Category: China

Business

China Tightens Its Mineral Grip — Now the U.S. and Japan Are Racing to Protect the Chips That Power the World

U.S. and Japan race for critical minerals as China tightens grip on chip supply chains The next major battle in the global technology race may not be fought inside a semiconductor factory — it may begin with the minerals needed to make the chips in the first place. The United States and Japan are accelerating efforts to build alternative supplies of critical minerals and rare earth materials as China's export controls continue to create uncertainty for semiconductor, defense, aerospace and oth

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China

Miss World 2026 Coronation Night Underway in Vietnam—Then the Philippines’ Asia Rose Simpson Makes the Cut

NHA TRANG, Vietnam — The highly anticipated Miss World 2026 coronation night has officially begun in Vietnam, with 111 delegates from around the world competing for the coveted blue crown in the pageant's 75th Anniversary Edition. The grand finale is taking place at April 2 Square in Nha Trang, where thousands of spectators are watching the outdoor spectacle unfold. The event marks the culmination of weeks of competitions, advocacy activities, cultural showcases and challenges involving contest

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China

5 Chinese Warships Spotted Near Eastern Samar and Ilocos Norte—What Were They Watching?

MANILA, Philippines — The presence of Chinese naval vessels near two strategically important maritime approaches of the Philippines is drawing renewed attention after five People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were reportedly monitored off Eastern Samar and northern Luzon in recent days. The sightings, first reported by The Manila Times, involved four Chinese warships observed off Hilabaan, Eastern Samar, on August 31, followed the next day by another PLAN vessel monitored near Ilocos No

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China

China Walks Out of South Korea’s Major Art Festival Over “Taiwan Pavilion” — And Seoul Is Now Caught in the Middle

A dispute over the name of a Taiwanese exhibition has turned into a major diplomatic and cultural controversy in South Korea, with Chinese curators and artists withdrawing from the 16th Gwangju Biennale after organizers approved the use of the name “Taiwan Pavilion.” The controversy intensified just as the biennale opened to the public on September 5, putting one of Asia's major contemporary art events in the uncomfortable position of having a cultural exhibition overshadowed by the long-runnin

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China

Zavier Lucero Ready for Gilas’ Biggest Defensive Test—But Can He Help Stop China in the Asian Games?

MANILA, Philippines — Zavier Lucero is ready to embrace a bigger role as Gilas Pilipinas prepares for a difficult Asian Games title defense, with the Magnolia forward expected to bring his physical defense, rebounding and versatility to a revamped Philippine lineup. Lucero is among the 12 players selected for Gilas Pilipinas’ men’s basketball team for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, putting the Magnolia Hotshots forward in line for his first major appearance with the national team. The 6-fo

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China

China’s Rare Earth Supply Squeeze Hits U.S.—And the Next Move Could Come Before Xi’s Washington Visit

BEIJING/WASHINGTON — China’s grip on the global supply of critical minerals is once again becoming a major pressure point in its economic relationship with the United States, with some Chinese rare earth suppliers reportedly declining to ship materials to U.S. customers amid fears of repercussions from Beijing. The development comes just weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Washington, putting rare earth supplies back at the center of the U.S.-China trade and national-

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Business

China Hits Back at G20 Over Export Pressure as Its Record Trade Surplus Becomes a Global Flashpoint

BEIJING — China is pushing back against an unusually broad challenge to its export-driven economic model, accusing other G20 economies of dressing up protectionism as concern over global trade imbalances. The confrontation erupted after finance ministers and central bank governors met in Asheville, North Carolina, where virtually every G20 member present except China supported language warning that persistent economic imbalances and policies that suppress domestic consumption while relying heav

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Business

This Chinatown Antique Shop Turns Broken Heirlooms Into Lamps — But the Real Story Is Who’s Keeping the Craft Alive

In the middle of Singapore’s fast-changing Chinatown, one shop is betting that an old object does not have to remain trapped in the past. At East Inspirations, a decades-old antiques and lifestyle business along South Bridge Road, 72-year-old founder Cheong Poh Kwai, better known as PK, and his 37-year-old son Jacob Cheong are keeping old objects relevant by transforming some of them into functional pieces for modern homes. That can mean turning damaged porcelain into a table lamp. Or giving a

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Business

German Companies Face Growing Pressure From Chinese Rivals as Competition Enters a “New Dimension”

BERLIN — German companies are facing a rapidly intensifying challenge from Chinese competitors, with a new survey showing that Chinese firms are no longer competing mainly on low prices but increasingly on technology, quality and innovation. The findings from the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) offer a fresh warning for Europe's biggest economy as German manufacturers confront rising costs at home and increasingly aggressive competitors abroad. The DIHK surveyed around 1,300 Ger

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China

China’s Robot Revolution Is Already Here—But It May Not Look Like What You Think

China’s rapidly expanding robotics industry is attracting global attention, with humanoid machines dancing, fighting, running and performing increasingly sophisticated demonstrations. But beneath the viral videos lies a much bigger—and potentially more consequential—robotics revolution. The real story may not be the rise of human-shaped machines at all. Instead, China is rapidly scaling industrial robots, autonomous mobile machines and specialized robotic systems that are already working in fa

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