Tag Archives: China

Aukus deal to move ‘full steam ahead’ after surviving Trump review

Aukus deal to move ‘full steam ahead’ after surviving Trump review

The Pentagon said on Thursday it has endorsed the tripartite Aukus security pact with the United Kingdom and Australia, which would involve Canberra’s acquisition of at least three Virginia-class nuclear submarines within 15 years. The administration of Donald Trump said earlier this year it was reviewing a 2021 deal for the nuclear-powered attack submarines signed under his presidential predecessor, Joe …

Read More »

Are Singaporean Chinese the ‘least attractive’? Viral image ignites debate

Are Singaporean Chinese the ‘least attractive’? Viral image ignites debate

A widely shared image on social media depicting colour sketches of men from different regions in China has ignited debate on the physical appearance of Singaporean Chinese based on their ancestry, with online users concluding they are the least attractive of the gene pool. But psychotherapists say perceptions of beauty might be warped by media and celebrity culture, warning against …

Read More »

Honduran centrist Nasralla alleges vote fraud as Trump-backed Asfura edges ahead

Honduran centrist Nasralla alleges vote fraud as Trump-backed Asfura edges ahead

Honduran centrist candidate Salvador Nasralla alleged fraud in the country’s highly contested presidential vote on Thursday after his Trump-backed rival Nasry Asfura pulled narrowly past him overnight. Nasralla, in a post on social media, said the screen displaying the vote data went blank at 3.24am and alleged “an algorithm changed the data”, giving the higher tally to Asfura after Nasralla …

Read More »

Chinese tourists pivot to South Korea, Thailand amid Japan travel ban

Chinese tourists pivot to South Korea, Thailand amid Japan travel ban

With rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo disrupting travel plans, Chinese tourists are actively seeking alternative destinations for their winter getaways. While South Korea hopes to capitalise on this diverted tourist flow, it faces fierce competition from popular hotspots like Thailand, Russia and other destinations, according to travel industry officials. The timing aligns with South Korean airlines’ efforts to expand …

Read More »

US Institute of Peace renamed after ‘greatest dealmaker’ Trump

US Institute of Peace renamed after ‘greatest dealmaker’ Trump

The Trump administration has renamed the US Institute of Peace after President Donald Trump and has planted the president’s name on the organisation’s headquarters despite an ongoing fight over the institute’s control. It’s the latest twist in a see-saw court battle over who controls the US Institute of Peace, a non-profit think tank that focuses on peace initiatives. It was …

Read More »

Bessent calls Beijing an ‘ally’ after Trump signs bill on ties with Taiwan

Bessent calls Beijing an ‘ally’ after Trump signs bill on ties with Taiwan

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday described the United States as an ally to both mainland China and Taiwan, while at the same time asserting that its relationships have not shifted, hours after US President Donald Trump enacted legislation deepening US ties with the self-governed island. Asked about concerns among some in Washington about the Trump administration’s approach to …

Read More »

Back to the drawing board: EU revives faltering China de-risking plans

Back to the drawing board: EU revives faltering China de-risking plans

As it fights to survive in the new era of economic warfare, the European Union wants to turbo-boost efforts to de-risk its ties with China, using two new proposals. Launched on Wednesday, the blueprints will combine to upgrade the bloc’s economic arsenal and unpick its heavy reliance on China for critical minerals, including rare earths. The first, an economic security …

Read More »

Breaking | Japan’s Sanae Takaichi reaffirms Taiwan is a part of China

Breaking | Japan’s Sanae Takaichi reaffirms Taiwan is a part of China

Japan’s position on Taiwan remains unchanged, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Wednesday, referring to a 1972 commitment that led to the normalisation of ties between Beijing and Tokyo. “The Japanese government’s basic position regarding Taiwan remains as stated in the 1972 Japan-China joint statement, and there has been no change to this position,” Takaichi told the Japanese parliament. …

Read More »

Whereabouts of 6-year-old Chinese boy Yuanxin unknown after ICE detention

Whereabouts of 6-year-old Chinese boy Yuanxin unknown after ICE detention

The whereabouts of a six-year-old boy from China remain unknown after he was allegedly separated from his father while both were held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York last week. The city’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday raised the issue on social media, saying that the first grader, named Yuanxin, was “arrested and separated” along with …

Read More »