Ethan Zhao
Senior Reporter
The Latest
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NATO and EU Urge China to Curb North Korea’s Military Support for Russia in Ukraine War
NATO and the European Union are intensifying diplomatic efforts to pressure China into leveraging its influence over North Korea to cease military support for Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. Intelligence assessments from the United States, South Korea, and Ukraine have reported that as many as 12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia's Kursk border region to bolster Russian forces. In return, NATO asserts that Russia is providing advanced missile technology to Pyongyang. NATO and the European Union are intensifying diplomatic efforts to pressure China into leveraging its influence over North Korea to cease military support for Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. Intelligence assessments from the United States, South Korea, and Ukraine have reported that as many as 12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia's Kursk border region to bolster Russian forces. In return, NATO asserts that Russia is providing advanced missile technology to Pyongyang. -
35 Dead, 43 Injured After Driver Plows SUV into Crowded Sports Center in China
A horrifying incident unfolded in Zhuhai, a southern Chinese city, on Monday night when a 62-year-old man deliberately drove an SUV into a crowded sports center, killing 35 people and injuring 43 others, according to police reports. The attack, described as "serious and vicious," occurred as hundreds of residents were exercising at the popular Zhuhai Sports Center, sending shockwaves across the nation. A horrifying incident unfolded in Zhuhai, a southern Chinese city, on Monday night when a 62-year-old man deliberately drove an SUV into a crowded sports center, killing 35 people and injuring 43 others, according to police reports. The attack, described as "serious and vicious," occurred as hundreds of residents were exercising at the popular Zhuhai Sports Center, sending shockwaves across the nation. -
China’s Singles’ Day Struggles Amid Economic Woes, E-commerce Giants Turn to Global Markets
China's once-glittering Singles' Day shopping festival, traditionally viewed as a bellwether of consumer sentiment, has lost much of its allure this year amid economic headwinds, including a real estate crisis and deflationary pressures. Merchants and consumers alike found the festival, originally launched in 2009 by e-commerce giant Alibaba, to be a far cry from its past splendor, as sluggish domestic spending forced e-commerce platforms to look beyond China's borders for growth opportunities. China's once-glittering Singles' Day shopping festival, traditionally viewed as a bellwether of consumer sentiment, has lost much of its allure this year amid economic headwinds, including a real estate crisis and deflationary pressures. Merchants and consumers alike found the festival, originally launched in 2009 by e-commerce giant Alibaba, to be a far cry from its past splendor, as sluggish domestic spending forced e-commerce platforms to look beyond China's borders for growth opportunities. -
China Delineates Baselines for Scarborough Shoal, Heightening South China Sea Tensions with Philippines
China's decision to formally delineate baselines around Scarborough Shoal, a contested feature in the South China Sea, has heightened tensions with the Philippines over territorial claims in the region. The announcement, published online by China's Foreign Ministry, outlines geographic coordinates for the shoal and could intensify a longstanding dispute over a crucial area that both nations claim. China's decision to formally delineate baselines around Scarborough Shoal, a contested feature in the South China Sea, has heightened tensions with the Philippines over territorial claims in the region. The announcement, published online by China's Foreign Ministry, outlines geographic coordinates for the shoal and could intensify a longstanding dispute over a crucial area that both nations claim. -
China Unveils J-35A Stealth Fighter Amid Speculation Over Capabilities and Production Plans
China's new J-35A stealth fighter took center stage at the Zhuhai International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, offering a rare glimpse of the latest addition to the People's Liberation Army Air Force's (PLAAF) arsenal. China's new J-35A stealth fighter took center stage at the Zhuhai International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, offering a rare glimpse of the latest addition to the People's Liberation Army Air Force's (PLAAF) arsenal. -
Trump 2.0 Boosts Asian Stocks: South Korean Shipbuilders, Indian Electronics, Australian Steel, and Vietnam Industrial Parks Among the Winners
Since Donald Trump's election win, a variety of Asian companies have seen significant stock price surges, including shipbuilders in South Korea, electronics manufacturers in India, steel suppliers in Australia, and industrial parks in Vietnam. Since Donald Trump's election win, a variety of Asian companies have seen significant stock price surges, including shipbuilders in South Korea, electronics manufacturers in India, steel suppliers in Australia, and industrial parks in Vietnam. -
China's Inflation Slows in October Amid Struggling Economic Recovery and New Debt Relief Package
China's consumer price growth decelerated in October, reflecting ongoing challenges in bolstering demand in the world's second-largest economy, even as Beijing intensified efforts to stimulate economic activity. Official data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that China's consumer price index (CPI) edged up by 0.3% year-on-year in October, down from 0.4% in September. The figure missed economists' expectations of a 0.4% rise, highlighting sluggish domestic demand despite government measures to stabilize the economy. China's consumer price growth decelerated in October, reflecting ongoing challenges in bolstering demand in the world's second-largest economy, even as Beijing intensified efforts to stimulate economic activity. Official data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that China's consumer price index (CPI) edged up by 0.3% year-on-year in October, down from 0.4% in September. The figure missed economists' expectations of a 0.4% rise, highlighting sluggish domestic demand despite government measures to stabilize the economy. -
China Unveils $1.4 Trillion Debt Plan to Rescue Local Governments and Boost Economy
China has approved a sweeping $1.4 trillion stimulus package to help local governments manage their mounting hidden debt and revitalize the country's sluggish economy. Finance Minister Lan Fo'an announced on Friday that the initiative would allocate 10 trillion yuan over five years to ease fiscal pressures on regional administrations and prevent a potentially destabilizing debt crisis. China has approved a sweeping $1.4 trillion stimulus package to help local governments manage their mounting hidden debt and revitalize the country's sluggish economy. Finance Minister Lan Fo'an announced on Friday that the initiative would allocate 10 trillion yuan over five years to ease fiscal pressures on regional administrations and prevent a potentially destabilizing debt crisis. -
China’s $840 Billion Debt Refinancing Plan Targets Economic Growth, Risks Persist
China has approved an ambitious 6 trillion yuan ($839 billion) plan aimed at refinancing local government debt over the next three years, marking a significant effort to stabilize and stimulate the world's second-largest economy. The move comes as the nation grapples with slowing growth, mounting debt, and economic pressures exacerbated by a weakening real estate market and the aftermath of strict pandemic restrictions. China has approved an ambitious 6 trillion yuan ($839 billion) plan aimed at refinancing local government debt over the next three years, marking a significant effort to stabilize and stimulate the world's second-largest economy. The move comes as the nation grapples with slowing growth, mounting debt, and economic pressures exacerbated by a weakening real estate market and the aftermath of strict pandemic restrictions. -
China Braces for Renewed Tensions with Trump as Xi Calls for Stability in U.S.-China Relations
Chinese President Xi Jinping extended a cautious congratulatory message to Donald Trump on his presidential victory, signaling hopes for stable bilateral relations but preparing for renewed tensions. Trump's return to the White House, marked by promises of aggressive trade measures and confrontational rhetoric, could revive some of the most contentious elements of his previous term, threatening China's fragile economy. Chinese President Xi Jinping extended a cautious congratulatory message to Donald Trump on his presidential victory, signaling hopes for stable bilateral relations but preparing for renewed tensions. Trump's return to the White House, marked by promises of aggressive trade measures and confrontational rhetoric, could revive some of the most contentious elements of his previous term, threatening China's fragile economy.