China has sharply reduced its humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan, marking a notable shift in Beijing’s engagement with one of Central Asia’s most aid-dependent economies. In an analysis published by Eurasianet, journalists Carly Brant and Sean Kearin examine how the scale-back reflects broader changes in China’s regional priorities, evolving financial strategy, and growing expectations that partner […]
Read MoreTAIPEI: Taiwan plans to send officials to assess US rare earths deposits with a goal to have such minerals refined on the island, Economy Minister Kung Ming-hsin said on Wednesday. President Donald Trump’s administration has stepped up efforts to secure US supplies of critical minerals after China rattled senior officials and global markets last year […]
Read MoreBy Cao Jiaxuan in Beijing Economic issues are expected to take centre stage at the US-China summit in April but regional security will also feature, according to former US ambassador to Beijing Nicholas Burns. Speaking via a video link to the Yale Centre Beijing on Tuesday, Burns said US President Donald Trump would be “right […]
Read MoreBy Sylvie Zhuang in Beijing In less than a week, China has carried out executions on a scale rarely seen in recent decades. Sixteen key members of a mafia-like crime syndicate have been sentenced to death for crimes ranging from murder to fraud and human trafficking. While all of the victims in the case were […]
Read MoreBy 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 […]
Read MoreBy 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 […]
Read MoreChina 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 […]
Read MoreSanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, is expected to lead the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to a decisive victory in upcoming lower house elections, according to opinion polls, marking a sharp political turnaround for a party that lost its parliamentary majority just eight months ago amid a series of internal scandals. Polls indicate […]
Read MoreBEIJING: Hong Kong’s commerce chief on Friday summoned the Panamanian Consul General in the city to condemn a court ruling that annulled Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s contract to operate two ports at the Panama Canal. The move came after China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office warned Panama of “heavy prices” to pay over the […]
Read MoreTOKYO: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged Saturday to make Japan “more prosperous and safer,” including through tougher immigration screening, in a final appeal to voters on the eve of snap elections. Opinion polls suggest that Takaichi’s ruling bloc, led by the Liberal Democratic Party, could romp home in Sunday’s vote and secure a two-thirds majority […]
Read More
