US President Donald Trump announced a 19% tariff on all Indonesian exports to the US as part of a deal with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Indonesia agreed to apply the same tariff to transshipped goods from countries with higher rates. The country also committed to purchasing $15 billion worth of energy products and $4.5 billion in agricultural goods from the US, while planning to buy 50 Boeing aircraft, mostly Boeing 777 passenger jets.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/367141/indonesia-rejects-transshipments-commits-to-us-trade-deal?utm_source=antaranews&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=popular_rightAustralia's relationship with China is a critical component in determining the country's economic and strategic future. The Australian government has been navigating a delicate balance between economic interests and national security concerns, particularly regarding trade agreements and military presence. For instance, the recent signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) by Australia highlights the nation's commitment to strengthening its ties with like-minded countries in the Asia-Pacific region. However, tensions with China over issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea have raised concerns about the potential risks to regional stability.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1338655.shtmlThe United Nations has identified Southeast Asia as a hotspot for cybercrime, with an estimated $40 billion lost annually through romance or business cons. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered law enforcement to crack down on internet sweatshops, warning that failure will result in job loss. Information minister Neth Pheaktra has expanded raids to nine of Cambodia's 25 provinces as part of the country's efforts to combat online scams.
https://channelnewsasia.com/asia/cambodia-cybercrime-scam-centre-crackdown-arrest-2000-5245776China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has blocked India's efforts to list the terrorist group TRF (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan) on the UN sanctions list. This move comes despite intelligence findings that link TRF to LeT and China's own report excluding TRF but including another BLA affiliate, Majeed Brigade. The US has independently designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist, while India had submitted a dossier with evidence on TRF's funding, handlers, and leadership ties to LeT in May 2023.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/pahalgam-us-terror-tags-pakistan-proxy-trf-will-china-follow-suit-now-or-continue-shielding-it-at-un-13908455.htmlInformal Chinese sanctions imposed by China on capital equipment, critical minerals, and skilled technical personnel could harm India's electronics manufacturing ecosystem, according to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA). The sanctions, which target specific chokepoints in a planned manner, aim to undermine India's ability to compete globally and produce at scale. This could constrain India's deeper integration into global value chains, particularly in the sector that has seen remarkable growth over the past decade, driven by forward-looking policy interventions and private sector investments.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/technology/informal-chinese-sanctions-hurting-indias-electronics-manufacturing-ecosystem-industry-body-1/China's stance on international relations is centered around maintaining an independent foreign policy of peace. According to Lin, China aims to be a positive and stabilizing force globally, emphasizing its commitment to avoiding competition for influence with any country.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1338683.shtmlChina's relations with the Philippines are strained due to disputes over maritime claims in the South China Sea. The country has used non-lethal deterrents to drive off Philippine fishing boats and dismissed a UN-backed court decision that ruled out most of its claims. Tensions have also been fueled by close ties between the US and Manila, prompting China to express resentment. This has led to disruptions in cultural and economic ties, with China issuing similar warnings about risks to Chinese students abroad, such as those in the US.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/07/18/news/national/china-issues-safety-warning-for-its-nationals-studying-in-the-philippines/2151924China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao stated that recent US-China trade talks in Europe showed the two countries' economic interdependence, making a tariff war unnecessary. He urged the US to act like a superpower and shoulder its responsibilities. China is facing an August 12 deadline to reach a durable tariff agreement with the US, which could impact global supply chains if no deal is reached.
https://www.asiaone.com/world/china-says-successful-us-trade-talks-make-return-tariff-war-unnecessaryChina has slowed exports of rare earth minerals, including gallium, germanium, antimony, and tungsten, in response to US President Donald Trump's imposition of steep import duties on Chinese goods. This move follows earlier restrictions by Beijing, which imposed permitting requirements on seven rare earth elements under a Chinese law that applies to all exports. The new requirement caused a 45-day pause in shipments, threatening production disruptions for high-tech products such as cars and wind turbines.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/07/18/china-illicit-exports-rare-earths/