China
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Is China's Research Ship Near Taiwan Probing Its Defenses?
A Chinese research vessel operating near Taiwan's waters is prompting questions about whether Beijing is systematically testing Taipei's maritime surveillance and response capabilities.
US Sanctions Hezbollah, Pressures China to Back Iran Economic Squeeze
Treasury redesignated Hezbollah as serving the Iranian regime under IRGC-Quds Force command as Secretary Bessent urged Beijing to support measures he says could collapse Iran's government.
Taiwan Proposes Record $35B Defense Budget as China Pressure Mounts
Taiwan proposes a record $35 billion defense budget for 2027 as Beijing's military pressure grows, highlighting the stakes in one of the world's most contested waterways.
China's Wang Yi in Seoul as Trump Presses for New North Korea Talks
China's top diplomat met South Korean officials Wednesday as the Trump administration signals a renewed push to restart stalled engagement with Kim Jong Un.
China Robot Makers Flock to Beijing, Seeking Mass-Market Breakthrough
Chinese robotics firms crowded the Beijing World Robot Conference seeking supply-chain partnerships and investment as the sector bids to cut costs and reach mass production.
China Completes First Stage of Work at Disputed South China Sea Reef
Satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters shows Beijing has finished an initial construction phase at a contested reef, advancing its campaign to reshape the South China Sea.
Pentagon Audits 30 U.S. Universities for Russia, China, and Iran Research Ties
The Defense Department is investigating suspected links between 30 unnamed U.S. universities and 130 research institutes based in Russia, China, and Iran.
China State Shippers Reroute Oil Tankers to Avoid Gulf Chokepoints
Chinese state-owned shippers are repositioning oil tankers outside the Persian Gulf as Iran's Hormuz closure forces the world's largest oil importer to adapt its supply chain.
Taiwan Raises Defence Spending Above $31 Billion as Beijing Pressure Builds
Taiwan has approved a defence budget exceeding $31 billion, one of its largest military commitments, as Chinese military pressure on the island shows no sign of easing.
Taiwan Strait Deterrence: The Case for Statecraft Alongside Force
As military postures harden across the Taiwan Strait, an emerging analysis argues that deterrence geometry alone cannot prevent miscalculation — diplomacy must carry its share.
China Studies Iran's Hormuz Playbook for a Taiwan Contingency
As Iran attacks shipping in the Strait of Hormuz for the third time this week, analysts ask whether China is drawing strategic lessons for Taiwan.
Taiwan Presses Jakarta on Chinese Naval Exercise East of Island
Taipei is seeking an explanation after Indonesia joined China in a naval exercise east of Taiwan, a rare ASEAN alignment that sharpens pressure on the island during Han Kuang drills.
China Criticizes Taiwan War Games as Military Tensions Rise
Beijing condemns Taiwan's military exercises as cross-strait tensions escalate, with the PLA maintaining heightened readiness across the Western Pacific.
China Cyberattack on Taiwan and Military Buildup Raise War Fears
A Chinese cyberattack on Taiwan, paired with accelerating PLA military buildup, has sparked fresh warnings of rising conflict risk in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan Weaponizes Coast Guard, Tests Internet Blackouts
Taiwan is arming its coast guard for combat with China and practicing island-wide internet restrictions as Beijing's military buildup and cyberattack threats intensify.
Russia Is Helping China Close the Military Gap With the United States
A Foundation for Defense of Democracies analysis finds Russia is accelerating China's military modernization as Beijing increases maritime pressure on Taiwan with live naval war games.
Taiwan Runs Drills Simulating Chinese Missile Strike and Drone Defense
Taiwan's military conducted exercises simulating a Chinese assault — missile strikes, special forces ambushes, and drone defense — as cross-strait tensions remain elevated across the region.
Taiwan Slams China-Indonesia Naval Exercise as Dangerous
Taiwan reacted furiously to China's planned naval exercise with Indonesia as Taipei ran its own drills simulating missile strikes, drone attacks, and a communications blackout.
Taiwan Conducts Major Military Drills as China Invasion Threat Looms
Taiwan ran annual war games simulating a Chinese assault, extended exercises to the Penghu islands, and throttled mobile internet for the first time during the drills.
Taiwan Plans Record Defense Budget Amid Sharpening China Invasion Risk
Taiwan's government is set to submit its largest-ever defense appropriation, citing an accelerating Chinese military buildup and concerns about US weapons stockpile depth.
Taiwan's 'Hellscape' Drone Strategy: How the Island Plans to Blunt a Chinese Invasion
Taiwan is investing heavily in drone swarms and sea mines to turn any Chinese amphibious assault into a costly, contested nightmare in the Taiwan Strait.
Germany's China Trade Deficit Grows as Beijing Cuts European Imports
Germany's trade gap with China widened as Beijing's push for domestic manufacturing reduces demand for German industrial exports, Reuters reported Sunday.
China's Carrier Killers: What They Mean for a Taiwan Conflict
A new analysis warns China's expanding anti-ship missile arsenal could severely constrain U.S. naval operations in any Taiwan conflict scenario.
China Conducts Military Drills Near Disputed Shoal in South China Sea
China's military conducted exercises near a contested South China Sea shoal, the latest assertion of Beijing's expansive maritime claims in the region.
China Patrols Disputed South China Sea Shoal on PLA Anniversary
China deployed warships and aircraft near a disputed South China Sea shoal as Beijing marked the PLA's 99th anniversary with warnings against Taiwan independence.
China Coast Guard Patrols Waters East of Taiwan, Angering Taipei
China's coast guard extended patrols to waters east of Taiwan, drawing sharp condemnation from Taipei and raising new concerns about Beijing's expanding maritime reach.
US Treasury Sanctions Iran Mahan Air Networks in India, China, Russia
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced sanctions against financial networks in India, China, and Russia supporting Mahan Air and the IRGC, which he called a terrorist enterprise.
North Korea's Economy Grows on Russia Arms Revenue and China Trade
Bloomberg reports North Korea posted economic gains in 2025 as weapons exports to Russia and expanded China commerce offset years of international sanctions pressure.
Pentagon Official Honors Chinese Military Personnel in Beijing Visit
A senior Pentagon official traveled to Beijing and participated in a ceremony honoring Chinese military personnel, the Washington Times reported, a notable diplomatic gesture amid elevated US-China tensions.
China Fires YJ-20 Hypersonic Missile From Type 052D Destroyer
China fires the YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile from a Type 052D destroyer, spreading a once-exclusive capability across a far larger share of the PLAN surface fleet.
Axis of Aggressors: New Book Warns China, Russia, Iran and North Korea Could Overwhelm US
A new book argues that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have formed a coordinated axis capable of stretching US military and diplomatic resources beyond their limits.
China's Expanding Nuclear Arsenal: A Guide to Beijing's Missile Forces
The PLARF now fields 600-plus warheads across mobile ICBMs, hardened silos, and submarines—on course to exceed 1,000 operationally deployed warheads by 2030.
Behind Kim's Nuclear Navy and AI: Beijing's Hidden Hand
ThinkChina analysis identifies Beijing as the enabling power behind North Korea's nuclear navy and AI programs, reframing Kim's military modernization.
Earthquakes Strike Qinghai as China's AI Video Crisis Deepens
Twin earthquakes hit China's Qinghai province Monday as Beijing battles a surge of AI-generated fake videos spreading disaster misinformation across social media platforms.
US, Japan Join Philippines in South China Sea Military Drills
Washington and Tokyo join Manila for joint naval exercises in the South China Sea, deepening trilateral security cooperation as tensions with China persist in disputed waters.
Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard Vessels Clash in South China Sea
Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships clashed in the South China Sea on Thursday, Al Jazeera reported, the latest in a pattern of maritime confrontations over disputed features.
China Adds 14 EU Entities to Export Control List Over Russia Sanctions
China's Commerce Ministry blacklisted 14 European defense and technology firms Friday, hours after the EU added 14 Chinese companies to its twenty-first Russia sanctions package.
Russia May Be Helping China Prepare for War Over Taiwan, Report Says
The Economist reports Russia may be sharing Ukraine battlefield lessons with China, potentially accelerating Beijing's military preparations for a conflict over Taiwan.
China Launches Taiwan Strait Drills as PLA Sorties Hit Three-Year Low
Beijing ordered fresh military exercises in the Taiwan Strait days after high-level U.S.-China talks, even as PLA air sorties near Taiwan fell to a three-year low in early 2026.
Australia's Wong Calls on Region to Respond to South China Sea Aggression
Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Indo-Pacific partners to define their collective response to China's South China Sea conduct, framing silence as a strategic choice with consequences.
Canada, Australia Confront China Over South China Sea Aggression
Australia and Canada issued sharp warnings over China's South China Sea behavior Wednesday, with Canberra vowing it will not be intimidated as it expands its defense and nuclear capabilities.
China's Oil Output Hits Record High at 216 Million Tons
China's National Energy Administration reports crude oil production reached 216 million tons last year, a national record, as natural gas output also climbed substantially.
Chinese Coast Guard Strikes Philippine Sailor in South China Sea Clash
Video footage shows a Chinese coast guard officer striking a Philippine sailor during a South China Sea confrontation, escalating one of Asia's most volatile territorial disputes.
Beijing Eyes Tumen River Access as China-North Korea Alliance Shifts
A ThinkChina analysis examines why Beijing is pressing for Tumen River access through North Korea, as a separate report argues the China-DPRK alliance is entering a new phase.
China's Fuel Oil Exports Hit 2026 High as Shipping Demand Rebounds
China shipped 577,000 barrels per day of fuel oil in June, an 18% year-on-year jump, with bunker exports up 55% from May — the country's highest monthly total this year.
CIA Operative Helped UAE Win U.S. AI Access After China-Link Probe
A former CIA officer who probed G42's links to Chinese technology firms later helped Abu Dhabi meet Washington's security demands to unlock advanced U.S. AI technology, the WSJ reports.
Taiwan's President: Democratic Island Must Not Become 'China's Taiwan'
Taiwan's president drew a sharp line between democratic self-rule and Beijing's reunification claims, declaring the island must not become 'China's Taiwan' in a statement reported by Reuters.
Pentagon Signs $439M ATACMS Deal With Taiwan, Fujian Carrier in Range
A $439 million ATACMS contract gives Taiwan long-range strike capability to target China's Fujian carrier, marking a significant escalation in U.S. arms transfers to Taipei.
Taiwan Accelerates Drone Production, Eyes Ukraine's Playbook
Taiwan is building a domestically produced drone fleet modeled on Ukraine's battlefield experience as the island prepares for a potential conflict with China.
Kim Jong-un, Wang Huning Stress Strategic North Korea-China Treaty
Kim Jong-un told Wang Huning the North Korea-China strategic treaty ensures regional and global peace, as both sides reaffirm their alliance amid deepening geopolitical pressures.
Wang Huning in Pyongyang: What Kim's Summit with China Signals
Kim Jong Un met with Wang Huning, China's top political adviser, in Pyongyang — a high-level session continuing the diplomatic sequence begun by Xi Jinping's own visit.
Kim Jong Un Meets China's Wang Huning in Pyongyang
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Wang Huning, China's foremost political strategist, in Pyongyang on Thursday as state media confirmed the high-level diplomatic exchange.
Kim Jong Un Vows Deeper China Ties on Friendship Treaty Anniversary
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met China's top political adviser Wang Huning in Pyongyang, pledging closer ties as the two nations mark their friendship treaty anniversary.
A Divided World Is North Korea's Greatest Asset
Geopolitical fractures between Washington, Beijing, and Moscow have dismantled the UN sanctions architecture that once constrained Pyongyang's nuclear program, handing Kim Jong Un a historic strategic opening.
Russia and China Have a Plan to Disable Starlink Over Ukraine
Russia and China have jointly developed a plan to disable SpaceX's Starlink network over Ukraine, EUobserver reports, as the war enters its 1,604th day and expands into space.
Wang Huning Visits Pyongyang in Senior Chinese Diplomatic Trip
Wang Huning, a Politburo Standing Committee member, met a top North Korean official in Pyongyang, KCNA confirmed, following North Korea's premier visit to Beijing days earlier.
Kim Jong-un's Hand Seen in North Korea Premier's China Visit
South Korean analysts say Kim Jong-un's personal priorities are driving North Korea's premier's Beijing visit, a rare diplomatic contact amid shifting great-power competition.
China Detains U.S. Seismologist After North Korea Nuclear Study
Beijing has detained Chinese-American seismologist Youlin Chen after he published research on North Korean nuclear testing, adding new strain to U.S.-China relations.
China Detains U.S. Seismologist Tracking North Korea's Nuclear Tests
Beijing has detained an American seismologist specializing in North Korean nuclear test monitoring, Reuters reported exclusively, adding a new flashpoint to already strained U.S.-China relations.
China's SLBM Test: A Milestone, Not a Provocation
Beijing's submarine-launched ballistic missile test is a genuine step forward for its nuclear deterrent—but analysts warn the reflexive alarm misreads China's actual doctrine.
China Missile Test: The Defense Race Is Now About Networks, Not Platforms
A Chinese missile test has reignited debate over what wins modern wars: not fleet size or platform range, but networked resilience and alliances-driven deterrence.
14 Nations Reaffirm Ruling Against China's South China Sea Claims
Fourteen nations issued a joint statement declaring China's maritime claims in the South China Sea have no basis in international law, reaffirming the 2016 arbitration ruling.
Xi Jinping Doubles Down on Kim Jong Un as Beijing Vows Unshakable Ties
Beijing reaffirms an ironclad partnership with Pyongyang as North Korea condemns the NATO summit, deepening the China-DPRK axis against U.S. and allied pressure.
Graham Calls on China to Press Russia; Trump Said to Back Oil Tariffs
Senator Graham urges Beijing to leverage economic ties with Moscow as sources say the Trump administration is moving toward heavy tariffs on Russian oil exports.
Iran Oil Backs Up at Sea as Chinese Refiners Shift to Gulf Rivals
Iran's sanctioned crude is piling up at sea as China's independent refiners pivot to rival Gulf suppliers, traders say, squeezing Tehran's oil revenues.
Graham Urges China to Pressure Russia as Senate Strikes Sanctions Deal
Senator Graham called on China to press Russia toward peace in Ukraine as senators announced a deal with Trump on new sanctions and his administration backed Russian oil tariffs.
Xi Hosts North Korea's Premier in Beijing Amid Pyongyang Nuclear Vow
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with North Korea's premier in Beijing on Thursday, state media confirmed, as Pyongyang separately pledged to expand its nuclear arsenal in 'quality and quantity.'
China Expands Anti-Sanctions Toolkit, Raising Risks for Foreign Firms
Beijing is rolling out new countermeasures against U.S. and EU export controls and sanctions, increasing legal and operational risk for multinationals operating in China.
Typhoon Bavi Bears Down on Taiwan as China Military Pressure Persists
Typhoon Bavi bears down on Taiwan as Beijing maintains coast guard patrols near the island, compounding the demands on Taiwan's emergency and defense planners.
US Rebukes China Over Hours' Notice Before Submarine Missile Test
Washington criticized Beijing for providing only hours of advance warning before a submarine-launched missile test, flagging China's 'rapid and opaque nuclear weapons buildup.'
Iran Insists on Hormuz Transit Fees, Offering China Special Terms
Iran's ambassador to China told the World Peace Forum on July 5 that Hormuz service fees are inevitable, directly challenging the six-week-old ceasefire accord with Washington.
China Warned of Severe Consequences Over Taiwan Strait Military Action
Western analysts sharpen deterrence warnings toward Beijing as China's navy conducts a rare submarine ballistic missile test in the South Pacific, raising regional alarm.
China Fires Pacific Missile as Australia Signs Fiji Defense Alliance
Beijing test-launched a submarine ballistic missile into the South Pacific while Australia signed a new defense pact with Fiji, pledging full support against any outside attack.
Taiwan Resumes Anti-Communist Patriotic Classes as China Threat Grows
Taiwan has reintroduced anti-communist patriotic education in public schools, with officials citing an intensifying military and political threat from Beijing across the strait.
Beijing's Hidden Stake in the Hormuz Halt
China imports more Gulf oil than any country and brokered the 2023 Saudi-Iran normalization. It has the most to lose from Hormuz closure and unique leverage over Tehran.
Gulf Splits: Saudi Condemns Iran Strikes as Qatar Mediates in Tehran
Gulf states publicly fractured today over the Iran strike cycle, with Riyadh issuing a sharp condemnation while a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran for talks.
China and Iran Push Back on US-Backed Hormuz Resolution at UN
Beijing and Tehran moved to block a US- and Bahrain-backed UN Security Council resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, as Seoul and Abu Dhabi hedged against Iranian disruption.
Xi Pledges No Arms to Iran, Backs Hormuz Opening in Trump Summit
Trump says Xi Jinping promised not to arm Iran and offered to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the White House confirming a first joint US-China position on the blockade.
Trump Lands in Beijing as Xi Summit Pivots on Iran Ceasefire
Trump arrives for two-day summit with Xi Jinping. The central question: whether China will use its leverage as Iran's dominant oil buyer to press Tehran toward nuclear concessions.
US Sanctions 12 Entities Routing Iranian Oil to China
Treasury designates 12 front companies across Hong Kong, UAE, and Oman as Bessent links Beijing's energy purchases to Iranian terrorism financing.
Chinese Tanker Hit Near UAE Complicates Beijing's Stance
A cruise missile struck the Chinese-owned JV Innovation near the UAE on May 7, the first Chinese vessel hit in the 2026 Hormuz crisis, putting Beijing's neutrality under direct pressure ahead of the May 14 Trump-Xi summit.
Araghchi in Beijing as U.S. Presses China to Break Hormuz Deadlock
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday as Secretary of State Rubio urged China to tell Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before the May 14 Trump-Xi summit.
Russia and China's Iran posture: real or performative?
Both major powers have benefited from the Iran cycle without committing to either side. Their public statements are loud; their actions are minimal. Here's what each is actually doing — and why the restraint matters more than the rhetoric.