CHRISTOPHER BODEEN

FILE - Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of Taiwan's Nationalist Party congress in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on July 23, 2023. A leader of Taiwan’s main opposition Nationalist Party is visiting rival China less than one month before the self-governing island republic holds elections for president and the legislature under intense pressure from Beijing. In a news release Thursday, Dec. 14, the party — also known as the Kuomintang or KMT — said vice chair Andrew Hsia and his delegation departed for China on Wednesday at the invitation of Taiwanese businesspeople. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File)
A leader of Taiwan’s Nationalist Party visits China as the island’s presidential election looms
A leader of Taiwan’s main opposition Nationalist Party is visiting rival China less than one month before the self-governing island republic holds elections for president and the legislature.
 
Taiwan’s presidential candidates will hold a televised debate as the race heats up
The three candidates running in Taiwan’s presidential election will hold a televised debate on Dec. 30 as the race heats up under pressure from China.
 
Taiwan's Taiwan People's Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je, front left, and his vice president candidate Cynthia Wu Hsin-ying wave to the media outside of Central Election Commission in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying)
Taiwan’s main opposition party announces vice presidential candidate as hopes for alliance fracture
Taiwan’s main opposition party Nationalist Party has announced a veteran politician as its vice presidential candidate as hopes for a cross-party alliance to challenge the ruling Democratic Progressive Party have fractured.
 
Taiwan Vice President William Lai, left, the candidate for presidential election of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), answers a question as he was with his vice president candidate Hsiao Bi-kim, former Taiwanese representative to the United States, during a news conference in Taipei, Taiwan, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Taiwan presidential front-runner picks former de facto ambassador to US as vice president candidate
The front-runner in Taiwan’s presidential race has picked the long-term de facto ambassador to the United States as his vice presidential candidate.
 
President Joe Biden greets China's President President Xi Jinping at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, Calif., Wednesday, Nov, 15, 2023, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative conference. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Xi-Biden meeting seen as putting rocky relations back on course, though main differences remain
U.S. President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping haven’t resolved any of the vital geopolitical issues dividing the world’s two largest economies.
 
FILE - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company founder Morris Chang speaks at the new facility in Phoenix on Dec. 6, 2022. Taiwan will take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in San Francisco this week, a rare opportunity for the self-governing island democracy of 23 million people and its high-tech economy to break the diplomatic embargo on it imposed by authoritarian China. Taiwan will represented by a civilian rather than a government figure or head of state, under an unwritten rule that satisfies China's contention that members of the organization participate as economic entities rather than state players. For the seventh time, Taiwan will be represented by Morris Chang, the 92-year-old founder of the world-leading Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Taiwan’s participation at APEC forum offers a rare chance to break China’s bonds
Taiwan will take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in San Francisco this week, a rare opportunity for the self-governing island democracy of 23 million people and its high-tech economy to break the diplomatic embargo on it imposed by authoritarian China.
 
Security personnel in blue vest stand guard in front of the flowers laid by residents near a residential building where the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spent his childhood in Hefei city, in central China's Anhui province, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people gathered near a state funeral home Thursday as former Premier Li Keqiang was being put to rest. (AP Photo/Ken Moritsugu)
Chinese gather and lay flowers despite heavy security as former Premier Li Keqiang is laid to rest
Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people have gathered near a state funeral home in Beijing as China’s former second-ranking leader, Li Keqiang, was put to rest.
 
FILE - A Taiwan national flag flutters near the Taipei 101 building at the National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, on May 7, 2023. Taiwan said Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023 that China sent 43 military aircraft and seven ships near the self-ruled island, the latest sign that Beijing plans no let-up in its campaign of harassment, threats and intimidation. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File)
China keeps up military pressure on Taiwan, sending 43 planes and 7 ships near self-governing island
Taiwan says China has sent another 43 military aircraft and seven ships near the self-ruled island, the latest sign that Beijing plans no let-up in its campaign of harassment, threats and intimidation.
 
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, astronaut Gui Haichao waves as he is carried out of the re-entry capsule of the Shenzhou-14 manned space mission after it landed successfully at the Dongfeng landing site in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. The previous crew of China's orbiting space station returned to earth Tuesday morning, all reportedly in good health, amid a sharpening rivalry with the U.S. over space exploration and plans to put astronauts on the moon before 2030. (Li Zhipeng/Xinhua via AP)
3 astronauts return to Earth after 6-month stay on China’s space station
Three astronauts have returned to Earth after six months aboard China’s orbiting space station. Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao emerged from the return capsule at a Chinese space center Tuesday morning. They are reportedly in good health.
 
FILE - Newly elected Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu takes his oath during a session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 12, 2023. China has replaced Defense Minister Gen. Li, who has been out of public view for almost two months with little explanation, state media reported Tuesday, Oct. 24. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
Loyalty above all: Removal of top Chinese officials seen as enforcing Xi’s demand for obedience
Analysts say the removal of China’s foreign and defense ministers appears to enforce leader Xi Jinping’s demand for total obedience and the elimination of any potential rivals within the ruling Communist Party.
 
FILE - Newly elected Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu takes his oath during a session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 12, 2023. China has replaced Defense Minister Gen. Li, who has been out of public view for almost two months with little explanation, state media reported Tuesday, Oct. 24. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
China replaces its defense minister months after its foreign minister was removed from office
Chinese state media are reporting that the country has replaced Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu. He has been out of public view for almost two months with little explanation.
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk during their meeting on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. (Sergey Savostyanov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Putin begins visit in China underscoring ties amid Ukraine war and Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing on a visit that underscores China’s support for Moscow during its war in Ukraine as well as Russian backing for China’s bid to expand its economic and diplomatic influence abroad through its decade-old “Belt and Road” initiative.
 
Russia's President Vladimir Putin arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport to attend the third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. (Parker Song/Pool Photo via AP)
Putin’s visit to Beijing underscores China’s economic and diplomatic support for Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet with Chinese leaders in Beijing on a visit that underscores China’s support for Moscow during its war in Ukraine.
 
Chairman of Taiwan People's Communist Party Lin Te-wang, center, attends a protest outside of the Taipei International Convention Center during the Taiwan-U.S. Defense Industry Forum in Taipei, Taiwan on May 3, 2023. Prosecutors in Taiwan have indicted Lin and the party's Vice Chairman Chen Chien-hsin on accusations they colluded with China in an effort to influence next year’s elections for president and members of the legislative assembly. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Taiwan indicts 2 communist party members accused of colluding with China to influence elections
Prosecutors in Taiwan have indicted two leaders of the island’s tiny Taiwan People’s Communist Party on accusations they colluded with China in an effort to influence next year’s elections for president and members of the legislative assembly.
 
Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea
BEIJING (AP) — A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons.
 
Civil servants join Hong Kong protests as Beijing accuses US
Hong Kong civil servants and supporters have crowded into a public park to join a pro-democracy movement that China’s top diplomat accused Western nations of provoking.
 
China says US-China trade teams in contact ahead of G-20
China says its trade negotiators are speaking with their U.S. counterparts about how to resolving their disputes ahead of an meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the G-20 summit in Japan later this week.
 
China issues travel alerts, slams US ‘interference’
China has issued a pair of travel warnings for the U.S. and slammed what it called “interference” in its internal affairs.
 
China indicts former Interpol chief on bribery charges
Chinese prosecutors have indicted former Interpol president Meng Hongwei on charges of accepting bribes. An announcement from the prosecutor’s office in the northeastern city of Tianjin gave few details.
 
Putin lauds China infrastructure initiative, warming ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, underscoring warming ties between the neighboring powers.
 
China accuses US of prejudice over human rights issues
China has responded to new U.S. allegations of human rights abuses with its own accusations of prejudice and interference, saying Washington should drop its “Cold War mentality” and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.
 
Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton says China’s actions in the South China Sea are “completely unacceptable” and the U.S. will continue to pursue actions to prevent Beijing from turning the area into “a new Chinese province.”
 
China county suspends fracking after quakes worry residents
A county in western China has suspended drilling for shale gas after residents protested over fracking work they suspected of causing deadly earthquakes.
 
Pakistani pilgrim Muhammad Ramzan eats ice cream outside the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Muslim pilgrims are converging on Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca for the largest hajj since the coronavirus pandemic severely curtailed access to one of Islam's five pillars. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Saudi crown prince in China on latest stop of Asian tour
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has arrived in China on the latest stop of a tour that seeks to boost relations with the kingdom’s Asian neighbors amid frictions with the West.
 
China closes Tibet to foreigners for sensitive anniversaries
China is keeping foreign travelers out of Tibet during sensitive political anniversaries. The ban seemingly started this month and will last until April 1.
 
China condemns Turkey over claim of famed musician’s death
China is condemning Turkey over its claim that a celebrated musician from China’s Turkic Muslim Uighur ethnic group has died in custody.
 
Biographical sketches of 2 Canadians detained in China
Below are profiles of the two men, one a diplomat on hiatus working for an international think tank, the other an entrepreneur and business consultant dealing with North Korea. China on Thursday confirmed they had both been detained on Monday.
 
North Korea tells China it’s committed to denuclearization
China says North Korea’s foreign minister has told his Chinese counterpart that his country remains committed to ending its nuclear weapons programs.
 
22 dead in blast outside northern China chemical plant
An explosion outside a chemical plant in northeastern China has killed at least 22 people and destroyed scores of vehicles.
 
China postpones on allowing tiger bone, rhino horn trading
China is postponing its decision to allow trading in tiger and rhinoceros parts a bare two weeks after the easing of the ban had raised fears the country was giving legal cover to poaching and smuggling of endangered wildlife.
 
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