8 h. ago China’s He Lifeng holds ‘constructive’ call with US officials Bessent, Greer

Top Chinese and US officials held a call on Friday to discuss trade, including ongoing efforts to implement an agreement to de-escalate their countries’ trade war. Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng had an “in-depth and constructive” video call with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported. Both sides agreed to promote the stable development of bilateral trade and economic ties, and “expand the list for cooperation...

Politics

37 h. ago Chinese executive named as suspect in Indonesia radioactive contamination probe

Indonesian authorities on Thursday named a Chinese executive of a metal smelting company as a suspect in a caesium-137 contamination case that resulted in the recall of some exports to the US. Lin Jingzhang, who is a director of PT Peter Metal Technology (PMT), has been designated as a suspect, Bara Hasibuan, a spokesperson for the investigating task force, said. “The Certain Crimes Directorate of the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit has named Lin Jingzhang, a citizen of...

Politics

39 h. ago Luxury brands face probe over alleged Chinese worker exploitation in Italy

Italian prosecutors on Thursday named Gucci, Prada, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent as among 13 luxury brands suspected of using subcontractors who exploited migrant workers in Italy, as part of a growing investigation into sweatshop conditions. Milan prosecutor Paolo Storari issued requests for information about alleged abuses by the brands, although they are not yet under formal investigation. It is the biggest expansion to date of a probe launched last year into the luxury sector, which has...

Economics

3 d. ago Chinese and Japanese coastguard ships confront each other near disputed islands

Chinese and Japanese coastguard vessels have been involved in a stand-off near the disputed Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. The two sides gave conflicting accounts of Tuesday’s incident, with the Chinese coastguards saying they had driven a Japanese fishing boat away from the islands, which are known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan. Liu Dejun, a spokesman for the coastguard, said the Chinese vessels took “necessary control measures” and issued warnings to the boat. “The Diaoyu Islands and...

Politics

6 d. ago China gives disputed Scarborough Shoal a clean bill of health

Coral reefs at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea are healthy and resilient to climate change, but growing thermal stress poses a potential bleaching risk, according to a Chinese environmental assessment. The report rated the atoll’s maritime environment as excellent, with no signs of cyanide in seawater, sediment or fish samples. Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, is claimed by both countries, and Manila has accused...

Science

8 d. ago China, EU shift Nexperia strategy: let the companies work it out

Both China and the European Union have signalled that a dispute over semiconductor maker Nexperia should be resolved at the corporate level, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce, as affected countries continue to seek a solution to supply-chain disruptions. The push for a corporate resolution came after two separate video conferences that Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao had on Wednesday – with German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and European Commissioner for Trade Maros...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump urged Japan's Takaichi not to aggravate China dispute, sources say

Trump urged Japan's Takaichi not to aggravate China dispute, sources say  Reuters

Politics

8 d. ago Trump urged Japan to avoid escalation in China dispute, sources say

Trump urged Japan to avoid escalation in China dispute, sources say  Reuters

Politics

9 d. ago Trump Urged Japan PM to Avoid Escalation in China Dispute, Sources Say

Trump Urged Japan PM to Avoid Escalation in China Dispute, Sources Say  U.S. News & World Report

Politics

9 d. ago Escalating Trade Tensions with China Fuel Farmer Bankruptcies and Suicides

Escalating Trade Tensions with China Fuel Farmer Bankruptcies and Suicides  AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST

Events

1 week ago Ukraine ready to advance peace plan, will discuss disputed points with Trump

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine was ready to advance a US-backed framework for ending the war with Russia and discuss disputed points with US President Donald Trump in talks he said should include European allies. In a speech to allies known as the coalition of the willing, Zelensky urged European leaders to hash out a framework for deploying a “reassurance force” to Ukraine and to keep backing Kyiv for as long as Moscow showed no inclination to end its invasion. US and...

Politics

1 week ago Zelensky ready to advance Trump’s Ukraine plan, urges Europeans be included

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine was ready to advance a US-backed framework for ending the war with Russia and discuss disputed points with US President Donald Trump in talks he said should include European allies. US and Ukrainian officials have been trying to narrow the gaps between them over Trump’s plan to end Europe’s deadliest and most devastating conflict since World War II, with Ukraine wary of being strong-armed into accepting a deal largely on Russian terms,...

Politics

1 week ago China defends passport checks on Indian woman born in disputed border region

Beijing has rejected claims that Chinese authorities detained and harassed an Indian national born in a disputed border region, after the traveller alleged that she was held for more than 18 hours while transiting through Shanghai. On Sunday, a woman who identified herself as Pem Wang Thongdok said on social media that she had been “held” against her will at a Shanghai airport on Friday. According to the post, Chinese border control officers and China Eastern Airlines declared the woman’s Indian...

Politics

1 week ago Amazon faces Italian probe over alleged smuggling of Chinese goods

Italian police carried out searches and seizures at two Amazon sites in Italy on Monday as part of an investigation into the alleged smuggling of Chinese goods, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Dozens of officers from the Guardia di Finanza tax police and the customs agency seized around 5,000 products at a logistics hub operated by the e-commerce giant in Cividate al Piano, in the northern province of Bergamo, the sources said. At Amazon’s Italian headquarters in central...

Politics

1 week ago Italian police raid Amazon sites in probe involving Chinese goods

Italian police raided two Amazon sites on Monday as part of a growing investigation into alleged customs and tax fraud involving Chinese imports, three sources with direct knowledge of the case said. Prosecutors suspect the e-commerce giant acted like a “Trojan horse”, bringing Chinese goods into Italy without paying sales taxes or customs duties, according to a court document seen by Reuters. The scheme could have cost the state hundreds of millions of euros and may extend across the European...

Events

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

2 w. ago Top Democrat demands probe into 4 Chinese firms potentially supplying Nexperia

A senior US Democrat is urging the Commerce Department to investigate four Chinese semiconductor firms potentially tied to Dutch chipmaker Nexperia, warning they could threaten the safety and reliability of components used in cars across the US and its allies. The request marks the latest twist in the turmoil surrounding the Chinese-owned firm, which has become a flashpoint in broader disputes involving China, Europe, and the US, following months of internal conflicts, regulatory intervention...

Politics

2 w. ago Exclusive | Top Democrat demands probe into 4 Chinese firms potentially supplying Nexperia

Exclusive | Top Democrat demands probe into 4 Chinese firms potentially supplying Nexperia  South China Morning Post

Politics

2 w. ago Top Democrat demands US probe into Chinese firms potentially supplying Nexperia

A senior US Democrat is urging the Commerce Department to investigate four Chinese semiconductor firms potentially tied to Dutch chipmaker Nexperia, warning they could threaten the safety and reliability of components used in cars across the US and its allies. The request marks the latest twist in the turmoil surrounding the Chinese-owned firm, which has become a flashpoint in broader disputes involving China, Europe, and the US, following months of internal conflicts, regulatory intervention...

Politics

2 w. ago Exclusive | Top Democrat demands US probe into Chinese firms potentially supplying Nexperia

Exclusive | Top Democrat demands US probe into Chinese firms potentially supplying Nexperia  South China Morning Post

Politics