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July 12, 2026
 

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Josh Xiao
A farm in Nanzui village in China's Gansu province in March
BUSINESS
May 17, 2026
China says it will cut levies and expand farm trade after talks with U.S.
The outcome shows that both countries “can find solutions to the problems through dialog and cooperation,” China’s Commerce Ministry said.
People queue to fill their two-wheelers in Ahmedabad, India, on March 23.
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 26, 2026
Asia braces for worst-case energy scenarios as Iran war drags on
In the weeks since the Middle East conflict began, nations have shifted into emergency footing, highlighting the Strait of Hormuz’s importance to global energy flows.
A Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder fighter jet
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 3, 2026
Pakistan faces crunch as demand for China-developed jets surges
In the past month, Iraq, Bangladesh and Indonesia have expressed interest in acquiring the JF-17 Thunder, as have Saudi Arabia and Libya.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 21, 2026
China defends growth model at Davos, aiming to be ‘world’s market’
Vice Premier He Lifeng presented China as an advocate of cooperation, free trade and multilateralism, reiterating many of Beijing’s frequent talking points.
An aerosol drone in Beijing. China’s catalogue of dual-use goods includes drones, nuclear materials and facilities, aerospace engine components and specialist alloys.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 6, 2026
China slaps export controls on Japan military for Taiwan remarks
All dual-use items are banned from being exported to Japan for military use effective immediately, China’s Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.
A house that was damaged in a Thai military strike in Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province, on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 18, 2025
China seeks to mediate Thailand-Cambodia clash Trump says he ended
China has engaged with both sides since the start of the violence, but has kept a much lower profile than the U.S.
Visitors look at a model of the Fujian aircraft carrier displayed at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, in China's Guangdong province, in November 2024.
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 7, 2025
China’s new aircraft carrier begins service in boost to Beijing
The carrier joins the People’s Liberation Army Navy as Beijing is locked in territorial disputes in regional waters such as the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.
An Iranian military ship takes part in an annual drill in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, in this picture obtained in December 2022.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 23, 2025
China criticizes attack on Iran as U.S. asks Beijing for trade route help
Beijing “strongly” condemns the attacks on Iran, according to a four-sentence statement from the Foreign Ministry on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping
WORLD / Politics
Jun 5, 2025
Trump’s late-night lament over Xi deepens impasse in trade fight
Exactly what the Chinese are asking the White House to relinquish in order to secure a phone call with their leader remains unclear.
A CATL recruitment advertisement in Germany
BUSINESS / Tech
May 21, 2025
CATL’s $2 billion German plant boosts China’s invest-abroad bet
“I see ourselves as a blueprint for Chinese companies who are looking to expand in Europe,” said Matthias Zentgraf, the battery giant’s European president.
Chinese J-10 fighter jets from the People's Liberation Army Air Force August 1st Aerobatics Team perform during a media demonstration at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, in November 2015.
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
May 14, 2025
Success of Chinese-made fighter jets against India raises alarm in Asia
The recent conflict is challenging long-held perceptions of Chinese weapons’ inferiority to Western arms and sparking concern in places wary of Beijing.
A J-10C fighter jet
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 9, 2025
Pakistan hails role of Chinese jets in repelling India strikes
Hostilities between India and Pakistan have escalated since an April 22 attack that killed 26 civilians in the Indian-controlled part of the territory.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the BRICS Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 29, 2025
At BRICS meeting, China vows to stand firm against ‘bully’ Trump
On Tuesday, China’s Foreign Minister warned BRICS nations not to cave to U.S. tariffs, urging resistance to pressure amid growing trade tensions.
Talks between the U.S. and China’s armed forces are a key indicator of the guardrails in place, even as the Trump administration and Beijing clash over a slew of issues.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 4, 2025
China and U.S. make first known military contact since Trump inauguration
Talks between the U.S. and China’s armed forces are a key indicator of the guardrails in place, even as the Trump administration and Beijing clash over a slew of issues.
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. He, 69, is a Politburo member and Beijing’s point person for U.S.-China economic and trade affairs.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 14, 2024
Xi’s key players to lead China in another Trump trade fight
Donald Trump’s return to power makes Beijing’s potential negotiators some of the most important people in Xi Jinping’s government.
Chinese President Xi Jinping makes a toast during the National Day reception on the eve of the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Sept. 30.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Oct 16, 2024
Xi’s stronger grip on legislature shows lack of checks on power
Nearly 70% of laws made in China this year feature language explicitly affirming the party’s authority.
Security cameras in front of a portrait of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on March 11
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Aug 2, 2024
China’s proposed digital ID system stokes fears of overreach
China’s new centralized digital ID system may give authorities a more direct and complete view of people’s online lives.
The China World Office 2 building, which houses the headquarters of China International Capital Corp. (CICC), in Beijing May 6. One official gauge of foreign direct investment clocked its lowest monthly reading since mid-2018 in May, as investors show caution amid Chinese President Xi Jinping’s conflicting campaigns to bolster national security against foreign threats and further open up the economy.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 4, 2024
Xi’s China proves a hard sell at officials’ overseas roadshows
Their pitch to foreign investors is being met with doubt, partly due to the policies of their big boss.
Former Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai in 2020
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jun 24, 2024
Hong Kong top court hears Jimmy Lai appeal as scrutiny mounts
Any conviction of Lai risks further inflaming ties between China and the U.S. and U.K., which are among countries that have called for his release.
TikTok raised eyebrows last month when it mobilized users to petition against a potential ban, demonstrating its influence on Americans.
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 30, 2024
TikTok and Tesla just the start of U.S.-China clash over Big Data
Data security is again taking center stage in the intensifying rivalry between the U.S. and China.
China’s demand for Soviet-style apartments shows limits to revival
Apartments built during a Soviet Union-inspired construction drive in the 1970s and 1980s tend to suffer from poor insulation and outdated plumbing, but they are seeing a revival in interest due to their attractive locations.
Japanese scientists identify neural mechanism that may explain why we dislike people
The aggressive mouse (left) used in the experiment and a mouse defending itself
Japanese payment processor’s collapse hits banks and restaurants
Zentoshin served around 200,000 shops, many of which rely on early payments to maintain cash flow, raising concerns over their financial stability following the disruption.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
Lenders seek $700 million after Japanese payments firm’s collapse
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ¥115.16 billion, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
Japan’s largest exhibition of women photographers rights a wrong in cultural history
Miwa Yanagi’s “Elevator Girl House” series skewers the superficiality of gender roles through staged images.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
‘Princess Mononoke’ comes alive in Super Kabuki staging
The “Princess Mononoke” adaptation was created under Shochiku’s Super Kabuki initiative, a modern form of kabuki with more technology in staging and open to pop culture collaborations.
The beating heart inside ‘Human Vapor’
Different forms of love and connection form the emotional backbone of Netflix’s “Human Vapor,” says actor Shun Oguri, who plays troubled detective Kenji Okamoto.
Japan bets on character IP to drive global growth
Born on social media platforms in 2022, Opanchu Usagi has become a major hit, especially among Generation Z.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival
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