Articles about China

Exclusive: The Australian government has been urged to take stronger action to protect overseas students from political repressionThe Australian government has been urged to take stronger action to protect Chinese international students from political repression by authorities on their return after a Chinese student was allegedly sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for joining pro-democracy protests in Australia.The student, who the Guardian has chosen not to name, lost contact with his friends in Sydney after returning to China in December 2024. Continue reading...

• Philippine coast guard vessels confronted Chinese fishing fleets in the Scarborough Shoal area Saturday, with Manila accusing Beijing of illegal harvesting in disputed waters and demanding immediate withdrawal. • The incident involved three Chinese ships ramming a Philippine patrol boat, injuring two officers, prompting Manila to lodge a formal diplomatic protest through the US State Department. • Analysts view the confrontation as part of China's broader strategy to consolidate control over contested maritime zones, with the US signaling support for Philippine sovereignty claims.

• The People's Liberation Army conducted live-fire exercises in the Taiwan Strait on April 17, with Chinese warships and fighter jets operating within 50 nautical miles of Taiwan's territorial waters—a proximity not seen since 2020. • Taiwan's defense ministry scrambled fighter jets in response and confirmed the U.S. Navy carrier USS Ronald Reagan transited the strait early on April 18, marking the second transit in four weeks. • U.S. Indo-Pacific Command stated the transit "demonstrates the United States' commitment to freedom of navigation and a rules-based international order," prompting a sharp rebuke from Beijing's Foreign Ministry.

• China's government investigation into Meta Platforms' acquisition of Manus has created uncertainty among Chinese AI startup founders seeking exit opportunities. • The probe has disrupted what was previously considered a popular exit pathway for Chinese AI startups, casting a shadow over international investment and acquisition strategies. • The regulatory scrutiny reflects China's heightened focus on controlling technology transfers and foreign acquisitions of strategic Chinese tech assets.

Beijing may be reaping some diplomatic benefit but Trump’s war holds risks for its energy security and economyTwo months ago, China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, promised it would be a “big year” for China-US relations. He was right, but perhaps not in the way he expected.Wang was speaking before a planned visit by Donald Trump to Beijing in March, which would have been Trump’s first trip to China since 2017. But the trip, and a meeting with China’s president, Xi Jinping, was kicked back by several weeks after Trump decided to launch strikes with Israel against Iran, starting a war in the Middle East that has caused a global energy crisis and roiled diplomatic relations across the board. Continue reading...

Experts point to Chinese backing for multinational attempts to introduce global governance of AIChina is now the “good guy” on AI rather than Donald Trump’s US where the technology is being pursued in a dangerous “wild west” manner, a former UN and UK government adviser has told MPs.Prof Dame Wendy Hall, who was a member of the UN’s AI advisory board and co-wrote a review of AI for Theresa May’s government, told the House of Commons business and trade committee that China was backing multinational attempts to introduce global governance of AI in contrast to America, which had set up a race between profit-hungry companies that relied on hype. Continue reading...

Hui Ka Yan expresses remorse in trial proceedings after collapse of world’s most indebted property developerBusiness live – latest updatesA former steelworker who rose to become one of China’s richest people has pleaded guilty to charges including fundraising fraud after the collapse of Evergrande, the world’s most indebted property developer.The property group’s founder, Hui Ka Yan, “pleaded guilty and expressed remorse” in trial proceedings at a court in China’s southern city of Shenzhen against him and Evergrande, the court said in a posting on its official WeChat account. He also pleaded guilty to misuse of funds and illegally taking public deposits. Continue reading...

• The Chinese People's Liberation Army launched live-fire drills near Taiwan on April 11, involving naval vessels and fighter jets in what Beijing characterized as routine training exercises. • In response, the United States Navy deployed the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group to the Taiwan Strait, with the Department of Defense stating the move was intended to ensure freedom of navigation. • Regional tensions remain high amid concerns over military miscalculation, with Taiwan's defense ministry reporting detection of over 20 Chinese military aircraft in surrounding airspace.

• Tensions between Indonesia and the Philippines intensified on April 12 after Chinese vessels were detected near disputed maritime zones, prompting both Southeast Asian nations to deploy coast guard vessels to assert territorial claims. • The Philippines' coast guard reported being rammed by a Chinese maritime militia vessel, resulting in minor damage but heightening concerns over freedom of navigation in the strategically vital waterway. • US Indo-Pacific Command warned that escalating incidents risk regional conflict and called for adherence to international maritime law, with Secretary of State advocating for strengthened ASEAN unity in responding to Chinese expansion.

• Taiwan's opposition leader has met with China's President Xi Jinping in what observers describe as a significant diplomatic engagement focused on reducing cross-strait tensions. • Both the Taiwanese delegation and Chinese leadership have publicly called for peaceful resolution of their longstanding disputes, signaling potential openness to dialogue amid broader global geopolitical instability. • The meeting occurs within the context of increased international focus on regional stability, with major powers seeking to prevent additional conflicts from erupting during the ongoing US-Iran crisis.

• The Philippines filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on April 9, accusing China of violating international law through aggressive maritime activities, naval blockades, and environmental damage in the disputed South China Sea. • Manila cited repeated incidents including Chinese coast guard interference with Philippine resupply missions, damage to coral reefs, and construction of artificial islands as evidence of systematic violations of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. • The complaint escalates regional tensions and seeks ICJ intervention to establish binding legal precedent, with hearings expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027.

Beijing’s powerbrokers are being credited with winning Iran over, although one analyst says they were ‘pushing an open door’Middle East crisis – live updatesAs the world struggles to make sense of what, if anything, was achieved by the ceasefire deal announced by the US and Iran on Tuesday, one major power that stands to win regardless is China.Beijing’s powerbrokers are being credited with pushing Iran towards agreeing to the ceasefire, bolstering its status as a regional mediator. In China’s tightly censored domestic media, articles basking in the glory of China being the grown-up in the room at a time of international crisis were allowed to circulate. Continue reading...

• US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Geneva on April 8, 2026, to discuss de-escalating trade tensions after new US tariffs on Chinese EVs and semiconductors. • The talks addressed a $50 billion US trade deficit with China and Beijing's retaliatory duties on US agricultural goods, with both sides agreeing to a 90-day tariff freeze. • The negotiations matter as they could avert a global economic slowdown, with IMF warning of 0.8% GDP hit if tensions worsen; Wall Street rallied 1.2% on the news.

• The US Navy sent two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers through the Taiwan Strait on April 8, 2026, in a freedom of navigation operation challenging Chinese claims. • Beijing scrambled 20 fighter jets in response, with state media labeling it 'provocation'; no collisions reported. • This escalation underscores US commitment to Taiwan's defense, critical for semiconductor supply chains worth $500 billion annually.

• US State Department on April 5, 2026, reaffirmed support for the Philippines' call to review 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, rejecting China's 'nine-dash line' territorial assertions. • Secretary Blinken issued a joint statement with Manila, committing $100 million in naval aid; Filipino President Marcos said, 'US alliance is ironclad.' • Development escalates US-China rivalry in Indo-Pacific, vital for $3 trillion annual trade routes and US freedom of navigation operations.

• US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on April 4, 2026, announcing plans for bilateral talks on trade imbalances and semiconductor export restrictions amid rising tensions. • The agreement includes a framework for reducing tariffs on $50 billion in goods and joint cybersecurity standards, with Sullivan stating, 'This is a step toward stabilizing our economic relationship without compromising security.' • The deal matters as it averts potential escalation in US-China tech rivalry, potentially boosting global markets and easing supply chain disruptions affecting US consumers.

• Russia and China are advancing nuclear-powered icebreakers and submarines to contest US control over Arctic shipping routes amid melting ice caps. • New vessels, including Russia's Project 22220 upgrade with 100 MW reactors, aim to secure Northern Sea Route for energy exports by 2027. • This development escalates great power competition, as US lacks comparable non-nuclear fleet, risking influence over $1 trillion in resources.

• China has publicly criticized Iran amid the Persian Gulf conflict, urging an immediate ceasefire and protection of shipping lanes as the Strait of Hormuz closure disrupts global energy markets. • Beijing condemned Iran's attacks on Gulf states while aligning temporarily with Europe on ceasefire efforts, though it also warned the U.S. against strikes violating international law. • This shift highlights changing diplomatic dynamics, creating a brief convergence between China and Brussels amid severe energy market shocks and stalled UN votes on intervention.

• On April 1, 2026, US Navy destroyers and Chinese warships faced off near the Spratly Islands, leading to a diplomatic breakthrough announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. • The agreement includes mutual de-escalation zones and joint patrols starting next month, with China committing to halt artificial island expansions for 60 days. • This averts potential conflict amid rising US-China tensions over Taiwan, boosting Asian markets by 2.5% overnight.

Agreement comes after Wellington halted millions in aid to its former colony after Cook Islands formed strategic partnership with Beijing New Zealand and the Cook Islands have signed a defence and security declaration, ending a year-long diplomatic row that erupted after the Cook Islands struck strategic agreements with China.The Cook Islands was a dependent New Zealand colony from 1901-65 but has since operated as a self-governing nation in “free association” with New Zealand. Its roughly 17,000 citizens hold New Zealand citizenship. There are obligations between the two nations to regularly consult on matters of defence and security. Continue reading...

Distressed riders who were stranded for hours say Apollo Go customer service agents offered ‘useless platitudes’A “system malfunction” has caused several self-driving robotaxis to stall in the middle of the road in China, police have confirmed, after distressed riders were stranded for hours.Local authorities in the central Chinese city of Wuhan said they began receiving calls “one after another” on Tuesday night from riders reporting that autonomous vehicles operated by the Chinese internet company Baidu had frozen. Continue reading...

More than 100 of the Baidu driverless vehicles stopped running because of a system malfunctionSome robotaxi passengers were left stranded in the middle of fast-moving traffic in a major Chinese city after their driverless vehicles stopped running, according to police and media reports on Wednesday.A preliminary investigation indicates more than 100 robotaxis came to a halt because of a “system malfunction”, police in the city of Wuhan said in a statement, without elaborating. No injuries were reported. Continue reading...

Joani Reid MP reportedly swapped flirtatious messages with senior officer in charge of nuclear-armed submarineA Royal Navy captain in charge of one of Britain’s nuclear-armed submarines stepped back from his duties over his relationship with the MP Joani Reid, whose husband faces allegations of spying for China.The married senior officer was investigated by the navy last year over his contact with Reid after the messages, described as inappropriate, prompted an assessment of a potential blackmail risk, the Financial Times first reported. Continue reading...

Foreign ministers Ishaq Dar and Wang Yi met in Beijing as Pakistan pushes for peacemaker roleMiddle East crisis – live updatesPakistan and China have released a joint five-part proposal for peace in the Middle East, after Pakistan’s foreign minister flew to Beijing on Tuesday to seek Chinese support for the country’s faltering efforts to negotiate an end to end the war.The one-day meeting between Ishaq Dar and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, came as Pakistan continues to push for the role of peacemaker between the United States and Iran, even as the war shows little sign of relenting. Continue reading...

Exclusive: the 2026 document is designed to provide ‘scaffolding’ for a long-term Labor governmentGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor’s longstanding opposition to mandatory jail terms has been omitted from the first draft of its new national party platform, after the Albanese government backed minimum sentences on several occasions.An early working draft of the ALP’s updated platform also includes more assertive language on China and seeks to position Australia as an “active middle power” in an increasingly fraught and contested world. Continue reading...

Practice of using apartments to store relatives’ ashes has risen as rapid urbanisation and aging population increases competition for cemetery plotsChina is introducing a law to stop people storing the ashes of their dead relatives in empty high-rise flats rather than paying steep costs for increasingly scarce cemetery plots.China’s new funeral management legislation will prohibit the use of “residential housing specifically for the purpose of storing cremated remains” and the burial of corpses or construction of tombs in “areas other than public cemeteries”. Continue reading...

New York-based Gao Zhen was detained in 2024 during a family visit to China and then tried for ‘defaming national heroes’ The Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen, known for making satirical sculptures of China’s former leader Mao Zedong, has been tried over accusations of “defaming national heroes and martyrs”, his wife and a rights group have said.Gao, 69, who was detained in 2024 during a visit to China from the US, faces a maximum three-year prison sentence, his wife, Zhao Yaliang, and Shane Yi, a researcher at the Chinese human rights defenders group, said. Continue reading...

South Korea’s transport ministry says domestic airlines have asked authorities to redirect export-bound jet fuel back to the local market amid a supply crunch• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSouth Korean airlines have asked their government to help redirect jet fuel exports to the domestic market, threatening half of Australia’s imports of the critical fuel after Chinese authorities earlier this month flagged export restrictions.Amid deepening concerns across Asia about the impact of the escalating Middle East conflict, an official at South Korea’s transport ministry told the Guardian that “some domestic carriers” had asked authorities to redirect export-bound jet fuel back to the local market due to supply concerns. Continue reading...