Emanuele Scimia

Beijing announced four days of military drills near the "rebel" island, encroaching on Taiwanese territorial waters in three areas. Pelosi’s quick visit put Xi Jinping in an uncomfortable position, appeasing Chinese nationalists at the risk of causing an escalation.

The chairman of TSMC, the world's leading semiconductor manufacturer, warns of potential turmoil as tensions rise over Nancy Pelosi's possible visit to Taipei. Should the operations of the Taiwanese company be blocked, China's most advanced technologies would become useless.

This suggests he has secured a third term in office. In a speech, Xi calls for action against economic imbalances. A return to a more centralised economy is possible, but so is an agreement with Li Keqiang’s pro-market faction. According to well-known activist Wei Jingsheng, with or without Xi, the Communist Party will decline.

Accused of "inciting subversion of state power" for articles he posted online and for an interview with Radio Free Asia, he was jailed for trying to join his dying wife in the United States. His sister says he is in poor health after going on a hunger strike for months.

It is deemed incompatible with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The former British colony is a signatory to the document, unlike the Chinese central government. Criticised for repression of freedom of expression. Calls for investigation into police actions during 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Garuda Shield 2022 will be held on 1-14 August. This is Japan’s first participation. Singapore and Australia will also take part, plus eight observer countries, including India. Indonesia’s approach is to keep a balance between China and the United States.

He was charged with trying to subvert the power of the state. Police prevented family members from attending the hearing. His lawyers have been forced not to disclose the details of the proceedings. Linked to the well-known dissident Xu Zhiyong, Chang complained of torture in prison.

With its anti-globalisation and anti-immigration stance, Sanseito won 5.9 per cent of the vote among the twentysomethings while support for the Liberal Democratic Party in the same age group dropped below 40 per cent, the first time in years. The new party also wants to boost military spending and change the country’s "pacifist" Constitution.

The demolition follows the refusal by the local parish priest to join the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, controlled by the Communist Party of China. Fr Dong Baolu is the only clergyman who did not submit to the Party. In China, men and women religious can perform their functions only if they join “official” bodies.

According to the Chinese, the document denigrates their government's military policy. Japan aims for growth in military spending to 2 percent of GDP. Kishida administration: Russian attack on Ukraine risks becoming a precedent for Chinese aggression against Taiwan.

Today's headlines: Chinese spoonbill fish and Yangtze sturgeon extinct; Strike at South Korean Daewo shipyard ends; IAEA: Iran's nuclear program accelerating; Prominent West Bengal minister arrested for money laundering; Putin promises more money to families; Armenia buys arms from India.

Pandemic, economic slowdown and related protests force him to come to terms with Premier Li Keqiang. 'Nationalist' trips to Hong Kong and Xinjiang to hide the problems of the economy. The profile of Xi's allies in the race for promotion is outlined.