(My quarterly Newsletters go out to some 8,000 professional contacts worldwide. The following is my July 2025 issue. Back numbers may be accessed under What is New on my website.)
Greetings!
Entering into summer is a world hardly recognizable. With overwhelming force, incluiding a weaponized dollar, President Trump is unleashing the rule of the jungle on allies and adversaries at the expense of their sovereignty, security or economic well-being. Gone with the wind is America's credibility as defender of the "liberal world order", calling into quetion how this would "Make America Great Again".
China is standing up to Trump's bullying, relying on its all-encompassing rare-earth stranglehold. How the US-China trade deal will materialize remains to be seen, Trump's wishful narrative regardless. Many countries currently negotiating with the United States are likely to watch this with abated breadth, hoping to pick up signals for their own best deal.
Meanwhile, wary of the Trans-Atlantic Alliance's unreliability, Europe is re-arming itself and is recalibrating its relationship with China and the Global South, ideological and other differences notwithstanding. The Middle East is now in flames as an emboldened Israel doubles down on military operations in Gaza and Iran, regardless of pan-Arabic support for the Palestinian demand for statehood and the rest of the world's counsel against escalating military conflicts.
How all these interlocking dynamics will play out may take months, if not years, let alone weeks. What seems certain is that the world order will not remain the same again.
Hopefully, the following may offer some insight into the smoke and mirrors.
Trump's "Grand Strategy"
Trump’s Grand Strategy to Reshape the World: Would it Succeed? Research essay in Rome-based World Geostrategic Insights). Republished in French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic (all with audio clips) and in Chinese (with an audio clip in putonghua).Download President Trump's Grand Strategy - Will it Succeed (PowerPoint presentation)
Trade War and US-China Rivalry
US-China Trade War: Treasuries, the New Battleground? Feature article in The Global Analyst)
From "Made in China" to "Rules Made BY China" (A China Perpectives YouTube expose)
China's AI chip race(TRT World YouTube feature story)
US and China Reach New Trade Deal Framework on Rare Earth Exports (Two excluisve live TV interviews on NewsX World)
Secret US–China talks end with deal announcement (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
Tariff War: Trump Hints At End To Spot With China - Does Trump have a "Grand Strategy''? (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
Trump vs China: 90-Day Tariff Pause Announced. Will Trump's Tariffs Lead to Global Recession?(Live TV interview on NewsX World)
China-US Tariffs War: Trump Pauses Tariffs Amid Global Uncertainty (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
US-China Trade Talks Considered : China Weighs U.S. Tariff Talks - Who is blinking first? (Live TV inteerview on NewsX World)
US shipbuilding ambitions - impact on China's shipping trade and shipbuilding industry (Live TV interview on Channel News Asia (CNA)
Trade War: China Fights Back (Feature article in The Global Analyst)
How to read the tealeaves over Trump’s ‘mad’ tariff war on the world (Op-ed in China Daily)
US - China Tariff War : What next? (Live TV interview with WION TV)
Trump reignites tensions with China - Implications (Live TV panel discussion on AnewZ, an Azerbaijan English Channel)
Global trade war escalates (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
China urges US to end its "hegemonic" view (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
US tariffs (Backchat on RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong)
Education restrictions
US clampdown on Chinese students including Hong Kong in US universities (Exclusive TV interview on Aljazeera English)
US Targets Chinese Students Over National Security Fears (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
Economy
Asian Markets Plunge as Trump's Tariffs Spark Global Trade Fears (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
Reading the tea-leaves of Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang's emhasis on China's science and technoloy at the Boao Forum (Live radio interview on RTHK Newswrap)
China's 5% Growth Goal - is it reachable? (Feature article in The Global Analyst)
Hong Kong
Hong Kong should reposition itself in face of an upended world order (Op-ed in China Daily with abridged Chinese version in Wenweipo)
China's vision for world order
Azerbaijan embraces Beijing's Global Civilization Initiative (Exclusive live TV interview on AnewZ)
Global South
President Xi addresses China-Latin America Forum in Beijing (Live TV interview on NewX World)
Implication of China-Latin America Forum in Beijing (Backchat on RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong)
ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit - implications for China including Hong Kong (Backchat on RTHK)
Iran's FM Abbas Araghchi in China Ahead of Nuclear Talks with US in Oman (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
Xi Lands in Vietnam Amid US-China Tariff Tensions (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
Commentary on the China-brokered historic Saudi-Iran rapprochement (An indepth analysis of whys and wherefores)
Regional conflicts
Taiwan Detects 17 Chinese Military Assets Nearby - implications (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
China asserts sovereignty against Japan in South China Sea waters (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
India-Pakistan military clashes over Kashmir (Live TV interview on NewsX World)
Antarctica
Scramble for Antarctica (Live TV discussion on TRT World The Newsmakers)
Cheer Up and Chill Out
A 10-point Multimedia Outlook on Life (Music video)
Inspirational videos and excerpts for life's down-moments
Summer sojourn in London
I will be staying in London during the period 3 July through 4 September this year. Whilst in London, I would be happy to meet up or accept speaking engagements/consultations in person.
International investment opportunities
I am on the International Advisory Board of Silk Road Partners, an international investment firm. Mr Yves Leterme, ex-Prime Minister of Belgium (November 2009 to December 2011) has joined the firm as Senior Partner. If you are interested in getting in touch with us, please give me a shout.
Consultation services
Please email me at [email protected] or text my Hong Kong mobile +852 98198987. I can also be reached on Google Teams at andrew.k.p.leung, LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/andrewleunginternational, Whatsapp at (852) 98198987, WeChat at Andrewkpleung, Facebook at andrewkinpongleung, and Twitter at @Andrewkpleung
Business networking and speaking platform in Hong Kong
As an Advisor to the Denmark-based Executives' Global Network Hong Kong, I welcome your suggestion of a suitable speaker for an EGN event in Hong Kong. This will be entirely at our own cost with acknowledgement of your support, provided that we are not asked to cover any speaking fee, travel or accommodation expenses.
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Best personal regards,
Andrew K. P. Leung, SBS, FRSA
International and Independent China Strategist
Andrew Leung International Consultants and Investments Company Limited
Positions
Brain Trust member, The Evian Group (global think-tank), Lausanne, Switzerland
International Expert, Reuters Insight Community of Experts, Thomson Reuters
Elected Member, Royal Society for Asian Affairs
Advisory Board member, China Policy Institute, Nottingham University, UK (2005 -2010)
Founding Chairman, China Group, Institute of Directors City Branch, London, UK (2006-2010)
Vice Chairman, 48 Group Club, UK (2008-2010)
Committee Member of RSA, London Region, UK (2006-2010)
Included in UK's Who's Who since 2002
Awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS) in the July 2005 Hong Kong Honours List