Eastern Asia

Protesting crowds gather outside Hong Kong court after dissidents charged

At least 47 activists are accused of organising and participating in an unofficial primary poll in 2020 to select the strongest candidates for a legislative council election that authorities say was part of a plan to “overthrow” the government.

Dozens of Hong Kong activists detained on charges of subversion

Police detained 47 anti-Beijing activists on charges of conspiracy to commit subversion under the city's national security law, in the largest mass charge against the opposition camp since China's law came into effect last June.

China, India aim for broader disengagement to ease Ladakh border tensions

The deadly Galwan Valley border clash between the forces in 2020 led to multiple rounds of talks and a breakthrough appeared to have been achieved at a September meeting between the two foreign ministers in Moscow.

ByteDance agrees to pay $92M in US privacy settlement

ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns the short video app TikTok, agreed to the settlement after more than a year of litigation.

China’s Tianwen-1 Mars spacecraft enters temporary parking orbit

Chinese Tianwen-1 follows NASA’s Perseverance rover, which landed last Thursday near an ancient river delta in Jezero Crater to search for signs of ancient microscopic life.

China urges Biden administration to lift trade restrictions

Beijing hopes that US policymakers will move to bring China policy back to reason to ensure healthy and steady development of bilateral relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a forum in the Chinese capital.

China: Four soldiers died in June clash on India border

At least 20 Indian soldiers were also killed in mid-June in a brutal, high-altitude border battle in the Galwan valley in one of the deadliest clashes between the two sides in recent decades.

Biden unpacks call with China’s Xi, warns of repercussions on rights abuses

US President Biden shares on CNN details of a chat on human rights with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, who has drawn global criticism for holding Muslim Uighurs in internment camps and other abuses.

Seiko Hashimoto takes over as Tokyo Olympics president after sexism row

Hashimoto, a seven-time Olympian and one of two women in the cabinet, will head the Tokyo 2020 organising committee after the last chief had to step down over an uproar on his claims that women “talk too much”.

US renews 'Quad' with allies despite China warnings

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to meet virtually with his counterparts from Japan, Australia and India in the "Quad" framework, a grouping seen as part of efforts to counter China's growing military and economic power.

Women to be silent as men from Japan’s ruling party talk at meetings

Liberal Democratic Party chief says it is important for party’s female members to “look” at the decision-making process. So-called women observers reportedly can’t speak during meetings and can submit opinions separately to the secretariat office.

Author Murakami hosts live jam for relaxation amid pandemic

The show, also featuring bossa nova artist Ono Lisa, jazz pianists Junko Onishi and Yosuke Yamashita and singer Miu Sakamoto, was held at Tokyo FM hall with just 100 fans chosen by a lottery and is viewable online until February 24.