fredag 4. april 2025
Taiwan: Cabinet decries US’ 32 percent tariffs
The Executive Yuan yesterday decried US President Donald Trump’s 32 percent tariff on Taiwanese goods announced hours earlier as “unfair,” saying it would lodge a representation with Washington. The Cabinet in a statement described the pledged US tariffs, expected to take effect on Wednesday next week, as “deeply unreasonable” and “highly regrettable.” Cabinet spokeswoman Michelle Lee said that the government would “lodge a solemn representation” with the US Trade Representative and continue negotiating with Washington to “ensure the interests of our nation and industries.”
Are Trump's Asia tariffs a 'full-frontal assault' on China?
As US President Donald Trump laid out tariffs on virtually every one of America's trading partners on Wednesday, he had strong words for Beijing. "I have great respect for President Xi [Jinping] of China, great respect for China, but they were taking tremendous advantage of us," Trump said during his roughly hour-long address.
Holding up a chart listing countries and territories that he said had put up trade barriers to US goods, Trump said: "If you look at that... China, first row, 67%. That's tariffs charged to the USA, including currency manipulation and trade barriers." "We are going to be charging [them] a discounted reciprocal tariff of 34%," he added. "In other words, they charge us, we charge them, we charge them less. So how can anybody be upset?"
But China's Commerce Ministry immediately called the move "a typical act of unilateral bullying" and pledged to take "resolute countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests".
Holding up a chart listing countries and territories that he said had put up trade barriers to US goods, Trump said: "If you look at that... China, first row, 67%. That's tariffs charged to the USA, including currency manipulation and trade barriers." "We are going to be charging [them] a discounted reciprocal tariff of 34%," he added. "In other words, they charge us, we charge them, we charge them less. So how can anybody be upset?"
But China's Commerce Ministry immediately called the move "a typical act of unilateral bullying" and pledged to take "resolute countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests".
China urges U.S. to 'immediately' cancel reciprocal tariffs, vows countermeasures
China's Ministry of Commerce urged the U.S. to "immediately cancel" its unilateral tariff measures and vowed to take "resolute counter-measures" to safeguard its own rights and interests, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced what analysts described as the steepest tariff hikes in a century.
"The U.S. has drawn the so-called 'reciprocal tariffs' based on subjective and unilateral assessments, which goes against international trade rules and seriously undermine the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties," a commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement, translated by CNBC. The Chinese official described the Trump administration's decision to impose reciprocal tariffs as a "typical unilateral bullying practice," adding that many countries have expressed "strong dissatisfaction and clear opposition."
The statement comes after Trump announced a baseline tariff of 10% on all countries and steeper rates on many countries, including 34% on China, 20% on the European Union, 46% on Vietnam and 32% on Taiwan.
"The U.S. has drawn the so-called 'reciprocal tariffs' based on subjective and unilateral assessments, which goes against international trade rules and seriously undermine the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties," a commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement, translated by CNBC. The Chinese official described the Trump administration's decision to impose reciprocal tariffs as a "typical unilateral bullying practice," adding that many countries have expressed "strong dissatisfaction and clear opposition."
The statement comes after Trump announced a baseline tariff of 10% on all countries and steeper rates on many countries, including 34% on China, 20% on the European Union, 46% on Vietnam and 32% on Taiwan.
China vows to counter Trump’s ‘bullying’ tariffs as global trade war escalates
China has vowed to hit back after President Donald Trump announced major new tariffs on its exports to the United States as part of his radical overhaul of a century of American global trade policy. Trump unveiled 54% tariffs on all Chinese imports into the US Wednesday, in a move poised to push a major reset of relations and escalate a trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
“China firmly opposes this and will resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Thursday morning.
The ministry slammed the move that stands as a centerpiece in Trump’s effort to reshape the rules of international trade as “typical unilateral bullying practice,” while urging the US to cancel the tariffs and “properly resolve differences with its trading partners through equal dialogue.” “The United States has drawn the so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ based on subjective and unilateral assessments, which is inconsistent with international trade rules and seriously damages the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties,” the statement said.
“China firmly opposes this and will resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests,” China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Thursday morning.
The ministry slammed the move that stands as a centerpiece in Trump’s effort to reshape the rules of international trade as “typical unilateral bullying practice,” while urging the US to cancel the tariffs and “properly resolve differences with its trading partners through equal dialogue.” “The United States has drawn the so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ based on subjective and unilateral assessments, which is inconsistent with international trade rules and seriously damages the legitimate rights and interests of relevant parties,” the statement said.
Businesses spent years diversifying away from China. Trump’s trade war could destroy those economies
For Tim Hsu, who sells modern lamps and ceiling lights mostly to American customers, US President Donald Trump’s historic tariff announcement has upended his carefully made plans.
Last year, the Taiwanese businessman decided to invest in Cambodia to diversify his production base beyond his traditional stronghold of south China. He was preemptively hedging against the risk of possible higher tariffs on China during Trump’s second term. But Wednesday’s announcement of an unexpectedly harsh levy on all US imports from Cambodia, the highest rate in Asia and second-highest globally, has changed everything.
“If the 49% tariff remains unchanged, we will withdraw our investment from Cambodia,” Hsu told CNN.
For now, his next move remains uncertain as questions linger over whether the steep tariff will stay. Pulling out of Cambodia is relatively easy for him because the investment is still in an early stage. But for many other companies with long established factories employing thousands of workers in the country, one of Asia’s poorest, the tariff news is nothing short of devastating. And it’s not alone.
Last year, the Taiwanese businessman decided to invest in Cambodia to diversify his production base beyond his traditional stronghold of south China. He was preemptively hedging against the risk of possible higher tariffs on China during Trump’s second term. But Wednesday’s announcement of an unexpectedly harsh levy on all US imports from Cambodia, the highest rate in Asia and second-highest globally, has changed everything.
“If the 49% tariff remains unchanged, we will withdraw our investment from Cambodia,” Hsu told CNN.
For now, his next move remains uncertain as questions linger over whether the steep tariff will stay. Pulling out of Cambodia is relatively easy for him because the investment is still in an early stage. But for many other companies with long established factories employing thousands of workers in the country, one of Asia’s poorest, the tariff news is nothing short of devastating. And it’s not alone.
India passes controversial bill on Muslim properties after fierce debate
After hours of heated debate, India's parliament has passed a controversial bill that seeks to change how properties worth billions of dollars donated by Muslims over centuries are governed. The upper house passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 early on Friday, a day after the lower house cleared it amid strong opposition criticism.
Muslim leaders and opposition parties say the bill is "unconstitutional" and infringes on the rights of India's Muslim-minority community. But the government says the bill aims to make the management of waqf (Muslim properties) more transparent. The bill will now be sent to India's president for her assent before it becomes law. This approval is expected to come soon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the passing of the bill a "watershed moment".
Muslim leaders and opposition parties say the bill is "unconstitutional" and infringes on the rights of India's Muslim-minority community. But the government says the bill aims to make the management of waqf (Muslim properties) more transparent. The bill will now be sent to India's president for her assent before it becomes law. This approval is expected to come soon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the passing of the bill a "watershed moment".
South Korea's president has been removed from power: What happens now?
South Korea's president has been removed from office after the Constitutional Court voted unanimously to uphold his impeachment. Yoon Suk Yeol was suspended from duty in December after being impeached by parliament, following his failed attempt to impose martial law. The ruling on Friday was met with tears of joy and sadness among Yoon's critics and supporters, who had gathered in various parts of Seoul to watch the verdict live. A snap election to vote for Yoon's replacement must be held by 3 June.
After months of anxiously waiting, South Koreans have some badly needed closure. The country can now start to repair and move forward, the first step being to elect a new leader. But the crisis Yoon has unleashed is far from over. Although his military takeover only lasted six hours, the political fallout has only intensified with each month that has passed.
After months of anxiously waiting, South Koreans have some badly needed closure. The country can now start to repair and move forward, the first step being to elect a new leader. But the crisis Yoon has unleashed is far from over. Although his military takeover only lasted six hours, the political fallout has only intensified with each month that has passed.
tirsdag 1. april 2025
‘I Love Him’: A Suicide, a Student’s Diary, and a School’s Reckoning
Taiwanese author Lin Yi-han turned her pain into a groundbreaking novel about a teenage girl groomed by her tutor. Not long after its release in 2017, she died by suicide. Years later, a student surnamed Fu read the book and saw her own life in its pages. In her diary, she wrote: “I became guilty, only able to repeatedly tell myself, I love him.” This past January, she, too, took her own life.
Young, Tired, and Still Trying: China’s Next Generation Rethinks Success
Is your life better than that of your parents’ generation?
For all the frustrations young Chinese face in the workplace and at home, many would still answer in the affirmative, says Peter Hessler, the well-known author of “River Town” and “Oracle Bones.” Hessler, who has spent most of the past three decades chronicling the changing lives of Chinese across the world, still sees the younger generation as fundamentally optimistic about the future.
But for Xiang Biao, a popular anthropologist and the director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany, whose analyses of societal phenomena like “involution” and “lying flat” have been read by millions, the answer is less revealing than the thought process: He sees young Chinese as increasingly self-reflecting and willing to interrogate what words like “better” mean in the context of their lives.
For all the frustrations young Chinese face in the workplace and at home, many would still answer in the affirmative, says Peter Hessler, the well-known author of “River Town” and “Oracle Bones.” Hessler, who has spent most of the past three decades chronicling the changing lives of Chinese across the world, still sees the younger generation as fundamentally optimistic about the future.
But for Xiang Biao, a popular anthropologist and the director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany, whose analyses of societal phenomena like “involution” and “lying flat” have been read by millions, the answer is less revealing than the thought process: He sees young Chinese as increasingly self-reflecting and willing to interrogate what words like “better” mean in the context of their lives.
US, Japan ‘Stand Firmly Together’ in the Face of Aggressive Chinese Actions
While there is wide-spread speculation about what the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump will do with regard to its massive troop presence in Europe, the administration has made it clear that it intends to maintain and strengthen the U.S. military presence in Japan vis-a-vis an increasingly aggressive China – especially with a Taiwan emergency in mind.
Speaking in Tokyo on March 30, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that the U.S. and Japan “stand firmly together in the face of aggressive and coercive actions by the Communist Chinese.”
“Japan would be on the front lines of any contingency we might face in the western Pacific and we stand together in support of each other,” Hegseth said during a joint press conference with Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen in Tokyo, after the first U.S.-Japan defense ministers’ meeting to take place since Trump took office in January. “Japan is an indispensable partner in deterring Communist Chinese military aggression,” Hegseth added.
Speaking in Tokyo on March 30, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that the U.S. and Japan “stand firmly together in the face of aggressive and coercive actions by the Communist Chinese.”
“Japan would be on the front lines of any contingency we might face in the western Pacific and we stand together in support of each other,” Hegseth said during a joint press conference with Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen in Tokyo, after the first U.S.-Japan defense ministers’ meeting to take place since Trump took office in January. “Japan is an indispensable partner in deterring Communist Chinese military aggression,” Hegseth added.
Myanmar announces week of national mourning as hopes of finding quake survivors fade
More than 2,000 people in Myanmar have been killed following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that affected areas as far as Thailand and China. Myanmar's military government has declared a week of national mourning, with a moment of silence to be held later on Tuesday at 12:51 local, the exact time the quake struck on Friday
In neighbouring Thailand, 20 people are known to have died, and thousands have been evacuated from cracked buildings in Bangkok Rescuers in both countries are still continuing their search for survivors, though hopes are fading as the critical window - the first 72 hours after a quake - has passed. The UN says the earthquake has compounded "an already dire crisis" in Myanmar, which is in the midst of a four-year civil war. Despite the destruction, reports suggest the country's military leaders are still carrying out air strikes against pro-democracy rebel groups.
In neighbouring Thailand, 20 people are known to have died, and thousands have been evacuated from cracked buildings in Bangkok Rescuers in both countries are still continuing their search for survivors, though hopes are fading as the critical window - the first 72 hours after a quake - has passed. The UN says the earthquake has compounded "an already dire crisis" in Myanmar, which is in the midst of a four-year civil war. Despite the destruction, reports suggest the country's military leaders are still carrying out air strikes against pro-democracy rebel groups.
Trump has the world on edge as he mulls fateful tariffs decades in the making
He’s got the world hanging on his every word — and that’s how he loves it. President Donald Trump held court in the Oval Office on Monday evening, ratcheting up suspense over his promised tariff war “Liberation Day” on April 2 and riffing on his 19th-century worldview that threatens to rock the 21st-century economy.
It was an extraordinary spectacle — an all-powerful president, surrounded by his gaudy golden trinkets, flags and ornaments, seemingly improvising in real time about a still-mysterious plan that could deliver untold economic consequences to billions of people worldwide.
One minute, Trump was flinging threats at trading partners he accuses of ripping off America. The next, he doused his fire with promises to be “kind,” in the latest in a string of contradictory signals that have sent global markets on a wild ride. “This is going to be an amazing — I call it a lot of different names — but it really in a sense is a rebirth of a country,” Trump declared of a policy that economists fear will hike already high-prices and could push the US toward a recession.
It was an extraordinary spectacle — an all-powerful president, surrounded by his gaudy golden trinkets, flags and ornaments, seemingly improvising in real time about a still-mysterious plan that could deliver untold economic consequences to billions of people worldwide.
One minute, Trump was flinging threats at trading partners he accuses of ripping off America. The next, he doused his fire with promises to be “kind,” in the latest in a string of contradictory signals that have sent global markets on a wild ride. “This is going to be an amazing — I call it a lot of different names — but it really in a sense is a rebirth of a country,” Trump declared of a policy that economists fear will hike already high-prices and could push the US toward a recession.
mandag 31. mars 2025
Why China Is Wary of a Trump-Xi Summit
In Washington, President Trump has said he is willing to meet with Xi Jinping, China’s top leader. In Beijing, Chinese officials and experts agree that a meeting between the heads of state must precede any broad reset of relations with the United States amid Mr. Trump’s aggressive approach to trade and foreign policy. But arranging a meeting is already proving slow and difficult.
Senator Steve Daines, Republican of Montana, who came to Beijing this month as an informal representative of Mr. Trump, said one of the main goals for his trip was to lay the groundwork for a presidential summit. After meeting China’s vice premier for economic policy, He Lifeng, Mr. Daines said in an interview that he believed a summit would be held by the end of the year — a slower pace than many in Washington had expected.
Senator Steve Daines, Republican of Montana, who came to Beijing this month as an informal representative of Mr. Trump, said one of the main goals for his trip was to lay the groundwork for a presidential summit. After meeting China’s vice premier for economic policy, He Lifeng, Mr. Daines said in an interview that he believed a summit would be held by the end of the year — a slower pace than many in Washington had expected.
Trump’s tariffs threaten to escalate a trade war. China wants to talk, but it’s ready to fight
As Donald Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” for announcing “reciprocal” tariffs on America’s trading partners approaches, the question in Beijing is whether this will be the moment when its nascent trade war with the US really escalates.
Mixed messages have kept Chinese officials guessing. The US president has long railed against the gaping trade deficit between the world’s two largest economies – and on the campaign trail threatened upwards of 60% duties on all Chinese goods coming into the US. That’s potentially putting Beijing prominently in line for Wednesday’s expected measures.
And yet, in recent days, Trump has suggested he could reduce tariffs on Chinese imports as part of a wider bargain on the sale of Chinese-social social media platform TikTok. Speaking on Air Force One on Sunday, he vowed again to complete a deal on the platform ahead of a Saturday deadline. Trump has also touted a “a great relationship” with Chinese leader Xi Jinping even as his government slapped tough controls on China’s access to US tech and called for tighter investment controls.
Mixed messages have kept Chinese officials guessing. The US president has long railed against the gaping trade deficit between the world’s two largest economies – and on the campaign trail threatened upwards of 60% duties on all Chinese goods coming into the US. That’s potentially putting Beijing prominently in line for Wednesday’s expected measures.
And yet, in recent days, Trump has suggested he could reduce tariffs on Chinese imports as part of a wider bargain on the sale of Chinese-social social media platform TikTok. Speaking on Air Force One on Sunday, he vowed again to complete a deal on the platform ahead of a Saturday deadline. Trump has also touted a “a great relationship” with Chinese leader Xi Jinping even as his government slapped tough controls on China’s access to US tech and called for tighter investment controls.
Trump wants India to buy US corn - but here's why it probably won't
Why won't India buy even a single bushel of American corn? That's the question US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick raised recently while criticising India's trade policies, taking a swipe at its market restrictions. In another interview, Lutnick accused India of blocking US farmers and urged it to open its agricultural market - suggesting quotas or limits as a possible approach.
Agriculture is a key battleground in US President Donald Trump's escalating trade war, with tit-for-tat or reciprocal tariffs set to kick in on 2 April. Tariffs are taxes charged on goods imported from other countries.Trump has repeatedly branded India a "tariff king" and a "big abuser" of trade ties. For years, Washington has pushed for greater access to India's farm sector, seeing it as a major untapped market. But India has fiercely protected it, citing food security, livelihoods and interests of millions of small farmers.
Agriculture is a key battleground in US President Donald Trump's escalating trade war, with tit-for-tat or reciprocal tariffs set to kick in on 2 April. Tariffs are taxes charged on goods imported from other countries.Trump has repeatedly branded India a "tariff king" and a "big abuser" of trade ties. For years, Washington has pushed for greater access to India's farm sector, seeing it as a major untapped market. But India has fiercely protected it, citing food security, livelihoods and interests of millions of small farmers.
søndag 30. mars 2025
How China Is Training AI to Censor Its Secrets
A newly leaked database shows China is developing a large language model (LLM) system to automatically detect and suppress politically sensitive content, dramatically expanding the country's capacity for digital censorship, TechCrunch reports.
The tool appears to serve the Chinese government's long-standing goals of controlling online narratives, using artificial intelligence to identify dissent far more efficiently than traditional methods. The scale and sophistication of the dataset shows how authoritarian regimes are beginning to deploy AI to tighten grips over online discourse. While China has long censored information through keyword filters and human oversight, the new model leverages the capabilities of generative AI to detect more nuanced or coded expressions of dissent.
The tool appears to serve the Chinese government's long-standing goals of controlling online narratives, using artificial intelligence to identify dissent far more efficiently than traditional methods. The scale and sophistication of the dataset shows how authoritarian regimes are beginning to deploy AI to tighten grips over online discourse. While China has long censored information through keyword filters and human oversight, the new model leverages the capabilities of generative AI to detect more nuanced or coded expressions of dissent.
Economic Expert: China is laughing all the way to the bank on Trump’s tariff policy
Rana Foroohar and Shermichael Singleton debate the merits and the end game of President Trump’s tariffs. Foroohar says she isn’t against tariffs but there needs to be a more cohesive policy with America’s allies to make it successful. Singleton argues Trump is trying to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US and undo damage from the previous administration.
US to send advanced military hardware to Philippines
The United States plans to deploy advanced military equipment to the Philippines to strengthen its deterrence against threats, officials from both countries said, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made his first official visit to Manila. Hegseth met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday, reiterating that Washington’s defense commitment to its longtime ally in Southeast Asia would remain strong under the second Trump administration.
“Deterrence is necessary around the world, but specifically in this region, in your country, considering the threats from the communist Chinese, and that friends need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to deter conflict,” the U.S. defense chief told Marcos, according to an official transcript.
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