Day: October 15, 2025

Chinese airlines oppose US plan to stop flights over Russia on way to America

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All major Chinese airlines operating flights to the United States have formally opposed or asked for reconsideration of a US government proposal that could bar them from flying over Russian airspace on US routes as early as next month. Advertisement In a filing to the US Department of Transportation on Tuesday, Air China said it “opposes” the proposal because it would make travel more inconvenient for passengers. “Air China estimates that at least 4,400 passengers holding Air China tickets for travel in November and December 2025 will be affected if…

Cambricon, SenseTime team up to support China’s tech self-reliance efforts

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Advertisement The two companies intend to leverage their respective hardware and software expertise to promote “a new indigenous AI development paradigm”, according to a WeChat post by SenseTime, in response to the “AI Plus” strategy unveiled in August by the State Council, China’s cabinet. Beijing has made self-reliance across China’s AI stack – from integrated circuits to AI models – a national priority, as infrastructure buildout is expected to be a major theme in the country’s development of a 15th five-year plan. The strategic cooperation is expected to result in…

China’s overnight social media stars are discovering the flip side of fame

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After weeks of standing in front of a boiling pot, the “chicken steak guy” couldn’t take it any more. Last week, he said in a video posted to his personal Douyin account that he would take a day off. Advertisement He had grown extremely tired, not only from frying chicken nonstop, but also from the demands of his zealous fans. One news report said that during the week-long National Holiday, cornered by people asking for a picture, he exclaimed, “There’s no air, I’m suffocating.” The “chicken steak guy” had been…

FCC seeks to bar Hong Kong Telecom carrier from operating in US

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In a further sign of mounting tension between the US and China, the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) on Wednesday took the initial step to “expel Hong Kong Telecom” from the US telecommunication network. Advertisement In a notice issued late in the day, the US regulatory agency announced that it had sent “Communist Party-controlled” HKT International an order to show cause why it should not revoke the carrier’s right to provide international and domestic services to and from the United States. The basis for the show-cause order appeared to be…

Trump says Modi pledged India would stop buying Russian oil

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Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world Donald Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised that his country would stop buying Russian oil, in a move that could help ease trade tensions between the two nations. Trump told reporters on Wednesday that Modi pledged in a phone call earlier in the day to halt the purchases, over which Washington had imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff in August. The levy applied on top…

No 10 moves to end China spy row – but threat of further fallout lingers

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When Keir Starmer finally read the witness statement from his deputy national security adviser for the trial of two British men accused of spying for China, some of his frustration about the collapse of the case began to dissipate. His government had been besieged by the Tories for two weeks over its role, being accused of “secretly sabotaging” the trial, “blocking” key witnesses and “hiding behind process”, all to avoid having to tell a court that China was an enemy. Media reports suggested the refusal by the government to describe…

Spy case witness statement reveals UK desire for ‘positive’ relationship with China

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Sir Keir Starmer’s government repeatedly said it wanted a “positive” relationship with China in witness statements needed to support the prosecution of two men accused of spying on MPs for Beijing, which ultimately collapsed. The three witness statements, which Starmer agreed to publish on Wednesday in a bid to defuse growing criticism over his government’s handling of the case, did state that China was a threat to the UK’s “economic security” but also repeatedly sought to “emphasise” Britain’s desire for positive relations. The collapse of the case last month has…

UK government’s spy case testimony spoke of desire for ‘positive’ ties with China

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Sir Keir Starmer’s government repeatedly said it wanted a “positive” relationship with China in witness statements needed to support the prosecution of two men accused of spying on MPs for Beijing, which ultimately collapsed. The three witness statements, which Starmer agreed to publish on Wednesday in a bid to defuse growing criticism over his government’s handling of the case, did state that China was a threat to the UK’s “economic security” but also repeatedly sought to “emphasise” Britain’s desire for positive relations. The collapse of the case last month has…

Questions for CPS after No 10 publishes key witness statements in China spy row

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The Crown Prosecution Service abandoned a case against two Britons accused of spying for China despite being told by the UK’s deputy national security adviser that Beijing’s intelligence agencies “harm the interests and security of the UK”. Three witness statements were released by Keir Starmer on Wednesday night in an effort to draw a line under a row over why the case was dropped against the two, one of whom also warned the other in a message: “You’re in spy territory now.” Charges against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher,…

FirstFT: Bessent warns world will ‘decouple’ from China if it imposes new export controls

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This article is an on-site version of our FirstFT newsletter. Subscribers can sign up to our Asia, Europe/Africa or Americas edition to get the newsletter delivered every weekday morning. Explore all of our newsletters here Good morning and welcome back to FirstFT Asia. In today’s newsletter: US warns of ‘decoupling’ from China India’s Diwali tax cuts A deep dive on First Brands’ secretive founder How weight-loss drugs killed the business lunch We start with the latest on the US-China trade dispute, as Treasury secretary Scott Bessent warned Beijing that its…