China, Australia and the Pacific: How rugby is shaping soft power arms race Sport Business Rugby union and league are growing in the Indo-Pacific, as is the investment from central governments of dominant regional powers. Matt Hardy asks why. Amid the disruption at airports in Saudi Arabia, the limited access through the Strait of Hormuz and the nagging feeling that the world is on the verge of doom, soft power [...]
Major Chinese brands drop Mbappe over Chairman Mao meme jokes Sport Business Two major Chinese sponsors of Kylian Mbappe have dropped their support for the footballer after the Frenchman made jokes about Chairman Mao Zedong. Dairy producer Mengniu and drinks firm Dongpeng have dropped the Ballon d’Or runner-up after he reportedly told French TV a meme “that makes me laugh the most…the one where there’s a video [...]
Accenture eyes sale of Chinese operations for up to $1.5bn Prof Services Consultancy giant Accenture is eyeing a potential sale of its Chinese business operations for up to $1.5bn. The world’s largest publicly traded IT consultancy has hired JPMorgan to work on a strategic review of its Chinese business after receiving unsolicited interest in it over the past year, the Financial Times reported. Accenture’s Greater China unit [...]
MI5 warns UK academics have been aiding Chinese spies September 30, 2026 British academics have been taking part in Chinese-funded research designed to enhance Beijing’s espionage capabilities, according to a dramatic intervention from the UK’s security services. Chinese intelligence tried to “covertly benefit” from British AI and technology research, security minister Dan Jarvis has warned, after MI5 accused a Beijing-linked institute of using UK academics to boost [...]
Trump-Xi summit: Don’t be fooled, this was more than panda diplomacy September 28, 2026 Yes there was one panda involved, but eight-ninths of the real outcomes of this meeting are hidden from sight, writes Tim Hames.
China’s EV brands are all over sport in the west. Why? September 18, 2026 Electric vehicle brands from China are snapping up sport sponsorship opportunities across the west. Matt Hardy asks why. The automotive sector has long had an association with sports sponsorships: think the century-old deal between Ford and AFL side the Geelong Cats, or Volkswagen’s enduring patronage of Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, originally a works team from its [...]
Ultimate Championships delivered but can China at the 2027 Worlds? September 17, 2026 China didn’t feature much at the Ultimate Championships and Ed Warner questions whether they can at a home World Championships in 2027. “I might get told off. I just did a race, so I’m allowed to drink what I would like. Thank you so much,” said Lando Norris as he reached for a Coke after [...]
How Taiwan can help the UN regain trust September 15, 2026 Restoring confidence in the UN must begin with rejecting coercion by authoritarian states, writes Taiwan's minister of foreign affairs.
Lepas L8: China’s New SUV Means Business August 10, 2026 Is the UK’s SUV market ready for another Chinese challenger? Motoring journalist Tim Barnes-Clay takes a closer look at the new Lepas. Lepas, another new marque from automotive giant Chery – the company behind Omoda and Jaecoo – is positioning the L8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) as a premium SUV that combines handsome styling, generous technology [...]
China’s mega London embassy to go ahead after High Court blocks challenge July 31, 2026 Plans for a new Chinese super embassy in central London will go ahead after the High Court blocked a challenge to the controversial site. The Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association (RMCRA) had initiated legal action against the government’s housing department and Tower Hamlets council over concerns the embassy could enforce “draconian” Chinese laws in the [...]