A new type of great power relations
China, the US, Japan, Ukraine, Russia, Colombia, and Sudan.
Hello,
Here are the five things you need to know today:
CHINA. UNITED STATES. Beijing gets to rewrite the rules for a hill of soy.
CHINA. JAPAN. Takaichi struggles to contain Xi’s escalation.
UKRAINE. RUSSIA. As Yermak debates, Zaluzhny returns.
COLOMBIA. A military scandal comes at an inopportune moment.
SUDAN. Burhan rejects a ceasefire and insults Washington.
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CHINA. UNITED STATES. Has bean
Beijing gets to rewrite the rules for a hill of soy.
Donald Trump said ties with China were “extremely strong” after a surprise call from Xi Jinping. Xi told Trump Taiwan’s “return” was integral to world order. Deals on soy, H200 AI chips and rare earths could be made in “days”, officials said.
INTELLIGENCE. The first shipments of US soya since May are due to be loaded at New Orleans. Howard Lutnick says China could soon be approved for Nvidia’s best chips. Scott Bessent says a deal on rare earths may be done by Thanksgiving. This could be great for US markets but at enormous strategic cost, least of all for Taiwan. Xi rarely picks up the phone. He may judge if Russia can get a 28-point plan on Ukraine, China can get reunification for soy.
FOR BUSINESS. A war over Taiwan would be reckless. Its abandonment as part of a trade deal would be almost as bad, least of all for what it would augur for other revanchist aims. Taiwan’s absorption into China may seem inevitable in the long run, but without Taipei’s agreement (which can’t be ruled out under a future government), it will be a bad sign for every small state next to a large one. Trump hasn’t commented on Taiwan, but his silence speaks volumes.
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CHINA. JAPAN. Yonaguni too far
Takaichi struggles to contain Xi’s escalation.
Donald Trump and Sanae Takaichi spoke “at his request” Tuesday after the president’s call with Xi Jinping. Japan said a Chinese letter to the UN about its comments on Taiwan was “erroneous”. Washington reiterated its alliance with Tokyo.
INTELLIGENCE. Takaichi is in damage control over comments earlier this month about