Asia Archives - The Singapore Post

EU thinks it’s been left out as China eases historic rare earth curbs

4Nov

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

EU thinks it’s been left out as China eases historic rare earth curbs

The European Union does not believe its industries are covered by a “de facto removal” of China’s historical restrictions on the export of rare earths and other critical minerals announced by the White House on Saturday.In a fact sheet detailing the outcomes of US President Donald Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping last Thursday, the White House said that China “will issue general licenses valid for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony, and graphite for the benefit of US end users and their suppliers around the world”. “The general license means the de facto removal of controls China imposed in April 2025 and October 2022,” the statement said, referring to controls on rare earths this year and gallium and germanium dating back to 2022. At a press co

Russia Deploys Missile in Ukraine Sparking U.S. Withdrawal From Nuclear Treaty

31Oct

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Russia Deploys Missile in Ukraine Sparking U.S. Withdrawal From Nuclear Treaty

Russia has used a ground-launched cruise missile in Ukraine whose secret development prompted the United States to withdraw from a landmark nuclear arms control treaty in 2019, according to Ukrainian officials. The revelation raises concerns that Moscow is employing weapons once banned under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and escalating the risks for European security as efforts intensify to negotiate an end to the war. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told Reuters that Russia had fired the 9M729, known by NATO as the SSC-8, at targets in Ukraine in recent months — the first confirmed use of the missile in combat. “Russia’s use of the INF-banned 9M729 against Ukraine in the past months demonstrates President Vladimir Putin’s disrespect to the United Stat

Trump Says US Will ‘Be Fine’ With China as Trade Talks Near

23Oct

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Trump Says US Will ‘Be Fine’ With China as Trade Talks Near

President Donald Trump said the US will “be fine” with China in comments that come just before the two sides return to the negotiating table and a fragile trade truce nears expiration. President Donald Trump said the US will “be fine” with China in comments that come just before the two sides return to the negotiating table and a fragile trade truce nears expiration. When asked in an interview with Fox News on Sunday about his threat to raise the tariff on Chinese goods by 100%, Trump said the levy was “not sustainable” though “it could stand.” He added that he had a good relationship with the Chinese leader, and he expected a sitdown to happen in South Korea, where an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting starts later this month. “I think we’re going to be fine with Chin

China recalibrates in Nepal after Oli’s fall

22Oct

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China recalibrates in Nepal after Oli’s fall

In September 2025, mass protests in Nepal led by Generation Z over social media censorship, corruption and economic stagnation forced former prime minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli’s resignation. For Beijing, Oli’s fall represents a political setback but not a turning point, as China seeks to preserve its influence in Nepal while adapting to shifting local dynamics. Oli’s exit was significant because he was widely recognised as a ‘pro-China’ figure. During his three terms as prime minister — 2015–2016, 2018–2021 and 2024–2025 — China and Nepal developed close political ties. The two governments signed many agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs), opening avenues for collaboration on connectivity, energy and transportation. In 2017, Nepal signed an MoU on the Belt and Ro

Trump predicts ‘fantastic’ trade deal with China to end tariff disputes

22Oct

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Trump predicts ‘fantastic’ trade deal with China to end tariff disputes

Trump imposed 57% tariffs on Chinese imports, so China restricted exports of rare-earth minerals that are key to electronics. Trump has threatened to raise tariffs to 157% if no trade deal is reached. President Donald Trump predicted he would reach a "fantastic" trade deal with China at the end of the month, despite the ongoing trade war over tariffs and rare-earth minerals. "I think we’re going to end up having a fantastic trade deal with China," Trump told reporters at the White House. His optimism contrasted with a trade war of dueling tariffs and a Chinese threat to withhold rare-earth minerals from the rest of the world. Trump was meeting Oct. 20 with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to announce a deal for processing rare-earth minerals that are crucial for el

Taiwan president unveils ‘T-Dome’ air defence system to counter China threat

11Oct

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Taiwan president unveils ‘T-Dome’ air defence system to counter China threat

Taiwan will build a new multi-layered air defence system called "T-Dome" to defend itself against enemy threats and increase defence spending, President Lai Ching-te said on Friday, calling on China to renounce the use of force to seize the island. Democratically governed Taiwan has faced increased military and political pressure from China, which views the island as its own territory over the strong objections of the government in Taipei. Taiwan is ramping up defence spending and modernising its armed forces, but faces a China that has a far larger military and is adding advanced new weapons such as stealth fighter jets, aircraft carriers and a huge array of missiles. Lai said in his National Day address that Taiwan is determined to spend more on defence, and would...

Ousted Nepal PM Oli Says He won’t Flee Amid Political Turmoil Neighbours

30Sep

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Ousted Nepal PM Oli Says He won’t Flee Amid Political Turmoil Neighbours

Former Prime Minister of Nepal and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has dismissed rumours that he plans to flee the country, accusing the current government of trying to strip him of his security and official privileges, Dhaka Tribune reported.Speaking at a gathering of the party's youth wing, Yuwa Sangh Nepal, in Gundu, Bhaktapur, Oli made it clear he intends to stay and fight politically. "Do you think we will flee by handing over the nation to this groundless government?" he asked supporters. Oli said he was determined to "restore peace, good governance and constitutional order."Oli recently vacated the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar on September 9 after weeks of Gen Z-led protests culminated in the fall of his government. Since then, he has relocated to a rented...

‘Clog the toilet’ trolls hit Indian visa holders rushing back to U.S.

29Sep

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

‘Clog the toilet’ trolls hit Indian visa holders rushing back to U.S.

Vacationing in India, engineer Amrutha Tamanam rushed to return to the United States after U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly announced a $100,000 fee for the visa she holds. As she scrambled to get back to the country she's called home for a decade, racially motivated far-right trolls launched coordinated efforts to disrupt flight bookings from India, calling their campaign "clog the toilet." The White House would later clarify that the new H-1B fee was a one-time payment not applicable to current holders. But leading U.S. companies had already advised their employees abroad to swiftly return to avoid the fee or risk being stranded overseas. Tamanam, an Austin-based software engineer, began searching for a flight from the city of Vijayawada, as users on the far-right messa...

China’s Political Troubles in South Asia

27Sep

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China’s Political Troubles in South Asia

Even though China’s role in South Asia has grown in the last decade, Beijing has little by way of policy or strategy when it comes to dealing with political instability in the region. For the third time in four years, a government has fallen in South Asia amid mass protests and demonstrations. The resignation of Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli came in the aftermath of tragic repression of a Gen Z protest, against rising corruption and restrictions on free speech (including a ban on social media platforms). Much like in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, a slowdown in economic growth and job opportunities for the youth have been long-standing pain points in Nepal, where an unemployment rate stuck at over 10 percent since 2004 has caused heavy dependence on remittances and external as

26Sep

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Awami League down, but not out

Awami League is far from finished in Bangladesh, the flight of its leader Sheikh Hasina from the country and all the repressive measures against Awami League leaders notwithstanding. With Chief Advisor of the interim government Mohammed Yunus announcing that the elections in Bangladesh will take place in February next, that’s why it has now become important for the aspirants to power in Dhaka to fend off the challenge of Awami League; through political violence if necessary. The interim government has already taken the first step to ward off any direct challenge from the party by banning the activities of Awami League which now cannot take part in the election process. It still remains to be ensured, however, that there is no indirect challenge from Sheikh Hasina’s party eith