Breaking news and analysis on China, covering politics, economy, technology, trade relations, and social developments in the world's second-largest economy.
SIPRI's 2026 annual report shows China's nuclear warhead stockpile reached 620 as of January 2026, up from 600 a year earlier. Deployed warheads rose to about 34, and China now has 775 land-based missile silos. The report also notes global modernization of nuclear arsenals and the expiration of the New START treaty.
China is on track to overtake the US as the world's leading travel and tourism economy, per a WTTC report. The sector is expected to nearly double to $3.5 trillion over the next decade, generating one in five new global tourism jobs by 2036.
Taiwan's coast guard expelled four Chinese government ships from restricted waters 30 nautical miles southwest of Taiwan's southern tip on Sunday. Taiwan sent seven vessels to warn away the Chinese ships, and all four were expelled by late afternoon. Taiwan has reported a rise in Chinese coast guard activity over the past two weeks.
A former PLA Navy officer highlighted a key gap in China's carrier strike groups: limited stealth fighters. Japan has bolstered its defense with long-range anti-ship missiles and deployments near Taiwan, prompting calls for faster fleet modernization.
China's Ministry of Transport launched a special maritime traffic enforcement operation east of Taiwan on Saturday, citing the need to exercise maritime administrative jurisdiction. The move follows Japan-Philippine talks on maritime boundaries that potentially overlap with Taiwan. China sent its largest patrol ship and will conduct joint patrols with a coastguard formation.
This commentary argues that Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea is significant because it breaks his pattern of reduced foreign travel, signaling China's concern over North Korea's growing military and economic ties with Russia. It suggests that China's traditional role as North Korea's senior partner is being challenged by Russia's payments for weapons and troop support.
Taiwanese Defense Minister Wellington Koo said Chinese Coast Guard patrols east of Taiwan are a 'provocative act' and that Taiwan's military will closely coordinate with its Coast Guard in responding. China's operation came after Japan and the Philippines announced talks on maritime boundaries.
Chinese researchers found high-purity quartz in Tibet leucogranites with silica content above 99.995%, exceeding thresholds for hi-tech manufacturing. The discovery boosts China's self-sufficiency push for materials used in solar panels and semiconductors, a market currently dominated by the US.
The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum's operations council proposed replacing 'massacre' with 'incident' to describe the Nanking Massacre, drawing criticism for downplaying Japan's wartime aggression. The changes also include describing the assault as an 'invasion' and the army's use of 'aggression'.
Dr David Wilson, author of a Home Office report on Chinese crime in the UK, says he faced multiple compromise attempts, including a suspected honey trap by a former British police officer and persistent offers of help from a man claiming ties to the Chinese government.