Asia Pacific Aug 29, 2020

China-U.S. tensions raise Taiwan conflict fears

Both Beijing and Taipei have held extensive military exercises in recent weeks.

Asia Pacific / Politics | ANALYSIS Oct 28, 2019

Amid crises, Xi Jinping seems set to uphold Communist Party rule at secretive China conclave

China's Communist Party leaders Monday kicked off their most important meeting this year, with President Xi Jinping expected to champion the Chinese model of governance while fighting protracted economic and political crises at home and abroad. The four-day conclave comes at a critical time, as ...

Asia Pacific Sep 18, 2019

U.S. may call out China on rights at U.N. gathering of leaders

The United States is considering how it will confront China during next week's gathering of world leaders at the United Nations over its detention of 1 million Muslims in a remote region, at a time when some diplomats warn that U.S. leadership in global ...

Asia Pacific | ANALYSIS Jun 16, 2019

How Hong Kong protests and Beijing pressure forced Carrie Lam to cave on extradition bill

With an escalating U.S. trade war, a faltering economy and tensions in the South China Sea vexing her bosses in Beijing, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam appeared in no mood to compromise on a planned extradition law at recent meetings, according to foreign ...

Asia Pacific Apr 11, 2019

China struggles to ease concerns over 'Belt and Road' initiative as summit looms

China is struggling to ease worries about President Xi Jinping's signature plan to build a new Silk Road as it readies for a major summit in late April, especially among Western nations wary about debt, transparency and Chinese influence. While China gained a major victory ...

Asia Pacific | ANALYSIS Feb 27, 2019

Simmering tension with Taiwan means China defense budget likely to defy slowing economy

A slowing economy is unlikely to crimp China's 2019 defense budget growth, as Beijing earmarks more spending for modernization and big-ticket items like stealth jets, and focuses on Taiwan after a stern New Year's speech from President Xi Jinping. The defense spending figure is closely ...

Asia Pacific | ANALYSIS Feb 28, 2018

China's military flexes muscles for domestic objective: more funding

With stealth jets entering service, leaked pictures of new high-tech naval artillery and proud reports of maneuvers that "dare to shine the sword," China's armed forces are putting on a show of power as they lobby for greater defense spending. Although it is the world's ...

Asia Pacific / Politics Feb 27, 2018

With eye on U.S., China to revamp top tier of diplomats, sources say

China is expected to announce a reshuffle of its top diplomats at an annual meeting of parliament in March, aiming to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's growing suspicion of Beijing, several sources familiar with the plan said. The sources, including foreign diplomats, told Reuters ...

Asia Pacific / Politics Feb 26, 2018

China pushes back against criticism of plan for Xi to stay in power

China's plan for President Xi Jinping to remain in office indefinitely has sparked social media opposition, drawing comparisons to North Korea's ruling dynasty and charges of creating a dictator by a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist. The social media reaction late Sunday quickly saw China swing ...

Asia Pacific Sep 4, 2017

China reluctant to press North Korea with further sanctions, seeks more from West

North Korea's latest nuclear test is likely to pile more pressure on China to take tough action against its neighbor, but Beijing already doubts economic sanctions will work and says it is not its sole responsibility to rein in Pyongyang. China has lambasted the West ...