Politics

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee visits a polling station to cast his vote in the District Council election on Dec. 10.
Hong Kong security law

Hong Kong chief touts 'good' election turnout despite steep drop

John Lee accuses 'foreign agents' of attempting to sabotage process

12 December 2023
A nuclear missile carrier in China's 2019 National Day parade in Beijing: The PLA is opaque about how it tests and evaluates AI applications.
Opinion

U.S. and China must seize opening to discuss military AI risks

Even nonbinding agreement could help to build trust and limit harms

12 December 2023
Waterfront Town is a project developed by Hohhot Chunhua Water Development Group. Falsified transaction deals for properties in the area were part of the massive graft.
Caixin

China's biggest graft case leads to death penalty for former official

Midlevel worker in Inner Mongolia stunned nation with alleged $420m illicit gains

12 December 2023
Agnes Chow, a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, speaks to Nikkei Asia during an online interview on Dec. 11. 
Interview

Agnes Chow says low turnout shows Hong Kongers avoided 'fake election'

In Canada, activist tells Nikkei Asia she endeavors to mentally recover from ordeal at home

11 December 2023
In this image from a video provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a Chinese coast guard ship, right, uses a water cannon on a vessel of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as it approaches Scarborough Shoal on Dec. 9.
South China Sea

Philippines urges restraint following South China Sea clash

Manila and Washington call on Beijing to cease aggressive acts

11 December 2023
An unarmed U.S. Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, in August 2017.
US-China tensions

U.S. considers missile launch notification framework with China

Washington hopes to hold bilateral nuclear talks with Beijing in early 2024

11 December 2023
Police stand guard outside a polling station during the District Council election in Hong Kong on Dec. 10. (Photo by Kenji Kawase)
Hong Kong security law

Hong Kongers shun 'patriots only' polls as turnout plummets to 27.5%

Participation down from 71% in 2019 despite relentless efforts to get out the vote

11 December 2023
The Afghan Taliban says China has accepted its choice for ambassador to Beijing with the release of this photo of an unidentified Taliban representative.
Afghanistan turmoil

Taliban says China has accepted its envoy to Beijing

Afghanistan 'last piece' of strategic puzzle as Beijing looks to shut out West

10 December 2023
Throngs of tourists visit the Great Wall of China in October.
Travel & Leisure

China to temporarily reduce visa fees 25% to draw tourists

Move seeks to ease cross-border travel, says Foreign Ministry

9 December 2023
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu speaks to the media in Taipei on Dec. 8.
Taiwan elections

Taiwan's top diplomat sees stable foreign policy under Lai presidency

Foreign Minister Wu hails upcoming deal with India to accept migrant workers

8 December 2023
Kurt Campbell testifies during a confirmation hearing for deputy secretary of state at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on Dec. 7. 
Indo-Pacific

China won't win trust of Japan and South Korea: Kurt Campbell

Deputy secretary of state nominee says U.S. must stay focused on Indo-Pacific

8 December 2023
Shipping containers are stacked at a commercial port in Vladivostok, Russia.
Trade

China-Russia trade tops $200bn a year ahead of schedule

Bilateral trade soars after Ukraine war draws Western sanctions

8 December 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping is flanked by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel before their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Dec. 7. (Xinhua via AP)
International relations

Xi seeks to defuse China-EU tensions over trade imbalance

First in-person summit in years comes as Italy heads for Belt and Road exit

7 December 2023
A Canadian flag flies in front of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Canada assumes the rotating chair of the CPTPP commission from January. 
Trade

New CPTPP chair Canada should seek to engage Taiwan: ex-officials

Working group invitation floated, but Beijing sure to oppose

7 December 2023
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (Source photos by Reuters and AP)
International relations

Xi Jinping to visit Vietnam with rail project talks expected

Chinese and Vietnamese communist parties to discuss rare earths, 'common destiny': sources

7 December 2023
Since Giorgia Meloni became prime minister in October 2022, she has dropped hints about pulling Italy out of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Belt and Road

Italy's Belt and Road exit shines light on ties ahead of EU-China summit

PM Meloni makes move after calculating that membership failed to yield benefits

7 December 2023
The AIIB, viewed as an alternative to Western-backed lenders like the World Bank, focuses on funding sustainable, green infrastructure in developing countries.
COP28

Climate change battle 'won or lost' in Asia, says AIIB executive

Beijing-based multilateral lender eyes new tools for climate change financing

6 December 2023
A stretch of northern Pakistan's Karakoram Highway. A deadly attack has renewed security concerns along the road to China.
Terrorism

Attack on Pakistan highway to China shakes key Belt and Road link

Bus shooting raises concerns over outlook for all-weather upgrade

6 December 2023
China's military vehicles carry DF-17 hypersonic missiles in Beijing in 2019. Japan has added the China Academy of Engineering Physics to a list of foreign entities for which concern cannot be eliminated regarding involvement in activities such as the development of weapons of mass destruction.
Politics

Japan adds Chinese nuclear weapons lab and others to WMD concern list

China Academy of Engineering Physics included on list to prevent military use of exports

6 December 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed the need for dialogue at their summit in San Francisco on Nov. 15. Top: Taiwan's army holds drills in the north of the island. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)
Comment

U.S. and China diverge on how to avert military clashes

Coexistence threatened by Xi's desire to have U.S. accept China as equal

6 December 2023
Chinese carmakers shipped more than 3.9 million vehicles overseas between January and October, up nearly 60% year-on-year, according to the latest data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Caixin

Chinese auto exporters face costly detour after Red Sea attacks

Route to Europe around the Cape of Good Hope could add two weeks, expert says

6 December 2023
Supporters of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which aims to defend the island's sovereignty, gather at the party's campaign headquarters in Taipei on Dec. 3, ahead of the presidential election in January. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
The Big Story

Taiwan's defining moment: Election to determine future of relations with China

Against backdrop of Ukraine and Hong Kong, voters must choose confrontation or compromise with Beijing

6 December 2023
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow has come under harsh criticism from authorities since she revealed that she left for Canada. (Photo by Kei Higuchi)
Hong Kong security law

Agnes Chow 'will be pursued for life,' Hong Kong chief executive vows

John Lee labels pro-democracy activist who left for Canada a 'liar' and 'hypocrite'

5 December 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden stands next to a Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV at the Detroit Auto Show in September 2022.
US-China tensions

In EV tax rules, U.S. prefers China decoupling over decarbonization

Washington looks to further block China from supply chain, alarming EV makers

5 December 2023
High school students train to shoot using a videogame in the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. (Photo by Nikkei)
Comment

Will China really invade? Caution and optimism in Taiwan

Complacency over island's security grows ahead of January presidential vote

4 December 2023