President yells at cloud
The US, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, Iran, and the UN.
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The five things you need to know today:
UNITED STATES. At an impasse with China, Trump goes after everyone else.
INDONESIA. RUSSIA. A storm over jets obscures a deal over rockets.
SINGAPORE. An entrepot that may benefit from the trade war.
IRAN. Ahead of their next talks, Tehran and Washington bring in their big guns.
UNITED NATIONS. The White House mulls a cut to peacekeeping funds.
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UNITED STATES. Enemies everywhere
At an impasse with China, Trump goes after everyone else.
The US plans to ask countries seeking trade relief to disallow China shipping goods or building factories in their territories, the Wall Street Journal said Tuesday. Donald Trump threatened to strip Harvard of its tax status. Tariffs of “up to 245%” were announced on China.
INTELLIGENCE. The White House's escalating war of words against multiple stakeholders seems less ‘flooding the zone’ than tactics without strategy. Unless he can deploy carrots as well as sticks, Trump risks alienating yet more potential allies in his greater fight against Beijing. China, which has halted deliveries of Boeing planes and seems unlikely to cede on increasingly steep tariffs (or a presidential meeting), will welcome the spectacle of an adversary at war with itself.
FOR BUSINESS. Trump, in a sense, is delivering on promises, but there's little evidence of sequencing or calibration – essential qualities in any endeavour beyond a one-off deal. Such an approach, even if not directly related to trade or economics, will only further diminish US attractiveness, whether in business or markets. China only needs to pretend it's less capricious to appear a better prospect for governments and investors in search of safe harbour.
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INDONESIA. RUSSIA. The dog that didn’t Biak
A storm over jets obscures a deal over rockets.
Jakarta denied Tuesday that Russia had requested base access at the Manuhua Air Force Base in Biak, north of Papua. Australia's opposition leader claimed the move was a "catastrophic failure" in bilateral relations with Indonesia.
INTELLIGENCE. The claims seem to be false. Russia has sought access before, and it's possible technicians wished