Exclusive: in the first piece in a new Guardian series on China and tensions in the Indo-Pacific, Japan’s defence minister says the international community must bolster deterrence efforts against Beijing’s militaryJapan has urged European countries to …
Alibaba sexual assault case dropped as China police say ‘forcible indecency’ not a crime
Manager accused of rape released after 15 days, the maximum punishment for someone who molests anotherProsecutors in China have dropped a case against an Alibaba manager accused of sexually assaulting an employee, saying he committed “forcible indecenc…
Taiwan hits zero Covid cases for first time since outbreak in May
Acceleration of vaccine rollout and test-and-trace improvements credited for turnaroundCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageTaiwan has reported zero community cases of Covid-19 for the first time since its biggest outbreak began …
Decision to euthanise 154 cats found in smuggling operation sparks outrage in pet-loving Taiwan
The pet-mad population reacted with fury after the animals were put down due to biosecurity concernsA decision by Taiwan authorities to euthanise 154 cats found in an attempted smuggling operation has sparked outcry and calls to change laws and increas…
Hong Kong protest pair swept up in national security crackdown plead guilty
Andy Li and Chan Tsz-wah were accused of conspiring with media mogul Jimmy Lai to call for sanctions on China and Hong KongThe Hong Kong activist Andy Li and paralegal Chan Tsz-wah have pleaded guilty to foreign collusion, becoming the second and third…
‘You follow the government’s agenda’: China’s climate activists walk a tightrope
The IPCC’s alarming report has Chinese environmentalists wondering how to push a government that brooks no criticism into taking more actionIn the wake of the IPCC’s alarming warning last week that human induced climate change is affecting every corner…
China recalls Lithuania ambassador in Taiwan diplomatic office row
Plan for representative offices draws angry response from Beijing amid heightened tensions with TaipeiBeijing has recalled its ambassador from Lithuania and asked Vilnius to do the same, over plans by the European country and Taiwan to establish recipr…
Kris Wu arrest raises hopes for China’s #MeToo movement
Analysis: public opinion shifting, but reaction from authorities may have related more to crackdown on fame cultureIt felt like a turning point. The arrest of one of China’s biggest pop stars on rape allegations had raised hopes that authorities were f…
China shuts down transport routes as it battles worst Covid outbreak in months
Every province has advised residents not to leave as flights are cancelled and Beijing suspends more than a dozen rail linesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageChina has dramatically tightened travel restrictions as it seeks to …
China floods death toll rises to 302 with 50 people still missing
Authorities in Henan province more than triple the confirmed number of people killed in disasterChinese authorities have raised the official death toll in last month’s devastating Henan floods to 302, with at least 50 still missing.The announcement mor…