A very Chinese time? How memes are paving the way for a soft power shift

By Meredith Chen Drinking hot water, eating warm congee and dressing in red to pray for good luck are daily rituals shared by social media users across the globe who have embraced a new lifestyle trend, declaring: “You met me at a very Chinese time in my life.” The phrase has been popularised over the […]

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First China-Philippines talks in over a year: is a South China Sea thaw in the offing?

By Laura Zhou A war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine politicians over the disputed South China Sea has prompted calls in Manila to declare the Chinese ambassador persona non grata – the second such call in three years. While Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has rejected the idea, the latest spike in tensions […]

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China condemns Islamabad mosque attack, pledges support for Pakistan

China condemned an attack on a Shi’ite mosque in Islamabad, pledging support on Sunday for the Pakistan government’s efforts to “maintain national security and stability”. China is “deeply shocked” by Friday’s attack, the foreign ministry said in a statement. An attacker opened fire at the gates of the mosque before setting off a suicide bomb […]

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China conducts naval, air patrols around disputed South China Sea

BEIJING: China conducted naval and air patrols in ​the South China Sea from Monday to Friday, the China Southern Theater Command said in a ‌statement on ‌Saturday. “In ‌an ⁠attempt ​to ‌stir up troubles in the South China Sea, the Philippine side roped in countries outside the ⁠region and conducted so-called ‘bilateral ‌air patrol’, undermining […]

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As traditional US allies hedge their bets, will China be the one to cash in?

By Shi Jiangtao China’s engagement with traditional US allies amid the turmoil of Donald Trump’s presidency may be a sign that it is moving away from its customary diplomatic approach in favour of a “wedge strategy” that some observers believe may help reshape global dynamics. They point to the ways US partners are trying to […]

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Xi tells Trump Taiwan is ‘most important’ issue in China-US ties in phone call

By Khushboo Razdan in Washington China’s leader Xi Jinping held a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, state media said, hours after a video conversation between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the Chinese readout, Xi told Trump that the Taiwan question is the “most important” issue in China-US relations, […]

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Wang Huning urges cross-strait peace and exchanges in talks with Taiwan’s KMT

By Xinlu Liang in Beijing Wang Huning, mainland China’s top official on Taiwan affairs, told the vice-chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT), the island’s main opposition party, that Beijing sought to promote cross-strait exchanges and peace. KMT vice-chairman Hsiao Hsu-tsen was received by Wang, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Beijing’s No 4 […]

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How China’s Comac plans to take on Boeing and Airbus

At the Singapore Airshow, exhibition halls are filled with aircraft models, simulated cockpits and interactive displays showcasing the latest advances in commercial aviation. Among them, one stand has drawn particular interest: Comac, China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer. Comac has made notable progress since its C919 passenger jet flew to Singapore two years ago, marking its first […]

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What does the fall of PLA top brass Zhang Youxia say about Beijing’s Taiwan plans?

By Hong Kong Beijing’s bold move to remove top generals accused of corruption reflects its strategic assessment that overhauling the armed forces is more urgent, and that the issue of Taiwan can wait, according to military analysts. The investigation into China’s top commanders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, has left the Central Military Commission (CMC), […]

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China ties make Darwin Port a bigger test for Australia than Panama port dispute: analysts

By Kandy Wong Any decision by Australia to regain control of Darwin Port is likely to differ from Panama’s move to nullify a contract on its geostrategically vital canal, as fears of Chinese retaliation and a limited security consensus limit Canberra’s options, analysts said – though they warned the issue could still reopen strains in […]

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