Taiwan has long been the flashpoint of the China-US relations with Beijing repeatedly warning Washington that mishandling the issue is likely to have a devastating impact on the relationship. Meeting in Bali last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his US counterpart Joe Biden that Taiwan was "the first red line" that must not be crossed. The coming meeting between Biden and Xi in California may provide the ideal window of opportunity for the American and Chinese leaders to cool down the tem
China s top military official General Zhang Youxia has declared there would be "absolutely no mercy" for any supporters of Taiwanese independence, as he warned the United States against interfering in the country.
exercises around taiwan. it comes after a visit to the us this week by the frontrunner to become the self governing island s president. beijing claims taiwan as its own and said the drills were aimed at discouraging taiwanese independence. the islands foreign minister has accused china of acting like a bully next door . a leading member of the opposition in pakistan, shah mahmood qureshi, has been detained in islamabad. he s vice chairman of the pti, the party of the former prime minister, imran khan, who s currently injail on corruption charges. mr qureshi s arrest by a large police contingent at his home came shortly after he held a news conference in which he said the pti would challenge any delay in holding elections in line with the constitution. the western canadian province of british columbia has declared a state of emergency as the country deals with its worst wildfire season on record. the city of kelowna is under threat after embers blew across a lake from neigbouring west