Page 9 - China

China commissions new aircraft carrier as it seeks to extend power

China has commissioned its latest aircraft carrier after extensive sea trials, state media reported Friday, adding a ship that experts say will help what is already the world's largest navy expand its power farther beyond its own waters. The official Xinhua news agency reported Friday that the Fujian was commissioned in Sanya on Hainan island on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by top leader Xi Jinping. The Fujian is China's third carrier and the first that it both designed and built itself. It is perhaps the most visible example so far of leader Xi Jinping's massive military overhaul and expansion that aims to have a modernized force by 2035 and one that is world class by mid century which most take to mean capable of going toe-to-toe with the United States. With it, Beijing takes another step toward closing the gap with the US Navy and its carrier fleet and network of bases that allow it to maintain a presence around the world. Carriers are key to Chinese leadership's vision of

Norway transport firm tightens security after Chinese buses found hackable

A leading Norwegian public transport operator has said it will introduce stricter security requirements and step up anti-hacking measures after a test on new Chinese-made electric buses showed the manufacturer could remotely turn them off. Transport operator Ruter said test results published last week showed that Chinese bus maker Yutong Group had access to their control systems for software updates and diagnostics. In theory, this could be exploited to affect the bus," it said. The tests with buses driven in underground mines to strip away external signals were conducted both on brand-new Yutong buses and on three-year old vehicles from Dutch bus manufacturer VDL, the company said. It said the tests showed that the Dutch buses didn't have the ability to conduct over-the-air software updates, while the Chinese-made buses did. Yutong did not immediately respond to requests from The Associated Press on Wednesday seeking comment. The Guardian newspaper, which reported on the issue,

China bans foreign AI chips in state-funded data centres amid US tensions

Under the new directive, China has ordered data centres that are less than 30 per cent complete to remove foreign chips and scrap any plans to buy them

Rapeseed planting to hit record high on good weather, Chinese demand

The combined planting area for rapeseed and closely related mustard is expected to increase by 7% to 8% this year

Imports of seamless pipes, tubes from China rise two-fold in FY25: Report

Imports of seamless pipes and tubes from China have increased by more than two-fold annually to 4.97 lakh metric tonnes in FY25, according to domestic manufacturers' body STMAI. The country had imported 2.44 lakh metric tonnes of seamless pipes and tubes from China in the preceding financial year. Imports in FY23 were 1.47 lakh tonnes as against the total shipment of 82,528 metric tonnes in the fiscal year 2021-22, the industry data showed. Seamless Tube Manufacturers' Association of India (STMAI) President Shiv Kumar Singhal said that imports of Chinese pipes have increased nearly five-fold in the last fiscal year compared to that of FY22. "Chinese pipe imports have increased exponentially over time...despite strong support from the Indian government through various safeguard measures aimed at protecting the domestic seamless pipe industry. These efforts have proven largely ineffective in curbing imports from China," Singhal explained. Chinese players are dumping seamless pipes i

India loses top spot to China in QS Asia University Rankings 2026

India has been overtaken by China as the most represented country in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, even as it maintained leadership in research productivity and faculty strength.

Trump's bipolar G2 dream is fundamentally unstable, lacks global influence

What is clear is that both G1 and G2 know that their field of geographical dominance cannot increase any more than it already has

China's Xi seeks to boost investment, deepen economic ties with Russia

Xi met Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Beijing at the Great Hall of the People, a day after Chinese Premier Li Qiang held a meeting with Mishustin in Hangzhou

Boyu Capital seeks around $1.4 billion loan for Starbucks China takeover

Starbucks announced on Tuesday that it will sell a majority stake in its China retail operations, which are valued at $4 billion

China started reducing reliance on the West years before Trump tariffs

Two decades of sustained effort to build national self-reliance and minimize imports have antagonized trade partners but fortified what a senior adviser called Beijing's "bulwark" against conflicts

Starbucks sells 60% stake in China retail business in $4 billion deal

Starbucks has said it is forming a joint venture with Chinese investment firm Boyu Capital to operate Starbucks stores in China. Under the agreement, Boyu will pay USD 4 billion to acquire a 60 per cent interest in Starbucks' retail operations in China. Starbucks will retain a 40 per cent interest in the joint venture and will own and licence the Starbucks brand. Starbucks entered China almost 30 years ago, and has been credited with growing coffee culture in the country. China is Starbucks' second-largest market outside the US, with 8,000 locations. But in recent years, the Seattle coffee giant has struggled in China with cheap, fast-growing Chinese startups like Luckin Coffee. As a result, Starbucks has been looking for a partner to help it grow its business in China, particularly in smaller cities. In July, Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol said the company was evaluating around 20 offers for a stake in the company.

Thomas Cook, SOTC revive China tours as Indian travel demand surges

New China portfolio by Thomas Cook India and SOTC offers curated itineraries for leisure, MICE, and bleisure travellers as demand rebounds with renewed flight connectivity

As China ages, inheritance transfers give rise to family disputes

With the Chinese society aging and the slowing economy, the middle class is starting to argue over money as well, tearing apart long-held social norms such as family harmony and filial duty

Pressure and burnout shadow Xiaomi's rapid pivot from smartphones to EVs

In April, Chinese media reported that Xiaomi was requiring employees to work at least 11.5 hours a day, and those who worked less than eight hours were told to submit a formal explanation

China's October factory growth slows as new orders weaken: PMI data

On the price side, the divergence of rising raw material prices and falling finished goods prices remains, keeping corporate profit margins under pressure

Taiwan reports 5 PLAN vessels, 6 PLA aircraft sorties near territory

MND stated that one out of the six sorties crossed the median line and entered the country's eastern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone

Centre to meet with automakers, others on rare-earth-free EV motors

Amid China's restriction of rare-earth permanent magnet exports to India, the ministry is looking into ways to reduce India's dependence on other countries

Canada, Philippines to sign pact to boost drills, deter China's aggression

Canada and the Philippines, both staunch critics of China's increasingly coercive actions in the disputed South China Sea, were to sign a key defence agreement on Sunday on joint readiness drills and expand security alliances to deter aggression, Philippine officials said. Canada and other Western nations have been bolstering their military presence in the Indo-Pacific to help promote the rule of law and expand trade and investment in the region. The moves dovetail with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s efforts to build defence ties with other countries to help his country's underfunded military face a militarily superior China in the disputed waters. There was no immediate comment from China, which has accused the Philippines of being a troublemaker and a saboteur of regional stability over joint patrols and combat drills with the United States and other countries in the South China Sea. Beijing claims the waterway, a major trade route, virtually in its entirety despite a 2016 ...

US urges ASEAN to be firm in countering China in South China Sea

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday urged Southeast Asian nations to stand firm and strengthen their maritime forces to counter China's increasingly destabilising actions in the South China Sea. Speaking at a meeting in Malaysia with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Hegseth reiterated US concern over what he called China's aggression in the disputed waters that intensified in recent months, citing incidents such as the ramming of vessels and the use of water cannons. The South China Sea remains one of Asia's most volatile flashpoints. Beijing claims almost the entire region, while ASEAN members, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also claim ownership of coastal areas and features. The Philippines, a key US ally, has had frequent clashes with China's maritime fleet. Manila has repeatedly urged a stronger regional response, but ASEAN has traditionally sought to balance caution with economic ties to Beijing, the region's largest ...

South Korea seeks greater Chinese efforts to bring N Korea back to talks

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to make greater efforts to persuade North Korea to return to talks, as the two leaders on Saturday agreed on a set of agreements to expand their economic and other ties. Their one-on-one meeting came hours after they and other Asia-Pacific leaders wrapped up their annual summit in South Korea with a joint statement pledging stronger economic cooperation. The two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in the city of Gyeongju took place a day after Xi and US President Donald Trump agreed to dial back earlier steps and de-escalate their trade war. During his meeting with Lee, Xi called for Seoul to work with Beijing to practice genuine multilateralism, according to Chinese state media, as he continued to position Beijing as the defender of the global trade order upended by Trump's sweeping tariffs. Xi, Lee discuss North Korea --------------------------------- Chinese state media reports on the Xi-Lee meeting didn'