chinese exports

China's exports surged 14.1% in April, significantly exceeding expectations and bolstering the nation's economy despite global uncertainties. This strong performance precedes a crucial meeting between US and Chinese leaders, where trade tensions and other disputes are expected to be discussed. Analysts anticipate continued export-driven growth for China this year.

US approved major Chinese tech giants like Alibaba and Tencent to acquire Nvidia's advanced H200 AI chips. However, no sales have materialized as Beijing reportedly discourages domestic firms from buying foreign technology, prioritizing the development of its own chip industry, particularly Huawei's. Nvidia's CEO is now in China, hoping for a breakthrough.

US President Trump revealed Chinese President Xi Jinping desires the Strait of Hormuz reopened to stabilize global energy markets. Both leaders reportedly agreed on the necessity of this crucial shipping route's resumption. Discussions also touched upon potential increased Chinese purchases of American oil and agricultural products, alongside ongoing tensions regarding Taiwan.

Xi dealt with Trump as his equal, pitting Beijing’s grand strategic concerns against Washington’s transactionalism. Yes, both sides outwardly agreed on some issues. But Beijing is playing a long game

As President Trump arrives in Beijing, anticipation runs low for any breakthroughs regarding China's influence over Iran and the vital Strait of Hormuz. His agenda includes discussions on trade and the pressing issue of fentanyl, yet underlying tensions over their differing views on geopolitical conflicts threaten to overshadow these talks.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joined Donald Trump's Beijing summit at the last minute, boarding Air Force One in Alaska, but China still won't approve H200 AI chip purchases. Trump said Beijing "chose not to" because it wants homegrown silicon. With DeepSeek now running on Huawei chips and 10 cleared Chinese firms yet to place orders, Nvidia's China stalemate looks set to drag on.

Presidents Xi and Trump are set for a crucial summit, aiming for stability despite deep-seated issues like tech rivalry and Taiwan. While a trade deal might emerge, it won't end the underlying friction. China's focus on domestic chip production and its stance on Taiwan, deemed the 'biggest risk,' will also be key discussion points. The US may also expect China's mediation in ending the Iranian mess.

Anthropic's paper outlines two scenarios for US-China AI leadership by 2028. In one, the US maintains its compute advantage through tightened export controls, leading to democratic AI norms. The other sees China overtaking the US if policymakers fail to act, resulting in authoritarian AI dominance.

Chinese developers are bypassing AI restrictions by using underground 'shadow APIs' hosted outside mainland China. These services provide access to leading US AI models like Claude and Gemini for coding and other tasks. Despite tightened controls and identity checks, demand persists as Western AI is perceived as superior for complex engineering, fueling a growing grey market.

Pakistan's Fatah-3 missile test sparks debate, potentially challenging India's BrahMos dominance in precision strikes. Analysts question if it's a Pakistani leap or Chinese hardware, highlighting China's growing military influence. Operation Sindoor showcased India's advanced capabilities, underscoring the importance of integrated systems beyond just missile technology.

China has for the first time publicly acknowledged providing on-ground technical assistance to Pakistan during India's Operation Sindoor last year. Chinese engineers from AVIC's Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute were involved in ensuring Pakistani aircraft operated at full combat capability. This marks the first official indication of direct Chinese personnel involvement in supporting Pakistani military operations during the conflict.

The PM wants us to use public transport, shift to electric vehicles, work from home, take fewer vacations abroad, and reduce gold purchases. The reason isn't as sudden as you might think

In a last-minute development, President Trump reportedly invited Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to join his China delegation, with Huang now on Air Force One. This comes amid earlier concerns about Nvidia's political implications. Trump confirmed Huang's presence alongside other prominent CEOs, stating his intention to urge President Xi to open China for business and collaboration.

President Trump's visit to China is overshadowed by the Iran War, which has disrupted global energy supplies and impacted his approval ratings. While trade and Taiwan remain on the agenda, the protracted conflict in Iran presents a significant challenge, with the US struggling to achieve its war aims and facing a decline in superpower status.

President Donald Trump is set to visit China from May 13-15 for talks with President Xi Jinping, focusing on easing trade tensions and discussing Iran. Broader issues like tariffs and Taiwan are also on the agenda. The visit aims to rebalance the relationship, prioritizing reciprocity and fairness for American economic independence.

While the US and Israel engaged in conflict with Iran, China quietly leveraged the situation to expand its influence. By positioning itself as a diplomatic alternative and stabilizing energy supplies, Beijing benefited from a weakened American strategic position and growing uncertainty about US reliability among allies.

As the geopolitical landscape evolves, France's efforts to maintain influence in Africa are confronted with a shifting reality. The Sahel nations, now under military governance, are moving toward new alliances, with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger seeking support from Russia for defense needs and China for economic growth.

US prosecutors suspect Bangkok-based OBON Corp.—a company central to Thailand's national AI strategy—of acting as the middleman in a $2.5 billion scheme to smuggle Nvidia-equipped Supermicro servers into China, with Alibaba among the alleged end customers. Bloomberg identified OBON as the unnamed "Company-1" in a March federal indictment that charged Supermicro co-founder Wally Liaw with violating US export control law. OBON and Alibaba have not been charged.

The United States has stepped up efforts to restrict Iranian oil exports, a major source of revenue for Tehran. Late last month, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on Hengli, targeting one of the most prominent and well-connected companies in China’s large crude-processing sector.

China has officially confirmed providing on-site technical assistance to Pakistan during last year's conflict with India. An engineer from China's Aviation Industry Corporation detailed his team's efforts supporting Pakistan's Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jets amidst intense conditions. This revelation comes after previous denials and downplaying of Chinese military involvement by Beijing.

President Trump is leading a delegation of top American CEOs, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook, to Beijing for high-stakes trade talks. The visit aims to secure massive deals, with a potential blockbuster order for Boeing aircraft being a key focus. Notably absent is Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, as the trip prioritizes agriculture and commercial aviation over high-end semiconductors.

All eyes in Beijing from tomorrow as Xi, Trump navigate trade, tech and geopolitical whirlpools

Oil prices saw a slight uptick as traders awaited crucial talks between US President Trump and China's Xi Jinping. Lingering concerns over the Strait of Hormuz disruptions and the ongoing Middle East conflict are keeping markets on edge. Despite US pressure, China's continued reliance on Iranian oil adds complexity to potential resolutions.

Sixty years of leftism & quasi-leftism killed the city & state’s economic vitality. But a revival isn’t hard. Policy needs to build on moribund industrial bases & stock exchange. Plus, prioritise learning English

Donald Trump has landed in Beijing with 17 American companies in tow, worth a combined $16.47 trillion—roughly 90% of China's entire 2025 GDP. Jensen Huang joined at the last minute, boarding Air Force One in Anchorage. Nvidia and Apple alone account for $9.7 trillion of that, while Meta sent its policy chief after Beijing blocked its $2 billion Manus deal.

Oil prices surged as President Trump rejected Iran's peace proposal, reigniting fears over global energy supply routes. Hopes for breakthrough talks faded, shifting market attention to Trump's upcoming visit to Beijing. Saudi Aramco warned of significant oil market losses, while tankers navigated the Strait of Hormuz with tracking systems off.