Page 9 - China

Chinese officials likely encouraged Iran to find path to ceasefire with US

China, which is Tehran's biggest trade partner, spoke with the Iranians to get them on board to look for a path toward a ceasefire in war with the US, sources said. Chinese officials were in touch with Iranian officials as the negotiations were evolving, two officials who were not authorised to comment publicly spoke on condition of anonymity. Beijing primarily had been working with intermediaries, including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt, as it tried to use its influence, said one of the officials. The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier Tuesday, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said, "All parties need to demonstrate sincerity and quickly end this war that should not have happened in the first place." She said China was "deeply concerned" about the impact the conflict has on the world economy and energy security.

Iran conflict may ease China deflation fears, dimming rate cut bets

Unlike most economies, China didn't see the sharp spurt in inflation that followed reopening from the pandemic

Taiwan Oppn leader visits China for talks as Beijing pushes reunification

Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun arrived in China on Tuesday at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, in what she's calling a "journey for peace" as Beijing pushes for the self-ruled island to come under its control. The visit is the first by a Taiwanese opposition leader in a decade and comes ahead of a meeting in Beijing between Xi and US President Donald Trump scheduled to take place in May. Meanwhile, Taiwan's opposition-controlled parliament has stalled attempts by its government to pass a USD 40 billion special defence budget, expected to fund arms deals with the United States and the development of Taiwan's indigenous defence industry. China claims the self-ruled island as its own territory and has not excluded the use of force to take it. Beijing has been ramping up its military pressure against the island by sending warplanes and naval vessels near it almost daily, while its military occasionally stages live-fire drills around the island, the latest in December. Th

Russia, China veto UN resolution on Hormuz ahead of Trump's deadline

Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz that had been repeatedly watered down in hopes those two countries would abstain. The vote - 11 in favour, two against and two abstentions - took place just hours before an 8 pm Eastern deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Iran to open the strategic waterway or face attacks on its power plants and bridges. One-fifth of the world's oil typically passes through the strait, and Iran's stranglehold during the war has sent energy prices soaring. It's doubtful the resolution, even if it had been adopted, would have impacted the war, now in its fifth week, because it was been significantly weakened to try to get Russia and China to abstain rather than veto it. The initial Bahrain proposal would have authorised countries to use "all necessary means" - UN wording that would include military action - to ensure transit through the Strait of Hormuz and deter attempts to close ...

China hikes gasoline, diesel prices for second time in fortnight

China on Tuesday announced an increase in gasoline and diesel prices for the second time in about a fortnight due to rising international oil prices triggered by the ongoing war in West Asia. China's top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), announced that the new round of price hikes will take effect from Wednesday. China already increased gasoline and diesel prices on March 23 as part of preparations for a fuel crisis amid apprehensions around the current US-Israel-Iran war. Since the adjustment of domestic oil prices in late March, international crude oil prices have experienced significant fluctuations, the NDRC said in a statement. Because of control measures, the prices of gasoline and diesel will increase by 420 yuan (USD 61) and 400 yuan (USD 58) per tonne, respectively, it said. China's three biggest oil companies, namely China National Petroleum Corporation, China Petrochemical Corporation and China National Offshore Oil Corporation, as

Trump floats seizing Iran oil as he weighs expanding US energy dominance

Trump's proposal reflects push for energy dominance, but raises risks of deeper conflict and global fallout

OpenAI, Anthropic, Google join hands to combat AI model copying in China

Rare collaboration signals concern that China-based users are cloning their AI models, threatening prices, stealing customers, and raising serious national security risks

Not China's war, but Beijing's long-term energy strategy is paying off

Long concerned about geopolitical crises, China redoubled efforts to secure energy security when US President Trump started raising the stakes in his first term

Trump may be remembered as the US president who lost Asia to China

As US policy grows more erratic, developing nations increasingly see China's steady- if mercantilist- approach as the more reliable bet, reflected in rising adoption of Chinese technology across world

All talk, no walk, China shock: Coal gasification edge becomes clear

China patiently invested capital, skill and technology in coal gasification. Unlike it, we won't move from words to action. As crude prices decline, we lose interest

Ship carrying Iranian oil shifts course from India to China, says Kpler

Iranian crude tanker reroutes from Gujarat to China amid tightening payment terms, underscoring rising sensitivity of oil trade flows during West Asia tensions

China charts a different path on AI: Late-mover advantage holds promise

For India, it may be prudent to focus on applications that advance economic and social aims rather than chase the magic bullet of AGI

China to regulate 'digital humans', bans addictive services for children

China proposes strict rules for digital humans, mandating labels, curbing misuse and protecting minors amid rapid AI expansion

Ship carrying Iranian oil shifts course from India to China mid-voyage

A US-sanctioned tanker carrying Iranian crude oil has rerouted mid-voyage from its previously indicated destination of India - where it would have marked the first such shipment in nearly seven years - to China. The Aframax tanker Ping Shun, built in 2002 and sanctioned by the US in 2025, is now signalling Dongying in China as its destination instead of Vadinar in Gujarat, which it had indicated earlier this week, according to ship-tracking firm Kpler. There is no confirmation that the destination that the ship's Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder - a tracking system mandated on most commercial vessels - is indicating is the final and it may not change at any time during the transit. "An Iranian crude vessel 'Ping Shun' that had been en route to Vadinar, India, over the past three days has dropped India as its declared destination near arrival and is now signalling China," said Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst, Refining and Modelling at commodity market analytic .

Rival nations seize choke points to counter Trump's global strategy

From Iran to China, President Trump's global aggression has encouraged other countries to search for new ways to pressure the US economy

US voices concern over detentions of Panama-flagged vessels by China

The US on Thursday voiced concerns about over detentions of Panama-flagged vessels by China saying such "bullying" destabilises supply chains, raises costs and erodes confidence in the global trading system. "The United States stands with Panama against any retaliatory actions against its sovereignty and will always support our partners in the face of bullying," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X. "The United States stands firmly with Panama and looks forward to increasing our economic and security cooperation with this important partner," the Department of State said in a statement. The statement came after China reportedly detained Panama-flagged ships for inspections at Chinese ports. US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China on May 14-15. China's action came in the wake of Panama cancelling contracts of Hong Kong-based C K Hutchison to operate two port terminals near the Panama Canal on direction of the Supreme Court and transferred interim operatio

China drains cash from economy in rare move during oil price shock

Taken together, commercial banks likely recorded their first net repayment of PBOC loans since last May, according to Bloomberg calculations based on official data

China in talks with 'all parties' on need to restore Strait of Hormuz

China on Thursday said that it is in communication "with all parties" about the need to restore stability in the Strait of Hormuz, and that everyone should work toward that end. "We believe that an early ceasefire and restoration of peace and stability in the Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waters is a common aspiration of the international community, and all sides should work towards this end," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. "China is maintaining communication and coordination with all parties," she said. Mao said that "the root cause of the disruption to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz lies in the illegal military actions taken by the US and Israel against Iran," and said the way to restore safety in the area is to end the hostilities. "Military means cannot fundamentally resolve the issue, and an escalation of the conflict is not in the interest of any party," she said. China and Pakistan agreed this week to promote a five-point proposal, which includ

China must ease digital barriers to attract more foreign tourists

Last month, nine government bodies led by the Commerce Ministry introduced new policies to woo overseas visitors

Venezuelan crude exports surge to 6-year high as India fills China gap

Indian refiners, including Reliance Industries Ltd, Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Indian Oil Corp have purchased a combined 343,000 barrels a day for loading in March