en-gbhttp://www.africa-asia-confidential.comAfrica-Asia Confidential's latest newsletter from Africa-Asia Confidentialhttp://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/images/logo_small.gifhttp://www.africa-asia-confidential.comhttp://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/682/The_year_of_the_dragon%2c_againJanuary 2012China’s trade with Africa has overtaken the USA’s trade with the continent and will soon rival that of the European UnionChinaAfrica53http://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/682/The_year_of_the_dragon%2c_againwww.africa-asia-confidential.comwww.africa-asia-confidential.comhttp://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/683/How_the_IMF_helps_Chinese_companiesJanuary 2012Beijing’s cooperation with the International Monetary Fund often goes unnoticed. China has been quietly working with the IMF to pressure African governments to remove fuel subsidies, after its companies signed several deals for oil and gas processing.ChinaAfrica, IMF53http://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/683/How_the_IMF_helps_Chinese_companieswww.africa-asia-confidential.comwww.africa-asia-confidential.comhttp://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/684/India%e2%80%99s_new_frontierJanuary 2012Many Indian businesses are not waiting for government support for their African ventures and are transforming Africa’s economic infrastructureIndiaAfrica53http://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/684/India%e2%80%99s_new_frontierwww.africa-asia-confidential.comwww.africa-asia-confidential.comhttp://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/685/Aggressive_passivityJanuary 2012The government is tied in knots, but that has not stopped the armed forces from taking a more active role in international peacekeeping missionsJapanAfrica53http://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/685/Aggressive_passivitywww.africa-asia-confidential.comwww.africa-asia-confidential.comhttp://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/686/Recognition_missionJanuary 2012China’s favoured candidate stays in office, but Taiwan will struggle to participate in international bodies and overcome security challengesTaiwanAfrica53http://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/686/Recognition_missionwww.africa-asia-confidential.comwww.africa-asia-confidential.comhttp://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/687/The_diplomatic_truce_goes_onJanuary 2012President Ma Ying-jeou’s election victory on 14 January gave comfort to those who feared that an opposition win might rupture the delicate détente between China and Taiwan – and herald an end to the ‘diplomatic truce’ that has prevented China from wooing ...China, Taiwan53http://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/687/The_diplomatic_truce_goes_onwww.africa-asia-confidential.comwww.africa-asia-confidential.comhttp://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/688/Business_doors_open_wideJanuary 2012Ministers and business leaders from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi are scouting for African deals as global political and economic power shifts eastwardAsia, Africa53http://www.africa-asia-confidential.com/article/id/688/Business_doors_open_widewww.africa-asia-confidential.comwww.africa-asia-confidential.com