Emanuele Scimia

Leading in the polls Ferdinand Marcos Jr is holding to a more ambiguous position. Other candidates call for the 2016 ruling against Chinese claims to be upheld. The four want closer cooperation with the United States and its allies as well as greater Philippine military presence in the area.

Today's Headlines: Chinese carries out air maneuvers with 39 military aircraft near Taiwan; Japanese sends aid for Tonga; thaw between Thailand and Saudi Arabia ; Covid infections boom among under-10s in Indian Karnataka; Taliban delegation arrives in Europe; Armenian president resigns.

Lithuanian exports to China dropped by more than 90 per cent in December following the opening of a Taiwanese diplomatic office in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius under the name of Taiwan. The Chinese deny they are engaged in a trade boycott, but the dispute is affecting companies from other EU countries that use components made in Lithuania.

Agreement to reduce fuel prices by freeing up some of their strategic oil reserves is set to come into force. Beijing the first buyer of US natural gas liquids. US businesses go where they make money, a logic that appeals to Chinese companies. Biden blocked by Congress for greater openness to Xi Jinping.

The Malaysian foreign minister speaks out against the new approach. China now claims the “Four Sha”, four archipelagos in the area rather than the "Nine-Dash line". However, the substance does not change. According to experts both theories have no legal basis. In recent months, Chinese ships have been involved in incidents with Malaysia and Indonesia.

The Edelman Trust Barometer found that trust in China’s government stood at 83 per cent. In liberal democracies, public support for leaders has plunged, except in India, largely due to the way they tackled the COVID-19 pandemic and handled the economy. Among advanced economies, only Singapore and Greece see China more favorably than the United States.

Around 10 million children born in 2021, just 480,000 more than the number of people who have died. The population may have reached its peak. The demographic slowdown is being affected by high cost of living and new social habits. The situation is a further threat to the country's economic growth.

Ranking is based on the Henley Passport Index, which looks at visa-free access to 227 locations. European and English-speaking countries are at the top. China is way down (64th), behind Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. Afghanistan is in last place.

For Kim’s regime, fighting the pandemic is the top priority. However, North Korea fears Chinese political and economic retaliation. The US boycott weighed on the decision since Washington is viewed by North Korea as the only negotiating partner that can end its international isolation.

The island is the world's largest producer of the precious components used for key civil and military technologies. Both China and the USA depend on Taiwanese production. A Chinese invasion would endanger the global tech supply chain. But experts warn "microchip policy" cannot exclude the outbreak of a conflict.

She had been battling colon cancer for a long time. Instead of allowing the dissident to visit her, the authorities arrested him. He has been missing for almost a year. When he was a student, Guo participated in the Tiananmen protests. In detention, he was tortured several times.

Outbreak in Tianjin: danger of contagion from numerous commuters. Cases also in Guangdong, Shaanxi and Henan. With "zero Covid" strategy positive athletes will not be able to compete. Staff of the Olympic facilities and the Police isolated. Tourist resorts hosting ski competitions closed.