Pentagon says it is monitoring Chinese spy balloon spotted flying over US

Officials say balloon has been watched for a few days but has decided not to shoot it down for safety reasonsThe Pentagon has said it is tracking a Chinese spy balloon flying over the United States but decided against shooting it down for safety reasons.Defence officials said the balloon has been watched for a couple days since it entered US airspace,...

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US general’s ‘gut’ feeling of war with China sparks alarm over predictions

Leaked memo forecasting Taiwan strait conflict in 2025 triggers debate about ‘undisciplined’ commentsA leaked memo from a US four-star general saying his “gut” told him the US would be at war with China in 2025 has prompted warnings about the danger of “undisciplined” predictions of a Taiwan strait conflict.The memo, by the head of the US Air Mobility...

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US seals crucial military deal with the Philippines close to China ‘flashpoints’

Deal expands Washington’s access to military bases near Taiwan and the South China SeaThe Philippines has granted the US expanded access to its military bases, greatly enhancing Washington’s presence in the region at a time of growing concern about Chinese aggression.Washington would be given access to four additional military bases in “strategic areas...

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Canada votes to take in 10,000 Uyghur refugees amid Chinese pressure to force their return

Move shows ‘what is happening to the Uyghurs is unacceptable’, says MP after non-binding parliamentary ballot with prime minister’s supportCanada’s parliament has unanimously passed a motion to take in 10,000 Uyghur refugees who fled China, but are now facing pressure to return.The vote on Wednesday builds on a February 2021 move by Canadian lawmakers...

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US opens embassy in Solomon Islands after 30-year absence to counter China

Move comes amid concerns about Beijing’s military ambitions in Indo-Pacific region after it struck a security pact with Solomons last yearThe United States has opened an embassy in Solomon Islands after a 30-year absence as it seeks to boost diplomatic relations in the Pacific as a counter to China.The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, announced...

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Chip war: Japan and Netherlands expected to join US in ban on tech exports to China

Washington officials appear to confirm deal to restrict export of semiconductor manufacturing technology to ChinaA Washington official has made the most direct comments by a US authority to date acknowledging the existence of a deal with Japan and the Netherlands for those countries to impose new restrictions on exports of chipmaking tools to China.“We...

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Chinese owner of Lotus Technology to list a stake in US via blank cheque firm

EV maker and R&D arm of car group owned by Geely planning to join Nasdaq in deal with Spac backed by Bernard ArnaultThe Chinese owner of Lotus is to list a stake in a division of the luxury sports car group in the US as part of deal with a firm backed by the world’s richest man.China’s Geely said on Tuesday that it plans to merge electric carmaker...

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China attacks ‘unscrupulous’ US after reports of further crackdown on Huawei

Beijing reacts angrily to reports that Washington has moved to restrict American exports to hi-tech companyChina has reacted angrily to reports that the United States has stopped approving licences for American companies to export most items to China’s hi-tech company Huawei, accusing the US of deliberately targeting Chinese companies under the pretext...

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All countries must help prevent ‘catastrophic’ war amid China-US tensions, Australian minister says

In a speech in London, Penny Wong calls on ‘all countries’ to examine how they use power and networks to avoid conflictGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, was to call on all countries to play their part to prevent a “catastrophic” war in the Indo-Pacific region.Amid...

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Leaked EU plan reveals response to US and Chinese green subsidies

Draft plan to loosen state aid rules follows Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and Chinese subsidiesThe EU executive will loosen state aid rules and propose a new “European sovereignty fund” later this year, in response to the controversial US Inflation Reduction Act and China’s “unfair” green subsidies.A leaked European Commission plan underscores...

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