On Tuesday, an alliance of 35 non-governmental organizations told Bank of China, a major global investor in coal- power plants, that it must end the financing of projects which fuel global warming and instead support clean and renewable energy. In… Read More ›
Belt and Road initiative
G7 agrees to coordinate approach on China more closely
Following the G7 summit in Britain, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, leaders of the Group of Seven agreed to coordinate more closely in their response to the challenges posed by China. The approach of G7 countries towards China will… Read More ›
Taiwanese firms in Myanmar fly Taiwanese flag to distinguish from Chinese financed companies facing brunt of public anger
Rising public anger in Myanmar against China, which is viewed as being supportive of the military junta has led Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Myanmar advised its companies that operate in the country to fly its flag so that they… Read More ›
China wants a boost in global trade & service ties : Xi Jinping
On Thursday, in a significant development, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated, Beijing will reduce its tariffs and expand imports of high-quality goods and services; he also vowed to push reforms and promote an innovation-driven growth model. The development comes in… Read More ›
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation eyeing multi-billion investments in Indonesia
On Friday, Adam Boehler, the Chief Executive Officer of U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a newly established development financier stated, it is eyeing multi-billion dollar investments in Indonesia in the next two months. Luhut Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for… Read More ›
Majority of Southeast Asian economies wary of China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Here is a summary of the results of a survey conducted by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute which is affiliated with Singapore’s government. As per the results of a policy survey by the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute which is affiliated with Singapore’s… Read More ›
Myanmar scales back Kyauk Pyu deepwater port fearing debt trap
Myanmar seems to have learned the lessons of China-back projects in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Avoids walking into a debt trap. According to a top government official from Myanmar, the government is scaling back plans for a port project funded… Read More ›
Australia and ASEAN to establish regional infrastructure pipeline
The development is aimed at boosting high quality infrastructure projects in the region. In a strategic development aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the region, Julie Bishop, Australia’s Foreign Minister stated the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and… Read More ›
U.S., India, Japan and Australia revive four-way talks to deepen security and economic cooperation in the region
The move, an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, is on the agenda on Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s visit this week to the U.S. where he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump and discuss a range of issues,… Read More ›
The mirage of success in China’s “Belt and Road” initiative
The success painted by Beijing’s state owned media regarding its strategic Belt and Road initiative significantly differs from the reality of the situation. As part of its central “Belt and Road” strategy, China has created an international free trade zone… Read More ›