Day: April 25, 2025

After a cat-and-mouse tariff game over the past 13 years, the rivalry between the US and China in the global solar panel industry is heading for crunch time. Advertisement The latest threat by US President Donald Trump to impose a fresh round of heavy duties on solar cells and modules shipped from four Southeast Asia nations – allegedly produced with “transnational subsidies” from Beijing – could land a major blow to the trade dominated by Chinese companies. The tariffs of up to 3,521 per cent if confirmed by June would…

Dong Mingzhu, a towering figure in China’s business world, has ignited a heated debate with comments that her company would avoid hiring executives educated abroad because of the risk they might be spies and her preference for home-grown talent. Advertisement Speaking at a shareholders’ meeting, the chairwoman of Gree Electric Appliances emphasised her company’s commitment to cultivating leadership from domestic universities, expressing concerns that overseas-educated professionals might pose a security risk. While her comments were not intended to be made public, a video of them leaked, highlighting China’s deepening divide…

When Chinese President Xi Jinping met Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago for the first time in April 2017, the summit was seen as a key moment to build personal rapport following the tariff threats made during Trump’s first presidential campaign. Advertisement The meeting at Trump’s Florida estate reflected Beijing’s willingness to move quickly in engaging an unpredictable new US president and helped underscore how leader-level diplomacy was once viewed as essential to stabilising ties. Fast forward to Trump’s second term, where there is no apparent prospect of any meeting, even though…

Chinese President Xi Jinping just finished his Southeast Asia tour to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia. It was his first overseas trip this year and, notably, he chose neighbouring countries. I couldn’t help but think of the Chinese saying that a relative far away is not as helpful as a neighbour close by. Advertisement This idea has deeply influenced how people interact in Chinese society for thousands of years. My mother would agree with the saying. When I was less than a year old, she had to work on weekdays and…

US President Donald Trump suggested another delay to his higher so-called “reciprocal” tariffs was unlikely, raising pressure on nations to negotiate trade deals with his administration. Advertisement Asked about the possibility of granting another 90-day pause, Trump cast that scenario as “unlikely”, while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday. Trump also said that he would not drop tariffs on China, the world’s second largest economy, unless Beijing offers “something substantial” in return. Trump said he believed financial markets were adjusting to his tariff policy, downplaying the volatility…