Xi Blasts 'U.S Protectionism' As Trump Blinks On China Tariffs; Revealing 60-Min Call With Lula
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Houthis spare Chinese car ships, but others aren't so lucky - here's the surprising reason
Since the end of 2023, commercial vessels transiting through the Red Sea have been constantly threatened as the Houthi militia in Yemen started attacking ships in what they referred to as an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, as per a report. However, unexpectedly this summer, there has been a sudden exception: Chinese-made car-carrier ships are making it through unscathed, as per a Jalopnik report. Chinese Ships Mysteriously Spared from Houthi Threat As per the report, the reason driving this exception could be that China facilitated a back-channel agreement with the Houthis directly or, more probably, through Iran, which is the group's main sponsor, according to the Jalopnik report. Iran, a huge oil exporter, depends on China as its biggest customer, according to the report. That provides Beijing huge leverage, and it seems they've exercised it to discreetly shield a rising pillar of their economy, the increasing export of Chinese automobiles, as per the Jalopnik report. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program ALSO READ: Trump plans 600-soldier military reaction force ready to strike at a moment's notice - here's what it will do by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo Not All Chinese Ships Protected, Only Car Carriers Interestingly, the deal appears to be highly specified, even a few non-Chinese vessels carrying Chinese cars have also been left untouched, according to the report. But Chinese ships that are not carrying cars still steer clear of the route altogether, which hints that the deal might be applicable only to car carriers, as per the Jalopnik report. China Ramps Up Car Exports to Europe in 2025 This move coincides with China's growing presence in the European car market, as per the rpeort. In April 2025, Chinese vehicles represented close to 5% of the market, whic almost double of what it was only a year ago, according to the Jalopnik report. Live Events The S&P Global analysts have predict that could rise to 10% by 2034, as per the report. But the journey has not been smooth as the European Union has reacted by slapping high tariffs on Chinese vehicles that are subsidized by the state, with tariffs rising as high as 35%, as reported by Jalopnik. ALSO READ: Giant Wyoming data center to guzzle 5x more power than residents, but the user remains secret Red Sea Shortcut Offers Huge Advantage to Chinese Automakers Since cheap prices are one of the main reasons for the demand of these vehicles, these companies are desperate to find ways to compensate for the tariffs, according to the report. By avoiding the Red Sea, these ships adds 14 days to 18 days to the voyage, which is a lot of additional costs for fuel, crew, and maintenance, as per Jalopnik. That would be about a few hundred dollars per car and because some of China's massive new ships can carry 5,000 cars each, the financial impact is in the millions, according to the report. If those ships can just take the shortcut via Red Sea, that would be huge savings for carmakers that they can either pocket or pass on to consumers, as reported by Jalopnik. ALSO READ: China's job crisis spurs bizarre trend: Young Chinese pay companies just to pretend they have a job — here's why FAQs Why aren't Chinese car carriers being attacked? China may have brokered a quiet deal with the Houthis or their backers, likely Iran, to protect its car exports, as per the Jalopnik report. How important is the Red Sea route for shipping? Very important, it's the fastest link between Asia and Europe. Avoiding it adds 14 to 18 days to the journey.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
After Harvard, George Washington University becomes latest battleground in Trump's campus crackdown
China has halted all engagement with Czech Republic President Petr Pavel following his meeting with the Dalai Lama, which Beijing claims undermines its sovereignty. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed strong opposition and lodged a diplomatic protest, stating Pavel's actions contradict commitments made by the Czech government. This meeting marks the first by a sitting head of state with the Dalai Lama in India.
India.com
3 hours ago
- India.com
Oil, Tariffs And A Tightrope: Is India Risking US Ties To Keep Russia Close?
New Delhi: The United States has hit India with steep new tariffs, turning a once-warm trade partnership into a tense standoff. At the centre of the dispute is New Delhi's decision to keep buying discounted Russian oil, a move that Washington says undermines its sanctions policy. The shift has led to a wider global realignment: allies facing friction and rivals finding common ground. President Donald Trump's tariff-heavy strategy is blurring the line between friend and competitor. Signs of a broader geopolitical realignment are also visible. For the first time since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is considering attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which China is hosting this year. Russia remains a long-standing ally, but closer ties with Beijing carry strategic and economic risks. Diplomatic sources suggest that Modi's potential presence at the SCO would be read in Washington as a signal that India is willing to engage more with blocs where the United States has little sway. India's trust deficit with China remains deep. Border disputes, military skirmishes and Beijing's open support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor have left a legacy of mistrust. Russia's growing dependence on China could further reduce India's influence in the region. Analysts emphasise that Moscow's military cooperation with Beijing, including joint patrols in the Sea of Japan and advanced technology transfers, has added to New Delhi's unease. The trade imbalance adds another layer of concern. India's deficit with China has crossed $100 billion in FY 2024-25, up from $85.09 billion the previous year. By contrast, the U.S. relationship brings a surplus of over $35 billion, with bilateral trade valued at $119.71 billion in 2023-24. Washington has repeatedly highlighted this surplus as proof that it remains a more beneficial trade partner for India, even as it warns that continued Russian oil imports could jeopardise preferential market access. Analysts warn that closer alignment with Russia and China could strain India's relations with the West. The United States and its allies view both nations as strategic rivals. India's engagement with them may invite further economic restrictions and weaken platforms like the Quad, which includes the United States, Japan and Australia. Conversations in Washington policy circles have questioned India's reliability as a Quad partner, especially if it moves towards energy and defence agreements that align with Chinese and Russian interests. While Russia has been a dependable partner for decades, the Ukraine conflict has bound it tightly to China, which is now its largest trading partner. This dynamic could leave India as a secondary priority for Moscow. India is benefiting in the short run in energy sector by purchasing Russian crude at a discount of up to $8-10 per barrel, but strategists warn that these savings could be erased if Western tariffs expand to cover more sectors. India's next moves require careful calculation. Each decision carries significant long-term consequences, not only for its trade but also for its place in the shifting global power structure. A senior Indian diplomat put it privately, 'This is no longer just about oil. It is also about choosing which world order we want to belong to, and that choice will define the next two decades.'
