By Mei-Ling Chen
Shanghai-based correspondent covering Chinese politics, economy, cross-Strait relations and the Party apparatus.
China caught in US economic squeeze on Iran as sanctions widen
The US Treasury's Operation Economic Outcast targets dozens of Chinese companies linked to Iran. Beijing faces a dilemma: it wants the confl
Nepal's deadly glacial flood: a warning from the Himalayas
A catastrophic debris flow swept through Nepal's Bhote Koshi valley, killing over 150 and leaving hundreds missing. Early analysis suggests
Can Democrats turn public anger over Trump's Iran war into 2028 gains?
For the first time in polling history, a US military action begins with majority opposition. Democrats hope to turn this into a 2028 advanta
Chinese students shun US campuses as global enrollment shifts
New foreign enrollment at US universities fell 20% this spring, with graduate programs down 24%. Chinese students, once the largest group, a
Ukraine's other war: systemic corruption undermines wartime governance
Ukraine's independence day was marred by a new corruption scandal, with former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov accusing the government of
Trump's second term accelerates a global shift away from US leadership
New US tariffs and a landmark Pew survey show China overtaking the US in global favorability. South Korea and Europe are recalibrating allia
Nokia's China retreat signals end of an era in telecom supply chains
Nokia is shutting nearly all its China sites, including a major R&D hub in Hangzhou, cutting about 1,600 jobs. The exit follows years of geo
China's Chang'e-7 to probe lunar water ice in shadowed craters
China's Chang'e-7 mission, set for launch this month, will deploy a hopper to explore permanently shadowed lunar craters for water ice. The
Arctic shipping route faces hurdles despite China's new service
Chinese shipping line Sea Legend has started a regular Arctic container service between Ningbo-Zhoushan and Europe. Despite the promise of s
Why Gaza peace deals keep collapsing: missing enforcement mechanisms
Four Gaza agreements in 2025 all lacked clear enforcement mechanisms, allowing breaches to go unchecked. The latest US roadmap shifts verifi
Auction home surge deepens China's property market slump
Court-ordered auction listings in China surged 23.7% in the first seven months of 2026, with prices falling 9% year-on-year. Clearance rates
Rahman's India visit stalls as Hasina's exile complicates ties
Bangladesh has postponed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's first official visit to India after Sheikh Hasina addressed supporters from exile i