January 10 – Myanmar / Bangladesh
Bangladesh and Myanmar agree on a timeframe to repatriate tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who, in recent months, fled violence at the hands of Myanmar’s military and local Buddhist villagers in Rakhine state, in what is described by the UN as ethnic cleansing. The Rohingya are a stateless ethnic minority in Myanmar. Myanmar agrees to accept 1,500 Rohingya each week, until all of them are returned within two years. However, the refugees are not assured of safety and the end of discrimination upon their return.[1] Bangladesh hosts nearly 860,000 Rohingya refugees of whom 655,000 have arrived since August 2017, making it the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world. Many of them are traumatized by rape, murder and torture.[2] (January 25): A U.S. diplomat Bill Richardson resigns from the Myanmar’s international advisory board on Rohingya accusing the board of being a “whitewashing operation meant to validate the policies of the government of Myanmar.” Richardson also accuses Myanmar’s civilian leader and the Nobel Peace Prize recipient and his long-time friend, Aung San Suu Kyi, of disparaging the media, the United Nations, and human rights groups. He says she is not interested in honest advice.[3]
Who is burning down Rohingya villages? (video 03:48)
January 18 – China
China’s solid economic growth in 2017, which was 6.8 percent, is welcomed by investors. The global economy has done well in 2017, with a rebound in world trade flows and favorable financial conditions. Economic activity has improved and the World Bank expects global growth to average 2.9 percent in 2017-2019.[4]
January 23 – South Korea / China
As part of his “America First” trade policy, the United States President Donald Trump approves imposing tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels. The tariffs of up to 50 percent will affect South Korea and China the most. Trump says that these tariffs will create jobs and revive a U.S. manufacturing sector decimated by cheaper imports. The South Korean company Samsung reacts by saying the cost will be passed on to the American consumers who will have to pay more for fewer choices. Also, the developers who install solar panels say the tariffs will hike their costs, kill projects and make it harder to compete with wind and natural gas.[5] Both South Korea and China are to file complaints at the World Trade Organization (WTO).[6]
Solar Trade Case: Trump Says Yes To New Tariffs That Target China
How U.S. Tariffs Will Hurt America’s Solar Industry
January 31 – Hong Kong
Lawmakers in Hong Kong pass a law banning trade in ivory. By 2021, ivory traders will have to dispose of their stock of 670 tons of accumulated ivory. Hong Kong is considered the world’s largest market for ivory. Offenders will face harsh penalties, including cash penalties and jail time up to 10 years. The vote comes a month after China passed a similar legislation that shut down its commercial processing and sales of ivory. The vote is a result of years-long campaign by civil society groups, such as WildAid, to protect Africa’s dwindling elephant population. There are still other countries, such as Japan and Thailand that are encouraged to ban ivory trade or close loopholes in their legislation.[7]
More About the Ivory and Rhino Horn Trade
March 5 – China
China announces 8.1 percent increase to its military budget, the largest in three years.[8] It plans to modernize its military and expand its air and naval capabilities. In 2016, China’s military spending, the second highest in the world, was at $215 billion. The United States spent 3 times as much, $611 billion in 2016. In fact, the US military spending is larger than the next 8 biggest military spenders combined. Global military spending in 2016 was $1.69 trillion. The 10 countries with the highest military spending – the USA, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, India, France, UK, Japan, Germany and South Korea – accounted for nearly 73 percent of this total.[9]
Explore interactive military expenditure data
March 11 – China
China’s National People’s Congress abolishes presidential term limits that have been in place for more than 35 years. This will allow current President Xi Jinping to stay in power indefinitely. The move overturns a system put in place in 1982 to prevent any lifelong dictatorships like that of Mao Zedong. The lawmakers also add Xi’s personal political philosophy into the preamble of the constitution, which emphasizes the Communist Party’s leadership. Xi is simultaneously the head of state, leader of the ruling Communist Party, and commander in chief of the armed forces.[10]
March 22 – China
The United States President Donald Trump signs a memorandum that authorizes imposing tariffs of $50 billion on Chinese goods. Trump states the tariffs are needed due to Chinese theft of U.S intellectual property and other unfair practices in trade, such as those that pressure US companies to share technology with Chinese firms.[11]
(March 23): President Trump’s steep tariffs on steel and aluminum come into effect. They include a 25 percent tariff on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum. He grants temporary exemption to several countries: Canada, Mexico, the European Union, Australia, Argentina, Brazil and South Korea.[12] President Trump has long been saying that the U.S. is treated unfairly by its trade partners, and claimed America had a trade deficit of $800 billion in 2017. However, this figure is $566 billion, while trade deficit with China itself amounts to $375 billion.[13] He also cites national security as a reason as these materials are used for military weapons and equipment. This argument is being questioned by experts who say that 70 percent of the steel that is used in the United States is produced in the United States. The tariff move sparks concerns that businesses that buy steel and aluminum such as automakers will face higher production costs because of the tariffs, leading to higher prices for customers and job losses.[14] There are also concerns that other countries will retaliate, leading to bigger trade battles and losses for other U.S. businesses and farms that rely on exporting their products.[15] For example, China purchases 61 percent of total U.S. soybean exports, and more than 30 percent of overall U.S. soybean production.[16]
(March 24): China responds with retaliatory tariffs worth $3 billion on a variety of U.S. goods, including pork and wine. It says the move is to safeguard its interests and balance losses caused by the U.S. steel tariffs.
(April 3): The U.S. announces $50 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese goods.
(April 4): China responds with retaliatory tariffs of 25 percent on 106 types of U.S. products worth $50 billion. They include soybeans, planes, automobiles, chemicals, corn products, orange juice, whiskey, and beef. American Soybean Association says that a 25 percent tariff on U.S. soybeans into China will have a devastating effect on every soybean farmer in America.[17] China has also initiated a World Trade Organization dispute procedure against the U.S.[18]
Trade deficit isn’t always a bad thing
March 28 – North Korea / China
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, pays a secret visit to China in his first ever foreign trip as his country’s leader. He holds talks with China’s president, Xi Jinping, ahead of two planned summits with South Korean President Moon Jae in April and US President Donald Trump in May. China is North Korea’s main ally and practically the only trading partner; 85 percent of North Korea’s exports go to China and more than 90 percent of imports come from China.[19] Kim Jong-un signals his willingness to give up nuclear weapons for guarantees to his regime.[20]
April 27 – North Korea / South Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meets South Korean President Moon Jae-in in a historic meeting in South Korea. They both agree to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and formally sign a peace agreement ending the Korean War by the end of this year. In 1953, both countries only signed an armistice. In a symbolic move, both leaders walk over the border between the two Koreas. They also agree to a cultural cooperation.[21]
June 1 – China
The United States President Donald Trump imposes trade tariffs on the European Union, Canada, and Mexico, which include a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum sent to the U.S. The Trump Administration cites national security as a reason for the tariffs. The critics and opponents of the tariffs dismiss this argument by saying that these countries are the U.S. main allies with military cooperation. They also warn that the tariffs will raise prices on a wide variety of products for American consumers. The move angers the allied countries that are preparing retaliatory tariffs on a range of U.S. goods.[22]
(June 15): President Donald Trump imposes 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion worth of variety of Chinese goods. Trump says the tariffs are necessary to punish China for its unfair trading practices and intellectual property theft. The critics of the tariffs worry that the tariffs will hurt American businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers and will lead to trade wars. China vows to retaliate.[23]
(June 22): The European Union imposes retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods worth $3.1 billion. These products include bourbon whiskey, motorcycles and orange juice. Also Mexico imposes its tariffs on products ranging from steel to blueberries and bourbon.
(July 1): Canada calls the U.S. tariffs illegal and unjustified and implements retaliatory 25 percent tariffs on U.S. metal products and 10 percent on more than 250 various products, such as beer kegs, whiskey and orange juice.[24]
Basic ideas explained: trade wars, tariffs and protectionism
U.S. top trading partners.
June 12 – North Korea
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in the first summit meeting between the leaders of the United States of America and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). They sign a joint agreement that includes security guarantees for North Korea and a pledge from the North Korean leader of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, although it does not set any timetable. The statement also includes a recovery of remains of US soldiers’ from the time of the Korean War. However, the document does not contain any substantial information on how the denuclearization will happen and how it would be verified. Some see the summit as a step in the right direction, while the critics see it as legitimizing the North Korea’s regime without addressing its gross human rights violations. However, the sanctions will not be lifted until North Korea completes promised denuclearization. Right after the summit, U.S. President Donald Trump makes a surprising announcement that the U.S. will discontinue joint military exercises with South Korea calling them “provocative” and will withdraw troops stationed in the Korean Peninsula. The statement is seen as a concession to North Korea.[25]
Trump-Kim Summit explained in short
North Korea in 9 charts
July 11 – China / United States
In response to tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods, China’s Ministry of Commerce strikes back with tariffs of equal size on some US exports to China. Another $16 billion worth of tariffs is expected to be imposed after the US’s second wave of tariffs goes into effect in a few weeks. China tariffs focus on agricultural products from the U.S., hitting US farmers who will be left with few other options. Products affected by China’s tariffs include soybeans, pork, fish, seafood, orange juice, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, cotton, and whiskey. The sourced article provides a full list of products affected by these tariffs.[26]
August 12 – Kazakhstan / Turkmenistan
The leaders of five states surrounding the Caspian Sea – Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan – sign the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea after more than 20 years of disputes and negotiations on demarcation of the sea. The Caspian Sea is the largest inland water of body in the world without outflows and is located between Europe and Asia. It has vast oil and gas reserves, as well as a wealth of fish, including different species of sturgeon which is highly prized for its caviar.
The new deal gives the Caspian Sea a “special legal status” meaning it is not classified as a sea or a lake. Its surface will be in common usage, giving freedom of access for all five states that border it beyond territorial waters. The seabed, however, with its resources, will be divided up. The convention also sets national quotas for fishing and includes a clause that does not allow non-Caspian countries to deploy military forces on the Caspian Sea.[27]
The Caspian: Sea or Lake?
September 17 – China
Escalating its trade war with China, the United States President Donald Trump imposes a third set of tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports that include 6,000 items. He says it is in response to China’s unfair trade practices. These tariffs will start at 10 percent and increase to 25 percent from 2019 unless the two countries agree a deal. These items include consumer goods such as handbags, furniture, toilet paper, and textiles. The list also includes food items such as meats, fish, rice, soybeans, fruit, and cereal. Talks between the Chinese and U.S. authorities have so far failed. Many US businesses, farmers, manufacturers, retailers and other industries, oppose the tariffs, calling them taxes on American families.[28]
(September 18): China retaliates with its own tariffs levied on $60 billion of U.S. goods that will include liquefied natural gas. It also threatens other measures.[29]
Trade wars, Trump tariffs and protectionism explained
November 16 – Cambodia
The United Nations-backed Cambodia Tribunal finds two leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime guilty of genocide. Nuon Chea, age 92, and Khieu Samphan, age 87, were top leaders in the brutal regime led by Pol Pot in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. Considered one of the bloodiest regimes of the 20th century, it is responsible for killing up to two million people in those four years. Nuon Chea was found guilty of genocide for the attempt to wipe out Cham Muslims and ethnic Vietnamese Cambodians, and Khieu Samphan was found guilty of genocide against the ethnic Vietnamese. It is estimated that 36 percent of the Cham population was wiped out, while most of the Vietnamese minority deported, and those who remained were all killed. The two men are already serving life sentences for other crimes.[30]
What is genocide
December 22 – Indonesia
A ten-foot high tsunami caused by an eruption of the Anak Krakatau volcano in Sunda Strait between Indonesia’s Java and Sumatra islands kills at least 430 people, injures 1,500, and displaces 22,000 from these coastal regions. Many are still missing. The volcanic eruption caused an undersea landslide and partial collapse of the Anak Krakatau into the ocean.[31] Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because it sits on Pacific Ring of Fire, a 25,000-mile-arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where about 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes occur. It also has 127 active volcanoes.[32] One of the most catastrophic tsunami in recent years happened in Indonesia in 2004 prompted by an undersea earthquake. It killed more than 227,000 people and caused some $10 billion in property damage.[33] Indonesian government has been criticized for failing to update the country’s tsunami detection and warning systems.
For maps of the Ring of Fire and Indonesia’s volcanoes