China

Analysis - Nuclear Submarine Plan Aims to Give Australia Strategic Edge to Deter China

Australian nuclear submarines are key to defending the country’s 36,000 kilometres of coastline and maintaining an edge against China, whose growing military presence means conflict can erupt without notice, defence officials and government advisers said. The shift from Australia’s diesel-electric fleet to nuclear-powered subs brings additional range, stealth and strike capability – crucial capabilities given […]

‘Xi Jinping’s Guy’: Longtime Acolyte LI Set to Be China’s Next Premier

Four years before Li Qiang gained notoriety as the force behind the two-month COVID lockdown of Shanghai, the man set to become China’s next premier worked quietly behind the scenes to drive a bold revamp of the megacity’s sclerotic stock market. Li’s back-channelling – sources said he bypassed the China Securities Regulatory Commission, which lost […]

FBI Chief Says TikTok ‘Screams’ of US National Security Concerns

China’s government could use TikTok to control data on millions of American users, FBI Director Christopher Wray told a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday, saying the Chinese-owned video app “screams” of security concerns. Wray told a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats to U.S. security that the Chinese government could also use TikTok to […]

Dutch Trade Minister: China Protest Over Export Rules Is 'Understandable'

The Netherlands’ Trade Minister said a Chinese protest over the Dutch decision to impose restrictions on computer chip technology exports was “understandable”, but on Thursday said she expected diplomatic relations would remain good. Liesje Schreinemacher was speaking in Stockholm after the Netherlands said on Wednesday it would follow the U.S. in imposing stricter export rules. […]

CIA Future Will Be Defined by US Technology Race with China, Director Says

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s future will be defined by America’s ongoing technology race with China, agency director William Burns said on Wednesday during a Senate hearing. Burns’ remarks followed the release of the Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community, which pointed to China as the biggest national security threat facing America. The […]

Dutch to Restrict Semiconductor Tech Exports to China, Joining US Effort

The Netherlands’ government on Wednesday said it plans new restrictions on exports of semiconductor technology to protect national security, joining the U.S. effort to curb chip exports to China. The announcement marked the first concrete move by the Dutch, who oversee essential chipmaking technology, toward adopting rules urged by Washington to hobble China’s chipmaking industry […]

Biden to Host Australian, British Leaders on AUKUS Defence Pact

U.S. President Joe Biden will host leaders of Australia and Britain in San Diego next week to chart a way forward for provision of nuclear-powered submarines and other high-tech weaponry to Australia, sources familiar with the plans said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said before leaving on a visit to India on Wednesday he would […]

Factbox-What Is China's New Government Restructuring Plan?

China has unveiled plans for a sweeping central government reorganisation at its annual parliament session, including the formation of a financial regulatory body and national data bureau and a revamp of its science and technology ministry. Here are the main changes and what they mean. WHAT DOES THE RESTRUCTURING INVOLVE? A new national financial regulatory […]

Under Pressure, TikTok Unveils New European Data Security Regime

TikTok has announced out a new data security regime, nicknamed “Project Clover”, amid growing pressure from lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic. The European Parliament, European Commission and the EU Council recently banned TikTok from staff phones due to growing concerns about the company, which is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, and whether China’s […]

Nvidia, AMD Grapple with Latest U.S. Curbs on China’s Inspur

Nvidia Corp, Advanced Micro Devices Inc and other tech firms are scrambling to assess whether they must halt sales to units of China’s Inspur Group Ltd after its addition to a U.S. export blacklist last week. The United States last week added Inspur to its trade blacklist for allegedly acquiring U.S.-origin items in support of […]