By Ji Siqi in Beijing and Kandy Wong in Hong Kong In an effort to offer an alternative amid the global rise of stablecoins – cryptocurrencies pegged to a reference asset, such as a fiat currency – China’s central bank is poised to upgrade its digital yuan from a cash equivalent to “digital deposit money”. […]
Read MoreBy Cao Jiaxuan in Beijing China’s top diplomat Wang Yi on Tuesday called for a new paradigm for engagement with the United States, emphasising the need for stable, cooperative ties while firmly defending what he described as China’s core interests, particularly Taiwan. During a speech in Beijing, the foreign minister also accused Japanese Prime Minister […]
Read MoreBEIJING: China launched missiles and deployed dozens of fighter aircraft and navy vessels around Taiwan on Tuesday for a second day of live-fire drills aimed at simulating a blockade of the self-ruled island’s key ports and assaults on maritime targets. The two-day war games code-named “Justice Mission 2025” have been slammed by Taipei as “highly […]
Read MoreBy Julian Ryall Japan’s latest rocket failure has triggered much soul-searching and resurrected a debate about whether the country’s space programme, long defined by caution and incremental progress, is equipped for a market that now rewards speed, repetition and a tolerance for failure. On Monday, the domestically built H3 rocket, Japan’s new flagship launcher, failed, […]
Read MoreChina on Saturday passed revisions to a key piece of legislation aimed at strengthening Beijing’s ability to wage trade war, curb outbound shipments from strategic minerals to sex dolls, and further open its $19 trillion economy. The latest revision to the Foreign Trade Law, approved by China’s top legislative body, will take effect on 1 […]
Read MoreNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un highlighted today (27 December) how his nation and Russia had shared “blood, life and death” in the Ukraine war, as he sent President Vladimir Putin new year’s greetings. Pyongyang has dispatched thousands of troops to fight for Moscow, according to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, as Russia presses […]
Read MoreBy Laura Zhou No winter lasts forever, but the deep chill in the Beijing-Tokyo relationship set off by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan could last a long time. Takaichi has had consistently high approval ratings since taking office, which could encourage her to solidify her position on the island. But there is […]
Read MoreBEIJING: China’s foreign ministry announced sanctions on Friday targeting 10 individuals and 20 US defense firms, including Boeing’s St. Louis branch, over arms sales to Taiwan. The measures freeze any assets the companies and individuals hold in China and bar domestic organizations and individuals from doing business with them, the ministry said. Individuals on the […]
Read MoreNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un signaled the country will continue to develop missiles in the next five years, as he visited major munitions enterprises in the last quarter of 2025, state media KCNA said today (26 December). Kim said “the country’s missile and shell production sector is of paramount importance in bolstering war deterrent,” […]
Read MoreTAIPEI: Washington has approved $11 billion-worth of arms to Taiwan, Taipei said Thursday, announcing one of the largest weapons packages for the island as it seeks to deter a potential Chinese invasion. While Washington is traditionally Taiwan’s biggest arms supplier, remarks by US President Donald Trump raised doubts about his willingness to defend the democratic […]
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