Ed White

Gideon Rachman, FT foreign affairs commentator, and Ed White, FT China correspondent, dig into why the Strait of Hormuz remains a strategic flashpoint. They also track Europe’s limited options, China’s oil stockpile stress test, UniCredit’s bold Commerzbank bid, and a newly spotted hellish planet with magma oceans.

Ed White, an FT reporter based in Shanghai, shares insights on China's growing influence in the global iron ore market through the China Mineral Resources Group (CMRG). He explains how CMRG consolidates purchasing power, enhancing China's negotiating leverage with global miners. White raises concerns about the risks of state-led commodity control, warning that CMRG might expand into other resources like lithium and copper. He also sheds light on Australia's heavy reliance on iron ore exports, highlighting its economic significance.

Ed White, Financial Times Asia correspondent based in Shanghai, offers on-the-ground reporting and analysis. He discusses Pakistan's back-channel mediation between the US and Iran. He highlights Asian governments moving into crisis mode and China restricting exports to protect domestic fuel and fertilizer supplies. He covers regional policy responses such as energy emergency measures and demand-reduction steps.