Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Hong Kong firm seeks $2 billion over Panama’s takeover of 2 key canal ports

    Hong Kong firm seeks $2 billion over Panama’s takeover of 2 key canal ports

    A major international arbitration battle has erupted between Panama and Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings after the Central American nation’s seizure of two strategic ports at the Panama Canal. The conglomerate’s subsidiary, Panama Ports Company, is seeking approximately $2 billion in compensation for what it describes as an “illegal takeover” of the critical maritime facilities.

    The dispute stems from Panama’s Supreme Court ruling that declared the company’s concession agreement unconstitutional, prompting the government to assume control of both Balboa and Cristobal ports last week. These facilities occupy strategic positions at either end of the vital Panama Canal waterway, which handles approximately 5% of global maritime trade.

    Panama Ports Company had operated the terminals since 1997 and successfully renewed its 25-year concession agreement just two years ago in 2021. The company’s Friday statement emphasized its determination to “assert all of their rights and damages they are due because of the radical breaches and anti-investor conduct of the Panamanian State.”

    The situation has drawn international attention, with both Beijing and Hong Kong governments expressing strong objections to Panama’s actions. The ports previously found themselves at the center of geopolitical tensions when former U.S. President Donald Trump accused China of effectively controlling the Panama Canal. The controversy intensified when CK Hutchison announced plans in March 2022 to sell the majority of its global port assets—including the Panama facilities—to a consortium involving U.S. investment giant BlackRock in a monumental $23 billion transaction. That deal has remained stalled amid political pressures.

    In a separate declaration, CK Hutchison condemned Panama’s seizure methods, alleging the government occupied the ports and appropriated company property and personnel “without transparency.” The corporation vowed to pursue all available legal avenues through both national and international judicial proceedings. The company also corrected previous statements from Panamanian officials, including Economy Minister Felipe Chapman, who had estimated the compensation claim at $1.5 billion.

  • In first week of war on Iran, Gulf states shutter energy production and oil soars

    In first week of war on Iran, Gulf states shutter energy production and oil soars

    The escalating military conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran has triggered an unprecedented energy crisis, with oil prices recording their most dramatic weekly surge in modern history. Brent crude, the international benchmark, skyrocketed 28 percent during the first week of hostilities to reach $92.66 per barrel by Friday, marking the most rapid price acceleration ever witnessed in global oil markets.

    The crisis centers on the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical maritime chokepoint through which approximately 20% of global oil and gas shipments transit. MarineTraffic data reveals only nine commercial vessels have navigated the strait since Monday, as major insurers ceased providing war-risk coverage for the perilous passage.

    Gulf energy facilities face multi-faceted disruptions. Kuwait, a leading OPEC producer, has halted production entirely due to exhausted storage capacity, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia approaching similar operational limits according to Kpler analytics. The physical conflict has directly targeted infrastructure, with Bahrain’s Sitra refinery—processing nearly 400,000 barrels daily—struck by Iranian missiles and visibly engulfed in flames via social media documentation.

    Qatar declared force majeure on liquefied natural gas exports, threatening the 20% global supply share it controls and sending European and Asian gas prices soaring. The collateral damage includes environmental hazards, with a tanker anchored off Kuwait leaking oil into Gulf waters after being struck Wednesday.

    The economic ramifications are spreading globally. US gasoline prices jumped 11% to $3.32 per gallon despite previous administration claims of energy independence. Qatari Energy Minister warned Brent could reach $150 per barrel, stating the conflict threatens to ‘bring down the economies of the world’ through supply chain disruptions and factory shutdowns.

    Geopolitical tensions intensified as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard challenged President Trump to escort tankers through the strait, highlighting Gulf states’ frustration with perceived US reluctance to replenish depleted air defense systems despite successfully intercepting Iranian drones and missiles. The conflict has exposed regional vulnerabilities as Gulf nations, having lobbied for diplomatic engagement with Iran, now bear the brunt of retaliatory attacks on their energy infrastructure and modern urban centers.

  • Taiwan ramps up space-defense drive amid Beijing threats

    Taiwan ramps up space-defense drive amid Beijing threats

    Taiwan is actively cultivating a network of international space-technology startups alongside domestic firms to develop advanced surveillance and defense systems for deployment in the Taiwan Strait. This strategic initiative is spearheaded by the Taiwan Accelerator Plus (TAcc+) program, managed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration (SMESA). Since launching its International SpaceTech Startup Supporting Program in 2023, TAcc+ has onboarded 42 startups specializing in satellite technology, rocket engines, and geospatial equipment, fostering partnerships with Taiwan’s established Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector for manufacturing.

    A notable beneficiary is BaseTech, a local startup founded in 2021 that has received government funding. The company produces high-precision telescope mounts capable of tracking satellites from hundreds to 2,000 kilometers above Earth and monitoring swarms of military drones. Its flagship HawkView Monitoring System, as demonstrated by senior manager Henry Chen, can track over 300 targets simultaneously—from drones and aircraft to birds—at distances exceeding 15 kilometers, utilizing AI for automatic object scanning. The system also supports free-space optical (FSO) communication, a dual-use technology employing lasers for satellite-to-ground data transmission, which has civil and military applications.

    BaseTech’s systems are already deployed with the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) and the nation’s Air Force and Navy, with the company now seeking European clients. This development aligns with a ‘hellscape’ defense strategy proposed by the Center for a New American Security, which envisions using vast numbers of drones and uncrewed systems to disrupt a potential invasion across the Strait through layered, technology-intensive defenses.

    Amid rising cross-strait tensions and uncertainties over U.S. military support, Taiwan is accelerating efforts to localize foreign space-defense technology. TAcc+ has facilitated international collaborations, resulting in memorandums of understanding and new orders for participants like UK-based HEX20 and U.S.-based Slingshot Aerospace. However, experts caution that ensuring resilient communications in conflict remains a challenge, prompting Taiwan to explore alternatives to U.S.-dependent systems, such as Eutelsat OneWeb’s low-Earth-orbit satellite services, recently approved for operation by Chunghwa Telecom.

  • Muted Iran war stance fits concerned onlooker China’s priorities

    Muted Iran war stance fits concerned onlooker China’s priorities

    As Middle East hostilities escalate, China has adopted a position of deliberate detachment, maintaining strategic distance from the regional conflict while carefully assessing implications for its global interests. Situated over 4,200 miles from the turmoil and without direct involvement, Beijing enjoys relative flexibility in calculating how U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran might affect its economic and security priorities.

    This conflict represents the most significant military campaign by China’s primary strategic rival since the Iraq War, unfolding in a region critical to China’s energy security and commercial expansion. Despite these high stakes, Beijing’s response has been notably measured—a reflection of both limited regional leverage and the fundamentally transactional nature of its relationship with Tehran.

    China’s doctrinal opposition to foreign intervention and regime change shaped its initial diplomatic response. In late February 2026, Beijing joined Moscow in requesting an emergency UN Security Council session, expressing ‘serious concern’ over missile strikes while urging respect for Iran’s territorial integrity. Concurrently, China implemented precautionary measures, advising its citizens in Iran to evacuate and warning nationals in Israel to enhance emergency preparedness.

    This combination of diplomatic protest and risk mitigation suggests Beijing prioritized contingency planning over conflict resolution. Unlike its strong support for Pakistan during the 2025 border conflict with India—where Chinese-supplied fighter jets and missiles were deployed—China maintains a more limited security relationship with Iran. While providing selective military and dual-use support including air defense systems, drone technology, and surveillance assistance over time, Beijing has carefully avoided formal security guarantees.

    The current conflict offers China valuable intelligence-gathering opportunities. With U.S. forces concentrated around Iran, Chinese satellites and intelligence platforms have actively monitored American and allied deployments near the Gulf of Oman—information potentially more valuable for China’s long-term Indo-Pacific strategy than for immediate battlefield impact.

    This pattern reveals China’s consistent approach: supporting partners within strict limits while avoiding entanglements. Despite rhetoric of ‘comprehensive partnership,’ China has never made decisive strategic investments in Tehran. Bilateral trade remains modest within China’s global portfolio, Iranian oil imports are useful but replaceable, and Belt and Road Initiative investments flow more substantially toward Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE—economies now vulnerable to Iranian retaliation.

    The asymmetry is clear: Iran has long needed China more than China needed Iran. A weakened Iran—or even one with Western-aligned leadership—poses limited direct concern to Beijing. However, the broader strategic environment presents challenges as multiple Chinese partners face instability: Russia remains mired in Ukraine, Pakistan and Afghanistan confront escalating instability, and U.S. interventionism has intensified in Venezuela and Cuba.

    China’s response highlights its regional constraints: limited force projection, no defense commitments, and consistent avoidance of security guarantor responsibilities. Nonintervention represents not merely tactical caution but a defining feature of Beijing’s diplomatic identity.

    Looking ahead, Beijing will likely calibrate limited, deniable support to a weakened Iranian regime while avoiding overcommitment. Should the regime fall, China would probably pursue pragmatic engagement with whatever authority emerges, safeguarding economic interests through transactional relationships.

    The anticipated late-March U.S.-China meeting now carries added significance, though the atmosphere remains uncertain. President Xi Jinping would enter discussions amid large-scale U.S. military operations and while multiple Chinese strategic partners face challenges across various theaters.

    Ultimately, China positions itself as neither Iran’s patron nor a passive bystander, but rather a cautious opportunist operating within clear constraints—preserving flexibility while avoiding entanglement in a conflict beyond its control.

  • Ex-rapper’s political party leads early results in Nepal’s first election since 2025 youth revolt

    Ex-rapper’s political party leads early results in Nepal’s first election since 2025 youth revolt

    KATHMANDU, Nepal — Nepal’s political landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation as partial election results reveal a stunning lead for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (National Independent Party), headed by former rapper Balendra Shah. The preliminary counts released Saturday by Nepal’s Election Commission show the insurgent party has secured 27 of the 165 directly elected parliamentary seats and maintains commanding leads in 90 additional constituencies.

    The election represents Nepal’s first parliamentary contest since last year’s youth-led uprising that unseated former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli. Shah, the party’s prime ministerial candidate who previously won Kathmandu’s mayoral race in 2022, has emerged as the symbolic leader of the political revolution. The 35-year-old politician has built his campaign around addressing healthcare and education disparities for impoverished Nepalis, channeling widespread public discontent with established political institutions.

    In a particularly symbolic contest, Shah is directly challenging Oli in a southeastern district, where he currently holds a substantial lead over the former prime minister as vote counting continues.

    The election has evolved into a three-way competition, largely driven by voter frustration over systemic corruption and demands for greater governmental accountability. Despite being founded only in 2022, the Rastriya Swatantra Party has mounted a formidable challenge to Nepal’s two traditionally dominant parties: the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), which have collectively secured only six declared seats thus far.

    The political upheaval traces back to the 2025 protests, initially triggered by a social media ban before escalating into a widespread revolt against government corruption and poor governance. The demonstrations turned violent when protesters attacked government buildings and police responded with lethal force, resulting in dozens of fatalities and hundreds injured.

    Voters are directly electing 165 members to the House of Representatives, with the remaining 110 seats in the 275-member parliament to be allocated through proportional representation. Election officials are employing helicopters to collect ballot boxes from remote mountain villages in northern regions, with final results anticipated within the coming days.

  • Trump looks to turn attention to Western Hemisphere, at least for a moment, at Americas summit

    Trump looks to turn attention to Western Hemisphere, at least for a moment, at Americas summit

    President Donald Trump convened Latin American leaders at his Trump National Doral Miami golf resort on Saturday for the “Shield of the Americas” summit, aiming to reaffirm U.S. commitment to hemispheric priorities despite escalating global conflicts. The gathering occurred against the backdrop of multiple international crises, including the recent U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran that has destabilized Middle Eastern security and roiled worldwide markets.

    The summit represents a strategic effort to reorient American foreign policy toward what the administration terms “America First” regional engagement. This initiative follows Trump’s audacious military operation two months prior that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on drug conspiracy charges. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth articulated the administration’s position, criticizing previous U.S. leadership for “benign neglect” of hemispheric affairs while focusing excessively on other global theaters.

    Attendance included leaders from twelve nations: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago. Notably absent were regional powers Brazil and Mexico, along with Colombia—traditionally a key U.S. partner in anti-narcotics strategy.

    The administration’s renewed focus includes countering Chinese economic influence, described in security documents as the “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine. This approach has manifested through pressure on Panama to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative and reviews of Chinese-controlled port contracts. The capture of Maduro further disrupts Beijing’s energy imports from Venezuela, one of China’s closest regional allies.

    Despite these efforts, regional experts note that many nations maintain pragmatic relationships with China due to its trade-focused diplomacy addressing critical development needs. The U.S. currently offers increased militarization and immigration enforcement while reducing foreign assistance, creating complex diplomatic calculations for hemispheric partners.
    President Trump’s participation was abbreviated due to his required attendance at Dover Air Force Base for the dignified transfer of six U.S. troops killed in a Kuwait drone strike during the ongoing Iran conflict.

  • Trump’s ‘fine’ with another religious leader ruling Iran

    Trump’s ‘fine’ with another religious leader ruling Iran

    In a revealing interview with CNN, former US President Donald Trump articulated an unconventional perspective on Iran’s political future, stating he would welcome continued religious leadership provided such figures demonstrate fairness and align with American interests. Trump emphasized that democratic governance isn’t essential for Iran, contradicting traditional US foreign policy approaches.

    “The crucial factor isn’t the system but the individual’s character,” Trump stated. “I maintain excellent relationships with numerous religious leaders. What matters is selecting a leader who will govern justly, perform effectively, and maintain positive relations with the United States, Israel, and our Middle Eastern partners.”

    These comments followed Trump’s social media demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender” after coordinated US-Israeli airstrikes eliminated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Despite Trump’s public encouragement for Iranians to overthrow their government, no significant uprising has materialized.

    The White House subsequently clarified that “unconditional surrender” would be determined unilaterally by Trump as commander-in-chief upon assessing that Iran no longer poses threats and Operation Epic Fury objectives are fully achieved.

    This stance appears inconsistent with previous administration actions, including support for Kurdish uprisings and justification of military interventions based on Iran’s human rights record during recent inflation protests. Trump additionally referenced Venezuela as precedent, noting his administration’s direct involvement in selecting leadership after Nicolás Maduro’s removal, while maintaining control over oil resources.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has meanwhile declared preparedness for potential ground invasion, asserting confidence in Iran’s defensive capabilities despite reduced long-range missile deployments in favor of targeted drone and short-range missile strikes against US bases and Gulf states.

  • UK accused of ‘collective punishment’ over Sudanese students ban

    UK accused of ‘collective punishment’ over Sudanese students ban

    In a controversial immigration policy shift, the UK government has imposed a sweeping ban on student visas for nationals from Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Cameroon—countries grappling with severe internal conflicts. The measure, announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, aims to prevent international students from seeking asylum after completing their degrees in Britain.

    The decision has drawn sharp criticism from educational advocates and human rights organizations who argue it penalizes vulnerable populations. Among those directly affected is Ibrahim Dafallah, a 23-year-old Sudanese student who secured admission to the University of Oxford’s master’s program in health service improvement. Having survived multiple displacements and family tragedies during Sudan’s devastating civil war, Dafallah viewed overseas education as crucial for rebuilding his nation’s shattered healthcare system.

    Home Office data reveals that asylum claims from Sudanese students remain exceptionally low, with only 120 applications in the 2024-25 academic year—representing less than half of all Sudanese study visa holders. Myanmar nationals showed even lower rates, with just 16% of student visa holders seeking asylum.

    The policy aligns with recent US restrictions under the Trump administration, which banned student visas for 19 countries including Sudan. Migrant charities warn this approach eliminates one of the few legal pathways to safety for conflict-zone residents. Dr. Abeer Abdoon, another Sudanese academic offered placement at Oxford, emphasized the generational impact: ‘This suspension prevents us from acquiring skills desperately needed for our country’s recovery.’

    Experts including Robert Yates, former global health director at Chatham House, condemned the move as counterproductive to international development goals. ‘These countries desperately need to extend health coverage to their populations,’ Yates noted, highlighting how the ban undermines capacity-building in critical sectors.

    The Labour government’s broader asylum overhaul includes temporary protection measures and stricter family reunification rules, signaling a hardened stance despite Britain’s traditional role as an educational haven for conflict-affected scholars.

  • Russia likely behind Iran’s increased precision in hitting Gulf targets

    Russia likely behind Iran’s increased precision in hitting Gulf targets

    Emerging evidence suggests Russia is providing critical intelligence support to Iran, significantly enhancing Tehran’s capability to target American military assets across the Middle East. According to unnamed U.S. officials cited by The Washington Post, Moscow’s assistance has substantially improved Iran’s ability to track and strike U.S. warships and aircraft throughout the region.

    The cooperation follows the comprehensive 20-year strategic agreement signed last year between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which included provisions for strengthened military ties amid increasing international isolation and U.S. sanctions.

    Recent satellite imagery indicates Iran has likely successfully destroyed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) radar systems in three regional countries—a significant strategic setback for the United States and its allies Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan, all of which depend exclusively on Washington for defense protection. The THAAD system, manufactured by U.S. weapons giant Lockheed Martin, is designed to detect and intercept short, medium, and long-range ballistic missiles.

    Nicole Grajewski, author of ‘Russia and Iran: Partners in Defiance from Syria to Ukraine,’ told Middle East Eye that the intelligence cooperation represents a substantial enhancement of Iran’s targeting capabilities without direct Russian involvement in the conflict. ‘Not only is there an improvement of Iran’s targeting and what they’re targeting,’ Grajewski noted, ‘but there’s existing cooperation between Iran and Russia in the intelligence domain.’

    The improved targeting capabilities have yielded devastating results. CNN reports outline extensive destruction of U.S. facilities as Iran continues its retaliation in what observers describe as an ‘existential’ fight for Tehran. In the first 48 hours of conflict, at least nine U.S. bases were struck by Iranian missiles and drones with no signs of escalation slowing.

    A previously undisclosed CIA station in Riyadh was hit by an Iranian drone on Monday, demonstrating sophisticated strike capabilities even amid disrupted command and control systems. ‘Some of the targets that they’ve hit—that’s impressive to an extent,’ Grajewski commented, noting the advanced nature of these strike packages.

    The human cost continues to mount with six U.S. military personnel officially confirmed killed in Kuwait, where U.S. operations have sustained the most damage. Both former President Trump and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cain have warned the public to expect additional casualties. ‘Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,’ Trump stated this week.

    Andrew Leber, assistant professor at Tulane University, suggests the U.S. maintains ‘complete informational control’ over events at its Gulf bases, indicating potential unreported losses. This possibility is underscored by a since-deleted LinkedIn job posting from government contractor Joint Technology Solution Inc. seeking part-time ‘Personal Effects Specialists’ to process belongings of U.S. personnel killed overseas.

    U.S. Central Command’s last update on March 2 confirmed 18 Americans seriously wounded, while denying Iran’s claim of 100 U.S. troops killed. The accuracy of casualty reporting remains unclear, particularly following a Washington Post revelation that two U.S. personnel were present in a Manama hotel struck by Iranian forces on March 1.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Americans of evacuating bases for hotels, thereby ‘turning civilians into human shields’—a claim vehemently denied by Bahrain and Gulf partners. Leber explained the dispersal policy: ‘They try to spread US personnel out as much as possible to basically every hotel in Bahrain.’

    The precision of hotel attacks suggests human intelligence networks complement satellite surveillance. ‘Iran does have a pretty large network of intelligence assets in the Gulf,’ Grajewski confirmed, indicating sophisticated intelligence gathering beyond technological means.

  • Threats to water supply and food inflation stalk Gulf states

    Threats to water supply and food inflation stalk Gulf states

    The escalating US-Israeli conflict with Iran has placed Gulf nations’ critical infrastructure in peril, extending far beyond energy production to encompass fundamental water and food security systems. With over 400 desalination plants dotting the Persian Gulf coastline—providing up to 90% of drinking water in some states—the region faces catastrophic vulnerability to retaliatory strikes.

    These facilities, which emerged during the 1960s-70s economic transformation, have become indispensable for sustaining both population needs and industrial operations. According to UN water expert Mohammed Mahmoud, the widespread coastal infrastructure represents a massive strategic vulnerability. While some nations maintain limited water reserves, analysts indicate smaller states like Qatar and Bahrain could exhaust their strategic stocks within days if desalination capabilities were compromised.

    The situation reveals remarkable restraint from Iran, which has demonstrated precision targeting capabilities but avoided water infrastructure thus far. Leiden University’s Christian Henderson notes that while Iran could easily target desalination plants, such action would represent a significant escalation beyond current strikes on energy infrastructure.

    Compounding the crisis, the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to insurance withdrawals and disrupted air travel threatens food imports upon which Gulf states depend for 80-90% of their consumption. Even developed agricultural sectors like UAE and Saudi dairy production rely heavily on imported feedstocks, primarily alfalfa from Arizona.

    Logistical networks face complete reorganization as food shipments must redirect through Omani and Saudi ports, inevitably driving food inflation through increased shipping and insurance costs. Despite stockpiling efforts and some processing plants maintaining substantial reserves—such as Dubai’s Al Khaleej Sugar with two years of raw inventory—the conflict fundamentally endangers the Gulf’s import-dependent economic model and its role as a global food processing hub.