Taiwan detains a party leader amid a broader crackdown as the Communist Party tightens discipline ahead of a congress; current leadership reshuffle signals shifts in representation and strategy.
Chinese regulators have announced recalls affecting more than 4 million vehicles after finding hidden, electronically operated door handles can become difficult to open after severe collisions. Tesla accounts for about 2.98 million cars; Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Xpeng and Geely have also issued recalls. Automakers will add warning labels and push software updates to improve emergency egress and driver monitoring.
Japan’s lawmakers are in Beijing to restore channels after Tokyo’s Taiwan remarks soured ties; discussions with Chinese officials run through Thursday as both sides seek to mend diplomatic and economic links.
Three veteran Hong Kong activists — Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung and Albert Ho — have been sentenced to between five and seven years after convictions for inciting subversion under Beijings 2020 national security law. The sentences follow convictions in August and will include time already served, rights groups and foreign governments have condemned the verdicts.
The Central Military Commission’s vice chair Zhang Youxia and chief of staff Liu Zhenli have been removed amid a high‑profile anti‑corruption drive. Xinhua says the pair are accused of disloyalty and abuse of power; investigations were announced in January and they were removed from the CMC in August.
Kim Jong Un has visited China, signalling closer ties with Beijing and Moscow as North Korea seeks economic and political support amid global tensions. The New Yalu River Bridge has opened, potentially boosting trade and signaling a strategic alignment ahead of regional milestones.
China has concluded its fifth plenum with a renewed push to institutionalise party discipline, promote the military anti‑graft chief Zhang Shengmin to the Politburo and signal a tougher crackdown on passive, self‑protecting officials known as "lao hao ren." The session has revealed an unprecedented number of empty Central Committee seats and set the agenda ahead of the 2027 party congress.
Mbappé has apologized for a meme linking his image to Mao Zedong after Chinese audiences perceived the joke as insulting. Chinese brands have severed ties, state media has suspended broadcast of La Liga, and social media discussions are intense. The controversy centers on national sentiment and China’s censorship environment.
Taiwan's prosecutors have moved to detain two figures tied to a minor political party amid an investigation into foreign interference in local elections. The case highlights concerns about electoral influence ahead of the 2028 presidential race, with courts granting detention in one case and bail in another. The political landscape remains tense as authorities push forward with prosecutions.
The 21st national party congress is shaping a major leadership reshuffle. Delegates will choose a new Central Committee, guided by strict political criteria, with warnings against violations and expectations of broad representation across sectors.