U.S. President Donald Trump said that his administration is considering a currency swap agreement with UAE. This comes as the ongoing Iran war continues to rattle global oil markets and regional economies. 


Mightly Dollar Bows Before Chinese Yuan in UAE

The United States military is facing growing concerns over depleted missile stockpiles following the recent conflict with Iran.
According to assessments, including those by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, nearly 45% of Precision Strike Missiles have been used, along with around 50% of THAAD and Patriot air defense interceptors. Other long-range systems, including cruise missiles, have also seen significant drawdowns.
Experts warn this creates a “near-term risk” for US military readiness—especially if another major conflict emerges, particularly involving China.
The situation highlights the strain of modern high-intensity warfare on advanced weapons systems and raises urgent questions about production capacity, defense planning, and global deterrence.

US-Iran War | Report: US Used Half of Its THAAD, Patriot Missiles in Iran War

In the most high-profile statement from Beijing on the US blockade of Iranian ports so far, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on April 20 that "the Strait of Hormuz should remain open to traffic."

Speaking by phone with the Saudi leader as China continues to increase its diplomatic efforts during the US-Israeli war with Iran, Xi said reopening the crucial waterway would be in the "common interest of countries in the region and the international community."

Iranian Vessel 'Touska' Seized on April 19; US President Trump Says Cargo Wasn't Nice

Report: US At Risk of Running Out of Missiles; Stockpile Not Enough To Confront China 

Taiwan has accused China of exerting diplomatic pressure on African nations after a planned visit to Eswatini was cancelled. According to Taipei, Beijing’s growing influence is being used to isolate Taiwan on the global stage and limit its international partnerships.

Taiwan Blames Chinese Pressure On African Countries; Cancels Eswatini Visit 

China vowed to resist what it called Japan's "reckless militarisation" after Tokyo eased decades-old arms export rules, as it seeks to enter the international weapons market. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi argues that Japan must relax its rules on weapons exports to bolster national defence while also trying to boost the domestic arms industry as a driver of economic growth.


Japan Prepares for Arms Market Export Boom, Lifts 8-Decade Ban

Taiwan said on Tuesday it had cancelled President Lai Ching-Te's trip to Eswatini this week, accusing ​China of pressing three other African countries to revoke permission ‌for his aircraft to overfly their territories.
The small southern African nation of Eswatini is one of only 12 countries to retain formal ties with Chinese-claimed ​Taiwan. Lai was due to leave on Wednesday for the ​40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession.

Taiwan Blames Chinese Pressures on African Countries

Taiwan Blames Chinese Pressure on African Nations, Taiwan President Cancels Estawini Visit

Taiwan said on Tuesday it had cancelled President Lai Ching-te's trip to Eswatini this week, accusing ​China of pressing three other African countries to revoke permission ‌for his aircraft to overfly their territories.
The small southern African nation of Eswatini is one of only 12 countries to retain formal ties with Chinese-claimed ​Taiwan. Lai was due to leave on Wednesday for the ​40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession.


Taiwan Accuses China of Interference; President Lai Ching-Te Cancels Trip To Eswatini

China has issued a warning to Japan over what it calls the “flexing” of military strength, amid rising regional tensions. The remarks come as Japan moves to scrap long-standing defence export restrictions, signaling a shift in its security policy. 


China Warns Japan Against Flexing Military Strength; Japan Scraps Defence Export Restrictions

Philippine and U.S. forces will carry out maritime strike drills on a remote Philippine ‌island near Taiwan during annual exercises that started on Monday, which Manila's military chief said would test their readiness under "real‑world conditions".

The April 20 to May 8 exercises known as "Balikatan", or "shoulder-to-shoulder", will be the largest yet in terms of participating countries, with Australia ​included again and Canada, France, New Zealand and Japan joining as active participants for the first time, ​highlighting Manila's widening network of security partnerships.

Philippines, US & Allies Begin Joint Military Drills Near Taiwan

A humanoid robot sprints past the human The winner from Honor, a Chinese smartphone maker, completed the race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, running faster than the human world record in a show of China's technological leaps.


Humanoid Robots Compete in Beijing Half-Marathon; Race Past Human Runners

El Niño significantly impacts China by triggering extreme weather, including severe floods in the Yangtze River valley and droughts in northern regions, often leading to reduced agricultural yields and energy crises. Strong El Niño events often cause hot, dry conditions that reduce hydropower output, forcing higher fossil fuel usage. 


China Flags Energy Risks From El Nino

Humanoid Robots Compete in Beijing Half-Marathon

The Iran conflict is not just reshaping geopolitics, it’s also stirring a fresh debate in global finance.
As Tehran begins accepting payments in China’s yuan for oil, talk of a “Petroyuan” is back on the table.
But can the Chinese currency really challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar, or is this momentum just temporary?
Take a look at this next report for more.

Can Yuan Replace the Dollar in Global Oil Trade

The global technology race between the United States and China is heating up, with both nations competing for dominance in AI, semiconductors, and innovation. While the US still leads in advanced chips, research talent, and cutting-edge technology, China is rapidly catching up with massive investments, faster implementation, and global expansion. Recent polls suggest a surprising shift, with some US allies and global audiences increasingly viewing China as a more reliable partner and even a technological leader.

US Vs China: Who Has Better Technology? | Allies Shifting To China: Polls

Reports citing US intelligence suggest China may be preparing a fresh weapons shipment to Iran, potentially including air-defence systems, amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict. However, Beijing has strongly denied the claims, calling them “groundless smears” and insisting it maintains strict controls over military exports. 

China Secretly Preparing New Weapons Shipment to Iran?

Xi Jinping has welcomed a string of high-level international visitors to China ahead of a closely watched summit with Donald Trump, signaling intensified diplomatic engagement before the anticipated talks. The meetings are seen as part of Beijing’s effort to shape the agenda ahead of the Trump–Xi interaction, with trade, technology competition, and global security expected to dominate discussions between the two major powers. 

Trump-Xi Meet: China Hosts String of High-Level Visitors Ahead of Trump Summit 

Scientists in China are exploring the use of diamond-based materials to tackle one of the biggest challenges in the global AI race-excess heat generated by high-performance computing chips. Researchers say synthetic diamond’s exceptional thermal conductivity could help cool next-generation processors, improving efficiency and performance in advanced data centres and AI systems.


China's Diamond Fix for AI Race; Scientists Working Towards Reducing Heat

Fresh U.S. intelligence claims have raised alarm over a possible China-Iran link, with reports suggesting Beijing may supply radar systems and that Chinese satellite technology may have helped Iran improve strike accuracy. Investigations indicate Iran may have used a Chinese-built satellite to monitor and target U.S. bases, intensifying concerns over covert military cooperation. China, however, has strongly denied the allegations, calling them baseless amid rising geopolitical tensions.


Iran War: Reports Suggest Tehran Covertly Used Beijing's Satellite Against Washington

US Intel Flags China-Iran Link: Satellite Tech Allegedly Boosted Iranian Strike Accuracy 

Reports citing leaked military documents say Iran used a Chinese-built satellite to monitor and help target United States military bases across the Gulf region during recent hostilities.


Reports: Iran Used Chinese Satellite to Target US Bases in Gulf 

#Gravitas Amid Russia’s deepening defence ties with Iran, new U.S. intelligence reportedly points to China also bolstering Tehran's defences.  According to a report, Beijing is preparing to deliver new air defence systems to Iran within weeks.  


Iran War: After Russia, China Sending Weapons to Iran?

Fresh controversy has erupted over claims that China may have indirectly aided Iran during its conflict with the United States by providing satellite imagery of US bases. Beijing has strongly denied the reports, calling them “baseless smears.” The issue has added a new layer of tension, especially as President Donald Trump insists China agreed not to support Iran militarily.


Reports Say Iran Used Chinese Satellite To Target US Bases In Gulf

China’s ‘Hidden Hand’ In Iran War? Satellite Claims, Denials Deepen US-China Tensions

China and Pakistan are reshaping global trade routes through the $62 billion [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)], a key [Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project] that connects Xinjiang to the Arabian Sea via Gwadar Port. This infrastructure, featuring highways and railways, bypasses the Malacca Strait, reducing maritime risks and shortening energy supply routes.


How China, Pakistan Are Reshaping Trade Routes

US President Donald Trump has claimed that China has agreed not to send weapons to Iran, calling the development a sign of strong cooperation between Washington and Beijing. He also said China is “very happy” with his move to permanently open the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route. However, details remain unclear, and China has previously criticised the US blockade as “dangerous,” highlighting ongoing tensions despite Trump’s optimistic tone.


BREAKING: Trump Claims China Won’t Arm Iran, Says Beijing 'Very Happy' With Hormuz Move

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia will help stabilise the energy prices of China, ahead of an expected visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian news agencies reported, quoting Lavrov on Wednesday at a news conference in Beijing. China, on April 15, Wednesday, hosted the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as part of its series of high-level diplomacy talks in recent days. Lavrov said, China and Russia should take advantage of the “geographic proximity” and complementarity, deepen all-round cooperation and raise the resilience of each other's development."Lavrov also claimed that the China-Russia relation to play a stabilising role in global affairs, at a time of global “chaos and turmoil.” "Russia can certainly fill the resource gap that has arisen in China and other countries interested in working with us on an equal and mutually beneficial basis," said Lavrov. He claimed that both nations have the reserve capacity and planned capacity to avoid reliance on a market disrupted by “aggressive gambits”.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-troop-surge-west-asia-trump-iran-war-ceasefire-1776246963945">Donald Trump orders fresh troop surge to West Asia despite saying war is almost over</a>"Thank God, China and Russia have every capability, including those already in use, reserve capacity, and planned capacity, to avoid depending on such aggressive gambits, which undermine the global economy," he said.China also admitted the “precious” nature of the US-China relationship. “Both sides should maintain strategic focus, trust each other, support each other, and develop together,” said Xi, according to a Chinese media readout. Beijing has seen a sharp spike over the span of one and a half months in the prices of gasoline, fertiliser and plastic since the beginning of the war in West Asia. China has had several high-profile visits in the last few days, including leaders of Spain, Vietnam and Abu Dhabi. But the visit of Lavrov will likely be the highlight of the week, as it emphasises both economic and strategic advantages the two nations possess together.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump's first visit to China was planned for the end of March and the beginning of April. But it was later cancelled amid the escalating tension in West Asia, and it is now scheduled for May 14 and 15. According to the Russian newspaper Vedomosti, Russian President Vladimir Putin is also likely to visit China on May 18, 2026.&nbsp;

Sergei Lavrov says Russia will stabilise China’s energy supply amid global turmoil, highlighting deepening ties ahead of Vladimir Putin’s visit.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia will help stabilise the energy prices of China, ahead of an expected visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian news agencies reported, quoting Lavrov on Wednesday at a news conference in Beijing. China, on April 15, Wednesday, hosted the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as part of its series of high-level diplomacy talks in recent days. Lavrov said, China and Russia should take advantage of the “geographic proximity” and complementarity, deepen all-round cooperation and raise the resilience of each other's development." Lavrov also claimed that the China-Russia relation to play a stabilising role in global affairs, at a time of global “chaos and turmoil.” "Russia can certainly fill the resource gap that has arisen in China and other countries interested in working with us on an equal and mutually beneficial basis," said Lavrov. He claimed that both nations have the reserve capacity and planned capacity to avoid reliance on a market disrupted by “aggressive gambits”. Also Read: Donald Trump orders fresh troop surge to West Asia despite saying war is almost over "Thank God, China and Russia have every capability, including those already in use, reserve capacity, and planned capacity, to avoid depending on such aggressive gambits, which undermine the global economy," he said. China also admitted the “precious” nature of the US-China relationship. “Both sides should maintain strategic focus, trust each other, support each other, and develop together,” said Xi, according to a Chinese media readout. Beijing has seen a sharp spike over the span of one and a half months in the prices of gasoline, fertiliser and plastic since the beginning of the war in West Asia. China has had several high-profile visits in the last few days, including leaders of Spain, Vietnam and Abu Dhabi. But the visit of Lavrov will likely be the highlight of the week, as it emphasises both economic and strategic advantages the two nations possess together. US President Donald Trump's first visit to China was planned for the end of March and the beginning of April. But it was later cancelled amid the escalating tension in West Asia, and it is now scheduled for May 14 and 15. According to the Russian newspaper Vedomosti, Russian President Vladimir Putin is also likely to visit China on May 18, 2026.

Sergei Lavrov says Russia will stabilise China’s energy supply amid global turmoil, highlighting deepening ties ahead of Vladimir Putin’s visit.

Lavrov says Russia will help stabilise energy prices in China ahead of Vladimir Putin visit

The Philippines has accused China of using cyanide in the South China Sea atoll, a claim Beijing has dismissed as a 'stunt.' Watch the full video to know more on this!


China-Philippines Tensions: Philippines Accuses China Of Using Cyanide In South China Sea

china

China, News on China, stories on China, articles on China, China stories at Wion, China news, China latest news