12 h. ago PLA holds urban warfare drill as Taipei looks to boost ‘asymmetric capabilities’

The People’s Liberation Army has carried out an urban warfare drill, according to state media, in what appears to be a response to Taipei’s bid to fund improved “asymmetric capabilities”. In a report on Wednesday, state broadcaster CCTV aired footage of troops carrying out an operation to seize a built-up area in a war-torn city. The drill – involving reconnaissance, clearing and occupation – was part of a live-fire exercise conducted by a PLA Ground Force brigade that aimed to “test multiple...

Events

15 h. ago China pledges to boost imports, sign more trade deals in next five years

China pledges to boost imports, sign more trade deals in next five years  Reuters

Politics

19 h. ago Japan, China continue to spar at UN over Takaichi remarks on Taiwan

Japan, China continue to spar at UN over Takaichi remarks on Taiwan  Al Jazeera

Politics

20 h. ago Why Beijing thinks Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks challenge the post

Beijing has condemned Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, not only as a violation of the one-China principle but also as a challenge to the post-war international order. Takaichi suggested on November 7 that Tokyo could respond militarily to a potential attack on the island, making her the first sitting Japanese leader since World War II to publicly link a Taiwan contingency with the possible deployment of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces. Beijing regards Taiwan’s restoration...

Politics

20 h. ago Why Beijing thinks Japan PM Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks challenge post

Beijing has condemned Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, not only as a violation of the one-China principle but also as a challenge to the post-war international order. Takaichi suggested on November 7 that Tokyo could respond militarily to a potential attack on the island, making her the first sitting Japanese leader since World War II to publicly link a Taiwan contingency with the possible deployment of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces. Beijing regards Taiwan’s restoration...

Politics

21 h. ago CSRC vows deeper reforms to open China’s capital market and boost tech listings

China’s top securities regulator has pledged to widen foreign investors’ access to the mainland’s capital market while further lowering the fundraising threshold for technology firms, after a key indicator slumped nearly 4 per cent from a 10-year high in mid-November. Wu Qing, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), set out guidance for the equity and bond markets in an article published by the Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily on Friday, three weeks after he was...

Politics

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...

Events

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

40 h. ago China reiterates demand Japan retract Premier Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan

China reiterates demand Japan retract Premier Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan  Anadolu Ajansı

Politics

48 h. ago China urged to boost innovation to drive development at home and abroad

China should focus on technological innovation to drive domestic and global development, a forum this week has heard. China would push for high-quality development and opening up to the outside world, Li Shulei, head of the Communist Party’s publicity department, told the 2025 Understanding China Conference in Guangzhou on Monday. The event, which ran between Sunday and Tuesday, was attended by around 800 people and technological innovation was a central theme. China also strove to help...

Transport

48 h. ago Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Repeats 1972 Stance Respecting China’s View on Taiwan

Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Repeats 1972 Stance Respecting China’s View on Taiwan  Bloomberg.com

Politics

53 h. ago Why peeling back layers of strategic ambiguity will only hurt Japan

Putting aside the ongoing war of words between Beijing and Tokyo surrounding Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statements on Taiwan last month, there is a simple question that needs answering. Can Japan’s Self-Defence Forces really afford to fight the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) without American military support? Takaichi’s answer appears to be that Japan’s military must do so. The legislation approved by Japan’s Diet in September 2015 allowed the country to exercise its right of...

Politics

63 h. ago 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 hypothetical conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Responding to a lawmaker’s question on Wednesday, Takaichi told the Japanese parliament that Tokyo’s position on the island remained unchanged and referred to a 1972 commitment that led to the normalisation of ties between Beijing and Tokyo. “The Japanese government’s basic position regarding Taiwan remains as...

Events

3 d. ago China Boosts Intelligence Reach in South China Sea, Report Says

China Boosts Intelligence Reach in South China Sea, Report Says  Bloomberg.com

Politics

3 d. ago China taxes condoms for first time in 30 years to boost births

China taxes condoms for first time in 30 years to boost births  Euronews.com

Politics

3 d. ago China’s latest bid to boost birth rates: make condoms more expensive

China’s latest bid to boost birth rates: make condoms more expensive  AFR

Politics

3 d. ago China’s 3SBio seeks US$400 million in Hong Kong to boost drug pipeline

Chinese drug maker 3SBio plans to raise HK$3.12 billion (US$401 million) by selling a 4.14 per cent stake in the company to fund clinical research in China and the US and expand the global reach of its drug portfolio. The Shenyang-based biopharmaceutical firm has agreed to sell 105.1 million new shares at HK$29.62 each. The placing price represents a 6.5 per cent discount compared with Monday’s closing price of HK$31.68, according to its filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday. The...

Economics

4 d. ago From immigration to investments: China’s middle class is unwinding bets on Japan

Some of China’s affluent middle class is unwinding bets on Japan, cashing out in real estate and shelving migration plans as a diplomatic stand-off invites a wait-and-see mood on the once-hot destination for capital and talent. The reversal follows escalating tensions sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan last month. Intermediaries report a surge in profit-taking on property and rising pessimism over immigration, with the chill extending to business visits and...

Politics

4 d. ago Starmer urges UK business to boost trade with China despite security threats

Starmer urges UK business to boost trade with China despite security threats  Financial Times

Events

4 d. ago Former Pentagon official supports Takaichi's Taiwan comments, criticises Beijing's retaliation

Former Pentagon official supports Takaichi's Taiwan comments, criticises Beijing's retaliation  ANI News

Politics