Headlines

Shein, Temu bans next front in US decoupling drive

Chinese e-commerce platforms Shein, Temu and TikTok Shop are quickly changing their business strategies to avoid bans from the US market but there’s no guarantee the shifts will succeed in what could be the next front in America’s campaign to decouple from China. The three

Asia Times •

Chinese takeover in Solomon Islands was preventable

I try to write stories that have a shelf life beyond a few days. An Asia Times article from November 27, 2021, “US misses golden opportunity in the Solomon Islands,” qualifies. The national elections have finished and the provincial elections are in their final stages. People

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Will new Solomon Islands PM stay close to China?

Former foreign minister Jeremiah Manele has been elected the next prime minister of Solomon Islands, defeating the opposition leader, Matthew Wale, in a vote in parliament. The result is a mixed bag for former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare’s Ownership, Unity and

Asia Times •

France sends combat troops to Ukraine battlefront

France has sent its first troops officially to Ukraine. They have been deployed in support of the Ukrainian 54th Independent Mechanized Brigade in Slavyansk. The French soldiers are drawn from France’s 3rd Infantry Regiment, which is one of the main elements of France’s Foreign

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The reality of courtesans in Netflix’s Heeramandi

Indian director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for his big-budget Bollywood production, featuring grand sets, star casts, meticulously choreographed dance sequences and lavish costumes, jewellery and furnishings. His new series for Netflix, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, lives

Asia Times •

Taiwan hit with millions of cyberattacks every day

Taiwan stands out as a beacon of democracy, innovation and resilience in an increasingly autocratic region. But this is under growing threat. In recent years, China has used a variety of “gray zone” tactics to pressure Taiwan to accept the Communist Party’s attempts at

Asia Times •

China making plans to build and ship EVs from Thailand

BANGKOK – China’s imported electric vehicles (EVs) are heavily denting US and Japanese car sales in Thailand, prompting Chinese manufacturers to invest more than a billion dollars to assemble their EVs near Bangkok to expand domestic sales and accelerate international exports.

Asia Times •

Trump-proofing NATO in the face of Russia’s nukes

Although a second Trump presidency is not a foregone conclusion, NATO members are gearing up to Trump-proof the organization and are reviewing their defense strategies. NATO’s concerns about Trump’s possible re-election were heightened by his flippant comment in February that

Asia Times •

The PLA’s dangerously double-edged sword

On the eve of China’s President Xi Jinping’s visit to Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron sounded a loud alarm bell when he said “Europe faces imminent danger” and that “things can fall apart very quickly.” He is concerned about the Russian war in Ukraine, now backed by

Asia Times •