Emanuele Scimia

For China’s foreign minister, Taiwan is an “internal” matter, whilst the Ukraine-Russia confrontation is between two sovereign states. Speaking on the sidelines of the National People’s Congress, he said that his government was willing to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv. He also announced plans to send humanitarian aid to Ukraine. China fears the creation of an Asian NATO.

Today's headlines: trade between Russia and China grows 38.5% in January and February; the Orthodox patriarchs of Moscow and Alexandria clash; South Korean widens sanctions against Moscow; More than 100 Rohingya refugees found starving on an Indonesian beach; Iran criticises Russian interference in US nuclear deal negotiations; Indian wheat exports hit record levels.

Among those infected were Lee Cheuk-yan, Albert Ho and Koo Sze-yiu, who has stage four cancer. Almost 60,000 cases a day in the city: one in seven prisoners is infected. Prison authorities: most are asymptomatic. Hong Kong Watch: 721 democratic figures are locked up in city prisons.

With a possible attack by Beijing in mind, Su Tseng-chang points to Ukrainians' resistance slowing down the Russian advance. Taipei is trying to reassure the population that the two situations are different. But doubts shroud the real will of the Taiwanese to oppose the Chinese.

The move by the Russian president caused a stir, including in China. Moscow has 5,977 nuclear warheads. For Savelyev, “Putin acts against all logic. He’s unpredictable”. He is sending “a signal to NATO,” says Kortunov. It seems that no one in the Kremlin can stop the Russian leader.

A senior Chinese diplomat defends his government's traditional policy of respecting national sovereignty, stressing that the principle also applies to the Ukrainian question. However, at the UN, China abstains from condemning the Russian invasion. Xi Jinping asks Putin to negotiate with Kyiv.

The other news of the day: Russian forces surround Kiev. The bishop of Hong Kong urges the faithful to pray for Ukraine. At the UN, India abstains from voting in favour of the resolution against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian government asks for Israeli mediation in the conflict with Moscow. Red Cross warns that the Afghan economy is on the verge of collapse.

China is ready to buy Russian wheat without phytosanitary restrictions. However, it will take much more to mitigate the impact of punitive Western financial restrictions. Meanwhile, China continues to avoid describing Russian aggression as an "invasion". For Australia, China’s position is “unacceptable”.

The Chinese call for "restraint" and a diplomatic solution, ignores the fact that the situation is already out of control. United States accused of fomenting the crisis. Chinese business giants worried. Taiwanese microchip exports to Russia may be blocked. Japan ready for new sanctions.

Like in the case of Crimea, China will not recognise the two breakaway republics in Ukraine’s Donbass region. It cannot make up for Russian gas supplies to Europe. Beijing is still reluctant to follow the Kremlin in its de-dollarisation efforts. For the Chinese, the rich markets of the United States and Europe are too important.

Faithful of Xinxiang diocese: "He is being held in an unknown place, illegally". Arrested last May after a cancer operation. Under to Chinese law, the detention of a person without charge cannot last more than three months. The provisional agreement between China and the Holy See appears to have been "betrayed" by many.

Today's headlines: Taiwanese microchip production booms; Kim Jong-un celebrates his faher with mass amnesty; Kashmiri families demand release of children held for sedition; Ancient Roman cemetery found in Gaza; Belarusians dennounce presence of Russian soldiers; Kazakh diaspora returns home.