Geopolitical Economic and Security Shiftsactive

U.S. President Trump has announced his intention to postpone the increase in tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the European Union (EU), from 15% to 25%, until July of this year.

The men were arrested in 2024, accused of surveilling dissidents from Hong Kong in Britain. The case sent a chill through pro-democracy protesters who have fled the territory.

The recently concluded Balikatan joint drills have marked a shift in the Philippines’ defence strategy alongside Japan, with Tokyo offering the transfer of warships to its Southeast Asian ally, while a top Filipino official for the first time voiced “serious concern” over islands claimed by Beijing and Tokyo. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr on Wednesday said Manila now considered the uninhabited Diaoyu Islands, which Japan calls the Senkaku Islands, a security flashpoint in the...

The operations of Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London will remain unaffected by a UK spying verdict, observers have said, arguing that the British government is unlikely to seek the body’s closure so as to maintain relations with Beijing. A British court on Thursday found Bill Yuen Chung-biu, the London HKETO’s manager, and Peter Wai Chi-leung, a retired Hong Kong police superintendent, guilty of spying on activists from Hong Kong on behalf of Chinese authorities. The Hong...

Norwegian authorities arrested a Chinese citizen on Thursday on suspicion of espionage, related to an alleged attempt to install a receiver intended to collect sensitive satellite data. According to the country's internal intelligence service, security officials conducted searches of two properties, one on the island of Andøya, in the north of the country, where a spaceport is located that participates in expanding European presence in space, and another in Innlandet, in the south of the territory. The Police Security Service (PST) stated that the operation was initiated due to suspicion that a company registered in Norway was operating as a front for a Chinese state entity. The suspect, identified only as a Chinese woman, allegedly attempted to "establish a receiver for downloading satellite data from satellites in polar orbits, capable of collecting data that could harm fundamental Norwegian interests if it were to become known to a foreign state," according to a statement by police lawyer Thomas Blom. Ketil Olsen, CEO of Andøya Space, stated that the company "had no connection with the person involved" and that it detected "no activity related to our operations in this matter." The satellite receiver was seized, and plans to install and operate it have been suspended, according to the police. The incident "involves complicity in a...

Fourth-quarter profit misses expectations amid impairments as ¥500bn stock buyback announced

The vessel reached the shore in the Sodegaura area, where refining facilities of several Japanese companies are located

For years, many Western observers believed the internet would inevitably weaken authoritarian regimes. The logic seemed straightforward: once information could flow freely, state monopolies on propaganda would collapse. The internet, in this view, would become a force of democratization. Reality turned out differently. Rather than being overwhelmed by the digital revolution, authoritarian governments such as […] The post China, Vietnam share a propaganda playbook for digital control appeared first on Asia Times.

For decades, Hong Kong thrived as the world’s freest economy without five-year plans, while mainland China rose to become the world’s second largest economy through them. Now Hong Kong has the rare advantage of both: market dynamism and strategic direction. Harnessed through the collective wisdom of the people, this combination can deliver more than what the market or planning alone can achieve. Hong Kong is preparing its first five-year plan to dovetail with the national 15th five-year plan,...

When the United States and the Philippines opened this year’s Balikatan exercises, the message travelled far beyond the parade ground. More than 17,000 troops are taking part in drills set to run until May 8. What matters is where the drills unfold, who has joined and what kind of regional habit they are helping to normalise. Japan took part in its first Balitakan live-fire exercises. Australia, Canada, France and New Zealand were also active participants. Then the exercises moved closer to...

A retired Hong Kong police officer and a former official from the UK Border Force were found guilty on Thursday by a London jury of engaging in "covert law enforcement activities" within British territory on behalf of China. The former police commissioner, Bill Yuen, 65, and Peter Wai, 38—both holding dual Chinese and British citizenship—were convicted of assisting a foreign intelligence service, in violation of UK national security laws, following a trial that lasted several weeks. Wai, who worked for the UK Border Force's immigration and customs agency after previously serving in the British police and the Royal Navy, was also found guilty of misconduct in public office. He had searched the Home Office's computer system for individuals of interest to Hong Kong authorities. The jury at London's Old Bailey court, which deliberated for nearly 24 hours, was dismissed after failing to reach a verdict on an additional charge of foreign interference against each defendant. Prosecutors immediately announced that they would not seek a retrial, and the two defendants were remanded in custody pending sentencing, the date of which will be set on May 15th. The court had heard how Wai had gathered intelligence information at the direction of Yuen, who was…

A British court has convicted two men linked to an Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) of spying on activists from the city on behalf of Chinese authorities. Bill Yuen Chung-biu, the London office’s manager, and Peter Wai Chi-leung were found guilty of assisting a foreign intelligence service on Thursday, two years after their arrests thrust the role of Hong Kong’s overseas promotion offices into the global spotlight. Yuen, a retired Hong Kong police superintendent, was earlier accused...

In the Balikatan military exercise, taking place in the Philippines, troops from the Philippines, US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and France have been getting real combat training – and a lot of it. It’s conducted with China in mind – even if nobody will say so. That’s the etiquette. Furthermore, the forces are training […] The post Hard and psychological power shown in South China Sea exercise appeared first on Asia Times.

The Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu, met with the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, who is currently visiting the country. "Deeply honored to welcome the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, and his team to Taiwan," Wu stated on his account on the social media platform X. He added, "Your support and your strong voice on the international stage are crucial to us. I don't have enough words to thank you, my dear friend." For his part, Peña highlighted on Thursday during an event the "strong" friendship between the two territories, based on freedom and democracy, and which, he assured, goes beyond diplomatic formalities. At the ceremony where he received an honorary doctorate from the National University of Science and Technology of Taiwan, Peña emphasized that both nations have built a relationship based on trust, cooperation, and a shared vision for the future. "Paraguay and Taiwan share a friendship built on a solid foundation: democracy, freedom, trust in institutions, and the dignity of hard work," the Paraguayan president stated. Peña added that the relationship between the two "goes far beyond diplomatic formalities" and "is manifested in concrete actions, tangible achievements, and real opportunities for both nations." He also emphasized the importance of cooperation with Taiwan...

As US and Japanese missiles roar across Philippine skies, the Southeast Asian nation is becoming a forward-deployed missile hub in the intensifying US-China rivalry in the Pacific. The US and Japan escalated their military profiles in the Philippines during this year’s Balikatan exercises, multiple media outlets reported. The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGDSF) fired Type […] The post US, Japan missile drills put Philippines in China’s line of fire appeared first on Asia Times.

A Taiwanese company with mainland subsidiaries has fired the nephew of Taiwan’s interior minister, whom Beijing deems responsible for Taipei’s hostile policies towards the mainland. The mainland subsidiary of Taiwan’s Long Time Technology Co. Ltd in Shanggao county, Jiangxi province, issued a statement on Wednesday night saying Yen Wen-chun, the nephew of Taiwan’s interior minister Liu Shyh-fang, was dismissed from all positions he held at Long Time Technology and its mainland subsidiaries from...

The President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, met with the Taiwanese Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung, on Thursday, shortly after his arrival in Taiwan for a state visit that will last until May 10th. Lin personally welcomed Peña and his delegation at Taoyuan International Airport, just outside of Taipei, and expressed his "sincere welcome." In a message posted on social media, the head of Taiwanese diplomacy highlighted the opportunity to continue bilateral cooperation. The Taiwanese Foreign Minister emphasized that Paraguay has "long supported" Taiwan's international participation and thanked the government of Taipei for its support. Lin stated that, during the visit, both sides will hold in-depth discussions on cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, education, health, technology, and smart transportation. For his part, Peña stated that the visit aims to "deepen the strategic alliance" between the two countries. "Taiwan is a fundamental partner for Paraguay, and each meeting is an opportunity to translate that friendship into concrete results for our citizens," he said through his X account. The Latin American leader traveled to Taiwan accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano; the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Marco Riquelme; and a group of approximately 50 businesspeople. Peña is scheduled to meet on…

Negotiations within the European Union to ratify the trade agreement with the United States have progressed, although a final conclusion has not yet been reached. The government of Cyprus, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, reported this Thursday on "progress in a number of areas" and expressed its intention to maintain a "positive momentum" in a forthcoming round of discussions with the European Parliament, scheduled for May 19th. "We are fully committed to continuing our constructive dialogue with the European Parliament in order to complete the legislative work as soon as possible," said Michael Damianos, Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry of Cyprus. The German Member of Parliament, Bernd Lange (S&D, left), who is responsible for the issue in the European Parliament, confirmed the progress, although he acknowledged that there is still work to be done. "We have just concluded a second constructive trilateral dialogue during which we made good progress on the issue of the safeguard mechanism and on the review and evaluation of the main regulation, but there is still a long way to go," Lange added in a statement. The European Parliament approved the trade agreement between the United States and the EU at the end of March, subject to certain conditions, following its conclusion last year in Turnberry, Scotland. However, the internal procedures of the bloc require further negotiations with the 27 member states before…

At the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) Review Conference, which aims to discuss the global direction of nuclear disarmament, a draft of the "final document," which serves as a summary, was presented. This draft includes a provision calling for the maintenance of "human control over nuclear weapons" in order to mitigate risks associated with technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

The vote on Tuesday (May 5th) in the European Parliament's development committee was a political exercise aimed at containing certain viewpoints. The "cordon sanitaire" held, but this compromise should not be interpreted as a complete victory on the underlying issues. One of the key debates during the report's negotiations concerned conditionality—specifically, whether development aid should be contingent on third countries' cooperation in the areas of returns and readmission.

When Bala stepped onto the podium in San Diego in April, holding the trophy for the 2026 World Latte Art Championship, the backdrop behind him said “Luckin Coffee” — the Chinese chain that was an official sponsor of the event. He had just poured a raccoon, a giraffe and red pandas to claim the title […] The post How China quietly erased Taiwan from coffee’s world stage appeared first on Asia Times.

A Japanese infantry unit has withdrawn a new patch designed by artificial intelligence after it was criticised for being immature, “aggressive” and out of step with the public image of the country’s Self-Defence Forces (SDF). The 1st Infantry Regiment’s patch was unveiled on April 29 and features an elephant in a helmet and other combat gear, holding a machine gun across its chest. The elephant has chains across its shoulders and a human skull apparently attached to its chest, with blue flames...

The US Army’s fast-tracked anti-ship missile could fill a key Pacific gap, but its deterrent value will hinge on production capacity, launcher survivability and China’s continued preference for coercion over invasion in Taiwan. Naval News reports the US Army is accelerating development of a new anti-ship variant of its Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), known as […] The post US fast-tracks new ship-killer missile to point at China appeared first on Asia Times.

Fuminori Arita once farmed iyokan, a Japanese citrus variety, but about 10 years ago he switched to growing avocados, revelling in the challenge of producing crops of what he describes as a “sensitive and difficult to grow” fruit. The 67-year-old is symbolic of efforts by the western Japanese city of Matsuyama in Ehime prefecture, long known primarily for citrus cultivation, to shift more to avocados, partly as a strategy to adapt to rising temperatures amid climate change. Given the challenge...

On May 1, the US president announced his intention to raise tariffs to 25% on European cars and trucks, once again highlighting the limitations of the trade agreement negotiated last summer between the United States and the European Union.

Internal divisions over defense spending are growing within Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang, ahead of this year's local elections. The party is facing increasing pressure from the United States regarding its response to a proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special defense budget put forward by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party to fund the purchase of arms from the US and the development of domestic weapons. Washington's de facto ambassador in Taipei, Raymond Greene, last week...

Don’t cook polbo á feira if you don’t know how to do it. Spanish center-right MEP Adrián Vázquez Lázara is hosting a traditional Galician dinner Wednesday evening to defend the region’s role as “Europe’s leading fishing power,” the lawmaker told POLITICO in a statement. Invitations were sent after the European Parliament canteen dared to serve what Vázquez called a “fake” version of Galicia’s most iconic dish: boiled octopus with olive oil, paprika and salt, traditionally plated on wood and often served with potatoes. “Everything was wrong with that fake ‘Galician-style octopus.’ Octopus mixed with squid and broccoli — that’s never been eaten in Galicia. That octopus was as Galician as the Parliament building is Renaissance: not at all,” Vázquez said. His dinner’s guest list includes Galician President Alfonso Rueda and Suso Pereira, head of the association of traditional octopus cooks. In an April email to MEPs and assistants seen by POLITICO, Vázquez made clear this is more than a culinary gripe, pointing to Galicia’s fishing sector. “Following the notorious fake polbo á feira that we discovered in the canteen, the time has come to put this sector back in the spotlight,” Vázquez writes. “In the spirit of this sacred mission, I am delighted to invite you to a real Galician feira.” “We promised that in Parliament they would get to know the traditional recipe, and we are delivering,” Vázquez told POLITICO, pointing to plans to scale back fisheries policy. “Galicia is Europe’s leading fishing power, and we cannot stop fighting every battle to ensure it remains so,” he added. It’s not the first food flare-up in EU institutions. The EP canteen has served veggie burgers the day after MEPs voted to ban them, and on another occasion, employees at the European Central Bank railed against a sharp drop in the quality of the olive oil being served with lunchtime salads.

For the first time, a unit of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, participating fully in a joint military exercise with the Philippines and the United States, conducted live-fire training on a beach in northern Philippines, facing the South China Sea, on the 4th.

A preservation watchdog group asked a federal judge Sunday to block the Trump administration from going ahead with reported plans to close East Potomac Golf Links for renovations. NOTUS reported Friday that landscaping, deferred maintenance and tree-clearing work would begin on Monday at the course, located on Hains Point outside of Washington, D. C. The course…

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has called on the alumni of the prestigious Tsinghua University to help the city better serve national development with their patriotism, pragmatism and global networks. Adding to the remarks by the director of the central government’s liaison office on Sunday, city leader John Lee Ka-chiu also expressed hope that more of the university’s graduates would assist the city in becoming an international education hub and promoting high-quality national...

As the closest mainland Chinese province to Taiwan, Fujian plays a crucial role in Beijing's communication strategy directed towards the island. In the second part of a two-part series, Xinlu Liang examines how the ancestral home village of William Lai Ching-te has become a focal point for efforts to foster closer relationships based on kinship and religion. The village of Xintian in Fujian province is typically a quiet rural area, but that changed in November when the popular Taiwanese YouTuber and bodybuilder Holger Chen Chih-han arrived...

The European Commission said it will “keep our options open” as the EU considers U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on automobiles and auto parts from Europe, raising the prospect of a transatlantic trade war. Trump announced Friday night on Truth Social that he would increase the tariff on cars and trucks from the current 15 percent in response to the EU “not complying” with the trade deal reached by the two sides in Scotland last summer. In response, a spokesperson for the European Commission said the bloc was implementing the Scotland deal “in line with standard legislative practice, keeping the U.S. administration fully informed throughout.” The chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, meanwhile, called Trump’s tariff threat “unacceptable” and accused the U.S. of “breaking its commitments.” There have been simmering tensions between the two sides over the implementation of the Scotland deal. The U.S. has complained about how long the EU is taking to bring tariffs down, while Europe has bristled at how many of its goods are being hit with a 26 percent U.S. tariff on aluminum and steel. EU governments are divided over whether to pursue additional safeguards, as demanded by the European Parliament, delaying an agreement on a way forward. A majority of countries have resisted a French-led push to revisit the deal. Manfred Weber, chair of the center-right European People’s Party, the biggest political group…

Taiwanese opposition leader Cheng Li-wun is preparing to visit the United States in June, aiming to leverage the political momentum from last month’s meeting with Communist Party leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Cheng, who heads the main opposition party Kuomintang, will also test her message on the Taiwan Strait in Washington. In recent media interviews Cheng has outlined an agenda that goes beyond traditional party outreach, promoting what she calls “a new road map” for cross-strait stability –...

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he plans to raise tariffs on imported cars and trucks from the European Union (EU) from 15% to 25%, citing the EU's failure to adhere to trade agreements with the United States.

Older workers face employment challenges due to both discrimination and the economic calculations of recruiters, according to a report from the research and statistics office of the French Ministry of Labor (DARES).

The European Union (EU) stated this Friday afternoon that it is fulfilling the commitments it made to the United States and reserves the right to respond to protect its own interests, following President Donald Trump's announcement that he would raise tariffs on vehicles manufactured in Europe to 25%. "The EU is fulfilling the commitments of the Joint Declaration," and "we are keeping the U.S. administration fully informed at all times," a spokesperson for the European Parliament's Commission told Europa Press. The same source stated that "we maintain close contact with our counterparts, among other things, to obtain clarifications regarding the commitments of the United States." Furthermore, the spokesperson emphasized that the EU is "fully committed to a predictable and mutually beneficial transatlantic relationship." The spokesperson also warned that "in the event that the United States adopts measures incompatible with the Joint Declaration," all options will remain open to protect the interests of the European Union. Meanwhile, Bernd Lange, the President of the International Trade Committee (INTA) of the European Parliament, stated that this measure demonstrated that the United States was "unreliable." 1/2 Trump's plan to impose 25% tariffs on EU cars is unacceptable. The European Parliament is still honoring the Scotland deal and working to finalize legislation. While the EU is delivering, the…

Fujian province, the closest mainland Chinese province to Taiwan, is an important site for Beijing’s messaging towards the island. In the first of a two-part series, Xinlu Liang examines how Beijing is framing the executions of Communist Party spies in Taiwan within a reunification narrative. A courtyard house in an old quarter of Fuzhou, capital of the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian, has become the unlikeliest of national pilgrimage sites. For decades, the residence at No 1...

US president says EU 'not complying' with current trade deal; launches latest tariffs amid global economic uncertainty.

The European Union is not complying with a fully agreed to trade deal, the US president said

Beijing's special representative for Hong Kong affairs and a senior national energy official have met with CLP Holdings chairman Michael Kadoorie. Observers believe this signals that the company is expected to help minimize disruptions to people's lives during the ongoing global fuel crisis and to support the Northern Metropolis megaproject. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office stated that its director, Xia Baolong, spoke with Kadoorie, his son Philip Kadoorie, and the senior management of the energy company CLP Power.

Hong Kong recorded over 76,000 visitor arrivals from mainland China on the first morning of the five-day Labour Day "golden week," with many heading to the countryside for scenic views, while others chose "city walks" to explore picturesque areas of the city. Some early arrivals went directly to the countryside after arriving at the West Kowloon rail terminus on Friday morning. University student Chen Hongjie, 18, was prepared to hike the MacLehose Trail on his first day in the city...

A cancer patient in southeastern China initiated a viral chain of kindness after ordering "companionship" through a food delivery platform. Little Li, a 24-year-old woman from Foshan, Guangdong province, is battling a rare blood cancer, according to Southern Daily. After undergoing four rounds of chemotherapy, her condition is stable, although she continues to receive care at the hospital. With her father working away to fund her treatment and her younger brother balancing an internship, Li often...

The head of Taiwan’s main opposition party said she has asked to meet with President Donald Trump on a planned trip to the US, casting herself as a leader who could prevent a conflict with China through dialogue with the world’s largest economies.

Fresh from consultations with Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping in April, Cheng Li-wun, the Chairwoman of Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT), plans to visit the US in June.  It will be awkward. During her US visit, at which she hopes to talk with US officials and politicians and visit think tanks and elite universities, Cheng says she […] The post Taiwan’s Cheng will face a tough crowd on US visit appeared first on Asia Times.

The state legislature of Florida, a state in the southern United States, has approved a proposal to redraw the boundaries of the federal House of Representatives districts in a way that favors the ruling Republican Party, ahead of the midterm elections this fall.

At least two Hong Kong residents have been penalised for vaping in Admiralty as health authorities begin enforcing a new law banning the public use of alternative tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. “We will issue penalty tickets without warning, and step up publicity in high-traffic areas such as business districts,” Head of Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office Dr Manny Lam Man-chung said, stressing that the new measure would not undermine tourism. A patrol in a business district in...

The Paraguayan government announced that President Santiago Peña will make his third official visit to Taiwan next week, with an agenda focused on diplomatic and economic matters. The trip aims to reaffirm a bilateral alliance established in 1957. Javier Giménez, head of the Presidential Civil Cabinet, stated in an interview with Radio Monumental that Peña will remain in Taiwan for at least four days, although the exact date has not yet been determined because "the agenda is still being finalized." Paraguay is the only country in South America and one of the 12 in the world that maintains formal relations with Taiwan. This situation occurs in a context where diplomatic pressure from China has reduced the number of official allies of Taipei. The Peña government has repeatedly stated that the relationship with Taipei is based on "shared values," despite the fact that some voices within the country propose a closer relationship with Beijing. Peña first visited Taiwan in 2023 as the elected president, and in 2024 he returned to the island to attend the inauguration of the current Taiwanese leader, William Lai. In 2025, beef exports generated $2.112 billion in revenue for Paraguay, and Taiwan was the third-largest destination for these shipments, with purchases totaling $288.3 million, according to data from the National Secretariat of Animal Quality and Health (Senacsa). Furthermore, in 2025, both countries finalized an…

On the morning of the 29th, a Chinese marine research vessel was confirmed to be operating within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, without the consent of the Japanese government. The Japan Coast Guard is continuing to issue warnings and conduct surveillance, urging the vessel to cease its activities.

Guangdong province will "actively align" with Hong Kong's strategy for the Northern Metropolis megaproject and emphasize areas of collaboration as part of the province's 15th five-year plan. The Guangdong provincial government on Tuesday published its development blueprint, with the term "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area" mentioned 57 times in the document and a chapter dedicated to the region's development. Its proposal for economic and social development, as part of Beijing's...

US suspect held in south-east Asia after genealogical DNA identified him in Tampa-area case involving 7-year-old girl A man accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl in Florida in 1989 was recently arrested in the Philippines, according to authorities. Preserved DNA and genealogical research allowed investigators to identify Young Tom Talmadge, 69, as the suspect in the Tampa-area case, the Philippines’ government said in a statement. Continue reading...

Kim Jong Un has shown no sign that the US president can entice him to abandon nuclear ambitions.

Plans to build a mosque in Fujisawa, a city southwest of Tokyo, have become the latest flashpoint for Muslim communities in Japan, as a growing need for places of worship meets resistance from some local residents. Muslim community leaders and scholars said the opposition in Fujisawa reflected a broader pattern in Japan, where resistance to mosques has increasingly been shaped by negative overseas coverage of Islam and claims spread on social media. A public meeting in February called to allow...

For years, the global auto industry has been enveloped in the promise of the software-defined vehicle. But at the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, a more grounded reality came into focus: without sufficiently powerful hardware, software ambitions risk remaining just that—ambitions.

Thousands of Japanese are ignoring rising prices at home and the negative effects of the weak yen to take one last foreign holiday during "golden week" before airlines increase fuel surcharges. The operator of Narita International Airport anticipates that 1.59 million travelers will pass through the airport on the outskirts of Tokyo between Friday and May 10, an increase of approximately 2 percent from last year's "golden week" holiday season. Sunday was the peak day for departures, with nearly 57,000 people flying.

Beijing is ready to take risks as Tokyo backs Taiwan.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has initiated a process to overhaul the country's major security policies, arguing that Japan must strengthen its military capabilities in the face of geopolitical threats, including those from China. A Chinese expert stated that Takaichi's remarks during a meeting of experts tasked with revising key policy documents indicated a "fundamental" shift in Tokyo's strategy, suggesting that the country's security roadmap would likely become "more aggressive." Beijing, meanwhile,...

A meeting on maritime traffic safety was held at the United Nations Security Council, where Japan expressed serious concerns about the ongoing maritime activities of China in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. China countered these concerns and engaged in a back-and-forth exchange of criticisms.

China's central tech hub Wuhan has unveiled its 2026 major project plan, targeting 355 city-level projects with total investment exceeding CNY260 billion (approx. US$38.1 billion).

Taiwan has received its final shipment of US-made M1A2T Abrams tanks, completing a long-delayed order aimed at modernising the island’s ageing armoured forces. Considered among the world’s most powerful tanks, these vehicles are expected to bolster the island’s defence amid rising military pressure from Beijing. The shipment of 28 tanks arrived at the Port of Taipei over the weekend and was moved overnight under police and military escort to the army’s Armour Training Command in Hsinchu county’s...

The Chinese military aired footage over the weekend of YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile launches, as joint US-Philippines-Japan drills heighten tensions in the disputed South China Sea. China Military Bugle, a social media account run by the People’s Liberation Army, posted a video on Sunday of the PLA Navy conducting strike tests at sea, including multiple YJ-20 launches. The post did not specify when and where the missiles were fired. However, the footage was released two days after Beijing...

Woman’s body found in Iwate prefecture last week, soon after a police officer was injured in bear attack nearby Rested but famished bears emerging from hibernation in Japan are already coming into contact with humans, with the pace of sightings outstripping that seen in 2025, a record year for bear attacks. According to media reports, the animals have been spotted with surprising frequency in urban areas in the country’s north-east, with authorities urging caution among people planning to spend the coming Golden Week public holidays in the countryside. Continue reading...

Japan is planning to build what could become the world’s largest floating wind farm – a gigawatt-scale project off the Izu Islands to power the island chain and Tokyo. But the plan, championed by Governor Yuriko Koike, is facing questions over whether it can be delivered by 2035. There are also doubts about the power generation forecast and whether Japan could tackle the technical demands of such a megaproject. Koike first announced the wind farm project at a climate change conference in...

More than 5,000 Guangdong motorists have been approved to drive into Hong Kong’s urban areas under a southbound travel scheme as of March, while 90 per cent of the 3,500 travellers who booked to visit have stayed for one or two days. The Transport Department said on Sunday that the urban access portion of the Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles arrangement was operating smoothly and had become increasingly popular since its launch near the end of 2025. The scheme currently grants access to...

Hong Kong authorities have increased publicity efforts with mainland Chinese media in anticipation of a ban on possessing alternative smoking products, including e-cigarettes, in public places. This ban will take effect before the Labour Day "golden week" holiday. Director of Health Ronald Lam Man-kin stated on Sunday that the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office had conducted over 11,000 inspections and issued approximately 2,200 fixed penalty notices of HK$3,000 (US$383) so far this year. Of these, 23 were related to the...

Huge crowds of visitors during cherry blossom season have put a picturesque Japanese town on edge. Some residents are trying to take charge.

Authorities confirmed that Matthew James Sullivan died from an accidental overdose, which has intensified scrutiny as 14 space experts are currently missing or deceased.

From Taiwan to Tibet, French President Emmanuel Macron has touched Beijing’s nerves on a range of sensitive issues over the past few weeks. On a trip to Japan earlier this month, he and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi “emphasised the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and urged a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues through constructive dialogue”. The irritation for Beijing was less about the language and more about the timing, with the joint statement coming...

While other major airport terminals are grappling with rodent infestations, staff strikes, and collapsing ceilings, the futuristic and serene atmosphere of Changi Airport in Singapore seems like a world apart.

Hong Kong will intensify law enforcement efforts against forced shopping, unlicensed tour guides, and unfair sales practices targeting visitors during mainland China's Labour Day "golden week," according to the city's tourism minister. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui stated on Saturday that hotel occupancy rates in Hong Kong are expected to exceed 90 percent during the period, with the government estimating 980,000 visitors from mainland China, an increase of 7 percent compared to the same holiday last year.

A turret explosion that killed three Japanese crew members inside a Type 10 tank during manoeuvres earlier this week has caused shock and confusion in military circles. Japan’s defence ministry and experts concur that a round detonating inside a tank turret is virtually unheard of and the cause of the accident will need to be traced before the Ground Self-Defence Force’s (GSDF) newest and most advanced tank can return to training. An analyst suggests the investigation will look closely at...

The White House has introduced a beehive shaped like a miniature presidential mansion.

The discovery of hundreds of toxic mothballs on St. Pete Beach triggered an official investigation in Florida, posing a direct threat to a protected bird colony and necessitating an urgent cleanup operation. The incident, detected on April 20, 2026, in a coastal area approximately 48 kilometers southwest of Tampa, mobilized the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), volunteers, and environmental organizations such as Audubon Florida and the Coastal Wildlife Advocacy Group. The presence of these banned pesticides in the open air has raised concerns about the safety of wildlife and visitors, as detailed by USA Today and confirmed by state authorities. The FWC explained that the use of mothballs outdoors violates state and federal laws, as these products contain toxic compounds such as naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene, which can severely harm birds, pets, and people. The official investigation is focused on determining whether the dispersal of the pesticides was intentional and whether it was aimed at preventing the nesting of the black skimmer, a threatened species in the region. According to a report by Axios Tampa Bay, the placement of new mothballs after an initial cleanup reinforces the hypothesis of a deliberate action. St. Pete Beach is an ecologically important area due to the seasonal presence of black skimmer colonies, a species protected by Florida law. The intervention…

Belgium is loosening closing-time rules for its stores, to give them a fighting chance against online retailers. The federal government announced Friday it formally scrapped the requirement for shops to close for a mandatory 24-hour period each week. It also relaxed closing-time rules, allowing shops to stay open until 9 p.m. every day. Previously, shops had to close at 8 p.m. on most days. The changes to physical merchants’ opening hours were announced last summer to help them compete with online vendors. “The current law is no longer adapted to the expectations of consumers and retailers, nor to the development of e-commerce, which is much more flexible than physical stores, causing distortions of competition,” Eléonore Simonet, Belgium’s minister for small businesses, the self-employed and SMEs, said in a statement in July 2025. “More flexibility should ensure that retailers can adapt to current expectations,” she added. While large retailers have welcomed the increased flexibility, employees have raised concerns. Earlier this week, workers at Aldi, one of Belgium’s largest supermarket chains, went on strike after the company told unions it would start exploring the option of opening branches on Sundays. Smaller and self-employed retailers fear the measures will put pressure on them, as larger companies will find it easier to adapt. The Neutral Union for the Self-Employed (NSZ) has argued that the reforms will lead to higher operating costs without increasing income. Since July 2025, the legislation has undergone a formal consultation procedure before being approved by the Council of Ministers on Friday. The law, which forms part of the current government’s coalition agreement, must now be approved by the Belgian parliament and is expected to enter into force later this summer.

As the US Navy moves to deploy thousands of unmanned surface vessels in the Indo-Pacific, questions are mounting over whether these drone swarms can deliver meaningful combat and deterrent effects against China. This month, USNI News reported that the US Navy is looking to field thousands of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in the Indo-Pacific by […] The post US Navy’s audacious drone swarm bet against China appeared first on Asia Times.

Taiwanese analysts have broadly welcomed a new US Navy plan to deploy thousands of uncrewed surface vessels across the Indo-Pacific by 2030, saying it could complicate Beijing’s military planning and strengthen deterrence. But they also warned that unless Taipei pressed ahead with its own stalled drone fleet ambitions, the approach might offer Taiwan only limited direct benefit, given Washington’s production, logistics and surveillance challenges. The assessments follow remarks this week by...