John Ai

Underground Bishop of Zhengding since 1981, he died this morning at the age of 90 in the bishop's residence where he had been confined. After he was jailed during the Cultural Revolution, he was tasked with rebuilding dioceses in several Chinese provinces. His courage cost him more stints in jail, but he was a seed of vocations among Chinese Catholics. The faithful remember him for “preserving the flame of hope in the darkest nights”.

Chinese social media are discussing the corruption and sex scandal investigation against Abbot Shi, the man who turned the temple known for kung fu into a business empire. Similar accusations had surfaced in the past, but failed to dent his power. Some commentators note that his troubles began when he returned to China after a visit to the Vatican, which Beijing never reported. It is speculated that he went too far, undertaking an initiative not agreed with the Communist Party.

At the start of the month, groups of students begun cycling at night along the road that links Henan’s capital to Kaifeng, a place known for its steamed dumplings. For young people, affected by the crisis, this is a way to travel cheap. However, thousands of people quickly joined the rides with the authorities reacting with a ban starting with the universities.

The New York-based sculptor arrested in his studio in the Chinese capital while he was back visiting family. According to his lawyer, he could be charged with ‘damaging the reputation or honour of heroes and martyrs’. The ruling Communist Party is tightening its grip on the narrative of history.

The capital’s biennial car show opened yesterday until May, underscoring China’s dominant role in the EV market. In Europe, EU authorities want to stop it, but Chinese vehicles are ready to take on European markets. With competition fiercer as ever, most manufacturers are losing in the price war.

Four people have been arrested recently in Germany, including a close aide to a leading member of the Alternative für Deutschland party who is running for re-election to the European Parliament. Joint research programmes between German universities and Chinese institutes connected to the country’s military have come in for closer scrutiny. For a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, China is the victim of “defamation”.

Founder of a Chinese propaganda website. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic is considering expelling a Chinese diplomat for following Taiwanese Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim during her visit to Prague in March.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said he was "hopeful" that an agreement could be reached after recent discussions with his Chinese counterpart. The number of Chinese crossing the border between Mexico and the United States has a reached record high in recent years. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ended her visit to China to reset economic relations.

The US Treasury Secretary in China for the second visit in a few months: the issue of Chinese 'overproduction' in the field of renewable energy on the table. The People's Republic is counting on exports of solar panels, electric vehicles and lithium batteries to tackle its economic crisis and fears the imposition of duties.

Their boat capsized at Easter. In the past three years, the number of Chinese citizens seeking asylum in the United States has increased: 52,000 last year alone. Washington's stricter immigration policy has not stopped the tide of migrants. Even some middle-class Chinese are joining the perilous journey to the USA.

The Chinese president reassures of 'ample room for development' even for US companies, which are worried about the implications of the increasingly tightening mesh imposed by 'national security' laws and the crisis in the Chinese economy. Meanwhile, Beijing itself only plans 'national options' for the operating systems of government computers and servers.

Ma Ying-jeou will make a stop in the Chinese capital and also visit other provinces. The trip will fall on the eve of the inauguration of Lai Ching-te, who is opposed by Beijing as an "independence seeker". The Kuomintang hopes the visit will lower cross-strait pressure and foster a peaceful exchange.