Geopolitics
ARTICLES
[ Nikkei ] U.S. set to resume trade talks with China
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai is expected to speak to Chinese vice premier Liu He by telephone over the next few days, calling on China to respect the “phase one” trade agreement it signed with Washington under former President Donald Trump. The U.S. also plans to resurrect partial exemptions on punitive tariffs to help curb the impact of…
[ Reuters ] Canada foreign minister says eyes wide open when it comes to normalizing China ties
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, flew back to China on Friday after reaching an agreement with U.S. prosecutors to end a bank fraud case against her. That resulted in the scrapping of her extradition battle in a Canadian court. Soon after Meng flew to…
[ SCMP ] North Korea open to closer ties with Seoul, formal end to Korean war is ‘admirable idea’: Kim Yo-jong
Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, says the North is open to “constructive discussion” to mend fences with South Korea if Seoul drops its “hostile attitude” toward Pyongyang. Speaking on Friday, she also welcomed South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s recent call to declare an end to the Korean war as an “interesting and admirable idea”,…
[ The Defenstar ] Argentina to buy inferior and more expensive JF-17 over FA-50 due to UK
Argentia has decided to buy 12 FC-1 ‘Xiaolong’ a.k.a. JF-17 Block-3 jets from China for 664 million USD (55 million per unit) rejecting other fighters on offer including the South Korean FA-50. India had not offered its Tejas fighter due to geopolitical reasons, however this deal helped to finally reveal the unit price of the…
[ ABC News ] Why World Bank is under fire over set of rankings
World Bank has long been accused of using sloppy methodology and of succumbing to political pressure in producing the rankings. This week, the bank dropped the report after investigators had reviewed internal complaints about “data irregularities’’ in the 2018 and 2020 editions of “Doing Business” and possible “ethical matters” involving World Bank staff members. In…
Syrian gas pipeline sabotage, causing complete power outage across Syria
Last night, Syria suffered a complete power outage for unknown reasons (other reports mention that this only affected Damascus and the surrounding regions). It was later announced by Syria’s Minister of Electricity Ghasan Al Zamel that a pipeline was targeted an explosive device at Deir Ali Power Plant, that caused the blackout. “There was a…
[ NYT ] Furious Over Sub Deal, France Recalls Ambassadors to U.S. and Australia
Calling American and Australian behavior “unacceptable between allies and partners,” France announced on Friday that it was recalling its ambassadors to both countries in protest over President Biden’s decision to provide nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. It was the first time in the history of the long alliance between France and the United States, dating back…
[ Sky News ] China says AUKUS submarine deal ‘highly irresponsible’ and ‘intensifies the arms race’
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian condemned the move and said: “The US, the UK and Australia’s cooperation in nuclear submarines severely damages regional peace and stability, intensifies the arms race, and jeopardises the international efforts in promoting the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. “The US and UK’s action of exporting highly sensitive nuclear…
AUKUS trilateral security partnership is now a thing
Australia, United Kingdom and the United States announces on 15 September 2021 at the White House, that the 3 countries will now form a new trilateral security partnership called AUKUS. The partnership will allow scientists, industries and defense forces from the 3 countries to work together. The cooperation will include cyber technologies, artificial intelligence, quantum…
[ The Sydney Morning Herald ] Australia, the US and UK to announce landmark new defence pact
Australia, the United States and Britain will unveil a landmark new security pact to share advanced technologies, including nuclear submarine technology, in a major international announcement on Thursday morning. As part of the pact, to be known as AUKUS, the US would help Australia develop a nuclear submarine capability, which could result in Australia dumping…
[ Business Insider ] First US Navy carrier strike group to deploy with F-35C stealth fighters sails into the South China Sea
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group sailed into the South China Sea this week carrying stealth fighters. The Carl Vinson is the first US Navy aircraft carrier to deploy with F-35Cs. Chinese state-affiliated media criticized the carrier’s arrival, calling it a “provocative deployment.” A deployed US Navy aircraft carrier sailed into the South China Sea…
India militarises highways as emergency landing strips; 20 under construction
Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently constructing/repurposing 20 stretches of national highway as emergency landing strips, with the first just completed in January this year. This is announced at Barmer by India’s Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari where they inaugurate the first of its kind at Satta-Gandhav stretch of the National Highway 925 on…
[ RT ] The last pipe of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 has been welded, operator announces
The final pipe of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project has been welded and will be lowered into the seabed of the Baltic Sea, the operator of the Russian project, Nord Stream 2 AG, said on Monday. According to the company, it will now dock the German section with the Danish one and will proceed…
Myanmar Reports: July 21 – Sept 9 2021
Gunfires and explosion reported at Sanchaung, Yangon; military vehicles rushed to the scene Fighting reported between Tatmadaw’s 138 infantry division against KIA in Putao district, Kachin State – 30 Aug 2021 Tatmadaw’s 363 brigade attack KIA’s 8 brigade positions at Kyaukkyi – 3 Sep 2021 Fighting reported between KIA and Tatmadaw at Homalin Township, Sagaing…
Fighting between RCSS (Shan Army South) and SSPP (Shan Army North) + TNLA (Ta’ang National Liberation Army) reported in Kyaukme Township, Northern Shan State
Wah Thinn@WahThinn4 Fighting between the RCSS and the coalition forces, TNLA and SSPP has intensified in Kyaukme Township, northern Shan State since August 11, bringing the number of refugees in Kyaukme Township to about 2,000. #Sep1Coup #ASEAN_StandForDemocracy #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
Tatmadaw warn Muslim administrators in Kyauktaw township, Arakan State against Arakan Army training courses
Source: https://www.dmediag.com/news/3388-msl-admin-ktw-mm The Myanmar military has summoned some local Muslim administrators in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, telling them not to accept an offer of police and administrative training courses to be provided by the Arakan Army (AA), according to the ward and village administrators. “Military officials told us not to accept the police and administrative…
Ukraine discovered to be exporting aircraft parts to the Tatmadaw
Ukraine has developed deep links to the Myanmar military, with arms exports and technology transfers continuing, even after the Myanmar military has committed mass murder amounting to atrocity crimes following its illegitimate coup attempt. According to Ukrainian export data, accessed via Import Genius, Motor Sich exported engines and parts to Myanmar twice since the military’s…
[ Qatar Tribune ] Taliban invite Qatar, Turkey, China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan to govt formation event
The Taliban on Monday gave an early glimpse of its foreign policy and geopolitical alignment as it invited Russia, China, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar to attend an event on its looming government formation. According to an Al Jazeera report, the Taliban invited these countries. The report cited a source saying the necessary procedures for…
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