The Latest Breaking News from Beijing

Balloon ‘panic’ intensifies push against China in Washington

Biden administration faces growing calls from US Congress for tough policies against China after ‘spy’ balloon incident.

Al Jazeera · Feb 9, 2023

Chinese balloon was part of years-long spying program, US says

The high-altitude Chinese balloon that crossed over the U.S. last week is just part of a years-long surveillance program with Beijing deploying such craft around the globe, the US said, as officials sought to draw new attention to what they say is an increasingly aggressive Chinese spying campaign.

Tribune News Service · Feb 8, 2023

U.S. sites of interest visited by past Chinese balloons, Pentagon says

Four previous Chinese spy balloon flights over the United States passed over sites that would be of interest to Beijing, the Pentagon said on Wednesday, without elaborating on whether they passed over military bases.

Reuters · Feb 8, 2023

Beijing Tells Taipei That Mainland Is Ready to Resume Cross-Strait Flights

The Chinese mainland has contained its Covid outbreak, and Taiwan should stop using the pandemic as an excuse to delay the resumption, official says

Caixin Global · Feb 8, 2023

Biden Vows ‘to Protect’ Country in State of the Union Speech, Refers to China Balloon

US President Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address on Tuesday that he would cooperate with great power rival China, but vowed "to protect our country," a reference to a Chinese spy balloon that traveled across America last week. "I'm committed to work with China where we…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 8, 2023

Study: No New Variants in Weeks after China Ended Zero-Covid

No new variants of Covid-19 emerged in Beijing in the weeks after China ended its zero-Covid policy late last year, a new study said on Wednesday. China saw an explosion of infections after starting to lift its strict pandemic measures from early December, sparking fears the world's most populous country…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 8, 2023

US Briefed 40 Nations on China Balloon, Diplomats and Officials Say

The United States held briefings in Washington and Beijing with foreign diplomats from 40 nations about the Chinese spy balloon that entered US airspace in late January, a senior administration official and diplomats said on Tuesday. US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman briefed nearly 150 foreign diplomats across 40…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 8, 2023

'No arrangement' to meet Xi, senior Taiwan opposition leader says as he leaves for China visit

There is "no arrangement" for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the deputy chairman of Taiwan's main opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) said on Wednesday before leaving for Beijing, but added he would follow whatever his hosts set up.

Reuters · Feb 8, 2023

US Will Act To Protect Sovereignty If Threatened By China: Biden

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday (local time) highlighted the "serious challenges" America faces "across the world" and warned China that Washington "will act to protect sovereignty if threatened" by Beijing. Read further on Dynamite News:

Dynamite News · Feb 8, 2023

Philippine President Marcos Jr visits Japan as security in focus

Philippine president and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida are expected to sign an agreement allowing for closer security ties.

Al Jazeera · Feb 8, 2023