John Feng

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying urged Japan on Thursday to reconsider its arrangements with the Chinese-claimed island.

Laying the foundations of Taiwan's security is the "mission of our times," Tsai Ing-wen told her party on Wednesday.

The semi-official dialogue will mark the first-ever security talks between representatives from Japan and Taiwan.

China's state-owned rail operator has denied the report, declaring that freight transportation between China and Lithuania is running normally.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported around 380 sorties by Chinese military aircraft near Taiwan throughout 2020. That figure was matched and broken this week, with over four months left in the year.

The Taliban said on Tuesday that Pakistan, China and Russia had given the group "political support" and recognized it as a "great political and military force."

People's Liberation Army spokesperson said warplanes and warships were deployed around southern Taiwan for a combined arms exercise on Tuesday.

Premier Su Tseng-chang said the Taiwanese government fears neither death nor imprisonment in the face of potential "annexation" by China.

Beijing's use of military aircraft to put pressure on Taiwan has decreased since record-breaking incursions were recorded in April.

A Facebook page made in the name of Hong Kong Falun Gong claimed on Wednesday the religious group was "pulling out" of the city and shutting down its website.

Described by the Biden administration as a "vibrant democracy," Taiwan is hoping to take part in the two-day virtual Summit for Democracy in December.

China's state-owned Global Times has continued its campaign against Lithuania following a decision to allow a de facto Taiwan embassy in Vilnius.

In June, U.S. lawmakers flew covertly to Taiwan from a military base in South Korea. The politically sensitive visit boosted morale on the island during a COVID-19 outbreak and a vaccine shortage.

Ship-tracking software showed Taiwan Coast Guard vessels sailing into the Pacific on Tuesday and Wednesday, but no U.S. Coast Guard ships were detected nearby.

The two-week-old Facebook account with one post and three friends likely "was not opened for social networking purposes," the Swiss Embassy in China said.

Hu Xijin of the Global Times criticized Lithuania on social media before penning an editorial about the Baltic state's refusal to acquiesce to China's demands.

Chinese researchers said the Defense Department will need at least 10 times the number of satellites it's planning to build.

China said Tuesday it was a response to Lithuania's decision to allow the opening of a representative office in Vilnius under the name "Taiwan."

After the press reported the detection of Chinese submarines by the U.K.'s carrier strike group, a Communist Party newspaper claimed it was part of the plan.

Team USA are expected to finish the competition on Sunday with the most medals overall, but the race for the highest number of golds will be much closer.

The former secretary of state also lamented what he perceived as the Biden administration's lack of pressure on China over Taiwan.

News outlets in the US have come in for Chinese criticism for tabulating Olympic rankings by total medals, a method which currently sees Team USA top.

Lee Hsien Loong warned of the danger of "mass miscalculation or mishap" in the Taiwan Strait but felt conflict was not imminent—as long as the U.S. maintained its clear and consistent position.

German frigate Bayern began its deployment to the Indo-Pacific on Monday, while the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group is in the Western Pacific.

Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters on August 3 that the government would request funds for the additional deployment, which is expected to take place in 2022.

Chinese social media service Weibo was awash with joy and relief on Tuesday as China's teen gymnasts overcame Simone Biles to clinch gold and silver in the balance beam.

Chinese athletes have made tearful apologies or been forced to delete social media posts due to online abuse.

China's Bao Shanju and Zhong Tianshi adorned the red pins on the medal podium on August 2 after defeating Germany and Russia to snatch gold in the women's velodrome cycling in Tokyo.

In its monthly press briefing on Thursday, China's Defense Ministry repeated its previous warning, saying "those who play with fire will be burned."

Qin Gang is a career diplomat who earned a reputation for rebutting journalists—he now occupies what is arguably China's most important foreign posting.