15 h. ago After Russia Recognises Taliban, All Eyes on China: Will Beijing Follow Suit?

After Russia Recognises Taliban, All Eyes on China: Will Beijing Follow Suit?  The Indian Express

Politics

3 d. ago Why the US could be China’s biggest ally in reining in Asia’s nuclear ambitions

Iran’s crushing defeat in its brief but devastating war with Israel has sent shock waves far beyond the Middle East, casting fresh doubts on the viability of nuclear non-proliferation and raising fears of a renewed global push to acquire nuclear weapons. Without a credible nuclear deterrent, Tehran proved unable to effectively defend or retaliate against Israel’s pre-emptive strikes on key personnel and nuclear facilities, despite its much-touted strategic alignment with China and Russia. While...

Events

7 d. ago Will the US strikes on Iran push China to ramp up its nuclear arms programme?

Instead of crushing Tehran’s nuclear programme, Israeli and US strikes on Iranian facilities in the past week might have dealt a blow to international nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Analysts warned that the attacks might not only encourage Iran to accelerate its nuclear weapon programme, but also prompt countries such as China and North Korea to expand their deterrence efforts. The pre-emptive strikes also risked setting a precedent for US adversaries to justify similar action against any...

Events

8 d. ago China should be alert to risk of US being drawn into war by allies, analyst says

There is more risk of a global military conflict breaking out under Donald Trump’s leadership, with the US more likely to be drawn into wars involving smaller nations or allies, according to Chinese analysts. The assessment came after the United States joined Israel’s war against Iran last weekend, carrying out military strikes on three nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic. US officials have signalled that the operation was a one-off intervention and – hours after Iran launched a missile attack...

Events

9 d. ago South Korean student shares harrowing escape from Israel amid missile barrage

A South Korean college student has recounted her harrowing escape from Israel amid a barrage of Iranian missile strikes as a fragile ceasefire between the arch-foes takes hold following a 12-day conflict. The woman, who is studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, chronicled her June 13 evacuation during the aerial clash in a video posted to YouTube last Thursday. She said she was woken up by air raid sirens at 3am, forcing her to rush into a bomb shelter. “I initially thought the...

Events

1 week ago Trump voices approval for China’s oil imports from Iran, marking US shift

US President Donald Trump voiced approval for China’s oil imports from Iran, marking a notable shift from Washington’s long-standing opposition to Tehran’s crude exports hours after he claimed to broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. “China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran. Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the US, also. It was my Great Honor to make this happen!” Trump posted on social media on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Beijing’s top diplomat called his counterpart in...

Politics

1 week ago Chinese airlines’ advantage, Chongqing as key trade hub: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. As skies in Mideast close, China airlines have key advantage – Russian airspace Western airlines risk suffering greater disruption than their Chinese rivals this summer, as the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel – compounded by US military strikes – forces most carriers to avoid flying over dangerous airspace on China-Europe routes. 2. Suez Canal...

Politics

1 week ago Russia backs Iran with 'clear stance', slams US, Israel strikes; Beijing signals readiness to maintain stability | World News

Russia backs Iran with 'clear stance', slams US, Israel strikes; Beijing signals readiness to maintain stability | World News - Hindustan Times  Hindustan Times

Politics

1 week ago As skies in Mideast close, China airlines have key advantage – Russian airspace

Western airlines risk suffering greater disruption than their Chinese rivals this summer, as the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel – compounded by US military strikes – forces most carriers to avoid flying over dangerous airspace on China-Europe routes. Analysts said that while almost all carriers have diverted services to bypass Iran and parts of the Middle East, Western firms are at a disadvantage: they remain barred from Russian airspace, which Chinese companies continue to...

Politics

1 week ago Iran attacks US military base in Qatar, after vowing response to strikes on nuclear sites

The Middle East crisis has intensified after Iran struck back against the United States following recent US actions targeting its nuclear programme. This critical development escalates an already volatile situation, building on weeks of rising tensions between arch-rivals Iran and Israel – and now, Israel’s key ally, the United States. Since June 13, Israel and Iran have exchanged wave after wave of devastating and deadly strikes. Israel launched its aerial campaign asserting that Tehran is on...

Events

1 week ago US and Israel defend military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites at UN

US and Israel defend military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites at UN  Euronews.com

Events

1 week ago Pentagon says US operation against Iran nuclear sites inflicted ‘severe damage’

The Middle East is plunged deeper into crisis after the United States launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which US President Donald Trump said “completely and fully obliterated” three key sites, marking a major escalation in the Israel-Iran air war. Detailing a complex strike mission dubbed “Midnight Hammer” that involved seven B-2 bombers and the deployment of Massive Ordnance Penetrator “bunker buster” bombs for the first time in a conflict, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said...

Events

2 w. ago ‘Maximum’ 2 weeks for US decision on joining Israel against Iran: Trump

US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his two-week timeline for deciding whether America would join Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling it the “maximum” window for action in an apparent bid to pressure Tehran to negotiate. Asked by a reporter whether the US could launch a strike before the two-week deadline, Trump on Friday replied: “I would say two weeks would be the maximum.” The American leader also on Friday declined Iran’s call for him to urge Israel to stop its...

Politics

2 w. ago China ready to fight fentanyl, illegal immigration with US: top police chief

China has expressed willingness to work with the United States on anti-drug efforts and the repatriation of illegal immigrants – two priorities for US President Donald Trump – but urged “mutual respect” from Washington. The remarks were made in a meeting between Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong and US ambassador to China David Perdue in Beijing on Thursday. Wang said Beijing was willing to work with Washington and hoped the US could “meet China halfway, uphold an attitude of equality,...

Events

2 w. ago Putin and Xi condemn Israel over its Iran strikes in phone call, Kremlin says

Putin and Xi condemn Israel over its Iran strikes in phone call, Kremlin says  Reuters

Politics

2 w. ago Israel ‘ready to keep talking to China’ despite criticism of Iran air strikes

Israel wants to “continue talking” to China despite its repeated condemnations of the recent attacks on Iran, its ambassador to Beijing has said. Eli Belotserkovsky did not rule out the possibility of China acting as a mediator but in an interview with the SCMP on Wednesday he said the country’s biggest concern was its military operation. Asked about Beijing’s position, Belotserkovsky said Israel’s relations with China were “very important”, and that the two sides had open channels of...

Politics

2 w. ago China weighs strategic impact as US mulls military response in Iran

China is likely to remain cautious about intervening in the escalating Israel-Iran conflict even if the US engages militarily, a prospect that would bring mixed results for Beijing, according to observers. Speculation over US intervention has grown since last Friday, following Israel’s most intense strikes on Iran in decades. Washington has since sent an aircraft carrier from the South China Sea and deployed a large number of fighter and tanker aircraft to the Middle East. US President Donald...

Events

2 w. ago Trump demands Khamenei’s ‘unconditional surrender’ in standoff with Iran

Introduction The Middle East finds itself on the precipice as the conflict between arch-foes Iran and Israel is on its fifth brutal day, with both sides escalating their attacks and the civilian toll mounting. As Israeli strikes continue to zero in on Iran’s nuclear facilities and other targets, and Iranian missiles light up the skies over Israeli cities, a chilling new dimension has been added to the crisis: a demand from US President Donald Trump to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali...

Politics

2 w. ago Israel strikes Tehran for sixth day after Trump threatens Iran’s leader

The Middle East finds itself on the precipice as the conflict between arch-foes Iran and Israel, now in its sixth brutal day, intensifies with both sides continuing their attacks and the civilian toll mounting. As Israeli strikes target Iran’s nuclear facilities and other sites, and Iranian missiles light up the skies over Israeli cities, a chilling new dimension has been added to the crisis: a demand from US President Donald Trump to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for an...

Politics

2 w. ago Iran’s Khamenei rejects Trump’s demand for surrender as US weighs military options

The Middle East is on the brink as the conflict between Iran and Israel, now in its sixth day, escalates as US President Donald Trump considers whether to deepen US involvement. As Israeli strikes target Iran’s nuclear facilities and other sites, and Iranian missiles light up the skies over Israeli cities, a chilling new dimension has been added to the crisis: a demand from Trump to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for an “unconditional surrender”. Trump’s demand on Tuesday was...

Events