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Mint
20-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
What the Global South takes away from the US-China deal
The US-China temporary trade agreement is a blunt reminder: Washington's foreign policy under President Donald Trump is transactional. Deals matter, values don't. This lesson is crucial for the Global South. Economic leverage secures a seat at the table, not democratic credentials. Consider the sidelining of Jimmy Lai, the jailed Hong Kong media mogul and outspoken critic of Beijing. Ahead of the talks, Trump said he would raise Lai's case, a move that would have antagonized the world's second-largest economy. China views him as a national security threat and Lai is facing charges that could imprison him for life. The pro-democracy figure denies the allegations. 'I think talking about [Lai] is a very good idea," Trump said in a 7 May radio interview. 'We'll put it down as part of the negotiation." Also Read: Tariff whiplash: The US truce with China offers hollow relief But there was no mention of Lai in the official joint statement. Long-standing US concerns over forced labour and violations of religious freedoms in the Xinjiang region, which the previous administration had called 'genocide' and 'crimes against humanity,' were also notably absent from the discussions. Instead, both sides referenced their 'long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship." Trump also said that he would speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping soon. Negotiations have resulted in lower tariffs, and a three-month timeline to work toward a broader agreement. The absence of any formal reference to Lai is telling, even if conversations may be taking place behind the scenes. Trump doesn't appear to care about human rights, notes Susannah Patton, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. 'A lot of his administration's cuts to media funding and civil society will be positive for autocrats in Southeast Asia, like Cambodia and Myanmar," she told me. The message is clear—strongmen have little to fear. Unlike the Biden administration, which emphasized democratic credentials, Trump has signalled that alignment with the US depends more on what partners can bring to the table. Also Read: Will a US-China trade agreement work? Don't count on it Diplomats have told me that countries affected by his 'Liberation Day' tariffs are parsing China's success at striking this momentary reprieve. Almost no nation has been spared by the levies. They targeted allies and adversaries alike, including those in the Global South, a diverse group of countries encompassing the majority of the world's population, across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Trump's display of profit over principle will likely resonate with many who have long viewed the US's moralizing on human rights as condescending and hypocritical. His Middle East trip last week is another example. The warmth with which Trump met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman marked a sharp departure from President Joe Biden's uncomfortable fist-bump with the royal in 2022. Trump openly praised him, saying 'I like him too much" and applauded the kingdom's modernization efforts. He also announced the US had secured a multi-billion dollar investment from Saudi Arabia, although the details of the deal remain elusive. There is nuance here. Both presidents engaged with the crown prince despite a 2021 US intelligence report concluding that he'd approved the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But Biden indicated that he raised the issue during his meeting. His and previous administrations tied values-based diplomacy to geopolitical and economic goals. Trump allows countries to pursue their own agendas without interference. This shift is reshaping alliances across the Global South. Nations are pivoting toward a multipolar strategy, balancing China and the US while strengthening ties with regional powers like India. Smaller states, from Singapore to New Zealand, are forging their own networks and are less willing to rely so much on Washington. Also Read: Harsh Pant: Trump's dice roll will throw up a new world order The US ignores the long-term damage of this approach at its peril. Beijing's authoritarian style of governance promotes stability and state control over international norms. This is increasingly appealing to nations that don't want to be lectured to but also risks a drift away from the rules-based order. This results in a world where power beats principle, and ultimately, that weakens international law. We are already seeing evidence of this. Trump's first 100 days resulted in a human-rights emergency, according to a warning by Amnesty International. It added that his sweeping foreign aid cuts worsened conditions globally. To many in the Global South, America's new pragmatism may feel refreshing, perhaps even overdue. But over time, a world led by interests rather than principles would be headed for deeper instability. ©Bloomberg The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia politics with a special focus on China.
NDTV
19-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Opinion: US-China Deal Is a Lesson for the Global South
The US-China temporary trade agreement is a blunt reminder: Washington's foreign policy under President Donald Trump is transactional. Deals matter, values don't. This lesson is crucial for the Global South. Economic leverage secures a seat at the table, not democratic credentials. Consider the sidelining of Jimmy Lai, the jailed Hong Kong media mogul and outspoken critic of Beijing. Ahead of the talks, Trump said he would raise Lai's case, a move that would have antagonised the world's second-largest economy. China views him as a national security threat, and Lai is facing charges that could imprison him for life. The pro-democracy figure denies the allegations. "I think talking about Jimmy Lai is a very good idea," Trump said in a May 7 radio interview. "We'll put it down as part of the negotiation." But there was no mention of Lai in the official joint statement. Long-standing US concerns over forced labour and violations of religious freedoms in the Xinjiang region, which the previous administration had called genocide and crimes against humanity, were also notably absent from the discussions. Instead, both sides referenced their "long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship." Trump also said that he would speak to the Chinese President Xi Jinping soon. Negotiations have resulted in lower tariffs, and a three month timeline to work toward a broader agreement. The absence of any formal reference to Lai is telling, even if conversations may be taking place behind the scenes. Trump doesn't appear to care about human rights, notes Susannah Patton, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. "A lot of his administration's cuts to media funding and civil society will be positive for autocrats in Southeast Asia, like Cambodia and Myanmar," she told me. The message is clear - strongmen have little to fear. Unlike the Biden administration, which emphasised democratic credentials, Trump has signaled that alignment with the US depends more on what partners can bring to the table. Diplomats have told me that countries affected by his Liberation Day tariffs are parsing China's success at striking this momentary reprieve. Almost no nation has been spared by the levies. They targeted allies and adversaries alike, including those in the Global South, a diverse group of countries encompassing the majority of the world's population, across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Trump's display of profit over principle will likely resonate with many who have long viewed America's moralising on human rights as condescending and hypocritical. His Middle East trip last week is another example. The warmth with which Trump met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman marked a sharp departure from President Joe Biden's uncomfortable fist-bump with the royal in 2022. Trump openly praised him, saying "I like him too much," and applauded the kingdom's modernization efforts. He also announced the US had secured a multi-billion-dollar investment from Saudi Arabia, although the details of the deal remain elusive. There is nuance here. Both presidents engaged with the crown prince despite a 2021 US intelligence report concluding that he'd approved the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But Biden indicated that he raised the issue during his meeting. His and previous administrations tied values-based diplomacy to geopolitical and economic goals. Trump allows countries to pursue their own agendas without interference. This shift is already reshaping alliances across the Global South. Nations are pivoting toward a multipolar strategy, balancing China and the US while strengthening ties with regional powers like India. Smaller states, from Singapore to New Zealand, are forging their own networks and are less willing to rely so much on Washington. The US ignores the long-term damage of this approach at its peril. Beijing's authoritarian style of governance promotes stability and state control over international norms. This is increasingly appealing to nations who don't want to be lectured to, but it also risks a drift away from the rules-based order. This results in a world where power beats principle and, ultimately, that weakens international law. We are already seeing evidence of this. Trump's first 100 days resulted in a human-rights emergency, Amnesty International warned. It added that his sweeping foreign aid cuts worsened conditions globally. To many in the Global South, America's new pragmatism may feel refreshing, perhaps even overdue. But over time, a world led by interests rather than principles is headed for deeper instability.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
US-China deal is a lesson for the global South
Live Events The US-China temporary trade agreement is a blunt reminder: Washington's foreign policy under President Donald Trump is transactional. Deals matter, values don' lesson is crucial for the Global South . Economic leverage secures a seat at the table, not democratic the sidelining of Jimmy Lai , the jailed Hong Kong media mogul and outspoken critic of Beijing. Ahead of the talks, Trump said he would raise Lai's case, a move that would have antagonized the world's second-largest economy. China views him as a national security threat, and Lai is facing charges that could imprison him for life. The pro-democracy figure denies the allegations.'I think talking about Jimmy Lai is a very good idea,' Trump said in a May 7 radio interview. 'We'll put it down as part of the negotiation.'But there was no mention of Lai in the official joint statement. Long-standing US concerns over forced labor and violations of religious freedoms in the Xinjiang region, which the previous administration had called genocide and crimes against humanity, were also notably absent from the both sides referenced their 'long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship.' Trump also said that he would speak to the Chinese President Xi Jinping soon. Negotiations have resulted in lower tariffs, and a three month timeline to work toward a broader absence of any formal reference to Lai is telling, even if conversations may be taking place behind the scenes. Trump doesn't appear to care about human rights, notes Susannah Patton, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. 'A lot of his administration's cuts to media funding and civil society will be positive for autocrats in Southeast Asia, like Cambodia and Myanmar,' she told me. The message is clear — strongmen have little to the Biden administration, which emphasised democratic credentials, Trump has signaled that alignment with the US depends more on what partners can bring to the have told me that countries affected by his Liberation Day tariffs are parsing China's success at striking this momentary reprieve. Almost no nation has been spared by the levies. They targeted allies and adversaries alike, including those in the Global South, a diverse group of countries encompassing the majority of the world's population, across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin display of profit over principle will likely resonate with many who have long viewed America's moralising on human rights as condescending and Middle East trip last week is another example. The warmth with which Trump met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman marked a sharp departure from President Joe Biden's uncomfortable fist-bump with the royal in 2022. Trump openly praised him, saying 'I like him too much,' and applauded the kingdom's modernisation efforts. He also announced the US had secured a multi-billion dollar investment from Saudi Arabia, although the details of the deal remain is nuance here. Both presidents engaged with the crown prince despite a 2021 US intelligence report concluding that he'd approved the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But Biden indicated that he raised the issue during his meeting. His and previous administrations tied values-based diplomacy to geopolitical and economic goals. Trump allows countries to pursue their own agendas without shift is already reshaping alliances across the Global South. Nations are pivoting toward a multipolar strategy, balancing China and the US while strengthening ties with regional powers like India. Smaller states, from Singapore to New Zealand, are forging their own networks and are less willing to rely so much on US ignores the long-term damage of this approach at its peril. Beijing's authoritarian style of governance promotes stability and state control over international norms. This is increasingly appealing to nations who don't want to be lectured to, but it also risks a drift away from the rules-based order. This results in a world where power beats principle and ultimately, that weakens international are already seeing evidence of this. Trump's first 100 days resulted in a human-rights emergency, Amnesty International warned. It added that his sweeping foreign aid cuts worsened conditions many in the Global South, America's new pragmatism may feel refreshing, perhaps even overdue. But over time, a world led by interests rather than principles is headed for deeper instability.
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Business Standard
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
US-China trade deal shows Global South power lies in leverage, not values
The US-China temporary trade agreement is a blunt reminder: Washington's foreign policy under President Donald Trump is transactional. Deals matter, values don't. This lesson is crucial for the Global South. Economic leverage secures a seat at the table, not democratic credentials. Consider the sidelining of Jimmy Lai, the jailed Hong Kong media mogul and outspoken critic of Beijing. Ahead of the talks, Trump said he would raise Lai's case, a move that would have antagonized the world's second-largest economy. China views him as a national security threat, and Lai is facing charges that could imprison him for life. The pro-democracy figure denies the allegations. 'I think talking about Jimmy Lai is a very good idea,' Trump said in a May 7 radio interview. 'We'll put it down as part of the negotiation.' Instead, both sides referenced their 'long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship.' Trump also said that he would speak to the Chinese President Xi Jinping soon. Negotiations have resulted in lower tariffs, and a three month timeline to work toward a broader agreement. The absence of any formal reference to Lai is telling, even if conversations may be taking place behind the scenes. Trump doesn't appear to care about human rights, notes Susannah Patton, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. 'A lot of his administration's cuts to media funding and civil society will be positive for autocrats in Southeast Asia, like Cambodia and Myanmar,' she told me. The message is clear — strongmen have little to fear. Unlike the Biden administration, which emphasized democratic credentials, Trump has signaled that alignment with the US depends more on what partners can bring to the table. Diplomats have told me that countries affected by his Liberation Day tariffs are parsing China's success at striking this momentary reprieve. Almost no nation has been spared by the levies. They targeted allies and adversaries alike, including those in the Global South, a diverse group of countries encompassing the majority of the world's population, across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Trump's display of profit over principle will likely resonate with many who have long viewed America's moralizing on human rights as condescending and hypocritical. His Middle East trip last week is another example. The warmth with which Trump met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman marked a sharp departure from President Joe Biden's uncomfortable fist-bump with the royal in 2022. Trump openly praised him, saying 'I like him too much,' and applauded the kingdom's modernization efforts. He also announced the US had secured a multi-billion dollar investment from Saudi Arabia, although the details of the deal remain elusive. There is nuance here. Both presidents engaged with the crown prince despite a 2021 US intelligence report concluding that he'd approved the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But Biden indicated that he raised the issue during his meeting. His and previous administrations tied values-based diplomacy to geopolitical and economic goals. Trump allows countries to pursue their own agendas without interference. This shift is already reshaping alliances across the Global South. Nations are pivoting toward a multipolar strategy, balancing China and the US while strengthening ties with regional powers like India. Smaller states, from Singapore to New Zealand, are forging their own networks and are less willing to rely so much on Washington. The US ignores the long-term damage of this approach at its peril. Beijing's authoritarian style of governance promotes stability and state control over international norms. This is increasingly appealing to nations who don't want to be lectured to, but it also risks a drift away from the rules-based order. This results in a world where power beats principle and ultimately, that weakens international law. We are already seeing evidence of this. Trump's first 100 days resulted in a human-rights emergency, Amnesty International warned. It added that his sweeping foreign aid cuts worsened conditions globally. To many in the Global South, America's new pragmatism may feel refreshing, perhaps even overdue. But over time, a world led by interests rather than principles is headed for deeper instability.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China claims an island in the South China Sea. Satellite images show Beijing's growing power-hungry struggle in the region.
Tensions continue in the South China Sea, most recently between China and the Philippines. China has been extending its reach in the South China Sea by building artificial islands atop reefs. China's claims over these islands is unlawful and many countries are fighting back. Tensions between China and the Philippines are heating up over tiny sandbars and coral reefs in the South China Sea, and the US could get caught in the middle. "We should be worried about it," Greg Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, told Business Insider. The satellite images below show China's massive expansion across the South China Sea, which has turned open waters into a looming battleground that could rope the US in. Over the last decade, China has expanded hundreds of miles south by building artificial islands over underwater reefs in the Paracel and Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. This has been a yearslong power struggle between China and many countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan, for control of dozens of disputed reefs, islands, and sandbars in the South China Sea. Up to $5 trillion in goods are shipped across the sea a year. The problem is that China's claims of sovereignty over these artificial landmarks are unlawful, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Mischief Reef is one of China's largest artificial islands in the Spratlys, spanning 1,380 acres, enough to fit 1.5 Central Parks. Both the Philippines and China, as well as Taiwan and Vietnam, claim the reef as their own. However, a UN tribunal ruled in 2016 that no territory can claim it. That didn't stop China from building an impressive military base there. Satellite images show that China has militarized Mischief Reef with missile systems, fighter jets, naval ships, and more. In recent months, multiple Chinese vessels in the South China Sea have threatened to collide with Philippine ships in a region called Scarborough Shoal, north of Mischief Reef. Also in Scarborough Shoal, a Chinese Navy helicopter flew dangerously close, within 10 feet, of a Philippine patrol plane in February, AP reported. Meanwhile, another recent conflict has flared over a disputed series of sandbar islands in the Spratlys called Sandy Cay. Sandy Cay isn't an underwater reef. The islands remain above ground at high tide, which grants them legal status as a "rock" (or land surrounded by water) under UNCLOS. This means that whoever is the rightful sovereign can also claim 12 nautical miles of the waters around it, Poling said. Last week, Chinese state media released a photo of the Chinese coast guard holding the Chinese flag on Sandy Cay, claiming ownership. Both China and the Philippines claim sovereignty over Sandy Cay, but neither has it legally. Several days later, the Philippine coast guard responded, releasing a photo of its national guard holding a Philippine flag on Sandy Cay. The photo-off on Sandy Cay is more of a stunt than a threat, Poling said. However, if matters escalate in the South China Sea, particularly in Scarborough Shoal, the US has a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, agreeing to come to its aid in the event of an armed attack. It hasn't reached that point and will likely deescalate before that, Poling said. Subi Reef is another one of China's artificial islands outfitted with a military base. "It is illegally occupied unless China can claim the territorial sea in which it sits," Poling said. About 100 miles southwest of Subi Reef is Fiery Cross Reef. While China, Vietnam, and the Philippines all lay claim to the reef, China's military presence gives it effective control. However, China is no longer the only nation building artificial islands in the South China Sea. Vietnam has greatly developed part of the Barque Canada reef over the last several years. Vietnam is also developing on Discovery Great Reef, another underwater region in the Spratly Islands. At 118 acres, though, it's nowhere near the scale of some of China's developments on Mischief, Subi, and Fiery Cross Reefs. "The Philippines, Vietnam, even Malaysia and Indonesia have done a pretty good job holding firm," Poling said, adding that, "I think China just believes it can outlast the other claimants, and that if it keeps up this persistent cycle of pressure, eventually they'll all crack." Learn more about what's been happening in the South China Sea in the video below: Read the original article on Business Insider
