China

Why China is moving to regulate AI firms bringing the dead back digitally

As AI enables affordable digital clones of the deceased, China tightens rules to address ethical concerns, data misuse, and risks to its political and social ecosystem

India, China place strategic bets on clean energy out of favour in West

The massive bets by the world's two most populous nations come at the same time that the West has quietly backed away from its ambitious green hydrogen goals from the start of this decade

Taming the Dragon: Clear diagnosis but few solutions to India-China tension

Why India must not only enhance its comprehensive national power but also become a major power in China's perception

India becomes second-largest wind market in 2025, just behind China: BNEF

India records strong wind capacity additions in 2025, driven by hybrid renewable auctions, as it surpasses major markets to become the second-largest globally

Renewable energies overtake global electricity demand in India, China

Record growth in solar, especially in China and India, was a driving factor for clean energy sources surpassing the world's strong demand for electricity in 2025, according to a new global power analysis. Clean power generation grew 887 terawatt hours last year, exceeding overall global electricity demand growth of 849 terawatt hours, according to a report by energy think tank Ember, released after midnight Tuesday London time. Ember analyzes electricity data from 215 countries, and studied 2025 data for 91 countries, which the firm says represents 93% of global demand. Overall, the share of renewables - including solar, wind, hydropower and other clean energies - hit more than one-third of the world's electricity mix for the first time in modern history last year, growing 33.8% to 10,730 terawatt hours. It's promising news for a world embattled by climate change that's driven by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas to meet growing needs from economic growth, risin

GLP-1 sees strong return dosage in China and Japan as India lags on value

Global drugmakers are prioritising China and Japan for GLP-1 investments due to stronger pricing power and adoption, while India remains a large but price-sensitive market with slower premium uptake

China calls Hormuz international waterway; Xi presses for reopening

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz for normal passage of ships, as Beijing described it as an "international waterway" amid assertions by Iran that it has an inalienable right over it. The Strait of Hormuz should remain open to normal navigation, which is in the common interest of regional countries and the international community, Xi told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during their phone talks, an official statement said. This is the first statement by the Chinese leader on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, followed by the US blockade of Iranian ports in their current conflict. The closure of the Strait has resulted in acute energy shortages across the world, especially in Asia, and China, which is a major importer of Iranian oil, is increasingly concerned about the prolongation of the US-Israel-Iran war. "The Strait of Hormuz should remain open for normal passage, which aligns with the common interest of countr

Iran war deepens China's dependence on US for niche gas amid supply shocks

Shipments of US ethane are expected to rise to an all-time high of 800,000 tons in April, which would be around 60 per cent higher than the monthly average

Govt fixes map showing Arunachal Pradesh's Pasighat as Chinese territory

The Registrar General of India on Saturday said that the "issue" related to a self-enumeration map showing Pasighat in the East Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh as a Chinese town 'Medog' has been resolved. The issue was flagged by an X user, Mohonto Panging Pao (@MontyPanging), who posted about the lapse through a post to draw the attention of the authorities. While attempting self-enumeration on the portal se.census.gov.in, maps depicted Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh as Medog. "Medog is a town in China! CEO of Google @sundarpichai is Indian! Even official Govt portals are virtually ceding our territory! Needs urgent intervention!" Pao posted. In the evening, the RGI issued a clarification saying, "An issue was mentioned during Self-Enumeration on se.census.gov.in regarding map location in Pasighat, East Siang District in Arunachal Pradesh today." "The issue was raised with Map services provider and it has been resolved," the census commissioner posted on X. The 15-day window

India, China hold SCO bilateral consultations in Delhi, says MEA

India and China held bilateral consultations under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) here on April 16-17, during which the two sides exchanged views on implementing the SCO leaders' decisions, and the future-course of the organisation, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. India's SCO national coordinator Alok A Dimri and China's national coordinator Ambassador Yan Wenbin led the delegations, the MEA said in a statement. "Republic of India and People's Republic of China held Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) bilateral consultations in New Delhi on 16-17 April," it said. The two sides "exchanged views on implementation of SCO leaders' decisions, and the future-course of the organisation", it added. Both sides agreed to continue and consolidate mutual-cooperation and consultations in SCO matters, the statement said. The two sides jointly called on MEA's Secretary (West) Sibi George to review cooperation within the SCO framework, including in areas of secur

China asks Iran to ensure freedom of navigation through Strait of Hormuz

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has asked Iran to ensure freedom and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a first such call issued by Beijing ever since Tehran started to put a squeeze on the critical waterway in the midst of its war with the US. Wang has sought guarantees of freedom and safety of international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in a phone call with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday. Wang's call coincided with a Pakistan mediation delegation headed by Field Marshal Asim Munir reaching Tehran on Wednesday to discuss new peace proposals for a second round of talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad. China, a close ally of Iran and the largest importer of Iranian oil, was also concerned over the energy crisis accentuated by the US blockade of the Strait, preventing ships from carrying oil and gas from Iran's ports. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital 55-km-wide maritime choke point between Iran and Oman, managing roughly 20 per cent of global o

China's economy grows at 5% in Q1, shrugging off initial impact of Iran war

China's economy accelerated in the first quarter of this year, expanding 5% from a year earlier as it largely shrugged off impacts from the Iran war so far, according to data released Thursday. The January-March data released by the government, covering a period during which the Iran war began, was better than what economists expected and was up from the 4.5% growth seen in the October-December quarter. Economists expect China to be able to weather short term impacts from the Iran war, now in its seventh week. The war is pushing energy prices higher, worsening inflation and impacting global economic growth. But longer term, areas including global demand for Chinese exports could take a hit. The International Monetary Fund this week lowered its economic growth forecast for China to a 4.4% expansion for 2026. Chinese leaders last month set an economic growth target of 4.5 per cent to 5% for this year, the slowest since 1991.

Will impose secondary sanctions if Iranian funds flow through China: US

The remarks come amid broader US efforts to tighten economic pressure on Iran and curb its financial networks, particularly those linked to oil trade and alleged support for proxy groups

China becomes India's top trade partner in FY26; deficit widens to $112 bn

China has overtaken the US to emerge as India's largest trading partner in 2025-26, with bilateral trade reaching USD 151.1 billion, while the country's trade deficit with Beijing widened to USD 112.16 billion during the period, government data showed. The US was India's largest trading partner for four consecutive years till 2024-25. India's exports to China rose 36.66 per cent to USD 19.47 billion during the last fiscal year, while imports increased 16 per cent to USD 131.63 billion. The trade deficit swelled to an all-time high of USD 112.6 billion in 2025-26 as against USD 99.2 billion in 2024-25. On the other hand, the country's outbound shipments to the US grew marginally 0.92 per cent to USD 87.3 billion during the last fiscal year, while imports increased 15.95 per cent to USD 52.9 billion. The trade surplus declined to USD 34.4 billion in 2025-26 from USD 40.89 billion in 2024-25. According to commerce ministry data, China was India's top trading partner from 2013-14 till

Iran used Chinese spy satellite to target US bases during conflict

The TEE-01B satellite, built and launched by Chinese company Earth Eye Co, was acquired by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force in late 2024, according to a report

Xi says rule of law must be upheld for West Asia peace, stability

The visit comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East after weekend talks between Washington and Tehran failed to reach a deal to end the war

Shipping bottlenecks squeeze pharma flows as Hormuz crisis impact deepens

India's pharmaceutical industry remains dependent on China for bulk drugs, particularly fermentation-based antibiotics, vitamins and intermediates

China's export engine stutters as crisis in West Asia dents global demand

But the conflict has disrupted global growth, leaving China especially vulnerable as it has relied on foreign demand to offset a prolonged inability to revive consumption at home

China export growth slows to 2.5% in March amid Iran war uncertainty

China's exports grew 2.5 per cent in March from a year ago, significantly slowing from the previous two months as uncertainties rose from the Iran war and its impact on energy prices and global demand. The March export data released by China's customs agency Tuesday missed analysts' estimates and was sharply down from the 21.8 per cent export growth recorded for January and February. Imports last month surged 27.8 per cent, up from the 19.8 per cent year-on-year increase in the first two months of this year. Technology-related exports including a jump in shipments of semiconductors from China on the global artificial intelligence boom have powered its robust exports in early 2026, but economists say impacts from the prolonged Iran war could affect overall global demand for Chinese exports this year.

World order 'crumbling into disarray': Xi Jinping as Iran war drags on

China has also criticised the military action against Iran and warned it risks plunging West Asia into deeper instability