China

Taiwan reports large-scale Chinese military aircraft presence after lull

Taiwan saw a surge of Chinese military planes near the island, its defence ministry said on Sunday, after a sharp drop in flights over the past two weeks had sparked discussions among observers. The ministry detected 26 Chinese military aircraft around the island on Saturday, with 16 of them entering its central and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone. Seven naval ships were spotted around the island, it reported. The increased number of aircraft came after the ministry reported a fall that left analysts scratching their heads about what China's military may be up to. Taiwan didn't report any Chinese military planes that went beyond the median line and entered the zone for a week from Feb. 27 to March 5. After two were detected on March 6, the next four days had none. Such flights resumed in small numbers between Wednesday and Friday. The drop coincided with the annual meeting of China's legislature. While such flights have fallen in the past during major events and public

Air China to resume flights to North Korea from March 30 after Covid halt

Air China will resume flights flying between Beijing and North Korea from March 30, the airline's website said Saturday, after passenger train services running between the two nations restarted earlier this week. According to the website of the stated-owned airline, flights from China's capital to Pyongyang, North Korea's capital will run every Monday until May 18, but would scale down to two Mondays in June. In 2020 with the start of the coronavirus pandemic, North Korea banned tourists, jetted out diplomats and severely curtailed border traffic in one of the world's most draconian COVID-19 restrictions. Two years later, Pyongyang started slowly easing curbs and reopening its borders. North Korean Air Koryo resumed flights between the two nations' capitals in 2023. In February 2024, North Korea accepted some Russian tourists for sightseeing visits, the first foreign nationals to visit the country. That development surprised many observers who thought the first post-pandemic tour

Zydus drug Desidustat for renal anaemia gets regulatory nod in China

Zydus Lifesciences on Saturday said its innovative drug has received approval from China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its drug Desidustat tablets used for treating renal anaemia. The company has licensed its Desidustat tablets to a subsidiary of China Medical System Holdings Ltd. CMS International Development and Management Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CMS, had obtained an exclusive license for the drug from Zydus in 2020. Desidustat tablets are administered orally for treating anaemia in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients. CKD involves the gradual loss of kidney function and eventually leads to kidney failure. "We are encouraged by the NMPA's approval for marketing the drug in China. Our life-changing discoveries are driven by a commitment to improving patient outcomes and enabling healthier, more fulfilled lives, globally," Zydus Lifesciences MD Sharvil P Patel said in a statement. The company is happy to partner with CMS and is confident that th

US slated to receive $10 billion fee from investors for TikTok deal

The new entity, known as TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, will be responsible for moderating content on TikTok and protecting the data of US users

China approves first brain-computer interface product for commercial use

The firm is among a wave of Chinese startups building technologies that allow people to control computers or other electronic devices using only their minds

China condemns Iran's attacks on Gulf nations, calls for ceasefire

China condemned indiscriminate attacks on civilians and Gulf states, while urging ceasefire and diplomacy. China also abstained from a UN resolution condemning Iran's strikes

China's BYD considering to building cars in Canada, buying out rivals

The Shenzhen-based automaker is studying the Canadian market for a potential manufacturing facility, although no decision has been made, Executive Vice President Stella Li said

Apple lowers app store cut in China in move to fend off local regulators

The company said that its commission is changing from 30 per cent to 25 per cent for its mainland China App Store

China passes ethnic unity law to promote assimilation of minorities

The law, which was approved at the close of China's legislative meeting on Thursday, has wide-ranging provisions that touch on education, housing policy, entertainment and other areas

China orders immediate ban on fuel exports to prevent domestic shortage

The halt applies to cargoes that had yet to clear customs as of March 11 and goes beyond last week's move by Beijing urging refiners not to agree to new exports

Red Dawn Over China: How Soviet support shaped the rise of Communist China

This book explains the dynamics of Chinese politics and shows how the CCP's default response is ruthless control

FDI easing only for non-LBC entities with minority Chinese stake: Official

Overseas companies having Chinese shareholding of up to 10 per cent will be eligible to invest in India under the automatic route across sectors; however, the relaxed FDI norms will not apply to entities registered in China/Hong Kong or other countries sharing land borders with India, a senior official said on Wednesday. Earlier, foreign firms with shareholders from these land border nations owning even a single share had to seek mandatory approval to invest in India in any sector. The Union Cabinet on March 10 made changes in the press note 3 of 2020 in this regard. Under the press note, investors from countries sharing land borders with India had to seek mandatory approval to invest in any sector. "All the restrictions for investors from land bordering countries (LBCs) are still applicable. There is no relaxation so far as entities or investors in LBCs are concerned. This relaxation is only for entities in non-LBCs and having beneficial owners from LBCs below 10 per cent and ...

China's auto sales sink as phase out of subsidies for trade-ins hits demand

China's domestic passenger car sales fell 34.2% in February from a year earlier, an industry association said Wednesday, reflecting weakening demand as some trade-in subsidies are phased out. Only 950,000 units of passenger cars were sold in China last month, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, down from nearly 1.4 million vehicles sold in January. Overall passenger car sales including exports dropped 15.4% year-on-year, even as shipments overseas jumped 58% to 586,000, highlighting the challenges for Chinese carmakers trying to offset sluggish domestic sales by expanding into foreign markets. Automakers have been struggling with weak demand as the government has been phasing out trade-in subsidies to encourage purchases of electric vehicles. Chinese consumers have also been steering clear of big purchases, feeling a pinch from a slowing economy and protracted property slump. The Lunar New Year festival, China's biggest holiday, took place in February, .

Govt relaxes FDI norms for China, other countries sharing land border

The government on Tuesday eased norms for foreign direct investment from all countries, including China, that share land borders with India, sources said. They said press note 3 of 2020 has been amended in this regard. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under this press note, foreign companies having shareholders from these countries required mandatory government approval for investments in India in any sector. Countries that share land borders with India are China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. China stands at the 23rd position with only 0.32 per cent share (USD 2.51 billion) in the total FDI equity inflow reported in India from April 2000 to December 2025. Ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. Following these tensions, India banne

Iran says China, Russia, France reached out to discuss possible ceasefire

Iran's deputy foreign minister said that many countries want a way for ceasefire discussions, but said any truce is possible only if the US and Israel stop attacks

China's billions of dollars are at risk from a widening war in West Asia

The region became a hub for China's investments and a growing market for its steel, EVs and solar panels, now all at risk

China inflation hits 3 year high after holiday boost as oil shock looms

Core CPI, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy, hit 1.8 per cent - the highest since 2019

China raises nuclear capacity target despite missing earlier goals

The government last week set a goal of 110 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2030 in its latest five-year plan draft, a 76 per cent jump from the end of last year