China scours for bargaining chips to put on Trump-Xi summit table: sources

BY Dewey Simin Beijing and Laura Zhou Beijing has called for all hands on deck to work out what ever-unpredictable US President Donald Trump might demand when he sits down with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a few weeks. Several sources, all speaking on condition of anonymity, said various Chinese government departments had been […]

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Russia and China Arming Iran for a Showdown with the United States

By Samir Muradov The Middle East is once again approaching a period of heightened volatility. Renewed discussions in Washington about potential military action against Iranian targets have coincided with a noticeable acceleration of military cooperation between Iran, Russia, and China. While none of the parties openly frames their actions as preparation for imminent war, the […]

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How do Pakistan and Taliban Afghan militaries stack up as tensions flare?

Cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified overnight, with both sides claiming heavy losses and the Pakistani defence minister saying his country was in an “open war” with its neighbour. As tensions persist, here is a look at how Pakistan dwarfs Afghanistan’s military forces and arsenals, according to data from the London-based International Institute for […]

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Can China and Philippines replace ‘disputes with cooperation’ after years of tension?

By Alyssa Chen China and the Philippines may soon start joint coastguard patrols in the South China Sea after years of tensions over the disputed waters, according to a Philippine senator. Erwin Tulfo, chairman of the Senate’s foreign relations committee, met Chinese ambassador Jing Quan on Monday, and said afterwards that the two countries’ coastguards […]

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Is China flexing its intelligence muscle by tracking US military moves near Iran?

By Yuanyue Dang in Beijing and Amber Wang in Beijing A Chinese private company has drawn the attention of security watchers after detailing US military deployments near Iran, a move experts say underlines Beijing’s intelligence abilities. MizarVision, a Chinese commercial intelligence analysis firm, has consistently published monitoring posts regarding American military movements on social media […]

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Will Trump’s Luck Run Out if He Attacks Iran Again?

In a new analysis for Foreign Policy, John Haltiwanger, a staff writer covering national security and the Middle East, explores whether Donald Trump’s bold approach toward Iran could finally catch up with him – and what further military action might mean for U.S. strategy and influence in the region. Four former generals break down the […]

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Fueling uncertainty: How US-Iran Tensions Shape Energy Markets

The current picture dominating global energy markets can, at a first glance, be read as one of surprising calm and controlled optimism. Messages of coordination and supply security, delivered at the International Energy Agency ministerial meeting, together with the agreements signed at the LNG2026 in Qatar, have presented the market with a strong perception of […]

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Xi Jinping expresses hope China can open ‘new chapter’ in relations with North Korea

By Yuanyue Dang in Beijing Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after he cemented his leadership at the latest congress of the country’s ruling party. Xi said Kim’s reselection as general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea on Monday reflected the “high trust and wholehearted support” of the country’s […]

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US Intelligence Flags China’s Nuclear Upgrade Plans After Test

U.S. intelligence agencies are raising alarms about an explosive test conducted by China, linking it to a broader effort to accelerate and modernize the nation’s nuclear arsenal. In a detailed report for CNN, national security correspondents Zachary Cohen and Kylie Atwood explain how American analysts see the test as part of Beijing’s push toward next‑generation […]

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