Aiming to change the narrative about the Xinjiang region where China is accused of committing grave human rights abuses, Beijing is organising so-called media tours with friendly countries to somehow propagate a different version of the region, a report by Al Jazeera stated.
Even as Chairman Xi Jinping promised that Taiwan would be "reunified" with the mainland, China's newly appointed defence minister was making himself comfortable in the office of his predecessor, who disappeared after being ensnared in a scandal.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins on Tuesday announced an unchanged playing XI for the third Test and final match of the series against Pakistan at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), beginning on Wednesday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that China would "surely be reunified" with the self-ruled territory of Taiwan in his New Year's address, renewing Beijing's threat to militarily take over the island but setting no timetable for gaining control, the Voice of America (VoA) reported.
It reported that the tensions between China and Taiwan remain high, Xi has repeatedly affirmed China's stance that Taiwan is a part of China and that it must be reunified, by force if necessary.
Some of the issues that have contributed to the tensions include the visit of former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan last year and labour practices in Xinjiang.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared in November that the increase in hospitalizations in China is linked to regular winter diseases rather than new pathogens.
The Philippines' decision to enhance its military collaboration with the United States, particularly the expansion of US military presence at key locations, is a calculated response to the evolving regional dynamics and concerns about China's expansionist ambitions.
This connection emerged as one of the means by which the US intelligence agencies were able to track the balloon's location and gather crucial information during its transit.
This is being done under Chinese President Xi Jinping's goal for the nation to rival the United States as the world's pre-eminent economic and military power.