China has downgraded its diplomatic relations with Lithuania, days after the Baltic state allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy there. Lithuania defended its right to have ties with Taiwan, but said it respected the “One China” policy. Taiwan’s new office in Lithuania does not equate to official diplomatic relations but could be seen […]
US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have begun their first face-to-face virtual summit The highly anticipated meeting comes as tensions rise between the world’s two biggest economies on issues like Taiwan, trade and human rights. Mr Biden said both countries had a responsibility to ensure their rivalry did not “veer into […]
By Waiyee Yip BBC News The Chinese Communist Party has passed a “historical resolution”, cementing Xi Jinping’s status in political history. The document, a summary of the party’s 100-year history, addresses its key achievements and future directions. It is only the third of its kind since the founding of the party – the first was […]
A Chinese intelligence officer has been convicted by a US jury of plotting to steal secrets from aviation companies, according to the US justice department. Xu Yanjun was found guilty of five counts relating to economic espionage and trade secret theft. He faces up to 60 years in prison and fines of more than $5m […]
Coronavirus pandemic China’s government has urged families to stock up on essential supplies in case of emergencies. No reason was given for the notice from the Ministry of Commerce, but it came amid ongoing coronavirus lockdowns and concerns over vegetable supplies after unusually heavy rain damaged crops. The ministry also asked local authorities to […]
By David Brown BBC News Climate change China’s carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China’s emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China’s President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their […]
Washington has revoked the US licence of one of China’s biggest telecoms companies citing “national security” concerns. China Telecom must stop providing services in America within 60 days. Officials said the Chinese government’s control of the company gave it the opportunity “to access, store, disrupt, and/or misroute US communications”. This in turn could allow it […]
Heightened tensions with Taiwan have focused attention on China, with many wondering where President Xi Jinping sees his country on the world stage. Perhaps the past can provide some clues, writes Rana Mitter, a history professor at Oxford University. China is now a global power, something scarcely imaginable just a few decades ago. Its power […]
The news that China had tested a new nuclear-capable hypersonic missile was described by some as a game-changer that stunned US officials. So how big a deal is this, asks Jonathan Marcus of the Strategy and Security Institute, University of Exeter. Twice in the summer, the Chinese military launched a rocket into space that circled […]
China has denied reports that it tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile earlier this year, insisting instead that it was a routine spacecraft check. The initial report in the Financial Times newspaper prompted concern in Washington, where US intelligence was reportedly caught by surprise. Hypersonic missiles are much faster and more agile than normal ones, meaning […]