The Aporia · Apec China summit: from traffic curbs to tree planting, Shenzhen’s plans enter final phase

Phoebe Zhang

13 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction

🔮 This is not the first international event hosted by the southern Chinese city but the authorities are taking preparations to new heights In Shenzhen, drones are banned, shiny new hotels have opened their doors and taxi drivers are carrying devices that can translate nearly 150 languages. While every Apec summit draws the world’s attention, this year’s edition is considered to be especially high-stakes as Xi, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are all expected to attend.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · Is China’s Shenzhen ready to host Xi, Trump and Putin during Apec summit?

🔮 China’s top diplomat to visit Azerbaijan, Croatia, Montenegro and Bulgaria to boost ties Wang Yi’s four-nation tour comes amid Beijing’s push to shore up its trade corridors and geopolitical influence Aside from Azerbaijan, Beijing’s top diplomat will visit Croatia, Montenegro and Bulgaria, it said, for a four-nation trip running from October 14 to 20.

2026-10-12 · assertive framing · China’s top diplomat to visit Azerbaijan, Croatia, Montenegro and Bulgaria to boost ties

🔮 Wuhan’s Covid mayor Zhou Xianwang jailed for 14 years for corruption Zhou, who was widely criticised for the delayed announcement that the virus had been detected in the city,

2026-10-11 · assertive framing · Wuhan’s Covid mayor Zhou Xianwang jailed for 14 years for corruption

🔮 Chinese lawyers offer coaching for when corruption busters come knocking Suspects should learn what to do before being detained, lawyers say, as they might spend months cut off from legal counsel Zhang Dongdong has been fielding ever more requests for legal advice from jittery entrepreneurs, nervous government officials or their desperate relatives.

2026-09-20 · assertive framing · Chinese lawyers offer coaching for when corruption busters come knocking

🔮 She did not appear willing.

2026-09-16 · assertive framing · Why women in China are still at risk of abduction and forced marriage

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All 13 articles by Phoebe Zhang →

William Zheng

17 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction

🔮 China poised to restore military presence to top leadership at party congress Analysts say they expect PLA seats on Politburo and Central Committee left vacant by anti-corruption drive to be filled next year 3-MIN READ3-MIN Beijing is expected to gradually restore military representation in its top leadership, analysts say, as the Communist Party seeks to strike a delicate balance in its relations with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) amid an anti-corruption drive that has hit the top ranks. Select Voice Select Speed 1x AI-generated voice

2026-10-30 · assertive framing · China poised to restore military presence to top leadership at party congress

🔮 Choice of Mo Gaoyi as Yunnan chief shows how leadership criteria are evolving, analysts say, given his limited local government experience An analyst said that the move could reflect Beijing’s efforts to broaden the talent selection criteria for some senior roles, allowing specialists to take on important generalist positions.

2026-10-28 · mixed framing · Why has Beijing appointed a propaganda veteran to lead a border province?

🔮 China’s next generation of leaders waiting in the wings for more senior roles A meeting in Beijing this week will lay the groundwork for members of the Communist Party’s seventh generation – or 7G – to take on key roles Xie Maosong, a senior researcher at Tsinghua University’s National Institute of Strategic Studies, said the party was looking for cadres who had “absolute political loyalty, integrity, fighting spirit, technological or ‘hard science’ expertise, grass-roots experience and hardship resilience”.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · China’s next generation of leaders waiting in the wings for more senior roles

🔮 ExclusiveBessent may skip Apec in Hong Kong to focus on Trump’s Shenzhen visit, sources say US Treasury secretary expected to meet Chinese vice-premier in Shenzhen ahead of summit in November as trade truce extension takes priority 3-MIN READ3-MIN 2 Listen US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent may skip a meeting of Apec finance ministers in Hong Kong later this month to focus on preparing for President Donald Trump’s historic visit to Shenzhen in November, sources told the South China Morning Post.

2026-10-09 · assertive framing · Bessent may skip Apec in Hong Kong to focus on Trump’s Shenzhen visit, sources say

🔮 While it may have been unexpected for some, vacuum flasks usually filled with hot water are an everyday sight in China Extending this everyday practice to the White House banquet was in tune with the host nation’s own eccentricity.

2026-09-25 · mixed framing · Why did Xi and China’s first lady bring their own flasks to White House banquet?

🔮 China’s top envoy to US hails safeguards from head-of-state diplomacy, as Beijing rolls out severe penalties for non-pharma fentanyl crimes Under the strategic guidance of both leaders, the “giant ship” of China-US relations would continue to “break waves and sail ahead” along a trajectory of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation”, Xie told state news agency Xinhua.

2026-09-23 · mixed framing · Ahead of Xi’s ‘historic milestone’ US visit, a fentanyl goodwill gesture from China

🔮 A look at past Sino-US summits offers insight, with trusted presidential aides and policy expertise expected to take centre stage 2-MIN READ2-MIN When Xi Jinping sits down with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Thursday, the Chinese leader’s side of the table will be filled with senior aides bringing extensive policy expertise.

2026-09-22 · assertive framing · Who from China’s side will be in the room at this week’s Xi-Trump summit?

🔮 ExclusiveUS weighs delaying Taiwan arms sales until after Apec and G20 summits Sources say the decision is expected to be a compromise between Donald Trump, Washington’s China hawks and Taipei’s lobbyists One source said Trump was considering various options to postpone the signing of Taiwan arms sales, but the final outcome would be a “compromise between him, the China hawks and Taiwan’s lobbyists”. “President Trump has considered delaying the [Taiwan] arms sales decision till end 2028 or January 2029, that is, towards the end of his current term.

2026-09-19 · assertive framing · US weighs delaying Taiwan arms sales until after Apec and G20 summits

🔮 ExclusiveChina, US may unveil measures to boost military ties when Xi visits Washington Two sides have been discussing ways to improve communication channels, according to sources familiar with the talks Another item that is being discussed, and a possible deliverable, is restarting the arms-control talks that were suspended in 2024 over US weapons sales to Taiwan, with the dialogue potentially including military personnel.

2026-09-17 · mixed framing · China, US may unveil measures to boost military ties when Xi visits Washington

Also by William Zheng