36 m. ago China’s Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers sail beyond second island chain

In an unprecedented show of strength, the Chinese aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong have been conducting exercises in the western Pacific Ocean beyond the second island chain, according to the Japanese defence ministry. In a statement on Monday, the ministry said the Shandong strike group was spotted earlier that day, conducting take-off and landing operations of its jet fighters and helicopters about 500km (311 miles) southwest of Iwo Jima and north of Okinotori. It followed the...

Transport

39 m. ago ‘Unacceptable’: Japan group under fire for holding combat drills for students

An organisation in Japan’s Saitama prefecture is under fire for holding combat drills featuring toy guns for schoolchildren amid public anxiety about growing militarisation in the country. At the “junior survival school” run by a general incorporated association, primary and secondary schoolchildren took part in training similar to Japan Self-Defence Force (JSDF) drills and were taught how to handle toy guns, The Mainichi newspaper reported on Saturday, without naming the organisation. According...

Events

4 h. ago Civilian group hosts Taiwan tabletop simulation of attack from mainland China

A think tank in Taiwan has started a two-day war game with retired US and Japanese generals to simulate the island’s defence in the event of a military attack from the Chinese mainland. The Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation, which organised the tabletop exercise, said the aim was to “identify the defence issues that Taiwan urgently needs to strengthen and provide recommendations for the government”. Described as the first operational-level military simulation by a...

Events

5 h. ago 'India has become excessively dependent on China': Top economist calls for 'carefully tailored policy' for trade with Beijing

'India has become excessively dependent on China': Top economist calls for 'carefully tailored policy' for trade with Beijing  MSN

Events

8 h. ago US students discover Unit 731 horrors, and an American war crime cover

As thousands of students gather this week for the finals of the National History Day contest in the US state of Maryland, one research project may stand out – not only as a sobering reminder of an infamous, often forgotten Japanese military unit, but also for America’s role in keeping its war crimes quiet. The project, a documentary produced by four students from a New Mexico high school, is an investigation of Unit 731 – a secret group that carried out unspeakable experiments on people in China...

Events

17 h. ago Despite military purges, China’s next war ‘could be imminent’ and spread fast

Despite military purges, China’s next war ‘could be imminent’ and spread fast  The Hill

Events

17 h. ago China’s Grip on an Obscure Rare Earth Metal Threatens the West’s Militaries

China’s Grip on an Obscure Rare Earth Metal Threatens the West’s Militaries  The New York Times

Events

19 h. ago Disinformation, China and Indonesia’s Viral Battleground After Trump’s Tariffs

Disinformation, China and Indonesia’s Viral Battleground After Trump’s Tariffs  Fair Observer

Politics

20 h. ago Study shows how robots replaced master workers in Chinese military drone factory

In a Beijing defence drone facility, a black carbon-fibre body frame sits on a workstation ready for drilling. The material is light and strong, but a fractional error in angle or positioning could affect stealth performance and lead to the scrapping of the entire part. Master technicians once performed this task – breath held, hands steady – relying on years of muscle memory. Despite their skill, human limitations capped the speed of production and kept costs high. That changed with a...

Events

21 h. ago Chinese teen’s suicide puts crushing academic pressure in the spotlight

A heart-wrenching suicide note left by an 18-year-old girl who killed herself in April has reignited discussion online about the heavy academic burden placed on children in China. In the letter, the girl – who was in her final year at a top high school in Bengbu, a city in the central province of Anhui – wrote about the pressure she felt to do well and said she had been broken by relentless exams, particularly maths and physics. “I cannot bear how you meticulously checked the scores of all the...

Events

21 h. ago China backs Mekong pollution probe after reports point finger at mining firms

China’s embassy in Thailand said it was “closely monitoring” the situation after claims that heavy metal pollution in northern Thai rivers was linked to suspected Chinese mining activities in neighbouring Myanmar. A post on the embassy’s official social media account acknowledged recent comments by the Thai government on the matter. “China is closely monitoring reports about the heavy metal pollution incident in a tributary of the Mekong River in Thailand. We have taken note of the recent test...

Politics

22 h. ago 'Avoid crowds, stay inside': China issues alert for its citizens in LA amid Trump's crackdown on anti

'Avoid crowds, stay inside': China issues alert for its citizens in LA amid Trump's crackdown on anti-imm  Times of India

Politics

23 h. ago India’s landmark production of Rafale fuselages a ‘welcome’ boost for defence

France’s Dassault Aviation will manufacture the main body section of its Rafale multirole fighter jets in India – the first time production has taken place outside France – in a move analysts say marks a strategic milestone in New Delhi’s push for defence self-reliance amid growing pressure to modernise its ageing air force. The fuselage of the Rafale fighter aircraft will be produced through a partnership with India’s Tata group, as part of a broader effort to expand domestic manufacturing of...

Politics

28 h. ago John Lee exclusive interview, Chinese rethink UK degrees: 5 weekend reads

We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Don’t kill your successful DNA’: Hong Kong’s John Lee on tariffs, trade war 2. ‘It’s too much’: Chinese students reconsider UK degrees as policies harden 3. Loitering with intent: Beijing’s new silent South China Sea strategy? 4. Japan grows restless for next-gen fighter jets as progress with...

Politics

28 h. ago China’s ‘Asian Century’ Promise and the Strategic Need to Woo India

China’s ‘Asian Century’ Promise and the Strategic Need to Woo India  Modern Diplomacy

Politics

33 h. ago HSBC to grow investment bank to serve rising demand for IPOs

HSBC will expand its investment banking business to serve the rising demand of companies from Asia and the Middle East for initial public offerings (IPOs), said the co-CEOs of the bank’s biggest profit centre. The plan aligns with the bank’s restructuring to focus on high-return areas like Hong Kong and India, as well as exit low-profitability markets like Europe and the US. Hong Kong sits atop the world’s IPO league table, after 27 companies raised US$9.96 billion this year as of last week,...

Economics

34 h. ago China's Rare Earths Weapon Could Kill Europe's Auto Industry

China's Rare Earths Weapon Could Kill Europe's Auto Industry  Crude Oil Prices Today | OilPrice.com

Events

34 h. ago How BYD and Chinese peers are transforming Europe’s small EV market

Some of the world’s biggest carmakers are squaring off for a titanic battle over small cars in Europe, as native stalwarts like Volkswagen and Renault fight to maintain their hold on the market against an influx of cheap electric vehicles (EVs) from BYD and its Chinese peers. Last month, BYD, which surpassed Tesla last year as the world’s largest EV maker, launched its Dolphin Surf compact hatchback in Europe. The company’s most affordable model, known in China as the Seagull, is priced from...

Politics

35 h. ago South Korea’s president faces tough balancing act between allies, adversaries

Around six months after president Yoon Suk-yeol’s ousting, Liberal Party candidate Lee Jae-myung was elected as South Korea’s new president following a snap election on June 3. Lee’s victory marks a significant political shift, not just in domestic governance, but also in how South Korea may seek to navigate its ever-worsening relations with North Korea. In his inaugural address at the National Assembly, Lee stated his intention to deter military provocations from the North and also “open a...

Politics

39 h. ago 'Sever relations': Bioterror arrests spark alarm; US CCP expert warns China planning ‘something worse tha

'Sever relations': Bioterror arrests spark alarm; US CCP expert warns China planning ‘something worse tha  Times of India

Events