This article is one of 10 essays in the Summer 2026 print issue, The End of the World as We Know It. The magazine cover features a large hourglass with a black and white logo with the text "SUMMER 2026" and a stacked list of terms.
Juan A. CZIN is Michael H. Armacost Chair in Foreign Policy Studies at Brookings Institution’s China Center and co-host of the podcast The Beijing Brief. He was Director for China at the National Security Council from 2021 to 2023 and a member of the Senior Analytic Service at the Central Intelligence Agency.
Last weekend's coverage of Asia and beyond has been put together. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing to our website. Â . for more stories from the last weekend. For more information, visit: www.asia-observer.com.
Taiwan's National Security Bureau has launched a website for Chinese citizens to leak intelligence. It invites those who share the same values of democracy to collaborate on reporting on Beijing. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to take it. Taipei accuses Beijing of using espionage and infiltration to weaken its defences.
President Lai Ching-te and C.C. Wei attended the groundbreaking ceremony of Pingtung Science Park’s semiconductor supply chain zone June 12 in the southern Taiwan county. He pledged to continue promoting high-tech industries to drive local and national development.
Traditional markets such as US and Europe matter just as much as new partners, Hong Kong leader says. John Lee is pushing for Hong Kong’s interests in traditional markets. He is ‘not giving up on any market’, he says.
On June 9, the 34th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Georgia and China were upgraded to a "comprehensive strategic partnership". China has established over 80 strategic partnerships globally. Georgia's original 2023 agreement represented the lowest rung of this ladder. Chinese FDI in Georgia fell from $98 million in 2023 to just $29 million in 2024. China did not break into Georgia’s top 10 sources of foreign direct investment. China does not appear in Georgia's top five export markets.
Xi Jinping made his first state visit to North Korea in seven years from June 8-9, 2026. The visit was largely a pro forma exercise intended to re-establish a baseline for engagement rather than to break new ground in Sino-North Korean relations. There was a stark contrast in bilateral relations between Beijing and Pyongyang prior to and after Xi’s last state visit in 2019.
MOFA appreciates the recent statements issued by senior officials from Australia, Germany, South Korea, the U.K. and the EU reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius met with their respective Australian counterparts Penny Wong and Richard Marles in Berlin on June 8. Two days later, Marles and Wong were hosted in London by the Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Defense Secretary John Healey. On the same day, European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung issued a joint statement.
Lowy Institute report says China is capable of direct missile strike on Australia. China condemned the report's "serious strategic misjudgement" on Monday. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China's development of military strength is intended to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. Lin urged institutions to stop hyping up the so-called China threat.