Geo-Strategic Trend - 3. page

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that Panama’s Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional the operation of two Panamanian ports by CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong-based international conglomerate company operating some 43 overseas ports. CK Hutchison’s share price plummeted following the ruling.

Following US President Trump’s earlier claims this year that the Panama Canal was under Chinese control and his vow to reclaim it, ports Panama Canal are at the center of geopolitical competition. CK Hutchison Holdings later announced it would sell its 43 overseas port operations, including the two Panama Canal ports, to an international consortium comprised of U.S. asset management giant BlackRock and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), owned by the Aponte family of Italian billionaires, for US$22.8 billion. This deal sparked discontent in Beijing, and Chinese regulators subsequently launched an investigation. CK Hutchison later announced its intention to invite Chinese state-owned shipping giant China COSCO Shipping to join the consortium.

With respect to the rulings by the Panamanian Supreme Court, CK Hutchison has limited options: it can file a motion for clarification of the Supreme Court’s decision, but cannot appeal. The company may also seek international arbitration. The Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized these Panama Supreme Court rulings as contrary to the laws governing Panama’s approval of the relevant franchise rights, stating that Beijing will “take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, January 30, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260130-8232674

Well-known new Chinese news site The Paper recently reported that, amidst escalating tensions between Europe and the United States, calls for nuclear autonomy are growing louder within Europe. Senior European officials have stated that European countries are questioning the reliability of the U.S. nuclear umbrella. European leaders are discussing whether they should rely more on nuclear-armed France and the United Kingdom than the United States, and even whether they should develop their own nuclear weapons.

European leaders’ discussions on how to defend against a nuclear-armed Russia without U.S. involvement were “both intense and productive,” with options including enhancing France’s nuclear capabilities, and redeploying French nuclear-capable bombers outside of France. Officials also indicated that proposals to provide non-nuclear-weapon European countries with relevant technological capabilities were under consideration as well.

These discussions could overturn decades of global efforts to reduce, rather than exacerbate, nuclear proliferation. There is currently a clear lack of mutual trust between Europe and the United States.

However, some commentators have expressed doubts about the prospects of European “nuclear autonomy.” They point out that France and the UK possess approximately 290 and 225 nuclear warheads respectively, which, even combined, cannot compare to the scale of the U.S. and Russia. Furthermore, the lack of maintenance and upgrades over decades makes it difficult to form an alternative to the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Furthermore, France and the UK will hold presidential and parliamentary elections in 2027 and 2029 respectively. If far-right forces in both countries come to power after the elections, the current government’s commitment to “nuclear independence” risks revocation.

Source: The Paper, January 23, 2026
https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_32448420

Thousands of foreign laborers from China, Indonesia, and several African countries have flooded into Phnom Penh after escaping scam villages—fraud compounds located near Cambodia’s borders—in hopes of returning to their home countries. Anti-human-trafficking organizations warn that many of those who fled are victims of forced labor and scam-related exploitation and remain in precarious and unsafe conditions. Growing international pressure has pushed the Cambodian government to intensify its crackdown on criminal networks behind the scam operations, arresting several foreign ringleaders. These actions reportedly triggered a mass exodus, with workers breaching compound security to reach the capital.

In Phnom Penh, hundreds of Chinese nationals—many without passports—are reportedly sleeping outdoors near the Chinese embassy, desperate to return home but unable to do so. Similar scenes have emerged at the Indonesian embassy and in nearby public parks, where Indonesian citizens are seeking assistance; embassy officials processed roughly 1,440 cases within a five-day period. Escapees have described harsh and abusive conditions inside the scam compounds and said they undertook dangerous journeys to reach the city. Cambodian authorities say they are determined to dismantle online scam operations and restore the country’s international image, while new regulations target landlords who shelter foreigners with criminal backgrounds. The government has also appealed for foreign assistance to provide temporary housing for those unable to leave Cambodia.

Source: Epoch Times, January 24, 2026
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/26/1/23/n14682626.htm

Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) just signed documents to join a U.S.-led alliance named Pax Silica for supply chain cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and key minerals.

Washington launched this economic security initiative last year in an effort to counter China’s growing influence in advanced technology. Pax Silica currently has nine member states: South Korea, the United States, Australia, Israel, Japan, Qatar, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. State Department said that India plans to join as a signatory next month.

Pax Silica members will jointly establish multi-layered partnerships to strengthen supply chain security, address coercive dependencies and single points of failure, and promote the adoption of trustworthy technology ecosystems. The member states will collaborate on flagship projects across all levels of global technology stacks, including connectivity and edge infrastructure such as 6G, computing and data centers, advanced manufacturing, logistics, mineral refining and processing, and energy.

Last December, representatives from the U.S., Japan, Israel, Australia, Singapore, and South Korea jointly signed the “Silicon Peace Declaration” and held the first Pax Silica Summit. Taiwan, the European Union, Canada, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) also participated as guests.

Source: CNA, January 15, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ait/202601150136.aspx

Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that Taiwan’s exports to the United States reached US$198.27 billion in 2025, exceeding the approximately US$170.68 billion in exports to China and Hong Kong for the first time in 26 years.

According to statistics from the Taiwanese Ministry of Finance, Taiwan’s exports to its five major markets in 2025 all increased simultaneously. Exports to the United States reached US$198.27 billion, setting a new historical record. In the meantime, the proportion of exports to the United States increased to 30.9 percent, higher than the 26.6 percent for exports to China and Hong Kong combined.

The newly released data was based on Taiwan’s latest customs import and export trade statistics. Last year, Taiwan’s exports reached US$640.75 billion and imports reached US$483.61 billion, both setting new historical records. The year-over-year growth rates were 34.9 percent and 22.6 percent respectively. And the trade surplus of US$157.14 billion also set a new record.

Overall, the main export categories are information/communication and audio-visual products, as well as electronic components. Furthermore, exports of information/communication and audio-visual products increased by 89.5 percent year-over-year, and exports to the United States increased by 78 percent year-over-year, both setting unprecedented growth records.

The shift in Taiwan’s foreign trade landscape is related to global supply chain restructuring. It’s worth noting that, as ASEAN gradually becomes a new core of the global supply chain, its share of Taiwan’s total exports has risen to 18.6 percent, the highest in nearly 11 years.

Source: CNA, January 9, 2026
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/afe/202601090257.aspx