Australia and China’s defence ministers met for the first time in three years on Sunday, with the talks described as “an important first step” following a period of strained ties. “It was an opportunity to have a very frank and full exchange in which I raised a number of issues of concern to Australia,” Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said, confirming the meeting to journalists in Singapore. The meeting between Marles and Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe […]
Asia
‘Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow’: Japan PM warns
Japan‘s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned a security summit Friday that “Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow”, as concerns grow that China could invade democratic, self-ruled Taiwan. US officials have said they believe China is closely monitoring how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine progresses to assess their own plans when it comes to Taiwan. Tensions have been soaring over the island, which Beijing views as its territory and has vowed to seize one day, […]
China vows ‘fight to the end’ to stop Taiwan independence
by Catherine Lai China will “fight to the very end” to stop Taiwanese independence, the country’s defence minister vowed Sunday, stoking already soaring tensions with the United States over the island. The superpowers are locked in a growing war of words over the self-ruled, democratic island, which Beijing views as part of its territory awaiting reunification. Frequent Chinese aerial incursions near Taiwan have raised the diplomatic temperature, and on Saturday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin […]
US blasts China’s ‘destabilising’ military activity near Taiwan
by Martin Abbugao Agence France Presse US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin Saturday blasted China’s “provocative, destabilising” military activity near Taiwan, a day after his Chinese counterpart warned him that Beijing was prepared to go to war over the island. Tensions between Washington and Beijing are soaring over democratic, self-ruled Taiwan, which China views as its territory and has vowed to seize one day, by force if necessary. Beijing has flown growing numbers of its […]
Russia, China unveil first road bridge
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia and China on Friday unveiled the first road bridge between the two countries as Moscow pivots to Asia amid its confrontation with the West over Ukraine. The kilometre-long bridge over the Amur River links the far eastern Russian city of Blagoveshchensk with Heihe in northern China. The construction of the bridge was completed two years ago but its inauguration was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. During a ceremony […]
Hong Kong shares kick off day with big losses
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong stocks opened sharply lower Friday morning, extending a global sell-off after the European Central Bank painted a dim outlook for the region’s economy, while traders are awaiting a key reading on US consumer prices. The Hang Seng Index fell 1.58 percent, or 346.55 points, to 21,522.50. The Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.76 percent, or 24.77 points, to 3,214.18, while the Shenzhen Composite Index on China’s second exchange slipped […]
Taiwan’s Apple Daily finds buyer after Hong Kong edition shuttered
The Taiwan edition of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily newspaper has found a buyer which would retain most of its staff, the firm said Wednesday, pledging to continue to “speak out against any injustice”. Popular news outlet Apply Daily shut down in Hong Kong last year after its newsroom was raided and assets frozen under a sweeping national security law Beijing imposed on the Chinese city to clamp down on dissent. Its Taiwanese edition has continued […]
Cambodia, China revamp naval base, stoking US fears
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AFP) — Cambodia and China on Wednesday broke ground on a Beijing-funded project to revamp a naval base that the US fears is intended for Chinese military use. The Washington Post this week cited unnamed Western officials as saying the new facilities at Cambodia’s Ream base — strategically located on the Gulf of Thailand — were being built for the “exclusive” use of the Chinese navy. Both countries deny […]
Japanese fugitive wanted for Covid relief fraud held in Indonesia
Indonesian police have arrested a fugitive accused of masterminding a lucrative scheme in his native Japan to defraud a government fund offering Covid-19 relief subsidies, officials said Wednesday. Mitsuhiro Taniguchi, 47, was arrested in Lampung province in the south of Sumatra island late Tuesday and flown to the capital Jakarta, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo told journalists. The Japanese national and several associates are accused of submitting false applications to claim 960 million yen ($7.2 […]
China intercepted jet in international airspace: Australia PM
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia insisted Wednesday that its patrol plane was in international airspace when a Chinese warplane intercepted it and released a cloud of small aluminium strips, known as chaff. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded curtly when asked about a spat between Canberra and Beijing over the May 26 incident, which Australia’s government has described as “very dangerous”. “This incident occurred in international airspace. Full stop,” Albanese told a news conference. China’s […]
Death of three sisters spotlights India dowry violence
by Aishwarya Kumar Agence France-Presse JAIPUR, India (AFP) — Before the three sisters and their children were found dead in a well, they left a message blaming the family they had married into. Kalu, Kamlesh and Mamta Meena were victims of a dispute over dowries, the often hefty sums Indian parents pay to marry off their daughters. The sisters had wed brothers from the same household and lived under the same roof, but suffered […]
World Bank slashes China growth forecast over Covid damage
by Beiyi Seow Agence France-Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — The World Bank has sharply slashed its annual growth forecast for China, warning in a report Wednesday that Covid disruptions could further slow recovery in the world’s second-largest economy. China is the last major economy wedded to a zero-Covid policy, using rapid lockdowns, mass testing and strict movement restrictions to eliminate outbreaks — but it has tangled supply chains and dragged economic indicators to their […]





