Geopolitics

USA-India hails significant progress in Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA)

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | April 23, 2025 |

Here’s a focused summary of the latest developments between the U.S. and India during U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s four-day visit to India (April 21–24, 2025), emphasizing trade, energy, defense, and strategic ties, based on the most recent and reliable information available. The response integrates relevant details from web sources and X posts, with X…

[ Trade War SITREP: 13-16 April 2025 ] CHINA SIGNS 40 AGREEMENTS W VIETNAM; Trump to help car industry; decoupling continues…

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | April 16, 2025 |

KEYSTONE DEVELOPMENT US probes into imports of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors Federal Register filings reveal probes into imports of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors as part of a bid to impose tariffs on both sectors on grounds that extensive reliance on foreign production of medicine and chips is a national security threat. The filings announce 21-day public comment periods…

Trump raising China tariff to 125%; 75 countries that called Trump to negotiate, get 90 days tariff reprieve at 10%

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | April 10, 2025 |

Trump immediately counter attacked on China’s increase of retaliatory tariff to 84% with an immediate increase of tariff on China to 125%. While at the same time, Trump, upon achieving the goal of getting countries onto the negotiating table, the 75 countries that called USA to negotiate on the tariffs will now receive a 90…

ARTICLES

[ The Guardian ] Myanmar duo arrested in New York over plot to kill UN ambassador

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 7, 2021

Two Myanmar citizens have been arrested in New York state for plotting with an arms dealer in Thailand – who sells weapons to the Burmese military – to kill or injure Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations. The US attorney’s office for the southern district of New York said on Friday that Phyo Hein Htut, 28, and…

[ SCMP ] Biden administration approves its first arms sale to Taiwan

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 5, 2021

The potential US$750 million deal includes 40 new M109 self-propelled howitzers and almost 1,700 kits to convert projectiles into more precise GPS-guided munitions The proposed sale would improve Taiwan’s capability to blunt a Chinese land invasion The US State Department notified Congress on Wednesday of a proposal to sell some US$750 million of weapons to…

[ CNN Philippines ] Duterte admits US vaccine donations persuaded him to cancel VFA termination

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 5, 2021

https://www.cnn.ph/news/2021/8/3/Duterte-US-vaccine-donations-cancelation-of-VFA-termination.html President Rodrigo Duterte revealed on Monday that COVID-19 vaccine donations from the United States played a role in his decision to recall the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement. “Give and take lang tayo, so pasalamat tayo sa kanila at may naibigay naman ako sa kanila na (we thank them, and I also gave them a) concession,”…

[ The Jerusalem Strategic Tribute ] Can America Regain Global Leadership? A View From Singapore

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 4, 2021

Can America regain global leadership? The question reflects the shock and dismay with which foreign policy establishments in North America and Europe greeted and viewed Donald Trump’s election as the 45th president of the United States. They came to regard what Trump said and did in office between 2017 and 2021 as a repudiation of…

[ Reuters ] U.S., Britain believe Iran attacked Israeli-managed tanker off Oman

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | August 3, 2021

“Upon review of the available information, we are confident that Iran conducted this attack, which killed two innocent people, using one-way explosive UAVs,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, adding there was “no justification” for the attack. “We are working with our partners to consider our next steps and consulting with…

[ Frontline ] What Is the Fatemiyoun Brigade and Why Does It Make the Taliban Nervous?

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 29, 2021

In the new FRONTLINE report Leaving Afghanistan, correspondent Najibullah Quraishi investigated how Afghanistan’s neighbors — particularly Iran, through its proxy militia, the Fatemiyoun — are looking to fill the void as America withdraws. Quraishi spoke to Taliban leaders and former fighters who claimed Iran is mobilizing the Shia Fatemiyoun within Afghanistan. In return, a Sunni Taliban leader…

[ SCMP ] China pledges support for Taliban in Afghanistan, but demands end to ETIM ties

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 29, 2021

Foreign Minister Wang Yi tells delegation there is no room for links with terror group it blames for Xinjiang attacks Taliban spokesman says meeting in Tianjin covered political, economic and security issues as well as peace process China has pledged support for the Taliban’s role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction, while demanding that it cuts ties with the East Turkestan…

The lack of leadership in the UN exposed by the Myanmar crisis

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 29, 2021

As the monsoon season hits Myanmar, floods turning the plight of the Burmese facing the double threat of both persecution by the military-rules regime and COVID-19 virus into a hellish triple threat. Despite the obvious problem with the military overthrowing the election results, and mandating a one year postponement of a re-election (which there is…

[ USNI News ] Two Iranian Warships Spotted Near English Channel

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 19, 2021

Two Iranian warships are nearing the English Channel, according to satellite photographs reviewed by USNI News. The ships are thought to be headed to the Baltic Sea to represent Iran in a July 25 naval parade off the coast of St. Petersburg to commemorate the 325th anniversary of the Russian Navy

[ The Geopolitics ] The Philippines’ Maoist Guerillas Vow to Resist ‘Imperialist China’

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 19, 2021

…although the network holds deep historical and ideological affinities with Chinese Maoism, they now view contemporary China as a capitalist and imperialist power that is actively violating Philippine sovereignty using a variety of coercive economic and military means, thus making the Chinese state an adversary to be resisted. The recent 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC)…

[ The Guardian ] Pakistan detains five Chinese trawlers for alleged illegal fishing

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 15, 2021

Pakistan has detained five Chinese trawlers on suspicion of illegal fishing near its strategic port city of Gwadar, as a wave of protests swept across the region led by fishers concerned about losing control of their fishing grounds to China. The Chinese trawlers, loaded with fish, were taken into custody by the Pakistan Maritime Security…

[ Nikkei Asia ] US does not support Taiwan independence: Kurt Campbell

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 9, 2021

 U.S President Joe Biden’s point man on Asia is “astonished” by China’s determination to play the leading role on the global stage and will “step up” its engagement in Southeast Asia to hold back such a trend. But the administration does not support Taiwan independence and understands the sensitivities involved, Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell said…

[ Reuters ] Indonesia, Thailand consider booster shots amid doubts over Sinovac vaccine

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 9, 2021

But the challenges facing Southeast Asia are much bigger. Many countries in the region rely heavily on Chinese vaccines due to tight supplies of Western products, and have low vaccination rates of less than 10%. They are also battling a record-breaking surge in new cases and deaths, led by the highly contagious Delta variant, while…

[ EastAsiaForum] Why are Chinese troops assembling on the Myanmar border?

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 9, 2021

Source: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/07/03/why-are-chinese-troops-assembling-on-the-myanmar-border/ There is now potential for international escalation as Chinese troops are reported to be assembling in Jiegao, an important border town, which is not unexpected during periods of elevated tension. The troops are said to have rapid response capabilities if it is deemed necessary to guard the Kyaukpyu pipelines. The pipelines are a significant part…

[ SCMP ] Taiwan asserts island’s sovereignty after US restates opposition to independence

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 8, 2021

“We support a strong unofficial relationship with Taiwan. We do not support Taiwan independence,” Kurt Campbell, the White House Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, said in response to the question “how much love is too much?” when it came to stronger US ties with Taiwan. The comment, at an event hosted by the Asia Society, was…

[ Today ] Singapore to reclaim land around Pedra Branca to build facilities to improve maritime safety and security

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 6, 2021

The Housing and Development Board will reclaim land around Pedra Branca The development work will improve facilities on the island, let vessels berth and allow more facilities to be set up It will take a few years to complete  The work, announced in 2019, had been postponed owing to a sovereignty dispute with Malaysia Pedra Branca…

[ WeeklyBlitz ] Rohingya militancy group ARSA silently gets organized

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Dhaka Post reporters Adnan Rahman and Joshim Uddin in their report said, Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) has already recruited over two thousand members from the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, where it has approximately 150 female jihadists. Majority of the ARSA recruits are based in Kutupalong and Balukhali areas in Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf district. According…

[ DW ] As Lebanon nears collapse, EU debates sanctions

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | July 5, 2021

Lebanon continues to unravel as its economic and political crisis worsens. The country has not had a government for almost a year now and its economy is in the process of collapsing after decades of mismanagement and corruption. Over the past month, there have been stories both absurd and horrifying coming out of the small Mediterranean nation. For…

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