Crisis as Catalyst in International Law

Every year, the American Branch of the International Law Association hosts International Law Weekend in New York City, the largest fall gathering of international law practitioners, government officials, academics, and students in the United...

How the China spy scandal engulfed the government

The China spy affair is rolling into its second week and doesn’t seem to be going away. The last few days have seen a series of major developments. Here is the anatomy of the scandal so far. The case centres on Chris Cash, a parliamentary...

Chinese J-10 fighter attracts attention in Asia

To date, only two nations fly the J-10 fighter – its maker China and also Pakistan. However, the 4.5-generation J-10 may attract two new adherents in Asia if top defence officials from the respective countries have their way. Pakistan employed...

Ministers plan high-level visits to China despite espionage trial outcry

Ministers are pushing ahead with their reset of relations with China including several planned high-level visits before the end of the year, despite the furore triggered by the collapse of a high-profile espionage trial. Plans have been drawn up...

Government delays Chinese super embassy decision again

The government has again delayed making a decision on whether the Chinese super embassy can go ahead. New Housing Secretary Steve Reed, who took over from Angela Rayner, was due to approve or deny Beijing's application for a 600,000 sq ft embassy...

China's energy cooperation with Russia legitimate, lawful: FM spokesperson

BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's normal trade and energy cooperation with other countries, including Russia, is legitimate and lawful, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday. Lin made the comment at a regular press...

China defends buying Russian oil

China announced on Thursday that its purchase of Russian oil is "legitimate" and decried "unilateral bullying" by the United States, as President Donald Trump pushes countries to stop acquiring fuel from Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Trump...

China’s top advisory body revives Xi’s ideas on unity ahead of fourth plenum

China’s top political advisory body has brought new attention to President Xi Jinping’s ideas on balancing diversity and unity ahead of a key conclave of the Communist Party. It also threw punches at Western-style multiparty political systems,...

President Xi congratulates FAO on 80th anniversary

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday congratulated the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on the 80th anniversary of its founding. In the message, Xi said that the FAO has played an important role in ensuring global...

China blames US for panic over rare earths controls

China on Thursday accused the US of stoking panic over its rare earth controls and said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had made "grossly distorted" remarks about a top Chinese trade negotiator, rejecting a White House call to roll back the...

China accessed classified UK data for decade, officials say

Chinese state actors systemically and successfully compromised classified UK government computer systems for more than a decade, according to two former senior security officials and other government officials familiar with the matter. China...

China 'firmly opposes' Dutch takeover of semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia

BEIJING: Beijing said on Thursday (Oct 16) it "firmly opposes" the Dutch government's seizure of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia, arguing that the takeover "violates the spirit of contractual agreements and market principles". Officials in the...

China poses threat to Britain ‘every day,’ warns MI5 chief as he reveals another spy threat was thwarted last week

A teacher and former parliamentary researcher were accused of passing secrets to China between 2021 and 2023, but charges against them were dropped last month. The director of MI5 has vented his frustration at the trial centred around two alleged...

China warns ‘firm countermeasures’ if US imposes sanctions over Russian oil imports

China on Thursday defended its oil imports from Russia as legitimate and lawful, warning the US that it would take “firm countermeasures” if it imposed unilateral sanctions affecting Beijing's interests. The US' approach amounted to unilateral...

Chinese vice premier calls for joint efforts to advance global green transition

BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday said that China stands ready to work with all parties to advance global green development and promote the development of a clean, beautiful world. Ding, who is also a...

China speeding up efforts to secure autumn grain harvest

(Xinhua) 15:47, October 16, 2025 BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- China has been in a rush to harvest autumn grains, the mainstay of the country's annual grain production, as it seeks to achieve another bumper harvest this year despite unfavorable...

China, Taiwan, and the vulnerable web of undersea cables

In February 2023, half a year or so before I visited, a couple of Chinese ships cut two domestic undersea cables running out from Taiwan’s main island. One of these, named Taima No. 3, provided connectivity to the island of Nangan. On paper, the...

China seizes 60,000 ‘problematic’ maps over Taiwan, South China Sea omissions

BEIJING, Oct 16 — Chinese customs seized 60,000 maps it deemed “problematic” over their labelling of Taiwan and omission of territory Beijing claims in the South China Sea, authorities said. China claims the self-ruled island of Taiwan as part of...

China to implement visa-free travel policy for Swedish nationals

BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- To encourage and support people from Sweden to travel to and experience the real China, China stands ready to implement a visa-free travel policy for Swedish nationals to further promote people-to-people and cultural...

China poses ‘daily threat’ to UK security, MI5 chief says

China poses a daily threat to Britain’s security, the head of the country’s domestic intelligence agency said on Thursday, remarks that step up pressure on authorities to explain why the prosecution of two men charged with spying for Beijing...