Central Asia & Caucasus Data

Last weekend, China’s Ministry of National Defense announced that the country’s two most senior generals – Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli – would be removed from office and placed under investigation for serious disciplinary violations. Zhang had been the People’s Liberation Army’s most senior general since October 2022. He was the highest ranking military member The post Reading the tea leaves on Xi’s latest military purge appeared first on Asia Times.

The illicit on-chain money laundering ecosystem has grown dramatically in recent years, increasing from US$10 billion in 2020 to over $82 billion in 2025. [1] This substantial topline growth reflects the growing accessibility and liquidity of cryptocurrencies, as well as a fundamental shift in how this laundering activity occurs and by whom. As shown in the chart The post Chinese-language crime networks now drive 20% of crypto laundering appeared first on Asia Times.

TOKYO — As if US Treasury Security Scott Bessent didn’t have enough stuff with which to deal, gold is literally exploding higher on his watch. In any discussion of the global “debasement trade” gaining momentum in real time, the dollar is written between the lines in bold font. Gold is now at $5,200 for the The post Debased dollar and soaring gold hand China a rare opening appeared first on Asia Times.

At Davos this year, India projected confidence. Semiconductors, manufacturing expansion, supply-chain resilience and artificial intelligence featured prominently in conversations and policy statements. The message was clear: India intends to be a serious player in the next phase of global technology realignment. Yet the more meaningful shift is not in speeches delivered in Switzerland. It is The post Davos highlights execution behind India’s electronics Second Wave appeared first on Asia Times.