Friday, March 20, 2026
“Cutting” Parts From India, Myanmar, B’Desh: Why Arrest of 7 Mercenaries Revives West’s 100-Year-Old Dream of Christian Nation in S.Asia
Thursday, March 19, 2026
“Cutting” Parts From India, Myanmar, B’Desh: Why Arrest of 7 Mercenaries Revives West’s 100-Year-Old Dream of Christian Nation in S.Asia
By Sumit Ahlawat
-March 19, 2026
The arrest of seven foreigners, including six Ukrainians and one known US mercenary, Matthew VanDyke, for illegally crossing into Myanmar, supplying weapons, and providing drone training to armed rebel groups, has once again fanned the theory of a long-term Western conspiracy to carve out a Christian majority state from contiguous parts of northeastern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
VanDyke is an internationally renowned, notorious figure who first gained attention during the Libyan Civil War in 2011, when he joined rebel fighters on the ground and was imprisoned.
Subsequently, VanDyke founded an organisation called Sons of Liberty International (SOLI), which provides military training to local armed groups in conflict zones worldwide. Reportedly, he has also participated in the Syrian Civil War and the Russia-Ukraine War.
According to India’s premier counterterrorism agency, the NIA, as many as 14 Ukrainian nationals entered India on tourist visas on different dates. They flew to Guwahati and then travelled to Mizoram without the required documents, before illegally crossing into Myanmar.
While the theory that Western countries, primarily the US, are actively abetting armed insurgency to establish a Christian state in this region, similar to East Timor, that could also serve as a Western military base in the Bay of Bengal, was often dismissed as speculative and sensational, the arrest of these foreigners is a smoking gun and lends credence to these allegations.
The theory was first suggested by none other than former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024, was alluded to by the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Mizoram in 2025, and, with the arrest of these foreigners, can no longer be dismissed as a conspiracy theory.
Interestingly, the idea of a Christian-majority, ethno-nationalist state in the region, backed by Western powers, providing a military base to the US in the Bay of Bengal, and actively serving as a frontline state against Chinese interests in the region, is not as bizarre as it seems to be.
The idea is supported by the peculiar religious demography of the region, the long-standing connection of these communities to the Baptist Church in the US, pre-existing ethnic/tribal clevages, real or imagined grievances of injustice, and has a very long pedigree.
In fact, the idea goes back nearly a century and was initially floated by the UK during the dying days of British Imperialism.
In the 1940s, when India was about to gain independence, there was an attempt to carve out a separate ‘Crown Colony’ from the tribal hill districts of Northeast India and parts of Western Burma, directly under the control of the British Crown.
That ‘Crown Colony’ would have provided the UK a foothold in South Asia and the Bay of Bengal even after the end of their British Indian Empire, the so-called ‘Jewel in the Crown’.
Image for Representation
Christian Country Carved Out Of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar?
In 2024, months before her tragic fall as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina had claimed that “conspiracies” were being hatched to topple her government and that she may be assassinated just like her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She further alleged that a Western power is conspiring to establish a “Christian country” out of Bangladesh and Myanmar, similar to East Timor.
She alleged that a “white man” offered her easy re-election in 2024 if she agreed to allow a foreign country to build an airbase in Bangladesh.
“If I allowed a certain country to build an airbase in Bangladesh, then I would have had no problem,” she said. The offer came from a “white man”, she said. “It may appear it is aimed at only one country, but it is not. I know where else they intend to go.”
“There will be more trouble,” she had warned.
“Like East Timor…they will carve out a Christian country, taking parts of Bangladesh (Chattogram) and Myanmar with a base in the Bay of Bengal.”
A few months after these comments, Hasina’s government was toppled in Bangladesh, and she had to flee the country.
In March 2025, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma warned that foreign nationals, including those from the US and UK, were using the state as a transit route to enter Myanmar. These foreigners were suspected of training insurgent groups in Myanmar.
These foreigners were suspected of providing training in drone warfare and supplying sophisticated weapons to these rebels, including drones.
Notably, insurgents in both India’s northeast and in the Chin state of Myanmar have used drones in their armed struggle against security forces.
In September 2024, for the first time, armed rebels in Manipur used drones to drop bombs on security forces. This was the first time ever that drones were used in India by an insurgent group.
Similarly, armed rebels in the Chin state of Myanmar have regularly used armed drones to hit Myanmar security forces.
Christian Country Carved Out Of India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar?
In 2024, months before her tragic fall as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina had claimed that “conspiracies” were being hatched to topple her government and that she may be assassinated just like her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She further alleged that a Western power is conspiring to establish a “Christian country” out of Bangladesh and Myanmar, similar to East Timor.
She alleged that a “white man” offered her easy re-election in 2024 if she agreed to allow a foreign country to build an airbase in Bangladesh.
“If I allowed a certain country to build an airbase in Bangladesh, then I would have had no problem,” she said. The offer came from a “white man”, she said. “It may appear it is aimed at only one country, but it is not. I know where else they intend to go.”
“There will be more trouble,” she had warned.
“Like East Timor…they will carve out a Christian country, taking parts of Bangladesh (Chattogram) and Myanmar with a base in the Bay of Bengal.”
A few months after these comments, Hasina’s government was toppled in Bangladesh, and she had to flee the country.
In March 2025, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma warned that foreign nationals, including those from the US and UK, were using the state as a transit route to enter Myanmar. These foreigners were suspected of training insurgent groups in Myanmar.
These foreigners were suspected of providing training in drone warfare and supplying sophisticated weapons to these rebels, including drones.
Notably, insurgents in both India’s northeast and in the Chin state of Myanmar have used drones in their armed struggle against security forces.
In September 2024, for the first time, armed rebels in Manipur used drones to drop bombs on security forces. This was the first time ever that drones were used in India by an insurgent group.
Similarly, armed rebels in the Chin state of Myanmar have regularly used armed drones to hit Myanmar security forces.
The Religious Demography of ‘Zo Land’
A Christian-majority country, caved out of Hindu-Majority India, Muslim-majority Bangladesh, and Buddhist-majority Myanmar might seem bizarre; however, the peculiar religious demography of this region could support this idea.
The so-called Christian majority, ethno-nationalist country has also been called “Zo land” (or Zogam/Zoram), which refers to the ancestral homeland of the Zo people, a Kuki-Chin-Mizo ethnic group inhabiting parts of India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
The Kuki tribes of Manipur, the Mizo tribes of Mizoram, the Chin people of Myanmar, and the tribal people in Bandarban district and adjoining areas of Bangladesh’s Chittagong division have recently collectively started calling themselves the ‘Zo’ people.
All of these tribes are also Christian-majority.
For instance, Manipur has approximately 41.3% Christian population. However, the state’s population is divided along ethnic and religious lines.
Manipur has two large groups: Meiteis and Kukis.
The Meiteis, who mostly live in the Manipur plains, are overwhelmingly Hindu.
The Kukis, living in the hilly areas of Manipur, are overwhelmingly Christian (up to 98%).
Similarly, in the Mizoram state of India, the Christian population is 87 percent.
The distribution of Christians in India according to the 2011 Census. (Photo Credit: CPS)
In the Chin state of Myanmar, the Christian population is over 85 percent.
The Bandarban district of Bangladesh also has a significant Christian minority.
These people, the Kuki-Chin-Mizo or the ‘Zo’ people, are, therefore, connected by religious and ethnic ties.
They also live in a geographically contiguous region comprising India’s Manipur and Mizoram states, Myanmar’s Chin State, and Bangladesh’s Chittagong Division.
However, their ancestral lands have been divided into three different countries.
Ironically, the same colonial state that is responsible for Christianizing them was also responsible for dividing their ancestral lands into three different countries.
In the Chin state of Myanmar, the Christian population is over 85 percent.
The Bandarban district of Bangladesh also has a significant Christian minority.
These people, the Kuki-Chin-Mizo or the ‘Zo’ people, are, therefore, connected by religious and ethnic ties.
They also live in a geographically contiguous region comprising India’s Manipur and Mizoram states, Myanmar’s Chin State, and Bangladesh’s Chittagong Division.
However, their ancestral lands have been divided into three different countries.
Ironically, the same colonial state that is responsible for Christianizing them was also responsible for dividing their ancestral lands into three different countries.
The Coming of Christianity in India’s North East
In the 19th century, most of these people followed various tribal and animistic religions.
Nagaland and Mizoram came under British control in the 19th century following the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826) and the Treaty of Yandabo.
The British annexed Assam and, by 1880, brought the Naga Hills under control through military expeditions. Similarly, Mizoram (Lushai Hills) was controlled by 1890-1895 through punitive expeditions.
The British encouraged Christian missionary work in these tribal areas. At the same time, the British imposed an inner-line permit regime for these areas, which helped shape a separate identity for these groups, distinct from the rest of India.
Most of the conversion took place in the 20th century, between 1931 and 1951.
In the 1940s, when it became apparent that India would gain independence, a few colonial administrators floated the idea of a Christian-majority ‘Crown colony’ in India’s northeast, to be administered directly from London.
The plan would have ensured a British base in South Asia even after India’s independence.
The plan was known as The Coupland Plan.
Named after its architect, Sir Reginald Coupland, this plan proposed creating a separate administrative unit comprising the tribal, Christian-majority areas of Assam and the tribal regions of Burma (present-day Myanmar). The core idea was to keep these territories under direct British control even after India gained independence in 1947.
The idea was initially kept secret, but soon it gained popularity and a degree of acceptance, both among the tribals as well as in the British bureaucracy. The way maps were being redrawn around the world meant anything was possible.
Singapore, Bermuda, Aden, and Gibraltar were already British Crown colonies, and so was Hong Kong.
However, multiple factors, including fierce opposition from the Indian National Congress, the economic dependence of these regions on the Indian plains, and opposition by many tribal leaders themselves, ensured that the plan was quietly abandoned by 1946.
Still, the British divided these regions into three separate countries. Chhitangong was a Buddhist-majority region, and thus, according to the logic of Indian partition, it should have become part of India. Yet, Britishers made it part of Muslim-majority Pakistan.
In 1971, after Bangladesh’s independence, it became part of Bangladesh.
Burma was officially separated from India in 1937, separating indigenous communities like the Nagas, Kukis, and Mizos.
Following India’s independence in 1947 and Burma’s in 1948, the border became an international frontier.
So, the British colonial state, which encouraged the conversion of these tribal communities to Christianity, thereby helping to emerge pan-ethno-religious identities, and formulated the idea of a separate Crown colony, was also responsible for dividing these communities into three countries.
Now, nearly eight decades later, the idea of a separate Christian-majority country in India’s northeast is again fanned by Western countries, primarily the US, hoping to gain a military base in the Bay of Bengal, and a frontier to destabilise South Asia and check China’s expansion.
The plan was earlier alluded to by Sheikh Hasina and the Mizoram Chief Minister; now, the arrest of these individuals is further proof that this is not just some conspiracy theory, but foreign intelligence agencies and transnational mercenary groups are already working on such a plan.
Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.
Singapore-based Sinolam International seeks World Bank arbitration after Panama revokes gas‑plant licence
Singapore-based Sinolam International seeks World Bank arbitration after Panama revokes gas‑plant licence
Singapore-based energy developer Sinolam International has filed for arbitration before a World Bank international court against Panama following the cancellation of its license for a gas-fired power generation project, the company said yetserday. — Pexels pic
Friday, 20 Mar 2026 1:07 PM MYT
SINGAPORE, March 20 — Singapore-based energy developer Sinolam International has filed for arbitration before a World Bank international court against Panama following the cancellation of its license for a gas-fired power generation project, the company said yetserday.
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes registered a request for arbitration proceedings on Monday, according to the tribunal’s records.
The arbitration is based on the Panama-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, Sinolam added in a release.
The company said it had invested in the project, intended to build and operate a 441-megawatt plant to provide low-emission electricity for Panama, but in 2024, the government unilaterally cancelled the license through regulatory action. The arbitration request follows a separate US$4 billion (RM15.7 billion) lawsuit filed this year by Sinolam LNG Terminal and Sinolam Smarter Energy LNG Power in a Virginia court against US-based utility AES Corp and InterEnergy Holdings.
In its complaint, Sinolam accused AES and its partners of anti-competitive conduct aimed at derailing Sinolam’s planned LNG terminal and the gas-fired power project in Colon, Panama.
AES in February said the claim lacked merit and that it was preparing its defence.
The Sinolam case adds to a growing list of international legal challenges for Panama. Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings is also engaged in a high-profile arbitration process against the government over its port concessions on both ends near the Panama Canal. Panama Ports Company, a unit of CK Hutchison, said on Monday the Panamanian government failed to meet a March 13 deadline to file its response in an international arbitration brought by the company before the International Chamber of Commerce.
PPC said Panama had sought a partial extension, claiming it was not ready to respond because it had not yet hired lawyers.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino on Thursday called the PPC comments “outrageous and a lie,” adding that the government has already appointed international lawyers to defend Panama in the process. — Reuters
***
Wankee rampas terkotor
Mexico condemns death of 19-year-old in US ICE custody as ‘unacceptable’
Mexico condemns death of 19-year-old in US ICE custody as ‘unacceptable’
Royer Perez-Jimenez, 19, died March 16 at the Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven, Florida after being found “unconscious and unresponsive,” according to ICE. — AFP pic
Friday, 20 Mar 2026 2:50 PM MYT
MEXICO CITY, March 20 — Mexico denounced the death of a national held in custody by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as “unacceptable” today and demanded a “thorough investigation.”
Royer Perez-Jimenez, 19, died March 16 at the Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven, Florida after being found “unconscious and unresponsive,” according to ICE.
“He died of a presumed suicide, however, the official cause of his death remains under investigation,” ICE said in a Wednesday statement.
ICE has disclosed the deaths of two other Mexicans in its custody this year including a 48-year-old in California this month and a 34-year-old in Georgia in January.
“The Mexican government reiterates that such deaths are unacceptable and again demands a prompt and thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding this death, determine accountability, and put in place effective guarantees of non-recurrence,” Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said yesterday.
Mexico will take the “necessary diplomatic steps” and pursue “all available legal avenues” to support the family, the ministry added.
At least 30 people died last year while being held in US immigration detention centers—the highest death toll since 2004, the year after the agency was created.
Mexico has requested the reports and documentation to establish the facts of the case and its consulate general in Miami has visited the Florida facility, the foreign ministry said.
Perez-Jimenez was transferred into ICE custody on February 21, and at intake denied any behavioral health issues or concerns and answered “no” to all suicide screening questions, according to ICE.
“ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure and humane environments,” the agency added. — AFP
Guan Eng mocks Penang CM over land tax, says 90pc revisions show system is broken
Guan Eng mocks Penang CM over land tax, says 90pc revisions show system is broken
Lim Guan Eng speaks during a campaign rally at Karpal Singh Drive in Penang on August 11, 2023. — Picture by KE Ooi
Friday, 20 Mar 2026 1:55 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 — Former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng has demanded accountability from the state government after land tax bills were revised downward by as much as 90 per cent following errors by the Land and Mines Office.
In a statement today, the Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman alleged that a plot of land in Permatang Pauh had its land tax raised 2,722 times from RM25 to RM68,068, only to be reduced to RM12,155 after he intervened.
In a second case within his own Bagan parliamentary constituency, the land tax for a 258-unit low-cost flat in Bola-bola was raised five times from RM3,676 to RM22,120, before being cut to RM4,765 after Lim raised the matter publicly.
“If the land tax rate increase calculation system was indeed correct, fair, orderly and professional, what need would there be to reduce land tax by 80 per cent or 90 per cent?” he said.
Lim argued that reductions of such magnitude were conclusive proof that the state’s land tax calculation system was fundamentally flawed, failed and in urgent need of replacement, adding that such reductions proved the system was defective, failed and problematic.
He questioned why Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow continued to defend the professionalism and accuracy of Land and Mines Office officers when their own corrections told a very different story.
Lim said the pattern of repeated revisions exposed a systemic problem rather than isolated clerical mistakes, and called for the entire calculation framework to be reviewed and rebuilt from scratch.
He insisted that any new land tax calculation system must be developed only after thorough prior consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including landowners, residents and industry representatives.
Lim cited additional cases of extreme tax increases affecting ordinary residents, including a kampung house in Juru whose land tax rose 2,842 times from RM12 to RM34,118, and a 57-year-old man whose ancestral land tax surged 727 times from RM29 to RM21,103.
He also highlighted the case of a 62-year-old businessman from Simpang Empat, Seberang Perai Selatan, whose land tax on two plots quadrupled from RM6,901 to RM34,715, threatening to wipe out his livelihood amid falling business orders and mounting bank loan pressure.
“Why then is [the state] still defending government officers who made mistakes over the rakyat who have been wronged?” Lim demanded.
He further challenged Chow’s claim of being the state’s most hardworking elected representative, pointing out that the chief minister had reportedly received few direct complaints about the land tax hikes during his statewide tours.
Lim said it was meaningless to tour the entire state while remaining inaccessible to voters in Chow’s own Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency, where many of the worst-affected landowners reside.
He stressed that the scale and frequency of downward revisions made it impossible for the state government to credibly maintain that the original calculations were correct, fair or professionally executed.
“The chief minister should be reminded of the spirit of the struggle in conjunction with the DAP party’s 60th anniversary. The rakyat must be prioritised!” Lim concluded.
***
Guanee doesn't behave like a party advisor at all. Furthermore he has a notorious "history" of being virulently against Chow.
The Iran war is causing a global energy crisis - can China withstand it?
21 hours ago
Osmond Chia
Business reporter
Getty Images
China has long braced for a Gulf oil supply shock - but the Iran war's disruption of a key global shipping route is now putting its resilience to the test.
Energy shipments from the Middle East have been at a standstill following Iran's threats to attack vessels that pass through a critical trade waterway as retaliation against US-Israeli strikes.
The blockade has led to a global oil shortage which has rocked Gulf-reliant Asian countries hard - with the Philippines mandating four-day work weeks to save fuel, and Indonesia seeking ways to avoid burning through reserves that will last just weeks.
China, the world's largest buyer of oil, is also feeling the strain.
But the country sits in a better position than its neighbours, after years of statecraft that have prepared it for a global energy crisis.
A test of China's energy network
The world economy has been thrown into turbulence since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in late February.
Since then, oil prices have at points soared to close to $120 (£90) a barrel - pushed up by strikes on shipping and energy infrastructure and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the world's busiest oil shipping channel.
About a fifth of the world's oil passes through the strait - around 20 million barrels each day, according to estimates from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The shortage has left countries scrambling for alternative crude suppliers outside of the Gulf, while others are tapping into their own oil reserves.
As the world's second-largest consumer of oil after the US, China uses an estimated 15 to 16 million barrels of oil daily, various market analysts told the BBC.
The oil is mainly used for China's massive transportation network of cars, trucks and jets. And much of it comes from abroad.
Gulf countries are a major source of the oil China ships in, with barrels from Saudi Arabia and Iran accounting for more than 10% of its imports each, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
China has long braced for a Gulf oil supply shock - but the Iran war's disruption of a key global shipping route is now putting its resilience to the test.
Energy shipments from the Middle East have been at a standstill following Iran's threats to attack vessels that pass through a critical trade waterway as retaliation against US-Israeli strikes.
The blockade has led to a global oil shortage which has rocked Gulf-reliant Asian countries hard - with the Philippines mandating four-day work weeks to save fuel, and Indonesia seeking ways to avoid burning through reserves that will last just weeks.
China, the world's largest buyer of oil, is also feeling the strain.
But the country sits in a better position than its neighbours, after years of statecraft that have prepared it for a global energy crisis.
A test of China's energy network
The world economy has been thrown into turbulence since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in late February.
Since then, oil prices have at points soared to close to $120 (£90) a barrel - pushed up by strikes on shipping and energy infrastructure and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the world's busiest oil shipping channel.
About a fifth of the world's oil passes through the strait - around 20 million barrels each day, according to estimates from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The shortage has left countries scrambling for alternative crude suppliers outside of the Gulf, while others are tapping into their own oil reserves.
As the world's second-largest consumer of oil after the US, China uses an estimated 15 to 16 million barrels of oil daily, various market analysts told the BBC.
The oil is mainly used for China's massive transportation network of cars, trucks and jets. And much of it comes from abroad.
Gulf countries are a major source of the oil China ships in, with barrels from Saudi Arabia and Iran accounting for more than 10% of its imports each, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Getty Images
Most of China's electricity is powered by coal
Most of the country's imported crude oil, which comes from Iran and the Middle East through the South China Sea, is used as fuel to support factories and transportation, mainly in the southern half of China.
The country's north, however, is mainly powered by oil produced domestically in major oilfields, along with pipeline imports from Russia - and these are not disrupted by the war in the Middle East.
While many Asian countries have relied heavily on oil from Gulf nations, Russian oil accounts for nearly a fifth of China's energy imports. That makes Moscow by far Beijing's biggest oil supplier, despite sanctions from the US and Europe.
Coal is also the dominant source of power for most of China's electricity, and is available in abundance locally.
China is the world's largest coal producer, accounting for more than half of global production.
Oil and gas meanwhile account for just over a quarter of China's total energy mix, according to estimates published in state media - making the country less dependent on the resource than Europe and the US.
Prepared for rainy days
Beijing has over the years taken advantage of lower crude prices and the abundance of supply from Gulf states to build one of the world's biggest oil reserves, says Ole Hansen, Saxo Bank's head of commodity strategy.
In January and February of this year alone, Beijing bought 16% more crude compared to the same time period a year earlier, according to its customs administration.
Iran, whose oil is sanctioned by the US, has been a key supplier of cheap crude for China, with reports suggesting that Beijing buys more than 80% of Iran's oil exports.
Vessel-tracking data since the Iran war started indicates that some of this oil is still arriving in China - though analysts disagree on the exact size of China's oil stockpile.
According to trade analytics group Kpler, more than 46 million barrels of Iranian crude oil - several days' worth of energy - currently sit in tankers along the South China Sea.
Most of China's electricity is powered by coal
Most of the country's imported crude oil, which comes from Iran and the Middle East through the South China Sea, is used as fuel to support factories and transportation, mainly in the southern half of China.
The country's north, however, is mainly powered by oil produced domestically in major oilfields, along with pipeline imports from Russia - and these are not disrupted by the war in the Middle East.
While many Asian countries have relied heavily on oil from Gulf nations, Russian oil accounts for nearly a fifth of China's energy imports. That makes Moscow by far Beijing's biggest oil supplier, despite sanctions from the US and Europe.
Coal is also the dominant source of power for most of China's electricity, and is available in abundance locally.
China is the world's largest coal producer, accounting for more than half of global production.
Oil and gas meanwhile account for just over a quarter of China's total energy mix, according to estimates published in state media - making the country less dependent on the resource than Europe and the US.
Prepared for rainy days
Beijing has over the years taken advantage of lower crude prices and the abundance of supply from Gulf states to build one of the world's biggest oil reserves, says Ole Hansen, Saxo Bank's head of commodity strategy.
In January and February of this year alone, Beijing bought 16% more crude compared to the same time period a year earlier, according to its customs administration.
Iran, whose oil is sanctioned by the US, has been a key supplier of cheap crude for China, with reports suggesting that Beijing buys more than 80% of Iran's oil exports.
Vessel-tracking data since the Iran war started indicates that some of this oil is still arriving in China - though analysts disagree on the exact size of China's oil stockpile.
According to trade analytics group Kpler, more than 46 million barrels of Iranian crude oil - several days' worth of energy - currently sit in tankers along the South China Sea.
Getty Images
Estimates suggest China has around three months' worth of oil reserves
Hansen says that estimates show China has built up reserves of around 900 million barrels - just under three months' worth of imports. Figures from Columbia University, cited by Chinese state media, said China had petrol reserves of some 1.4 billion barrels.
It is also unclear how much daily imported energy China is using right away, and how much is being funnelled into its oil reserves, says Hansen. The sheer volume, he adds, still serves as a "substantial buffer" for times of disruption.
Despite its reserves, Beijing has shown signs of caution to manage its supplies in the near future.
Authorities in China reportedly ordered its oil refineries to stop exporting fuel for the time being, in an attempt to keep domestic prices under control. China's government did not respond to BBC queries on the matter.
China's quest for self-reliance
China has become a world leader in green energy, rapidly rolling out wind and solar farms across the country.
Wind, nuclear, solar and hydropower generated more than a third of China's electricity in 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. But the country has since expanded its renewables grid significantly, with estimates saying more than half the installed capacity is now from clean sources.
As a result of its renewable push, crude oil only made up around a fifth of China's total energy consumption in 2024.
And this demand for oil is unlikely to rise again in the future, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Energy economics researcher Roger Fouquet said China's "ambitious" transition to renewables is not merely an environmental move, but has also helped to protect its economy from global risks like those we're seeing with the Iran conflict.
"To some extent, China is fortunate that 25 years ago it began its investment in renewable energy and it is now reaping the benefits," he said.
Electric vehicles (EVs), which account for at least a third of new cars sold in China, have also helped the country's economy become less reliant on oil, said Roc Shi from the University of Technology Sydney.
"It means an EV owner in Beijing simply doesn't feel the pain at the pump when the Middle East flares up," he said. "Their mobility costs are decoupled from international oil markets."
Estimates suggest China has around three months' worth of oil reserves
Hansen says that estimates show China has built up reserves of around 900 million barrels - just under three months' worth of imports. Figures from Columbia University, cited by Chinese state media, said China had petrol reserves of some 1.4 billion barrels.
It is also unclear how much daily imported energy China is using right away, and how much is being funnelled into its oil reserves, says Hansen. The sheer volume, he adds, still serves as a "substantial buffer" for times of disruption.
Despite its reserves, Beijing has shown signs of caution to manage its supplies in the near future.
Authorities in China reportedly ordered its oil refineries to stop exporting fuel for the time being, in an attempt to keep domestic prices under control. China's government did not respond to BBC queries on the matter.
China's quest for self-reliance
China has become a world leader in green energy, rapidly rolling out wind and solar farms across the country.
Wind, nuclear, solar and hydropower generated more than a third of China's electricity in 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. But the country has since expanded its renewables grid significantly, with estimates saying more than half the installed capacity is now from clean sources.
As a result of its renewable push, crude oil only made up around a fifth of China's total energy consumption in 2024.
And this demand for oil is unlikely to rise again in the future, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Energy economics researcher Roger Fouquet said China's "ambitious" transition to renewables is not merely an environmental move, but has also helped to protect its economy from global risks like those we're seeing with the Iran conflict.
"To some extent, China is fortunate that 25 years ago it began its investment in renewable energy and it is now reaping the benefits," he said.
Electric vehicles (EVs), which account for at least a third of new cars sold in China, have also helped the country's economy become less reliant on oil, said Roc Shi from the University of Technology Sydney.
"It means an EV owner in Beijing simply doesn't feel the pain at the pump when the Middle East flares up," he said. "Their mobility costs are decoupled from international oil markets."
That is not to say the Chinese economy is immune to oil supply shocks.
For drivers of electric cars, charging prices can climb during an energy crisis if fuel prices rise.
Last week, petrol and diesel prices rose by 695 yuan ($100; £75) and 670 yuan per tonne respectively, according to state news outlet China Daily citing an official report.
For China's factories, rising oil prices can also drive costs in its massive petrochemical industry, which produces plastics, fertilisers and other chemicals.
As the world's largest energy importer, every barrel of oil will now come with a higher price tag due to the war, said Shi - but China will have no choice but to pay that premium.
From pitch to pocket: Tracing money trail in M'sian football
R Nadeswaran
Published: Mar 20, 2026 7:00 AM
Updated: 10:00 AM
COMMENT | Boxing and football may seem worlds apart, but boxing parlance aptly describes the barrage of blows suffered by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
Two left hooks left the boxer staggering, and despite the trainer’s insistence that there was more fight left, the uppercut sent him crashing to the canvas - a knockout that would end his career.
If the Malaysian football saga was reported like a bout, the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa)’s two blows would have been enough to warrant a strategic retreat.
Yet, FAM’s leaders refused to throw in the towel and instead chose to “go to war” at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), only to be met with an uppercut that left them sprawled on the canvas.
Everyone loves a winner - the sweet taste of glory, the rewards of victory. But failure? Failure flips the script. Friends vanish. Reputation crumbles. Authority is stripped away.
Suddenly, you are the villain. The same fans who cheered now tear you apart. The scrutiny intensifies - especially when the truth about breaking the rules comes to light. There is nowhere to hide.
Published: Mar 20, 2026 7:00 AM
Updated: 10:00 AM
COMMENT | Boxing and football may seem worlds apart, but boxing parlance aptly describes the barrage of blows suffered by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
Two left hooks left the boxer staggering, and despite the trainer’s insistence that there was more fight left, the uppercut sent him crashing to the canvas - a knockout that would end his career.
If the Malaysian football saga was reported like a bout, the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa)’s two blows would have been enough to warrant a strategic retreat.
Yet, FAM’s leaders refused to throw in the towel and instead chose to “go to war” at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), only to be met with an uppercut that left them sprawled on the canvas.
Everyone loves a winner - the sweet taste of glory, the rewards of victory. But failure? Failure flips the script. Friends vanish. Reputation crumbles. Authority is stripped away.
Suddenly, you are the villain. The same fans who cheered now tear you apart. The scrutiny intensifies - especially when the truth about breaking the rules comes to light. There is nowhere to hide.
The entire FAM committee has resigned. But who is really taking the fall?
On March 17, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) found that FAM had violated the rules by fielding ineligible players in two 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers matches last year.
Following the finding, the AFC slapped FAM with a fine of US$50,000 (RM196,000) and nullified Malaysia’s wins in the two matches, which ended with the scores: Malaysia 2-Nepal 0 and Malaysia 4-Vietnam 0.
The AFC disciplinary and ethics committee decided that Malaysia lost 3-0 for both matches, based on Article 25.1 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code.
Govt’s role in citizenship scandal
Even political leaders joined the chorus. PKR Youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim vented his feelings on social media.
“Penyudahnya ‘cekelat angin’,” he said on X, which roughly translates to “We got nothing in the end”.
But Kamil is barking up the wrong tree. He should have sought answers from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whom FAM thanked for “facilitating the citizenship papers” for the seven foreign players.
On March 17, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) found that FAM had violated the rules by fielding ineligible players in two 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers matches last year.
Following the finding, the AFC slapped FAM with a fine of US$50,000 (RM196,000) and nullified Malaysia’s wins in the two matches, which ended with the scores: Malaysia 2-Nepal 0 and Malaysia 4-Vietnam 0.
The AFC disciplinary and ethics committee decided that Malaysia lost 3-0 for both matches, based on Article 25.1 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code.
Govt’s role in citizenship scandal
Even political leaders joined the chorus. PKR Youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim vented his feelings on social media.
“Penyudahnya ‘cekelat angin’,” he said on X, which roughly translates to “We got nothing in the end”.
But Kamil is barking up the wrong tree. He should have sought answers from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whom FAM thanked for “facilitating the citizenship papers” for the seven foreign players.
PKR Youth chief Kamil Abdul Munim
Was it not his party stalwart and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail who aided in getting citizenship for the seven?
The prime minister also allocated RM30 million for the national football squad. Shouldn’t he and Saifuddin be providing answers instead of maintaining stoic silence, Kamil?
The government was also complicit in the issuance of the false birth certificates and other documents, as confirmed by National Registration Department head honcho Badrul Hisham Alias.
Royal rebuke
But the issue has not ended. They say it never rains, but it pours.
On the heels of the CAS decision two weeks ago, Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim or TMJ, as he is known, has made startling allegations against certain FAM officials - past and present.
The regent claimed he is being made a scapegoat in the scandal and is instead blaming FAM insiders who he claimed had an axe to grind with him over financial matters.
In a post on X, Tunku Ismail claimed that some in FAM had approached him for projects, and to avoid MACC investigations, among others.
These individuals, he claimed, were also unhappy that the government channelled funds directly to the national football team - implying it was because they did not get a cut of the funds.
The prime minister also allocated RM30 million for the national football squad. Shouldn’t he and Saifuddin be providing answers instead of maintaining stoic silence, Kamil?
The government was also complicit in the issuance of the false birth certificates and other documents, as confirmed by National Registration Department head honcho Badrul Hisham Alias.
Royal rebuke
But the issue has not ended. They say it never rains, but it pours.
On the heels of the CAS decision two weeks ago, Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim or TMJ, as he is known, has made startling allegations against certain FAM officials - past and present.
The regent claimed he is being made a scapegoat in the scandal and is instead blaming FAM insiders who he claimed had an axe to grind with him over financial matters.
In a post on X, Tunku Ismail claimed that some in FAM had approached him for projects, and to avoid MACC investigations, among others.
These individuals, he claimed, were also unhappy that the government channelled funds directly to the national football team - implying it was because they did not get a cut of the funds.
Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim
In a series of social media posts, he alleged misuse and abuse of power and money. In one, he wrote: “Ask him to explain where the TV rights money and sponsorship money that should have gone to each team that competed for years went? Whose pocket?
“Is he still disappointed that his son does not work for FAM anymore because there were issues with the staff?”
In another post, he slammed a former manager of Harimau Malaya.
Those named have retreated into a cocoon, refusing to comment on the allegations.
Due for an overhaul
Football in Malaysia is not just on the ropes; it’s down for the count. It is a multi-million-ringgit enterprise with large amounts flowing through ticket sales, TV rights, sponsorship, allocations from Fifa, etc.
Rightly, it should be run like a commercial organisation, but this is not the case. It is being run like a family-owned business.
Accountability cannot stop at resignations because they risk becoming a convenient exit - a way for those responsible to slip quietly into the shadows without ever answering for the roles they played.
We need a forensic audit conducted by an independent, third-party body with no ties to FAM, no political affiliations, and no vested interests.
This audit must trace the flow of every single ringgit - from broadcasting rights and sponsorship deals, to government allocations and development funds. It must ask the hard questions: Who approved these deals? Who benefited? And who tried to silence those who raised concerns?
Transparency is not just about opening the books; it is about restoring the faith of millions of Malaysians who love this sport. The fans who pack the stadiums, the children who dream of wearing the Harimau Malaya jersey.
Reforms must follow. Not cosmetic changes, not a reshuffling of the same faces, but a fundamental overhaul of how Malaysian football is governed.
That means stronger oversight, stricter conflict of interest rules, and real consequences for those who abuse their power.
The time for an independent audit is now. Not next month. Not next year. Now.
Because every day we wait, the rot deepens, and the trust of the nation erodes further. Malaysian football has been knocked to the canvas - but whether we get back up depends on whether we dare to clean house, once and for all.
R NADESWARAN is an award-winning journalist whose journalistic career has spanned more than five decades. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com
“Is he still disappointed that his son does not work for FAM anymore because there were issues with the staff?”
In another post, he slammed a former manager of Harimau Malaya.
Those named have retreated into a cocoon, refusing to comment on the allegations.
Due for an overhaul
Football in Malaysia is not just on the ropes; it’s down for the count. It is a multi-million-ringgit enterprise with large amounts flowing through ticket sales, TV rights, sponsorship, allocations from Fifa, etc.
Rightly, it should be run like a commercial organisation, but this is not the case. It is being run like a family-owned business.
Accountability cannot stop at resignations because they risk becoming a convenient exit - a way for those responsible to slip quietly into the shadows without ever answering for the roles they played.
We need a forensic audit conducted by an independent, third-party body with no ties to FAM, no political affiliations, and no vested interests.
This audit must trace the flow of every single ringgit - from broadcasting rights and sponsorship deals, to government allocations and development funds. It must ask the hard questions: Who approved these deals? Who benefited? And who tried to silence those who raised concerns?
Transparency is not just about opening the books; it is about restoring the faith of millions of Malaysians who love this sport. The fans who pack the stadiums, the children who dream of wearing the Harimau Malaya jersey.
Reforms must follow. Not cosmetic changes, not a reshuffling of the same faces, but a fundamental overhaul of how Malaysian football is governed.
That means stronger oversight, stricter conflict of interest rules, and real consequences for those who abuse their power.
The time for an independent audit is now. Not next month. Not next year. Now.
Because every day we wait, the rot deepens, and the trust of the nation erodes further. Malaysian football has been knocked to the canvas - but whether we get back up depends on whether we dare to clean house, once and for all.
R NADESWARAN is an award-winning journalist whose journalistic career has spanned more than five decades. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com
***
After a few months lull, the same friggers will be back - too much swill in the trough to simply quit
Europeans sekarang go-starn pula
From the FB page of:
BREAKING NEWS: In a shock U-turn, leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan issued a statement a few hours ago saying YES to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call to join military “efforts to ensure safe passage” in the Strait of Hormuz.
Canada issued a statement shortly afterwards, saying it would join Trump’s coalition.
Iran closed the Strait after Trump and Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu launched an unprovoked attack on Iran as it was capitulating to US demands in peace talks. More than 3,000 Iranians have been killed, including hundreds of children.
.
ABANDONED PLEDGE
The US Navy abandoned a pledge to oversee safe passage and moved away from the troubled waters--but Trump called on others, China and the western nations, to take action.
China ignored the call, and the western nations refused, but have now changed their minds.
Standing with Trump and Netanyahu on “the Hormuz Coalition” are:
· Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer
· France’s President Emmanuel Macron
· Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz
· Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
· Netherlands’ Prime Minister Rob Jetten
· Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
· Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney
.
BLAMING THE VICTIMS
In a now familiar display of anti-logic, the leaders refused to condemn the US and Israel for launching a war widely identified as illegal, but sharply criticized the Iranians for defending themselves.
“We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817,” the letter said.
The letter does not specify which nations will send troops or warships or how many. US officials said those details will be worked out later.
Surveys show that the public in Europe, UK and even the United States, strongly disapprove of the US-Israel war on Iran—but the leaders are going against their voters.
Their actions lend weight to assertions that western liberal democracy is a sham, controlled by behind-the-scenes lobbies pushing a heavy militarization agenda.
.
COLD-CALLING
How did Trump manage to change their minds? The US President and several senior officials embarked on a series of high level phone calls from Saturday onwards to certain nations, Axios reported. Trump spoke on Sunday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
"Most of this oil isn't our oil — it goes to other countries. So if they want it and they want the price to come down, they need to help out," the official told Axios.
.
EAST STAYING OUT OF IT
While western nations condemn Iran, eastern nations have pointed out that the US and Israel are clearly the ones transgressing international law. These include China, Russia, Pakistan and Somalia.
However, Russia is too stretched by western sanctions to send troops, China has a pacifist defence-only military stance, and India and Pakistan are internally divided on whether to support continued US global dominance.
'Corporate mafia': Scapegoating one businessperson may backfire, Rafizi warns
'Corporate mafia': Scapegoating one businessperson may backfire, Rafizi warns
Hariz Mohd
Published: Mar 19, 2026 3:13 PM
Updated: 6:13 PM
The government could be hit with another series of "explosive leaks” if it only targets businessperson Victor Chin over the “corporate mafia” allegations, warns Rafizi Ramli.
Speaking on a podcast last night, the Pandan MP said he believed Chin probably keeps records and proof of all transactions he made in the course of his business, just like businessperson Albert Tei did in the Sabah mining corruption scandal.
"...it looks like there is a tendency that (authorities' investigation) is only focused on making Chin a scapegoat (in the corporate mafia scandal).
"So, I would like to advise those in Putrajaya, those in the close circles of (Prime Minister) Anwar Ibrahim, Bukit Aman, and MACC: you should be careful.
"There is a high possibility that Chin has all the evidence in his safekeeping, so if you go after him and only target him to make him a scapegoat, he might reveal them all.
"I mean all... who he has met, what was discussed. For all we know, he might have recorded all (the discussions)," he said during the “Yang Berhenti Menteri” podcast session, which was aired on YouTube.
Victor Chin
Last Friday, the police raided Chin’s properties at Sungai Long and Kemensah, Selangor, in connection with their probe into the “corporate mafia” scandal.
According to StarBiz, authorities seized items from the properties, including two cars, luxury watches, jewellery, cash in local and foreign currencies, as well as several documents.
Following this, Chin questioned why investigations are focused on him instead of those who deserve scrutiny, and warned that he will not "remain silent" should pressure escalate against him and his family.
According to Rafizi, a corporate adviser like Chin is only part of the "ecosystem", but authorities are allegedly trying to make the "corporate mafia" all about the man.
He questioned why the authorities are not going after other names mentioned by Bloomberg in its exposé about the scandal last month.
Corporate takeovers
Last month, Bloomberg named Chin as part of a network of businesspeople who allegedly colluded with the MACC to stage corporate takeovers of rivals.
According to StarBiz, authorities seized items from the properties, including two cars, luxury watches, jewellery, cash in local and foreign currencies, as well as several documents.
Following this, Chin questioned why investigations are focused on him instead of those who deserve scrutiny, and warned that he will not "remain silent" should pressure escalate against him and his family.
According to Rafizi, a corporate adviser like Chin is only part of the "ecosystem", but authorities are allegedly trying to make the "corporate mafia" all about the man.
He questioned why the authorities are not going after other names mentioned by Bloomberg in its exposé about the scandal last month.
Corporate takeovers
Last month, Bloomberg named Chin as part of a network of businesspeople who allegedly colluded with the MACC to stage corporate takeovers of rivals.
The report detailed a tactic in which a group of businesspersons would target a company, then file MACC complaints against it.
MACC would then investigate the company’s founders, exerting pressure that enabled the complainants to gain control of the firm.
MACC would then investigate the company’s founders, exerting pressure that enabled the complainants to gain control of the firm.
The anti-graft agency has since denied the allegations levelled against them.
Despite pressure to establish a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to scrutinise the allegations, the cabinet last week instructed law enforcement agencies; including the police, MACC, the Inland Revenue Board and Securities Commission to investigate the matter.
‘Cops also involved’
During the podcast, Rafizi claimed that the police were also involved in the alleged “corporate mafia”.
He accused the law enforcement agency of colluding with businessperson Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak in an alleged attempt by the latter and "his group" to take over NexG Berhad.
NexG is a key technology and security solutions company for Putrajaya and holds billions in government contracts.
According to Rafizi, the police's Anti-Money Laundering Unit had allegedly frozen a trading account of a company that held a significant amount of shares in NexG before instructing a transfer of the shares to another company.
The transfer was allegedly done without the knowledge and consent of the shareholder, Rafizi claimed.
According to Rafizi, the police's Anti-Money Laundering Unit had allegedly frozen a trading account of a company that held a significant amount of shares in NexG before instructing a transfer of the shares to another company.
The transfer was allegedly done without the knowledge and consent of the shareholder, Rafizi claimed.
"The amount involved was about RM60 million. Then, it was alleged that the shareholder was forced to sign (a document) saying that he had willingly transferred the shares.
"I have seen the evidence of this," he claimed.
Malaysiakini has reached out to Farhash and Bukit Aman for their response to the allegations.
For the record, Farhash has previously denied a news report alleging him to be involved in the supposed attempt to take over NexG.
The former political secretary to Anwar also issued a letter of demand to Channel News Asia over the allegation.
Govt's anti-war stance at odds with US warships docking, Lynas deal - Wong
Govt's anti-war stance at odds with US warships docking, Lynas deal - Wong
Alyaa Alhadjri
Published: Mar 19, 2026 1:47 PM
Updated: 5:15 PM
Subang MP Wong Chen has called on the Madani government to clarify what he described as contradictions in its foreign policy, particularly on conflicts involving Palestine, Iran, and the United States.
Wong, who chairs the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on International Relations and International Trade, noted that Putrajaya has taken a “critical and vocal position on Palestine and Gaza” while adopting a less critical stance in urging de-escalation and peace talks over the war involving Iran.
“However, these positions do not sit well with recent action of allowing US warships to berth in Penang and also the recent announcement that Lynas will be supplying the Pentagon with rare earth for weapons,” he told Malaysiakini.
“The Madani government needs to explain these apparent contradictions,” he said.
Previously, photographs shared across social media showed the two warships berthed at the North Butterworth Container Terminal.
According to the NST, the vessels, which are fitted out for minesweeping operations and most recently forward-deployed in West Asia, were sent to Bahrain within the past year as replacements for the now-decommissioned Avenger-class minehunters.
US warship in Penang
Defence Minister Khaled Nordin said the two US littoral combat ships that docked in Penang on March 14 and departed two days later had complied with local procedures.
Wong, however, argued that Malaysia should have denied the berthing of US warships, warning that their presence could expose the country to danger and raise concern among Muslims.
“We should have denied the berthing of the warships as it will create unnecessary security risks to us and at the same time create uneasiness among the Muslim population, especially during Ramadan.
“These warships should have been asked to head further south to Singapore,” he added.
Defence Minister Khaled Nordin said the two US littoral combat ships that docked in Penang on March 14 and departed two days later had complied with local procedures.
Wong, however, argued that Malaysia should have denied the berthing of US warships, warning that their presence could expose the country to danger and raise concern among Muslims.
“We should have denied the berthing of the warships as it will create unnecessary security risks to us and at the same time create uneasiness among the Muslim population, especially during Ramadan.
“These warships should have been asked to head further south to Singapore,” he added.
Weapons manufacturing
On Lynas, Wong pointed out that the Atomic Energy Licensing (Amendment) Act has not been ratified, and therefore, the matter falls outside any such framework.
“As for Lynas, the Act has not been ratified yet, thus the Lynas question is not part of the Act’s arrangement.
“While the government may not be able to control what Lynas produces and to whom they can sell their products to, going forward, it should be a national policy that we should not encourage foreign direct investments that are involved in the manufacturing of weapons and arms,” he said.
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the US’ Department of Defense
Lynas’ operations in Malaysia have come under further scrutiny after the company inked a deal to supply rare earth materials to the US’ defence sector.
Meanwhile, Wong said the international relations and international trade PSSC will only resume sittings in about three months.
“Due to organisational and budgetary constraints, my committee will only resume sitting in June and can only pursue this matter more thoroughly then.
“Nevertheless, we will attempt to find the budget for a more urgent hearing after Hari Raya,” he added.
Lynas’ operations in Malaysia have come under further scrutiny after the company inked a deal to supply rare earth materials to the US’ defence sector.
Meanwhile, Wong said the international relations and international trade PSSC will only resume sittings in about three months.
“Due to organisational and budgetary constraints, my committee will only resume sitting in June and can only pursue this matter more thoroughly then.
“Nevertheless, we will attempt to find the budget for a more urgent hearing after Hari Raya,” he added.
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