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U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel gives a speech at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 23, 2023

U.S. envoy to Japan slams China in speech and social media post

Rahm Emanuel posted pictures of Chinese boats he said were fishing near Japan despite Beijing's seafood ban over the Fukushima water release.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives on stage during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday. 2024.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 17, 2024

China sees one of its worst years of growth since 1990 as recovery stalls

China's National Bureau of Statistics revealed that gross domestic product expanded 5.2% to hit 126 trillion yuan ($17.6 trillion) last year.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks during the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 4, 2024

China scraps premier's briefing, breaking years of convention

The decision removes a rare platform for investors to learn more about the nation’s policy direction under President Xi Jinping.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen meets Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sunday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 7, 2024

Yellen and Li express hope for U.S.-China cooperation

The U.S.-China relationship can only move forward with direct and open communication, Treasury chief Janet Yellen told Premier Li Qiang.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang waves as he boards his plane at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, South Korea, on May 27.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jun 11, 2024

China to send premier to Australia for first time since 2017

But some say the diplomatic milestone could be overshadowed by renewed frictions over investment and military deployments.
Former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (left) speaks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 4, 2025

Chinese Premier Li Qiang urges Japan to stand with China against Trump's tariffs

A Japanese delegation of around 100 members headed by former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono is visiting China for seven days until Sunday.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (left) shakes hands with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo before their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 7, 2023

Top U.S., China, Russia officials gather at Southeast Asia summit

The gathering offers a rare chance of direct, top-level diplomacy between sparring nations.
China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu gives a speech in Kubinka, in the outskirts of Moscow, on Aug. 15
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 11, 2023

Xi stresses military unity as rumors over defense minister swirl

Rumors have been swirling social media over Defense Minister Li Shangfu's whereabouts. His last public appearance was on Aug. 29.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks during the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Sunday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 5, 2023

China premier vows to boost imports and widen foreign market access

The Asian powerhouse's No. 2 official also vowed "to protect the rights and interests of foreign investors in accordance with the law."
BUSINESS
Jan 25, 2024

China vows to improve business conditions, Japan top lobby says

Beijing has embarked on a push in recent months to attract foreign investment back, with the government pledging more "heartwarming” steps.
A military delegation arrives for a meeting Monday, ahead the annual session of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 5, 2024

China defense spending to climb 7.2% amid rivalry with U.S.

Beijing's 1.67 trillion yuan ($231.4 billion) budget makes 2024 the ninth straight year to see a single-digit hike in the country’s defense outlays.
South Korean leader Yoon Suk-yeol (left), U.S. President Joe Biden (center) and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida walk during the Camp David summit on the outskirts of Washington last August. South Korea and Japan will be going into the summit with China more aligned than before following the Camp David meeting.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
May 24, 2024

At Japan-South Korea-China trilateral summit, a chance to manage tensions

Just holding the summit is an accomplishment amid the considerable issues that divide the three countries.
A screen shows news coverage of Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meeting with China's Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Sunday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 29, 2024

Italy's Meloni vows to 'relaunch' cooperation with China

Rome seeks to improve trade ties with Beijing after exiting the Belt and Road infrastructure investment plan last year.
A humanoid robot developed by Ex-Robots winks at the World Robot Conference in Beijing on Aug. 21.
ASIA PACIFIC / Society
Aug 26, 2024

China robots conference spotlights the changing face of humanoids

"The robot industry has broad prospects and huge market potential," said Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a speech during the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Forum's official dinner in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 28, 2025

China aims to capitalize on U.S. tariff turmoil with new ASEAN-GCC forum

The summit with Southeast Asian and Arab Gulf states is the latest sign of more countries looking to join hands to fend off U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff push.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang (from left), Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol are expected to meet in Seoul on May 26 and 27.
JAPAN / Politics
May 19, 2024

Japan, China and South Korea eye economics and infectious disease fight in joint statement

But another focus will be whether the three countries will be able to keep in step over issues related to nuclear-armed North Korea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (left), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (center) and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for a picture during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019.
WORLD / Politics
Aug 31, 2023

Xi likely to skip G20 summit in India: sources

The summit was considered an opportunity for Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden to smooth over recent trade and geopolitical tensions.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, speaks during the Summit on Methane and Other Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases on day three of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai on Saturday.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 6, 2023

EU takes tough line to China to level economic playing field

The EU fears China's weakened economic recovery may drive an uptick in exports
A field study by elementary school students takes place in the Izawa River basin in Shiso, Hyogo Prefecture.
LIFE / Travel
Dec 24, 2023

Unveiling Shiso, a hidden gem of nature and coexistence

With 90% of its area covered by forest, the Hyogo city boasts picturesque streams and a bounty of access points to refreshing natural spring water.
Much like other hot spots across Okinawa, Onna has diligently strived to captivate both domestic and international tourists, while at the same time grappling with the environmental strain induced by the influx of visitors.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability / OUR PLANET
May 5, 2024

As visitors surge, Japan seeks ways to make tourism eco-friendly

A record tourism boom has raised concerns over the enormous stress visitors put on the environment.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will hold talks with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Seoul on Sunday and Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
May 23, 2024

Japan, South Korea and China to hold first summit in four years

A schedule of regular summits had been disrupted by bilateral feuds and the COVID-19 pandemic.
China's Chang Yuan reacts after she beat Turkey's Hatice Akbas in the women's 54-kg gold-medal bout at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
OLYMPICS / Boxing
Aug 11, 2024

China's female boxers break through to reign at Paris Olympics

Women's boxing made its Olympic debut in 2012 and after some near-misses, China struck gold this past week with three titles in as many days at Roland Garros.
Children practice tennis at a club in Beijing on Wednesday. Zheng Qinwen's historic tennis gold at the Paris Olympics this month followed a decadeslong surge in the sport's popularity among China's burgeoning middle class.
OLYMPICS
Aug 16, 2024

China's Olympic tennis glory tracks booming middle classes

Zheng Qinwen's tennis gold at the Paris Olympics followed a decadeslong surge in the sport's popularity among China's burgeoning middle class.
President Xi Jinping last week appeared to signal tolerance for a rate slightly lower than 5%.
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 16, 2024

China’s deepening slowdown tests Xi’s tolerance for growth miss

The People’s Bank of China signaled in a rare statement alongside disappointing credit data that fighting deflation would become a higher priority.
Angry at what they view as China's state-led xenophobia, taught in schools and prevalent online, some people are taking action after the killing of a 10-year-old Japanese boy on his way to school in China, even at their own personal risk.
ASIA PACIFIC / Society
Oct 16, 2024

Killing of Japanese boy leaves Chinese asking: Is this my country?

Some Chinese people believe the boy was a victim of surging anti-Japanese sentiment fueled by China’s government.
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (left) and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing on Wednesday
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 25, 2024

Japan's top diplomat visits China as a step toward mending ties

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya's trip marks the first visit by a top Japanese diplomat to Beijing since April 2023.
The uncertain reaction to Xi Jinping’s display of warmth toward business made sense: China’s executives are eager for a reset after years in the cold but ever wary of meddling.
BUSINESS / Markets
Feb 24, 2025

Is Xi’s sudden embrace of business for real? China is left guessing

China's private sector has good reasons to worry that Beijing could meddle more in businesses in the name of supporting them.
A ship sails through the Panama Canal after Hong Kong's CK Hutchison agreed to sell its interests in a key Panama Canal port operator to a BlackRock-backed consortium on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 5, 2025

BlackRock to buy Hong Kong firm's Panama Canal port stake amid pressure

The $22.8 billion deal, coming amid pressure from the White House, will give the BlackRock-backed group control of ports along the strategic waterway and dozens of others.
Hong Kong’s growth outlook was cut by economists for the last two quarters of the year.
BUSINESS / Markets
Mar 10, 2025

Singapore and Hong Kong face growth risks over U.S. tariff war with China

Singapore and Hong Kong are among the most exposed to China’s economy via commodity and trade links.
Reports claim that children with unusual names were being bullied at school and facing difficulties finding jobs.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 6, 2025

What’s in a name? With new guidelines, the Japanese government wants to know.

Japan now requires official furigana for names in the family register, aiming to limit overly creative "kira-kira" readings.

Longform

After the asset-price bubble crash of the early 1990s, employment at a Japanese company was no longer necessarily for life. As a result, a new generation is less willing to endure a toxic work culture —life’s too short, after all.
How Japan's youth are slowly changing the country's work ethic