Latest news with #DengXiaoping
South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's research strength is vital to China's third wave of reform
As Shenzhen approaches 45 years as a special economic zone (SEZ), the importance of opening up in driving China's progress was stressed by none other than Huawei Technologies founder Ren Zhengfei. 'The more open the country becomes, the more it will drive our progress,' he told People's Daily in a recent interview, speaking also of the importance of basic research, education and talent development. Soon after, the government outlined reforms to accelerate the development of hi-tech emerging industries in Shenzhen, highlighting the pioneering and demonstrative role of the reforms to push innovation and opening-up. Shenzhen has long been the vanguard of China's reform and opening-up. The decision to create the Shenzhen SEZ in the first wave of reform was groundbreaking and marked China's entry into global markets. The second wave of opening up kicked off with Deng Xiaoping's 1992 'southern tour' . China seized the opportunities presented by the post-Cold War wave of globalisation, breaking free of sanctions and restrictions. In 2001, China's accession to the World Trade Organization furthered its integration into the global economy, solidifying its position as a key player and laying the foundation for its rise as a major power. Today, however, China needs to enter a new phase of opening up – a third wave – and Shenzhen's latest reform agenda is viewed as a key precursor to this shift. China is facing a more complex and uncertain global environment, characterised by escalating geopolitical tensions, economic decoupling and a fierce technological cold war with the United States. Unlike previously, this new phase will require a strategic recalibration – focusing on technological innovation and talent cultivation.
The Wire
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Wire
A President and a Field Marshal
No one knows if the goat cheese gateau and burnt cipollini soubise the White House chef served at the famous Donald Trump-Asim Munir lunch were to the Pakistani field marshal's liking, but it is more than evident that this breaking of bread in Washington has set the cat among some very nervous strategic pigeons in New Delhi. The knee-jerk reaction is to pooh-pooh a very consequential event. The Pakistani newspaper Dawn reports that 'the meeting was not arranged through routine diplomatic channels, and was the outcome of 'unorthodox efforts' by a group of advisers, businessmen and other influential figures.' The same assessment is then passed on by 'sources' to the Indian Express, presumably as an expression of Indian foreign office disdain for an event that is an embarrassment for the ' vishwaguru ' coming so soon after Operation Sindoor. Sadly, no one in South Block remembers Deng Xiaoping's working axiom: it does not matter if the cat is black or white as long as it catches the mice. But, then, who can deny us our right to wallow in self-righteousness. Our current bewilderment at a democratically elected president hosting a self-promoted field marshal can easily be traced back to a misreading of American historical traditions. American society has always held the military man in high esteem; the very first president of the United States was the victorious general George Washington. After World War II, when the United States arrogated to itself the role of policeman of the new global order, the use of the military force and armed intervention became the most legitimate instrument at the disposal of the American presidents. In the famous spat between President Harry Truman and General Douglas MacArthur (called 'America's most talented general of this – the 20th – century' by Henry Kissinger), American public opinion was not entirely behind the White House. And, the election of a victorious general, Dwight Eisenhower, in the 1952 presidential election was a reaffirmation of a tradition of awe and reverence for the man in fatigues. Indeed, generals and admirals have always found their way to key decision-making slots as the US got busy quelling (or starting) fires around the world. It came naturally for American diplomacy not to regard the generals in Asia, Africa or Latin America as un-touchable. Influential intellectual voices like Samuel Huntington theorised about the stabilising role of the military in the Third World as newly liberated countries experimented with freedom and chaos. This notion of the military's institutional usefulness has been a constant consideration in the US approach towards Pakistan. We have always thought we were Washington's preferred partner because we are a 'democracy', and self-servingly felt disappointed that its affection was equally shared between 'a democratic India' and a 'dictatorial Pakistan'. In his memoir Nice Guys Finish Second, B.K. Nehru, then our man in Washington, talks of having been invited to an exclusive, 'coming out of mourning' party held by Jackie Kennedy. The date was September 22, 1965. India and Pakistan were at war; the Indian army was getting the better of (yes, the first) Field Marshal Ayub Khan's fauj. At Jackie's party, B.K. Nehru collared US secretary of defense, Bob McNamara, who obviously was keeping track of the fighting and knew that Pakistan was getting a bloody nose. Nehru writes: 'He [McNamara] went on to say that something had to be done to restore the morale of the Pakistani Army. I said, 'Surely, Bob, you aren't going to arm them again, are you?' He hummed and hawed and said, 'Well, I don't know. Perhaps we shall have to.' The date of this conversation is worth noting; it was three days before the cease-fire.' The American establishment had long concluded that the Pakistani army was the only organised and competent institution that could provide stability in that country. After all, unlike in India, the Pakistani political class had very little experience of democratic temper and, more importantly, Pakistan did not have a Jawaharlal Nehru – a leader with the mettle and disposition to marshal the energy and imagination of a new nation. The Americans were not choosy; they would work with anyone who could produce a semblance of order in Pakistan and would not be averse to joining military pacts like SEATO and CENTO. In recent decades, US policymakers – both Democratic and Republican – have greatly valued the Pakistani army as a highly useful tool for providing security and protection to ruling families in volatile Arab nations. We in India are free to mock Rawalpindi's GHQ as a mercenary corps; but the Americans are not prone to sentimentality in matters of realpolitik. It is rather late in the day for New Delhi to pretend to be flummoxed that Field Marshal Munir should have been given by Trump the respect becoming of a head of government. Trump has given sufficient notice to one and all around the world that he does not abide by conventions or traditions and that certainly he is not enamoured of the humbuggery that comes so easily to our leadership. We, of course, are entitled to hold this or that Pakistani general responsible for patronising terror groups; but, the American establishment cannot be faulted for concluding that for better or for worse, Field Marshal Munir's army remains the only organised force capable of ensuring stability and cohesion. We, indeed, have resented the Americans' inability – or unwillingness – to see the Pakistan army's mischievous record. Many years ago, when he was still on top of his game, President Ayub Khan could note in his diary (August 10, 1967) that 'Hindus, of course, are too crafty for the Americans.' He was, in fact, grudging New Delhi's professional foreign service's calm and calculated dealings with the bullying Americans. Five decades later, the first field marshal would be surprised to find his successors to have learnt the difficult art of being deceitful and yet being trusted by the Americans. We, on the other hand, have become more 'Hindu' and less crafty.
The Star
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
China's trump card against US
THE nation is counting on one crucial advantage as it seeks to grind out a deal to ease its high-stakes trade war with the United States – dominance in rare earths. Used in electric vehicles, hard drives, wind turbines and missiles, rare earth elements are essential to the modern economy and national defence. Here's a look at how rare earths have become a key sticking point in talks between the United States and China. Mining boom: 'The Middle East has oil. China has rare earths,' Deng Xiaoping, the late Chinese leader whose pro-market reforms set the country on its path to becoming an economic powerhouse, said in 1992. Since then, Beijing's heavy investment in state-owned mining firms and lax environmental regulations compared to other industry players have turned China into the world's top supplier. The country now accounts for 92% of global refined output, according to the International Energy Agency. But the flow of rare earths from China to manufacturers around the world has slowed after Beijing in early April began requiring domestic exporters to apply for a licence – widely seen as a response to US tariffs. Under the new requirements – which industry groups have said are complex and slow-moving – seven key elements and related magnets require Beijing's approval to be shipped to foreign buyers. Deep impact: Ensuring access to the vital elements has become a top priority for US officials in talks with Chinese counterparts, with the two sides meeting this week in London. 'The rare earth issue has clearly ... overpowered the other parts of the trade negotiations because of stoppages at plants in the United States,' said Paul Triolo, a technology expert at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, in an online seminar on Monday. That disruption, which forced US car giant Ford to temporarily halt production of its Explorer SUV, 'really got the attention of the White House', said Triolo. Officials from the two countries said on Tuesday that they had agreed on a 'framework' for moving forward on trade – with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressing optimism that concerns over access to rare earths 'will be resolved' eventually. Rare earth advantage: The slowing of licence issuance has raised fears that more automakers will be forced to halt production while they await shipments. China's commerce ministry said over the weekend that as a 'responsible major country', it had approved a certain number of export applications, adding that it was willing to strengthen related dialogue with 'relevant countries'. But that bottleneck has highlighted Washington's reliance on Chinese rare earths for producing its defence equipment even as trade and geopolitical tensions deepen. An F-35 fighter jet contains over 400kg of rare earth elements, noted a recent analysis by Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 'Developing mining and processing capabilities requires a long-term effort, meaning the United States will be on the back foot for the foreseeable future,' they wrote. Playing catch up: The recent export control measures are not the first time China has leveraged its dominance of rare earths supply chains. After a 2010 maritime collision between a Chinese trawler and Japanese coast guard boats in disputed waters, Beijing briefly halted shipments of its rare earths to Tokyo. The episode spurred Japan to invest in alternative sources and improve stockpiling of the vital elements – with limited success. That is 'a good illustration of the difficulty of actually reducing dependence on China,' said Triolo, noting that in the 15 years since the incident, Japan has achieved only 'marginal gains'. The Pentagon is trying to catch up, with its 'mine-to-magnet' strategy aiming to ensure an all-domestic supply chain for the key components by 2027. The challenge facing Washington to compete with Beijing in rare earths is compounded by sheer luck: China sits on the world's largest reserves. 'Mineable concentrations are less common than for most other mineral commodities, making extraction more costly,' wrote Rico Luman and Ewa Manthey of ING in an analysis published on Tuesday. 'It is this complex and costly extraction and processing that make rare earths strategically significant,' they wrote. 'This gives China a strong negotiating position.' — AFP
Economic Times
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Economic Times
Rare earths and magnets minerals elements: Why are these giving China edge in trade war with USA?
Rare-earth magnet Synopsis Rare earths and magnets minerals elements have hogged all the limelight during the US-China trade war. US-China trade deal has finally been chalked out, according to President Donald Trump. Analysts have claimed that China was counting on one crucial advantage as it strived to grind out a deal to ease its high-stakes trade war with the United States -- dominance in rare earths. Now question arises how rare earths have become a key sticking point in talks between the US and China. ADVERTISEMENT Rare Earths Minerals Elements Used in electric vehicles, hard drives, wind turbines and missiles, rare earth elements are essential to the modern economy and national defence, AFP reported. "The Middle East has oil. China has rare earths," Deng Xiaoping, the late Chinese leader whose pro-market reforms set the country on its path to becoming an economic powerhouse, said in 1992. Since then, Beijing's heavy investment in state-owned mining firms and lax environmental regulations compared to other industry players have turned China into the world's top supplier, as per AFP now accounts for 92 percent of global refined output, according to the International Energy the flow of rare earths from China to manufacturers around the world has slowed after Beijing in early April began requiring domestic exporters to apply for a licence -- widely seen as a response to US tariffs. ADVERTISEMENT Under the new requirements -- which industry groups have said are complex and slow-moving -- seven key elements and related magnets require Beijing's approval to be shipped to foreign buyers. Why Does USA Need Rare Earths? ADVERTISEMENT Ensuring access to the vital elements became a top priority for US officials in talks with Chinese counterparts."The rare earth issue has clearly... overpowered the other parts of the trade negotiations because of stoppages at plants in the United States," said Paul Triolo, a technology expert at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, in an online seminar on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT That disruption, which forced US car giant Ford to temporarily halt production of its Explorer SUV, "really got the attention of the White House", said reportedly rely on Chinese rare earths for producing its defence equipment even as trade and geopolitical tensions deepen. ADVERTISEMENT An F-35 fighter jet contains over 900 pounds (more than 400 kilograms) of rare earth elements, noted a recent analysis by Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. China has Largest Reserves Pentagon is trying to catch up, with its "mine-to-magnet" strategy aiming to ensure an all-domestic supply chain for the key components by 2027. The challenge facing Washington to compete with Beijing in rare earths is compounded by sheer luck: China sits on the world's largest reserves. Q1. Who is President of USA?A1. President of USA is Donald Trump. Q2. What are usage of Rare earths and magnets? A2. Used in electric vehicles, hard drives, wind turbines and missiles, rare earth elements are essential to the modern economy and national defence, AFP reported. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates. Rare earths and magnets minerals elements: Why are these giving China edge in trade war with USA? Rare earths and magnets minerals elements: Why are these giving China edge in trade war with USA? 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Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Rare earths and magnets minerals elements: Why are these giving China edge in trade war with USA?
Live Events FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel US-China trade deal has finally been chalked out, according to President Donald Trump. Analysts have claimed that China was counting on one crucial advantage as it strived to grind out a deal to ease its high-stakes trade war with the United States -- dominance in rare earths. Now question arises how rare earths have become a key sticking point in talks between the US and in electric vehicles, hard drives, wind turbines and missiles, rare earth elements are essential to the modern economy and national defence, AFP reported."The Middle East has oil. China has rare earths," Deng Xiaoping, the late Chinese leader whose pro-market reforms set the country on its path to becoming an economic powerhouse, said in 1992. Since then, Beijing's heavy investment in state-owned mining firms and lax environmental regulations compared to other industry players have turned China into the world's top supplier, as per AFP now accounts for 92 percent of global refined output, according to the International Energy the flow of rare earths from China to manufacturers around the world has slowed after Beijing in early April began requiring domestic exporters to apply for a licence -- widely seen as a response to US the new requirements -- which industry groups have said are complex and slow-moving -- seven key elements and related magnets require Beijing's approval to be shipped to foreign access to the vital elements became a top priority for US officials in talks with Chinese counterparts."The rare earth issue has clearly... overpowered the other parts of the trade negotiations because of stoppages at plants in the United States," said Paul Triolo, a technology expert at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis, in an online seminar on disruption, which forced US car giant Ford to temporarily halt production of its Explorer SUV, "really got the attention of the White House", said reportedly rely on Chinese rare earths for producing its defence equipment even as trade and geopolitical tensions F-35 fighter jet contains over 900 pounds (more than 400 kilograms) of rare earth elements, noted a recent analysis by Gracelin Baskaran and Meredith Schwartz of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International is trying to catch up, with its "mine-to-magnet" strategy aiming to ensure an all-domestic supply chain for the key components by 2027. The challenge facing Washington to compete with Beijing in rare earths is compounded by sheer luck: China sits on the world's largest reserves.A1. President of USA is Donald Trump.A2. Used in electric vehicles, hard drives, wind turbines and missiles, rare earth elements are essential to the modern economy and national defence, AFP reported.
