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China can continue to buy Iranian oil, U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday (June 24, 2025) in what appeared to be relief for Tehran from sanctions Washington has previously imposed to punish the trade, AFP reported.

"China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran. Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the U.S., also," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform as he travelled to a NATO summit in The Hague.

China's position as the main buyer of Iranian oil has served as a crucial lifeline for Tehran as its economy is battered by crippling international sanctions.

Beijing buys more than 90% of Iran's oil exports, according to the analysis firm Kpler, according to AFP.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signaled a possible extension of the July 8 deadline for securing trade agreements with key US trading partners, though he said it may not be necessary. Trade negotiations are currently underway with around 15 countries, including South Korea, Japan, and the EU, according to Xinhua.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told lawmakers the extension is “highly likely” to allow more time for deals. According to Bessent, 18 major trading partners are engaged in talks, and the US plans to send proposals to several others within weeks.

The July 8 deadline stems from a 90-day pause on proposed reciprocal tariffs affecting over 60 countries, initiated on April 9. So far, only a trade agreement with the UK has been finalized, Xinhua reported.

China has included Indonesia in its 240-hour visa-free transit policy, raising the number of eligible countries to fifty-five, the National Immigration Administration announced Thursday.

Indonesian passengers can now transit through sixty designated ports in twenty-four provincial-level regions and stay in China for up to ten days without a visa, as long as they are on their way to a third location, Xinhua reported.

The move aims to enhance international travel and promote cross-border exchanges.

Photo: S Paul Kapur, who has been picked by the Donald Trump administration for the key post of Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs

It has been nearly six months since Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. Since then, he has issued dozens of executive orders that have significantly impacted America’s relationship with the rest of the world.

The Trump administration’s decision to shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has had major repercussions in Nepal, leading to the cancellation of dozens of projects. Similarly, two projects under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Nepal remain in limbo as the new administration has yet to make a final decision.

Engagement between the two countries has been minimal, particularly after the retirement of Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Donald Lu just before Trump’s inauguration—a position that remains unfilled.

Now, the Trump administration has nominated S Paul Kapur, who is currently undergoing a congressional hearing and is expected to soon take charge of South Asian affairs. A close examination of speeches by senior US officials, including the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, as well as Kapur’s statements before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, suggests that the “China factor” will heavily influence Trump’s South Asia policy—including toward Nepal. 

In fact, countering China has emerged as the Trump administration’s primary focus across Asia. Born in New Delhi to an Indian father and an American mother, Kapur is regarded as a South Asia expert. He has authored several books on the region’s security dynamics and US policy. From 2020-2021, Kapur served on the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff, working on issues related to South and Central Asia, Indo-Pacific strategy, and US-India relations. Previously, he taught at Claremont McKenna College, and was a visiting professor at Stanford University.

During his hearing, he stated: “The United States’ relationships with the countries of South and Central Asia hold great promise. With effective policy, they can flourish and enable us to achieve Secretary Rubio’s goal of making the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

He emphasized shared US-India interests, including ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific not dominated by China, expanding bilateral trade, fostering technology sharing, and securing energy access. He also highlighted the strategic importance of Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Bhutan for regional stability, noting Sri Lanka and the Maldives’ critical locations along major trade routes and Bangladesh’s economic significance. “If confirmed, I will advocate for enhanced US cooperation with these nations to bolster security, counterbalance China’s influence, and expand trade,” he said.

In a striking statement at last week’s Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled a more confrontational stance toward Beijing, unsettling many Asian capitals. “As our allies share the burden, we can increase our focus on the Indo-Pacific: our priority theater,” he declared, stressing that America’s security and prosperity are intertwined with those of its allies. “We share your vision of peace and stability, of prosperity and security, and we are here to stay,” he added.

Since the new administration took office, there have been no high-level US visits to Nepal. While some senior officials have traveled to Kathmandu, these trips were kept low-key. However, military collaboration between the Nepali Army and the US Army continues on a regular basis.

Meanwhile,  Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered US embassies around the world on Tuesday to move ahead with a directive to fire all remaining staffers with the US Agency for International Development. He said the State Department will take over USAID’s foreign assistance programs by Monday, according to the AP news agency. 

The termination of all remaining USAID staffers abroad is one of the last steps in the destruction of the US aid agency and the firing of its more than 10,000 staffers and contractors by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, according to AP.  They had made USAID one of their first targets for elimination.

The US and China have agreed to a preliminary trade deal following talks in London, led by China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng and US officials Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnick.

Although the deal’s exact terms are undisclosed, it is anticipated to address rare earth mineral concerns. Lutnick declared, "We've reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus," but the president's approval is still pending, according to Firstpost.

No further meetings are scheduled, but both sides pledged to keep communication open. Tensions have remained high under US President Trump, despite a previous Geneva pact that eased tariffs. Trump recently accused China of violating that agreement, citing rare earth exports as a key issue.

Top US and Chinese officials began major trade talks in London on Monday, with early signs of cooperation.

According to Xinhua, the United States may ease some technology export limits, while China is poised to increase rare earth material exports. The talks follow a phone call between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, during which both parties agreed to move negotiations further.

White House adviser Kevin Hassett said easing of US controls and increased rare earth supply could happen immediately, though restrictions on high-end technologies like Nvidia’s top chips would remain.

The talks mark a potential shift in the ongoing US-China trade and tech standoff, Xinhua reported.

China has proposed creating a “green channel” to fast-track rare earth exports to the European Union, aiming to address concerns over new export licensing rules introduced in April. The proposal was made following a meeting between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, according to Firstpost.

China, the global leader in rare earth mining and refinement, has stated that it is willing to accelerate approvals for appropriate EU applications and maintain timely communication. The ministry emphasized the move aligns with international practices.

Beijing also asked the EU to take equivalent measures to promote high-tech trade. The talks also addressed EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, with negotiations in the final stage ahead of a summit next month, Firstpost reported.

US President Donald Trump has announced a new round of trade talks with China, set for Monday in London, following a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at easing tariff tensions.

The US delegation will comprise Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to Reuters.

This is the second round of discussions since President Trump announced tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese goods, causing China to counter with 125 percent tariffs. A temporary tariff reduction deal reached last month is set to expire in August, with Trump accusing China of violating the agreement.

Key US concerns include restricted mineral exports, fentanyl trafficking, Taiwan, and China's economic practices. Despite the tensions, Trump stated the conversation with Xi as "positive," raising hopes for progress, Reuters reported.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone for the first time since the start of the trade war. The call, focused on trade, was described by Trump as “very positive.”

Both leaders exchanged invitations for official visits, though only China’s invitation to Trump was confirmed by Beijing, BBC reported.

Discussions come after a trade agreement stalled, with China blaming new US tech restrictions and the US accusing China of not resuming important mineral exports.

Trump defended the new Chinese student visa requirements. In order to prevent conflict, Xi cautioned the United States to handle Taiwan carefully, as stated by BBC.

Despite tensions, both sides signaled a willingness to keep talks open.

The government of China has pledged USD 600,000 (close to CHF 500,000) for 2025 to support the WTO's Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) and Accessions Programme (also known as the China Program), the WTO reported.

The contribution was confirmed at a signing ceremony on June 3 in Paris attended by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.

The China Program — launched in July 2011 under the WTO-led Aid for Trade initiative — aims to enable LDCs to better integrate into the global economy by strengthening their participation in WTO activities and helping those not yet members join the Organization.

The signing ceremony was held on the side of a meeting of trade ministers hosted by Australia on the sidelines of the annual Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), according to WTO.

The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and unrestricted humanitarian aid access. The draft, backed by 14 of 15 members, also demanded the unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas, according to Xinhua.

The US veto drew sharp criticism from other members. China accused Washington of undermining peace efforts. The UK slammed Israel's aid limitations and demanded impartial inquiries into civilian deaths. Algeria and Pakistan viewed the veto as a failure of international duty and a setback to global consensus.

The vote highlights growing frustration over the US’s repeated vetoes on Gaza-related resolutions. Xinhua reported.

China has accused the United States of significantly breaking a recent trade agreement, threatening severe repercussions. According to the Ministry of Commerce, Washington undermined the Geneva agreement made in May, in which both countries promised to reduce tariffs — the US from 145 percent to 30 percent and China from 125 percent to 10 percent, Associated Press reported.

Beijing also blamed a breakdown in consensus during a January phone chat between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. It denounced previous US steps such as restricting chip design software, prohibiting the use of Huawei chips, and canceling student visas.

Meanwhile, President Trump accused China of violating the agreement. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer claimed Beijing failed to remove non-tariff barriers as promised, according to Associated Press.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned on Saturday that the threat from China was real and potentially imminent as he pushed allies in the Indo-Pacific to spend more on their own defence needs, Reuters reported.

Hegseth, speaking for the first time at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's premier forum for defence leaders, militaries and diplomats, underlined that the Indo-Pacific region was a priority for the Trump administration.

"There's no reason to sugar coat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent," Hegseth said, in some of his strongest comments on the Communist nation since he took office in January. He added that any attempt by China to conquer Taiwan "would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world", and echoed Trump's comment that China will not invade Taiwan on the president's watch.

China views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to "reunify" with the democratic and separately governed island, by force if necessary. It has stepped up military and political pressure to assert those claims, including increasing the intensity of war games around Taiwan, according to Reuters.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Europe is boosting defence spending following pressure from the Trump administration, calling it “tough love.”

At the Shangri-La Dialogue, Kallas supported US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s call for allies to invest more in defence, noting EU unity on security, Xinhua reported.

She connected European and Indo-Pacific security, warning about China's economic power and military ties with Russia and North Korea.

Kallas recommended further cooperation with the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and others to combat common threats. Hegseth credited US President Trump for pushing Europe to “step up”, according to Xinhua.

US President Donald Trump has accused China of violating a recent agreement to ease tariffs and trade restrictions on critical minerals. The deal, made during May talks in Geneva, included a 90-day pause on tariffs.

Trump said on Truth Social that China had "totally violated" the agreement, but provided no details. He said his tariffs of up to 145 percent had severely impacted China’s economy, according to Reuters.

Trump later told reporters that he planned to contact with Chinese President Xi Jinping to address the matter. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller warned that China's noncompliance could trigger US action.

China's embassy said it is still in contact with the US, but expressed concern over new US export limits and urged Washington to follow the Geneva agreement, Reuters reported.

China successfully launched its Tianwen-2 spacecraft early Wednesday, marking its first mission to collect asteroid samples. The probe lifted off at 1:31 a.m. local time aboard a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Xinhua reported.

Tianwen-2 is headed to Kamoʻoalewa, a near-Earth asteroid about 10 million miles away. It is expected to arrive by July 2026, collect samples, and return them to Earth in November 2027.

Kamoʻoalewa, a small quasi-satellite of Earth, is estimated to be 40 to 100 meters in size. If successful, China will become the third country to return asteroid samples, after Japan and the US, according to Xinhua.

The mission reflects China’s expanding space program and long-term goal of crewed lunar exploration.