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☆ Austin says it’s ‘unfortunate’ that Chinese defense chief declined meeting
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON — China’s defense minister declined a meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a meeting of defense leaders in Laos, a move the Pentagon chief said Wednesday was unfortunate. Multilateral gatherings of national security officials in Asia have been used in the past for meetings between U.S. and Chinese defense leaders, but China declined a meeting request by Austin during this week’s Southeast Asian Nations-Plus defense ministers meeting. It affects the region because the region really wants to see us, you know, two significant players in the region, two significant powers, talk to each other,” Austin told reporters. “I don’t think that it has any sort of implications for the future. Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed on Saturday to work with the incoming U.S. administration of Donald Trump as he held his final talks with departing President Joe Biden on conflicts from cybercrime to trade, Taiwan, the South China Sea and Russia.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Lloyd Austin, Wednesday, “, ” Austin, ” Austin added.Austin, Dong Jun, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: Pentagon, Austin, Nations Locations: Laos, Asia, China, Singapore, Taiwan, cybercrime, South, Sea, Russia

☆ Rodrigo Duterte wants to make a comeback in the Philippines. What could go wrong?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

But major cracks appeared in January, when Rodrigo Duterte called Marcos a “drug addict” and threatened that the president could be removed from power. Months later, Vice President Duterte-Carpio resigned as education secretary, a departure seen by analysts as a sign that the relationship between the country’s top leaders was beyond repair. “And when they get there, I will be the president of hell.”Marcos insisted he thought he and the vice president were friends. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte attend an education-related event in Manila on January 25, 2024. Despite all the controversies and alleged links to extrajudicial killings and suspected criminals, Duterte has told Davao voters that a vote for him is a vote for order.

Persons: Rodrigo Duterte, Donald Trump’s, Sara Duterte, Carpio, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, –, Ferdinand Marcos, Marcos, Rodrigo Duterte’s, Richard Heydarian, ”, Duterte, “, ” Duterte, Duterte's, Jes Aznar, Sebastian Duterte, Paolo Duterte –, Heydarian, “ It’s, ” Heydarian, Ezra Acayan, Ferdinand Marcos Sr, ” Marcos, Sandro Marcos, behead, Ranjit Singh Rye, ” Rye, Cleve Arguelles, Numero, Sebastian, Rodrigo’s, Paolo, ” Arguelles, reigniting, Prospero Nograles, Margarita, Karlo Nograles, Arguelles, Pastor Apollo Carreon, God ”, of Jesus Christ Organizations: CNN, Trump, Asian Center of, University of the, International Criminal Court, ICC, Department of Education, Lawmakers, Getty, Davao, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Kyodo, Marcos, FBI Locations: Philippine, Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines, United States, China, University of the Philippines, Davao, Manila, “, Duterte, West Philippine, Washington, Beijing, Rye, Karlo, of

☆ Scarborough Shoal: China maps out baseline claims over a contested South China Sea shoal with the Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-10 | by ( Story Ap | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

China has published baselines for a contested shoal in the South China Sea it had seized from the Philippines, a move that’s likely to increase tensions over overlapping territorial claims. Both China and the Philippines claim Scarborough Shoal and other outcroppings in the South China Sea. The statement added that one of the laws signed by Marcos, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, violates China’s sovereignty in the South China Sea. This photo taken on February 15, 2024, shows an aerial view of over Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. China stakes claim to almost the entirety of the South China Sea.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, Sta Rosa Organizations: Foreign Ministry, Scarborough, Philippine, Ministry, United, Philippine Maritime, Getty Locations: China, South China, Philippines, Scarborough Shoal, Philippine, Luzon, Beijing, United Nations, AFP, Vietnam, Asia

The head of Myanmar’s military government will pay an official visit this week to China, the embattled Southeast Asian nation’s most important international ally, for several regional meetings, state-run media reported on Monday, amid concern by the opposition. The visit comes as Myanmar’s army has suffered unprecedented battlefield defeats over the past year, especially in areas near the Chinese border. Myanmar’s pro-democracy opposition has expressed concern about China welcoming a visit by Min Aung Hlaing. It is Min Aung Hlaing and his group who are destroying these things,” Kyaw Zaw said. Myanmar’s army has been on the defensive since late last year when ethnic armed organizations dealt it major defeats in the country’s northeast.

Persons: Min Aung Hlaing, Aung, Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s, Min Aung, Chao, Kyaw Zaw, “, Aung Hlaing, ” Kyaw Zaw, Suu Organizations: Mekong Economic Cooperation, National Liberation Army, AFP, Getty Images, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, National Unity Government, Facebook, National League for Democracy, Brotherhood Alliance, ”, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Arakan Army Locations: China, Suu, Beijing, Myanmar, Kunming, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam Cooperation, China’s Yunnan, ” China, Russia, Kyaukme, Getty Images Russia, Jakarta, Shan

“She has been pretty resistant to having those conversations,” said one senior Democrat familiar with the pre-election discussions with the vice president. While Harris’ transition team has been operating out of government-provided offices in Washington, Trump’s transition team is working from Manhattan and the Willard Hotel in Washington. A Harris victory would trigger the first same-party transition since 1989, when President Ronald Reagan handed off the presidency to his vice president, George H.W. Yet the extent to which Harris would retain members of the Biden administration is largely unknown. While Harris has maintained relationships with individual Cabinet and administration officials, some believe she will prefer to start anew with her own team.

Persons: CNN — Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Harris, ”, “, I’ve, he’s, Joe Biden, Biden, Harris –, Harris ’, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, “ They’re, Yohannes Abraham, Josh Hsu, Dana Remus Organizations: CNN, Harris Cabinet, Trump, White, Democratic, GOP, West Wing, White House, Biden, Republican, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Locations: Washington, Manhattan, Washington ., California, George H.W .

☆ ASEAN continues to emerge as a winner of U.S.-China trade tensions, IMF says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-01 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has continued to emerge as an economic winner of increasing geopolitical tensions between China and the United States, though risks from fragmentation remain, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says. Though U.S.-China tensions have been deteriorating in recent years, ASEAN has adapted and continued to integrate with the global economy, the IMF said in its latest Asia-Pacific Outlook report, released Friday. "Despite geopolitical tensions, ASEAN has continued to strengthen trade and investment links with both China and the U.S.," the report said. "[T]he region has even been able to take advantage of trade diversion opportunities caused by US-China trade tensions," the report added. Overall, the IMF says these trends have contributed to the ASEAN region increasing its share of inward foreign direct investment, world exports and global value added.

Persons: Donald Trump, Biden Organizations: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, International Monetary Fund, U.S, ASEAN, IMF, Former U.S, China - Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, China, United States, Asia, U.S, Beijing, China - U.S, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Pacific

“To date, GSA has entered into an MOU with the Harris transition team outlining the terms for space and services, and is prepared to provide services to the Trump transition team once an MOU is executed and services are accepted,” a GSA spokesperson said. The Harris team has also submitted its ethics plan; the Trump team has not. The federal transition coordinator, a White House spokesperson told CNN, is “actively working” with the former president’s transition team to complete its MOU. Inside Biden administration preparationsThe Biden administration began preparing for this transition in 2023, starting with the appointment of a federal transition coordinator, a senior career official who serves as the main liaison between the candidates and eventual president-elect. “We were waiting for the phone calls [from the Trump team], waiting for people to show up, and they never did.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Max Stier, “, ”, Trump, Chris Lu, Barack Obama’s, Harris, Biden, Linda McMahon, Cantor Fitzgerald, Howard Lutnick, Joe Biden, Yohannes Abraham, ” Stier, Stier, Chris Christie, Christie, Mike Pence, Obama, Jason Miller, Aimee Whiteman, Valerie Boyd, Bush, John McCain, Lu, George W, Al Gore’s, Harris ’, Boyd, Trump’s, –, you’re Organizations: CNN, Public Service, White, Office of Management, Budget, General Services Administration, Republican, Democratic, ’, Trump, Small Business Administration, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, GSA, ”, House, New, New Jersey Gov, Biden, Activity, OMB, Center, Partnership for Public Service, Senate Locations: Indonesia, New Jersey, Florida

Republicans stand a good chance of erasing the Democrats’ narrow 51-49 Senate majority in November, a hard reality that complicates Harris' transition planning. Members of Harris’ transition team have studied that one — the handoff from Ronald Reagan to George H.W. Harris' team is operating under an unusually compressed timeline and is still building the basic apparatus needed to vet potential hires and staff an administration. Last month, Harris' campaign appointed Yohannes Abraham to run the team that is preparing for a transfer of power. He came to his new role with direct experience, having been executive director of Biden’s transition in 2020.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Kamala Harris, Harris, who’ve, Joe Biden, Biden, undercutting, —, Barack Obama, Robert Gates, George W, Bush's, Gates, ”, It’s, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, They've, Hillary Clinton, Obama, Donald Trump, Yohannes Abraham, Abraham, Trump, “, she’s, Max Stier, There’s, Christine Wormuth, Kathleen Hicks, Michèle Flournoy, Rosa Brooks, ” Brooks, ” Harris, William Burns, Burns, who've, he's, Rohini Kosoglu, Harris ’, Julianne Smith, Phil Gordon, Sens, Chris Murphy, Chris Coons, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Samantha Power, Walz, Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, it’s “, Gina Raimondo, Joe ”, ” Raimondo, Raimondo Organizations: Republican, Biden, Senate, NBC, Trump, Pentagon, Democratic, Senate Democrats, Republicans, University of Virginia's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Partnership for Public Service, Army, CIA, White House, NATO, United Nations, U.S . Agency for International Development, Transportation, Biden's Cabinet, Fox News Locations: Washington, George H.W ., U.S, Indonesia, Connecticut, Delaware, United, Biden's

☆ A US ally in the Pacific says it wants to keep a new American missile system that China got all 'dramatic' about 'forever'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA top Philippine general wants a new US missile system to remain in the country "forever" to boost its defenses and deterrence capabilities. The American weapon, the Mid-Range Capability missile system, has drawn China's ire. The MRC, also known as Typhon, is the US Army's new ground-based missile system capable of firing both the Standard Missile 6 and Tomahawk Land Attack missile. The Typhon system fills a gap in the US arsenal, offering a particularly versatile new land-based intermediate-range missile option as US rivals develop and field similar capabilities. Its ongoing deployment has angered China, which has repeatedly demanded the missile system be removed and accused the US of fueling an arms race.

Persons: —, Romeo Brawner Jr, he'd, Taylor, Enrique Manalo, Wang Yi, Manalo, Christine Wormuth Organizations: Service, MRC, Business, Armed Forces, Nuclear Forces Treaty, U.S . Navy, Associated Press, US, Association of Southeast, Nations, US Army, Force Locations: Philippine, Beijing, Philippines, China, Pacific, U.S, Washington, Manila, Laos, Japan

☆ A new US missile system that showed up in the Pacific this year keeps making China more and more unhappy
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US military deployed its Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, missile system to the Philippines in April, and US military officials have expressed interest in deploying it in Japan. The MRC is a versatile new ground-based missile system that is capable of firing the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and Tomahawk Land Attack Missile System. The US military deployed the missile system overseas for the first time in April, putting it in the Philippines amid a joint exercise between the two militaries. AdvertisementWhile the new weapon wasn't fired during the exercise, its presence in the region irked China, which demanded the system be removed. Russia is said to have violated the Cold War-era arms-control pact by developing and fielding the SSC-8/9M729 missile system.

Persons: —, wasn't, Zachary Anderson, Enrique Manalo, Wang Yi, Manalo, Lin Jian, Army Christine Warmouth, Lin, Robert S, Price, Trump, Vladimir Putin's Organizations: Service, Business, MRC, Missile, US Army, US Army Pacific, US Navy, Zachary Anderson Philippine Foreign, Association of Southeast, Nations, Defense, Army, ., Navy, US, Nuclear Forces Treaty, NATO Locations: China, Beijing, Philippines, Japan, Zachary Anderson Philippine, Laos, Pacific, Russia, Moscow, Europe, Ukraine

☆ India rules out joining world’s largest trade deal, accuses China of 'very opaque' trade practices
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesIndia's commerce minister rejected the idea of joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world's largest trade deal, maintaining that it is not in the country's interest to be part of a free trade agreement with China. Negotiations for the RCEP started in 2013 and initially included India, which some members viewed as a counterbalance to China. However, in 2019, India chose not to join RCEP, citing unresolved "core interest" issues. Goyal noted that at that time, India already had a free trade agreement with ASEAN, Japan and Korea, as well as a bilateral trade with New Zealand worth $300 million. "It was not in our farmers' interest, RCEP did not reflect the aspirations of our small and micro medium industries and sector, and in some form, was nothing but a free trade agreement with China," he said.

Persons: Industry Piyush Goyal, CNBC's Tanvir Gill, Goyal, RCEP Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Regional Comprehensive Economic, ASEAN, Commerce, Industry, —, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, RCEP, New Zealand, Trade, Semiconductor Locations: China, India, Asia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Korea

☆ China's exports grow by 8.7% in August, beating expectations
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — China's exports rose by 8.7% year-on-year in U.S. dollar terms in August, according to the customs agency. That was higher than the forecast for growth of 6.5% year-on-year in U.S. dollar terms, according to a Reuters poll. Imports grew by 0.5%. In July, exports rose by 7% from a year ago, while imports increased by a more-than-expected 7.2%. China's imports from Russia fell by 1%, while exports rose by 10%, the data analysis showed.

Organizations: Union and Association of Southeast, Nations, EU, CNBC, Imports, ASEAN Locations: Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, BEIJING, U.S, Russia

WASHINGTON — The Harris campaign has tapped Yohannes Abraham for a top role in the presidential transition team, according to a source familiar with the planning. Covington and Burling LLP, the law firm where former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder works, will help the transition team get set up. Abraham's appointment comes as the General Services Administration prepares to engage the Harris and Trump campaigns in the presidential transition process. Federal law related to presidential transitions stipulates Sept. 1 as the deadline for GSA to enter into formal agreements with presidential transition teams. Several former Trump administration staffers are part of the groups behind Project 2025, but McMahon and Lutnick haven’t been connected to the effort.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Harris, Yohannes Abraham, Abraham, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Covington, Burling, Eric Holder, Holder, Biden, Rod Lamkey, Trump, Linda McMahon, Howard Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald, McMahon, Lutnick Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, U.S, Burling LLP, State Department, National Security Council, General Services Administration, Trump, GSA, Foreign Relations, Reuters, Washington , D.C, Small Business Administration, Trump White House, Democrats Locations: U.S, Indonesia, Jakarta, Asia, Dirksen, Washington ,, USA

☆ Blinken chides Beijing's 'escalating actions' at sea, concerned over Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticised Beijing's "escalating and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea at a summit on Saturday, while his Russian counterpart said Washington has stoked anxiety with its plan for a nuclear deterrence with ally Seoul for the Korean peninsula. Blinken singled out China over its coast guard's hostile actions against U.S. defense treaty ally the Philippines in the South China Sea. The Philippines' small troop presence on a grounded former U.S. navy ship at the Second Thomas Shoal has angered China for years. Blinken discussed Taiwan with Wang and concerns about Beijing's recent "provocative actions", included a simulated blockade during the inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, a senior U.S. State Department official said. Wang told Blinken that although communications had been maintained between China and the United States, Washington had not stopped its containment and suppression of Beijing and had even intensified it.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Beijing's, Blinken, Thomas Shoal, Wang, Lai Ching Organizations: China's, 57th Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Washington, Seoul, U.S, ASEAN Regional Forum, EU, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Foreign, Taiwan, U.S . State Department Locations: Vientiane, South, China, Philippines, South China, Manila, Russia, India, Australia, Japan, Gaza, Ukraine, North, U.S, Laos, Beijing, Taiwan, United States, Washington

☆ Putin wants to strengthen a big challenger to Western dominance
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The group is known as BRICS for original members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, which collectively form the bloc's acronym. A parliamentary structure would formalize the group even further. AdvertisementA larger and more structured BRICS bloc could have more bargaining power and create an alternative to the West-led global order. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia recently, even though New Delhi is in a strategic partnership with the US. But the BRICS group should not be counted out, wrote as Ian Bremmer, the president of the Eurasia Group, in a report earlier this month.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, BRICS, Putin, Rich Lesser, Sergey Lavrov, Narendra Modi, Modi, Ian Bremmer Organizations: Service, United, United Arab Emirates, Business, New Development Bank, Putin, Kremlin, Boston Consulting, UAE —, Russian, Indian, Eurasia Group Locations: West, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, United Arab, Shanghai, St Petersburg, Thailand, Malaysia, UAE, New Delhi

☆ China's imports unexpectedly drop in June, but exports beat forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty ImagesBEIJING — China's imports fell in June, missing expectations for slight growth, while exports rose more than expected, customs data released Friday showed. China's imports fell by 2.3% in June from a year ago in U.S. dollar terms. Those figures lifted year-to-date imports by 2%, and exports by 3.6% in the first six months compared with the same period a year earlier. watch nowEU's trade with China fell in the first six months of 2024, with imports and exports both declining. China's trade with the U.S. was down slightly in dollar terms during the first half of the year, as imports from the U.S. fell 4.9%, though exports rose 1.5%.

Organizations: Getty, BEIJING, U.S ., Association of Southeast Asian Nations, European Union, U.S Locations: Qingdao, Shangdong, China, U.S, Brazil

☆ NATO's increasing focus on China and what it means for Asia
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNATO's increasing focus on China and what it means for AsiaWith NATO's increasing focus on China, what does it mean for other Asia countries such as Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asian nations and Australia? CNBC's Martin Soong, Sri Jegarajah, Sam Vadas and Lin Lin talk about the big geopolitical shift in the region.

Persons: CNBC's Martin Soong, Sri Jegarajah, Sam Vadas, Lin Lin Locations: China, Asia, Japan, South Korea, Southeast, Australia

☆ Japan did it first. Chinese stocks with some of the biggest global upside
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

If the international expansion of Japanese companies is any guide, Chinese companies still have significant potential left in the global market. The company did not break out overseas revenue for the first quarter, but said overall revenue grew by 14% from a year ago to 3.8 billion yuan. When compared to Japanese companies, the contribution of overseas revenue to the total for Chinese businesses is low across industries. "We believe Zhejiang Dingli will benefit from strong boom lift sales growth, especially in the US market," the HSBC report said. I think the conversation has moved now more toward being tough on global trade or free trade," David Chao, global market strategist, Asia Pacific (ex-Japan), at Invesco, said during a webinar Thursday.

Persons: Steven Sun, Christine Peng, Anker, Dingli, Snibe, David Chao, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: HSBC, CSI, Japan's Nikkei, HSBC Qianhai Securities, UBS Asia Pacific, Companies, Amazon, Apple, Google, U.S . Commerce Department, Shenzhen New Industries Biomedical Engineering, Asia Pacific, U.S, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Union Locations: China, Japan's, Shanghai, Germany, Indonesia, East, South America, Shenzhen, Zhejiang, Snibe — Shenzhen, U.S, Asia, Japan, Invesco, Singapore, The U.S

☆ China's exports grow more than expected in May, up by 7.6%
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — China's exports in May grew faster than expected, while imports missed forecasts, customs data showed Friday. Exports rose by 7.6% in May from a year a go in U.S. dollar terms, beating expectations for 6% growth, according to a Reuters poll. In April, China's exports rose by 1.5% year-on-year, while imports climbed by 8.4%. China's imports and exports to the U.S. and EU fell during that time, according to CNBC calculations of official data. China's exports to Russia fell during that time, while imports from Russia rose by 7.5%.

Organizations: BEIJING, Reuters, ., CNBC, Association of Southeast Locations: U.S, EU, Nations, Russia

☆ Goldman thinks this solar stock has more to run after an 80% rally in 2 months
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

First Solar still has substantially room to run even after rallying about 80% over the past two months, with tailwinds from tariffs and data center demand on the horizon, according to Goldman Sachs. Goldman raised its stock price target for First Solar by nearly $31 to $302 per share, implying 11% upside from Friday's close of $271.76. First Solar is also party to a trade case that could result in the imposition of tariffs on solar module manufacturers from four Southeast Asian nations. Goldman has estimated that power demand from data centers will more than double to 8% of total U.S. consumption by 2030. Goldman sees First Solar's earnings per share increasing by about 20% in 2027 if the company adds a new plant.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Brian Lee, Biden, FSLR TAN, Lee Organizations: Goldman, Amazon, Microsoft, Brookfield Asset Management, hasn't Locations: U.S, China, Indiana

☆ China's imports jump 8.4% in April, exceeding expectations as purchases from the U.S. grow
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Aly Song | ReutersBEIJING — China's customs agency released data Thursday that showed exports rose in-line with expectations in April, while imports surged ahead of forecasts. Worldwide, China's exports rose by 1.5% year-on-year in April in U.S. dollar terms, while imports climbed by 8.4%, the data showed. China's exports to ASEAN rose by 8% in April from a year ago, while imports rose by 5%. In April, China's imports and exports of integrated circuits rose from a year ago, the data showed. By volume, China's exports of cars, LCD panel displays and home appliances rose, while exports of cellphones fell slightly.

Persons: Aly Song Organizations: Reuters, CNBC, U.S, Association of Southeast, ASEAN Locations: Yangshan, Shanghai, China, Reuters BEIJING, U.S, Union, Russia, Nations, Vietnam, Mexico

☆ Microsoft to invest $1.7 billion into AI infrastructure in Indonesia, CEO Satya Nadella says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (C) arrives for a meeting with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on April 30, 2024. The announcement came as CEO Satya Nadella met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the same day. "This new generation of AI is reshaping how people live and work everywhere, including in Indonesia," Nadella, chairman and CEO of Microsoft, said in a statement. Microsoft also said it will partner with governments, organizations and communities to provide AI skilling opportunities for 2.5 million people in Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states by 2025. Nadella met with Jokowi in Jakarta on Tuesday to discuss topics including technological and AI breakthroughs that will help Indonesia progress, according to Indonesian news agency Antara.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Joko Widodo, ISMOYO, Nadella Organizations: Getty, Microsoft, Indonesian, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Jokowi, Antara Locations: Jakarta, AFP, Indonesia, Golden Indonesia

☆ Solar manufacturers petition U.S. to impose tariffs on imports from four Southeast Asian nations
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A coalition of U.S. solar manufacturers petitioned the federal government on Wednesday to impose tariffs on imports from four Southeast Asian nations, alleging that the countries are flooding the U.S. market with cheap products that threaten the domestic industry. The other six parties to the petition are Convalt Energy, Meyer Burger, Mission Solar, Qcells, REC Silicon and Swift Solar. They are requesting that the Commerce Department impose tariffs on solar cell imports from the four countries as a remedy. "This case is bad news for clean energy jobs and American solar manufacturing," Array CEO Kevin Hostetler said in a statement Wednesday. The ITC and Commerce Department investigations will take about 12 months to conclude, Brightbill said.

Persons: Meyer Burger, Tim Brightbill, Joe Biden, Brightbill, Kevin Hostetler, Janet Yellen, Biden Organizations: U.S, Convalt Energy, International Trade Commission, Commerce, ITC, Initiative, Commerce Department, Solar Energy Industries Association, American Clean Power Association, Advanced Energy, American Council, Renewable Energy, Technologies, International Energy Agency, IEA, CNBC Locations: Zhangye city, Gansu province, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, U.S, The U.S, Beijing's

The top US diplomat landed in Shanghai where he is expected to meet local officials and business leaders, and he will then travel to Beijing for meetings with senior Chinese officials. “We are in a different place than we were a year ago when the bilateral relationship was at an historic low point,” a senior State Department official said. “Russia is no longer kind of on its back foot,” a second senior State Department official said. Blinken will make the case that China should weigh in “more directly” with Iran to be less provocative in the region, the second senior State Department official said. “In both cases the Chinese have taken some early steps,” said the second senior State Department official, adding that there is still “much more” that needs to be done on both fronts.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Janet Yellen, Biden, Xi, ”, “, ” Blinken, Matthew Miller, Leah Millis, China’s, ” Xi, Blinken, ” Miller, it’s, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, David Lin Organizations: CNN, State Department, Ukraine, US, Foreign Ministry, of, People, Biden, Chinese Foreign Ministry, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Beijing, Party, Taiwan, Communist, Taiwan Relations, White Locations: China, Ukraine, Shanghai, Beijing, California, Russia, Moscow, Italy, “ Russia, ”, Europe, United States, South China, Philippine, Washington, Philippines, South, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, East, Iran

☆ U.S. loses its spot to China as Southeast Asia's most favored ally, survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This is the first time Beijing has edged past Washington since 2020 when the annual survey first posed the question. China's aggressive behavior in the South China Sea is the Philippines' (90.2%) and Vietnam's (72.5%) top concern, the region's two frontline South China Sea claimant states. The Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told Bloomberg last month that his government's claims on certain parts of the South China sea should not be viewed as provoking China. Vietnam has also asserted sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea though Beijing has brushed aside those claims. ASEAN should build up its resilience and unity to fend off pressures from the two major powers, the U.S. and China, nearly half of the survey respondents said.

Persons: ISEAS – Yusof, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Kenddrick Chan Organizations: ASEAN Studies, Jan, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, China, Bloomberg, Philippines, U.S, LSE, London School of Economics, Political Science Locations: China, U.S, Washington, Beijing, Singapore, ISEAS, Indonesia . China, Japan, South China, Philippines, Vietnam, Southeast Asia

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