Newsletter: China’s Global Push: Bold Moves, Growing Cracks
China’s Luckin hits Starbucks, demands Taiwan deal, hoards €223B gold, blocks EU tech, backs Russia. 5 bold moves.
Dear Readers,
China’s charging for global clout, from battling Starbucks to blocking EU tech, but trade wars and geopolitical strains expose vulnerabilities. This week’s five stories guide you through Beijing’s bold plays—pushing gold reserves, demanding Taiwan concessions, and backing Russia—while cracks widen. Let’s explore:
Luckin Coffee storms New York, undercutting Starbucks with $1.99 brews and a tech-driven model. With 24,000 stores and $3.24B in revenue, it’s a threat, but U.S. loyalty to Starbucks’ cozy vibe may resist China’s efficiency play.
Chinese coffee giant Luckin launches major attack on Starbucks
The Chinese coffee giant Luckin is launching its major attack on Starbucks with two new stores in New York City. This market entry not only grabs the attention of the US coffee industry, but also signals the start of an ambitious expansion. While Starbucks is coming under pressure in its home market, Luckin is bringing a model to America that
China’s global ambitions face stiffer tests. It demands U.S. concessions on Taiwan for a Trump-Xi summit, pushing the “One China” principle against U.S. arms support. Trade tariffs and vague deals cloud the path to a fall 2025 meeting.
China Demands Taiwan Waiver For Trump Summit
The Taiwan issue is becoming the biggest hurdle for Trump's planned visit to China in the fall. Apparently, there are concrete plans between the Trump administration and representatives of China for a visit by President Donald Trump in the fall of 2025. Since taking office on January 20, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in traveling to China to i…
Economic armor is piling up at home. China’s gold reserves hit 2,298 tons (€223.5B), and foreign reserves soar to €3.052T, a 10-year high. This shields against U.S. tariffs and dollar volatility, but global gold prices feel the strain.
China Increases Gold - Foreign Exchange At 10-Year High
China's central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBoC), increased its gold reserves again in June 2025. For the eighth month in a row, holdings grew by 70,000 troy ounces to 73.90 million troy ounces, or around 2,298 tons. The value of the gold reserves is 223.50 billion euros, an increase of just under 0.92 billion compared to May. At the same time, f…
Trade fights escalate, with China blocking EU medical tech from its €20B market in retaliation for EU restrictions on Chinese firms. This tit-for-tat risks higher healthcare costs and spills into autos and renewables, with no resolution in sight.
Trade Conflict Comes To A Head: China Blocks EU Medical Technology
The trade conflict is coming to a head: China is specifically blocking European medical technology in direct response to new restrictions from Brussels. The fronts between the economic areas are increasingly hardening. Companies are facing strategic challenges, while the supply situation for patients could also worsen. Beijing's latest move marks a new …
China also props up Russia, with Wang Yi warning a Ukraine loss could shift U.S. focus to Beijing. By supplying “dual-use” goods and eyeing Central Asia, China strengthens its grip, but EU trade threats loom if it overplays its hand.
Wang Yi Makes It Clear: Russia Must Not Lose The War In Ukraine
With his statement that Russia must not lose the Ukraine war, Wang Yi makes it unmistakably clear how central the outcome of the conflict is for China. Behind the apparent neutrality lies a clear strategic line that reveals China's foreign policy calculations - and presents Europe with new challenges.
The outcome? China’s pushing hard, from coffee to geopolitics, but trade barriers and wary allies reveal cracks. Can Beijing sustain its charge?
Thank you for reading. If this newsletter helps you make sense of the noise, consider supporting my work with
or
Thank you!
Until next week, stay informed and take care.