According to analysts, to modernise the Chinese military needs people with specialised skills. Beijing's new White Paper on Taiwan envisages reunification with less autonomy than previously offered to the island.

The cardinal will be tried with five members of the pro-democracy movement for failing to register the charity of which they were trustees. The defence will invoke the right to associate as provided for by the Hong Kong’s constitution.

Construction of the new line should start by next year after 20 years of talks, linking China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Scores of Chinese experts arrived in the Central Asian country for a feasibility study. The three countries are expected to sign a deal at the next SCO summit in Samarkand in September.

After reunification, secessionist thoughts must be erased from their minds, this according to Lu Shaye, echoing Beijing’s repression in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. The Chinese envoy is no stranger to controversial statements.

China's drills around Taiwan in response to Nancy Pelosi's visit are continuing. In four days, 110 aircraft and 41 Navy ships maneuvered near the island. About 11 ballistic missiles were fired. Taiwan reacts with artillery exercises. Most Taiwanese expected a strong response from the mainland.

Dozens of ships forced to avoid the Taiwan Strait, used by almost half of the world's container ships as well as 88 per cent of the largest ships. Air traffic has also been affected. Japan reported that four missiles fired yesterday by China flew over the Taiwanese capital.