Headlines

Trump-Xi summit to weigh US energy sales amid Hormuz crisis

Energy partnership will be one of the key items on the agenda when United States President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing from Wednesday to Friday, with Washington seeking Beijing’s commitment to resume regular purchases of American oil and gas. US

Asia

Trump’s visit to Beijing: a great opportunity for China?

I have been arguing since 2014 that China is planned to establish its own version of the Monroe Doctrine. The argument was based primarily on the Chinese claim to more than 80% of the South China Sea (SCS) and the ongoing militarization of these waters. Other commentators have

Asia

Taiwan president thanks US for help in strengthening defences

COPENHAGEN, May 12 - Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Tuesday expressed his thanks to the U.S. for its help in strengthening the island's defences and said Taipei would not give in to pressure, ahead of a summit between the U.S. and Chinese leaders in Beijing this week.

Asia

India-Vietnam BrahMos missile deal a hot shot at China

Vietnam’s interest in acquiring India’s BrahMos missile has the potential to transform a routine arms deal into a high-stakes procurement impacting power, deterrence and strategic influence across the Indo-Pacific. This month, multiple media outlets reported that Vietnam is

Asia

Gwadar’s moment has finally arrived for Pakistan

In April 2026, Gwadar Port processed around 11,000 standard shipping containers. For context, the same port handled roughly 8,300 containers throughout 2025. This is not a record broken by a whisker. It is a record shattered and behind it lies a story about geography, patience

Asia

London Metal Exchange must recognize Indonesia’s aluminum boom

There are a multitude of reasons why the London Metal Exchange should approve China’s Tsingshan Holding Group’s request to register aluminum produced in Indonesia. Not because markets owe Jakarta a favor, nor because China’s industrial champions deserve another victory lap, but

Asia

Seven killed in blast in northwest Pakistan market, police say

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan, May 12 - Seven people, including two police officers and five civilians, were killed and dozens wounded in a blast at a market in north-western Pakistan on Tuesday, a senior police officer said, the second deadly attack in the region in four days.

Asia