Author name: Annie Yen

“For a country starved of global investor interest, aligning with Washington’s crypto pivot isn’t just about tech,” said Uzair Younus, who is a partner at The Asia Group, a Washington DC-based advisory firm. “It’s about signaling relevance in a shifting global order.”

Speaking from Beijing where he attended the China Development Forum, Daniel Kritenbrink, a former assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs from 2021–25, told The Australian that he was struck by the “level of confidence and optimism on the part of the Chinese.” Mr Kritenbrink, a partner at The Asia Group and

“Compared to previous CDFs, the China messaging was the most confident,” said Han Lin, China Country Director at the U.S.-based strategy consultancy, The Asia Group. “While identifying challenges in the international system and without naming the U.S. directly, Premier Li Qiang’s opening speech focused on what China was doing right to encourage innovation, trade, and

US executives were well represented this year, accounting for 45 per cent of invitees, according to an analysis by Han Shen Lin of the Asia Group. Europeans made up 36 per cent with the remainder from Asia, Australia and elsewhere. “Li didn’t name America . . . but the message is clear that China is now safer, more reliable

“China wants this war to end badly enough to act but not badly enough to be seen acting,” said Han Lin, China Country Director of The Asia Group. “China is almost certainly applying pressure but you just won’t see it on a podium.” On why China isn’t loudly pushing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz:

Trump is expected to put “enormous pressure” on Takaichi, said Kurt Campbell, the former U.S. deputy secretary of state in the Biden administration who is now chair of The Asia Group. Campbell said he’s never seen a meeting between U.S. and Japanese leaders carrying such high stakes. To press for Japan’s interests, he said, Takaichi

Tong argued that if it hadn’t been for Taiwan and Iran, “the visit would have been downright celebratory.” Takaichi and Trump have struck a warm relationship marked by a strong personal chemistry and a mutual desire to end Beijing’s dominance of the critical minerals supply chain. The visit is even supposed to include Takaichi’s gift

The agreement requires ratification by Indonesia’s parliament before it can take effect. That adds another “layer of uncertainty,” said Mehu Sitepu, with the Washington-based strategic advisory firm The Asia Group. Some provisions of the agreement are drawing criticism, including those that are seen as diluting Indonesia’s halal certification requirements in the mostly Muslim country of

“Typically, summits ratify progress already made, not create it. If back-channel talks aren’t moving, delay just gives hawks on both sides more room to harden positions and raise the political cost of compromise,” said Han Lin, China Country Director at The Asia Group advisory firm.