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Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)
The US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) was launched by US President Joe Biden during his trip to Tokyo in May 2022. It seeks to establish rules covering areas from data protection to carbon emissions. Its founding members comprise 14 Asia-Pacific nations: Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam. Together they account for 40 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product.
Illustration: Craig Stephens
India

Opinion | India’s diplomatic weight is best exercised closest to its borders

New Delhi’s geopolitical strength comes not from looking East or West but from its ability to stabilise its own neighbourhood.

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Asean

Opinion | From Trump to tech titans, geopolitical traps await Southeast Asia

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South China Sea

Help from Asean nations to counter China is unlikely: ex-Philippine Navy officer

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US-China relations

Xi touts China as globalisation leader, draws contrast with US under Trump

Shared growth stressed on Apec sidelines in Peru as Chinese leader tells CEOs that Beijing’s economic and financial woes can be fixed.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives at the Government Palace in Lima, Peru, on November 14, 2024. Photo: Zuma Press Wire/dpa
US-China relations

Exiting the world stage, Joe Biden leaves a mixed legacy on US-China affairs

Efforts at rebuilding global alliances have proved more successful than establishing an ‘end goal’ in Washington’s China strategy.

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US-Asean relations

Asian Angle | Strengthening Asean is key for the US to boost its Indo-Pacific strategy

Whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins next month, a renewed focus on Asean will be essential for lasting stability amid China tensions.

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Diplomacy

China vows to help Fiji tackle climate change in push for greater Pacific role

President Xi Jinping made the pledge along with promises of economic support in a meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka

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Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka arrives at the Great Hall of the People for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: AP
Diplomacy

Opinion | As American allies in Asia take matters into their own hands, what of the US?

If the US wants to protect its influence in Asia, it must drive greater economic engagement with its regional partners.

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US-China relations

US working with EU to counter China on Russia support, overcapacity

America’s top diplomat describes Beijing as seeking ‘better relations with Europe’ while fuelling its ‘greatest security threat’ since the Cold War.

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US-China relations

To boost US sway in Indo-Pacific, promote economic development: Senate

Washington should offer ‘alternatives to what our competitors are offering’, says Foreign Relations committee chair, referring to Beijing’s advances.

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Democratic senator Ben Cardin of Maryland (centre) chairs the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which held the hearing in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: Bloomberg
US-China relations

US review of US$300 billion worth of Chinese imports almost done: trade envoy

Biden administration ‘taking a serious look’ at existing tools to deal effectively with Beijing’s policies causing ‘dependencies and vulnerabilities’.

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US Trade Representative Katherine Tai has described the 2½ years of tariffs review as ‘tremendously consequential’. Photo: AFP
Diplomacy

Maldives signed military deal with China but may remain swing state

As Indian military begins withdrawing, China’s defence ministry confirms a PLA delegation last week visited island nation and met President Muizzu.

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US-China relations

Nations in Indo-Pacific ‘framework’ are losing interest, trade official warns

US partners in Indo-Pacific Economic Framework are impatient for implementation, Marc Mealy of US-Asean Business Council says.

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United States

Opinion | How Biden’s foreign and trade policy flip-flops are confusing US allies

Biden’s statements on Taiwan, the US-China relationship and trade in the Indo-Pacific are creating confusion and mistrust. To keep his allies and supporters on board, he needs a decisive strategy – something he could learn from Kissinger and other political realists.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
US-China relations

US, China pitch rival supply-chain visions in latest economic clash

Hours before Beijing is to launch international expo featuring tech giants like Tesla and Apple, Joe Biden unveils White House ‘resilience council’.

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US President Joe Biden speaks during the first meeting of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience in Washington on Monday. Photo: Reuters
United States

Can US focus on Asia-Pacific while distracted by Ukraine, Middle East conflicts?

Washington will lean heavily on its regional allies to continue countering China amid the ongoing conflicts, analysts say – even if the ‘era of absolute US primacy in Asia may be over’.

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US-China relations

US and Indo-Pacific partners agree on clean energy, anti-corruption pillars

However, the IPEF’s trade pillar remains in limbo, after negotiations over the past week failed to produce a deal.

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US-China relations

Xi-Biden summit expectations at Apec dip further on stalled trade initiative

Janet Yellen touts ‘substantial progress’ negotiating trade section of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, but says it ‘looks not to be complete’.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping waves as he arrives at San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday. Xi is visiting the US to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

US business group calls for progress on IPEF ‘trade pillar’ as talks hit snag

Two Democratic senators have asked Joe Biden’s administration to drop the trade element from the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, citing a lack of ‘enforceable labour standards’.

US-India relations

As Biden deepens India ties, possible Trump return looms over US ally

At ‘2+2’ talks in New Delhi, the democratic allies pull closer as an agreement is reached for US and India to co-produce armoured combat vehicles.

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Ukraine war

Zelensky pushes US for more aid, invites Trump to Ukraine

In an interview broadcast on Sunday, the Ukrainian president said US soldiers could eventually be pulled into a greater European conflict with Russia if Washington did not step up support.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: dpa
US-China relations

US economic approach to China must be ‘serious, clear-eyed’: Yellen

While reiterating Washington seeks not to decouple from Beijing, treasury secretary outlines strategy to expand trade in the Indo-Pacific.

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US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during an event hosted by the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington on Thursday. Photo: Bloomberg
South Korea

Asian Angle | South Korea’s Yoon must convince voters that pivot to US won’t hurt economy

Yoon’s moment of political reckoning will arrive in April when South Koreans head to the polls.

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US-China relations

China and US diplomats overseeing Asian affairs meet to discuss region

China’s Vice-Foreign Minister for Asia Sun Weidong meets Daniel Kritenbrink, US Assistant Secretary of State, for ‘candid, in-depth and constructive consultation’ on regional issues, including Taiwan and maritime issues.

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US-China relations

Opinion | To counter China’s Global South dominance, US must put trade before arms

The US still has distinct advantages, including, critically, a growing population. But it must ease off sanctions and its single-minded focus on security.

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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right), US President Joe Biden (centre) and other world leaders arrive to pay respects at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Raj Ghat, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi on September 10. Photo: Pool / AFP /Getty Images / TNS
US-China relations

Biden’s Indo-Pacific economic plan must be stronger to counter China: report

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, the US president’s programme for the region, is failing as an alternative to trade deals China is offering, the Asia Society Policy Institute concludes.

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US President Joe Biden delivers remarks along with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) launch event at Izumi Garden Gallery in Tokyo, in May 2022. Photo: Reuters
India

Macroscope | As West exploits India-China cracks, Asia must rise above divisions

From G20 to Brics, the more the West seeks to weaken the India-China axis crucial to regional cooperation, the more Asia’s statesmen must stand together.

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US-China relations

US raises alarm as Chinese platform corners global shipping logistics market

Warnings that Beijing, via Logink, could ‘gain access to and control massive amounts of sensitive’ data, including the commercial transport of US military cargo and critical market information.

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