Trump’s Tariffs Push Electronics From China to Southeast Asia

By Debby Wu on August 1, 2018

A number of Taiwanese firms that form a crucial plank of the global supply chain have in recent days signaled their intention to diversify away from the world’s No. 2 economy. Delta Electronics Inc., which supplies power components to Apple Inc., said Tuesday it’s making a $2.14 billion offer to buy out a Thai affiliate — a precursor to expanding production there.

Business, Economy, Politics
Tariffs, Technology, Manufacturing, Outsourcing

China’s Plan to Win Friends and Influence Includes Ski Slopes and Spas

By Alexandra Stevenson and Cao Li on August 1, 2018

In Thailand, a theater rigged with hydraulic seats will give moviegoers the sensation of flight. In Australia, an indoor ski slope is going up near the beaches of the Gold Coast. In the Czech Republic, a spa with Chinese medicine is under construction in the southern wine country. All three projects fall under Beijing’s ambitious effort to build geopolitical and economic ties around the world — and all three stray from its original mission.

Business, Economy, Politics, Society
Belt and Road Initiative, Soft Power, Chinese Economic Influence, Tourism, Chinese Influence