Emanuele Scimia

The Xiaomi cell phones focus of concerns: they censor expressions like "free Tibet" and "democratic movement". Lithuanian cyber analysts: at the moment there are 449 expressions censored. High tension between the Baltic Republic and Beijing. Lithuanian diplomacy seeks to downplay situation.

Former French Defence Minister Alain Richard will lead a delegation despite an attempt by the Chinese embassy in Paris to block the trip. Meanwhile, China’s “intimidation” against European governments continues as evince by the Lithuania case. The EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific also stems from an interest in Taiwanese microchips.

The 1,500 members of the committee are practically all loyal to Beijing. Yesterday's elections chosen 364 components; 4,380 citizens participated in the vote: in 2016, before the electoral reform, they had been 246 thousand. Democratic front: the Chinese Communist Party fears public opinion.

Conceived in anti-Chinese terms, Trump had rejected it in 2017. Japan is skeptical. The Chinese would have to meet the pact's high standards, especially on the environment, labor rights and state-owned enterprises. Taiwan also wants to join the CPTPP. Consumption languishes in China, Xi still relies on exports for recovery from pandemic.

Australians will be able to build nuclear submarines with US technology. The agreement includes cooperation on artificial intelligence, cyber and quantum technology. Beijing slams move as "irresponsible". Protests from France, which loses a contract for the sale of submarines to Canberra. New Zealand also distances itself.

For the past two years, authorities have banned events commemorating the 4 June 1989 massacre. Sentences of between six and 10 months were imposed. Some defendants are already in prison for other sentences. The executive continues to target Apple Daily and the local journalists association.

This is the latest outbreak in the country, following those in Jiangsu, Guangdong and Yunnan. Events and celebrations for the Mid-Autumn Festival cancelled. Some cities in partial lockdown; public places and schools closed. Health experts: new wave of infections will be contained within a month.

Turnout falls to 42 per cent, 15 points lower than in 2017. Pro-democracy leaders were excluded in July for violating the special region’s constitution. The authorities blamed the heat and COVID-19 for keeping voters away. In Hong Kong, a well-known pro-democracy leader quit the group that organises the vigil for Tiananmen.

Indians and Australians want to increase military cooperation. Both countries have open disputes with Beijing. Exercises also in the Quad. Indian expert: Dialogue between India, Australia, the US and Japan goes beyond responding to the Chinese threat. China is India's biggest trading partner.

The US president does not want the competition to become an open conflict. Xi wants to reset bilateral relations. COVID-19, environment, North Korea and Afghanistan are possible areas of cooperation. The US Navy challenges the Chinese near the Spratly islands, which are the source of a dispute between China and other countries in the region.

After 24 hours, the authorities released students detained during a raid against the Maizi Christian Music High School. Nothing is known of school principal Xu since he was arrested. Meanwhile, the members of the (Methodist) Mingdao Church in Fuzhou (Fujian) will soon be able to pray again in their place of worship. Since 2019 it is protected as a local heritage site.

They belong to the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China and had refused to cooperate with the police for national security. The pro-democracy group is accused of being a foreign agent. As in the case of the Teachers Union and the Civil Human Rights Front, the Alliance now considers disbanding.