Chinese President Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese Friday at a reception in Beijing.

Xi Jinping was elected deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) by a unanimous vote at the first session of the 14th Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress on Thursday.

Top leaders of the US-led NATO are holding in-person meetings from Wednesday to Thursday after military chiefs from the US and Ukraine met in Poland ahead of the meeting. This comes as Russia appointed a new commander of the "special military operation" in Ukraine and declared a military victory in Soledar in eastern Ukraine.

The list of the members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was unveiled with a new sector - the environment and resources sector - added, which some experts said has great significance as environmental protection constitutes a fundamental part in pursuing Chinese modernization.

With White House officials Tuesday calling on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to "come clean" about secretive deals he made with hard-line House members that helped him eventually land the job, experts believe that the influence of the split within US political parties have begun to emerge, and that the polarization of US politics will make it difficult to sustain the two-party system.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, held a symposium on the morning of January 16 at the Great Hall of the People with leading officials of other political parties' central committees and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), and representatives of personages without party affiliation, and welcomed the coming Spring Festival.

NATO has pledged heavy weapon deliveries from the Western allies to Ukraine, while its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday that he expected "more in the near future." However, the delivery of more heavy weapons will only push Ukraine deeper into the abyss of a proxy war, making negotiations less and less likely, experts warned. At the same time, the parties involved in the war could be deadlocked in the long run.

A US delegation led by Assistant US Trade Representative Terry McCartin kicked off the second round of talks with Taiwan authorities in Taipei of the so-called Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, which is expected to last until January 17. The talks, like previous ones, are not expected to yield substantial results, as they are a political show for both sides, Chinese mainland experts said.

Zheng Yanxiong has been appointed as director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), replacing Luo Huining, according to an official announcement published on Saturday.

Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, on Friday addressed the importance of completely and accurately implementing the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong and noted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government should amend local laws to align them with the NSL.

A big question mark hangs over whether the UK has the ability or finances to support its ambition to boost its presence in the Asia-Pacific region while its major security focus lies in Europe, said Chinese observers commenting on the signing of the defense pact between the UK and Japan during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to London. Kishida and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA). According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, the Japan-UK RAA is an agreement that establishes procedures between the two sides for cooperative activities conducted by the defense force of one country while visiting the other, and defines a status of the visiting force. The UK is the second country after Australia to sign the RAA with Japan.

The European Union (EU) and NATO signed a joint declaration Tuesday, which specifically addresses the so-called “challenges from China.” The declaration reveals the bias and arrogance of the EU and NATO toward the perception of China, which China strongly opposes, a spokesperson for the Chinese mission to the EU said on the same day. China is firmly opposed to the unreasonable accusations and cold war mentality against China in the joint declaration, said the Chinese spokesperson on Tuesday.

The Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday expressed strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to the British Foreign Office officials' meeting with Jimmy Lai Chee-ying's "international legal team" and their comments for interfering in Hong Kong affairs.

The US plans to set up a rapid reaction Marine unit throughout Japan's Okinawa islands within a few years, media reported on Tuesday, one day ahead of the 2023 US-Japan Security Consultative Committee meeting in Washington, DC. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also plans to talk with US President Joe Biden on January 13 after concluding his ongoing Europe and UK tour. A saga of diplomatic and military activities suggests that Tokyo and its allies are likely devising a more detailed and actual-combat strategic deployment against China, but China is always well-prepared to meet the challenge, analysts said.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday stressed ceaseless efforts in promoting full and rigorous Party self-governance and ensuring the implementation of decisions and plans made at the 20th CPC National Congress.

​In recent weeks, the Western media's coverage of China has been dominated by news of it refining its COVID-19 policies. Expectedly, it turned into a China-bashing carnival. Some said the country has lost its fight against the pandemic, others said it's a failure of China's political system, while boasting of the superiority of "democracy". How do we make sense of China's efforts and sacrifices over the past three years? Let us investigate some of the prevailing false narratives.

Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of remaining committed to advancing reform and exploring new ground, and carrying forward the fighting spirit, in a bid to modernize the work of judicial, procuratorial, and public security organs.

The Russia-Ukraine stalemate on the battlefield is likely to continue along with the damage to people's lives and economy, Chinese experts warned on Friday, after Ukraine dismissed Russia's 36-hour ceasefire offer over Orthodox Christmas, at a time when US and its NATO allies announced they would send armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine.

China's COVID situation is under control and many European Union (EU) member states have expressed a wish to warmly welcome Chinese travelers. The EU should listen to rational voices and view China's epidemic situation in an objective manner, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Fri in response to the EU's suggestion to impose travel restrictions on travelers from China.

Experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Southeast University attended the online briefing for member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, according to the National Health Commission, a latest move by China to carry out close cooperation with the WHO.

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKEX) has decided to remove Next Digital Ltd group, which was founded by jailed Hong Kong secessionist Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, from the market, and the company will be delisted on January 12.

Two years after the whole world witnessed the failing of US democracy as reflected in the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021, more chaos took the stage in Capitol Hill as Republicans in the House of Representatives failed for a second straight day to elect a leader on Wednesday.

No matter how China decides to deal with the COVID-19 epidemic, some Western media and some Western politicians will never be satisfied. Over the last three years, when China adopted a strict virus prevention and control policy and effectively protected the health and safety of its people, some Western pundits relentlessly made unfounded criticism, demanding China to “open the door,” otherwise there would be “no freedom and human rights.”

Since COVID began, China has shared information and data with the international community including the US in an open and transparent manner, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday, in response to the international community's concerns over China's epidemic situation and requests for more detailed and accurate information.

China has lodged solemn representations to South Korea and urged it to abide by the one-China principle, a spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in South Korea said in a statement on Thursday after a few South Korean politicians paid a provocative visit to China's Taiwan island.

China has always shared its information and data in a responsible manner with the international community, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday, adding that the US bears inescapable responsibility for the current epidemic situation and called on all parties to avoid any words or deeds that politicize the epidemic.

Grasping to a personal political fantasy, former prime minister of Denmark and ex-NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen arrived on the island of Taiwan on Tuesday for a three-day visit, which experts believed to be the latest attempt by a former politicians to access personal benefit by pandering to political correctness.

A senior official on the Chinese mainland called for joint efforts from both sides of the Taiwan Straits to work toward the goals of national rejuvenation and national reunification.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party (PT) was sworn in as president of Brazil for a four-year term - the third time he has held the country's highest office - on Sunday, with a high-level Chinese delegation led by Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative Vice President Wang Qishan attending the presidential inauguration.

China will be a country that performs miracles through hard work as it goes forward, Chinese President Xi Jinping said while delivering his 2023 New Year address on Saturday night, the 10th such speech he has given since 2014. He also hailed the determined effort every Chinese has made in overcoming unprecedent difficulties and challenges and called for more unity as the light of hope is right in front of us.

Hong Kong officials, legal professionals and observers welcome the country's top legislature providing interpretations for provisions under the National Security Law for Hong Kong, which absolutely does not affect the city's judiciary independence, but instead clarifies the legislative intent of a number of provisions of the NSL for Hong Kong, providing more authoritative and clear guidelines for the judicial practice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). They also refuted Western media's criticism over the interpretation claiming that it undermined the city's high degree of autonomy.

Noting that China has entered a new phase of COVID response, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his 2023 New Year address delivered on Saturday night, called for an extra effort from the people to pull through as perseverance and solidarity mean victory.

On New Year's eve, President Xi Jinping delivered his 2023 New Year Address through China Media Group and the Internet. The following is the full text of the address:

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers 2023 New Year address

China's top legislature adopted an interpretation of Article 14 and Article 47 on the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Friday, which aims to properly handle the issues encountered in practicing the national security law (NSL) for Hong Kong and effectively safeguard the country's sovereignty, security and development interests.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday addressed a gathering organized by the country's top political advisory body to ring in the year of 2023.

Date for China's 2023 "two sessions": The 14th NPC will kick off its first session on March 5. The first session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC to start on March 4.

President Xi Jinping will deliver a New Year address to ring in 2023 at 7 pm Saturday.

China is set to downgrade Class A management of COVID-19 to Class B from January 8, 2023, National Health Commission announced.

China mourns the death of Ambassador John Moffat Fugui of the Solomon Islands due to illness, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday, adding that Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had sent a message of condolence to the FM of Solomon Islands and expressed sincere sympathy to the ambassador's family.

A much-anticipated draft law on ecological conservation on the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau, draft revision to the Wildlife Protection Law and a draft revision to the Counter-Espionage Law, and three other drafts, are scheduled to be deliberated at the upcoming meeting of China's national legislature on Tuesday.

China has congratulated Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center), also known as Prachanda, who was appointed as the new prime minister of Nepal, and China is willing to continue working with the Nepalese government in deepening the bilateral ties, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng, who is on a duty visit to Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who is on his maiden duty visit to Beijing, and gave full recognition to his courageous and pragmatic work in leading the city government in safeguarding national security, reviving the vitality of the economy and enabling Hong Kong to display a new atmosphere of patriots administering Hong Kong.

There is an increasing need among Taiwan compatriots for cross-Straits travel ahead of the Spring Festival and we are willing to take optimized measures and do our best to meet the demand, Zhu Fenglian, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson, said on Friday in response to a transportation plan by Taiwan island for the upcoming festival.

While the border reopening between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong topped the agenda of the annual report delivered by John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, local media have reported that some ports have already begun preparing for normal operations, and a senior official confirmed with Global Times that the border resumption is in sight.

China and Germany have always been partners of dialogue, development and cooperation, as well as partners for handling global challenges, Chinese President Xi Jinping told German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in a phone conversation on Tuesday evening, saying China is willing to carry out more extensive and in-depth cooperation with Germany in tackling such global challenges as sluggish economic recovery in the post-pandemic era, climate change, food crisis and energy crisis.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will travel to Beijing from Wednesday to Saturday to deliver his annual work report, which will also be his first duty visit since he became leader of the HKSAR government.

China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Tuesday held a flag-raising ceremony at the Golden Lotus Square to mark the 23rd anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

Olaf Scholz, who has served as German Chancellor for a year, stressed his opposition against “decoupling from China” and reiterated German government's adherence to the one-China principle in a recent interview with Sueddeutsche Zeitung, which was interpreted by Chinese experts as a signal of goodwill towards China ahead of the coming new year.

Former minister of Industry and Information Technology Xiao Yaqing expelled from the Party

Internet enterprises have the responsibility to release correct information to the public instead of sitting aside to let the spread of misinformation mislead people, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday, expressing support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's move to defend the national anthem against Google.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will on Thursday address the opening ceremony of the high-level segment of the second part of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) via videolink, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying announced here Wednesday.

Hong Kong's security chief Chris Tang Ping-keung criticized Google for refusing to place China's correct national anthem at the top of its search results, saying Google's refusal claim was unbelievable and represented a clear double-standard.

Claiming to be closing a growing trust gap with Africa, US President Joe Biden will host 50 leaders from African countries and the African Union for a summit from Tuesday. However, observers say whether this event will meet the various demands for development of different African countries remains unclear, and no matter how many fancy words the US uses, the country still sees Africa as an arena to serve its strategic goal of competing with China.

Chinese political advisors on Friday met and discussed efforts to deepen the reform of China's evaluation of scientific and technological achievements.

Clichéd “China-threat” rhetoric was brought to the gathering of the defense and foreign ministers of Japan and Australia in Tokyo on Friday, and analysts said the meeting, which was held close on the heels of a similar one between US and Australian defense ministers in the US this week, will bring more uncertainties to the region as Australia and Japan vow to strengthen coordination in containing China.

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on December 6 to analyze economic work in 2023, hear a briefing on the work of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the CPC and the National Commission of Supervision, and make arrangements for improving Party conduct, building a clean and honest government, and combating corruption in 2023. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

Although Japan claimed that the two F-15 fighter jets it sent on Tuesday arrived in the Philippines for friendly exchanges, Chinese military experts believe that Japan's actions may add more insecurity and instability in the South China Sea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech at the memorial meeting for Comrade Jiang Zemin on Tuesday.

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee convened a meeting on Tuesday to analyze and study the economic work in 2023, and make arrangements for improving Party conduct and moral integrity and combating corruption.

A memorial meeting for Jiang Zemin, who passed away on Nov. 30 at the age of 96, was held Tuesday morning in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The remains of Jiang Zemin, who passed away last Wednesday, were cremated at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in western Beijing on Monday.

​China resolutely opposes the US and the EU to interfere in China's internal affairs and to slander China, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Monday in response to remarks related to China made during the fourth high-level meeting of the US-EU Dialogue on China.

It has been 10 years since the eight-point decision on work conduct were formulated and implemented after the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012. More than 760,000 violations have been dealt with and more than 200 senior officials have been punished, which Chinese anti-graft experts believed showed obvious achievements in the CPC's stricter self-governance and purer social conduct.

Officers and soldiers throughout the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) have for days mourned Comrade Jiang Zemin who passed away at the age of 96 on Wednesday, remembering his remarkable accomplishments.

For days, people throughout China are in mourning for former leader Jiang Zemin, who died Wednesday in Shanghai at the age of 96.

Japan on Thursday expressed "severe concerns" over China-Russia aerial strategic patrol in the Asia-Pacific region, and reportedly said it plans to designate China as its top regional challenge in its National Security Strategy by the end of 2022. Chinese experts said it reflects Tokyo's political opportunism amid recent positive signals in China-Japan relations. They urged Japan to listen to domestic rational voices on China rather than follow the US in containing China and ending up in a worse situation.

The remains of Comrade Jiang Zemin were transferred to Beijing from Shanghai aboard a special flight on Thursday afternoon.

A memorial meeting for Comrade Jiang Zemin will be held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Dec. 6, according to an announcement from Comrade Jiang Zemin's Funeral Committee Thursday.

Chinese former president Jiang Zemin passed away on Wednesday. The entire country expressed deep mourning toward the former leader, and many media outlets around the world also paid deep respects to and expressed compliments for Jiang's political career and outstanding contributions, not only to China but also to the international community.

The US Defense Department on Tuesday released its annual report on China's military development, with what experts said is a "tougher tone" than previous years against a backdrop of complicated international situations and a degradation in China-US relations. In a deliberate move to hype China's military strength, the report discussed China's nuclear arsenal and played up China's possible military actions to the island of Taiwan and the "Indo-Pacific region."

Considering Japan, a country with the pacifist constitution and claims to adhere on the path of peace, is eyeing to further arm itself, there is a big question mark hanging over the country's future whether it would repeat its historic mistakes, Chinese observers expressed deep concerns after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday ordered the defense budget to rise to two percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in fiscal 2027.

Focusing on the requirements for political and legal work in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, members of the commission studied the tasks, objectives and specific measures that the political and legal organs should implement.

China will speed up the COVID-19 vaccination rate for people aged over 80 and continue to increase the rate for people aged between 60 and 79, according to a notice released by the State Council joint prevention and control mechanism against COVID-19 on Tuesday

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh in Beijing on Monday.

China has made important contributions to the positive progress achieved at the COP27 in dealing with the global climate change, and defended the interests of developing countries, China's environment authority said on Monday.

The Chinese central government and various ministries have vowed to step up efforts to clear logistic hiccups and ensure the smooth operation of the transportation network in recent days, after the country saw daily new COVID-19 cases exceeding 30,000 for two days, which led to stringent anti-virus measures that could weigh on business activities.

The future and destiny of mankind must be a top priority and major countries, in particular, should lead by example to inject confidence and strength into the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on Wednesday afternoon.

Rebuking the UK trade minister over a visit to China's Taiwan region in recent days in a bid to "strengthen ties" with DPP authorities, the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council on Wednesday urged the UK to stop sending wrong signals to secessionist forces in the island, while telling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities that "Taiwan independence" is a dead end where relying on external forces will never work.

Former US president Donald Trump had tried to reclaim the political spotlight by announcing his run for presidency in 2024, which will exacerbate US political division and violence, Chinese observers said. They believe that US political practices have tragically put the cart before the horse with the country and people spending far too many resources in the service of elections, rather than letting elections serve the general welfare of the American people.

China stands ready to continue cooperating with the members of the Group of 20 (G20) to jointly build a global digital economic paradigm featuring benefits for all, balance, coordination, inclusiveness, win-win cooperation and common prosperity, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.

The draft resolution calling Russian to provide redress and compensation to Ukraine submitted to the emergency special session for action has obvious flaws and loopholes, Ambassador Geng Shuang pointed out in his speech at the UN General Assembly Emergency Special Session, according to the website of the Chinese Permanent Mission to the UN on Monday.

The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden achieved the expected goals of in-depth communication, drawing the redlines, preventing conflict, pointing out a clear direction for China-US relations and discussing cooperation, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told media after the meeting of the two leaders.

While the US Democrats will keep their narrow Senate majority for the next two years, the control of the House is still not assured for either party as counting continues in some states.

The leaders of the US, Japan and South Korea met on Sunday to further coordinate their positions on the North Korea missile testing activity on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Cambodia, while also seeking input on managing China's influence in the Pacific region. Chinese experts believe that while the US has stepped up efforts in aligning its allies to serve its own strategic purposes, it will only escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula and there will be growing divergences between Japan and South Korea in terms of confronting China for Washington's interests.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday attended the 25th China-ASEAN Summit, during which he called for enhancing cooperation with ASEAN countries, and jointly maintaining regional peace and stability.

When US President Joe Biden speaks at the COP27 in Egypt hoping to show the world the image of a global leader on climate action, he will face an international audience with the majority having seen through the US' lack of reliability in keeping promises, Chinese observers said, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brought US domestic partisanship to COP27 for political purposes, further damaging the US' international reputation.

The Chinese and US climate envoys have maintained informal communication, and China's position on the China-US climate change talks has not changed, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Thursday, noting that China has been unswervingly and actively responding to climate change and hopes that developed countries will fulfill their funding commitments as soon as possible.

The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee met on Thursday to hear a report on COVID-19 response, discuss and arrange 20 measures to further optimize epidemic prevention and control work.

Names of the four martyrs who sacrificed lives in the deadly Galwan Valley border clash with Indian troops in 2020 now appear at the road signs along the G219 highway, which runs from Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region to Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, as a way of commemorating those heroes who have become the epitome of Chinese people's ever-growing patriotic sentiment.

China has urged the US to immediately and fully end its economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on Cuba and has decided to vote again to support the draft resolution submitted by Cuba on this issue, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian when asked to comment on Wednesday's UN General Assembly, in which most countries including China opposed the US' embargo against Cuba.

Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) met in Germany on Thursday to discuss the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict and the bloc's further plans to support Kiev at a time when both NATO and Russia are holding nuclear drills for deterrence, but there are mounting doubts among observers over the sustainability of Western aid to Ukraine given the widening rifts inside the Western camp.

Officials and experts in both the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong have been studying the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and a panel discussion held simultaneously in Beijing and Hong Kong on Wednesday focused on the CPC Constitution concerning Hong Kong and Macao affairs, saying that upholding the policy of One Country, Two Systems has practical significance for resolving the Taiwan question in a peaceful way.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula situation escalated to fresh heights on Wednesday when North Korea reportedly launched multiple missiles after a US-South Korea military drill kicked off, with Chinese officials and experts calling for restraint, as well as dialogue and peaceful solutions to the crisis.

Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, kicked off her three-day visit to China on Wednesday as the first head of state from an African nation to visit China after the conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Highlighting the long-lasting friendship and comprehensive cooperation between China and Tanzania, which began half a century ago, Chinese experts expect Hassan's visit to enhance bilateral cooperation and open a new chapter for China-Africa relations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the rotating president of the Council of the Arab League (AL), on the convening of the 31st AL Summit in Algiers.

Questions and suspicions on whether US would shift its approach to Ukraine have been raised, as more analysts noticed the recently disclosed phone call indicating US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's discord over military assistance and some Republicans vowed to cut aid to Ukraine if they take control of Congress.

South Korea and the US on Monday kicked off their first large-scale joint air drills in nearly five years with more than 240 aircraft mobilized, including advanced stealth jets. Experts warn that it could lead to unpredictable consequences, further escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

In a series of provocative moves on China's red line - the Taiwan question, Japan is reportedly eyeing establishing a new joint command and a new position of commanding officer to oversee its three Self-Defense Force units and better coordinate with the US military in emergencies. Chinese observers warned on Sunday this will be part of Japan's dangerous attempts to unleash its military development.