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William Yang

@williamyang120.bsky.social
3.2K followers 310 following 3K posts

Senior North East Asia Analyst at @crisisgroup.org Foreign correspondent covering East Asia in my previous life. Email: wyang@crisisgroup.org

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by William Yang
Thompson Chau @thomchau.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Estonia and Taiwan are stuck in a stalemate over plans to open a Taiwanese office in Tallinn, illustrating difficulties in Taipei-Europe ties even as both feel pressure from China & Russia. w/ comments from @matejsimalcik.bsky.social and @williamyang120.bsky.social asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
asia.nikkei.com
Taiwan's plan to set up mission in Estonia hits wall over name
China's past retaliation against Lithuania for engaging with Taipei haunts Europe
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Reposted by William Yang
Dr. Zsuzsa A. Ferenczy @zsuzsettte.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Europe’s ability to strategically engage Taiwan & rebalance ties w/China depends on a nuanced grasp of cross-Strait dynamics. A pleasure to host @williamyang120.bsky.social in Brussels at Martens Centre to explore how EU can step up in the region amid growing uncertainty surrounding the US role.
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Reposted by William Yang
Cornelius Dieckmann @codieckmann.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Donald Trump und Xi Jinping wollen morgen einen Handelsdeal schließen. Für die Taiwaner bedeutet das angespannte Stunden – und Erinnerungen an ein altes Trauma. Analyse auf @spiegel.de (thanks @williamyang120.bsky.social) www.spiegel.de/ausland/usa-...
spiegel.de
(S+) USA-China-Gipfel: Wenn Donald Trump und Xi Jinping reden, wird Taiwan nervös
Donald Trump und sein Erzrivale Xi Jinping wollen einen Handelsdeal schließen. Warum das von Peking bedrohte Taiwan einen Pakt zwischen den Weltmächten fürchtet.
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Reposted by William Yang
Alexander Sjöberg @alexsjoeberg.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Kinesiske agenter infiltrerer Taiwans militær med penge, kvinder og gambling. Nu kigger Taiwan mod Tel Aviv for at lære at stå imod. Jeg har set nærmere på anbefalingen fra en tidligere admiral: www.berlingske.dk/www.berlings... - vurdering v. @williamyang120.bsky.social
berlingske.dk
Mette Frederiksen græmmes over brutaliteten. Andre lader sig inspirere af Israels knytnæve
Læs mere her.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Personal news: Personal news: Following a months-long application process, I'm happy to announce that I'll start a new role as International Crisis Group's Senior Analyst on Northeast Asia on April 21.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Regional tensions over the South China Sea have tanked the sales of a popular children’s doll in Vietnam after it was put under investigation and accused of being unpatriotic because a design marking appeared to resemble China’s “nine-dash line”. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
theguardian.com
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
#China's military said Sunday (Mar 9) it would tighten its "noose" around Taiwan if separatism over the island escalated, warning proponents to step back from the "edge of the cliff" or face a "dead end", state media reported. www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/ch...
channelnewsasia.com
China military vows to tighten 'noose' around Taiwan if separatism escalates
BEIJING: China's military said Sunday (Mar 9) it would tighten its "noose" around Taiwan if separatism over the island escalated, warning proponents to step back from the "edge of the cliff" or face a...
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
President Trump's dismantling of the U.S.-led global order has injected deep uncertainty — and perhaps fresh opportunity — into #China's timeline for a potential invasion of #Taiwan. www.axios.com/2025/03/08/t...
axios.com
Trump's Taiwan mystery
U.S. officials have long been fixated on 2027 as the year China could be ready to invade Taiwan.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Thailand’s deportation of 40 Uighurs to #China last week was in the South-east Asian country’s best interest due to the possibility of retaliation from Beijing if the group was sent elsewhere, a Thai minister said on March 6. www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia...
straitstimes.com
Thailand’s deportation of Uighurs was to avert China ‘retaliation’: Minister
Resettling the Uighurs would not shield Thailand from a potential fallout with China, the minister said. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
My latest: #Taiwan President Lai Ching-te is hailing a planned $100 billion investment in the U.S. by TSMC as “a historic moment for U.S-Taiwan relations,” adding that the move is not the result of pressure imposed by the U.S. government. www.voanews.com/a/taiwan-lau...
voanews.com
Taiwan lauds TSMC investment as 'historic moment' for US relations
President Lai Ching-te says that the move is not the result of pressure imposed by US government
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
#China said Wednesday it will increase its defense budget 7.2% this year, as it continues its campaign to build a larger, more modern military to assert its territorial claims and challenge the U.S. defense lead in Asia. apnews.com/article/chin...
apnews.com
China will increase its defense budget 7.2% this year
China says it will increase its defense budget 7.2% this year as it continues its campaign to build a larger, more modern military to assert its territorial claims and challenge the U.S. defense lead ...
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Canada and the US offered to resettle 48 ethnic Uyghurs held in detention in Thailand over the past decade, sources have said, but Bangkok took no action for fear of upsetting China, where most of them were covertly deported last week. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
theguardian.com
US offered to resettle Uyghurs that Thailand deported to China, sources say
Canada and US said they would take 48 people held in Thai detention, according to officials, but Bangkok said to have feared upsetting China
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Reposted by William Yang
Matthew Bell @matthewjbell.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
When Trump hit China with new tariffs, Beijing had an immediate response. @joshuacoe.bsky.social @williamyang120.bsky.social theworld.org/segments/202...
theworld.org
China's reaction to US tariffs - The World from PRX
President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on the United States’ top three trading partners: Canada, Mexico and China. The response from China came almost immediately. This, as China’s political l...
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
My latest: #China set the economic growth target for 2025 at 5% on Wednesday, vowing to “rise to the challenge and strive for success” amid a lack of domestic demand and a challenging external environment. www.voanews.com/a/china-sets...
voanews.com
China sets moderate economic growth target amid looming trade war
Analysts say China’s attempt to boost domestic consumption might be compromised by the large amount of resources it pours into emerging sectors like AI
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
My latest: #China kicks off its biggest political meetings of the year this week as additional tariffs from the United States loom and the leadership in Beijing looks to address the “complex and multifaceted” economic challenges. www.voanews.com/a/china-host...
voanews.com
China hosts political meetings as US tariffs loom
Analysts say Beijing will look to boost domestic demand and consumption as potential U.S. tariff hikes threaten the viability of the export-driven growth model
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
My latest: #China has held a series of live-fire military drills across the Indo-Pacific region over the past week, from the Taiwan Strait to the Tasman Sea. www.voanews.com/amp/china-fl...
voanews.com
China flexes military muscle in Indo-Pacific, testing US and allies
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Thailand deported at least 40 Uyghurs to #China on Thursday, ignoring calls from the U.S., the U.N. and right groups not to send back the men, who had been detained in Thailand for more than a decade, because of the risk of torture. www.rfa.org/english/uygh...
rfa.org
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
My latest: Hong Kong’s largest and oldest opposition party, the Democratic Party, has announced that it will start the process of disbanding, a move that analysts say will mark “the end of an era” for the city’s pro-democracy forces. www.voanews.com/a/hong-kong-...
voanews.com
Hong Kong Democratic Party’s plan to disband marks ‘end of an era’
Analysts say the Democratic Party’s decision to start disbanding is the result of Hong Kong authorities’ decision to implement a Chinese-style governance model
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
New Zealand Defence Force has confirmed the three Chinese ships off the coast of Australia have moved inside the Australian exclusive economic zone this morning. www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/5...
rnz.co.nz
Chinese ships move inside Australian exclusive economic zone
Meanwhile, one of Australia's most senior intelligence figures says the deployment is "designed to be provocative".
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
China conducted naval drills between Australia and New Zealand over two days. Beijing said it is "deeply surprised and strongly dissatisfied" with Australia's remarks which it said were "inconsistent with facts." amp.dw.com/en/china-acc...
amp.dw.com
China accuses Australia of 'hyping' live-fire navy drills – DW – 02/23/2025
China conducted naval drills between Australia and New Zealand over two days. Beijing said it is "deeply surprised and strongly dissatisfied" with Australia's remarks which it said were "inconsistent ...
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
China will be able to establish a "significant strategic presence" in the Pacific following its new agreement with the Cook Islands, a security studies professor says. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
rnz.co.nz
Cook Islands deal opens up Pacific to China - expert
China will be able to establish a "significant strategic presence" in the Pacific, a security studies professor says.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
A day after China warned its three military ships would be live weapons testing between New Zealand and Australia, the Cook Islands has today released a controversial agreement indicating #Beijing has secured a maritime presence there. www.1news.co.nz/2025/02/22/c...
1news.co.nz
China secures maritime presence in Cook Islands
The Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries was signed in Harbin, northern China on February 14.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
The Cook Islands said on Saturday it has struck a five-year agreement with #China to cooperate in exploring and researching the Pacific nation’s seabed mineral riches. www.nzherald.co.nz/world/cook-i...
nzherald.co.nz
Cook Islands and China sign five-year seabed exploration deal
NZ called for a relationship reset after Cook Islands' China deal.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
The United States is set to cut the size of its diplomatic mission in #China by up to 10 per cent, according to people familiar with the situation. www.scmp.com/news/china/d...
scmp.com
Exclusive | US to slash size of diplomatic mission in China by 10%: sources
The ‘substantial’ cuts are expected to affect both US and local employees and are part of Trump’s drive to overhaul the corps worldwide.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
US President Donald Trump said it would be possible to reach a fresh trade deal with #China, signalling he is open to heading off a brewing trade fight between Washington and Beijing. www.straitstimes.com/world/united...
straitstimes.com
Trump says new China trade deal is ‘possible’ despite tensions
It is a signal he is open to heading off a brewing trade fight between Washington and Beijing. Read more at straitstimes.com.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
The Australian Defence Force is monitoring three Chinese navy ships which are understood to be sailing east of Sydney. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...
abc.net.au
Three Chinese warships sailing east of Sydney being monitored, ADF says
The Australian Defence Force is monitoring three Chinese navy ships which are understood to be sailing east of Sydney.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Japan's Justice Ministry said Monday it will allow Taiwanese who marry a Japanese to list the individual's place of origin as #Taiwan, instead of #China, in Japan's family registry system. english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/02...
english.kyodonews.net
Japan family registry to OK listing of Taiwan as place of origin
The Justice Ministry said Monday it will allow Taiwanese who marry a Japanese to list the individual's place of origin as Taiwan, instead of China, in Japan's family registry system, a move that has b...
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
#Taiwan is exploring buying arms worth billions of dollars from the United States, sources briefed on the matter said, hoping to win support from the new Trump administration as #China continues to apply military pressure on the island. www.voanews.com/a/taiwan-con...
voanews.com
Taiwan considers multibillion-dollar arms purchase from US, sources say
The package is meant to demonstrate to the United States that Taiwan is committed to its defense, one source said
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
My latest: #China has launched a new round of diplomatic outreach to European countries amid rising tension between the United States and its European allies. www.voanews.com/a/china-aims...
voanews.com
China aims to improve ties with EU amid transatlantic tension
Analysts say Beijing will try to exploit growing tension between the US and European countries – but say these efforts won’t lead to a fundamental shift in relations between China and the EU
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
China on Monday urged the United States to "correct its mistakes" after the U.S. State Department removed previous wording on its website about not supporting Taiwan independence, which it said was part of a routine update. www.voanews.com/a/china-urge...
voanews.com
China urges US to 'correct its mistakes' after State Department removes Taiwan web reference
The fact sheet on Taiwan, updated last week, retains Washington's opposition to unilateral change from either Taiwan or from China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping has met top corporate leaders, including Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma, at a business symposium in Beijing, state media reported. www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025...
aljazeera.com
China’s Xi hosts summit with business leaders, including Alibaba’s Jack Ma
Chinese leader meets corporate leaders amid economic challenges including slowing down and high youth unemployment.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
#China is not ready for war, according to a contentious report from a US think tank, which claims the main motivation for the ruling Communist Party’s expansive push for military modernization is to retain its grip on power – not fight an overseas foe. amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/02/...
amp.cnn.com
Is China’s military really built for war? New report questions Beijing’s arms buildup | CNN
China is not ready for war, according to a contentious report from a US think tank, which claims the main motivation for the ruling Communist Party’s expansive push for military modernization is to re...
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
It seems journalism as a profession is unable to create much impact amid the current chaos in the U.S. It's hard not to force one to re-evaluate the viable path forward, especially if you no longer see the point of doing what used to be a meaningful profession to you.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
A #Taiwan-United States relations fact sheet published on the U.S. State Department website has recently updated its contents to remove a line indicating Washington's long-held stance of not supporting Taiwanese independence. focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
focustaiwan.tw
U.S. gov't fact sheet removes line on not supporting Taiwanese independence - Focus Taiwan
A Taiwan-United States relations fact sheet published on the U.S. State Department website has recently updated its contents to remove a line indicating Washington's long-held stance of not supporting...
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
My latest: #China and the Cook Islands on Friday signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, but the lack of transparency around the details has alarmed New Zealand, the South Pacific state’s closest democratic ally. www.voanews.com/a/china-cook...
voanews.com
China, Cook Islands sign strategic partnership pact
Lack of transparency alarms New Zealand
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
#China believes all stakeholders in the Russia-Ukraine conflict should participate in the peace talks, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday, underscoring Europe's role in them after a flurry of U.S. messaging on how to end the war. www.reuters.com/world/china-...
reuters.com
China calls for all stakeholders in Ukraine war to be in peace process
China believes all stakeholders in the Russia-Ukraine conflict should participate in the peace talks, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday, underscoring Europe's role in them after a flurry of U.S. messaging on how to end the war.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
My latest: The Philippines is increasing efforts to strengthen defense cooperation with several like-minded democracies amid ongoing tensions with #China in the disputed South China Sea. www.voanews.com/a/philippine...
voanews.com
Philippines increases defense efforts amid ongoing tension with China
Analysts say Manila’s efforts to conclude defense treaties with allies can strengthen its ability to deter China in the disputed South China Sea
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
#China is helping Russia's military drone production by becoming a hub for the smuggling of critical Western components for Moscow's armed forces, Estonia's foreign intelligence said in its annual national security report published on Wednesday. www.msn.com/en-my/news/w...
msn.com
MSN
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
#China has jailed a former senior journalist from the state news agency Xinhua and canceled his pension and medical coverage after he asked questions about the politically sensitive death of Premier Li Keqiang. www.rfa.org/english/chin...
rfa.org
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
The 25 percent tariffs President Trump imposed on Monday on all U.S. imports of steel and aluminum will primarily hit American allies, but at their heart they strike at his longtime nemesis: #China. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/b...
nytimes.com
China Is at Heart of Trump Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum
Existing American tariffs already restrict steel and aluminum shipments from China, which is now flooding other markets with its exports instead.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Two senior officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) will visit Washington and meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's team in an effort to prevent the imposition of tariffs potentially as high as 100 percent on chips from #Taiwan. focustaiwan.tw/business/202...
focustaiwan.tw
Economics officials to meet with Trump's team to avoid 100% tariff on chips - Focus Taiwan
Two senior officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) will visit Washington and meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's team in an effort to prevent the imposition of tariffs potentially a...
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Canada and the Philippines are in the final stages of negotiating a key defense pact that would allow their forces to hold larger military drills in the South China Sea, where Ottawa has rejected China’s “provocative and unlawful actions." www.msn.com/en-ie/news/w...
msn.com
MSN
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
North Korea said on Saturday its nuclear weapons are not meant for negotiations but are intended for combat use against enemies that threaten its people and world peace, its state media reported. www.voanews.com/a/north-kore...
voanews.com
North Korea says its nuclear weapons not a 'bargaining chip' as Trump, Ishiba meet
Two leaders expressed their commitment to ensuring North Korea ends its nuclear weapons program
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
President Donald Trump has paused imposing tariffs on small-value packages arriving from #China, apparently to give federal agencies time to sort out how to process millions of such shipments that have come through the U.S. border every day without paying taxes. apnews.com/article/tari...
apnews.com
Trump pauses tariffs on millions of low-value packages from China
President Donald Trump has paused the imposition of tariffs on small-value packages arriving from China.
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
When the Trump administration froze foreign funding and USAID programs last week, dozens of scrappy nonprofits in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the US were immediately affected. www.aspistrategist.org.au/with-us-fund...
aspistrategist.org.au
With US funding freeze, China nonprofits are facing extinction. They need emergency assistance | The Strategist
An entire ecosystem of vital China-related work is now in crisis. When the Trump administration froze foreign funding and USAID programs last week, dozens of scrappy nonprofits in Hong Kong, Taiwan, a...
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
#China and Pakistan will upgrade and reconstruct Pakistan's railway network and further develop its Gwadar port, while Chinese companies can invest in the South Asian nation's offshore oil and gas developments. www.voanews.com/a/china-paki...
voanews.com
China, Pakistan pledge to boost cooperation on infrastructure, mining projects
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari visiting China from Feb. 4-8
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown will visit #China next week, the first visit by a leader of the small South Pacific state in a decade, to help improve ties ranging from trade, climate and investment to tourism and infrastructure. www.msn.com/en-sg/news/w...
msn.com
MSN
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
My latest: Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra kicks off a four-day trip to #China on Wednesday that is expected to focus on economic and trade ties. www.voanews.com/a/thai-prime...
voanews.com
Thai PM heads to China amid growing global uncertainties
Analysts say Thailand may seek to build closer economic relations with Beijing despite challenges posed by influx of cheap Chinese goods
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
My latest: Trump’s decision to impose 10% tariffs on Chinese goods has prompted the Chinese government to threaten to roll out countermeasures, and some Chinese businesses are expressing concerns about potential disruption to their exports to the U.S. market. www.voanews.com/a/trump-tari...
voanews.com
Trump tariff met with mixed reactions from China
Analysts say the Trump administration may use tariffs as a way to force China to strike deals on some important issues
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William Yang @williamyang120.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
My latest: A little more than a week after #Beijing and Manila reached an agreement aimed at easing tensions in the South China Sea, the Philippines has accused Chinese coast guard vessels of fresh incursions, harassment and “aggressive maneuvers.” www.voanews.com/a/china-test...
voanews.com
China tests US commitment to South China Sea by pressuring Philippines
Analysts say Beijing’s pressure campaign is an attempt to test the Trump administration’s commitment to its support for the Philippines
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