China

Beijing's duty-free access for African exports promises mutual economic gains, but more importantly, it deepens its strategic influence across the continent

China understands that North Korea is no longer the besieged ally with no gateway other than Beijing, and that leaving the field entirely open to Russia carries a mounting strategic cost

With war closing the Strait of Hormuz, Islamabad has become both broker and bridge, mediating between rivals while keeping Beijing's overland trade routes alive

Beijing's export restrictions on sulphuric acid are pressuring fertilisers, metals, and clean energy industries, exposing fragile supply chains as disruption spreads around the Strait of Hormuz

The Communist Party's general secretary since 2012 may have grown up in a secure compound for the elite, but he forged his values in the fields of rural Shaanxi province

From Tokyo's perspective, there were three key issues: Taiwan, Iran, and the broader bilateral framework

Beijing can't easily afford to escalate any economic struggle with Washington

China's J-35 is more than a new stealth fighter. It represents Beijing's attempt to challenge the global dominance of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

Beijing can help Washington find a way out of its Gulf quagmire, but it won't come cheap. Xi Jinping may wonder aloud if the Americans still plan to defend Taiwan.