Decline of the US empire, rise of the Chinese one?

[Cricket Warrior]

Biden says China 'testing us', in hot mic remarks to Quad allies

US President Joe Biden was caught on a hot mic Saturday (Sep 21) telling the leaders of Australia, India and Japan that an aggressive China is "testing us", in remarks that risked undercutting a summit declaration that carefully avoided mentioning Beijing by name.

The comments came as Biden opened a farewell summit in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

"China continues to behave aggressively, testing us all across the region," Biden was heard in what were supposed to be behind-closed-doors remarks to the so-called "Quad".

Biden said that while Chinese President Xi Jinping was focusing on "domestic economic challenges" he was also "looking to buy himself some diplomatic space, in my view, to aggressively pursue China's interest".

But he insisted that recent "intense efforts" by Washington to reduce tensions, including a call with Xi in April, were helping to prevent conflict.

The hot mic blunder risked undermining careful diplomatic efforts by all four countries during the summit to insist that their grouping is about more than just providing a counterweight to China.

Biden says China 'testing us', in hot mic remarks to Quad allies

WILMINGTON: US President Joe Biden was caught on a hot mic Saturday (Sep 21) telling the leaders of Australia, India and Japan that an aggressive China is "testing us", in remarks that risked undercutting a summit declaration that carefully avoided mentioning Beijing by name. The comments came...

www.channelnewsasia.com

 

[Cricket Warrior]

China's long-range missile test sparks concern from US allies

China says it carried out a rare test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into international waters, sparking protests from neighbouring countries.

The launch on Wednesday – its first in more than 40 years - was “routine” and not aimed at any country or target, according to Beijing. Chinese media reported the government also gave “relevant countries” notice.

But Japan said it had not received a warning and expressed concerns, along with Australia and New Zealand.

The launch contributes to tensions across the Indo-Pacific region, with analysts saying it highlights China's increased long-range nuclear capabilities.

The US warned last year that China has built up its nuclear arsenal as part of a defence upgrade. An intercontinental ballistic missile can travel more 5,500km - putting China within striking range of the US mainland and Hawaii.

But Beijing’s arsenal is still estimated at less than a fifth of the size of the US's and Russia’s, and China has long maintained that its nuclear maintainance is only about deterrence.

On Wednesday, Beijing announced that the long-range missile was fired at 08:44 local time (04:44 GMT). It carried a dummy warhead and landed in the designated area - believed to be in the South Pacific.

Beijing's defence ministry added the test launch was "routine" and part of its "annual training".

But analysts said China was last known to have test-fired an ICBM internationally in the 1980s. Typically, it tests internally - having previously fired ICBMs west into the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang region.

“This sort of testing is not unusual for other countries, including the United States, but is for China,” nuclear missile analyst Ankit Panda told the BBC.

China’s “ongoing nuclear modernisation” already has resulted in substantial changes, he said. This launch now appears to also show a change in its approach.

It has sparked immediate reaction from other countries. Japan said it had received “no notice” and expressed “serious concern” about Beijing’s military build-up.

Meanwhile, Australia said the action was "destabilising and raises the risk of miscalculation in the region” and that it had sought “an explanation” from Beijing. New Zealand called it “an unwelcome and concerning development”.

Mr Panda said he doesn't believe China’s actions were primarily designed to send a political message - “but no doubt this will be a stark reminder to the region and to the US that nuclear dynamics in Asia are quickly changing”.

Other analysts went further, saying it was another wake-up call for the US and its allies in the region.

“To Washington, the message is that direct intervention in a conflict across the Taiwan Strait would involve the American homeland being vulnerable to attack,” said Leif-Eric Easley, an international relations professor at Ewha Women's University in South Korea.

For US allies in Asia, the “provocative test… demonstrates China’s capabilities to fight on multiple fronts simultaneously," he added.

"Timing is everything," Drew Thompson, a visiting research fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, wrote on X.

"[China's] statement claims the launch does not target any country, but there are high-levels of tension between China and Japan, Philippines, and of course perpetual tension with Taiwan."

While the relationship between Beijing and Washington has improved in the past year, China's increasing assertiveness in the region remains a sticking point. Tensions have ramped up between China and the Philippines as their ships have repeatedly collided in disputed waters.

Last month, Japan scrambled fighter jets after it accused a Chinese spy plane of breaching its air space, a move that it called "utterly unacceptable".

China test-fires intercontinental ballistic missile into Pacific

Beijing said the test was "routine" but other countries in the region expressed strong concerns.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

Xi says he will work with Trump in last meeting with Biden

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pledged to work with incoming President Donald Trump in his final meeting with current US leader Joe Biden.

The two met on Saturday on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Peru where they acknowledged "ups and downs" in relations over Biden's four years in office.

But both highlighted progress in lowering tensions on issues such as trade and Taiwan.

Analysts say US-China relations could become more volatile when Trump returns to office in two months, driven by factors including a promise to raise tariffs on Chinese imports.

The president-elect has pledged 60% tariffs on all imports from China. He has also appointed prominent China hawks to top foreign and defence positions.

During his first term, Trump labelled China a “strategic competitor”. Relations worsened when the former president labelled Covid a “Chinese virus” during the pandemic.

Speaking on Saturday at the meeting held at his hotel in Lima, the Chinese president said Beijing's goal of a stable relationship with Washington would remain unchanged.

"China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage differences," Xi said.

Biden said strategic competition between the two global powers should not escalate into war.

"Our two countries cannot let any of this competition veer into conflict. That is our responsibility and over the last four years I think we've proven it's possible to have this relationship," he said.

Biden's time in office did see flare-ups in relations with China, including a spy balloon saga and displays of Chinese military firepower around Taiwan triggered by the visit of a senior US official.

China says its claim to the self-ruling island is a red line.

However, the Biden administration aimed to "responsibly manage" rivalry with Beijing after Trump's first term.

Beijing is likely to be most concerned about the president-elect's unpredictability, analysts say.

"The Chinese are ready to negotiate and deal, and probably hope for early engagement with the Trump team to discuss potential transactions," said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Fund's Indo-Pacific Program.

"At the same time, however, they are ready to retaliate if Trump insists on imposing higher tariffs on China."

She added that China may also be "likely worried that that they lack reliable back channels to influence Trump's policy".

Biden on Saturday acknowledged there had always been disagreements with Xi but added that discussions between him and the Chinese leader had been "frank" and "candid".

The pair held three face-to-face meetings during Biden's time in the White House, including a key summit last year in San Francisco where both sides came to agreements on combatting narcotics and climate change.

But Biden's White House also continued Trump-era tariffs. His government imposed duties in May targeting China's electric cars, solar panels and steels.

He also strengthened defence alliances across Asia and the Pacific to counter China's increasing assertiveness in the region. The outgoing president has also said the US would defend Taiwan if it were invaded by China.

SOURCE: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2l4dn802lo

 

[Champ_Pal]

Trump is bad news for China.

Chinese can’t sell the cheap junk to US without high tariffs. With a weakening economy China can’t get into any trade war with US.
We have to see what exactly the tariffs will be when Trump takes over in January.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Three Americans released in US-China prisoner exchange​

Three Americans detained in China were released after the Biden administration negotiated a prisoner swap.

Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung are on their way back to the US, a spokesperson for the National Security Council (NSC) said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years," the statement said.

The exchange was reportedly months in the making, and included the release of at least one Chinese citizen in US custody.

President Biden raised the issue of Americans wrongfully detained in China directly with President Xi Jinping earlier this month when the two met during the Apec summit in Peru, according to an American official familiar with the negotiations. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also urged for their return during his visit to China in August.

"Thanks to this Administration’s efforts and diplomacy with the PRC, all of the wrongfully detained Americans in the PRC are home," the NSC spokesperson said.

The swap was first reported by Politico.

Mr Swidan, 48, had been detained since 2012 and was facing the death penalty after a conviction for narcotics trafficking. Swidan denied the charges and the State Department classified him as wrongfully detained, previously raising concerns about his health.

Mark Li, 60, had been held in China since September 2016 on what activists say were trumped-up spying charges.

John Leung, 78, has lead several pro-Beijing groups in the US. He was arrested in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison on espionage charges two years later.

According to the New York Times, multiple US officials said they had discussed releasing Chinese citizen Xu Yanjun, 42, who was convicted in the US on espionage charges two years ago and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Xu was first Chinese government intelligence officer ever to be extradited to the US to stand trial, the Justice Department said.

As of Wednesday morning, Xu was listed in the Bureau of Prisons system as "not in BOP custody".

The deal marks a diplomatic win for Biden in the final months of his presidency.

It follows the release of another American considered wrongfully detained: David Lin, a pastor who had been jailed in China from 2006 until his release in September.

During his four years in the White House, Biden oversaw the release of more than 70 Americans, including from Russia, Venezuela and Iran.

On Wednesday, the US also lowered its travel advisory level for mainland China to Level 2: Exercise increased caution.

Three Americans released in US-China prisoner exchange

The exchange was reportedly months in the making, and included the release of at least one Chinese citizen in US custody.

www.bbc.com

 

[FearlessRoar]

Corruption in China may have disrupted progress towards its 2027 military goals: Pentagon​

Corruption in China’s military may have disrupted its progress towards its 2027 military modernization goals, the Pentagon said in its annual report on Beijing’s military that was released on Wednesday.

Since last year, China’s military has undergone a sweeping anti-corruption purge and last month the defense ministry said a top-ranking military official had been suspended and was under investigation for “serious violations of discipline.”

The wide-ranging Pentagon report said that between July and December 2023, at least 15 high-ranking Chinese military officers and defense industry executives were removed from their posts.

“In 2023, the PLA experienced a new wave of corruption-related investigations and removals of senior leaders which may have disrupted its progress toward stated 2027 modernization goals,” the report said, using an acronym for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

US officials, including the head of the Central Intelligence Agency, have said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had ordered his military to be ready to conduct an invasion of Taiwan by 2027.

China’s official 2027 modernization goals include accelerating the integration of intelligence, mechanization and other tools while boosting the speed of modernization in military theories, personnel, weapons and equipment, the Pentagon said.

In a briefing with reporters, a senior US defense official said that corruption was already having an impact on China’s military because replacing senior officials can be disruptive and looking to uncover corruption itself can slow down military projects, including in the defense industry.

“Once they uncover corruption in one place or involving one senior official, there’s sort of a bit of a spiraling effect (which) inevitably seems to draw in additional officials,” the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.

The report pointed to several removals from China’s military rocket force, known as the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF), an elite arm of the PLA that oversees its most advanced conventional and nuclear missiles.

“The impact on PRC (People’s Republic of China) leaders’ confidence in the PLA after discovering corruption on this scale is probably elevated by the PLARF’s uniquely important nuclear mission,” it added.

The fate of Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun is unclear, with some US officials recently suggesting he was being investigated for corruption. China has said that reports about Dong being investigated are “shadow-chasing.”

Dong would be the third consecutive serving or former Chinese defense minister to be investigated for alleged corruption.

“The PLA made uneven progress toward its 2027 capability milestone for modernization, which, if realized, could make the PLA a more credible military tool for the CCP’s Taiwan unification efforts,” a document accompanying the Pentagon report said, using an acronym for the Chinese Communist Party. A poll by Taiwan’s top military think tank published in October said that most Taiwanese believe China is unlikely to invade in the coming five years but do see Beijing as a serious threat to the democratic island.

Over the past five years or so, China’s military has significantly ramped up its activities around Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory over the strong objections of the government in Taipei, and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/united-states/2024/12/18/pentagon-report-says-china-is-expanding-its-nuclear-force

 

[BouncerGuy]

US Treasury says it was hacked by China in 'major incident'

A Chinese state-sponsored hacker broke into the US Treasury Department's systems earlier this month and was able to access employee workstations and some unclassified documents, American officials said on Monday.

The Treasury Department deemed the breach a "major incident" after disclosing it via a letter notifying lawmakers to the incident.

The US agency said it had been working with the FBI and other agencies to investigate the impact of the hack.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington DC told BBC News that the accusation was part of a "smear attack" and made "without any factual basis".

The Treasury Department said in its letter to lawmakers that the China-based actor was able to override security via a key used by a third-party service provider. The application offers remote technical support to its employees.

The compromised third-party service - called BeyondTrust - has since been taken offline, officials said. There was no evidence to suggest the hacker had continued to access to Treasury Department information since, the statement continued.

The department said it had been working with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and third-party forensic investigators to determine the overall impact.

Officials said initial investigations suggested the hack appeared to have been carried out by "a China-based Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor".

"In accordance with Treasury policy, intrusions attributable to an APT are considered a major cybersecurity incident," Treasury Department officials said.

The department was made aware of the hack on 8 December by BeyondTrust, a spokesperson told the BBC. According to the company, the suspicious activity was first spotted on 2 December, but it took three days for the company to determine it had been hacked.

The spokesperson said the hacker was able to remotely access several Treasury user workstations and some unclassified documents that were kept by those users.

The department did not specify the nature of these files, or when and for how long the hack took place. They also did not specify the level of confidentiality of the computer systems or the seniority of the staff whose materials were accessed.

The hackers may have been able to create accounts or change passwords in the three days that they were being watched by BeyondTrust.

As espionage agents, the hackers are believed to have been seeking information, rather than attempting to steal funds.

The spokesperson said the Treasury Department "takes very seriously all threats against our systems, and the data it holds", and that it will continue to work on protecting its data from outside threats.

The department letter states that a supplemental report on the incident will be provided to lawmakers in 30 days.

Chinese embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu denied the department's report, saying in a statement that it can be difficult to trace the origin of hackers.

"We hope that relevant parties will adopt a professional and responsible attitude when characterizing cyber incidents, basing their conclusions on sufficient evidence rather than unfounded speculation and accusations," he said.

"The US needs to stop using cyber security to smear and slander China, and stop spreading all kinds of disinformation about the so-called Chinese hacking threats."

This is the latest high-profile and embarrassing US breach blamed on Chinese espionage hackers.

It follows another hack of telecoms companies in December that potentially breached phone record data across large swathes of American society.

BBC

 

[FearlessRoar]

China slaps sanctions on US firms over Taiwan arms sales​

China sanctioned 10 US defense firms on Thursday over arms sales to Taiwan, its second round of measures against American companies over the issue in less than a week.

Subsidiaries of Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Raytheon that had “participated in selling arms to Taiwan” were added to China’s “Unreliable Entities List,” the country’s Ministry of Commerce announced Thursday.

They will be prohibited from import and export activities or making new investments in China, while their senior managers will be banned from entering the country, the ministry said.

Last Friday China announced sanctions on seven US military-industrial companies, including Boeing subsidiary Insitu, also over US military assistance to Taiwan.

The self-ruled island is a key point of contention between Beijing and Washington.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has said it will not renounce the use of force to bring it under its control.

Washington does not recognize the democratic island diplomatically but is its strategic ally and largest supplier of weapons.

In December, US President Joe Biden agreed to provide $571.3 million in defence support to Taiwan.

The actions “interfere in China’s internal affairs, and undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said at a regular press conference last Friday.

China has intensified pressure on Taiwan in recent years and has staged three rounds of major military drills since President Lai Ching-te came to power in May.

On Thursday, China’s commerce ministry also added 28 US entities, mostly defense firms, to its Export Control List, banning the export of dual-use items to them.

General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Boeing Defense, Space & Security were among those added “to safeguard national security and interests, and fulfil international obligations such as non-proliferation,” the ministry said.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2025/01/02/china-slaps-sanctions-on-us-firms-over-taiwan-arms-sales-

 

[FearlessRoar]

Ships carrying missile propellant to sail from China to Iran, FT reports​

Two Iranian cargo vessels carrying an ingredient for missile propellant will sail from China to Iran in the next few weeks, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing intelligence from security officials in two Western countries.

The FT said the Iranian-flagged ships, the Golbon and the Jairan, are expected to carry more than 1,000 tonnes of sodium perchlorate, which is used to make ammonium perchlorate, the main ingredient for solid propellant for missiles.

Ammonium perchlorate is among chemicals controlled by the Missile Technology Export Control Regime, a voluntary international anti-proliferation body, the FT said.

It reported two officials said the sodium perchlorate could produce 960 tons of ammonium perchlorate, enough to make 1,300 tons of propellant, which could fuel 260 mid-range Iranian missiles.

The FT cited the officials as saying the sodium perchlorate was being shipped to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and that 34 20-foot (six-meter) containers containing the chemical had been loaded onto the Golbon, which departed the Chinese island of Daishan on Tuesday.

It said the Jairan is expected to depart China with 22 containers in early February. The officials told the FT that both ships, owned by Iranian entities, were expected to make the three-week voyage to Iran without making any port calls.

The officials said the chemicals were loaded onto the Golbon at Taicang, a port just north of Shanghai, and were destined for Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on the Persian Gulf, the FT reported.

The report said data from vessel tracker Marine Traffic showed the Golbon spent at least several days off Daishan Island before leaving on Tuesday. It said Marine Traffic showed the Jairan about 75 km (47 miles) south of Daishan off the coast of Ningbo in China’s Zhejiang province early on Wednesday.

The FT said the officials could not say if Beijing was aware of the shipments.

In 2023, The United States imposed sanctions on people and entities in China, Hong Kong and Iran, including Iran’s defense attaché in Beijing, over accusations they helped procure parts and technology for key actors in Iran’s ballistic missile development.

Last July, the US imposed sanctions on five individuals and seven entities based in Iran, China, and Hong Kong it accused of being facilitators for Iran’s missile and drones program.

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2025/01/22/ships-carrying-missile-propellant-to-sail-from-china-to-iran-ft-reports-

 

[FearlessRoar]

US Postal Service halts China parcels after Trump tariffs​

The US Postal Service (USPS) said it has stopped accepting parcels from mainland China and Hong Kong until further notice.

The move comes after rules came into force in the US which closed a loophole that allowed small packages worth $800 (£641) or less to be sent to America without paying taxes or fees.

The US Postal Service said letters will not be affected by the suspension, but declined to offer a reason for the decision.

Chinese retailers, such as online giants Shein and Temu, have used the tax exemption to ship low value packages duty-free to the US and have benefitted from similar rules in the UK and the European Union to reach millions of customers.

The explosion of parcels being shipped under the loophole has prompted increased scrutiny in recent years. While all retailers use the exemption, those who sell fast-fashion and cheap goods have seen their sales soar.

On Wednesday, the EU - which has been exploring similar measures to the US - announced that Temu and Shein would be liable for the sale of unsafe and dangerous products on their platforms.

America's change to stop low-value products being shipped tax-free under the so-called "de minimis" exemption was one of the trade measures outlined by President Donald Trump at the weekend.

He also announced an additional 10% tariff on all goods imported to the US from China.

The US Postal Service said letters will not be affected by the suspension, but declined to offer a reason for the decision.

In the EU, retailers benefit from paying no tax on parcels worth less than €150 (£124), a policy critics argue gives those firms an unfair advantage.

According to the European Commission, 4.6 billion low-value items worth below €22 were imported into the EU last year, 91% of which came from China - double that of 2023.

On Wednesday, the EU announced that it would increase customs checks on goods shipped directly by ecommerce retailers.

It also said it would coordinate a joint investigation by the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network of national consumer authorities into Shein based on suspicions that the company infringes EU consumer protection rules.

Shein said it would engage with the consumer agencies and the EU so that consumers "can shop online with peace of mind".

"We want to see a competitive e-commerce sector that keeps consumers safe, offers convenient products, and is respectful of the environment," said EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen.

In the US, close to half of all parcels entering the country under de minimis exemptions were sent from China, according to a 2023 report by US Congress.

Officials have pointed out that the large flow of parcels entering the country through this exemption made it increasingly difficult to screen them for possible illegal goods.

Changes to the tax exemption in the US under President Joe Biden were already in progress before Trump took office, but Trump has gone further to extend tariffs to all China goods being imported into the US, including fashion items and toys.

In response, China said it would hit back with its own levies and place PVH, the US company that owns designer brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, on its "unreliable entity" list for alleged "discriminatory measures against Chinese enterprises".

Trump had been expected to speak to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the coming days but on Tuesday the US president said he was in "no rush" to hold talks.

Nick Stowe, chief executive of Monsoon & Accessorize, told the BBC's Today programme he was in support of the changes in the US to the de minimis exemption, claiming that it had allowed major Chinese retailers to "undercut" rivals in other markets.

"It has long been a complaint of UK retailers, European retailers as well as the US retailers that Shein are exploiting this loophole, not paying customs duty and they have built a business at an industrial scale," he said.

Trump tariffs: US Postal Service halts China and Hong Hong parcels

Donald Trump has closed a loophole so low value parcels of goods such as clothing will now be taxed.

www.bbc.com

 

[FearlessRoar]

China's ***-for-tat tariffs on US set to take effect​

China's ***-for-tat import taxes on some American goods are set to come into effect on Monday as the trade war between the world's two biggest economies escalates and US President Donald Trump threatens to hit more countries with tariffs.

Beijing announced the plan on 4 February, minutes after new US levies of 10% on all Chinese products came into effect.

On Friday, Trump said he was planning "reciprocal tariffs" on other nations in the coming days as he aims to reshape the US' global trade relationships.

The president did not say which countries could be targeted but suggested it would a broad effort that may also help solve US budget problems.

From 10 February, China will charge a 15% border tax on imports of US coal and liquefied natural gas products. There is also a 10% tariff on American crude oil, agricultural machinery and large-engine cars.

Last week, Chinese authorities launched an anti-monopoly probe into technology giant Google, while PVH, the US owner of designer brands Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, was added to Beijing's so-called "unreliable entity" list.

China has also imposed export controls on 25 rare metals, some of which are key components for many electrical products and military equipment.

Speaking on Friday during a meeting at the White House with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on imports from more trading partners.

"I'll be announcing that, next week, reciprocal trade, so that we're treated evenly with other countries," Trump said.

The move would fulfil an election campaign pledge to levy tariffs at the same rates that are imposed on US goods.

He also said import taxes for vehicles remained on the table after reports that he was considering exemptions to universal tariffs.

Trump has repeatedly complained that European Union (EU) tariffs on imports of American cars are much higher that US levies.

Last week, Trump told the BBC that tariffs on EU goods could happen "pretty soon" - but suggested a deal could be "worked out" with the UK.

The day after the latest US tariffs came into effect, Beijing accused Washington of making "unfounded and false allegations" about its role in the trade of the synthetic opioid fentanyl to justify the move.

In a complaint lodged with the World Trade Organization (WTO), China said the US import taxes were "discriminatory and protectionist" and violated trade rules.

But experts have warned that China is unlikely to secure a ruling in its favour as the WTO panel that settles disputes remains unable to function.

Trump had been expected to speak to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in recent days but the US president has said he was in no hurry to hold talks.

Some of the many measures brought in by Trump since he took office on 20 January have been been subject to change.

On Friday, he suspended tariffs on small packages from China, which, along with the additional 10% tariffs, came into effect on 4 February.

The suspension will stay in place until "adequate systems are in place to fully and expediently process and collect tariff revenue".

After the order ended duty-free treatment of shipments worth less than $800 (£645) the US Postal Service (USPS) and other agencies scrambled to comply.

USPS temporarily stopped accepting packages from China, only to U-turn a day later.

Last weekend, Trump said he was putting 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada but quickly paused those duties for a month while negotiations continue.

Trump tariffs: China's tit-for-tat levies on US set to take effect

Beijing's move comes after President Donald Trump imposed a 10% levy on goods imported from China.

www.bbc.com

 

[JaDed]

It’s a dying battle to fight the Chinese, instead US should focus on itself and give more money for innovation, not to likes of Intel.

 

[sweep_shot]

Why is China superior to India economically and militarily?

Here is a video which I found quite accurate:

Also, here is a comment from the video:

 

[cricketjoshila]

It’s a dying battle to fight the Chinese, instead US should focus on itself and give more money for innovation, not to likes of Intel.

I disagree. Chinese manufacturing prowess is brilliant. But the innovation comes from the west.

If US starts making imports from China expensive, Companies will be forced to find alternate countries.

It will probably take a decade or a bit more to shift any significant amount of manufacturing out of China.

 

[JaDed]

I disagree. Chinese manufacturing prowess is brilliant. But the innovation comes from the west.

If US starts making imports from China expensive, Companies will be forced to find alternate countries.

It will probably take a decade or a bit more to shift any significant amount of manufacturing out of China.

That was ten years ago, I’m here in States I can tell you Chinese are innovators now, from here on there innovation growth will be exponential even if their economy only grows 4-5% due to the sheer number of intelligent people in China.
US might still be more intelligent per capita compared to China but that won’t be enough anymore.

China is equivalent or ahead on most US designs , only area is neuromorphic computing where US is ahead.

 

[JaDed]

Jon Stewart-
“ Is America the Jake Paul of Nations” on Trump fighting Denmark EU and Canada

 

[JaDed]

Accelerated exponentially under Trumpets and their leader.

American innovators will have to work 100 times harder now to beat Chinese tech companies, with the drying of scientific immigrants from across the world future looks bleak.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

US prepares for long war with China that might hit its bases, homeland: Peter Apps

Earlier this month, U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Doug Wickert summoned nearby civic leaders to Edwards Air Force Base in California to warn them that if China attacks Taiwan in the coming years, they should be prepared for their immediate region to suffer potentially massive disruption from the very start.

In a remarkable briefing shared by the base on social media and promoted in a press release, Wickert - one of America's most experienced test pilots now commanding the 412th Test Wing - outlined China's rapid military growth and preparations to fight a major war.

Cutting-edge U.S. aircraft manufactured in California’s nearby “Aerospace Valley”, particularly the B-21 “Raider” now replacing the 1990s B-2 stealth bomber, were key to keeping Beijing deterred, he said. However, if deterrence failed that meant China’s would likely strike the U.S. including nearby Northrop Grumman factories where those planes were built.

"If this war happens, it's going to happen here," Wickert told them, suggesting attacks could include a cyber offensive that included long-term disruption to power supplies and other national infrastructure. "It's going to come to us. That is why we are having this conversation... The more ready we are, the more likely to change Chairman Xi’s calculus."

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-prepares-long-war-with-china-that-might-hit-its-bases-homeland-peter-apps-2025-05-16/

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Trump claims rare earths deal 'done' with China

Talks aimed at cooling tensions between the US and China have ended in a "deal", according to US President Donald Trump.

He said China had agreed to supply US companies with magnets and rare earth metals, while the US would walk back its threats to revoke visas of Chinese students.

"Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval from President Xi and me," Trump wrote his media platform Truth Social.

It followed two days of intense talks in London to resolve conflicts that had emerged since the two sides agreed a truce in May, after a rapid escalation of tariffs had nearly paralysed trade between the world's two largest economies.

Trump claims rare earths deal 'done' with China

The world's two biggest economies have agreed in principle a framework for de-escalating trade tensions.

www.bbc.com

 

[BouncerGuy]

China growth beats expectations as Trump tariffs loom

China's economy has beaten expectations even as US President Donald Trump's tariffs and a prolonged crisis in the property market weigh on growth.

Official figures show the world's second largest economy grew by 5.2% in the three months to the end of June, compared to the same time last year. That's better than the 5.1% forecast by many economists but lower than the previous quarter.

The country has so far avoided a sharp downturn, partly due to measures announced by Beijing to help support the economy and a fragile trade truce with Washington.

The economy "withstood pressure and made steady improvement despite challenges", said China's National Bureau of Statistics in a statement.

Officials said economic growth was helped by a 6.4% expansion in manufacturing, with higher demand for 3D printing devices, electric vehicles and industrial robots.

The country's services sector - which includes areas like transport, finance, and technology - also made gains.

But in June, retail sales growth slowed to 4.8% from a year earlier, compared with a 6.4% increase in May.

Also on Tuesday, official figures showed a drop in China's new home prices in June, falling at the fastest monthly pace in eight months.

The data suggests the country's real estate industry is continuing to struggle despite several rounds of measures to support property prices.

Analysts had expected a bigger impact from tariffs on China's economy but the country remains "highly resilient", said economist Gu Qingyang from the National University of Singapore.

Growth was boosted by exports, mainly due to firms rushing to ship goods before potential new tariffs or changes to China's export strategy take effect, he added.

The second half of the year is likely be more uncertain though, Prof Gu said.

"As a result, stronger government stimulus might be needed. That said, achieving the 5% annual growth target still seems well within reach."

But some economists expect China to miss its "around 5%" annual growth target this year.

"The real question is by how much. We believe it will defend a floor of 4%, which remains the minimum politically acceptable level," Dan Wang, director for China at consultancy Eurasia Group told the BBC.

A tariffs war between China's President Xi Jinping and Trump led to the US imposing a 145% levy on Chinese imports. In return, Beijing introduced a 125% duty on some US goods.

Those tariffs were paused after negotiations in Geneva and London. The two sides now have until 12 August to reach a long-term trade deal.

Washington has also hit countries with close economic ties to China with heavy levies.

BBC

 

[Bhaijaan]

China's growth figures aren't very reliable. Many experts estimate their actual GDP to be roughly 25% lower than claimed.

They're dealing with a massive domestic demand problem since a long time and despite all the growth the businesses aren't making any profits to share holders.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

CHINA is a look at the future!