Trump Says “Very Positive” Call With Xi Covered Trade, Taiwan and Major Purchases

US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had a long and productive phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping covering a wide range of issues, including trade, military matters, Taiwan, global conflicts, energy, agricultural purchases, and aviation. 

Trump highlighted China’s consideration of buying more U.S. oil, gas, and farm products, noted planned trips and future commitments, and described the discussions as very positive. He also emphasized that he and Xi have a strong personal relationship and expressed optimism about positive U.S.–China outcomes during the remainder of his presidency.

Reference Sources

1. Truth Social - https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116013105630663812

EU to Offer US Critical Minerals Partnership to Counter China

(Source: Reuters)

The United States and the European Union (EU) are reportedly pitching the US on a critical minerals partnership aimed at curbing China's influence in global supply chains.

The partnership aims to jointly find ways to source critical minerals, which are needed for most modern technologies, without relying on China. Both the US and EU have become tethered to abundant, cheap Chinese minerals, giving Beijing leverage over their supply chains.

The proposal offers several ways to reduce this dependence, said people familiar with the matter.

The US is proposing a trading bloc for critical minerals, and many countries have already signed on to the plan.

The gathering comes after President Donald Trump launched a strategic stockpile of critical minerals, called Project Vault, backed by $10 billion in seed funding from the us Export-Import Bank and $2 billion in private funding.

China has wielded its Chokehold on the processing of many minerals as Geo-Economic leverage, at times curbing exports, suppressing prices, and undercutting other countries' ability to diversify sources of the materials used to make semiconductors, electric vehicles, and advanced weapons.

The US and EU have become tethered to abundant, cheap Chinese minerals, giving Beijing leverage over their supply chains.

Reference Sources

1. washingtontimes - Vance says U.S. seeks to create a critical minerals trading bloc with its allies to counter China
2. latimes - Washington looks to rebuild critical mineral supply for everything from jet engines to smartphones
3. usnews - US Hosts Countries for Talks to Weaken China's Grip on Critical Minerals
4. usnews - Vance Says US Will Establish Price Floor System for Critical Minerals
5. bloomberg - EU to Offer US Critical Minerals Partnership to Counter China

China's trade with other APEC economies exceeded 125 tln yuan from 2021 to 2025

Trade between China and other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies during the 14th five-year plan period (2021-2025) totaled CNY125.49 trillion ($18.05 trillion), up 39.4% from the previous five years, according to official data.

The figure for 2025 alone came in at CNY26.29 trillion, accounting for nearly 60% of China's total foreign trade that year.

Zhao Zenglian, deputy head of the General Administration of Customs (GAC), highlighted the Asia-Pacific region's role as the world's growth engine, noting that its total economic volume now represents over 60% of the global economy.

As SCCP chair for 2026, the GAC has proposed three initiatives: deepening cooperation under the smart customs partnership, enhancing supply-chain resilience, and accelerating digital transformation.

Reference Sources

1. xinhua - China's trade with other APEC economies exceeds 125 tln yuan from 2021 to 2025

Russia has been attacking European satellites for many years - European Commission

(Source: Getty Images)

Two Russian space satellites have successfully intercepted communications over Europe, gaining access to classified data, according to The Financial Times. Officials believe that the alleged interceptions, which were not previously reported, risk not only compromising confidential information but could also allow Moscow to manipulate their trajectories or even cause them to crash.

Russian spacecraft have been tracking European satellites for the past three years.

These are the Luch-1 and Luch-2 satellites, which have repeatedly performed suspicious maneuvers in orbit.

Both spacecraft have made risky close approaches to some of Europe's geostationary satellites, which operate high above the earth and serve the continent, as well as much of Africa and the Middle East.

The interceptions not only compromise sensitive information transmitted by the satellites but also raise the risk of Moscow seeking to move or even crash them.

While the satellites in question are mainly used for TV services, they also convey sensitive official information, as well as some military communications.

Defence specialists have long warned that space is becoming a new frontier in Russia's hybrid war against the West.

Reference Sources

1. newsukraine - Russian spy satellites intercept EU countries' secret data — FT
2. newsukraine - Russia has been attacking European satellites for many years - European Commission
3. telegraph - Russia ‘intercepts key European satellites’
4. mirror - Space wars warning as Russia ‘can crash satellites into Earth’ – ‘Threat to all’
5. dailymail - Russian spy spacecraft 'intercept communications of more than a dozen key European satellites': Security officials fear Moscow will manipulate their paths and even crash them

The CommonWealth English daily news digest is a service curated by CommonWealth English team with the help of AI tools.  

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Uploaded by Ian Huang