6 h. ago Rubio spoke Wednesday with China’s Wang Yi, State Department says

Rubio spoke Wednesday with China’s Wang Yi, State Department says  yahoo.com

Politics

9 h. ago Chinese and US defence ministers discuss Taiwan, South China Sea in video call

Any attempts to contain deter or interfere with China will fail, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun said on Tuesday night in his first video call with US counterpart Pete Hegseth. State news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday that the discussions included Taiwan and the South China Sea, two areas of friction between Beijing and Washington. “Any schemes and interference aimed at ‘using military force to assist independence’ or ‘using the Taiwan issue to contain China’ will be thwarted,” the...

Politics

10 h. ago EU to tighten sanctions as von der Leyen warns on China, defends US ties

As speculation grows that the European Union will team up with the United States to hit China with huge tariffs and secondary sanctions for buying Russian energy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen vowed on Wednesday to escalate measures on “third countries”. Without naming China directly, von der Leyen used her annual state of the European Union address to call for “more pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table”, asserting that “we need more sanctions”. Overnight,...

Events

11 h. ago New iPhones spark lively debate among Chinese fans amid eSIM limits, AI delay

Apple’s newly released iPhone series, including the groundbreaking iPhone Air, dominated social media discussion in China on Wednesday, with consumers expressing concerns about eSIM adoption and delayed Apple Intelligence features. China Unicom, one of three state-owned carriers, is the only telecoms service provider able to provide eSIM service to iPhone Air users, although China Telecom and China Mobile, two other operators, said they would roll it out later. China’s conditional acceptance of...

Politics

12 h. ago Pacific Islands leaders call for ‘ocean of peace’ but face rough seas at summit

Pacific Island leaders issued a call for an “ocean of peace” on Wednesday, urging respect for their sovereignty at a summit clouded by China’s alleged meddling and great power competition in the strategically vital region. After a day of largely closed-door talks in the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara, the 18 Pacific Islands Forum leaders endorsed a Fiji-backed push for a statement proclaiming the region’s cohesion and its desire for peace and climate action. A heavy police presence guarded...

Politics

3 d. ago How China’s military surged ahead by firing up competition among suppliers

The futuristic drones, intercontinental missiles and laser and microwave systems that rolled through central Beijing on Wednesday reflect not only the intensity of China’s military modernisation drive but also advances in the research and manufacturing ecosystem that has sprung up to develop it. At least five nuclear-capable missile types made their debut during the military parade – three can reportedly reach the continental United States; one is a submarine-launched ballistic missile; and the...

Events

6 d. ago Pentagon pizza orders spike at time of Beijing military parade: Chinese outlet

Chinese state media has mocked an apparent spike in pizza orders near the Pentagon during Beijing’s Victory Day parade, suggesting that in the US close attention was paid to the event, which American President Donald Trump called “very, very impressive”. On Wednesday afternoon, Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with China’s state broadcaster CCTV, released a video saying customer traffic data from Domino’s near the Pentagon was more than four times its usual level around 9pm, and...

Events

6 d. ago Chinese hold nuanced views of US rivalry and Russia, North Korea friendships

Americans tend to believe that China wants to create a new world order to knock the United States off its perch, but the results of a survey released this week suggest Chinese people are far more nuanced and flexible in this view, providing avenues to reduce US-China tension, experts said on Wednesday. The survey of ordinary Chinese, by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and The Carter Centre, depicts a public that is optimistic about their nation’s future, economy, military and culture. They...

Politics

6 d. ago What do ordinary Chinese think of US rivalry and Russian, North Korean allies?

Americans tend to believe that China wants to create a new world order to knock the United States off its perch, but the results of a survey released this week suggest Chinese people are far more nuanced and flexible in this view, providing avenues to reduce US-China tension, experts said on Wednesday. The survey of ordinary Chinese, by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and The Carter Centre, depicts a public that is optimistic about their nation’s future, economy, military and culture. They...

Politics

6 d. ago AI, lasers and chips: the science and tech of China’s military parade

China’s military parade on Wednesday – featuring the latest AI-powered uncrewed vehicles, laser weapons and missiles – signalled an arms race fuelled by scientific and technological advances. Artificial intelligence, optics and physics and information technologies have underscored how innovations will shape the future of modern warfare, paving the way for futuristic intelligent systems. “The parade featured unmanned intelligent systems, underwater combat units, cyber and electronic forces and...

Events

7 d. ago Western leaders parse China military parade displaying authoritarian strength

US and European leaders reacted with veneration, concern and stiffened resolve on Wednesday to China’s epic military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Over 25 foreign leaders – including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un – joined Chinese President Xi Jinping at the showcase event marked by intimidating weaponry and choreographed troop manoeuvres. “I thought it was very, very impressive, but I understood the reason they were doing...

Events

7 d. ago Western leaders parse China military parade displaying national pride

US and European leaders reacted with veneration, concern and stiffened resolve on Wednesday to China’s epic military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Over 25 foreign leaders – including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un – joined Chinese President Xi Jinping at the showcase event marked by intimidating weaponry and choreographed troop manoeuvres. “I thought it was very, very impressive, but I understood the reason they were doing...

Events

7 d. ago Washington should lower temperature on Taiwan invasion threat, US report says

As the US Congress works to finish its annual defence authorisation bill, with new measures aimed at countering China’s influence, a report released Wednesday argues that Washington would be better served by toning down rhetoric about Taiwan and reducing defence investments premised on a looming Chinese invasion there. Beijing is “highly unlikely” to invade Taiwan, with its chances of success increasingly improbable, authors of the Stimson Centre report, “Rethinking the Threat: Why China is...

Events

7 d. ago Washington should lower temperature on Taiwan attack threat, US report says

As the US Congress works to finish its annual defence authorisation bill, with new measures aimed at countering China’s influence, a report released Wednesday argues that Washington would be better served by toning down rhetoric about Taiwan and reducing defence investments premised on a looming mainland Chinese attack there. Beijing is “highly unlikely” to attack Taiwan, with its chances of success increasingly improbable, authors of the Stimson Centre report, “Rethinking the Threat: Why China...

Events

7 d. ago China’s allies give top marks for parade but the West is not won over

Brilliant. Pivotal. Very well held. That is how some countries described the massive military parade in the heart of the Chinese capital on Wednesday. But these countries are either some of China’s closest neighbours or part of the developing world – a group that Beijing has long sought to influence. Elsewhere, particularly in the West, the reaction was more muted. The parade had a dual effect – it marked 80 years since the end of World War II and showcased China’s growing military might and...

Politics

7 d. ago As protests simmer, Prabowo’s China trip carries political risks

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made a swift trip to Beijing to attend China’s World War II victory commemoration parade on Wednesday, with his spokesman citing the importance of maintaining strategic ties and the easing of unrest at home. Analysts said the tightly timed visit reflected Jakarta’s effort to reassure key diplomatic partners and project stability abroad following global coverage of Indonesia’s violent protests over the weekend, but warned it carried “political risks” at home...

Events

7 d. ago Nuclear missiles and ‘loyal wingmen’: 8 surprises from China’s military parade

China’s military parade on Wednesday celebrating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II showcased various new weapons systems, including some surprises from key areas like nuclear missiles and advanced drones. Below are the surprises and takeaways from China’s display of its newest weapons systems, ranging from its new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) playing a role as loyal wingmen for a next generation of fighter jets. New nuclear...

Events

7 d. ago China will host its "biggest" military parade for "Victory Day" on Wednesday. Here's what to know.

China will host its "biggest" military parade for "Victory Day" on Wednesday. Here's what to know.  CBS News

Events

7 d. ago China hosted its "biggest" military parade for "Victory Day" on Wednesday. Here's what to know.

China hosted its "biggest" military parade for "Victory Day" on Wednesday. Here's what to know.  CBS News

Events

8 d. ago Honour guards in China’s military parade to carry PLA’s latest QBZ

Beijing’s massive military parade on Wednesday will feature China’s next-generation QBZ-191 rifles, described by state broadcaster CCTV as the “Transformers of the rifle world”. The guards of honour in the parade will carry the new rifle, which made its first public appearance at the 70th National Day parade in 2019, and marked China’s departure from the bullpup-configured QBZ-95 that had been standard since 1997. The QBZ-191, part of the Type 20 weapons family with variants for different combat...

Events