Ethan Zhao
Senior Reporter
The Latest
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TikTok Secured in U.S. After $5 Billion Deal as Oracle and U.S. Investors Take Control
The future of TikTok in the United States has been settled after a $5 billion agreement that restructures ownership and governance of the video-sharing app, clearing regulatory hurdles in Washington and easing national security concerns that had threatened to force its removal from U.S. app stores. The deal, confirmed Thursday, follows months of negotiations involving U.S. officials, investors and TikTok's Chinese parent. 
The future of TikTok in the United States has been settled after a $5 billion agreement that restructures ownership and governance of the video-sharing app, clearing regulatory hurdles in Washington and easing national security concerns that had threatened to force its removal from U.S. app stores. The deal, confirmed Thursday, follows months of negotiations involving U.S. officials, investors and TikTok's Chinese parent. -
China Meets 5% Growth Target on Export Surge but Property Crash and Weak Consumption Persist
China's economy expanded 5.0% in 2025, meeting Beijing's official growth target by leaning heavily on exports and capturing a record share of global goods demand, even as weak household spending and a deep property downturn continued to chill the domestic economy. The strategy helped cushion the impact of U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump, but economists warn it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. 
China's economy expanded 5.0% in 2025, meeting Beijing's official growth target by leaning heavily on exports and capturing a record share of global goods demand, even as weak household spending and a deep property downturn continued to chill the domestic economy. The strategy helped cushion the impact of U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump, but economists warn it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. -
China Weighs Caps on Nvidia H200 Imports as Beijing Seeks to Steer AI Growth Toward Domestic Chips
China is preparing to impose new limits on the purchase of advanced artificial-intelligence chips from overseas suppliers, a move that could reshape demand for products from NVIDIA and redefine how Chinese technology firms access cutting-edge computing power. The discussions follow Washington's recent decision to allow sales of Nvidia's H200 AI processors to China, reopening a supply channel that Beijing now appears intent on tightly managing. 
China is preparing to impose new limits on the purchase of advanced artificial-intelligence chips from overseas suppliers, a move that could reshape demand for products from NVIDIA and redefine how Chinese technology firms access cutting-edge computing power. The discussions follow Washington's recent decision to allow sales of Nvidia's H200 AI processors to China, reopening a supply channel that Beijing now appears intent on tightly managing. -
China Cuts Rare Earth Exports to Japan After Taiwan Remarks, Escalating Supply-Chain Tensions
China has imposed sweeping export restrictions on rare earth elements and other sensitive technologies destined for Japan, escalating a diplomatic dispute over Taiwan into a supply-chain confrontation with potential global repercussions. The move, announced by China's Ministry of Commerce, takes effect immediately and targets goods that could be used for military purposes, sharply raising pressure on Tokyo amid already strained relations. 
China has imposed sweeping export restrictions on rare earth elements and other sensitive technologies destined for Japan, escalating a diplomatic dispute over Taiwan into a supply-chain confrontation with potential global repercussions. The move, announced by China's Ministry of Commerce, takes effect immediately and targets goods that could be used for military purposes, sharply raising pressure on Tokyo amid already strained relations. -
China Launches Live-Fire Drills Around Taiwan as $11.1 Billion U.S. Arms Deal Fuels Regional Tensions
China has launched large-scale live-fire military exercises encircling Taiwan, deploying warships, aircraft and missile forces in a show of force that Beijing says is aimed at deterring separatism and foreign interference. The drills, known as "Justice Mission 2025," come days after the United States approved an $11.1 billion arms package for Taipei and have intensified concerns among regional governments about the risk of escalation in the Taiwan Strait. 
China has launched large-scale live-fire military exercises encircling Taiwan, deploying warships, aircraft and missile forces in a show of force that Beijing says is aimed at deterring separatism and foreign interference. The drills, known as "Justice Mission 2025," come days after the United States approved an $11.1 billion arms package for Taipei and have intensified concerns among regional governments about the risk of escalation in the Taiwan Strait. -
China Imposes Up to 42.7% Tariffs on EU Dairy, Escalating Trade Clash Over EVs
China said it will impose tariffs of up to 42.7% on dairy products imported from the European Union, escalating a trade dispute that has widened since Brussels moved to penalize Chinese electric vehicle exports last year. The duties, announced Monday by China's Ministry of Commerce, are scheduled to take effect on Dec. 23 and apply to a broad range of European milk and cheese products, including protected-origin varieties such as Roquefort and gorgonzola. 
China said it will impose tariffs of up to 42.7% on dairy products imported from the European Union, escalating a trade dispute that has widened since Brussels moved to penalize Chinese electric vehicle exports last year. The duties, announced Monday by China's Ministry of Commerce, are scheduled to take effect on Dec. 23 and apply to a broad range of European milk and cheese products, including protected-origin varieties such as Roquefort and gorgonzola. -
China-to-Korea Tourist Surge Tops 4.7 Million After Japan Warning, Stirring Backlash in Seoul
A sudden surge of Chinese tourists into South Korea has reshaped Northeast Asia's winter travel flows, following Beijing's November travel warning against Japan, and has ignited a domestic backlash as local authorities grapple with cultural frictions, public-order complaints and infrastructure strain. The shift underscores how geopolitical tensions between China and Japan are spilling into regional tourism markets, with South Korea emerging as an unintended pressure point. 
A sudden surge of Chinese tourists into South Korea has reshaped Northeast Asia's winter travel flows, following Beijing's November travel warning against Japan, and has ignited a domestic backlash as local authorities grapple with cultural frictions, public-order complaints and infrastructure strain. The shift underscores how geopolitical tensions between China and Japan are spilling into regional tourism markets, with South Korea emerging as an unintended pressure point. -
Jimmy Lai Convicted Under Hong Kong Security Law, Putting $1.2 Billion Fortune at Risk of Forfeiture
The conviction of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai under the city's sweeping national security law has intensified global attention not only on his political fate but also on the future of a fortune once estimated at $1.2 billion. The ruling by Hong Kong's High Court on Monday leaves Lai, 78, facing the possibility of life imprisonment and raises the likelihood that assets frozen since his arrest could now be permanently confiscated. 
The conviction of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai under the city's sweeping national security law has intensified global attention not only on his political fate but also on the future of a fortune once estimated at $1.2 billion. The ruling by Hong Kong's High Court on Monday leaves Lai, 78, facing the possibility of life imprisonment and raises the likelihood that assets frozen since his arrest could now be permanently confiscated. -
U.S. B-52 Bombers Join Japan Jets After China-Russia Patrols Spark Security Alarm Across Indo-Pacific
The United States and Japan conducted a high-visibility military exercise over the Sea of Japan this week, deploying U.S. B-52H strategic bombers and Japanese F-35 and F-15 fighter jets in a coordinated show of force days after China and Russia carried out joint air and naval drills near Japanese and South Korean territory. Japan's Defense Ministry said the bilateral flight reaffirmed the allies' determination "to prevent any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force" as tensions deepen across the Indo-Pacific. 
The United States and Japan conducted a high-visibility military exercise over the Sea of Japan this week, deploying U.S. B-52H strategic bombers and Japanese F-35 and F-15 fighter jets in a coordinated show of force days after China and Russia carried out joint air and naval drills near Japanese and South Korean territory. Japan's Defense Ministry said the bilateral flight reaffirmed the allies' determination "to prevent any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force" as tensions deepen across the Indo-Pacific. -
Thailand Airstrikes Kill Five as 385,000 Flee Border; Hospitals Collapse Amid Cambodia Clashes
Tensions along the Thailand-Cambodia border erupted into the region's worst violence in months, as Thailand launched airstrikes on Monday following deadly clashes that killed at least five civilians and displaced more than 385,000 people. The escalation threatens to unravel a fragile ceasefire brokered just two months ago by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to CNN reporting from the area. 
Tensions along the Thailand-Cambodia border erupted into the region's worst violence in months, as Thailand launched airstrikes on Monday following deadly clashes that killed at least five civilians and displaced more than 385,000 people. The escalation threatens to unravel a fragile ceasefire brokered just two months ago by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to CNN reporting from the area.
