Search

During his visit to China, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of business cooperation between Pakistan and China, particularly in sectors such as technology, industry, agriculture, mining, steel, textiles, and renewable energy. However, according to Nikkei Asia, the prime minister and his team left China with few concrete gains, as the Chinese government has become cautious about investing more money in Pakistan due to its poor economic circumstances. The $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has also faced challenges, with China needing to maintain the appearance of its success despite concerns about Pakistan's economic stability. While some modest gains were made, progress on Chinese investment in Pakistan is expected to be slow, and the success of economic cooperation will depend on improvements in Pakistan's business environment. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the failure of the Albanese government's new defense strategy in responding to the challenge posed by China. The author argues that the strategy fails to clearly identify the nature of the threat China poses and does not make the necessary choices for an effective response. The article highlights two different potential threats from China: an indirect threat to Australia's security through China's challenge to America's strategic role in the region, and a more direct threat if China becomes the primary power in the region. The author suggests that Australia needs to make a clear choice between supporting the US or preparing to defend itself independently. The article also mentions the impact of the AUKUS agreement on Australia's defense policy and budget. [Extracted from the article]

The recent visit of China's foreign minister to Australia has shown a stabilization of the bilateral relationship, but also a misalignment in long-term goals. China aims to move beyond stabilization and expects a less hostile approach from Australia, while the Australian government sees stabilization as an end point. The visit was seen as a positive step in dialogue and cooperation, but there are concerns about the longevity of the stabilization policy. The Australian government is also taking steps to address non-kinetic threats from China, such as cyber activity and foreign interference. The economic relationship between the two countries remains strong, but there are calls for trade diversification and supply chain resilience. The future of Australia-China relations is uncertain, with domestic and external pressures complicating the situation. [Extracted from the article]