As Egypt battles inflation, China sees an opening to promote a major fiscal shift. Potential benefits for Beijing’s agenda, however, go far beyond trade and lending.
China
Is there cotton from forced labor in clothing of German fashion brands? From the plantations and factories in the Chinese region of Xinjiang leads a trail to the warehouses of large companies such as Adidas and Hugo Boss.
The announcement of a strategic partnership agreement with Iran highlights China’s ultimate will to take a more assertive geopolitical role, even if this poses a direct challenge to US policies.
Iran and China seek to deepen their ties. A move that flaunts the two countries’ willingness to back each other against the US pressure. Looking closer, a long-term overarching relation might be much harder to establish.
In a hidden corner of central Asia, surrounded by two mountain ranges and four countries, lies the Wakhan Valley. Once upon a time, Marco Polo traversed this valley; today, not even the Taliban make it here...