China Makes Its Move in Bangladesh
July 1st, 2026
Via Geopolitical Futures, a look at how Chinese investment promises could strengthen Beijing’s position on the Bay of Bengal, but it may not buy the political influence China ultimately seeks: Tarique Rahman, who became Bangladesh’s prime minister in February, was in Beijing last week meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Bangladesh has historically been so […]
Read more »Chinese Businesses Hawking North Korean Labor
June 9th, 2026
Courtesy of the New York Times, a report that – on social media – Chinese entrepreneurs are touting cheap labor across the border, as trade between the two countries regains momentum: Quick deliveries of large orders for stuffed toys, fake eyelashes and crocheted bags that are made with cheap labor, including some workers who are […]
Read more »Central Asia Accessing Pakistani Sea Ports that Bypass Afghanistan
May 29th, 2026
Via Jamestown, a report on how Central Asia is bypassing Afghanistan as a primary transit gateway to the sea: Executive Summary: Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Transport and Communications announced the successful implementation of a pilot transport project on the Kyrgyzstan–China–Pakistan route on April 24. The new 2,000-mile route through the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is […]
Read more »China’s Quiet Pivot to Central Asian Gas
May 27th, 2026
Courtesy of The Diplomat, a report on China’s pivot to Central Asian gas: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on May 20 with a delegation built for a deal: five deputy prime ministers, eight Cabinet ministers, and the chiefs of Gazprom and Rosneft. He left two days later with declarations of friendship, a visa-free […]
Read more »PRC–Turkmenistan Gas Ties Hedge Hormuz Risk
May 11th, 2026
Via Jamestown, a look at China’s efforts to develop overland energy security through Central Asia, especially Turkmenistan: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is intensifying its pursuit of overland energy security through Central Asia as the Middle East conflict raises the strategic cost of maritime exposure. Turkmenistan is the primary anchor of this effort. Politburo […]
Read more »China and Turkmenistan Inaugurate New Phase at Galkynysh Gas Field
April 24th, 2026
Via The Diplomat, a report on how – despite consistent chatter about the need for diversification – Ashgabat has struggled to reach customers other than China given infrastructure constraints: A month after Turkmenistan’s top leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, was warmly welcomed in Beijing, China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang joined him at a ceremony inaugurating a new phase […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.