Day: April 24, 2025

China’s smart vehicles with sophisticated in-car entertainment – from huge video screens to advanced stereo – are sure-fire hits in Russia, where drivers and passengers are increasingly embracing digital technology, vendors said this week during the world’s largest auto show. Advertisement Major Chinese carmakers including Chery Automobile, Great Wall Motor and Geely Auto are the vanguards and biggest winners in Russia, after Western brands stopped selling and marketing their vehicles in the country amid Russia’s three-year military invasion of Ukraine. Other Chinese brands are playing catch-up in the nation of…

The US may move to lower tariffs on Chinese goods in an attempt to revive trade talks, but Beijing will need to reciprocate if there is to be a deal, according to President Donald Trump’s former envoy to China. Advertisement Terry Branstad, who was ambassador during Trump’s first term, predicted there would be “some movement that will reduce the burden and [give] an indication that we want a deal”. “And then we need a reciprocal response from the Chinese that shows they have an interest in it,” he said, during…

Reed Bank – a contested area of the South China Sea believed to be rich in gas and oil – could become a future hotspot for stand-offs and conflicts between China and the Philippines, especially if Manila moves forward with unilateral resource exploration as part of its energy security quest, according to analysts. Advertisement However, they added that Manila’s limited development capacity, the coming midterm election in the Philippines, Washington’s other geopolitical distractions, and careful risk assessment by multinational companies could delay Reed Bank’s emergence as a flashpoint in the…

Switzerland’s foreign minister has called for a “coalition” of countries to deal with the tariff war waged by US President Donald Trump, and touted Beijing as an important advocate of a multilateral world. Advertisement Ignazio Cassis told reporters in Beijing on Thursday that Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs have “created uncertainty everywhere, for everyone” including countries that were viewed as closer to the United States, adding that “no one is safe”. “The difficulty we are having on the tariff matter is something that every other country shares. We have to create…

Having lived and worked in Africa for 15 years, I have seen the enormous investments China has made in the continent, and the misunderstandings, tensions and criticism that have followed. One of the most profound differences between China and the West in foreign engagement lies in the approach to aid and public image. Advertisement While China relies heavily on centralised state power, Western countries have developed a vast, decentralised network of non-governmental organisations. Through years of observation, I have become convinced that China should experiment with an NGO model that…

China’s car shipments are projected to cool this year due to geopolitical tensions following two years of rapid growth, while US tariffs will saddle the nation’s auto industry with an additional US$46 billion in export costs, according to management consultancy AlixPartners. Advertisement Auto exports would climb by about 4 per cent to 6.7 million units in 2025, the firm said in a report on Thursday. Shipments grew 23 per cent last year to 6.4 million units after producers boosted sales to Russia and Belarus by 28 per cent, and to…