News
The prices for iron ore, metals or crude oil keep rising. China is one of the largest importers and consumers of these raw materials. Many companies pass on the increased prices to their customers. Inflation is rising and small producers are perishing from the price increase. The government is beginning to take countermeasures and is throwing strategic reserves onto the market.
By Christiane Kuehl
Climate change is bringing a new region into the focus of geopolitics: the Arctic. Long covered by meters of ice, its raw materials are now arousing desires. China, too, wants to get involved as a major power and incorporate the region as the Polar Silk Road into President Xi Jinping's prestige project. But it won't be quite that easy.
By Michael Radunski
The steel industry has a large share of China's rapid growth. The country is the largest importer of iron ore. However, China obtains the raw material primarily from Australia, a country with which the People's Republic has been in conflict for more than a year. Beijing is now looking primarily to Guinea in West Africa to diversify its sources. But the situation there is difficult. With no quick alternative, Australia and China will have to come to an agreement in the foreseeable future. They just can't get along without each other.
By Frank Sieren
The crisis between Australia and China has come to a head. It's about geostrategic interests, influence, punitive tariffs, and the promising 5G technology. The former harmonious relationship has turned into an open rivalry. It is a conflict whose course Europe should watch closely because it all started with similar disagreements as the EU currently has with Beijing.
By Michael Radunski