China

China shreds Indonesia’s goodwill a day after Xi’s representative visits Jakarta
Asia, China

China shreds Indonesia’s goodwill a day after Xi’s representative visits Jakarta

A day after Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his special representative and Vice President Han Zheng to Jakarta to attend inauguration of President Prabowo Subianto, tension flared up between the two countries after a Chinese Coast Guard vessel twice in three days last week tried to disrupt a seismic data survey being conducted by an Indonesian energy company in the country’s exclusive economic zone in the North Nauna Sea. Like Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan, Indonesia does not have any territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea. Despite this, Chinese ships have regularly entered its exclusive economic zone in the North Natuna Sea as Beijing claims it falls within its so-called U-shaped nine-dash line that includes 90% of the South China Sea.
Vietnam’s strategy with China is characterized by cooperation and conflict.
Asia, China

Vietnam’s strategy with China is characterized by cooperation and conflict.

Vietnam's diplomatic approach emphasises a balance between ‘cooperation and struggle’ with Beijing. Despite concerns regarding a possible alignment shift, Hanoi remains focused on strengthening economic and political ties while resisting China's encroachments in the South China Sea. This strategy includes military enhancements, close ties with regional powers and frequent political engagements. By deftly balancing relationships with great powers, Vietnam aims to safeguard its sovereignty and promote stability amid ongoing geopolitical challenges. Given Vietnam’s diplomatic status and adept manoeuvring of great power relations, new developments regarding Hanoi’s alignment attract significant attention, including Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam’s August 2024 visit to
What will happen to Ishiba and the LDP following their crushing defeat in the polls in Japan?
Asia, China, Politics

What will happen to Ishiba and the LDP following their crushing defeat in the polls in Japan?

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba insisted on Monday he would not step down and reached out to potential political allies following the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)’s resounding defeat in the lower house election. Analysts were surprised at the scale of the party’s poor performance and said the election outcome on Sunday would be fatal to the fortunes of Ishiba and the LDP. Most of them projected that Ishiba would no longer be in post by the time of upper house elections in July. Only elected head of the party on October 1, Ishiba could be in office shorter than even former Japanese prime minister and LDP chief Sosuke Uno, according to analysts. Uno was in power for just 68 days in 1989 after revelations of his affair with a geisha forced him to resi
Kevin Rudd, the former prime minister of Australia, discusses China and his new book at the IOP Forum.
Asia, China, World

Kevin Rudd, the former prime minister of Australia, discusses China and his new book at the IOP Forum.

Kevin Rudd, Australian ambassador to the United States, said China should become self-sufficient to match other global powers at an Institute of Politics forum to promote his new book on Friday. Rudd — a former Australian prime minister — discussed China’s economic initiative “Made in China 2025,” which aims to make the country “the world leader.” He said China should “take preparations” for escalating conflict over Taiwan with greater investment into semiconductors and other technology sectors. The forum, billed as a discussion of Rudd’s latest book “On Xi Jinping,” was moderated by both Harvard Kennedy School Professor Graham Allison ’62 and Harvard Law School Professor Mark Wu ’95, the director of the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies. Before he was elected to the Austral
Following a sudden election, Japan’s politics experience an unusual dose of turmoil.
Asia, China, Politics

Following a sudden election, Japan’s politics experience an unusual dose of turmoil.

Japanese elections are normally steady and boring affairs - but this snap election was neither. The dramatic vote follows a political funding corruption scandal that was revealed last year, which implicated senior lawmakers and cabinet members from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), tarnishing its image and angering the public. It was the perfect storm - a scandal that saw dozens of LDP lawmakers investigated over pocketing millions of dollars in proceeds from political fundraisers, while households struggled with inflation, high prices, stagnant wages and a sluggish economy. In the end, a furious and tired electorate sent a strong message in Sunday's vote, punishing the LDP at the ballot box. And it was a stunning blow: a party which had ruled Japan almost cont...
Chinese government officials phone women and encourage them to have children.
Asia, China, Opinion, Politics

Chinese government officials phone women and encourage them to have children.

Chinese grass roots government workers, who spent decades imposing strict birth control policies, are now calling up women in their neighbourhoods to urge them to get pregnant amid China’s demographic crisis. When Jane Huang picked up the phone to answer a call earlier this month, her first response to the person on the end was to laugh. “[Hello!] Is that Ms Huang? Sorry to disturb you. I am from your sub district office, are you pregnant now?” Huang, a 35-year-old working mother of one son who lives in the southeast coastal province of Fujian, said the overly enthusiastic social worker even asked about the timing of her most recent period and offered to give her a reminder call when it was “the right time” to conceive another baby. “I laughed so hard when I told my husba
15 countries led by Australia issue UN statement condemning China’s ‘international crimes’
China

15 countries led by Australia issue UN statement condemning China’s ‘international crimes’

In a bold move at the United Nations, a coalition of 15 countries led by Australia issued a statement condemning China for what it described as "international crimes" against ethnic minorities, particularly targeting the treatment of Uyghurs and Tibetans.  The joint statement represents a growing international push to address the reported human rights abuses and political repression perpetrated by Beijing. The statement, read during a UN General Assembly meeting on human rights, was a coordinated effort by Australia and other nations in the coalition.  This coalition of Western and democratic nations highlighted the Chinese government’s alleged systematic repression of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Tibetans and other ethnic minorities through mass detentions, forced labour, sur
Potential targets of a cyberattack supported by China include Trump and Vance.
Asia, China, Opinion, World

Potential targets of a cyberattack supported by China include Trump and Vance.

US authorities say cybercriminals linked to China may have attempted to tap into the phones or networks used by former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, a number of sources familiar with the matter confirmed to the BBC's US news partner, CBS News. The sources said the Trump-Vance campaign had been alerted to the fact that phones used by Trump and Vance may have been among the targets of a broader cyber attack. People affiliated with the Harris-Walz campaign were also targeted, a person familiar told BBC News. It is unclear how much information, if any, may have been compromised. The Department of Justice and the FBI declined to comment on whether candidates were targeted. A joint statement from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructu...
Experts say the India-China thaw is motivated by economic and security objectives and is a “good restart.”
Asia, China

Experts say the India-China thaw is motivated by economic and security objectives and is a “good restart.”

India and China have agreed to ease border restrictions with resumed patrols, a move experts say is driven as much by economic imperatives as by security concerns, with both nations looking to bolster trade ties. The Indian government announced on Monday that the two nations would restart patrols in the contested region, where tensions have simmered since the Galwan Valley clash in 2020. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian confirmed the development, stating that Beijing would work with New Delhi to implement the agreement. Experts view the move as a positive step towards stabilising bilateral relations after years of fraught tensions. Saheli Chattaraj, assistant professor of Chinese studies at Somaiya Vidyavihar University, said India remained cautiously opt
China’s frightening cognitive warfare tactics
China

China’s frightening cognitive warfare tactics

The fear of cognitive warfare from China has frightened Taiwan and the global community. Taiwan’s Justice Investigative bureau‘s accusation against China of indulging in cognitive warfare during military drills is the most frightening development in recent times. It has brought a focus on Beijing’s dangerous tactics and motives. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently launched military drills code-named “Joint Sword-2024B” involving its army, navy, air and rocket forces in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan. The bureau in its report claimed that it had found several false reports online, such as untrue assertions of Taiwan’s military failing to respond quickly and that ships carrying liquefied natural gas had been forced to turn around.