Day: January 10, 2026

The global artificial intelligence (AI) race remains one of the most hotly contested spheres of international competition. Few would bet today on an eventual winner, but current trends point to three possible scenarios that we should consider. In the first scenario, the AI world is dominated by the US and China. While the US still has the technological edge, China is closing in fast and vies with the US for leadership on many of the key dimensions of AI prowess. According to Stanford University’s 2025 AI Index Report, a global…

Taiwan’s latest military crash involving an upgraded F-16 fighter jet has sparked fresh scrutiny of the readiness of the island’s ageing arsenal amid the sustained high-tempo demands of cross-strait tensions. The episode on Tuesday has sharpened debate over whether upgrades and new armament purchases can realistically keep pace with increasing wear, maintenance constraints and the rapid modernisation of mainland China’s forces, according to lawmakers and analysts. The incident involved an F-16V single-seat fighter (tail number 6700) from the Taiwanese air force’s Hualien Base in eastern Taiwan that went missing after…

China has called on the US to work together to prevent a resurgence of militarism in Japan, with Beijing signalling that more sanctions could be in the pipeline for Tokyo’s defence industry. “Preventing militarism from harming the world again is in the common interest of both our countries [China and the United States],” Liu Pengyu, spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, said in an article published in US-based Executive Intelligence Review earlier this week. “We should rise above differences, cooperate with each other, and live up to our obligations…

Taiwan will double down on strengthening key facilities, including defences against drones, and ramp up ammunition production to withstand growing pressure from the mainland, according to senior officials on the island. Taiwanese Vice-Premier Cheng Li-chiun said on Thursday that the government would continue to reinforce critical infrastructure and defences against unmanned aerial vehicles. “Taiwan must be more fully prepared, especially in the face of the possibility of various new forms of grey-zone conflicts, including the anticipated risks of drone intrusion,” Cheng said, according to a statement on Friday from the…

The leaders of South Korea and China wrapped up a summit this week with both underlining support for one of Beijing’s diplomatic priorities but making no tangible progress on North Korea, Seoul’s main concern. During the trip, Lee declared 2026 as the year for the “full restoration of South Korea-China relations” and Xi vowed to facilitate “more frequent exchanges and closer communication”. Advertisement The two countries also finalised more than 10 cooperation agreements spanning areas such as industrial exchanges, digital technology, intellectual property and environmental collaboration. According to Beijing, South…

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been a crucial pillar of China’s economy since it opened up, drawing in trillions and helping fuel its rise as the “world’s factory”. But outbound direct investment (ODI) has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, transforming the country into a major exporter of capital. Today, China’s outbound investments exceed inflows, and the country has consistently ranked among the top three global investors in recent years. In this explainer, the Post examines the drivers behind China’s rise as a capital exporter, how its overseas investment…