Floods in Shanxi province destroy homes, force suspension of mines and wash away railway bridges More than 120,000 people have been forced to leave their homes after severe flooding in China’s northern Shanxi province that has affected about 1.75 milli…
Taiwan national day: we won’t bow to China, says president
Tsai Ing-wen says China’s plans for Taiwan offer neither freedom nor democracy and the island will continue to build its defences Taiwan will continue to bolster its defences to ensure it is not forced to accept the path laid down by China, which offer…
Hong Kong plans megacourt to deal with protest arrests backlog
City’s leader announces initiative as thousands still await trial, and also reveals project for new metropolisHong Kong will build a new megacourt to address a shortage of space as it works through a backlog of the thousands arrested during the 2019 ma…
‘Instead I am the criminal’: China’s MeToo figure speaks out after case fails
Even if her appeal against sexual harassment verdict is unsuccessful, Xianzi is proud that more women now feel they can share their experiences Sitting inside a Beijing courthouse late at night last month, Zhou Xiaoxuan and her lawyers came to a quick …
Taiwan president warns of ‘catastrophic consequences’ if island falls to China
Tsai Ing-wen says Taiwan will ‘do whatever it takes to defend itself’ against an increasingly assertive BeijingTaiwan is committed to defending its democracy against an increasingly aggressive China, the island’s president has vowed, warning of “catast…
Taiwan reports record Chinese incursions into its air defence zone
Defence ministry says it detected at least 56 flights hours after US urged Beijing to cease ‘provocative’ activityChina sent a record number of military aircraft into Taiwan’s air defence zone on Monday, the fourth consecutive day of such air incursion…
42 nations owe China ‘hidden debts’ exceeding 10% of GDP, says report
Belt and Road £385bn debt includes China-Laos railway – funded with loan equivalent to third of Laos’s GDPResearchers have identified debts of at least $385bn owed by 165 countries to China for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, with loans system…
Hong Kong seeks to resurrect legislation to further crush dissent
Article 23, shelved in 2003, may target foreign organisations and bans ‘subversion’ against Chinese governmentThe Hong Kong government is pushing ahead with its own national security legislation to “fill gaps” around the Beijing-imposed law already bei…
UK warns Hong Kong security law critics of extradition risk posed by China
Activist Bill Browder warns of global reach of controversial law after being contacted by Foreign OfficeBritain has warned some Hong Kong critics in the UK about travelling abroad, according to high-profile human rights advocate Bill Browder, highlight…
Second line of defence: Taiwan’s civilians train to resist invasion
Workshops teach public first aid and prepare them to assist armed forces in event of attack by ChinaOn a quiet workday morning last week, air raid sirens rang out across Taiwan. The eerie wailing horn would be the first warning to the island’s 23.5 mil…