On 15 August 2026, marking the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited the Yasukuni Shrine in central Tokyo, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering. In response, China’s foreign ministry condemned the visits,...
The second quarter of 2026 saw a more robust and proactive diplomatic posture than the first quarter; Beijing mostly focused on mending relations with Europe and reducing its engagement in Middle Eastern crises. To control bilateral tensions and strengthen its strategic interests in the South China Sea...
The second quarter in East Asia was marked by strategic competition and economic rebalancing, culminating in significant bilateral visits. Inadvertently, Cross-Strait relations remain the focal point of all tensions and of regional stability. 1. US President Donald Trump’s State Visit...
On 07 July, the China Economic Update (July 2026), titled "Rebalancing Growth" was released by the World Bank in relation to macroeconomic events until June 2026. According to the report, although China continued to demonstrate resilient growth during the first quarter due to high-tech investment...
During 17-20 July, the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) alongside the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, took place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. This marked the ninth edition of the conference, with the first WAIC being held in 2018. The overarching...
In June, China's C909 regional jet completed ten years of commercial operation. What began in 2016 as a single aircraft with a single carrier now accounts for 70 per cent of China's regional jet fleet. It also anchors a four-aircraft family through which Beijing aims to end its dependence on...
In the news On 21 July, Reuters reported that China and the Philippine Coast Guards traded accusations at Second Thomas Shoal. The China Coast Guard (CCG) stated that a Philippine vessel rammed into a Chinese patrol boat in the South China Sea and the Philippine personnel initiated "malicious...
In the news On 11 June, fourteen countries issued a joint statement on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award between the Philippines and China. It includes the US, Philippines, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom....
What happened? On 11 July, China and North Korea marked the 65th anniversary of their Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. From 10 to 12 July, North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song led a delegation to Beijing to commemorate the occasion. On 10 July, during a meeting, President Xi stated...