, the conflict did not affect the Tribal or BRICS. Pakistan is supported by Beijing and is a member of the BRI. India is a member of the BRICS, but its relationship with China is getting worse.

The two frequently nonsensical businesses successfully withstand these tensions, which is perhaps a sign of their weakness. They even develop into components of a fresh post-US-centered world order.

Their most lofty objectives, such as replacing dollar dominance with trans-European primary land routes or replacing dollar dominance, seem unlikely. However, they almost always add new signatories, which may be willing to look into new venues and savvy with the outdated ones.

The US has so far responded to its MAGA task. It blatantly asserts that the US is declining ( in other words, why would it try to make America Great Again? )? and doubts the country’s own multilateral institutions ( NATO, UN, EU, or halting aid to Ukraine )

It has raised tariffs, causing obstacles, perhaps even more so much more so against companions than against foes. It is possible that this change will restart the US producing motor and introduce a new movement to the world.

Beyond any objective, combining these two divergent trends forces nations to leave the grip of its main rival, China, the character of both BRI and BRICS, and into its own.

Popular memes in Beijing depict the small India-Pakistani conflict as a tactical defeat for Western and Chinese technologies. Indian Air Force’s French-made Rafale jet, particularly the novel Chinese J-20s, prevailing over Chinese fighters, which caused Indonesia to reevaluate its purchase of European aircraft.

Following the success of its DeepSeek AI, China’s technology miracle is its following. Foreign experts even claim that they prevailed in the tariff dispute with the US because they compelled Beijing to decrease its taxes and find a compromise before Beijing gave up.

Although the reality may be more complicated, this story could bolster Foreign confidence at a crucial moment and exacerbate US problems quickly.

a few steps

Maybe Beijing may earn its race in a few quick decisions that do address worldwide concerns about Beijing as America withdraws to rebuild itself. It might reveal social changes that will liberalize and reform the political system. The People’s Republic of China ( PRC ) would have a system of government similar to that of the developed nations.

It may offer Hong Kong total freedom to shape its property market, which could then compete with Wall Street. It might announce a strategy to open its markets and create the RMB entirely foldable within a few years, thereby establishing its position as the world’s largest market, dominating all consumption and production.

In exchange for closer political and military assistance, it was build new partnerships with relatives, trading territorial statements with India, Japan, Southeast Asian nations, and Taiwan. That would make it the magnetic hub of 60 % of the world’s population given that it is surrounded by a number of semi-hostile countries.

These actions, which will be put into practice over the coming years, was transform China into a formidable power. Nevertheless, they are laborious for domestic reasons.

The Communist Party may lose or need to reinvent its position of power as a result of social reform. Creating unique domestic and international dynamics may require raising workers ‘ wages, which would increase domestic consumption but lower exports. Foreign nationalism may be challenged by real-world partnerships with neighbors.

These are very challenging, and the Chinese leadership would probably avoid them, giving the US time to reevaluate and create a more successful global strategy.

Beijing also appears to lack an global air. After the conflict with Pakistan, it instead decided to patch up the sores by pouring water on them. A new record of Taiwanese names in Arunachal Pradesh and Zangnan in Chinese, an Indian condition, was added to the American border states. The message appears to be” India, you’ve been beaten—accept your lot and bow down.”

How India may respond to this message is uncertain, but will it take the neighbor’s influence or show greater defiance?

This communication might irritate India and the rest of the world. Beijing has given up an opportunity to bring India and a portion of the world closer by demonstrating an knowledge of their problems.

Beijing might consider it to be crucial to show its allies power more than failure. Although it may work within a standard Sinic historical context, it might not work well with nations with different mentalities.

China’s industrial and military development, combined with America’s attempts to destroy its own order, creates a never-before-seen level of global volatility that can start conflicts at any time.

International confusion

The UK, France, Germany, and Poland appear to be the only European nations that are willing to repair the damage the US is leaving behind.

In the event that the US nuclear umbrella is removed, French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated that he is willing to station French atomic weapons in other European countries. Turkey, which has the second-largest NATO military after the US, had become Europe’s most effective defense on the southern front, especially with regard to EU security.

The work don’t work as a substitute for American removal. The US’s mentoring to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which housed and armed Hamas extremists, has sparked fresh controversies with Israel. Syria, which is currently under the control of Ankara, and Turkey and Israel continue to disagree.

NATO and the EU, which have usually supported Israel and are hesitant to take sides, are overshadowed by tensions between Turkey and Israel. The new goals of America may boost National markets in the near future, but they will destroy the old British systems.

The leading Western powers lack a planned foreign policy that can properly join the numerous agendas that exist. They are unaware of how to manage Ukraine, especially now that their military and industrial abilities have been reduced by decades of disengagement.

The main strategic drama, Asia, is missed by the incident. The United States ‘ nuclear umbrella is not comparable to that of France or the UK. But, some nations might decide to arm themselves, launching a never-before-seen nuclear arms race.

South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines are becoming more and more worried about China. Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Thailand are all at odds with navigating the current worldwide environment at the same time.

This recipe for growing conflict suggests that some issues, aside from nuclear war, might arise. Somebody needs to prepare themselves. Very few people are mentally ready, like on the eve of World War One, instead focusing on the current stock increase fueled by a tariff truce rather than a long-term tariff peace.

America’s goal appears to be to propel the economy until the midterm elections in 2014, secure a victory, and, in the process, attract trillions of fresh foreign investments to restart industrialization and generate millions of new jobs.

A fresh US-centered world order may be established from it. However, it is a significant spend. There aren’t any well-defined ideas or discussion among nations regarding their progress. The contrary is true: US allies have a lot of internal debate about American guidelines, and it could not work.

The Chinese may have various options in different situations because of their lifestyle. Russians, one of the world’s ambitious medium powers, could just wager on chaos to win out over their proper cunning. They are competing wagers that increase the risks.

In light of the numerous ongoing war in Ukraine and the Middle East, US President Donald Trump is right in calling for serenity and a pause. He was able to put an end to the India-Pakistan conflict quickly and reach a settlement on China’s levies. However, some things are also hung by a string.

Time and tranquility of thoughts are needed by The US and the rest of the world to try to sort out the continued unraveling. However, no one should spend the moment of delay. Despite the unwavering work, there is still no peace in Ukraine or the Middle East, and there is no sign of any true serenity in view.

Some other things could go wrong by trying to reconcile some opposing goals or the current chaos needs a new perspective. The next few weeks will be important to better understanding the situation, stock stakes, and whether the US has stopped retreating and the BRICS and BRI are beefing up.

With type agreement, this article originally appeared on Appia Institute. The initial can be read here.

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Commentary: US and China struck a tariff truce – it’s far from a trade deal

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WHAT WILL BEGINNED NOW?

Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi will need to actively participate in determining the conditions of a final agreement in order for trade negotiations to expand. In the event that both parties work toward a thorough trade agreement, Mr. Trump has suggested that he might contact him rapidly by phone.

Questions arise as to whether China is willing to cooperate with American companies, as Mr. Trump claimed, and whether the US is ready to do the same.

There are a number of ways China can take to lessen its business imbalances, which are a major cause of tension between the two nations.

Second, Beijing is prepared to substantially improve American agricultural products and power purchases in an effort to reduce the trade deficit. Second, it has the authority to impose restrictions on exports to the US, a trend that is now roiling as exporters extend into other markets. Third, Beijing may improve its holdings of US Treasury securities, with China holding the second-largest amount, worth US$ 784 billion, behind Japan. Third, Beijing may encourage more Foreign businesses to make investments in the US.

However, some more concerns remain. What agreements is the US make to China in exchange?

Does the US relax restrictions on high-tech goods, including electronics? May Chinese firms get welcomed at a time when actually Chinese-produced garlic is viewed as a threat to national security, even if they want to invest in the US?

Finding solutions to these queries won’t remain simple.

Past South China Morning Post Editor-in-Chief Wang Xiangwei He is currently a journalist at Hong Kong Baptist University.

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China-US trade: Firms in Guangdong welcome ‘ceasefire’ but look to diversify

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18 days previously
Laura Bicker

China journalist

Reporting fromGuangdong
BBC Derek wangBBC

Workers in Foshan, southern China, should be welding premium atmosphere fryers for the US market in a large, empty space in the middle of the factory floor.

According to Derek Wang, his air fryer models, which can be controlled via phones and can also be baked, roasted, and grilled, won over the British market.

However, Donald Trump’s” Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2 eventually reached 145 % of all Chinese goods entering the US, and his clientele requested that he halt production.

He told the BBC,” I tried to keep smiling despite my worry for the sake of my 40 workers.”

Mr. Wang stated that his US consumers were back on the phone on Wednesday as a package to end the trade war reopened.

Both nations still have to pay some levies. Beijing has maintained a 10 % tax on American products entering the country, down from 125 %, and there is at least a 30 % tax on all Chinese products entering the US.

Factory and business owners have had some breathing space thanks to this unexpected partnership, which came about after a weekend of conversations in Switzerland.

Our US customer is willing to pay the taxes at this time. We had to deal with them, he said, because they requested that we lower some of our expenses.

Mr. Wang, who spent three years assisting in the creation of the air fryer design, studied engineering in Delaware, US. He claimed the tariffs shocked him and cost him$ 500,000 to launch his business.

My kids were divorcing, I thought. The most significant economic and cultural power in the world are China and the US. Their immediate separation would create a world beyond our ability to imagine. We would have to say goodbye to one another if our rates were as high as 145 %.

However, he adds that” good fortune comes out of poor wealth.”

Mr. Wang believes that Mr. Wang’s” fine fortune” stems from the fact that his business ventures have been accelerated by this trade war.

One of the reasons Beijing thinks this way about its discussions with Washington. China has a choice, and officers have been constantly encouraging the nation’s businesses to conduct business in places like Africa, South America, and South East Asia.

Some other Chinese companies have even informed the BBC that they are looking to leave the US to lessen their reliance on the market, which suggests there could be more of a parting between the US and China in the long run than a divorce.

A wide shot of the interior of a sparsely filled factory. Workers are sitting at a long table near the windows, surrounded by shelves. Behind them, some distance away, are shelves with boxes stacked on them.

By the end of this week, Donald Trump has indicated that he may contact Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two biggest markets of the world will now start discussions after agreeing to end their financial conflict for 90 times.

Beijing has described this agreement as a succeed, not just for China but for all nations that are subject to US taxes.

However, it has value.

A quick stroll through the Shunde area, known as the” capital of household appliances,” provides a somber evaluation of a struggling manufacturing sector.

Workers in Foshan release a small gas during the cooler evenings. They contaminate the entire neighborhood area.

During the day, they pack, mold, and arrange almost everything in their home, including pots and refrigerators, washing machines and gas heaters.

One party line dances in one part of the little park at night after leaving work, and a warmed basketball game occurs in another area.

Posters adorn the streets promoting” steady work and quick” jobs that involve putting products together for 20 yuan an hour, as well as packaging and screwing them for 30 days in a home device manufacturer for 16 yuan an hour.

However, agents informed us that many businesses, particularly those with US connections, had stopped hiring, and some even had closed off certain areas of their manufacturing lines.

Three unemployed men sit on a ledge in a park with some distance between each of them. One is wearing a blue shirt and squatting, looking at his phone; another wearing a bright yellow shirt is leaning on his hand with one foot on the ledge, looking at the camera; beside him is another man in a white shirt with his legs crossed and looking down at his phone.

A number of these employees will rest in the garden to save money, according to the BBC. Many of them travel to Foshan from their hometowns, which can be hundreds of kilometers apart.

There are at least an hour’s worth of pay for rooms at several local hostels for 20 yuan per day. Some people will want to recoup what they make so that they can give it back to their families.

President Trump’s group attempted to present a photo of China that featured slow growth, rising poverty, and a persistent housing issue.

After the announcement of the business deal, Mr. Trump said,” We’re not looking to injure China,” while adding that China was “being hurt very badly.”

They were shutting down companies. They were quite happy to be able to help us despite being really unrestful. “

Beijing’s financial problems may be overstated by this. This nation is still at the forefront of developing solar panels and electronic cars, and it is also making significant progress in artificial intelligence technology.

Chinese leaders have also been making a point of stressing that the nation can handle an economic war. However, some on the front are making a lot of sense of it, which may be a factor in Beijing’s decision to contact the US.

Two men in white shirts, the bosses of a sofa factory, bend over to examine a white sofa in a factory.

As companies wonder if this most recent “ceasefire” will continue, there has been a rush of directions between the two nations.

He Ke, or” HK” to his American consumers, has contacted his employees in their hometowns to relaunch Gongyuan Furniture, a seat manufacturer.

Even before Mr. Trump’s levies hit 145 %, it came to a halt.

We immediately had a day off, according to Mr. He. We were already at a halt when the levies hit 50 %. We were undoubtedly unable to conduct business when their rate reached 145 %. Simply put, it was impossible. “

His generation line, which spanned around 200 staff, when occupied all four floors of the structure.

He has just needed a floor and about 40 staff members since the Covid pandemic. However, he does occasionally have a famous buyer who claims Elon Musk is sat on one of his chairs.

A woman wearing a grey t-shirt at a sofa factory sits in front of a sewing machine. She is wearing white earbuds and holding a large piece of green fabric at the table.

Some workers have already arrived and are putting a soft seat on a blower to make it ready for shipping and boxing.

As workers sew the appropriate size fabric to include storage foam cushions, sewing machines murmur in the background.

Mr. He claims that Foshan has undergone numerous modifications since he started producing chairs in 2013.

” We believe that the world market is not strong. The local economy has even suffered, which has an impact on how people live around. We used to spend a lot of money, but in the history that is how we used to go out and invest it. We didn’t consider whether the rate was high or low. We may purchase it as long as we enjoy it. We must now reconsider purchasing fairly cheap items because the cash is not easy to make. “

Mr. He even claims that he is considering diversifying his sales outside of the US, just like Mr. Wang and his surroundings fryers, but that he hopes a deal can be reached between the world’s two largest economies in the next 90 days.

I’m merely a little business. However, I am aware that these two nations play a momentary activity. They will certainly lay down and talk things over if they want to stay together for a long time. “

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Tonnes of smuggled avocados seized, wholesaler arrested

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PUBLISHED: 14 Does 2025 at 16: 09

Consumer Protection Police raid the fruit warehouse in Pathum Thani where the Vietnamese businessman was arrested on Wednesday. (Photo supplied)
Consumer Protection Police detain the Asian businessman’s fruit warehouse in Pathum Thani on Wednesday. ( Photo provided )

A Asian businessman has been detained for entering Thailand with about 16 tonnes of new bananas, raising concerns about threats to the region’s crops.

Consumer Protection Police ( CPP ) detained the suspect, who was only identified as Mr. Van, on Wednesday at a warehouse in Soi Thep Kunchon 6, which is close to a significant wholesale market for farm products in the Khlong Luang district.

The CPP participated in the activity by working with a particular task force made up of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry and the Customs Department. The fruit was arrested and the fruit was taken after data was discovered last week that included 40 tons of smuggled avocado.

Mr. Van was detained after the officers had inspected the inventory and admitted to having the fruit.

They also seized 750 kg of raw passion fruit, which is estimated to be worth approximately 45, 000 ringgit, along with 16 175 kilogrammes of new avocados, which are valued at around 1,294, 000 baht.

The produce’s full price was given as 1, 339, 000 ringgit.

According to the CPP statement, the fruits had gone beyond both customs and grow isolation checks, putting a significant risk of introducing pests or diseases that may harm Thai plants.

Mr. Van is thought to be a significant supplier of grapes to Pathum Thani’s fruit industry. According to the officers, he was taken to a lawyer for lawful reasons.

Some of the fruits found at the warehouse during the raid on Wednesday. (Central Investigation Bureau)

During the Wednesday inventory attack, I discovered love fruits and avocados. Central Investigation Bureau image

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Frog farming a dry season boon for Isan farmers

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PUBLISHED: 14 Does 2025 at 14: 50

Farmers in Ban Nong Tae turn their paddy fields into frog farms during the dry season, in Renu Nakhon district of Nakhon Phanom. The venture brings 10 million to 20 million baht a year into their community. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)
In the Nakhon Phanom district’s Renu Nakhon area, farmers in Ban Nong Tae convert their rice fields into frog fields during the clean time. The project contributes between 10 and 20 million ringgit annually to their area. ( Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai )

In Renu Nakhon area, residents of a village have recently experienced a lucrative income from animal farming.

Their area has received between 10 and 20 million baht annually from sales of life and freezing frogs and tadpoles.

A group of farmers in tambon Nakham’s Ban Nong Tae transform their rice fields into frogs farms as the dry season approaches. They sell larvae, or luk huak in Isan pronunciation, to local businesses for 150 to 200 baht per kilogram. &nbsp,

They just increased the value of their animal grain by removing, cleaning, and freezing them for export. The frozen toad flesh is priced at 200 baht per kilogram.

According to Sonthaya Faramee, 49, director of the provincial Phaeng Yai group business, frog gardening has for the past 20 years produced 10 million to 20 million ringgit a month for Nong Tae locals.

After the rice harvest is above, producers turn their fields into ponds that are about 30 centimeters strong. They keep year-old insects in investment and waited for them to reproduce in the ponds. Each pond releases around 300 sets of insects. ( continues below )

Tadpoles or

Larvae, or luk huak, are priced between 150 and 200 baht per kilogram. ( Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai )

The only thing that needs to happen is that the insects are taken out of the lake after one day of breeding. Within a few hours, the reproduce can be seen floating on the water’s edge.

The egg hatch four days later. On fish meal, the larvae are raised. They are ready for sale in 20 to 25 times. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

According to Mr. Sonthaya, the group organization has about 70 households that raise frogs for the production of tadpoles for sale.

The Phaeng Yai area enterprise, which aids animal farmers in the processing and marketing of tadpoles for sale, is located in Phaeng Yai. Additionally, frozen goods can be purchased overseas and stored for a longer period. According to Mr. Sonthaya, frozen tadpoles sell for 250 baht per kilogram, while life tadpoles are priced at 100 baht.

He claimed that consumers in Australia and Singapore place a lot of orders.

Prepared and frozen are likewise insects that are three months old. He claimed that they collect 250 baht per kilogram.

Try making caterpillar dish with herbs, using either kaeng om or curry with fermented bamboo shoots, using kaeng normai cock instead. &nbsp,

These meals are sold for 200 to 300 ringgit per bowl in restaurants.

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Sonthaya Faramee, 49, secretary to the Phaeng Yai community enterprise chairman in Nakhon Phanom, shows frozen frog and frozen tadpoles produced by frog farmes in Renu Nakhon district of this northeastern province. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)

Sonthaya Faramee, 49, the executive director of the Nakhon Phanom area business, shows frozen newts and frogs grown by farmers in the northern province’s Renu Nakhon area. ( Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai )

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Q&A with Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen ahead of his retirement

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Q: The political culture is evolving day by day. What do you believe the leaders of the future technology and Singaporeans need to know about defense politics?

What is the risk, in Singapore? In the plant of world commerce, we stand as the canaries. External trade is three times our GDP ( or more ) in terms of GDP.

We should be comparable to an MRT stop store. You’re in problems once the coach halts or slows down in speed. I believe we can make a good life if the carriages keep moving back and forth. You have no control over what people decide when they decide to divert, use other tracks, bypass the place, or are prohibited from stopping at your station, or have their routes reversed somewhere.

How do we understand this kind of earth? Try to avoid it as much as you can.

We’ll accept the recent US-China transition from 145 % to 30 %, in my opinion. Maybe there will be more, but at least it gives us a break. We’ll continue to communicate with other nations so that we can stabilise the world system more effectively.

There are shortcomings. Non-trade taxes will need to be addressed. Uneven procedures will need to be addressed, and non-tariff measures to restrict your markets will need to be addressed, and so on and so forth.

However, I believe that people typically understand where Singapore stands. We declare that maintaining global business is in our best interests. The trick is, however, to generate momentum within our organization, you we encourage people to listen intently and then discuss it with them? If that is possible, I believe we have succeeded. If we didn’t, we must endure the effects. It will be a really challenging sport of catching.

Q. What was the most important decision that contributed to the transformation of the SAF ( Singapore Armed Forces ) and MINDEF in your 14 years in the defense portfolio?

It is actually a combination of decades of research from the previous. The SAF has since begun to develop strong fundamentals, instill goodwill, and elevate management. If there was any input, it would be if the SAF and MINDEF rulers believed they knew what they were doing and could handle the necessary procedures in real time.

For instance, I presented the idea of hybrid war to legislature more than ten years ago, perhaps more than ten years ago. It was viewed as something novel. I explained the Gerasimov theory, which was given the name of a well-known Russian general. You’re more likely to receive ideas at the social degree in that exchange of ideas. Your military officials are also given a chance, but they also have their own activities. However, it is repeating the statement,” I think there’s something to this, and if this is correct, we’re planning ahead, then we really ought to design ourselves to be able to face these risks.” That evolved into better counter-terrorism buildings, response times, tools, and redesigning of specific causes that later became the Digital Intelligence Service, orders, and work causes.

related to Total Defense. I once claimed that our Total Defense was becoming overly militaristic. We need to get people acting immediately because overall defense means total defense. So we made the decision a few years ago to work with other organizations and to simulate water shortages for ( a ) few hours, cyberattacks, phishing, electrical blackouts, and food shortages.

Q. You have witnessed Singapore go through numerous difficulties while serving as a defense secretary. Can you recall a time that may have been specifically difficult?

There were numerous fatalities when I took over in 2011 and after that. There will be a lot of grief ( with ) a loss of life. You don’t have the luxury of wallowing in it because it has an enormous impact on you personally, but you have to change the system to ( restore ) confidence.

So there, I benefited from being Minister of Manpower ( between 2004 and 2008 ), where there were also a number of accidents, including the Fusionopolis ( accident ), and the Nicoll Highway collapse. We conducted a root-and-branch assessment, or structural review at MOM. We visited various nations with higher protection standards, particularly those in Europe, and examined their systems. By saying,” Everybody, let’s be vigilant, you don’t obtain safety, right?” we made it clear that you don’t get safety. That is not how it works. Everyone arrives at labor carrying out a task. It must be that you have to design out threats.

They claimed that even when they built properties, they were concerned about how repair would be carried out. So they constructed immediately properties rather than curvy-wurvy versions because they needed different maintenance, and so on and so forth. You design the risk away. You foster a sense of accountability in terms of security.

So I realised from my experience in MOM that you had to center that in the SAF. Not that SAF had small safety standards back then; it was still one of the best forces in the world and, even in light of commercial standards, we are one of the safest systems.

But a lost life is someone’s sibling or child, right? We also said that we must purpose for a goal. That is a lengthy purchase. So we placed safety before performance in the hands of the CO ( commanding officer ). You hold yourself accountable. If anything occurs and there is a security lapse, it will be marked against you. You must give interest.

However, we established security procedures that require participants to perform the exercises, identify the risk points, and then design the environment accordingly. AI even lends itself to that right now. We’re attempting to see how it can be used.

Therefore, if there was a valuable learning point, it was MOM’s experience that was used before translating it. Although the health history has been good over the past ten years, we are aware that this is a continuous challenge. You must be on the lookout for this, and I hope we may keep doing it.

Q. What is the most important lesson you learned from your 24 years of serving in politics, and what guidance do you offer the next generation of officials?

Don’t become a political thank you. You might be disappointed because it’s setting a very high table. However, I would say that politics can still be used to accomplish great without sacrificing one’s aspirations in Singapore. That might not be the case in another methods, I believe. Politics is one area where you can also do good if you think you should go in the way that Singapore should go and you think it will help it.

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Asian markets swing as China-US trade euphoria fades

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Asian companies fluctuated on Wednesday ( May 14), with Wall Street analysts having trouble following the joy over the China-US business tidbit. Experts warned that more function was needed to reach tax agreements with nations and foster a sense of balance even though the days of incredible volatility seen throughContinue Reading

VFlowTech raises US.5 mil to scale long-duration energy storage and enhance AI-driven energy management

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  • Money will help expand to other international markets, including Asia, the Middle East, and the Middle East.
  • With new owners Antares Ventures, MOL Plus &amp, and PSA Ventures, Granite Asia led the square.

VFlowTech's Singapore Team

In its most recent funding round, VFlowTech, a Singapore-based leader in long-duration energy storage solutions, raised USD 20.5 million ( RM96 million ).

Granite Asia, a well-known venture capital firm, joined by new traders Antares Ventures, EDBI, MOL Plus, and PSA Ventures, along with existing donors Pappas Capital, Wavemaker Partners, SEEDS Capital, and Entrepreneurs First.

The money, according to VFlowTech, may allow it to expand the production and implementation of its exclusive vanadium oxidation flow batteries, improve its AI-driven fog energy management platform to maximize efficiency and create new revenue streams, and create crucial supply chains, including vanadium recycling, electrolyte innovation, and membrane advancements.

With Singapore positioning itself as a global hub for clever energy options and sustainability, VFlowTech’s AI-powered program will develop advanced smart grid features that will enable customers to reduce energy consumption, participate in strength investing, and increase the ROI of energy storage systems.

Dr. Avishek Kumar ( pic ),VFlowTech’s founder and CEO, said:” As governments and companies place a premium on sustainability, VFlowTech is at the forefront of developing advanced storage options that maximize energy consumption and lower environmental impact. With this funding, we are on the verge of major technological advancement and growth.

” We welcome such a formidable cluster of corporate and financial partners on this journey,” co-founder of VFlowTech Dr. Arjun Bhattarai said. This cash enables us to take on larger projects, expand into new markets, and incorporate cutting-edge electronic intellect into our energy storage solutions, making them both revenue-generating resources as well as storage devices.

” Long-duration energy storage is essential to supporting 100 % renewable energy, the development of EV infrastructure, and the new energy demands impused by accelerated AI adoption. We think VFlowTech and vanadium flow battery technology are well-positioned to snag this market in Asia and the rest of the world. Working with the team will help us create a more sustainable future for everyone, said Granite Asia’s venture partner Kheng Nam Lee.

In addition, Michael Gryseels, founder and managing partner at Antares Ventures, stated that Antares Ventures has supported VFlowTech since its inception, acknowledging its early promise for its battery technology’s transformative potential. The business has evolved over the past six years from a university research project to a leader in long-duration energy storage, thanks to outstanding scientific talent and strong commercial success.

“VFlowTech’s solutions specifically address Asia’s urgent need for affordable, clean energy and improved grid stability, directly enhancing energy security in the region. We look forward to continuing our support alongside zealous investors and strategic partners who are working to secure Asia’s energy future,” he continued.

” We discovered two attractions in VFlowTech. The first is that port terminals and other larger-scale facilities could use their technology. The second is that Southeast Asia and India, which are both MOL’s areas of focus, are their main focus points. We will keep making a difference in business collaboration, according to Takuya Sakamoto, CEO of MOL Plus.

With this investment, VFlowTech will expand more rapidly across Asia, the Middle East, and other global markets, strengthen its commercial team, and expand its presence in key industries like utilities and grid-scale storage, renewable integration, and industrial decarbonization.

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Post-US-China truce, wiser for Seoul, Tokyo to take the long road – Asia Times

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The Donald Trump administration is pursuing a flurry of activities designed to convey the impression that a wave of trade deals is underway. The announcement of an agreement framework with the United Kingdom was followed by talks between Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Chinese counterparts.

The United States and China agreed to a ninety-day pause in their tariff war, setting rates of 30 percent by the United States and 10 percent by China while negotiations take place. Talks of de-escalating the high-stakes trade war are clearly aimed at dampening the severe reactions of financial and stock markets.

South Korean officials have seized upon this activity as a sign that bilateral talks can yield positive results, particularly the removal of the 25 percent tariffs imposed on autos, steel, and electronics.

Han Duck-soo, the former prime minister who stepped down to pursue an independent bid for president, expressed hope that he could negotiate a “win-win” deal with President Trump.

“There is always some room for cooperation and good communication among policymakers of the United States and Korea. So I feel rather good about expecting some acceptable final results from that,” Han said at a meeting with foreign correspondents in Seoul on May 7. “We will do our best making win-win solutions.”

But there are grounds for deep skepticism about the prospects for success in these and other talks.

Economist and former New York Times columnist Paul Krugman dismisses reports of the US-UK deal and other deals as “smoke and mirrors, an attempt to persuade the gullible that Trump’s tariffs are actually working.” Krugman argues that these talks are “a response to a problem that didn’t exist” and that trade deficits do not reflect unfair foreign trade practices or high tariffs but rather the huge flows of capital into the United States, which reflect the perception of the United States as an attractive place to invest.

Japan’s experience of two rounds of negotiations with Bessent and other senior US officials is instructive. Japanese negotiators emerged from the talks mystified as to what the Trump administration actually wanted. The US side refused to discuss the biggest tariff rate – the 25 percent tax placed on autos, auto parts, steel, and aluminum – and insisted that these were global tariffs not subject to exemptions.

The Japanese government is in no rush to reach an agreement, although it does not want to be seen as backing away from talks. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces considerable criticism from the opposition for engaging in “tribute diplomacy.” With elections for Japan’s parliamentary upper house coming in July, the ruling party does not want to concede to what are seen as unreasonable demands from the United States.

“It’s not better just because it’s faster,” Ishiba told reporters following the bilateral talks. “For us, while properly asserting our national interests, it’s not good to reach an early conclusion by sacrificing such interests.”

South Korea faces many of the same circumstances. The first round of talks in Washington was similarly inconclusive, and the key issues for Seoul – tariffs on autos, auto parts, steel and aluminum – are also beyond discussion for now. This is unlikely to change even after a new presidential administration is voted into office on June 3.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, commenting after the US-UK announcement, acknowledged this reality. “You’ve got to spend an enormous amount of time with Japan, South Korea,” he told reporters. “These are not going to be fast deals.”

Like Japan, South Korea’s strategy has been to seek concessions to induce the removal of the tariffs. Offers to cooperate on shipbuilding and energy production have been put on the table. But trade policy experts doubt those gestures will ultimately succeed.

“Many will still try to use this pause period to finalize something in exchange for a moderation to their initial tariff ‘sentence,’” says Michael Beeman, former assistant US trade representative for Japan, Korea and APEC in the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR).

“There will be value in negotiating since, as I’ve been saying, the threats are a tactic in part — but not in whole. Because at the end of the day, he still wants a new, higher rate on the world,” Beeman, the author of Walking Out: America’s New Trade Policy in the Asia-Pacific and Beyond, told this writer.

The Japanese prime minister explicitly rejected a new, higher rate as a possible outcome. “We are seeking a complete elimination,” Ishiba said on Sunday. “It is not a matter of being satisfied with a certain percentage.”

When engaging the Trump administration, Korea and Japan need to “be patient” and take a longer view, Stanford University Professor Gi-Wook Shin told a recent seminar at Stanford’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center.

Short-term efforts to appease the Trump administration are unavoidable, but they should be paired with efforts to bolster free trade outside. US discussions of reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO) offer one pathway, though admittedly a complex and drawn-out process. More likely are discussions to expand and strengthen existing regional trade regimes in the Indo-Pacific, including through partnerships with the European Union.

According to the Financial Times, plans to forge a strategic partnership between the European Union and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) have been revived in response to the trade wars unleashed by the Trump administration.

The CPTPP already brings together twelve nations, including Canada, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and covers rules for investment, digital trade, and other goods trade. According to the report, support for linking the two arrangements has come from New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and, quietly, Japan. The proposal could be discussed at the upcoming meeting of trade ministers at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) later this month in South Korea.

“Any efforts to strengthen and widen the CPTPP as a rules-based international trade system are useful,” says a former senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official who led the effort to embrace CPTPP without US participation during the first Trump administration. But the former official adds that he doubts the Ishiba government “has the guts” to do something similar.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a looser regional trade grouping with fifteen Asia-Pacific member countries — including China — could also gain a larger role. China has presented itself as a guardian of free trade against the Trump administration’s protectionism, reaching out to the European Union, South Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia as part of a charm offensive. Discussions of a free trade agreement between China, South Korea, and Japan were held recently, partly in response to Trump’s tariffs.

Chinese officials have also expressed an interest in joining the CPTPP. But there is considerable opposition to admitting China out of fear it would dilute the organization’s established standards, including clear restrictions on favoring state-owned enterprises.

“If you put China into the CPTPP, you basically blow it up,” Elizabeth Economy, a widely respected expert on China at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, told the Stanford seminar. “I don’t think the Japanese have any interest in bringing China into the CPTPP.”

South Korea’s participation in CPTPP faces much less opposition and could offer a means to balance the pressure from the Trump administration. The pathway to membership, however, will need to involve the strengthening of South Korea-Japan relations.

But the South Korean government may be reluctant to take that step, suggests Shin. “I don’t think Korea would be interested in joining a multilateral entity that didn’t include the US,” he said.

Such calculations in both Seoul and Tokyo could shift, however, if attempts to bargain with Washington falter and the global economy slips into a recession. In any case, it makes sense for South Korea to look beyond bargaining with Trump and join the construction of a free trade zone in the world economy.

Daniel C. Sneider is a non-resident distinguished fellow at the Korea Economic Institute of America and a lecturer in East Asian studies at Stanford University.

This article was originally published by KEI’s The Peninsula and is republished with permission.

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