Day: September 7, 2025

Amid growing anger from his political base, US President Donald Trump has defended his proposal to admit 600,000 Chinese students over two years, but analysts warn that the policy reversal may not ease the pathway to American colleges. Advertisement Reaction to last month’s announcement prompted the administration, which previously “aggressively revoked” visas for Chinese students, to clarify that the plan would be implemented over two years, bringing the total to just above the existing annual enrolment levels of nearly 280,000. Trump said in a number of media interviews – including…

The Pentagon’s reported plans to focus on domestic and regional threats over countering China signals an “inevitable” waning of Washington’s global power, according to a retired People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officer. Advertisement The shift might be bad news for Taiwan, he warned. US news outlet Politico reported on Friday that Pentagon officials had urged the Department of Defence to prioritise protecting the homeland and western hemisphere, marking a shift in its focus on its adversaries including China and Russia. The suggestions were made in a draft of the newest National…

China’s Xin Zhilei has won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival, becoming the first Chinese woman to receive the honour in 14 years. Advertisement The 39-year-old actress brought the Golden Lion trophy home on Saturday for her role in The Sun Rises on Us All, directed by Cai Shangjun. The film sees Xin play the harassed owner of a fashion retail business who is trying to reconcile with her former lover, who served time in prison for a crime she had committed. “I feel like I am…

Two Chinese military aircraft have arrived in Kabul to deliver humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Afghanistan, highlighting strategic trust between the two countries. Advertisement Early on Sunday, two People’s Liberation Army Air Force Y-20 heavy-lift transporters touched down with the first batch of earthquake relief cargo promised by Beijing after a devastating tremor struck eastern Afghanistan last weekend, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The first batch of Chinese aid is mostly in the form of tents and blankets. Photo: CCTV The supplies are mainly tents and blankets and more aid will…

Taiwan is moving swiftly to expand its long-range strike abilities with a new class of low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Advertisement This comes as military planners seek affordable alternatives to expensive cruise missiles and Washington deepens cooperation with Taipei on drones and emerging technologies. The urgency has grown since Beijing showcased cutting-edge uncrewed systems during its Victory Day parade at Tiananmen Square on Wednesday – platforms that analysts said mirrored or even surpassed the destructive drones being deployed in the Russia-Ukraine war. At the centre of the island’s latest effort…