Efforts by Bern to refresh free trade agreement with China have hit roadblocks stemming from China’s dismal human rights record. In 2013, both countries had signed a free trade agreement, marking Beijing’s first such deal with an economy in continental… Read More ›
China
Australia boosts weapon purchase from US
The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of mobile rocket launchers to Australia. The development comes at a time when Canberra is seeking to boost its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, midst growing Chinese belligerence. In a statement… Read More ›
Chinese Russian Air Forces hold joint military exercises
In a significant development the Air Forces of Russia and China conducted a joint aerial patrol over the Sea of Japan, East China Sea and the Western Pacific. In a statement China’s Defense Ministry said, the patrol was part of… Read More ›
Airbnb exits from China in signs of growing decoupling
On Tuesday, vacation rental firm Airbnb Inc said, from July 30 it will shut down all listings and experiences in mainland China. The development sees yet another Western internet platform joining a long list of companies which have opted out of… Read More ›
China wants BRICS expansion
In a statement a senior Chinese diplomat said, Beijing wants to expand the group of emerging economies known as BRICS. The development will mark the first shake up of the bloc in over a decade. The bloc was formed in… Read More ›
East Timor’s new President aims to forge closer relations with China
Nobel laureate Jose Ramos-Horta has been inaugurated as East Timor’s new president on Friday. He has pledged to dedicate his time in office to strengthen national unity and forge closer ties with China. Thousands have travelled to Dili, the capital… Read More ›
Chinese property developer Sunac China misses deadline for $742M offshore bond payment
Chinese developer Sunac China has missed the deadline for a coupon payments on a $742 million offshore bond and said, it doesn’t expect to make payments coming due on other bonds as well. The development adds to the wave of defaults… Read More ›
New attack submarine with vertical launch tubes spotted
Military analysts have spotted a vessel at a Chinese shipyard using satellite images and have opined that it could be a new or upgraded class of nuclear-powered attack submarine. The development comes in the wake of a report from the… Read More ›
Geely Automobile to acquire a portion of Renault’s stake in Renault Korea Motors
In a statement Renault said, it would sell a little over a third of its Korea unit to China’s Geely Automobile Holdings for around $200 million. The move is aimed at freeing up funds for Renault to invest in its electric business… Read More ›
Russia’s Sberbank developing domestic cloud infrastructure following sanctions
In a significant development, Russia’s top lender Sberbank said, it is developing an entirely domestic cloud infrastructure following Western sanctions which have caused issues with its foreign cloud partner. Western countries have imposed sanctions on Russian banks. Sberbank has started developing technology… Read More ›