South Korea: president’s delicate balance as he hosts Xi and Trump
South Korea stands at a delicate crossroads, balancing its security alliance with the USA and its economic reliance on China. Recent rallies in Seoul captured this tension vividly, with protesters denouncing both Donald…
China: update on Zion Church following arrest of Church leaders
Zion Church, one of China’s largest and most influential house church networks, is facing a severe government crackdown under new online religious restrictions. Founded in 2007 by Pastor Jin Mingri (Ezra Jin), the…
ASEAN: China’s shift towards green technology may inspire others
The strengthened commitment by China to cutting emissions and expanding renewable energy production may well accelerate Southeast Asia’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Analysts note that, as one of ASEAN’s key investors and…
Taiwan / China: super typhoon causes widespread devastation
On 24 September Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest tropical cyclone globally this year, slammed into Yangjiang, southern China, after killing 17 people in Taiwan and battering Hong Kong with destructive winds and torrential rain.…
China: huge military parade watched by Putin, Kim, and other leaders
Beijing has hosted a grand military parade marking eighty years since the end of WW2, with Xi Jinping standing alongside Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un in a rare joint appearance. Xi framed…
Hong Kong: UK and Australia each grant asylum to a pro-democracy activist
Australia and the UK have each granted asylum to a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist. In 2020, lawmaker Ted Hui threw rotten plants on the floor of the legislative council chamber to protest…
China / USA: trade truce extended for a further ninety days
Donald Trump has extended the trade truce with China by another ninety days, narrowly avoiding a major escalation between the world’s two largest economies. The announcement came just hours before the previous deadline…
How a latter-day Joseph changed the world
James O Fraser, a missionary to China in the early 1900s, is being remembered as a 'latter-day Joseph' whose quiet faithfulness sparked a spiritual awakening. Working among the Lisu people in remote southwest…
Tibet: Dalai Lama confirms his successor will be chosen
The Dalai Lama has confirmed that the centuries-old institution of his spiritual role will continue after his death, affirming that a successor will be appointed by the Gaden Phodrang Trust, his official office.…
Hong Kong: last pro-democracy group decides to disband
The League of Social Democrats, Hong Kong’s last active pro-democracy street protest group, has announced its disbandment due to mounting political pressure. Formed in 2006, the party was known for bold, confrontational tactics…
