22 h. ago Japan moves to ease tensions; China’s reusable rocket: SCMP’s weekly roundup

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Japan’s Sanae Takaichi moves to ease weeks of tensions with China over the Taiwan Strait After weeks of turmoil in relations with China, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sought to dial down tensions with Beijing over a...

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22 h. ago Chinese boy lost after US detention, helper’s last call in fire: weekly roundup

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Japan’s Sanae Takaichi moves to ease weeks of tensions with China over the Taiwan Strait After weeks of turmoil in relations with China, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sought to dial down tensions with Beijing over a...

Events

5 d. ago Why do Chinese no longer feel the need to boycott Japanese products?

During past flare-ups in diplomatic tensions between China and Japan, Chinese consumers spontaneously boycotted Japanese goods. But the latest row, sparked by controversial remarks on Taiwan by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has met with a markedly different response, with almost no one in China calling for a boycott of Japanese products. Part of the reason for the turnaround is a seismic shift in China’s consumer market, with the Japanese home appliances, digital gadgets and cars once...

Politics

8 d. ago Prisoners escape French jail, saw through bars and use bedsheets

Police in France were hunting for two prisoners who escaped from a jail using bedsheets after sawing through the bars of their cell. France has some of the worst prison overcrowding in Europe, and staff unions have complained that the state was neglecting normal jails as it moved narco criminals into new supermax prisons. Guards noticed that the two men had escaped from the jail in the eastern city of Dijon shortly before dawn, the prisons authority said on Thursday. The pair “seem to have sawn...

Events

9 d. ago BREAKING NEWS: Trump advised Japan PM Takaichi not to provoke Beijing over Taiwan: WSJ

BREAKING NEWS: Trump advised Japan PM Takaichi not to provoke Beijing over Taiwan: WSJ  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Politics

1 week ago BREAKING NEWS: Japan's top Foreign Ministry official holds talks with China's envoy

BREAKING NEWS: Japan's top Foreign Ministry official holds talks with China's envoy  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Politics

1 week ago Russia academy breaks up with China naval institute chief scientist under probe

The chief scientist of China’s top naval institute has been suspended as a foreign academician to the Russian Academy of Engineering after he became the subject of a police probe over alleged academic misconduct. On Friday, the Chinese headquarters of the Russian Academy of Engineering said it had taken note of the case against Guo Wei, and was verifying information regarding his election as a foreign academician earlier this year, according to its statement posted on WeChat. The academy then...

Politics

1 week ago BREAKING NEWS: China urges Japan to "show sincerity" for dialogue over diplomatic row

BREAKING NEWS: China urges Japan to "show sincerity" for dialogue over diplomatic row  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Politics

1 week ago BREAKING NEWS: Japan to say what must be said to China: PM Takaichi

BREAKING NEWS: Japan to say what must be said to China: PM Takaichi  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Politics

1 week ago BREAKING NEWS: No contact with China's Premier Li on sidelines of G20 summit: PM Takaichi

BREAKING NEWS: No contact with China's Premier Li on sidelines of G20 summit: PM Takaichi  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

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2 w. ago BREAKING NEWS: U.S. ambassador to Japan denounces China response over Takaichi remarks

BREAKING NEWS: U.S. ambassador to Japan denounces China response over Takaichi remarks  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Politics

2 w. ago Japan is ‘unqualified’ for UN Security Council place, Chinese ambassador says

China’s ambassador to the United Nations said Japan was “totally unqualified” to become a permanent member of the Security Council amid an ongoing row about the new prime minister’s comments about Taiwan. Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the UN, condemned Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks as “highly dangerous” and “extremely mistaken” on Tuesday. “In light of Sanae Takaichi’s atrocious behaviour, how can the international community trust that Japan will adhere to its commitment...

Politics

2 w. ago Breaking | Beijing tells Tokyo it will suspend Japanese seafood imports: Kyodo News

Breaking | Beijing tells Tokyo it will suspend Japanese seafood imports: Kyodo News  South China Morning Post

Politics

2 w. ago BREAKING NEWS: China informs Japan of suspension of seafood imports: source

BREAKING NEWS: China informs Japan of suspension of seafood imports: source  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Politics

2 w. ago BREAKING NEWS: Senior Japan official to visit China over recent diplomatic row

BREAKING NEWS: Senior Japan official to visit China over recent diplomatic row  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Politics

2 w. ago BREAKING NEWS: China urges citizens to reconsider studying in Japan over security concerns

BREAKING NEWS: China urges citizens to reconsider studying in Japan over security concerns  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Events

3 w. ago ‘I saw her die before my eyes’: Namewee breaks silence on Iris Hsieh’s death

Malaysian rapper and filmmaker Namewee says he did everything he could to save Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, but to no avail. “I saw a human being die before my eyes for the first time. “I did everything I could to save her but nothing could be done. This image will remain in my mind forever,” Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, said in a Facebook post on Friday. This was his first public statement since he was released from detention over the police investigation into Hsieh’s...

Events

3 w. ago China’s rare earths breakthrough, Fujian carrier’s naval genius: 7 highlights

We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. In world first, Chinese scientists find rare earth minerals from a living plant A Chinese-led team of scientists says it has found a naturally formed mineral with rare earth elements in a fern, a world first that offers a “green...

Politics

3 w. ago BREAKING NEWS: China urges Japan PM Takaichi to immediately retract her remarks on Taiwan

BREAKING NEWS: China urges Japan PM Takaichi to immediately retract her remarks on Taiwan  Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Politics

3 w. ago Japan ‘very much willing’ to keep talking to Beijing over Taiwan: top diplomat

Japan’s ambassador to Australia has said his country and mainland China must keep “proper” communication channels open over Taiwan to avoid misunderstandings. Kazuhiro Suzuki also urged Australia to help strengthen “joint deterrence” with Japan in what he described as “turbulent” times when speaking at an event at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday. Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait would be “extremely important” for the international community as well as for Japan, Suzuki...

Politics