国泰航空又出事了。这家公司过去几年出了不少事情。说到国泰航空，很多人可能并不真正了解。很多人可能以为这是一家中国公司，其实并不是如此。国泰航空背后三大股东，分别是太古集团、中国航空、卡塔尔航空，而真正占据控股地位就是太古集团了。
太古集团可是一家非常庞大的财团，业务种类非常繁多，涉及地产、航运、航空、饮料、工程等等。很多人可能不知道，在中国瓶装的可口可乐业务就是属于太古集团的。另外很多人喝咖啡会下的方糖也是太古生产的。在中国很多知名的地产项目也是太古集团开发的，比如说成都著名的远洋太古里，还有广州著名的太古汇。
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太古集团背后则是一个隐形豪门，那就是英国的施怀雅家族了，这个家族已经富过了六代人，可是如今你在全球任何一个财富榜上都看不到他们的名字。可是他们家族光是地产收租的收入每年就超过了100亿。整个家族至少资产得数千亿，甚至是更多。可是财富榜却始终无法追踪他们的财富。
100多年之前，中国还是处于清朝的时候，施怀雅家族就到中国经商了。那个时候英国是日不落帝国，很多英国人也随着英国的舰队在全球各地去做生意。事实上在200多年之前，施怀雅家族在英国的利物浦成立了公司，并且通过贸易生意积累家族的财富。
到了清朝末年的时候，施怀雅家族开始来到了远东发展，他们把中国的茶叶、陶瓷、丝绸等商品卖回到欧洲，赚取了巨额的利润。1866年，施怀雅家族收购了布鲁尔洋行，并且改名为太古洋行。
到了19世纪后期的时候，太古洋行控制的航运生意，已经成功控制了中国长江领域的上下游了。当时可以跟太古洋行对抗的只有中国本土的轮船招商局了。之后施怀雅家族又陆续进入了航空、地产、工程、饮料等等领域，获得了巨大的成功。
他们也把总部搬到了香港，并且在香港扎根发展。50年代之后，太古洋行已经跟怡和洋行等齐名，成为了香港有名的四大洋行。
利用香港人口暴涨的时候，太古也是积极投入房地产生意，在五六十年代赚得是盆满钵满。在房地产获得成功之后，他们又积极投资商业地产，开发了一系列优秀的商业物业，同时他们在80年代之后，把投资触角再次涉及内地。
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如今太古集团年营收超过了800亿，利润超过了300亿，依然是全球最大的财报之一。在太古集团的支持下，施怀雅家族也是成功富过了六代人。如今太古集团依然是施怀雅家族成员控制的。光是在地产板块，他们一年的租金就在120亿左右。
香港曾经大名鼎鼎的四大洋行，会德丰跟和记黄埔都被华资给收购了。会德丰在1985年被包玉刚给收购了。几年之前，包玉刚的女婿吴光正也把会德丰跟私有化了。和记黄埔则是在1978年被李嘉诚给收购了，成为了李嘉诚家族成功。
2015年的时候，李嘉诚把长江实业跟和记黄埔成功重组，变成了如今的长和集团跟长实集团。也就是说如今香港四大洋行的时代已经一去不返了，而且也就剩下怡和跟太古这两家公司了。
可是不得不说怡和跟太古依然是实力非常强大，每年的利润都是数百亿级别的。在中国本土也找不到几家可以跟他们对抗的私人企业了。
其实施怀雅家族这样的豪门才是真正的豪门，他们不会出现在财富榜上，但是他们却是真正的有钱，而从200多年前开始到现在，已经富了六代人了，在中国很难找不到这样的家族。
国泰航空的麻烦，不止一个
国泰航空这次惹上了大麻烦。5月22日有网友实名举报国泰航空空乘歧视非英语乘客，在其放出的一段视频中，有疑似为空乘人员的声音用英文说“如果你不会说毛毯的英文，那你就没办法拥有毛毯（If you cannot speak blanket, you cannot have it）”，周遭还传来疑似其他空乘的笑声。
在这之后，国泰航空从22日晚到24日，连发三条道歉声明，从一开始表示“将严肃调查处理”，到“暂停有关人员飞行任务”，再到“对涉事空中服务员予以解聘”，期间，国泰航空行政总裁林绍波公开致歉，全程用普通话表示将作全面检讨，但也难消众怒。
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一条毛毯、三位空乘、无数批评，就这样国泰航空再次深陷舆论漩涡。
其实过去几年，国泰航空可以说是热搜上的常客。一位知名电视主持人曾公开喊话国泰航空，“真是对不起这个名字……还是善意的提醒一句吧，no zuo no die”。
除了事件本身，外界对国泰航空还有许多好奇——这到底是谁的公司？过去三年活得如何？在国内航空公司中又属于怎样的存在？
1
谁的国泰航空？
成立于1946年的中国香港，国泰航空在过去77年时间里一直以中国香港为总部。2019年以前国泰航空曾是全球第八大国际客运航空公司及第三大国际货运公司。
资产规模上，截至2022年末，国泰航空连同其附属公司共拥有222架飞机，旗下客运及货运航线前往全球38个国家和地区共计82个目的地，其中包括位于中国内地的14个目的地。
人员方面，国泰航空及其附属公司在全球有2.12万名员工，其中在香港雇有员工约1.74万人。
那么国泰航空的背后是谁？
最新数据显示，国泰航空最大股东是持股45%的太古股份，其次是通过众多公司合计间接持股29.99%的中国国航（国泰航空也持有中国国航16.26%的股权），且太古股份和中国国航为一致行动人，之后是持股9.99%的卡塔尔航空和持有6.47%优先股的香港财政司。
在持股比例最高的太古股份背后，是拥有180多年历史的英国太古集团，太古股份只是集团下属的一个投资控股公司，主要经营地产、饮料和航空三个重要业务板块。
2022年年报显示，太古股份全年收入914.77亿港元，净利润41.95亿港元，自2020年受外部环境影响大亏百亿后，正处于业绩逐步修复的阶段。
具体来看，太古地产板块拥有多个购物商场，包括香港太古广场和太古坊，是香港最大的商用物业业主和零售物业运营商之一，在内地的购物商场则遍布北京、广州、成都、上海、西安和三亚，比如大家所熟知的“三里屯太古里”“成都远洋太古里”“前滩太古里”“颐堤港”等等。
太古股份的饮料业务同样规模可观，截至2022年末，其在大中华区、美国和柬埔寨的专营区域经销可口可乐公司系列产品，受众达到7.82亿人口，经销品类包括21种碳酸饮料品牌和37种非碳酸饮料品牌。
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2022年内太古可口可乐刚刚收购了柬埔寨及越南的可口可乐专营业务，将其瓶装业务扩展至东南亚，还重组了中国内地的不含汽饮料生产业务。
航空业务方面主要就是国泰航空及其附属公司，但近几年，受大环境等因素影响，始终是一个持续亏损的存在。
2017年以来太古股份饮料业务带来的收入逐渐成为业绩主力，2022年创收542.23亿港元，占比近六成，其次是137.88亿港元和138.28亿港元的房地产业务和航空业务，占比均在15%左右。
已有业务之外，太古公司还瞄准了私营保健服务领域，在年报中披露，“未来将继续在私营保健服务领域寻求投资机遇，特别在中国内地的主要城市群一带及东南亚。”
太古股份的这些收入，都从哪些地方赚来的呢？
按地区划分收入来源，太古股份2022年的收入中，有38%来自内地，19%来自香港，合计占比达到57%；如果剔除国泰航空和环球海洋业务，太古股份经常性盈利中则有46%来自内地，34%来自香港，合计占比达到80%。
在国泰航空2020年开始持续亏损的背景下，来自内地和香港的经常性溢利成为太古股份相当重要的业绩支撑。
截至当前，太古公司已经成为香港规模最为庞大、历史最悠久的雇主之一，在香港聘用超2.9万名员工，在内地的员工人数则超过3.5万人，全球员工接近8万人。
2
亏损三年，最难的日子刚刚过去
就像全球众多航空公司一样，过去三年对国泰航空的打击也是巨大的。
业绩趋势来看，直到2019年，国泰航空收入虽有一定波动，但整体已基本稳定在千亿港元的规模，净利润方面有一定波动，但亏损年份也相对有限。
2020年受客观环境影响，国泰航空收入大跌56.13%，直接拦腰砍半，成本却居高不下，全年亏损218.79亿港元，这之后的2021年和2022年都属于收入挣扎上涨，亏损努力收窄的“回血”阶段。
年报显示，2022年下半年国泰航空业绩已有大幅改善，在产生正向现金流的同时还有所盈利，2022年12月，其可载客量已相当于上半年的八倍，但其实还只是2020年前的三分之一；可载货量则在2022年末达到2020年前的三分之二。
事实上，内地对国泰航空近几年的业绩有越来越高的重要性。
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由内地经香港枢纽前往澳洲、英国及美国等长途航点的过境客运量（尤其是学生），成为2022年国泰航空的重要客运来源。
资金方面，国泰航空2022年的带息债务整体规模有所减少，但182.77亿港元的流动资金相比146.43亿港元的流动带息债务，也只是小幅盈余，其整体债务净额与股东权益之比依然达到0.92，意味着每一元的股东投入，都对应着0.92元的带息债务。
年内国泰航空由经营活动产生的现金流量净额为178.36亿港元，如果要覆盖588.29亿港元的借款净额，需要3.3年才能还完，而这还是在2020年重组方案实施完毕的情况下。
2020国泰航空曾进行过一系列重组，过程中向香港特别行政区政府发行了195亿港元的优先股及分离认股权证，另由香港特别行政区政府提供78亿港元的过渡性贷款，同时向当时的股东增发117亿港元股份，这才免于破产度过了难关。
虽然目前仍处于业绩亏损、资金紧张的状态，但如果相比国内其他航空公司，国泰也不是最惨的。
▲（林绍波。图源/视觉中国）
以2022年和2019年的收入比较，国泰航空已经恢复至四成有余，高于国航、东航、海航30%-40%的水平，但次于南航、华夏航空、春秋航空和吉祥航空，居于中位。
对比当前亏损金额与总收入，国泰航空2022年净利润为-63.98亿元，净利率为-14.03%，是上述多家航空公司中亏损幅比率最低的。作为对比，国航、东航、南航的亏损金额均在300亿元以上，亏损幅度则在37%至78%之间。
所幸国内各大航空公司2023年以来的运营数据都在好转，国航、南航、东航和海航的最新一季报显示亏损已较上年同期有大幅收窄，国泰航空最新4月份客运量数据也显示，4月份载客138.12万人次，单日最高人次5.32万人，为2020年以来新高。
https://all24x7.com（复制到浏览器上打开）
只可惜业绩刚刚有明显好转，就发生了如此不愉快的事情。
3
业绩和管理，都需要“重生”
事实上这已经不是国泰航空首次出现类似事件，2019年一位知名电视主持人就曾公开喊话国泰航空，“听说有些人一听到普通话就假装听不懂……no zuo no die”。
但多年过去国泰航空在这方面的管理显然并未有明显改善。
此次事件还有一个细节，即发布视频的博主表示，自己此次搭乘从成都飞往香港的国泰航空CX987航班，使用的机票其实是大湾区赠票。与此对应的，是2023年初香港机场管理局推出的活动，计划派发50万张机票给来自各地的旅客，其中就包括从成都飞往香港的航班。
目前经过多方督促整改，有网友表示自己乘坐24日国泰的航班时，乘务员已经在挨个问机上旅客要不要毛毯，播报则用的是英语、粤语和普通话。
过去几年，国泰航空可以说是热搜上的常客，且多与负面信息相关。
2020年10月，在因管理不善而在全球最佳航空公司排名中跌出三甲后，国泰航空宣布了重组计划，裁员规模达到8500个，占集团总人数的24%，这直接将香港失业率推升0.1个百分点。
在2022年年报开头的主席致函中，国泰航空主席贺以礼表示，“我们一直透过加强香港与内地，及世界各地的联系推动香港经济发展，角色举足轻重。”
在经济逐步恢复、旅客量快速上涨的当下，国泰航空显然正处于能够快速改善业绩的关键阶段，但如果从更长期的视角来看，如何在更大范围上进行“自我修复”，也是国泰航空需要面对的问题。
来源: 市界/担扑
翻译：
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中新网温州6月24日电(周健 黄文盈 徐再杰)1960年6月，浙江温州洞头一群渔家姑娘扛起钢枪，投身海防、守卫海岛，成立“洞头北沙乡女子民兵排”，后因扩编，该队伍被授予“洞头先锋女子民兵连”称号，沿用至今。1975年，以上述女民兵为原型的电影《海霞》上映，轰动一时。从此，“海霞”便成了她们的“代名词”。
Read more西工大“飞天二号”发射成功
西工大“飞天二号”发射成功。西北工业大学供图 中新网西安6月24日电(记者 阿琳娜)西北工业大学24日对外公布称，23日，由西北工业大学空天组合动力团队牵头研制的“飞天二号”在西北某基地开展了试飞试验，国际首次获得了煤油/过氧化氢推进剂火箭冲压组合动力的变结构进气、变推力加速、变攻角自主飞行等科学数据，试验取得成功。(完)
Read more江西庐山凝聚“新力量” 助推山水美景火爆“出圈”
中新网江西庐山6月24日电 (巫发阳 刘璐)夏日时节，骤雨初歇，走进江西庐山市秀峰景区，云雾缭绕的山间，数条瀑布飞流直下，再现了“疑是银河落九天”的震撼，庐山市新联会常务副会长柳智连忙操纵无人机记录下这一美景。
Read more李强会见越南总理范明政
新华社天津6月24日电(记者朱超、张宇琪)国务院总理李强6月24日下午在天津会见来华出席夏季达沃斯论坛的越南总理范明政。
Read more海峡两岸青年木球交流活动在江西南昌开幕
中新网南昌6月24日电 (朱莹)24日，海峡两岸(南昌)青年木球交流活动在江西省南昌市红谷滩区开幕。此次活动以“青聚赣鄱·情系两岸”为主题，吸引了来自台湾和江西两地近百名青年学生运动员及教练员齐聚南昌，以球会友。
Read more守好老百姓的“看病钱”“救命钱” 国家医保局印发通知
国家医疗保障局近日印发《关于进一步加强医疗保障定点医疗机构管理的通知》(以下简称《通知》)，要求各地医保部门从严从实抓好医保基金监管，守好老百姓的“看病钱”“救命钱”，促进医疗机构高质量发展。
Read more云南省大理州委原常委、原常务副州长马建全接受审查调查
中新网6月24日电 据云南省纪委监委消息：云南省大理州委原常委、原常务副州长马建全涉嫌严重违纪违法，已主动投案，目前正接受云南省纪委监委纪律审查和监察调查。
Read more云南省大理州政协副主席常于忠接受审查调查
中新网6月24日电 据云南省纪委监委消息：云南省大理州政协党组副书记、副主席常于忠涉嫌严重违纪违法，目前正接受云南省纪委监委纪律审查和监察调查。
Read more报告指“全球南方”城市成为全球城市网络的重要增量群体来源
中新网上海6月24日电 (记者 许婧 郑莹莹)24日在沪发布的《国际城市蓝皮书：国际城市发展报告(2025)》(下称“报告”)提出，全球化新场景下，“全球南方城市网络”成为国际经济新兴节点，将肩负未来全球经济“包容性”发展重任。
Read more两岸人士李庄古镇重温文化抗战史：这是一场没有硝烟的战争
中新网宜宾6月24日电 题：两岸人士李庄古镇重温文化抗战史：这是一场没有硝烟的战争
Read more马英九一行参访酒泉卫星发射中心 点赞大陆航天科技
中新社酒泉6月24日电 (记者 路梅)中国国民党前主席马英九率随行台湾青年，24日参访酒泉卫星发射中心。
Read more李强会见吉尔吉斯斯坦总理卡瑟马利耶夫
中新社天津6月24日电 (记者 张素)中国国务院总理李强6月24日下午在天津会见来华出席夏季达沃斯论坛的吉尔吉斯斯坦总理卡瑟马利耶夫。
Read more（抗战胜利80周年）中俄学者以档案为窗铭记战争创伤记忆
中新社哈尔滨6月24日电 (记者 史轶夫)“纪念中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年——档案与战争创伤记忆国际学术研讨会”24日在黑龙江大学召开。来自中俄两国的众多知名学者，从不同角度深入探讨档案在记录和传承战争创伤记忆中的重要作用。
Read more韩正集体会见上海合作组织成员国安全会议秘书第二十次会议外方代表团团长
中新社北京6月24日电 中国国家副主席韩正24日在北京集体会见来华出席上海合作组织成员国安全会议秘书第二十次会议外方代表团团长。
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中新网6月24日电 据人力资源和社会保障部网站消息，国务院任免国家工作人员。
Read more全国政协十四届常委会第十二次会议举行全体会议 围绕“进一步深化经济体制改革，推进中国式现代化”进行大会发言 王沪宁出席
新华社北京6月24日电 政协第十四届全国委员会常务委员会第十二次会议24日下午举行全体会议，14位全国政协常委围绕“进一步深化经济体制改革，推进中国式现代化”作大会发言。中共中央政治局常委、全国政协主席王沪宁出席。
Read more李强会见厄瓜多尔总统诺沃亚
中新社北京6月24日电 中国国务院总理李强6月24日上午在北京人民大会堂会见来华出席夏季达沃斯论坛的厄瓜多尔总统诺沃亚。
Read more村里喜事多，幸福的歌声响遍高原和大山
党的十八大以来，习近平总书记三赴贵州考察调研，指引贵州坚持以高质量发展统揽全局，坚定信心、苦干实干，稳中求进、善作善成，在中国式现代化进程中展现贵州新风采。
Read more习近平：中方愿同新方加强战略沟通 拉紧合作纽带 携手应对挑战
6月24日上午，国家主席习近平在北京人民大会堂会见来华进行正式访问的新加坡总理黄循财。
Read more湖南省政协原副主席戴道晋一审被判死缓
中新社北京6月24日电 中国最高人民法院通报，6月24日，广东省珠海市中级人民法院一审公开宣判湖南省政协原党组副书记、副主席戴道晋受贿、利用影响力受贿案，对被告人戴道晋以受贿罪判处死刑，缓期二年执行，剥夺政治权利终身，并处没收个人全部财产；以利用影响力受贿罪判处有期徒刑四年，并处罚金人民币四十万元，决定执行死刑，缓期二年执行，剥夺政治权利终身，并处没收个人全部财产。对被告人戴道晋犯罪所得财物及其孳息依法予以追缴，上缴国库，不足部分，继续追缴。
Read moreUS asks China to stop Iran from closing Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Press TV had earlier reported that parliament had approved a plan to close the Strait.
Read moreHow China made electric vehicles mainstream
The world's second largest economy is both the biggest producer and buyer of EVs.
Read more‘A new space to play in’: can vertical dramas save the UK’s TV sector?
Shot in vertical, phone-friendly aspect and produced on the quick, the Chinese-import format is bringing work to an ailing industry
They’re a Chinese cultural phenomenon which keeps millions of viewers glued to their phones, but the runaway success of “vertical dramas” is providing an unlikely source of employment for film and TV crews here in the UK.
The bite-size melodramas have breathless titles such as A Flash Marriage with the Billionaire and My Firefighter ex-Husband Burns in Regret, and are chopped into one minute episodes for avid consumption on viewers’ vertically held smartphones.
Continue reading...Read moreSerial rapist Zhenhao Zou facing second trial as more women come forward
Prosecutors weigh possibility Chinese student who treated his victims as ‘sex toys’ could face further action
Serial rapist Zhenhao Zou is facing a second trial with police and prosecutors preparing to charge the Chinese student with a second round of offences.
Zou, 28, is already serving a minimum 24 years for attacking 10 young women in London and China.
Continue reading...Read moreChina has millions of single men - could dating camp help them find love?
The film The Dating Game explores how a dating coach tries to help China's single men find love.
Read moreHong Kong teachers allegedly told to avoid US Independence Day events
Messages advise staff to also warn students off celebrations to avoid violating national security law
Teachers in Hong Kong have been warned to keep themselves and students away from any US Independence Day celebrations as they may breach national security laws, educators have alleged.
A text message purportedly sent by the principal of a Hong Kong school to staff said the education bureau’s regional education office had reminded them “to be careful about Independence Day activities organised by the US consulate in Hong Kong, and not to participate to avoid violating the national security law and Hong Kong laws”.
Continue reading...Read moreWeather tracker: Mexico’s Pacific coast hit by tropical storm and hurricane
Tropical Storm Dalila brings flooding to Acapulco, while Hurricane Erick causes disruption in Oaxaca state
While the western Atlantic has experienced a quiet start to the hurricane season, the eastern Pacific has recently become fairly active, producing a tropical storm and a category 4 hurricane within a few days.
The first and weaker of these systems, Tropical Storm Dalila, developed into a tropical storm late last week. Although this storm stayed off the coast of Mexico and was relatively weak to other storms that have developed in this region, Dalila brought flooding and mudslides to the resort town of Acapulco, in western Mexico.
Continue reading...Read moreChina criticises UK warship's patrol in Taiwan Strait
China said the HMS Spey's transit "undermines peace and stability" in the region.
Read moreUS weighs in with concerns over China’s proposed ‘super-embassy’ in London
White House flags potential Chinese access to ‘sensitive communications of one of our closest allies’
A US intervention over China’s proposed new embassy in London has thrown a potential resolution “up in the air”, campaigners have said, amid concerns over the site’s proximity to a sensitive hub of critical communication cables.
The furore over a new “super-embassy” on the edge of London’s financial district was reignited last week when the White House said it was “deeply concerned” over potential Chinese access to “the sensitive communications of one of our closest allies”.
Continue reading...Read moreAdorable or just weird? How Labubu dolls conquered the world
The dolls have almost tripled their maker's profits - and, according to some, energised Chinese soft power.
Read moreSerial rapist Zhenhao Zou jailed for minimum of 24 years
London student who police fear may have drugged and raped more than 60 women receives life sentence
A serial rapist feared to be one of the worst sexual offenders in British history has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years for drugging and raping 10 women in the UK and China.
Zhenhao Zou, a 28-year-old PhD student, drugged and filmed himself raping women between 2019 and 2024 after luring them to his flat with invitations to study or have drinks. Police fear more than 50 other women could be victims.
Continue reading...Read moreChinese student who raped 10 women jailed for 24 years
Zhenhao Zou, who drugged and raped women in London and China, has been called "one of the most prolific predators" in the UK.
Read moreChinese navy drill near Japan sparks concern and protest
Japan has made the rare decision to release a map disclosing Chinese military movements.
Read moreThe Australia-US alliance is facing a decisive test, and not just over the Middle East | Hugh White
The question of Australia joining the US in a conflict with China over Taiwan looms over the debate about our military preparedness and defence spending
Would Australia go to war to support the United States in conflict with China over Taiwan – or elsewhere? The government avoids discussing the question, let alone answering it, by dismissing it as hypothetical. But it will not go away, for two reasons.
First, the possibility of us going to war over Taiwan looms over the whole debate about our military preparedness and defence spending, and gives it urgency. That is because choosing to fight China alongside the US is a scenario in which Australia would find itself drawn into a major conflict. Surely we should be talking about that choice now, in advance, rather than wait till a crisis breaks?
Continue reading...Read moreNew Zealand halts millions of dollars in aid to Cook Islands over deals struck with China
Wellington says it has paused payment of some funding until Pacific island nation takes steps to ‘repair the relationship and restore trust’
New Zealand has halted millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over the “breadth and content” of agreements the smaller Pacific nation made with China, officials from the New Zealand foreign minister’s office has said.
New Zealand, which is the Cook Islands biggest funder, won’t consider any new money for the nation until the relationship improves, a spokesperson for foreign minister Winston Peters told the Associated Press on Thursday.
Continue reading...Read moreUK firm not racist for rejecting Chinese applicant over security concerns, tribunal rules
Judge says refusing to hire people from ‘hostile’ states to roles that deal with national security is not discrimination
Refusing to give a job to Chinese and Russian people in companies that deal with issues of national security and require security clearance is not racist, an employment tribunal has ruled.
It is not discriminatory to stop people from “hostile” states taking up certain jobs in the defence sector because of the risk to British security, the judgment says.
Continue reading...Read moreMalfunctions, overreactions and a steep learning curve: wargaming a Chinese attack on Taiwan
First civilian-led military simulation bringing together teams from the US, Taiwan and Japan revealed a series of potential vulnerabilities
A series of war games in Taiwan has highlighted significant vulnerabilities in how the island and its supporters would respond to a Chinese annexation attempt, as well as growing questions over how much reliance can be placed on the volatile Trump administration.
Last week former senior military and government officials from the US, Japan, and Taiwan convened in Taipei for a tabletop exercise, led by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation. The event was described as the first civilian-led military simulation held in Taiwan, testing responses to a hypothetical attempt by China to annex the territory.
Continue reading...Read moreChina stockpiling nuclear warheads at fastest rate globally, new research shows
New report estimates that China now has at least 600 nuclear warheads, with around 100 per year being added to the stockpile since 2023
China is growing its stockpile of nuclear warheads at a faster rate than any other country, according to newly published research.
A report published on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimated that China now has at least 600 nuclear warheads, with about 100 per year being added to the stockpile since 2023.
Continue reading...Read moreUK ‘woefully’ unprepared for Chinese and Russian undersea cable sabotage, says report
CSRI finds China and Russia may be coordinating ‘grey zone’ tactics against vulnerable western infrastructure
China and Russia are stepping up sabotage operations targeting undersea cables and the UK is unprepared to meet the mounting threat, according to new analysis.
A report by the China Strategic Risks Institute (CSRI) analysed 12 incidents in which national authorities had investigated alleged undersea cable sabotage between January 2021 and April 2025. Of the 10 cases in which a suspect vessel was identified, eight were directly linked to China or Russia through flag-state registration or company ownership.
Continue reading...Read moreMajority of Australians think China will be world’s most powerful country by 2035, poll finds
Lowy Institute report shows trust in the US has tumbled to lowest level since thinktank began polling
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A majority of Australians expect China will be the most powerful country in the world by 2035 as trust in the US tumbles, new research has found.
Just over one in three Australians (36%) trusted the US to act responsibly on the world stage, representing a 20-point fall from 2024 and the smallest proportion since the Lowy Institute began polling in 2005.
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Continue reading...Read moreTariff dodgers take big risks to cut small corners | Gene Marks
Some firms are skirting Trump tariffs through fake labels, shady routes and risky loopholes
If you put up a barrier, people will find a way around it. So its not shocking to read recent news stories about how some businesses are trying to skirt around tariffs – particularly from China.
They’re shipping goods through third countries, rather than directly from China, using special “shoppers” to skirt minimum quantity amounts, colluding with suppliers to falsify country-of-origin labels, undervaluing goods, or “assembling” products out of China where tariffs are lower. They’re creating shell companies in more tariff-friendly countries and even going so far as forging certificates of origin (thanks ChatGPT!) and otherwise falsifying shipping documentation in collusion with, or independently from, their suppliers.
Continue reading...Read moreChina considers lifting sanctions on UK parliamentarians as relations warm
Exclusive: Restrictions to be reviewed as embassy official says ‘UK-China relations are showing a positive momentum’
China is considering lifting the sanctions it imposed on UK parliamentarians in 2021 in the latest sign of warming relations between London and Beijing.
The Chinese government is reviewing the sanctions, which it introduced four years ago, in response to what it called “lies and disinformation” about human rights abuses in Xinjiang, according to two UK government sources familiar with the conversations.
Continue reading...Read moreTrump’s military parade taps an ancient tradition of power: from Mesopotamia to Maga
Critics see echoes of authoritarianism, a break from the US’s usual restraint on military display
To Donald Trump, the inspiration is the pomp and pageantry of Bastille Day, France’s annual celebration of the 1789 revolution.
For his critics, it is redolent of the authoritarian militarism proudly projected by autocracies such as Russia, China and North Korea.
Continue reading...Read moreWeather tracker: Europe and China in midst of record-breaking heat
Temperatures over 40C recorded in Portugal and Spain, while China endures heatwave conditions in high 40s
Temperature records for early June are being broken across large parts of Europe, with the mercury reaching 40.5C (104.9F) in Mértola, Portugal, on Sunday. On the same day, several weather stations in Spain recorded temperatures in excess of 42C, with dozens of sites at record levels for early summer. Across the Balkans, temperatures reached 37C. On Monday, 37.6C was recorded in Tirana, Albania, while in Greece night-time minimum temperatures have stayed mostly over 30C for much of this week.
Hot conditions are to intensify across central and western Europe over the next few days, with temperatures across large parts of France, Benelux, Italy and west Germany expected to reach the low to mid 30s celsius. Highs of up to 35C are expected in Paris on Friday, with up to 38C forecast in Rome. Conditions will ease somewhat, but a heatwave will soon develop across Iberia, with Madrid expected to reach the high-30s celsius each day next week.
Continue reading...Read moreNew Zealand PM to meet Xi Jinping as former leaders warn against becoming an ‘adversary’ of China
Christopher Luxon’s visit to Beijing comes as former NZ PMs warn the country must not become part of defence arrangements ‘explicitly aimed at China’
New Zealand’s prime minister will meet Xi Jinping on a formal visit to China next week, his office has confirmed, a week after an open letter signed by some of his predecessors warned against positioning New Zealand as an “adversary” of its biggest trading partner.
Christopher Luxon is scheduled to travel to Shanghai and Beijing, before going to Europe. His office said he will meet Xi and China’s premier, Li Qiang, for a visit focused on trade, but which would also discuss “the comprehensive bilateral relationship and key regional and global issues”.
Continue reading...Read morePope names Chinese bishop as he keeps historic Vatican-Beijing accord
The 2018 accord sought to resolve the issue of who has authority to appoint bishops.
Read moreBYD launches cheapest UK model in bid to overtake Tesla as biggest electric carmaker
Dolphin Surf will start at £18,650 – among the cheapest new vehicles on sale in Britain
The Chinese manufacturer BYD has launched its cheapest model in the UK, in the latest stage of its efforts to overtake Tesla as the world’s biggest electric carmaker.
The Dolphin Surf will start at £18,650, a price that puts it among the cheapest new vehicles on sale in Britain.
Continue reading...Read moreChinese fighter jet in near miss with Japan military plane as Pacific tensions rise
J-15 jet took off from Chinese aircraft carrier and reportedly came within 45 metres of Japanese patrol plane
Japan has voiced “serious concern” over a near miss involving one of its military planes and a Chinese fighter jet in the Pacific, where recent manoeuvres by Chinese aircraft carrier groups have raised tensions across the region.
Beijing later rejected the criticism, accusing Japan of dangerous behaviour.
Continue reading...Read moreChina's electric cars are becoming slicker and cheaper - but is there a deeper cost?
The future for EVs will inevitably involve China. But where does that leave the UK and Europe markets – and what of the questions around national security?
Read moreOn board the driverless lorries hoping to transform China's transport industry
Driverless lorries are now operating across China - but public concern about these vehicles remains.
Read moreStudents or spies? The young Chinese caught in Trump's crosshairs
The souring relationship between the nations has already caused issues for students at home and in the US.
Read moreIs China the winner in the India-Pakistan conflict?
Pakistan's Chinese-made fighter jets were battle tested for the first time during hostilities with India.
Read moreMajor Events in War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Year of 1932
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