Asia-Pacific

China
Beijing reins in local authorities in wake of overseas 'secret police stations' scandal

The secret "police stations" opened by China in Europe were operated by Chinese provincial units and acted without central guidance. Following recent scandals linked to these stations, the Chinese Communist Party has taken steps to bring its apparatus into line through its own channels and is trialling a new model for maintaining contact with overseas Chinese communities.

China, Serbia
Beijing tests new forms of police cooperation in Balkans

The Chinese Ministry of Public Security is taking back control of matters previously managed by its alleged secret overseas police stations. Cooperative efforts with Belgrade are being used to test a scheme for the Chinese diaspora and businesses in an official bilateral framework.

Australia, China, United Kingdom, United States
Australian intelligence moves to protect AUKUS from espionage and sabotage

Germany, Taiwan
TSMC wants to turn Dresden into Europe's ‘little Taiwan'

Located at the heart of a ‘chip triangle', the German city will soon welcome thousands of Taiwanese engineers to the factory of semiconductor giant TSMC, which is due to open in 2027. The Taiwanese foreign ministry is also set to establish a cultural centre there. This move will serve as a test for deepening relations with Europe.

China
Xi puts PLA restructure on hold to allow purges to continue

Xi Jinping has put the People's Liberation Army's leadership reshuffle on hold while the purge is still ongoing. But he has already begun to reveal the new faces that will be taking control of the Party at the 2027 Congress.