ALL ARTICLES - CHINA

China builds team to develop strategies to thwart post-Taiwan invasion sanctions 

The appointment of Gao Xiang as head of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences confirms of President Xi Jinping's goal to take control of Taiwan. If successful in this, he anticipates it would throw China into a long period of economic isolation. [...]

Xi instructs media to increase coverage of France, South Korea and Pakistan 

The Chinese president has been working closely with his propaganda unit to use the media to draw attention to those countries with which China would like to renew contact. He has three specific leaders in mind: [...]

The unassuming Kabul guest house at the heart of China's Afghan business networks 

The recently signed deal between a Chinese mining group and the Taliban authorities was made possible by the existence of a Chinese political and commercial network in Kabul, with, at its heart, a guest house for visiting Chinese business people. [...]

Chinese cyber surveillance firm renews contact with UAE 

Chinese interceptions firm Sinovatio is poised to make a comeback in the Middle East, where it is set to attend the ISS World trade fair in Dubai, at a time when Abu Dhabi is looking to invest in Chinese technology. [...]

• MOLDOVA - Presidential cabinet musical chairs.

• RUSSIA - Roskomnadzor strengthens border controls.

• CHINA/RUSSIA - Beijing gets involved in peace efforts in Europe.

• TURKEY/IRAQ - Ankara searches for equipment to fight PKK in northern Iraq.

Xi Jinping to bring PLA political commissars to heel 

In his third term, China's president wants to consolidate his hold over his country's military apparatus. To regain control over the politics of the People's Liberation Army, Xi has chosen to drastically rein in political commissars, who have now been relegated to merely executing the party's will. [...]

Inspired by Russia's mistakes, Beijing fine-tunes its military strategy on Taiwan 

The Chinese president convened the Central Military Commission last month to discuss Taiwan and the new direction its military strategy should take on the island, and particularly on its eastern flank, in the light of Russian setbacks in Ukraine. [...]

Xi Jinping chooses the CCP's future leadership team 

After winning backing in October for his plans to govern China until 2037, Xi Jinping has begun preparing a new generation of leaders to take up key positions in the Chinese Communist Party. This is a way of assuring himself of their loyalty. [...]

Huawei flounders after losing Turkish bid 

Huawei is determined to provide data network services to the Turkish armed forces. Now tangled up in ruthless negotiations with Ankara and local mobile companies, the Chinese giant is damaging its thus-far good relations there. [...]

New airport in Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle sparks Western intelligence concerns 

Laos' Bokeo International Airport is set to open next year in Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle. The area, notorious for trafficking, is currently served by only a small airport in Ban Houayxay. The profile of the investors behind the new project has sparked concern in the regional offices of Western intelligence services in Bangkok. [...]

UK parliamentary committee pleads for greater oversight in face of Chinese threats 

China's sweeping cyber operations are putting the parliament's intelligence oversight to the test. While UK agencies have ramped up their intelligence work to counter Chinese and foreign threats, the Intelligence and Security Committee laments not having oversight over these new players. [...]

Prince Holding Group spearheads Chinese business influence in Cambodia 

Chinese influence is growing in Cambodia, thanks in no small part to Prince Holding Group, headed by its mysterious founder-president, 35-year-old Chen Zhi. [...]

Chinese zero-day hunters skirt restrictions via Russian platforms 

Increasing numbers of Chinese vulnerability researchers are selling their findings via specialised Russian platforms, in the context of stricter regulation of the sector in China. The emerging trend also puts China's ability to collect zero days via cohorts of disciplined hackers into perspective. [...]

Argentina keeps a low profile to secure deal for F-16 fighter aircraft 

As China and the United States fight for influence in Argentina, Economy Minister Sergio Massa is finalising the details of an order from the US for a batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft. Argentina wants to announce the order early in 2023 in the hope that this will help it speed up negotiations on a third revision of Argentina's debt agreement with the IMF. [...]