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Month: November 2026
Trump’s troubles with Iran could open the door to China
Client Challenge JavaScript is disabled in your browser. Please enable JavaScript to proceed. A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser. The Guardian
China’s Message to Its Rivals: You Need What We Make
They are among the biggest machines in the world: steel cylinders, some as long as a football field, armed with rotating discs that can chew through rock to clear the way for roads and railways. Known as tunnel-boring machines, they are made by only a handful of companies, mostly in factories in China. India uses them to dig tunnels, including in the Himalayas, to improve its ability to send troops to defend its contested border with China. But starting this month, Beijing is likely to be able to control whether…
Analysts: China could erode Taiwan’s hold on remote Pratas Island without invasion
China could cut off supplies to Taiwan-controlled Pratas Island, but forcing Taipei to abandon the remote outpost would require a sustained operation that might be too risky for Beijing, analysts told Radio Free Asia. The tiny atoll known as Dongsha Island in Chinese lies more than 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Taiwan’s main island, about 260 kilometers (160 miles) from the Chinese mainland in the northern South China Sea. The island’s isolation makes maintaining access by sea and air central to sustaining the coast guard and military personnel stationed there.…
China’s Communist Party plenum targets passive ‘nice’ guys in anti-corruption push
China’s ruling Communist Party has pledged to target “old nice persons” within its ranks as it steps up its anti-corruption drive ahead of a major leadership reshuffle next year. Rendered in Chinese as lao hao ren, the term refers to unprincipled, conflict-averse officials who turn a blind eye to misconduct to protect their own careers and social standing. A resolution adopted at the close of the party’s 20th Central Committee’s fifth plenum last week signalled a crackdown on this culture of… South China Morning Post
OpenAI executive urges caution in China-US AI talks, warns of distillation threats
A top OpenAI executive said on Monday that Washington needs to be “clear-eyed” and “aware” about sharing information with Beijing during coming talks on artificial intelligence (AI), while also warning about the threat posed by alleged Chinese distillation attacks. “Be very clear-eyed. Be very aware of what information you are able to expect in return for what you are sharing, and start to build a foundation,” said Caroline Zier, OpenAI’s deputy lead for national security, during a discussion at… South China Morning Post
US midterm elections 2026: all you need to know
Americans go to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, in midterm elections that could reshape the final two years of Donald Trump’s second term as president. Control of both chambers of Congress is in play, along with 36 governorships. Polls suggest Democrats go into the vote with an advantage, but the outcome will hinge on a few dozen closely fought races. More than 100 million people are expected to vote if turnout matches the 2022 midterms. By October 12, a record US$3.8 billion had been spent on… South China Morning…
Will ‘strategic stability’ with China go out the window if Trump loses the midterms?
US President Donald Trump is likely to continue on a path of trying to stabilise ties with Beijing – even if the Democrats flip the House of Representatives, according to analysts. But they said if the Republicans lost control of the House in this week’s midterm elections, the framework of “strategic stability” agreed to by Washington and Beijing could be put to the test. One Chinese academic warned that other Republicans could pose the biggest risk to Sino-American ties in Trump’s final two… South China Morning Post
China Maritime Report #60: PLA Naval Aviation Personnel: Training and Career Paths for a Modern Force
Main Findings PLA Naval Aviation has undergone substantial institutional transformation over the past two decades. This transformation is driven by the goal of becoming a carrier-based force capable of effective joint operations in the maritime domain. This transformation has been accompanied by reforms to pilot education, training, and career management systems, aimed at producing a qualified force capable of conducting long-range maritime operations. Despite significant progress, there are still areas that require improvements, particularly the Naval Aviation University. The PLAN likely aims to further professionalize pilot education and shorten the…
The Big Change Coming in U.S.-China Relations in the Age of A.I.
At Beijing Capital International Airport, it is now required after landing to send carry-on bags through a scanner before leaving the arrivals building. As I approached the scanner belt with my bags, though, I saw a sign that I had never encountered before: Any passenger carrying a drone has to remove and declare it. A Chinese security officer pointed directly to the sign to confirm that I had no drones in my bag. I shook my head no. I don’t usually travel with a drone. That sign was not the…