Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 8, 2019

US President Donald Trump speaks during a trade meeting with China’s Vice Premier Liu He at the White House in April. Photo: AFP / Jim Watson

Asia Times: Slouching towards Washington

As the US and China continue talks Thursday, both sides are well aware of their strengths and weaknesses

President Trump’s morning tweet announcing that the Chinese were coming to Washington to make a deal buoyed US stocks, although a warning that US tariffs will elicit “countermeasures” later in the session reduced gains.

Asset prices moved with every trade rumor. Trading against the news is a mug’s game. Investors have to take a position based on conviction and stand or fall with it. I continue to recommend buying Chinese stocks on the dip.

Both sides are coming to the negotiating table in Washington tomorrow in painful awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 8, 2019

A closer look at China's strategy — and why the US keeps losing to it -- Morgan Wright, The Hill

Trump will 'hang tough' on China, political fallout be damned -- Liz Peek, The Hill

The Saudi Shia: Between an Iranian rock and a Saudi hard place -- Omaima Al Najjar, Al Jazeera

Iran nuclear deal: what has Tehran said and what happens next? -- Patrick Wintour, The Guardian

Battle for the fate of the Iran nuclear deal begins -- Jonathan Marcus, BBC

A year after ditching Iran nuclear deal, what is Trump's Iran policy? Saber rattling? -- Aaron David Miller and Richard Sokolsky, USA Today

Turkey demonstrates how to bungle a currency crisis -- Desmond Lachman, The Hill

Armenians Look to Renewed Alliance With Kurds in Turkey, Expanded Role in Georgia -- Paul Goble, Jamestown Foundation

North Korea's Weapons Launch: Kim Jong-un is Flailing and That is Good -- Patrick M. Cronin, National Interest

India election 2019: How sugar influences the world's biggest vote -- Soutik Biswas, BBC

Brunei won't impose death penalty for gay sex — but it's still illegal -- Max Walden and Holly Robertson, ABC News Online

China’s Role in the India–Pakistan Nuclear Equation -- Ramesh Thakur, The Strategist

Northern Ireland: Can fresh talks revive power-sharing plan? -- Nadim Baba, Al Jazeera

Which party will fight the rise of Nigel Farage? -- Nick Cohen, The Spectator

Military Force Will Not Achieve U.S. Objectives in Venezuela -- Doug Bandow, National Interest

The internet grows darker -- James Hein, Bangkok Post