The Latest Breaking News from Beijing

US won't abandon the Philippines in fighting China's assertiveness at sea, Manila's envoy says

Manila’s envoy to Washington is expressing confidence that the United States will not abandon the Philippines as it defies Beijing’s assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea — even as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping seek more direct talks to resolve tariffs and trade issues

The Independent UK · Feb 10

China’s Lunar New Year travel rush begins with record 9.5 billion trips expected

Hundreds of millions of people in China are heading to their hometowns this week for the Lunar New Year festival

The Independent UK · Feb 10

20 years for a China critic: Former media tycoon’s jailing signals the end of an era for Hong Kong’s press

Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy former Hong Kong media tycoon and a fierce critic of Beijing, was sentenced on Monday to 20 years in prison in the longest punishment given so far under a China-imposed national security law that has virtually silenced the city’s dissent.

Newslaundry · Feb 10

Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds fall short in bid to guarantee Team GB’s first medal

Top seeds Mouat and Dodds dominated the round robin but came unstuck against Sweden, and will now aim to avoid a repeat of Beijing four years ago, when the lost the bronze medal match

The Independent UK · Feb 9

Random Musing: Nixon wanted China to fight India-Pakistan War – and other new worms from Watergate

​When Bernard asks why, Sir Humphrey explains: “Because once the Prime Minister knows, there will have to be an enquiry, like Watergate. The investigation of a trivial break-in led to one ghastly revelation after another and finally the downfall of a president. The golden rule is don’t lift lids off…

The Times of India · Feb 9

UK, UN and EU deplore ‘monumental injustice’ of Jimmy Lai’s 20-year jail sentence

Son says Hong Kong media figure, 78, fears dying alone while legal team say Lai is now world’s highest profile political prisoner

The Guardian - UK · Feb 9

Takaichi’s new mandate upends Asia’s power math: What it means for China, India and US

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a powerful mandate, winning a landslide victory. This political stability empowers Tokyo to significantly reshape its approach to China, strengthen ties with the US, and deepen strategic partnerships with India. Her decisive win signals a more assertive Japan on the global stage, impacting regional…

The Times of India · Feb 9

China-critic & media tycoon Jimmy Lai jailed for 20 years in Hong Kong sedition case; Beijing under fire for 'death sentence', draws global condemnation

Hong Kong–based pro-democracy media figure Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday, more than five years after his arrest in August 2020, sparking global outcry.

The Times of India · Feb 9

'If India jumped Pakistan...': Unsealed Watergate files reveals Richard Nixon asked China to interfere in Bangladesh Liberation War

In his grand jury testimony, Nixon described a secret assurance given to Beijing during the war. His full statement reads: “The Russians were supporting India. … Nobody was supporting Pakistan because there was an embargo on the shipment of arms. … But we were giving moral support to them, and…

The Times of India · Feb 9

Jimmy Lai's evolution from Hong Kong media magnate to activist in photos

Prominent democracy advocate Jimmy Lai was a child stowaway from mainland China who rose to become Hong Kong’s onetime media magnate. Unlike other rags-to-riches tycoons who cultivated ties with Beijing, he chose to become its fierce critic.

The Independent UK · Feb 9