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China Discusses Global Economic Cooperation in Davos

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On January 20 in Davos, within the framework of the World Economic Forum (WEF), He Lifeng, Vice Premier of China, presented the country’s key economic messages, centered on expanding open markets, deepening multilateral cooperation, and supporting sustainable global economic growth.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international non-profit organization that annually convenes government leaders, senior officials from international organizations, as well as representatives of the business community and academic circles, to engage in dialogue on pressing global economic and political issues.

In his special address, He Lifeng stated that China will continue to advance the opening-up of its economy and further improve market access for foreign businesses. According to him, the country will pursue a policy of high-level openness, enhance alignment with international standards, and ensure equal conditions and competitive business environment for both domestic and foreign enterprises.

The Vice Premier emphasized that China’s development “does not pose a threat, but rather represents an opportunity” for the global economy. He noted that Beijing stands ready to expand imports, a step that would creat broader economic opportunities for international partners and contribute to balanced global growth.

He Lifeng also addressed the challenges confronting the global economy, stressing that dialogue and cooperation are essential alternatives to protectionism and economic isolation, and remain among the key prerequisites for maintaining global economic stability.

Within the same forum, other leaders also addressed issues related to China’s role in the global economy. In particular, French President Emmanuel Macron stated in his address in Davos that global economic competition requires clear rules and fair frameworks in order for the international economic system to remain stable and predictable.

In this context, he referred to China as one of the key actors in the global economy and spoke more broadly about risks that may arise in international markets as a result of state support and industrial policies. According to Macron, such factors can affect the fairness of competition and create additional pressure on European industries, highlighting the need for clearer and more consistently applied international economic rules.

The French president also stressed that the response to global economic challenges should not be confrontation, but policies based on dialogue, cooperation, and rules-based international frameworks, which he described as essential for ensuring fair and predictable global economic relations.

At the same forum, Børge Brende, the President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, emphasized that in conditions of global uncertainty, “dialogue is not a luxury in times of uncertainty, it is a necessity”. He underscored the importance of cooperation in the face of economic fragmentation and geopolitical tensions.

Meanwhile, according to information released by the World Economic Forum, the Davos meeting will be held from January 20 to 24 and is expected to bring together up to 3,000 participants from 130 countries and international organizations.

 

Source:

China Global Television Network

The World Economic Forum

CNBC-TV18 

Author: Mariam Simsive

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China accuses foreign forces of covertly stealing sensitive geospatial data

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China’s Ministry of State Security says foreign forces are covertly attempting to obtain and transfer the country’s sensitive geographic data, warning that such actions pose a threat to China’s national security.

According to the ministry, so-called “anti-China hostile forces” are using various methods, including covert mapping activities and the illegal collection and transmission of data, to gain information about China’s terrain, natural resources, and critical infrastructure.

The ministry says such geospatial data plays a significant role in economic planning as well as military and logistical operations, which is why any leakage is considered a serious security risk. It also highlights inadequate data protection practices that increase the risk of unauthorized access by foreign actors.

In recent years, the Chinese authorities have tightened legislation and oversight related to data security. Officially, Beijing says these measures are necessary to protect national security and regulate the digital space.

The warning was reported by South China Morning Post, which notes that Beijing views geographic and spatial data as a strategic resource and considers control over it a key component of its security policy.

Such statements from China fit into a broader context and reflect rising tensions with Western countries, particularly the United States, in the fields of security and technology.

Source: South China Morning Post

Author: Mariam Simsive

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The United States Warns China Not to Expand Its Influence in Latin America

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The United States has sent a clear message to China to refrain from strengthening its political and economic influence on the American continent. Reuters reports this in connection with a U.S. operation carried out in Venezuela, as a result of which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were detained on January 3.

According to senior U.S. administration officials, the operation related to Venezuela is part of a broader strategy aimed at limiting the growing influence of China and Russia in Latin America. As Reuters notes, Washington views the region as a key area of its national security and considers the strengthening of any competing power there a strategic challenge.

The report states that the United States is particularly concerned about China’s expanding economic involvement in Latin America, including in the energy sector. In recent years, China has become one of Venezuela’s main economic partners, especially in terms of oil exports and financial support. According to U.S. officials, this cooperation provides Beijing not only with economic leverage but also with political influence in the region.

Reuters writes that the steps taken in Venezuela serve as a direct signal to China that the United States will not allow the consolidation of geopolitical forces in Latin America that run counter to its interests. Officials emphasize that this is not about a single country, but about the entire region, where Washington seeks to maintain the traditional balance of influence.

The tightening of the U.S. position comes amid China’s active expansion of economic ties with Latin American countries through infrastructure projects, loans, and energy cooperation. The American side views this process as a long-term challenge and states that it will counter such moves through both diplomatic and security instruments.

Source: Reuters

Author: Mariam Simsive

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China has joined talks between Thailand and Cambodia

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China has joined talks to end the escalating military action between Thailand and Cambodia. Since early December, China has been actively involved in negotiations aimed at halting the intensified military conflict between the two nations. On December 23, the Foreign Ministry’s Special Representative for Asian Affairs, Deng Zijun, concluded a six-day visit to Thailand and Cambodia, reaffirming China’s interest and commitment to ending the military conflict and stabilizing relations between the parties. In addition to this direct visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held separate telephone conversations with the Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers last week. 

The dispute between Thailand and Cambodia regarding the territory surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple has been a source of conflict for decades and has escalated alarmingly since July 2025. Reporting indicates that the fighting has claimed at least 60 lives and displaced more than half a million people.

Importantly, this visit represents China’s proactive attempt to play a significant role in stabilizing relations among Southeast Asian states. This marks a departure from its traditional foreign policy, which has largely maintained a “silent” and neutral stance regarding the territorial disputes of other countries. In an official statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed deep sorrow over the devastating consequences of the military actions and the high number of casualties, calling on both countries to end the conflict immediately. Furthermore, China positively evaluated the active involvement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the peace talks, emphasizing its readiness to facilitate conditions and provide a platform for dialogue and negotiations between the two sides. China remains hopeful that both Cambodia and Thailand will work to restore mutual trust and peace along the border.

Notably, the United States was also actively involved in negotiations to end the military conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. Furthermore, in October, Donald Trump included the temporarily suspended military confrontation among the eight conflicts he claimed to have ended. However, shortly after this statement, the confrontation between Thailand and Cambodia escalated once again. In response to Trump’s assertion and the renewed military hostilities, China criticized the United States for its superficial approach. ChinaDaily was highly critical of America’s “transactional mediation,” emphasizing that, unlike the U.S., China’s involvement is aimed at addressing the root causes of the issue and establishing a long-term peace framework. Additionally, the article highlights that in a conflict characterized by complex historical sensitivities, few parties can gain the necessary trust for success. According to the article, China is one such party, capable of resolving this conflict as successfully as its mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year.

Author: Mariam Kapanadze

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China’s Reaction to the U.S.–Venezuela Maritime Tensions

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The growing tensions between the United States, Venezuela, and China highlight the “gaps” present in the international system. The ongoing crisis between Venezuela and the U.S. demonstrates how far a major power can go in enforcing sanctions beyond its own jurisdiction.

The contentious issue is Washington’s expanded maritime policy, which targets energy shipments linked to sanctioned countries. The U.S. considers its actions a legitimate part of its sanctions policy, including the confiscation of oil tankers in international waters near Venezuela. Representatives of the U.S. National Security Council noted that these measures aim to halt the illicit transportation of sanctioned oil. Critics, however, argue that these measures further blur the line between law enforcement and de facto maritime coercion, which could have serious implications for international maritime law.

On December 22, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning U.S. actions and describing the confiscation of a tanker linked to China as a “serious violation of international law.” The official Beijing stated that it opposes such unilateral measures carried out without U.N. authorization. At the same time, China expressed support for Venezuela’s appeal to the U.N. Security Council, where Washington’s actions were called “unilateral bullying” and a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty.

For Beijing, the severity of the issue is linked not only to Venezuela but also to the precedent it sets. Chinese officials and analysts view this case as an example of how economic pressure can escalate into physical control over trade routes, a scenario that could be repeated in other waters in the future.

Although the precedent occurred directly in the Caribbean, it has sparked debates in East Asia as well. Analysts believe that measures taken against energy shipments today could be replicated in other regions in the future.

It is noteworthy that despite its dissatisfaction, China is not engaging in direct confrontation with the U.S. Instead, it is adapting to the situation through indirect means. Specifically, there are changes in procurement, insurance, and shipping strategies. These adjustments highlight the efforts of actors dependent on energy imports to ensure the resilience of supply chains amid geopolitical tensions.

Author: Nia Kokhreidze

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U.S. Unveils Largest-Ever Arms Package for Taiwan as China Pushes Back

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China’s Ministry of Defense says Beijing will step up military drills and take “firm measures” to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, following the United States’ announcement of an $11.1 billion arms sale package for Taiwan. If approved, the deal would be the largest of its kind in the history of U.S.-Taiwan relations.

According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, the proposed package includes eight different categories of weapons, among them HIMARS multiple rocket launch systems, howitzers, Javelin anti-tank missiles, Altius loitering munitions (so-called kamikaze drones), as well as spare parts for other military equipment.

The arms package still requires approval by the U.S. Congress. However, given Taiwan’s strong bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, the decision-making process is expected to face few obstacles.

In separate statements, the Pentagon stressed that the assistance is aimed at strengthening asymmetric defense capabilities, focusing on smaller, mobile, and technologically advanced systems. U.S. officials argue this approach is key to maintaining peace and stability in the region. Washington says the arms deliveries will help modernize Taiwan’s military and preserve “credible defensive capabilities,” aligning directly with U.S. national, economic, and security interests in countering China’s influence.

These priorities are also reflected in the U.S. National Security Strategy published earlier this month, which highlights Taiwan’s strategic importance as a geographic linchpin dividing Northeast and Southeast Asia into two distinct strategic zones.

Adding to regional tensions, Taiwan’s president announced last month that the island plans to allocate an additional $40 billion in defense spending between 2026 and 2033. President Lai Ching-te stated that “there is no room for compromise when it comes to national security.”

Meanwhile, despite concerns sparked by President Donald Trump’s deal-focused foreign policy and a planned visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping next year, developments on the ground suggest the opposite direction. Republicans are planning to increase arms sales to Taiwan to levels that would exceed even those seen during Trump’s first term. This is further reinforced by Trump’s signing of an annual defense policy bill worth nearly $1 trillion. The legislation allocates $1 billion to the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative and authorizes U.S. forces to continue military training activities on the island.

At the same time, Taiwan’s democratically elected government firmly rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, insisting that decisions about the island’s future belong solely to the Taiwanese people. China, however, continues to refuse talks with President Lai, labeling him a “separatist,” and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control over Taiwan.

Author: Sesili Adamia

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China supports Venezuela against US

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Earlier this week, the US imposed a full blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers in Venezuelan waters. In addition, Washington has mobilized warships and troops in the region. According to Trump, the US is trying to limit Venezuela’s main sources of income in order to stop terrorism, drug smuggling, and trafficking.

On Wednesday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil spoke by phone with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at his request. Beijing said it opposes “unilateral oppression” and supports the maintenance of territorial sovereignty and national dignity. Wang Yi did not mention the US or Trump in the phone call, although the minister said China opposes this violation of the UN Charter. Asked at a regular briefing on Thursday what role China would play in the ongoing conflict, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Beijing supports Venezuela’s request for an immediate Council meeting. Wang Yi did not comment on any future aid plans for Venezuela.

At the same time, Beijing is making great efforts to cooperate with its most important trading partner, the United States. After a long trade war, Trump and Xi Jinping reached a consensus in October to resolve the problems. Accordingly, when asked at the briefing about relations between Washington and Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson did not make a statement.

According to Tom Harper, a lecturer of international relations at the University of East London, China benefits from cooperation with Venezuela, while America’s dominance in Latin America, where China has been expanding its interests for the past 25 years, is detrimental. Caracas and Beijing have supported a multipolar international order since the rule of Hugo Chavez, which has been widely shared with Beijing’s growing political and economic power. China is one of the largest buyers of Venezuelan crude oil, accounting for 4% of China’s imports. In addition, China has opened credit lines to Venezuela under an oil-for-loans agreement. During his meeting with Xi Jinping in Moscow, Maduro called for further strengthening of trade and energy cooperation between the two countries.

Venezuela’s oil is important to China, which has recently been trying to diversify its natural resources to maintain its leadership in the production of cheap manufacturing and become independent from Middle Eastern oil. Trump’s military threat against Venezuela may be aimed at reducing China’s influence. It is also unclear whether China’s goal is to protect Latin America from the US. China’s ties to South American countries are linked to its political agenda, with China having persuaded El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras in recent years to renounce diplomatic recognition of Taiwan. China is driven by economic interests in the region and has been reluctant to form formal alliances with them. This attitude is likely to complicate relations between China and other countries in the region in times of crisis.

Author: Mariam Sanadze

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Jimmy Lai faces a possible life sentence

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Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy activist, was arrested in 2020 under a national security law imposed after the massive anti-government pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The law introduced 39 new national security crimes in addition to the already existing national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong. Beijing and Hong Kong authorities depicted the law as essential for restoring the city’s stability after the 2019 protests, but democratic organizations and politicians have deemed it a tool to restrict any form of dissent in the future.

After this law came into effect, several civil society groups ceased functioning, and dozens of political opponents either emigrated to other countries or were jailed, as in the case of Jimmy Lai. Jimmy Lai was one of the first and most prominent figures arrested under the national security law. Since 2020, he has spent more than 1,800 days in a maximum-security prison, mostly in solitary confinement. 

When he was being arrested, police officers also raided Apple Daily’s office. The following year, authorities also arrested senior executives of Apple Daily under the national security law and froze $2.3 million of its assets, which eventually led to the shutdown of the newspaper. It was founded by Jimmy Lai in 1995, after the 1989 Tiananmen Crackdown, and published critical, pro-democracy articles, becoming one of the voices at the forefront of the protests. 

In 2022, Jimmy Lai was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison on charges of fraud. And this Monday, after a prolonged trial, a Hong Kong court convicted Jimmy Lai of national security offences, and he could face life in prison for “orchestrating conspiracies to encourage foreign governments to take action against Hong Kong or China”.

In the 885-page verdict, Jimmy Lai was accused of making “constant invitations” to the U.S and other foreign powers to act against China “under the guise of fighting for freedom and democracy”. Prosecutors cited specific examples, including calls for U.S sanctions against China and a New York Times opinion piece in which Jimmy Lai advocated for revoking student visas for the children of government officials as one of the means to punish China for its repression of Hong Kong. Beijing has called Lai “an agent and pawn of anti-China foreign forces”.  Prosecutors also highlighted Lai’s foreign contacts and his meetings with former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then-Vice President Mike Pence during the 2019 protests.

US President Donald Trump said he had asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to consider releasing Jimmy Lai, a request that is believed to have been made during their meeting in South Korea. The U.K. also called for the immediate release of Jimmy Lie, who holds British citizenship, and called Monday’s ruling “politically motivated persecution”. Several human rights groups and organizations have deemed this verdict as vivid proof of the deterioration of press freedom in Hong Kong. This decline is also reflected in global press freedom rankings, with Hong Kong falling to 140th place worldwide, according to Reporters Without Borders.

Author: Salome Markhvashvili

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What Does the Trump Administration’s National Security Strategy Say About China?

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The Trump administration presented a new National Security Strategy. Unlike the 2017 National Security Strategy, which described China as “America’s most significant geopolitical challenge,” the newly released document does not frame China in these terms. In previous administrations’ reports, strong emphasis was placed on China’s authoritarian system and human rights violations. By contrast, the Trump administration’s strategy focuses primarily on US–China economic competition, while identifying the prevention of conflict in the Indo-Pacific region as one of the key priorities in bilateral relations.

The document states that the United States made a mistake by opening its market to Chinese investment and encouraging China’s economic growth in the expectation that China would integrate into a “rules-based international order.” According to the Trump administration, China instead accumulated wealth and global power and, rather than strengthening the global order, consolidated its own strategic advantages. This trend is described as resulting in a “fundamental imbalance” in US–China trade relations. As the document notes, “what began in 1979 as trade between the world’s richest and one of its poorest economies has now become competition between nearly equal players.” Consequently, the strategy aims to restore America’s economic independence by re-establishing reciprocity and fairness in trade.

According to Wen-Ti Sung, a researcher at the Atlantic Council, the goal of the document is to “restore the balance between interests and values.” For Trump, the new priority is America’s own national development, a vision aligned with the Monroe Doctrine and the overarching concept of “America First.” Under this approach, China is no longer viewed as an ideological or geopolitical rival, as both dimensions have been replaced by an economic focus.

China’s response to this shift toward economic pragmatism has been generally positive, though cautious. The spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakun, adopted a neutral and restrained tone, emphasizing the importance of “peaceful coexistence” and “win-win cooperation.” At the same time, skeptics in China argue that the softening of US rhetoric may reflect an attempt by Washington to concentrate on securing its own advantages in bilateral trade, and therefore does not rule out the possibility of restrictive economic measures against China.

Notably, the only geopolitical issue examined in detail in the document is Taiwan. For the Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan represents a “red line.” At present, Washington maintains close unofficial relations with Taiwan and, under existing agreements, is obligated to provide the island with defensive arms. The strategy identifies a potential conflict over Taiwan as a major economic challenge, as approximately one-third of global maritime trade passes annually through the South China Sea. Any conflict or blockade around Taiwan would therefore threaten US economic interests.

Responsibility for preventing a Taiwan-related conflict is shared with other countries, including the European Union. The strategy calls on US allies to increase their defense spending and emphasizes the importance of providing US forces with access to ports and other military facilities. In particular, allies such as Japan and South Korea are expected to ensure broader access for US military personnel and infrastructure.

Author: Mariam Arabashvili 

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Brussels Tightens Oversight of Chinese Companies

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China has accused the European Union of creating unfair “trade and investment barriers,” issuing the statement shortly after the EU launched a new, in-depth investigation last Thursday under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) into Nuctech, a Chinese manufacturer of security equipment. This move came just days after a raid on Temu’s Dublin office, also carried out under the same regulation.

The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) voiced “strong opposition” to what it described as the European Commission’s “targeted and excessive” investigations aimed at determining whether Chinese state subsidies were distorting competition in the European market.

According to the chamber, the FSR is being applied unfairly: so far, most investigations have focused exclusively on Chinese companies or businesses backed by Chinese capital.

A survey conducted this year by the CCCEU, covering 205 Chinese companies and organizations, found that more than 60% of Chinese firms operating within the EU have been directly affected by the implementation of the FSR. Many companies reported business disruptions, lost commercial opportunities, and increased operational risks. Over half of respondents said the FSR had harmed their reputation and the way they are perceived in the market. Beijing further claimed that some firms were forced to scale back or halt projects as a result of these investigations, leading to losses exceeding $2.05 billion.

A report published in May by the U.S. law firm Arnold & Porter noted that Brussels has launched investigations largely based on political and economic priorities, focusing mainly on strategic sectors such as telecommunications, clean energy, infrastructure, and security equipment.

The EU’s heightened scrutiny of Chinese subsidies comes amid growing worries within the bloc that European industry cannot compete with the surge of Chinese imports. French President Emmanuel Macron has described the situation as a “life or death moment” for Europe’s industrial base.

As a result, despite being major trading partners, tensions between China and the EU are rising, especially over Beijing’s support for renewable energy and electric-vehicle sectors. At the same time, the EU’s tougher approach reflects its broader goals: reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and reducing technological dependence on China, a shift that signals Europe’s increased focus on security and strategic resilience.

Author: Sesili Adamia

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