Major investors and policymakers are accelerating the formalization and expansion of Asia’s influence investing industry. At the Tideline Compass Series section on February 18, business leaders discussed the state’s growth path, emerging challenges, and the steps needed to promote administrative implementation.
¬ Plaza Media Limited. All rights reserved.
As part of a wider plan spearheaded by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ), US President Donald Trump has shut down USAID, the country’s top international aid organization.
USAID has been harshly criticized by the Trump administration for perpetuating errors and oddities through its support to developing nations. Musk called USAID” the most crooked establishment” and declared that “it deserves to die”.
While USAID has long claimed to focus on humanitarian aid, health services and growth, Trump has said that it has rather facilitated political interference, problem, opaque governance and unwarranted interference in the inner affairs of recipient countries.
Trump and Musk’s claims would seem to corroborate accusations that recent unrest in Bangladesh and Ukraine’s 2014 “orange revolution” —an event that ultimately led to the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022—are evidence of USAID’s role in orchestrating” color revolutions”, a modern form of regime change akin to a military coup around the world.
The US international coverage framework has three columns: security, politics, and growth. By promoting international policy and expanding effect, USAID purports to support the interests of the US, but it doesn’t always address the real needs of the sender nations.
Only a small portion of the allocated budgets are used to reach the intended recipients, as a significant portion of USAID money is absorbed by administrative costs, high wages, obligations for intermediaries, and highly expensive consultants ( many former USAID senior officials ).
Studies reveal that for every 100 US dollars USAID spends, a mere 12.10 money reaches reader places. Additionally, funding from USAID has been accused of undermining local laws and regulations, causing bribery and opaque governance in host nations. Criticisms contend that the company generally benefits the country’s ruling political elite and its US-educated offspring rather than the less fortunate.
Trump’s” America First” coverage, which is apparently trying to stop the theft of US taxpayer funds domestically and internationally, includes the decision to close USAID. The disclosures of Trump-Musk information have also made the Global South countries have to consider the effects of American support and take the necessary steps to increase financial independence, sovereignty, and progress.
American foreign aid acts as a double-edged weapon for several developing countries. While it claims to bring about growth in the terms of the recipients ‘ nations, it entails dominance and undermines their economic sovereignty and independence.
Western donors first disburse sizable grants, but after recipient nations become more dependent on external aid, they switch to smaller grants.
The recipient countries ‘ economic independence is restrained by the severe economic policy conditions of Western loans ( bilateral and multilateral, such as from the World Bank and IMF), which keep them stuck in a never-ending vicious cycle of borrowing to pay off outstanding debt.
It undermines the foundation of people’s employment and sustainable development by using a more limited government budget to pay off debt and suppress home agriculture and young industries.
American support typically has a relationship to the political objectives of the donor countries, making the recipient countries have to connect their guidelines with those of their donors. In consequence, the receiving nations are unable to develop their own economic and trade techniques.
Moreover, according to Musk, American aid has been linked to promoting fraud and errors in recipient nations by shutting down USAID. Some funds are lost there or mismanaged by help administration, failing to achieve their original objectives.
While frequently well-intentioned, including initiatives to distribute gratis food, grains, and other essential services, USAID’s assistance frequently tramples local crops and companies by displacing domestic producers and deteriorating local knowledge and skills.
Instead of fostering long-term financial self-sufficiency, for investment breeds dependence symptoms, making nations centered on outdoor aid. Some academics contend that American aid fosters resentment and hopelessness rather than promoting real growth.
It is now a very good idea for developing countries to move to financial freedom and independence. Trump’s discovery on USAID calling for a conscious effort to build local business, cut down on imports and boost local production.
Investment in training, technology and equipment is crucial to developing the ability to grow effectively. Development-focused countries must collaborate with lenders who offer enhancement funds without having to meet any social or policy requirements in order to accomplish these objectives.
The Global South has a promising future ahead of geographical trade and assistance. The Global South must abandon the notion of getting rich by exporting cheap products to Western markets or relying on foreign support for national development as the US embraces protectionist policies, which are more demanding than even the Smoot-Hawley Tax Act of 1930.
Rather, it should concentrate on fostering local partnerships and business contracts. To protect themselves from raw materials and manpower exploitation, American nations can use pan-African assistance and collective bargaining.
South America may improve frameworks for local partnership, while ASEAN countries should take advantage of the opportunity to build similarly bold local initiatives. The integration of the Asian economies to produce tangible outcomes is essential under the leadership of Russia.
To implement its stalled free trade agreement (FTA ), South Asia should revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation ( SAARC ). These local efforts can be strengthened by a reinforced BRICS framework, which will encourage greater cooperation among the Global South countries.
More important, these nations need to regain possession of their natural sources. By regaining control over their separation, miners, utilization, and trade, developing nations had put an end to wealthy nations ‘ use of their resources. This will increase the value added from these resources by allowing nations to offer their resources fairly.
Through shared and regional discussions with China, there might be a good chance of achieving this objective. Compared to the zero-sum sport usually promoted by the West, China’s “win-win” trade and development method emphasizes common benefit. Cooperating with China may help China achieve its goals while avoiding the numerous negative effects of American support.
Under the American support model, which is defined by the conditionality of grants and loans, political and economic passions of donor countries are given precedence. American aid often comes with needs for democratization, social reforms, animal rights improvements and stress to meet alliances against rival nations.
It is a type of interference in the domestic affairs of the receiving nations, making them to adhere to American economic, political, and social norms, which are frequently incompatible with their social values and traditions.
China, in comparison, favors trade and investment over social engineering. Through procedures like the Belt and Road Initiative, China invests in large-scale infrastructure projects, including ports, railways and bridges, in recipient places. For numerous emerging countries, these activities are the foundation of long-term monetary expansion.
For example, Chinese investment has accelerated Africa’s clean energy transition and online and transport infrastructure. Interestingly, because China’s design does not impose monetary policy, social systems or cultural requirements, it permits nations to preserve financial policy-making and social autonomy. In this way, it has surpassed the need for nations to chart out their development plans.
China’s expanding monetary potential has a lot of benefits for the global south. China has a great need for resources and products from developing nations because it has the largest financial and luxury market in the world since 2020.
By engaging more closely with China’s supply chains, developing nations can gain significant new markets for their products, including for meals, fresh materials, and manufactured products. Also, China’s industrial overcapacity offers opportunities for relocating its” twilight business” and low-technology-based manufacturing industry to the Global South, fostering native modernization and job creation.
China’s critics often warn of the dangers of resource exploitation and “debt trap diplomacy”. However, many people in the Global South believe that China’s approach is a viable replacement for Western aid, which has always prioritized the needs of its recipients over those of their donors.
Where there was no alternative in the Global South ten years ago, China offers a frequently welcome alternative to Western aid. ( Though Japan has long provided foreign aid without the constraints put on by Western donors ) )
These countries can lay the foundation for self-reliance, economic sovereignty and sustainable development by embracing China’s positive-sum game model over the West’s often zero-sum approach.
To be sure, the debate over development models and foreign aid is not entirely settled. However, as the Global South grapples with the legacy of Western aid and explores new partnerships, it must prioritize its economic sovereignty, national interests and independence.
The Global South may break the cycle of dependency and lead a more just and prosperous future by utilizing regional collaboration, asserting control over natural resources, and engaging with alternative partners like China.
Bhim Bhurtel is on X at @BhimBhurtel
Ficus Capital, an ESG-compliant Islamic venture capital firm, has announced a strategic investment of US$ 430,000 ( RM1. 9 million ) in Morpheus Labs, a Singapore-based AI-powered Web3 implementation program, as part of its Pre-A money square.
This expense, made through Ficus’s premier Ficus SEA Fund, aims to support Morpheus Labs in simplifying bitcoin execution, enabling businesses and developers to create, deploy, and control decentralised applications more quickly. By reducing time-to-market and streamlining processes, Morpheus Labs is driving development in the Web3 place.
According to Custom Market Insights, the world Web3 market is projected to grow from US$ 4. 8 billion ( RM21 billion ) in 2021 to US$ 69 billion ( RM30 billion ) by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate ( CAGR ) of 68 %, underscoring the rapid expansion and opportunities in this sector.
Rina Neoh, managing partner of Ficus Capital, said: “Our funding in Morpheus Labs reflects our opinion in the transformative potential of Web3 and our trust in the business ’s ability to lead this trend. Their extensive software and ecosystem-first approach align with our vision of fostering green, flexible, and effective industrial solutions. ”
Morpheus Labs is an award-winning head in the Web3 room, offering an AI-powered software that simplifies Web3 deployment for firms and designers. Its essential features include:
Pei-Han Chuang ( pic ), founder and CEO of Morpheus Labs, said: “Ficus’s investment is pivotal in fuelling our growth and expanding our capabilities in the Web3 space. With their help, we are also expanding into important markets like Malaysia and Indonesia, where a fresh, tech-savvy community is driving online implementation.
“Ficus Capital’s responsibility as an ESG-i VC aligns completely with our objective to encourage decentralisation and diversity. As we strive to provide visible and sustainable bitcoin answers, their emphasis on Shariah-compliant ESG investing is in sync with our principles. Additionally, Ficus’s involvement in this round enhances our access to the Malaysian market and its growing technology ecosystem, ” he added.
In addition to Ficus Capital’s purchase, Startup Five Investment, a store account and part of AVA Angels specialising in electronic change, ESG, and Web3 investments, has even joined the Pre-A round as an early investor, following Ficus’s lead. Chuang is investing alongside both firms, reinforcing confidence—both internal and external—in Morpheus Labs ’ potential to transform Web3 development.
Jeffery Yang, managing partner at Startup Five Investment, said: “We are excited to support Morpheus Labs as they shape the future of Web3 technology. Their platform’s cutting-edge features and seamless integration align perfectly with our investment strategy, and we believe this partnership will drive significant innovation in the Web3 ecosystem.
In addition, we are pleased to make an investment in Ficus Capital, a reputable venture capital firm in the ESG and Shariah-compliant space, furthering our shared commitment to supporting sustainable and impactful technologies. ”
With this strategic investment, Morpheus Labs is poised to accelerate its growth and innovation. It has already secured a key collaboration with Viu, PCCW’s leading pan-regional OTT video streaming service, to pioneer new Web3 experiences for users and content creators. By leveraging blockchain technology, this partnership aims to enhance content monetisation, digital rights management, and user engagement across media platforms.
We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, Chuang continued. Together, we can unlock new potentials in the Web3 space, expanding our platform’s scope and accelerating blockchain adoption in the entertainment industry.
“With our AI-powered platform, we are empowering businesses to build and scale blockchain solutions more efficiently. This collaboration marks a significant step in the direction of redefining digital experiences for users and creators all over the world. ”
Alibaba Group’s headline-grabbing protest tops off what’s been an extraordinary month for Chinese tech companies.
In late January, the sudden appearance of made-in-China synthetic knowledge game DeepSeek pulled the rug out from under Wall Street’s” Trump business” group. Bettors predicted that US stocks would explode as a result of the US President Donald Trump’s plans.
Trump’s eagerness for AI, which he and his patron Elon Musk, contributed to the excitement. Trump punctuated the place on January 21, when he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with OpenAI’s Sam , Altman, Oracle’s Larry Ellison and SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son at the White House to light a , US$ 500 billion  , Al network project.
Weeks later, it seemed like old hat as DeepSeek’s claim caught world markets off guard. Its cost-effective AI model using less advanced chips precipitated a nearly$ 600 billion selloff in , Nvidia’s shares , alone — history’s biggest corporate loss in market capitalization.
Then Alibaba is again on the international scene with an passion that’s even caught global investors off-guard. It includes a large force into Al, in which Alibaba is investing confidently.
The business Jack Ma co-founded claims to have invested more than$ 53 billion in data centers and other AI system projects. Apple, nevertheless, is incorporating Alibaba’s Artificial services in handsets sold in China.
But Alibaba’s march might have arms for an even bigger purpose: Xi Jinping’s selection to, in the words of scholar Stephen Jen, “make Chinese equities investible again”, starting with software platforms.
Jen, CEO of Eurizon SLJ Asset Management, says that “in some ways, this is a call for a extended bounce-back in a long-depressed and unhappy business. However, there are now many more reasons to get good than bad about Chinese stocks and China in general.
After Trump called for greater scrutiny of international companies listed in the US, Alibaba’s wave hit a speedbump on Tuesday, along with Taiwanese technology companies in general.
But from Jen’s perspective, Chinese stocks will remain on roll for reasons including: regulation easing, signs the property sector is ultimately bottoming to support better consumer sentiment, the resilience of Chinese bonds and the yuan, a serious misjudging of China’s manufacturing and industrial prowess, low valuations, and signs the world remains thin Chinese assets.
Xi’s meeting with Ma and other mainland tech founders last week helped, too. Following Xi’s crackdowns, which started with Ma’s fintech tycoon Ant Group, China’s tech scene has been in a state of corporate limbo since late 2020.
Ostensibly, Ant’s planned$ 37 billion listing was scrapped after Ma criticized Beijing, suggesting policymakers don’t understand technology. Ma alleged that regulators were stifling innovation and that banks were having a “pawnshop mentality” in a speech delivered in Shanghai.
First, Ant’s initial public offering was pulled. At the time, it would’ve been history’s biggest. Next, Xi’s financial regulator put under a microscope a who ‘s-who of tech giants: search engine Baidu,  , ride-hailing giant , Didi Global, e-commerce platform JD.com,  , food-delivery Meituan and gaming colossus Tencent, among others.
Ma effectively entered a political exile. Last week, when Xi invited Ma and other tech billionaires to a gathering that would put Chinese technology back in the ascendancy, that appeared to change. Ma sitting in the front row and Xi shaking his hand caused investors to sift into mainland shares with an unprecedented enthusiasm.
The scene suggested that “one of the world’s greatest living entrepreneurs” is “back into the good , graces”, says analyst Bill , Bishop, who writes the Sinocism newsletter. Bottom line, he says, “it’s an encouraging signal for private businesses”.
Daiwa analyst Patrick Pan notes that “from a long-term perspective, we turn more positive on the outlook for the China stock market”. China’s recent tech breakthroughs and pro-business pivot, he says, are “game changers for China stock prices”.
In March 2023, Alibaba unveiled the , biggest restructuring  , in its 26-year history, splitting into six units and exploring fundraising or listings for most of them. At the time, Alibaba said the strategy is “designed to unlock shareholder value and foster market competitiveness”.
The six units included: domestic e-tailing, international e-commerce, cloud computing, local services, logistics and media and entertainment.
The market is the best litmus test, according to former Alabaster CEO Daniel Zhang, who remarked two years ago, and each business group and company can launch independent fundraising and IPOs when they are ready.
The enterprise was bigger than Alibaba, though. It served as a case study of sorts for China Inc. as Xi’s regulators attempted to mitigate risks and halt monopolistic tendencies among tech giants.
Given that Xi and Premier Li Qiang both claim that they want private companies to create more jobs and boost a troubled economy, the situation is quite a balance.
Ma’s Alibaba was an obvious place to start. It has long been a global representation of China’s tech goals and a symptom of Beijing’s tolerance for tech billionaires spreading their wings.
Now, after years of uncertainty, says Daniel Ives, analyst at Wedbush Securities, Alibaba just “delivered an inflection point quarter”, led by a stronger-than-expected cloud business and an expanding AI push that could represent the “next gear of growth”.
AI is” the kind of opportunity for industry transformation that only comes around only once every few decades,” as current Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu put it last week.
Wu added that” when it comes to Alibaba’s AI strategy, we aim to continue developing models that extend the boundaries of intelligence” and that AI may eventually “have a significant influence on or even replace 50 % of global GDP”
When it comes to cheap Chinese valuations, Alibaba could be Exhibit A. While some profit-taking might happen, the company is still trading between 35 % to 40 % below past highs.
However, Alibaba is under increasing pressure to act in order to validate investors ‘ bullishness.
According to HSBC Holdings analyst Charlene Liu, “fundamentals will have to be back in focus” in order to increase stock prices. Alibaba shows” a clear strategy to monetize AI and accelerate cloud revenue growth and margin improvement,” as evidenced by increasing its e-commerce market share.
The real onus, though, is on Team Xi to convince global investors broadly that China’s “uninvestable” days are over for good.  ,
Over the last dozen years of Xi’s leadership, Beijing has too often slow-walked moves to strengthen capital markets, reduce opacity, scale back the role of state-owned enterprises, build a globally trusted credit rating system and increase regulatory certainty.
Clearly, the return of Hangzhou-based Alibaba to favor in Communist Party circles may be its own inflection point.
Recently,” Hangzhou’s innovation model has been lauded for fostering numerous superstar technology startups, dubbed the’ Six Little Dragons’ in markets”, says Carlos Casanova, economist at Union Bancaire Privée.
This, Casanova says,” suggests China may be preparing to adopt a Hangzhou-style model that promotes both hard technology and high value-added software and services in its upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, expected to be unveiled this October. Although we won’t know for certain until the draft is made public, it appears that China is gearing up for a strategic turn in 2026.
However, it will be simpler to persuade global funds that the multi-year tech inquisition is over. Although handshakes and rhetoric are acceptable, it is more crucial to end the regulatory chaos that has persisted recently.
According to Jeremy Mark, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council,” this will take much more than optimistic pronouncements to restore confidence after months of undelivered promises.” Beijing has long sought out foreign institutional investors, but this uncertainty is unsettling.
The volatility of recent months, though”, has given Chinese officialdom greater incentive to pursue a tightly regulated, less volatile stock market — one in which the likes of insurance companies, pension funds, and other government-run behemoths hold sway over individual investors,” Mark says.
The order of the day, Mark adds”, will be to encourage long-term investments in large companies by offering bigger dividends, share buybacks, and — ideally—steady profit growth. ”  ,
Of course, some people believe that concerns about market structure are overshadowed by the attractiveness of mainland valuations.  ,
” Since January, the rally in the Chinese tech sector has been stunning, though the overall A-Shares market has not risen much,” says Jen of Eurizon SLJ.
Companies outside the tech industries are trying to do the same, just as Chinese tech companies are actively looking for ways to harness the power of rapidly advancing AI. Chinese companies are generally very eager to adopt the best technologies, especially if they are cheap.”
When the” Magic Seven” is so expensive, Jen adds,” Chinese equities ought to be in good standing if the collective’I Q’ of Chinese manufacturing can keep up with the best in the world.” ” The seven companies mentioned here are Apple, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Amazon.com, Nvidia, Meta Platforms and Tesla.
The argument isn’t always clear-cut. As mainland stocks surged last week, so did Nvidia’s.
By the start of this week, the California-based company had recovered roughly 90 % of its market valuation losses. It’s a reminder that the AI boom is no particular nation’s to lose. And that Beijing’s desire to keep control might conflict with the success of disruptors like DeepSeek.
According to Bank of America analyst Vivek Arya,” The stock may be volatile following results, but we anticipate positive momentum to resume as investors look forward to Nvidia’s leading new product pipeline and total addressable market expansion into robotics and quantum technologies at the upcoming]Nvidia ] conference.”
The macroeconomic backdrop matters, of course. The upcoming Trump trade war and the high chances that they will cause inflation are still a source of uncertainty for the world.
” The upbeat mood seen among US businesses at the start of the year has evaporated, replaced with a darkening picture of heightened uncertainty, stalling business activity and rising prices,” says Chris Williamson, chief economist at S&, P Global Market Intelligence.
Companies, Williamson says”, report widespread concerns about the impact of federal government policies, ranging from spending cuts to tariffs and geopolitical developments. He states that the outlook for the rest of 2025 has shifted to “one of the gloomiest outlooks since the pandemic.”
Despite this, there is growing hope that Team Xi’s efforts to batten down the hatches and its exportation to global South nations will lessen its vulnerability to Trump’s bullying than many people had predicted.
China Inc. is also demonstrating that it has some serious game on playing fields Trump World takes for granted, and not just AI. Chinese biotech companies are exhibiting signs of developing drugs more quickly and affordably than their American competitors.
At the same time as Trump is empowering Tesla billionaire Musk to launch a disaster against America’s scientific research institutions, this includes cancer drugs.
In the case of Alibaba, though, investors are hoping Beijing’s multi-year battle with Chinese tech is officially over. To validate this optimism, Team Xi will need to make sure changes are being made so that the big meeting internet platform from last week is more than just a photo op.
Follow William Pesek on X at @WilliamPesek
The United States is threatening to impose levies on its main trading companions. China is advancing deal with the Global South in the interim to strengthen its position as the world’s hub for manufacturing and technological innovation.
If the position of America in globalization has been to take the country’s goods and resources by building on a basis of ever-increasing debt, China has been to produce tangible goods for the global market.
China is expanding its market, particularly to those in the World South.
China eliminated all tariffs on products from the least developed nations as of December 2024. Foreign Premier Li Quang has also referred to China as a potential financial hub for international investment.
China’s trade deficit with the rest of the world is about US$ 1 trillion money. Its share of global exports was 14 % in 2023, compared to 8.5 % for the U. S.
China is collaborating with local nations to establish itself as the center of Asian trade. As Chinese firms invest abroad to avoid National tariffs and expand their markets, China’s Belt and Road Initiative is funding facilities in about 150 countries.
At the moment, China accounts for 35 % of the world’s production. The UN projects that this will increase by 45 % by 2030.
China has achieved this reputation by building effective, high-quality system.
Additionally, it fosters very inventive and technologically savvy ecosystems. The recent emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence ( AI ) startup that is dramatically disrupting the sector, illustrates this reality.
China also has authority over the world’s industrial supply stores in numerous crucial areas.
Despite its continuing economic decline, China’s market grew by about 5 % in 2024 and has the potential to grow more as it transitions to a high-tech business.
By 2030, the state may have what’s known as a consuming course of 1.1 billion people, making it the world’s largest consumer business.
Only 7.8 % of the population has the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, but China produces about 65 % of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics ) graduates globally on an annual basis.
China is also the world’s most innovative companies and industries, but there is still room for improvement in equipment in smaller cities and rural areas. China will need to take the lead in managing these innovations ‘ social and economic effects because it is a worldwide leader in using technology and AI.
China has scale economies that no other nation can meet, aside from India. Its dominance in the manufacturing sector is the natural result of introducing a growing, technologically advanced nation with a large population to the contemporary world system.
The primary Donald Trump administration aimed to encourage private business and to encourage investment in the US. He thought taxes may increase the number of manufacturing tasks, reduce the federal deficit, and lower foods costs.
The following Trump administration has resumed imposing tariffs in an effort to import products from different nations into the US. Trump has threatened to impose levies on the United States, Mexico, and Europe.
He has already imposed additional 10 % tariffs on all Chinese goods and imposed 25 % tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the US. He’s also threatening tariffs on Taiwan, attempting to remove it of its semiconductor sector.
Trump generally demands that other nations address business imbalances by purchasing more expensive British exports in exchange for unhindered access to the US market.
He’s attempting to recreate an American business dominance that was only possible after World War II. Also, the traditional circumstances that led to China’s reduction in the 19th and 20th centuries are longer history.
To engage with China’s benefits, the US needs a competent and powerful state capable of long-term planning. Under Trump, the US is losing this already-weak potential every day.
Because both the state and Americans incur remarkable debt to finance their usage, the US is the largest consumer economy in the world.
Currently, the American national debt is more than$ 36 trillion while consumer debt was$ 17.5 trillion in 2024.
Because the US is considered the world’s reserve currency, the dollar is gather a lot of debt. However, the US has manipulated the money by putting sanctions and laws against it outside of its borders by using the currency’s reserve status to impose sanctions and laws on sovereign states.
This has created a significant force — led by the BRICS countries of Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates — to remove the US dollars with different economic instruments.
In response, Trump has threatened 100 % taxes on any states that try to cut the US dollar.
There has been a decline in most measures of social well-being in the US, but the British economy has grown through pumping up property bubble. This coincides with increasing British social, political and economic volatility.
Imports to the West are more expensive than China’s in the Global South. In Asia, Africa, and Latin America, Taiwanese businesses and products are the most popular.
To the Global South, there are obvious benefits to entering cheap, high-quality systems and commercial products from China. China’s industrial world is also gain a lot from them, but perhaps at the expense of its own established professional capacity.
China’s increasing production dominance means that every nation will need at least some of its products to build or maintain industry, despite some states stumbling to block Chinese imports to safeguard their industries. Nearly difficult for most nations to completely stop all deal with China.
The world is entering a new era of modernization. Many states must decide how to handle the economic and political costs and advantages of engaging with China’s vast industrial potential while avoiding being financially hampered by the US.
St. Thomas University ( Canada ) professor of international relations and political science Shaun Narine.
The Conversation has republished this essay under a Creative Commons license. Read the original post.
After razing an extension market that had occupied the footpath for almost 20 years, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) is renovating a walkway at Klong Toey Market on Rama IV Road.
The street-side business, known as Rim Khlong Hua Lamphong Market, or Talat Lao for little, has long existed in the area.
By April, the road repairs around the industry will be finished, giving one of the city’s oldest new markets a cleaner and more organized appearance.
The Lao Market has a route of over 100 meters that has been occupied by Bangkok’s government, Chadchart Sittipunt, since 2005.
Following complaints that pedestrians were forced to walk on the road and losing accidents, the BMA implemented a plan to eliminate all stalls from the area.
Additionally, vendors were accused of dumping their waste directly into the river, making it a dump site, and infuriating the canal’s health.
The area was initially designated as a transitory vendor zone, with almost 100 stalls selling food and supplies, with a focus on northeastern cuisine.
On Aug 30 2018, the Klong Toey District Office fully revoked the momentary merchant rights.
Sellers continued to set up road stalls until December of last year when the district office mobilized more than 100 officials, including Klong Toey and near stations ‘ police officers, to regain the area after several months of stall owners were given several times to leave.
Before the road was destroyed, sellers occupied the space inside the Lao Market.
Officials properly eradicated the business structures and cleared the area. While most sellers agreed to leave and go back to their communities, others moved their businesses to Klong Toey Market.
Somjet Kaewklay, the head of the area law enforcement part at Klong Toey District Office, stated,” This is the beginning of an effort to improve the environment around Klong Toey Market, which is one of the governor’s methods for regulating city stalls.”
The BMA wants to make the road along Ratchadaphisek Road, from Klong Toey Intersection to Na Ranong Intersection, more peaceful and transfer the room to pedestrians.
According to him,” We will improve not only the road along Rama IV Road but also all streets around Klong Toey Market,” adding that fresh cement walkways and wheelchair-accessible stairs will be installed in accordance with universal design concepts.
” All road repairs will be completed by the end of April”, he confirmed.
” This job has cost only a few million baht, but the rewards will be important. Klong Toey Market will have more appealing landscaping and yet roads. He added that there will be designated parking lots that won’t block transportation, making it easier for both consumers and pedestrians.
Chaturon Hundee, 57, welcomed the changes, noting that the market’s outside had formerly been repulsive. My parents frequently took me to Klong Toey Market during the Chinese New Year as a child. We had to buy large quantities of poultry, duck, and bacon because the costs were so cheap. However, walking round was hard, and the floor was usually wet and dirty. I’m pleased to see these modifications– at the very least, it will be easier for commuters like myself to slip through”, he said.
Wittaya Saejung, a meat merchant at Klong Toey Market for over 30 years, expressed help for the repairs, although he sympathised with the suppliers forced to relocate.
He also emphasized the need for designated supply truck driving spaces to reduce place traffic.
” If feasible, there should be federal officials overseeing neatness, especially now that so many international visitors visit the business”, he suggested.
Jakkapan Phiewngam, lieutenant governor of Bangkok, who oversees city merchant policies, said that the BMA has a plan to progressively eliminate temporary merchant zones, especially on commuter walkways, to maintain cleanliness and order in the town.
” Nearly 20 years ago, there were 683 designated places where 20, 771 sellers operated city booths. Afterwards, the Metropolitan Police Bureau requested the destruction of all of these areas. By 2010, the BMA had safely cancelled the lot, leaving only 61 places with 3, 723 sellers. Yet, despite restrictions, 9, 996 suppliers continued to set up booths unlawfully in 323 spots”, he noted.
He continued,” We will proceed to restore public sidewalks to keep our town orderly and clear, just like we have done in the Klong Toey Market.”
After destroying an extension market that had occupied the footpath for almost 20 years, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) is renovating a walkway at Klong Toey Market on Rama IV Road.
The street-side business, known as Rim Khlong Hua Lamphong Market, or Talat Lao for little, has long existed in the area.
By April, the market’s street repairs may be finished, giving it a cleaner and more organized appearance than one of the city’s oldest new markets.
The Lao Market has a route of over 100 meters that has been occupied by Bangkok’s government, Chadchart Sittipunt, since 2005.
Following issues about walkers being forced to walk on the road and risking accidents, the BMA implemented a plan to eliminate all stalls from the area.
Additionally, distributors were accused of dumping their waste directly into the river, making it a dump site, and infuriating the canal’s inhabitants with bad odours and health problems.
Nearly 100 stalls selling food and supplies, with a focus on northeastern cuisine, were previously designated as a momentary vendor area.
On Aug 30 2018, the Klong Toey District Office fully revoked the momentary merchant rights.
Retailers continued to set up road stalls until December of last year when the city office mobilized more than 100 officials, including Klong Toey and local stations ‘ police officers, to regain the place after giving stall owners several months to leave.
Before the Lao Market was destroyed, sellers occupied the road inside the building.
Officials properly eradicated the business structures and cleared the area. While the majority of sellers agreed to leave and go back to their homeland, others moved their businesses to Klong Toey Market.
Somjet Kaewklay, the head of the area law enforcement part at Klong Toey District Office, stated,” This is the beginning of an effort to improve the environment around Klong Toey Market, which is one of the governor’s methods for regulating city stalls.”
The BMA wants to make the road along Ratchadaphisek Road more peaceful and give back the space to pedestrians, starting at Klong Toey Intersection and ending at Na Ranong Intersection.
According to him,” we will improve not only the footpath along Rama IV Road but also all of the streets around Klong Toey Market,” adding that new cement walkways and ladders designed for wheelchairs will be installed in accordance with universal design guidelines.
” All road repairs will be completed by the end of April”, he confirmed.
” This job has cost only a few million baht, but the rewards will be important. Klong Toey Market will seem much more appealing and even have trails nearby. There will be designated park lots that won’t impede customers, making it easier for both consumers and pedestrians,” he continued.
Chaturon Hundee, 57, welcomed the changes, noting that the market’s outside had formerly been repulsive. My parents frequently took me to Klong Toey Market during the Chinese New Year as a child. We had to buy large quantities of poultry, bird, and pork because the costs were so cheap. However, walking round was hard, and the floor was usually wet and dirty. I’m pleased to see these modifications– at the very least, it will be easier for commuters like myself to slip through”, he said.
Wittaya Saejung, a meat merchant at Klong Toey Market for over 30 years, expressed help for the repairs, although he sympathised with the suppliers forced to relocate.
He also emphasized the need for designated park lots for supply vehicles in order to relieve place traffic congestion.
” If feasible, there should be federal officials overseeing neatness, especially now that so many international visitors visit the business”, he suggested.
Jakkapan Phiewngam, lieutenant governor of Bangkok, who oversees city seller policies, said that the BMA has a plan to progressively eliminate temporary merchant zones, especially on commuter walkways, to maintain cleanliness and order in the town.
” Approximately 20 years ago, there were 683 designated areas where 20, 771 vendors operated street stalls. Later, the Metropolitan Police Bureau requested that all of these areas be eliminated. By 2010, the BMA had successfully cancelled the majority, leaving only 61 sites with 3, 723 vendors. However, despite restrictions, 9, 996 vendors continued to set up stalls unlawfully in 323 locations”, he noted.
” We will continue to restore public spaces to keep the city orderly and clean, just like we have done in the Klong Toey Market,” he continued.
” Betrayed”!, shouts the headline in Der Spiegel, Germany’s top left-wing news outlet.
” Trump’s embrace of , Putin is a Molotov-Ribbentrop crisis for Europe” , , declares , Ambrose Evans-Pritchard , in the , London , Daily Telegraph.
The putatively pro-Trump , New York Post , devoted , its , Feb. 21 , entrance website to , an expanded screed , against the US senator by neocon , wordsmith , Douglas Murray.
From the shrieking in the , war , camp, you’d assume it was the end of the world. But it’s not the end of the world: It’s just the close of them. Little fails like a loss, and the twenty-year effort to change the Russian government from Ukraine lacked blatant failure as the Russian Federation built more arms than the entire NATO combined. Unrelenting Russian increases  , hollowed out the Ukraine Army.
The war group’s only desire is to blame their loss on Trump, and to roll out the , conflict , until it becomes a permanent position of , war.  ,
Trump has proposed a great plan for a worldwide arms race reduction that would allow the United States to reduce its defense budget by half and prevent a potential British debt crisis.  , That may leave the everlasting national protection establishment in Washington, Brussels, and London useless and poor.  , The establishment won’t go down without a struggle.
The Biden Administration feared that the Russian economy may crumble under US restrictions. In March 2022 , President Biden , declared,” The Russian economy is on track to be cut in half” . , On the contrary, real per capita GDP in Russia was 6 % higher in 2024 than in 2021. Prices and high interest rates have been caused by Russia’s round-the-clock combat economy, but they now produce and spend more than they did before the war started.  ,
The , entirety , of the foreign legislation establishment—from , progressive globalists like Tony Blinken and Jake Sullivan to neocon Republicans like , Trump’s dismissed National Security Advisor , H. R. McMaster , and former Defense Secretary , James Mattis , insisted that , Ukraine did love Russia with sufficient American aid.  , They were thunderingly bad.
At the cost of Western Europe, Asia benefited from discounted Russian energy imports.  , As the European media support Deutsche Welle reported , February 22:
In 2021, about 50 % of Russia’s export went to European countries … However, by the end of 2023, less than two decades after the war began on February 24, 2022, the image was entirely transformed.  , Recently published figures for 2023 show China and India out in front as Russia’s two main export markets, accounting for 32.7 % and 16.8 % respectively — half the total. India accounted for only 1.5 % of Russian exports in 2021, compared to 14.6 % for China.
To the surprise of European war managers, Russia produced more weapons than the combined NATO states, increasing its overall weapons output , threefold,  , including , seven times more weaponry shells , than the combined West , according to , Estonian , military knowledge estimates.  , India, Turkey, the original Central Asian Russian States, as well as China all increased their imports to Russia,  , investing in local economies to avoid financial sanctions on Russia.  ,
The foreign policy creation didn’t say convincingly that Russia’s market is on the verge of collapse, but it continues to , lay about the state of the battle on the ground.
The Western press is full of wildly exaggerated reports of Russian casualties, and Ukraine refuses to release casualty statistics.  , But the best estimates of US military intelligence officers , state that Ukraine’s casualties are significantly higher than Russia’s – and Ukraine has a quarter of Russia’s population. Some 6.3 million Ukrainians are registered as refugees in Europe, and a reported , 650, 000 Ukrainian men , had , fled the country to avoid military service , as of November 2023. Today’s total is higher.
Western media , claim that Russia is taking heavy casualties in “human wave” assaults. This is pure invention. The war is waged on a small-unit level, with dozens rather than hundreds or thousands of soldiers present at any one time. A senior US military intelligence officer who covered the Ukraine war in a memo from January:”…
There are few troop , movements or assaults that involve larger-than-platoon forces. In fact, on any given day there might be 150-200 “assaults” by the Russians. A single assault will involve one or more squads, each of seven-to-10 troops, moving on a Ukrainian position.
The two or more squads aren’t tightly coordinated; instead, they are simply attacking in the same general area at once. Prior to the Ukrainians ‘ engagement with the APC(s ), the assault typically involves being moved to the forward lines in one or two armored personnel carriers and dropped off.
The squad then divides into three to four-total-trooper fire teams and moves forward. They search for Ukrainian troops as far as they can and go forward. Once discovered, the Ukrainians engage the Russians using both their own and whatever else they have available, including FPV drones ( suicide drones ), FPV drones ( suicide drones ), artillery, and aviation, if applicable.  ,
The attack continues until everyone in the slit trench, bunker, building, etc., in front of them is dead. Then they leave.  ,
As can be seen, using such tactics, and with the goal of killing Ukrainian soldiers , versus taking land as priority one, there is unlikely to be any sort of “breakout”.
Russia, in contrast to Ukraine, allows the publication of accurate casualty statistics, such as those found on Mediazone, which” combates through numerous Russian websites to locate reports of individual family members who have died in combat.” According to the cited US intelligence officer, these numbers have closely matched estimates made by various outside observers who have used verified reports from various units and scaled those up to obtain estimates.
Mediazone reports that current Russian dead ( end of December 2024 ) is just short of 87, 000 and gives an upper bound of 120, 000 to that number. Checking of their numbers shows that about 17, 000 have died in the last 100 days – the period of the renewed Russian , “offensive”.
Russian soldiers killed in action , (KIA )  , total between 87, 000 , and 120, 000 through December 2024, which implies wounded in action ( WIA ) of between 305, 000 and 480, 000. The claim of 40, 000 Russian casualties per month by the Ukrainian General Staff is simply unsupported by close scrutiny and likely to be overstated by at least 100 % ( they are more than twice as many ).
Ukraine casualties, in this intelligence officer’s estimate, are at least  , 108, 000 KIA and 375, 000 WIA. But , the more likely numbers are 160, 000 KIA and 640, 000 WIA. In addition, Ukrainian desertions are tremendous. There were more than 100 000 Ukrainian soldiers facing desertion charges, according to reports from various different sources as of the middle of December.  , Russia is suffering huge losses but, in absolute terms, Ukraine’s losses are probably worse. When taken as a whole, against the fact that Russia has a population of nearly 150 million ( 5 times larger than Ukraine ), the war of attrition is not sustainable.”
Whether Russia or Ukraine started the war is an issue for sophists, not strategists, but the mainstream media , have made it an obsession.  , Trump , declared February 18 , that Ukraine ” ,should have never , started”  , the , war three years ago,  , to howls of protest from the war camp.
Technically, as Trump acknowledged in a Fox News radio interview February 21, Russia fired the , first shots. But , Trump has  , stated repeatedly that , Zelenskyy’s insistence on , NATO membership for Ukraine was a tripwire for war.  , He told , venture capitalist , David Sacks  , in a podcast , last June,  , as I reported , at the time:
” Biden was saying all the wrong things.  , And one of the worst things he was saying was, no, Ukraine will go into NATO.  , When I listened to him speak, I said, this guy’s going to start a war. As you may well know, there has never been any talk of Russia entering Ukraine for years. That would have never happened. Russia was never going to attack Ukraine.”
Russia , advanced a plan – , the so-called , Minsk II , agreement – for , an independent, sovereign and , neutral , Ukraine, with autonomy in language and , cultural matters for Russian majority areas.  , Zelenskyy and his backers in Washington and London , abandoned the agreement.  , The long-serving former German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared in her memoirs, published in November 2022, that the West , pretended to negotiate with Russia on the Minsk II framework” to buy time” for Ukraine to re-arm.  ,
Putin’s response to the extension of NATO to the Ukrainian-Russian border was the same as America’s response to the prospect of Russian missile deployments in Cuba in , October , 1962.  , As the Russian leader , declared , on February 23, 2022, on the eve of the war:
The Alliance, its military , infrastructure has reached Russia’s borders. This is one of the main reasons behind the European security crisis, has had the worst effects on the entire international relations system, and has led to the loss of trust.
The situation continues to deteriorate, including in the strategic area. As part of the US project to build a global missile defense system, positioning points for interceptor missiles are being established in Romania and Poland. The launchers deployed there are widely known to be capable of operating Tomahawk cruise missiles and offensive strike systems.
In addition, the United States is developing its all-purpose Standard Missile-6, which can provide air and missile defense, as well as strike ground and surface targets. In other words, the allegedly defensive US missile defense system is expanding and developing its new offensive capabilities.
According to the information we have, it is possible that Ukraine’s membership in NATO and the subsequent deployment of NATO facilities are already in the makings and only a matter of time. We clearly understand that, given this scenario, the level of military threats to Russia will increase dramatically, several times over. And I want to point out right away how much more likely it will be that someone will strike our nation right away.
Just , as President Trump said, Ukraine and its NATO backers provoked the war.  , Not only did they provoke a war that never should have begun, they bungled its execution, woefully underestimating Russia’s capacity to , adapt to new warfare technologies, and overestimating Washington’s ability to , choke Russia , with , sanctions.  , The war party faces not only shame and humiliation but unemployment, and it will do anything in its power to prevent this.
Embassy concerns guidelines in response to situations in northeastern tourist towns
PUBLISHED: 22 Feb 2025 at 16: 03
After facing criticism for alleged disorderly behavior in the Pai city of Mae Hong Son state, the Embassy of Israel in Thailand has issued guidelines to encourage the great picture and respect of Jewish citizens in the country.
The Thai Embassy published a blog on its Facebook section on Friday with advice for how to behave while there. Many Thai individuals expressed concerns about the activities of some Israelis in the northern tourist town, particularly in relation to the construction of a Jewish temple, which some believed might indicate incursion.
Local officials have confirmed that the construction of the torah, a community center where religious services are also held, is permitted, and that all of the Israelis who were seen as causing problems were authorized visitors.
In reaction, the embassy advised its citizens to abide by Thai customs and laws to preserve the country’s good image and develop goodwill.
Among the recommendations were to avoid loud noises in open spaces, respect private property, agree with prospects laws, observe permitted visa durations, dress appropriately and join graciously with locals, including when bargaining at markets.
A report was included in the announcement that several Israelis have been deported from Thailand in recent weeks for local legal violations.
The embassy urged all visitors to maintain good relations and mutual respect between the two countries and to conduct themselves with dignity and emphasized that Israeli citizens have generally received a warm welcome in Thailand.
Immigration officers discovered no instances of Israeli citizens breaking the law at a recent chabad gathering in Pai. Around 200 to 300 Israeli nationals gathered there to pray, and they later enjoyed meals.
In recent weeks, Pai residents have reported a number of incidents involving Israeli citizens. Four men broke into the emergency room at Pai Hospital after barging in to see a fellow patient who was being treated there following a motorcycle accident, which was the most widely reported one.
In a social media discussion, a Facebook user who went by the name Wasu Yok Koysiripong commented,” I see many Thai netizens overreacting. What’s wrong with opening a Chabad house? Just because they’re coming in large numbers does not mean they’re taking over.
Another user, Hila Raviv Gozlan, wrote,” We need all the Chabad houses to print this guideline and share it to all visitors”.
The United States sent some very clear messages to Europe last week that it is ready to overturn the world order.
US Vice President JD Vance remarked to a startled Munich Security Conference that there is an “enemy within” to officials who disobey their own needs and values. He even advocated for right-wing political parties to be brought into the major.
However, at a meeting of NATO defence officials, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth talked about challenging power, the warrior attitude and the need for NATO people to spend up to 5 % of their Earnings on defense. The most recent increase, the long-standing NATO recommendation, is only about 2 %.
He reiterated his commitment to the defense of Poland ( and NATO ) and pledged to bolster the US military presence there. But, despite the mixed communication, the United States is certainly leaving Europe anytime soon.
However, according to reports, President Donald Trump wants a considerable levy to pay back Ukraine for its support and protection.
The mixture of these statements has left politicians and pundits wondering whether the US-led global order, with its multilateral institutions, is on its cue?
From the remains of the Second World War, the United States was instrumental in creating the rules-based global order.
Detractors have criticized the UN-related organizations that have been established at this time. But the rules-based get is probably best viewed as Voltaire saw the Holy Roman Empire:” no means divine, nor Roman, nor an kingdom”. Those who support the rules-based order’s fate should be cautious with their intentions.
Due to 1945, there was hardly ever a system of reliable foreign exchanges. And while powers have made some exceptions for themselves, the world’s experience has still been marked by remarkable stability and prosperity thanks to the rules-based purchase.
But, why would the United States today appear to be retreating from this arrangement? This is partially explained by the declining US effect.
We must go back 25 years to the day China joined the World Trade Organization ( WTO ) to properly contextualize the current events.
In the belief that market reform may eventually lead to political liberalization, then-US President Bill Clinton supported and facilitated this action.
Since therefore, China’s expansion has skyrocketed owing to its ready accessibility to world markets. But it’s retained a strong feudal method, counter to the nature of the WTO. The West’s concerns about the changing world power stability have increased significantly as a result.
Since Xi Jinping’s rise to power in 2012, in special, China has taken on an adversarial position to the rules-based purchase, following its own set of rules.
In reality, China previously sought democratic and trade liberalization, but the world did not. Instead, the regulations, as they were implemented in China ( and a small portion of Russia ), made it possible for state-owned companies to co-opt, if not completely steal, technology shared by their international business partners.
International businesses were forced to leave China and had trouble putting themselves in the same league as domestically priced Chinese goods.
Trump’s increase is, in part, a reaction to these improvements. During his first word from 2017–20, Trump grimly attempted to take a hostile, transactional approach to international relationships. Then, as he begins his second term, he has a much more clear-eyed plan of action.
Trump’s new perspective of interpersonal relationships with America’s standard partners was shockingly obvious at the Munich Security Conference.
In his opinion, the United States is more intent on acting as a tremendous energy with its own economic interests at heart than is reversing into protectionism. Trump wants the US to take its place in a world where spheres of influence problem just as much, if not more, than any specific set of regulations.
Undoubtedly, the US is no longer advocating for globalism, in which states cooperate as equal. Today, it’s focused more on multi-polarity – a globe with some great power, in which the US puts its own objectives first. As Trump often reminds us,” America First”.
Friends and adversaries have also been taking unfair advantage of, in this viewpoint, according to this perspective:
Its supporters have also benefited from the benevolence of its safety umbrella, which has resulted in their reckless approach to security.
The Trump president’s solution to all of this involves doling out hypocritical advice. Vance demonstrating this by urging their calm immigration plans to be reversed.
]embedded information]
Additionally, it distributes some strong medicine, purportedly in an effort to elicit a response in Western capitals to substantially increase their defense spending. This would help the US to step up from being Europe’s security surety and finally accomplish its long-talked-about pivot to Asia and concentrate on its primary attack: China.
Russia is undoubtedly a part of this strategy. Trump’s alleged goal is to remove or destabilize China by attempting to sever Russia from its Chinese hug. A tough-fought agreement with Russia regarding Ukraine may be the rate he’s willing to pay to get that happen.
For America’s nearby security and economic associates, this presents an extraordinary problem. The outdated assumptions and expectations not long appear to hold true. What’s important then is not so much America’s shared beliefs with Europe, it’s their clashing objectives.
For America’s friends, as well as its opponents, this is going to involve some hard thinking and new techniques, both economically and physically.
The Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre is led by John Blaxland, a teacher.
This content was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original post.