Qatar shuts down airspace to ensure safety, says government, after US attacks on Iran
It said the move comes to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
Qatar hosts the largest United States base in the area.
The shutdown comes as Iran repeated earlier threats to retaliate against the US after strikes on its nuclear sites on Sunday.
Earlier, the US and UK governments told citizens based in Qatar to lie low after Iran vowed to retaliate against an American attack on its nuclear facilities.
'Out of an abundance of caution we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice,' the US embassy in Doha said in a statement on Monday.
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HKFP
2 hours ago
- HKFP
China exports beat forecasts in June following US tariff truce
China's exports rose more than expected in June, official data showed Monday, after Washington and Beijing agreed on a tentative deal to lower swingeing tariffs on each other. Data from the General Administration of Customs said exports climbed 5.8 percent year-on-year, topping the five percent forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists. Imports rose 1.1 percent, topping the 0.3 percent gain predicted and marking the first growth this year. China's exports reached record highs in 2024 — a lifeline to its slowing economy as pressures elsewhere mounted. Beijing's efforts to sustain growth have been hit by a bruising trade war with the United States, driven by President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, though the two de-escalated their spat with a framework for a deal at talks in London last month. Monday's customs figures showed Chinese exports to the United States surged 32.4 percent in June, having fallen the month before, according to an AFP calculation based on official data. 'Growth in export values rebounded somewhat last month, helped by the US-China trade truce,' Zichuan Huang, China economist at Capital Economics, said. 'But tariffs are likely to remain high and Chinese manufacturers face growing constraints on their ability to rapidly expand global market share by slashing prices,' Huang said. 'We therefore expect export growth to slow over the coming quarters, weighing on economic growth,' she added. Customs official Wang Lingjun told a news conference on Monday that Beijing hoped 'the US will continue to work together with China towards the same direction', state broadcaster CCTV reported. The tariff truce was 'hard won', Wang said. 'There is no way out through blackmail and coercion. Dialogue and cooperation are the right path,' he added. Stuttering growth Analysts say China's economy is expected to have expanded more than five percent in the second quarter thanks to its strong exports. Official figures are due to be released on Tuesday. But they also warn Trump's trade war could cause a sharp slowdown in the final six months of the year. Beijing is targeting an overall expansion of around five percent this year — the same as last year but a figure considered ambitious by many experts. First-quarter growth came in at 5.4 percent, beating forecasts and putting the economy on a positive trajectory. Beijing has struggled to sustain growth since the pandemic as it battles a prolonged debt crisis in the property sector, chronically low consumption and high youth unemployment. Data released last week showed that consumer prices edged up in June, barely snapping a four-month deflationary dip, but factory gate prices dropped at their fastest clip in nearly two years. Many economists argue that China needs to shift towards a growth model propelled more by domestic consumption than the traditional key drivers of infrastructure investment, manufacturing and exports. Beijing has introduced a slew of measures since last year in a bid to boost spending, including a consumer goods trade-in subsidy scheme that briefly lifted retail activity.
AllAfrica
6 hours ago
- AllAfrica
China's gray-zone hybrid threats against Taiwan's Pacific allies
This article was originally published by Pacific Forum. It is republished with permission. In the Indo-Pacific's intensifying great power competition, Taiwan's Pacific allies – Palau, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu—are increasingly caught in the crosshairs of China's hybrid warfare. These microstates, long diplomatically aligned with Taipei, are now contending with cyberattacks, disinformation, economic coercion and elite capture that exploit their resource limitations and geopolitical exposure. Events such as the June 2025 Taiwan-Marshall Islands security pact and revelations of Chinese organized crime in Palau underscore a broader pattern: Beijing is deploying gray-zone tactics to undermine sovereignty, fracture alliances and weaken the US-led regional order. Hybrid threats encompass a range of operations that combine cyber intrusions, manipulation of influence, economic pressure and the spread of disinformation. Unlike traditional forms of coercion, these threats function beneath the level of overt conflict, using ambiguity to reduce the likelihood of international backlash. In the Pacific Islands, these threats find fertile ground. Countries such as Palau, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu have small populations and limited state capacity. Their diplomatic recognition of Taiwan and Compact of Free Association agreements with the United States place them at the heart of regional rivalry. Beijing's toolkit now includes dual-use platforms such as fishing fleets and unmanned systems, supported by the world's third-largest coast guard. These assets enable surveillance, economic disruption and maritime intimidation. Though presented as diplomacy or development aid, many of China's recent actions reveal a deeper strategic calculus. Palau: a targeted pressure campaign Palau offers a striking example of China's hybrid operations. In March 2024, a cyberattack attributed to Chinese actors breached government systems, stole 20,000 documents, and caused $1.2 million in damages. At the same time, tourism restrictions that have been in place since 2017 reduced the share of Chinese tourists from 60% to 30%, significantly impacting Palau's GDP. Disruption strategies, including mass cancellations of hotel bookings, have further unsettled local markets. On the political side, entities associated with China have leased approximately 380,000 square meters of land near US military facilities in Palau and made illicit contributions to Palauan officials, including a $20,000 donation to former President Thomas Remengesau Jr., deemed illegal by Palau's anti-corruption prosecutor. Beijing portrays these as private business transactions, but their scale and proximity to strategic sites raise significant national security concerns. Palau's response has been firm. The government deported Chinese nationals involved in influence operations in 2024 and requested US missile systems in May 2025. Yet, significant gaps remain in digital resilience and investment transparency. Marshall Islands: strategic tug-of-war The Marshall Islands, tightly linked to the US through its compact of free association, is another prime arena for Beijing's influence efforts. Since 2020, China has poured $50 million into infrastructure projects aimed at cultivating elite support and promoting a diplomatic realignment, such as was seen in Nauru's switch in 2024. In response to mounting pressure, the Marshall Islands signed a security pact with Taiwan in June 2025. The agreement focuses on maritime domain awareness, cybersecurity and counter-disinformation efforts following cyberattacks in 2024 that targeted government systems. A newly established National Security Office now monitors maritime threats. Nonetheless, the Marshall Islands' participation in China's Pacific Summit in May 2025 illustrates the continued diplomatic contest. Tuvalu: disinformation and digital vulnerability Tuvalu's embrace of digital governance has opened new pathways for hybrid influence. In January 2025, Chinese state media circulated videos of Tuvaluans expressing support for the One China policy. While portrayed as cultural content, the campaign coincided with high-level diplomatic talks, casting doubt on its intent. Cyber threats are escalating in the Pacific. Tuvalu's digital nation initiative, involving significant investment in digital passports and blockchain technology, is vulnerable to cyberattacks, as highlighted by regional cybersecurity gaps. A 2024 cyberattack on the Pacific Islands Forum, attributed to Chinese state-sponsored actors, compromised sensitive data and required costly mitigation efforts, underscoring the risks to Tuvalu's digital ambitions. China has also outpaced Taiwan in infrastructure aid, offering $30 million since 2022 compared with Taiwan's $15 million. Despite these pressures, Tuvalu reaffirmed ties with Taipei by accrediting a new ambassador in April 2025. However, its cyber defenses remain underdeveloped. Comparative observations Despite differences in geography and political dynamics, these three countries share overlapping vulnerabilities. Each has experienced cyber incidents, disinformation efforts and targeted economic pressure. From 2023 to 2025, regional hybrid threat incidents rose by an estimated 30%. What differs is the mode of engagement: Palau faces overt economic and political coercion. The Marshall Islands is caught in a high-stakes diplomatic contest. Tuvalu is increasingly exposed to digital subversion. These patterns reflect China's tailored strategy for influence projection, calibrated to exploit specific state weaknesses. Hybrid threats are not isolated disruptions. 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Next, the Pacific Islands Forum should establish a regional hybrid threat center with a $10 million investment to coordinate intelligence, monitor influence operations, and share best practices. Additionally, transparency laws need updates. A $1 million investment review program, modeled after Palau's deportations, could require disclosures for foreign political donations and strategic land acquisitions. Civil society also needs more support. A $2 million media literacy and grant initiative could empower journalists and local NGOs to fight disinformation and expose elite capture. Finally, disaster response frameworks should include hybrid threat scenarios. A $3 million investment in training and emergency preparedness would help prevent exploitation during crises. These initiatives could be funded through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue's $50 million Indo-Pacific aid platform, ensuring sustainability and strategic alignment. China's gray-zone tactics challenge Taiwan's allies in the Pacific and threaten the Indo-Pacific's rules-based order. These hybrid strategies mix persuasion and coercion, as well as development and disruption. If ignored, they could turn small nations into battlegrounds for geopolitical rivalry. To safeguard Taiwan's alliances and regional stability, the US, Taiwan, and allies must act decisively. The solution lies not in militarization but in building resilience, promoting transparency, and empowering local communities before the line between peace and pressure blurs completely. Tang Meng Kit (mktang87@ is a Singaporean and is a freelance analyst and commentator. He graduated from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU, Singapore in 2025. By profession, Meng Kit works as an aerospace engineer and has keen interest in geopolitics and cross-straits affairs. \
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
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