France's Macron calls for 'new coalition' between Asia and Europe

SINGAPORE -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday called on Europe and Asia to build a new coalition that upholds global norms and to defend sovereignty in a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit here.
A Europe-Asia alliance can lead to "new coalitions, new agreements" and a resetting of the rules-based order, he said. Citing the Bandung Conference that convened more than 70 years ago among African and Asian countries, Macron said the time for non-alignment has "undoubtedly passed."

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Japan Times

2 hours ago

• Japan Times

Europe's lithium quest hampered by China and lack of cash

Europe's ambition to be a world player in decarbonized transportation arguably depends on sourcing lithium abroad, especially in South America. Even the bloc's broader energy security and climate goals could depend on securing a steady supply of the key mineral, used in batteries and other clean energy supply chains. But Europe has run into a trio of obstacles: lack of money, double-edged regulations and competition from China, say analysts. China has a major head start. It currently produces more than three-quarters of batteries sold worldwide, refines 70% of raw lithium and is the world's third-largest extractor behind Australia and Chile, according to 2024 data from the United States Geological Survey. To gain a foothold, Europe has developed a regulatory framework that emphasises environmental preservation, quality job creation and cooperation with local communities. It has also signed bilateral agreements with about 15 countries, including Chile and Argentina, the world's fifth-largest lithium producer. But too often it fails to deliver when it comes to investment, say experts. "I see a lot of memoranda of understanding, but there is a lack of action," said Julia Poliscanova, director of electric vehicles at the Transport and Environment (T&E) think tank. "More than once, on the day that we signed another MoU, the Chinese were buying an entire mine in the same country." The investment gap is huge: China spent $6 billion on lithium projects abroad from 2020 to 2023, while Europe barely coughed up a billion dollars over the same period, according to data compiled by T&E. Lagging investment At the same time, the bottleneck in supply has tightened: last year saw a 30% increase in global demand for lithium, according to a recent report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). "To secure the supply of raw materials, China is actively investing in mines abroad through state-owned companies with political support from the government," the IEA noted. China's Belt and Road Initiative funnelled $21.4 billion into mining beyond its shores in 2024, according to the report. Europe, meanwhile, is "lagging behind in investment levels in these areas," said Sebastian Galarza, founder of the Centre for Sustainable Mobility in Santiago, Chile. "The lack of a clear path for developing Europe's battery and mining industries means that gap will be filled by other actors." In Africa, for example, Chinese demand has propelled Zimbabwe to become the fourth-largest lithium producer in the world. "The Chinese let their money do the talking," said Theo Acheampong, an analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations. A brine pool at a lithium mine in the Atacama Desert, Chile, in 2024. | Bloomberg By 2035, all new cars and vans sold in the European Union must produce zero carbon emissions, and EU leaders and industry would like as much as possible of that market share to be sourced locally. Last year, just over 20% of new vehicles sold in the bloc were electric. "Currently, only 4% of Chile's lithium goes to Europe," noted Stefan Debruyne, director of external affairs at Chilean private mining company SQM. "The EU has every opportunity to increase its share of the battery industry." Shifting supply chains But Europe's plans to build dozens of battery factories have been hampered by fluctuating consumer demand and competition from Japan (Panasonic), South Korea (LG Energy Solution, Samsung) and, above all, China (CATL, BYD). The key to locking down long-term lithium supply is closer ties in the so-called "lithium triangle" formed by Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, which account for nearly half of the world's reserves, analysts say. To encourage cooperation with these countries, European actors have proposed development pathways that would help establish electric battery production in Latin America. Draft EU regulations would allow Latin America to "reconcile local development with the export of these raw materials, and not fall into a purely extractive cycle", said Juan Vazquez, deputy head for Latin America and the Caribbean at the OECD Development Centre. But it is still unclear whether helping exporting countries develop complete supply chains makes economic sense, or will ultimately tilt in Europe's favour. "What interest do you have as a company in setting up in Chile to produce cathodes, batteries or more sophisticated materials if you don't have a local or regional market to supply?" said Galarza. "Why not just take the lithium, refine it and do everything in China and send the battery back to us?" Pointing to the automotive tradition in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, Galarza suggested an answer. "We must push quickly towards the electrification of transport in the region so we can share in the benefits of the energy transition," he argued. But the road ahead looks long. Electric vehicles were only 2% of new car sales in Mexico and Chile last year, 6% in Brazil and 7% in Colombia, according to the IEA. The small nation of Costa Rica stood out as the only nation in the region where EVs hit double digits, at 15% of new car sales.

Japan Times

5 hours ago

• Japan Times

Koike-backed party gains seats as LDP dealt setback in Tokyo assembly poll

The political party backed by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike cruised to victory in Sunday's Tokyo metropolitan assembly elections, as voters dealt the Liberal Democratic Party a historic blow. Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First), supported by Koike as a special adviser, remained the biggest party, taking 31 seats, up from 26. Meanwhile, the LDP secured just 21 seats — down from 30 in the previous assembly. The party, which together with Komeito makes up the ruling bloc in national politics, had never had fewer than 23 seats in the assembly. Komeito was also dealt a blow, winning 19 seats, down from 23. It was the first time since 1993 that every Komeito candidate running for the assembly had not managed to win a seat. Still, the three parties supporting Koike — Tomin first, the LDP and Komeito — managed to maintain their combined majority of 127 total seats in the assembly. Two smaller parties, the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito, also won seats for the first time, securing nine and three spots, respectively. Despite fielding 42 candidates, the Path to Rebirth, the new regional party set up by Shinji Ishimaru — runner-up to Koike in last year's gubernatorial election — all failed to win a seat. Turnout across 42 voting districts in Tokyo was 47.59%, 5.2 percentage points higher than the previous election in 2021 and the fifth lowest in history. A main focus of voters were measures to combat rising prices in Tokyo. The election results were seen as an indicator for the Upper House election which is expected to be held July 20.

NHK

6 hours ago

• NHK

Party backing Tokyo governor becomes largest force after assembly election

A regional party for which Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko serves as special adviser has emerged as the largest force after the capital's metropolitan assembly election. Parties had pitched all-out campaigns because they see the vote as a bellwether for an upcoming Upper House poll in July. The two elections concur only once in 12 years. Sunday's assembly election put all 127 seats up for grabs. Candidates ran in 42 districts. TOMIN First, which was established by Koike, won 31 seats, the most of all the groups. The Liberal Democratic Party, the biggest force before the vote, acquired 21 seats, its record low. The LDP is the largest ruling party in national politics. Komeito collected 19 seats, with three of its candidates defeated. It had seen all its candidates secure seats in the previous eight assembly elections for Tokyo. The party is the LDP's coalition partner in the Diet. TOMIN First, the LDP and Komeito back Koike's agenda. Combined, they hold a majority of the assembly seats. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan racked up 17 seats, a gain of two from its pre-election showing. The CDP is the largest opposition force at the national level. The Japanese Communist Party notched 14 seats, down five. The Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito chalked up nine and three seats, respectively. Both secured seats for the first time at the assembly. Tokyo Seikatsusha Network retained its pre-election level of one seat. The Japan Innovation Party lost its sole seat it had held before the vote. The Path to Rebirth fielded 42 candidates, but earned no seats. Its head is Ishimaru Shinji, who lost to Koike and ended up as runner-up in the Tokyo gubernatorial election last year.