China's Communist Party is moving to tighten its grip on officials, with President Xi Jinping pushing for stricter discipline, greater political loyalty and stronger oversight of party leaders. A sweeping resolution adopted at the party's fifth plenum outlines more than 200 measures to regulate officials' conduct, curb corruption and rein in unchecked authority. The move comes amid an expanding anti-corruption drive that has seen senior party and military figures removed.


China push to rein in Communist Party leaders

China’s J-20 stealth fighter designers are reportedly exploring plans to integrate radar systems into the aircraft’s wings, a move that could expand radar coverage during air combat. The proposed design could help improve the aircraft’s ability to detect and track potential threats from different directions, enhancing situational awareness in contested airspace.


J-20 designers plan to put radar into aircraft wing; strategy to expand coverage during air combat

Washington and Beijing have officially announced a "30-for-30" trade framework and published a list of goods that the US and China could tax at lower rates. The list covers about $30bn worth of "non-sensitive" goods on each side. This comes following the trade deal struck at last week's summit between the US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping. The US have listed 77 categories of Chinese goods while China have listed 1,619 categories of American products. Neither nation has specified the exact new tariff percentages or an absolute activation date.Under the new Board of Trade, the two countries will consider the products "with a view toward providing reduced tariff treatment to those goods in a reciprocal manner."&nbsp;"The Trump Administration will continue to pursue fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade with China by ensuring compliance with commitments on agricultural and energy purchases, pursuing balanced trade in non-sensitive goods, and securing market access for American farmers, manufacturers, businesses, and workers," said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in a statement.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-stock-market-crash-sensex-nifty-six-month-low-oil-fpi-rupee-1790610541704">Indian stock market crashes, 7.4 lakh crore wiped out: What is driving the fall?</a><h2>What items are in the lists?</h2>China's list is dominated by food and farm goods, from beef, pork, poultry and seafood to cheese, grains, corn, wheat, butter, wine, and whiskey. The list also features around 150 varieties of wood and timber products. China will also import $10 million worth of US coal annually across both 2027 and 2028. China will also import high-value medical technology such as MRI scanners, pacemakers, surgical robots, and stents. However, US Soybeans, historically the largest American agricultural export to China, were excluded from the tariff cuts, it appears only as seeds for planting.The US list is far shorter; it features Chinese consumer commodities like toys, children's car seats, and holiday or Christmas decorations, microwave ovens, toasters, coffee makers, bed linen, tennis balls and fishing hooks.The Chinese Ministry of Commerce officially confirmed the product lists on Monday, saying that the sides would discuss “a reciprocal tariff reduction framework of $30 billion for $30 billion, aiming to reach a consensus”.“This arrangement will help stabilise China-US trade, create better conditions for Chinese exports of relevant products to the US, meet domestic market demand, and strengthen trade cooperation in agricultural products, energy, manufactured goods, and consumer goods,” the ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;

The US and China have unveiled lists covering $30 billion of goods each for possible reciprocal tariff cuts under a new ‘30-for-30’ trade framework.

Washington and Beijing have officially announced a "30-for-30" trade framework and published a list of goods that the US and China could tax at lower rates. The list covers about $30bn worth of "non-sensitive" goods on each side. This comes following the trade deal struck at last week's summit between the US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping. The US have listed 77 categories of Chinese goods while China have listed 1,619 categories of American products. Neither nation has specified the exact new tariff percentages or an absolute activation date. Under the new Board of Trade, the two countries will consider the products "with a view toward providing reduced tariff treatment to those goods in a reciprocal manner." "The Trump Administration will continue to pursue fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade with China by ensuring compliance with commitments on agricultural and energy purchases, pursuing balanced trade in non-sensitive goods, and securing market access for American farmers, manufacturers, businesses, and workers," said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in a statement. Also Read: Indian stock market crashes, 7.4 lakh crore wiped out: What is driving the fall? What items are in the lists? China's list is dominated by food and farm goods, from beef, pork, poultry and seafood to cheese, grains, corn, wheat, butter, wine, and whiskey. The list also features around 150 varieties of wood and timber products. China will also import $10 million worth of US coal annually across both 2027 and 2028. China will also import high-value medical technology such as MRI scanners, pacemakers, surgical robots, and stents. However, US Soybeans, historically the largest American agricultural export to China, were excluded from the tariff cuts, it appears only as seeds for planting. The US list is far shorter; it features Chinese consumer commodities like toys, children's car seats, and holiday or Christmas decorations, microwave ovens, toasters, coffee makers, bed linen, tennis balls and fishing hooks. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce officially confirmed the product lists on Monday, saying that the sides would discuss “a reciprocal tariff reduction framework of $30 billion for $30 billion, aiming to reach a consensus”. “This arrangement will help stabilise China-US trade, create better conditions for Chinese exports of relevant products to the US, meet domestic market demand, and strengthen trade cooperation in agricultural products, energy, manufactured goods, and consumer goods,” the ministry said in a statement.

The US and China have unveiled lists covering $30 billion of goods each for possible reciprocal tariff cuts under a new ‘30-for-30’ trade framework.

US, China unveil ‘30-for-30’ trade framework: Which goods could get lower tariffs?

US President Donald Trump shared an image on Thursday (September 24) of Chinese President Xi Jinping's red-carpet arrival in Washington, reportedly altered using artificial intelligence. The image posted on Truth Social also shows Xi with an unflattering expression captured in live footage of the moment, edited out. The image appears to show the US president saluting alongside his Chinese counterpart, with Xi's Air China plane forming the backdrop and a military jet flying overhead. However, when placed side by side with genuine photographs taken by several news media outlets, the image appears AI-generated. Multiple AI-detection tools also highlighted the image as likely synthetic.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-meta-tiktok-agrees-to-teen-limits-in-us-100-million-settlement-1790426871380">After Meta, TikTok agrees to teen limits in US, $100 million settlement</a><h3>Trump's AI-generated visuals, memes</h3>One notable omission in the version Donald Trump shared is his visible reaction to the loud aircraft flyover, a wince that had drawn ridicule online and from late-night host Jimmy Fallon. However, the White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on the image. While Trump regularly posts AI-generated visuals and memes on his Truth Social account, this particular post surfaces amid his broader, and legally unsuccessful, push to bar CNN, Politico and MS NOW journalists from White House access over coverage he has dismissed as "fake news." In response, the top five US broadcasters had suspended their participation in the White House press pool system, under which a single network films on behalf of all others for the day, as a show of solidarity. Beyond the missing facial expression, the posted image also shows Trump wearing a plain blue tie and only one black glove, differing from authentic footage, which shows him in a striped tie with both hands gloved. Additionally, a woman seen over Trump's left shoulder is shown wearing different shoes than those visible in verified footage of the event.

The image appears to show the US president saluting alongside his Chinese counterpart, with Xi's Air China plane forming the backdrop and a military jet flying overhead. 

US President Donald Trump shared an image on Thursday (September 24) of Chinese President Xi Jinping's red-carpet arrival in Washington, reportedly altered using artificial intelligence. The image posted on Truth Social also shows Xi with an unflattering expression captured in live footage of the moment, edited out. The image appears to show the US president saluting alongside his Chinese counterpart, with Xi's Air China plane forming the backdrop and a military jet flying overhead. However, when placed side by side with genuine photographs taken by several news media outlets, the image appears AI-generated. Multiple AI-detection tools also highlighted the image as likely synthetic. Also read: After Meta, TikTok agrees to teen limits in US, $100 million settlement Trump's AI-generated visuals, memes One notable omission in the version Donald Trump shared is his visible reaction to the loud aircraft flyover, a wince that had drawn ridicule online and from late-night host Jimmy Fallon. However, the White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on the image. While Trump regularly posts AI-generated visuals and memes on his Truth Social account, this particular post surfaces amid his broader, and legally unsuccessful, push to bar CNN, Politico and MS NOW journalists from White House access over coverage he has dismissed as "fake news." In response, the top five US broadcasters had suspended their participation in the White House press pool system, under which a single network films on behalf of all others for the day, as a show of solidarity. Beyond the missing facial expression, the posted image also shows Trump wearing a plain blue tie and only one black glove, differing from authentic footage, which shows him in a striped tie with both hands gloved. Additionally, a woman seen over Trump's left shoulder is shown wearing different shoes than those visible in verified footage of the event.

The image appears to show the US president saluting alongside his Chinese counterpart, with Xi's Air China plane forming the backdrop and a military jet flying overhead.&nbsp;

Donald Trump shares image of Xi's arrival in Washington, carries signs of AI

A photo shared by US President Donald Trump on Truth Social following his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping is drawing scrutiny from digital forensics experts. Analysts have pointed to several inconsistencies between the image and authentic photos and video footage from the event, suggesting the picture may have been altered using AI tools. The controversy has reignited debate over the growing use of AI-generated and AI-edited imagery in political communication.


Trump-Xi summit photo sparks AI controversy as experts flag signs of digital alteration

Xi Jinping has wrapped up his three-day state visit to the US, departing Washington with a 21-gun salute. Trump and Xi agreed on what both sides are calling "strategic stability," building on the framework set during Trump's May visit to Beijing. Trump called the talks a step forward, saying the two sides made "great strides." The two leaders are set to meet again at the APEC and G20 summits later this year. Watch the full breakdown.


Trump-Xi summit: Trump says US-China talks made 'great strides'

Trump-Xi summit: Xi wraps up us visit with 21-gun salute as Trump, Xi lock in 'strategic stability'

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed artificial intelligence and the future of “super intelligence” during their high-level summit. The talks highlight the growing importance of AI in China-U.S. relations, alongside broader discussions on technology, trade and strategic cooperation.


Trump-Xi Summit: China-US Leaders Discuss AI & 'Super Intelligence'

US President Donald Trump presented Chinese President Xi Jinping with a sculpture of a bald eagle during a state dinner at the White House on Thursday (Sep 24), describing the bird as a symbol of American freedom.The roughly three-foot sculpture was displayed atop a podium and was designed by an American artist in collaboration with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, the US president said during his remarks.<h2>‘Free and soaring spirit of America’</h2>“The bald eagle is a national symbol of the United States and an embodiment of the free and soaring spirit of America,” Trump said as he presented the gift to Xi. “We hope it’ll find a nice place, a wonderful place in Beijing,” he added.Trump also told the Chinese president that he and Melania had been involved in designing the sculpture.The gift came at the end of a state dinner hosted for Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, during the Chinese president’s first state visit to the White House in more than a decade. The White House said the dinner was held in the East Room and included official delegations, business leaders and government officials.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-ve-never-gotten-along-better-trump-praises-xi-jokes-about-white-house-ballroom-at-high-stakes-state-dinner-1790298530847">‘We’ve never gotten along better’: Trump praises Xi, jokes about White House ballroom at high-stakes state dinner</a>&nbsp;<h2>From national symbol to national bird</h2>The bald eagle has long been associated with the United States. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says the species is solely native to North America and has historically ranged from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico.Congress formally designated the bald eagle as the national bird in 2024, after it had served as a national symbol for centuries.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spy-vs-spy-as-xi-meets-trump-a-12-year-history-of-us-china-espionage-accusations-wion-decodes-1790071582437">SPY VS SPY: As Xi meets Trump, a 12-year history of US-China espionage accusations | WION Decodes</a>Trump's choice of the eagle as a gift to Xi placed one of America's most recognisable national symbols at the centre of the diplomatic dinner, with the president explicitly linking it to what he described as the country's “free and soaring spirit”.The presentation was part of a broader state visit marked by ceremonial events, military honours and diplomatic engagement between Washington and Beijing. The White House said Xi's visit would conclude on Friday with a visit by the two presidential couples to the National Archives in Washington.

Donald Trump gifted Xi Jinping a roughly three-foot bald eagle sculpture during a White House state dinner, describing the bird as a symbol of American freedom. The gesture came as Washington and Beijing sought to project warmer ties.

US President Donald Trump presented Chinese President Xi Jinping with a sculpture of a bald eagle during a state dinner at the White House on Thursday (Sep 24), describing the bird as a symbol of American freedom. The roughly three-foot sculpture was displayed atop a podium and was designed by an American artist in collaboration with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, the US president said during his remarks. ‘Free and soaring spirit of America’ “The bald eagle is a national symbol of the United States and an embodiment of the free and soaring spirit of America,” Trump said as he presented the gift to Xi. “We hope it’ll find a nice place, a wonderful place in Beijing,” he added. Trump also told the Chinese president that he and Melania had been involved in designing the sculpture. The gift came at the end of a state dinner hosted for Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, during the Chinese president’s first state visit to the White House in more than a decade. The White House said the dinner was held in the East Room and included official delegations, business leaders and government officials. Also read | ‘We’ve never gotten along better’: Trump praises Xi, jokes about White House ballroom at high-stakes state dinner From national symbol to national bird The bald eagle has long been associated with the United States. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says the species is solely native to North America and has historically ranged from Alaska and Canada through the contiguous United States to northern Mexico. Congress formally designated the bald eagle as the national bird in 2024, after it had served as a national symbol for centuries. Also read | SPY VS SPY: As Xi meets Trump, a 12-year history of US-China espionage accusations | WION Decodes Trump's choice of the eagle as a gift to Xi placed one of America's most recognisable national symbols at the centre of the diplomatic dinner, with the president explicitly linking it to what he described as the country's “free and soaring spirit”. The presentation was part of a broader state visit marked by ceremonial events, military honours and diplomatic engagement between Washington and Beijing. The White House said Xi's visit would conclude on Friday with a visit by the two presidential couples to the National Archives in Washington.

Donald Trump gifted Xi Jinping a roughly three-foot bald eagle sculpture during a White House state dinner, describing the bird as a symbol of American freedom. The gesture came as Washington and Beijing sought to project warmer ties.

Trump gifts Xi a bald eagle sculpture at White House dinner: Here’s what it symbolises

US President Donald Trump used the White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday (Sep 24) to praise their relationship, saying the two had “never gotten along better” and thanking Xi for making the long journey from China to Washington.The dinner came during Xi's first state visit to the United States in more than a decade, with the leaders trying to manage tensions over trade, Taiwan, artificial intelligence and the war in Iran. Trump had earlier in the day described the talks as a major meeting and said the two sides had made “tremendous strides”.During the dinner speech, Trump largely stuck to his prepared remarks during the dinner, which celebrated US-China ties, but made an unscripted detour to one of his signature projects at the White House: the construction of a new ballroom.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/making-history-xi-jinping-praises-trump-as-us-china-leaders-dine-at-white-house-1790297342133">'Making history': Xi praises Trump as US-China leaders dine at White House</a><h2>Trump praises Xi, US-China ties</h2>The president's formal remarks focused mainly on the long history of relations between the United States and China and his assessment of the current relationship with Xi. Thanking the Chinese leader for travelling to the US, Trump said: “We’ve never gotten along better.”Referring to the broader US-China relationship, Trump acknowledged the political and economic differences between Washington and Beijing while highlighting areas where the two countries have common interests. “President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure,” Trump said.However, he repeatedly emphasised his personal relationship with Xi in the run-up to the visit, describing it as a key part of managing disagreements between the two governments.&nbsp;<h2>Xi calls for peaceful coexistence</h2>Xi struck a more measured tone during his own remarks. He called on China and the United States to maintain communication, manage their differences and “coexist in peace”.“China and the United States must act as responsible major countries,” Xi said, according to reports of his remarks. He also said the two countries could gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spy-vs-spy-as-xi-meets-trump-a-12-year-history-of-us-china-espionage-accusations-wion-decodes-1790071582437">SPY VS SPY: As Xi meets Trump, a 12-year history of US-China espionage accusations | WION Decodes</a><h2>Trump's ballroom detour</h2>Turning to Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, Trump said they could be the first guests to enter the ballroom, even though the project remains under construction and is still about a year from completion. “As a special treat, you could be the first people to enter our ballroom,” Trump said.He then joked about the unfinished site, telling guests that anyone interested could take a look after the evening’s entertainment. “Anybody who wants to walk into a construction site that’s nice and clean and sparkling, it’s our honour to have you do so,” Trump said.Xi's state visit is due to conclude on Friday, when he and Peng are scheduled to have tea with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump before visiting the National Archives. &nbsp;

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping put personal rapport at the centre of a lavish White House state dinner, with Trump saying they had “never gotten along better”. He also made a notable detour to one of his signature projects at the White House: the construction of a new ballroom.

US President Donald Trump used the White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday (Sep 24) to praise their relationship, saying the two had “never gotten along better” and thanking Xi for making the long journey from China to Washington. The dinner came during Xi's first state visit to the United States in more than a decade, with the leaders trying to manage tensions over trade, Taiwan, artificial intelligence and the war in Iran. Trump had earlier in the day described the talks as a major meeting and said the two sides had made “tremendous strides”. During the dinner speech, Trump largely stuck to his prepared remarks during the dinner, which celebrated US-China ties, but made an unscripted detour to one of his signature projects at the White House: the construction of a new ballroom. Also read | 'Making history': Xi praises Trump as US-China leaders dine at White House Trump praises Xi, US-China ties The president's formal remarks focused mainly on the long history of relations between the United States and China and his assessment of the current relationship with Xi. Thanking the Chinese leader for travelling to the US, Trump said: “We’ve never gotten along better.” Referring to the broader US-China relationship, Trump acknowledged the political and economic differences between Washington and Beijing while highlighting areas where the two countries have common interests. “President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure,” Trump said. However, he repeatedly emphasised his personal relationship with Xi in the run-up to the visit, describing it as a key part of managing disagreements between the two governments. Xi calls for peaceful coexistence Xi struck a more measured tone during his own remarks. He called on China and the United States to maintain communication, manage their differences and “coexist in peace”. “China and the United States must act as responsible major countries,” Xi said, according to reports of his remarks. He also said the two countries could gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Also read | SPY VS SPY: As Xi meets Trump, a 12-year history of US-China espionage accusations | WION Decodes Trump's ballroom detour Turning to Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, Trump said they could be the first guests to enter the ballroom, even though the project remains under construction and is still about a year from completion. “As a special treat, you could be the first people to enter our ballroom,” Trump said. He then joked about the unfinished site, telling guests that anyone interested could take a look after the evening’s entertainment. “Anybody who wants to walk into a construction site that’s nice and clean and sparkling, it’s our honour to have you do so,” Trump said. Xi's state visit is due to conclude on Friday, when he and Peng are scheduled to have tea with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump before visiting the National Archives.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping put personal rapport at the centre of a lavish White House state dinner, with Trump saying they had “never gotten along better”. He also made a notable detour to one of his signature projects at the White House: the construction of a new ballroom.

‘We’ve never gotten along better’: Trump praises Xi, jokes about White House ballroom at high-stakes state dinner

China has removed two top military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu ​Zhenli, from the Chinese Communist Party and the military, according to an official announcement on Monday, citing alleged disloyalty, corruption and other serious disciplinary breaches. The pair have been under investigation since January this year, and were removed from the state Central Military Commission in late August.Zhang was once a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the highest-ranking uniformed member of the Chinese Military Commission, only second to Chinese President Xi Jinping. He was also a member of the party's 24-member Politburo. Liu was a CMC member and the chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-tv-pool-halts-trump-coverage-cnn-banned-unga-1790007014153">White House TV pool halts Trump coverage after CNN barred from UNGA events</a>“Investigation found that Zhang and Liu … transgressed red lines and bottom lines,” according to the statement. “They severely violated political discipline and rules by forming cliques and factions, demonstrating disloyalty and dishonesty to the party.”Their offences included &nbsp;“taking advantage of their positions to seek promotional benefits for others in exchange for huge amounts of money”, “accepting gifts and money in violation of regulations”, “failing to fulfil political responsibilities for full and rigorous self-governance of the party” and “failing to properly educate and restrain their relatives and close staff”.While the Chinese Communist Party framed this as a crackdown on “corruption”, the Western media are framing these removals as purges. Corruption allegations are not unusual against senior PLA officers, "what is unprecedented is the charges of disloyalty that include forming cliques and factions", said Dennis Wilder, a former CIA China analyst and a senior fellow at Georgetown University.&nbsp;In recent years, the anti-corruption campaign has seen the downfall of dozens in the PLA's top brass. Before Zhang and Liu, CMC members &nbsp;He Weidong, Li Shangfu and Miao Hua were also removed, leaving only two Xi himself and Zhang Shengmin out of the seven-member commission elected in 2022.&nbsp;

China has expelled top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the Communist Party and military over alleged disloyalty, corruption and discipline breaches.

China has removed two top military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Chinese Communist Party and the military, according to an official announcement on Monday, citing alleged disloyalty, corruption and other serious disciplinary breaches. The pair have been under investigation since January this year, and were removed from the state Central Military Commission in late August. Zhang was once a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the highest-ranking uniformed member of the Chinese Military Commission, only second to Chinese President Xi Jinping. He was also a member of the party's 24-member Politburo. Liu was a CMC member and the chief of staff of its Joint Staff Department. Also Read: White House TV pool halts Trump coverage after CNN barred from UNGA events “Investigation found that Zhang and Liu … transgressed red lines and bottom lines,” according to the statement. “They severely violated political discipline and rules by forming cliques and factions, demonstrating disloyalty and dishonesty to the party.” Their offences included “taking advantage of their positions to seek promotional benefits for others in exchange for huge amounts of money”, “accepting gifts and money in violation of regulations”, “failing to fulfil political responsibilities for full and rigorous self-governance of the party” and “failing to properly educate and restrain their relatives and close staff”. While the Chinese Communist Party framed this as a crackdown on “corruption”, the Western media are framing these removals as purges. Corruption allegations are not unusual against senior PLA officers, "what is unprecedented is the charges of disloyalty that include forming cliques and factions", said Dennis Wilder, a former CIA China analyst and a senior fellow at Georgetown University. In recent years, the anti-corruption campaign has seen the downfall of dozens in the PLA's top brass. Before Zhang and Liu, CMC members He Weidong, Li Shangfu and Miao Hua were also removed, leaving only two Xi himself and Zhang Shengmin out of the seven-member commission elected in 2022.

China has expelled top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the Communist Party and military over alleged disloyalty, corruption and discipline breaches.

China expels top generals Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli over ‘disloyalty’, corruption

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held an eight-hour "very successful" meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York, laying the groundwork for Thursday's high-stakes Trump-Xi summit in Washington. The talks covered AI, tariffs and critical minerals, with both sides discussing a new "US-China AI Dialogue" and a notification mechanism for national-security-level AI incidents. Key issues carried over from May's Beijing meeting, including tariff cuts, China's critical mineral supply commitments and Chinese purchases of US soybeans and Boeing jets.


Trump-Xi summit: US-China trade truce under test on Sept 24

China is reported to have confidentially asked Tehran to use its influence over Yemen’s Houthis to help rein in the Iran-backed group after Saudi Arabia appealed to Beijing for help, reported Reuters, citing three Iranian sources familiar with the matter.&nbsp;The Saudi appeal followed rapid advances by the Houthis along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the past week, leaving Riyadh’s oil exports and shipping more exposed, the sources said.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Houthis emerged in the 1990s in opposition to Saudi Arabia’s Sunni religious influence in Yemen and are armed, trained and funded by Iran. They form part of Tehran’s anti-Western, anti-Israel “Axis of Resistance”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-drone-firm-linked-to-trump-s-sons-signs-mou-with-pakistan-army-gets-initial-order-1789648161978">US drone firm linked to Trump’s sons signs MoU with Pakistan army, gets initial order</a>&nbsp;China has publicly also called for restraint, dialogue and the restoration of safe navigation. But its private message to Tehran went further, as Beijing asked Iran to help prevent the conflict from spreading across energy routes on which China, the world’s second-largest economy, depends.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Iranian sources did not reveal how the message was delivered or whether it was conveyed during Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi’s visit to China on Wednesday.&nbsp;They just said that Tehran said in response that stability and peace in the region depend on ending the US-Israeli war on Iran.&nbsp;Chinese officials did not issue any explicit threat or indicate that Beijing would impose economic pressure on Tehran if it failed to use its influence over the Houthis.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-treasury-rallies-global-financial-institutions-for-op-economic-outcast-to-isolate-iran-1789588781387">US Treasury rallies global financial institutions for Op Economic Outcast to isolate Iran</a>&nbsp;In response to a Reuters request for comment, China’s foreign ministry said, “China does not wish to see regional tensions further spill over into Yemen and the Red Sea. Escalating regional instability is not in the interests of any party.”&nbsp;&nbsp;“The sovereignty and security of all countries should be respected, and facilities vital to people's livelihoods must not be targeted. China calls for an end to actions that further complicate the situation and urges resolving issues through dialogue and negotiation,” it added.&nbsp;&nbsp;China has been Iran’s largest trading partner for more than a decade and remains its main buyer of oil. Chinese purchases accounted for more than 80% of Iran’s seaborne oil exports in 2025, averaging about 1.4 million barrels per day.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fed-raises-rates-for-first-time-in-3-years-kevin-warsh-defies-trump-as-inflation-mounts-1789583250156">Fed raises rates for first time in 3 years, Kevin Warsh defies Trump as inflation mounts</a>&nbsp;The Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have added another pressure point to an energy market already disrupted by the wider war. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut since Iran began blocking the waterway, while sustained Houthi attacks on vessels or ports in the Red Sea could disrupt another major route for Middle Eastern oil exports.&nbsp;&nbsp;Besides, a prolonged closure of Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline could affect as much as 4% of global oil supply.&nbsp;&nbsp;Oil prices fell in early Thursday trade after reports that Saudi Arabia was offering additional crude cargoes through Oman.&nbsp;&nbsp;China has demonstrated diplomatic influence in the region before, when in 2023, it brokered an agreement that restored diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia after years of hostility.

China has been Iran’s largest trading partner for more than a decade and remains its main buyer of oil. Chinese purchases accounted for more than 80% of Iran’s seaborne oil exports in 2025, averaging about 1.4 million barrels per day. 

China is reported to have confidentially asked Tehran to use its influence over Yemen’s Houthis to help rein in the Iran-backed group after Saudi Arabia appealed to Beijing for help, reported Reuters, citing three Iranian sources familiar with the matter. The Saudi appeal followed rapid advances by the Houthis along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the past week, leaving Riyadh’s oil exports and shipping more exposed, the sources said. The Houthis emerged in the 1990s in opposition to Saudi Arabia’s Sunni religious influence in Yemen and are armed, trained and funded by Iran. They form part of Tehran’s anti-Western, anti-Israel “Axis of Resistance”. Also Read: US drone firm linked to Trump’s sons signs MoU with Pakistan army, gets initial order China has publicly also called for restraint, dialogue and the restoration of safe navigation. But its private message to Tehran went further, as Beijing asked Iran to help prevent the conflict from spreading across energy routes on which China, the world’s second-largest economy, depends. The Iranian sources did not reveal how the message was delivered or whether it was conveyed during Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi’s visit to China on Wednesday. They just said that Tehran said in response that stability and peace in the region depend on ending the US-Israeli war on Iran. Chinese officials did not issue any explicit threat or indicate that Beijing would impose economic pressure on Tehran if it failed to use its influence over the Houthis. Also Read: US Treasury rallies global financial institutions for Op Economic Outcast to isolate Iran In response to a Reuters request for comment, China’s foreign ministry said, “China does not wish to see regional tensions further spill over into Yemen and the Red Sea. Escalating regional instability is not in the interests of any party.” “The sovereignty and security of all countries should be respected, and facilities vital to people's livelihoods must not be targeted. China calls for an end to actions that further complicate the situation and urges resolving issues through dialogue and negotiation,” it added. China has been Iran’s largest trading partner for more than a decade and remains its main buyer of oil. Chinese purchases accounted for more than 80% of Iran’s seaborne oil exports in 2025, averaging about 1.4 million barrels per day. Also Read: Fed raises rates for first time in 3 years, Kevin Warsh defies Trump as inflation mounts The Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have added another pressure point to an energy market already disrupted by the wider war. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut since Iran began blocking the waterway, while sustained Houthi attacks on vessels or ports in the Red Sea could disrupt another major route for Middle Eastern oil exports. Besides, a prolonged closure of Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline could affect as much as 4% of global oil supply. Oil prices fell in early Thursday trade after reports that Saudi Arabia was offering additional crude cargoes through Oman. China has demonstrated diplomatic influence in the region before, when in 2023, it brokered an agreement that restored diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia after years of hostility.

China has been Iran’s largest trading partner for more than a decade and remains its main buyer of oil. Chinese purchases accounted for more than 80% of Iran’s seaborne oil exports in 2025, averaging about 1.4 million barrels per day.&nbsp;

China urges Iran to rein in Houthis after Saudi Arabia’s appeal for help: Report

President Donald Trump will give Chinese President Xi Jinping a rare honour when he arrives in Washington next week for a state visit, with Trump set to personally greet him at the airport, AFP reported citing a US official.&nbsp;Xi is expected to arrive next Wednesday at around 4 pm local time, with Trump scheduled to attend his welcome ceremony at the military airbase. The airport greeting is a rare gesture for a visiting foreign leader.The visit comes as relations between the world’s two largest economies remain strained by trade disputes and differences over Taiwan, the South China Sea and the war in West Asia. However, the two leaders have continued high-level engagement despite these differences.&nbsp;Trump visited Beijing from May 13 to 15, 2026, where he met Xi for talks on bilateral ties and other global issues. It was Trump’s second visit to China and his first during his second presidential term.<h3>US sanctions bill adds to tensions</h3>Xi’s visit also comes days after the US Congress passed the controversial Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The legislation allows President Donald Trump discretionary authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from the top five buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, a list led by India and China.&nbsp;Beijing has described the legislation as a US effort to pressure countries buying Russian oil and gas. China said its normal trade with other countries should not be subject to interference or coercion by third parties.&nbsp;Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing opposes sanctions that do not have a basis in international law or authorisation from the UN Security Council.&nbsp;“China consistently opposes long-arm jurisdiction that lacks a basis in international law and is not authorised by the United Nations Security Council,” Guo said at a media briefing.<h3>China voices support for Iran</h3>Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing was willing to “safeguard” Iran’s rights during talks with his counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue.&nbsp;China is “willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran, and safeguard Iran’s legitimate rights and interests”, Wang told Araghchi as they met in the Chinese capital.&nbsp;The United States remains engaged in an escalating conflict with the Islamic Republic, which has spilled into the wider Middle East and pushed energy prices above $100, causing significant disruption to the global economy.&nbsp;The conflict was triggered on February 28 when US-Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran, killing top leaders of the Islamic Republic.

US President Donald Trump is set to personally welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport next week as their talks come amid trade tensions, a new US sanctions bill targeting Russian energy buyers and China’s efforts to mediate in the Iran-US conflict.

President Donald Trump will give Chinese President Xi Jinping a rare honour when he arrives in Washington next week for a state visit, with Trump set to personally greet him at the airport, AFP reported citing a US official. Xi is expected to arrive next Wednesday at around 4 pm local time, with Trump scheduled to attend his welcome ceremony at the military airbase. The airport greeting is a rare gesture for a visiting foreign leader. The visit comes as relations between the world’s two largest economies remain strained by trade disputes and differences over Taiwan, the South China Sea and the war in West Asia. However, the two leaders have continued high-level engagement despite these differences. Trump visited Beijing from May 13 to 15, 2026, where he met Xi for talks on bilateral ties and other global issues. It was Trump’s second visit to China and his first during his second presidential term. US sanctions bill adds to tensions Xi’s visit also comes days after the US Congress passed the controversial Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The legislation allows President Donald Trump discretionary authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from the top five buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, a list led by India and China. Beijing has described the legislation as a US effort to pressure countries buying Russian oil and gas. China said its normal trade with other countries should not be subject to interference or coercion by third parties. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing opposes sanctions that do not have a basis in international law or authorisation from the UN Security Council. “China consistently opposes long-arm jurisdiction that lacks a basis in international law and is not authorised by the United Nations Security Council,” Guo said at a media briefing. China voices support for Iran Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing was willing to “safeguard” Iran’s rights during talks with his counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue. China is “willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran, and safeguard Iran’s legitimate rights and interests”, Wang told Araghchi as they met in the Chinese capital. The United States remains engaged in an escalating conflict with the Islamic Republic, which has spilled into the wider Middle East and pushed energy prices above $100, causing significant disruption to the global economy. The conflict was triggered on February 28 when US-Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran, killing top leaders of the Islamic Republic.

US President Donald Trump is set to personally welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport next week as their talks come amid trade tensions, a new US sanctions bill targeting Russian energy buyers and China’s efforts to mediate in the Iran-US conflict.

Trump’s rare gesture for Xi: US president to personally welcome Chinese leader at airport

Marking two decades since its inception, the expanded 11-member BRICS bloc is pushing to transform the Global South from passive "rule-takers" into active "rule-shapers" of the international system. As world leaders gather in New Delhi, the key question remains whether a diverse group of nations can forge sustainable consensus, challenge Western-dominated institutions, and act as a stabilizing force in a fractured global order.

 The verdict-BRICS at 20: Can the expanded bloc rewrite the rules of global power? 

World leaders have gathered in New Delhi for the high-stakes 2026 BRICS Summit, hosted by India. The summit brings together heads of state and top diplomats to address key global issues, including economic integration, Global South priorities, trade mechanisms, and geopolitical challenges. With major bilateral meetings scheduled on the sidelines of the summit, the discussions are set to shape strategic partnerships across emerging economies. 

BRICS summit 2026 in New Delhi: World leaders gather for high stakes meeting 

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday (September 12) to attend the 18th BRICS Summit 2026. After his arrival, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada welcomed him at the airport. In a post on social media platform X, the Ministry of External Affairs wrote, “Warm welcome to President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China on his arrival in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. He was received by MoS @JitinPrasada at the airport. We look forward to constructive discussions as BRICS continues to advance cooperation and contribute to a more balanced, representative and multipolar world.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Warm welcome to President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China on his arrival in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. He was received by MoS <a href="https://x.com/JitinPrasada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JitinPrasada</a> at the airport. We look forward to constructive discussions as BRICS continues to advance cooperation and… <a href="https://t.co/pLYKBzS2V1">pic.twitter.com/pLYKBzS2V1</a>&mdash; Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2098673667123314904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

President Xi was also received with a warm welcome by a cultural troupe from the Northeast and other Indian states upon arrival. The cultural act included classical dance performances. The Chinese President Xi was accompanied by Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, Chinese foreign minister and a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, according to the Chinese news agency. India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The theme reflects India’s focus on strengthening existing achievements and institutional effectiveness. It places development, sustainability and innovation at the heart of the agenda. It also highlights the aspirations of the Global South. India seeks to reinforce BRICS as a constructive and solutions-oriented forum.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Iran FM describes PM Modi-Pezeshkian meeting as "strong"</h3>Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Tehran is working to become a new member of BRICS' New Development Bank, adding that some countries have already voiced their support for this move. Araghchi, who is in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, described the bilateral meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "strong meeting."

The Chinese President Xi was accompanied by Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Wang Yi, Chinese foreign minister and a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday (September 12) to attend the 18th BRICS Summit 2026. After his arrival, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada welcomed him at the airport. In a post on social media platform X, the Ministry of External Affairs wrote, “Warm welcome to President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China on his arrival in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. He was received by MoS @JitinPrasada at the airport. We look forward to constructive discussions as BRICS continues to advance cooperation and contribute to a more balanced, representative and multipolar world.”

The Chinese President Xi was accompanied by Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Wang Yi, Chinese foreign minister and a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

'A more balanced, multipolar world': India welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping for BRICS Summit

BRICS 2026 comes at a time of heightened global tensions, with the Russia-Ukraine war and the wider Middle East conflict putting diplomacy and peace efforts in focus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly stressed that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward, including in his recent engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 



BRICS 2026: India to lead key BRICS deliberations 

China has officially confirmed that President Xi Jinping will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Xi Jinping’s visit marks his first trip to India in seven years and comes as New Delhi and Beijing work to stabilise ties after years of tensions. His presence at the BRICS summit is expected to put India-China relations, global geopolitics and the future of the expanded BRICS bloc firmly in focus.

A possible meeting between Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi could become one of the key diplomatic moments of the summit. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral ties, economic cooperation and broader regional and global issues.

Watch this report for the latest updates on Xi Jinping’s India visit, the BRICS Summit 2026 and the growing India-China diplomatic engagement.

 China Confirms Xi Jinping Will Attend Brics in New Delhi

Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to India this weekend for the 18th BRICS Summit, Beijing has announced, in what would be his first visit to the country since 2019.A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said President Xi would attend the leaders’ meeting in New Delhi on 12–13 September at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India holds the rotating chair of the expanded grouping this year.The announcement comes two days before the summit opens at Bharat Mandapam, the same convention complex that hosted the G20 in 2023. It will be Mr Xi’s first trip to India since an informal summit with PM Modi in Mamallapuram in 2019.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi, President Xi Jinping will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi from September 12 to 13. <a href="https://t.co/abKPwOyqRm">pic.twitter.com/abKPwOyqRm</a>&mdash; CHINA MFA Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) <a href="https://x.com/MFA_China/status/2097989838414713255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Relations between the two Asian giants deteriorated sharply after deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley in 2020. Since then the two leaders have met on the sidelines of other gatherings, including last year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China.The New Delhi meeting is expected to include a one-on-one bilerate between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi. Officials on both sides have spent months trying to stabilise the relationship: border talks have continued, some direct flights have resumed and limited border trade has restarted.BRICS now has 11 full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. India has framed its chairmanship around the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The agenda is expected to cover supply chains, trade finance, use of national currencies, digital public infrastructure, energy and food security, and reform of global institutions.Russian President Vladimir Putin has already confirmed he will attend. South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed and Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto are also expected. Brazil will be represented at foreign minister level because of domestic elections. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is among invited international guests.Collectively, BRICS members account for nearly half the world’s population and about two-fifths of global output measured by purchasing power. India has been careful to present the forum as a development-oriented platform for the Global South rather than an anti-Western bloc.

Relations between the two Asian giants deteriorated sharply after deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley in 2020. Since then the two leaders have met on the sidelines of other gatherings, including last year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to India this weekend for the 18th BRICS Summit, Beijing has announced, in what would be his first visit to the country since 2019. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said President Xi would attend the leaders’ meeting in New Delhi on 12–13 September at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India holds the rotating chair of the expanded grouping this year. The announcement comes two days before the summit opens at Bharat Mandapam, the same convention complex that hosted the G20 in 2023. It will be Mr Xi’s first trip to India since an informal summit with PM Modi in Mamallapuram in 2019.

Relations between the two Asian giants deteriorated sharply after deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley in 2020. Since then the two leaders have met on the sidelines of other gatherings, including last year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China.

Xi Jinping to attend BRICS summit in first visit to India since 2019

India’s hosting of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi puts India-China ties under the spotlight. With strategic competition and tensions still shaping the relationship, the summit could offer Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping a crucial opportunity to reset ties and reshape the balance within BRICS.

BRICS summit 2026: India-China ties remain a focal point 

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have sent congratulatory messages to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the country’s 78th founding anniversary. Beijing and Moscow reaffirmed their commitment to close strategic cooperation with Pyongyang.

Xi-Putin vow stronger ties with Kim Jong-Un

During his visit to Egypt, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged West Asian nations to oppose external interference. This was seen as a call for reducing American presence and influence in the region.

Xi Jinping in Egypt: West Asia doesn't need US to manage its security 

As West Asia continues to reel under the barrage of Iran's drone and missile attacks in response to renewed US strikes, is China trying to fill the vacuum? This seems to be the case, as Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Egypt with a powerful message for Trump.This was Xi's first visit to West Asia in four years and the first visit to Egypt in a decade. Now, the bonhomie between the two countries was clearly on display right from the time of Xi's arrival in Cairo on Tuesday. He was personally welcomed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his wife at the airport tarmac, flanked by a military guard of honour and officials lining up on both sides.This was followed by a grand welcome ceremony at the presidential palace.The limousine carrying Xi and his wife was escorted by a motorcycle convoy and met by a cavalry guard of honour near the palace entrance. A military band played music, and a 21-gun salute was fired as Xi's motorcade entered the palace grounds.But why is this visit so significant?Egypt is a major US defence partner and receives around 1.3 billion US dollars annually in military aid from Washington.What stood out, though, is Xi calling on West Asian nations to remain masters of their own affairs and oppose external interference. This was seen as a call for reducing American presence and influence in the region.As the Iran war continues to drag on, reports have indicated a growing discontent within America's West Asian allies, which host large US military installations on their soil. There is also a grouse that the US military hasn't protected them enough. The depleting stock of interceptor missiles has raised more concerns about the defence of West Asia.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/xi-jinping-in-egypt-west-asia-doesn-t-need-us-to-manage-its-security-1788508230486/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/xi-jinping-in-egypt-west-asia-doesn-t-need-us-to-manage-its-security-1788508230486/embed</a>Now, Xi also expressed support for West Asian nations exploring the creation of a new security architecture for the region. Additionally, he affirmed that China is ready to work with countries in the region to safeguard the security of international shipping lanes and advance development cooperation.These remarks assume significance, with two key regional alliances being forged in the last two months.To begin with, Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries came together to form a maritime defence alliance in July, in response to the threat from the Iran-backed Houthis. The alliance, comprising countries like Pakistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Türkiye, resolved to protect shared maritime interests in Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.This was followed by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia signing a Mecca joint defence agreement in August. According to this agreement, any armed attack against any one of these three countries shall be regarded as an attack against them all.Now, China has high stakes in reopening the Strait of Hormuz because it is Iran's largest trading partner and purchases roughly 90 per cent of its crude oil.It also emerged as a peacemaker in 2023 by brokering an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which re-established diplomatic relations with each other.During Xi's visit to Cairo, both sides also signed an agreement to expand Beijing's footprint in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, which has already attracted around four billion US dollars in Chinese investment so far.This gives Beijing greater influence in the Suez Canal, which handles around 12 to 15 per cent of global trade.With growing questions over America's long-term role in West Asia, China is seeking to present itself as a stabilising alternative which opposes war and focuses on infrastructural development.

Xi also expressed support for West Asian nations exploring the creation of a new security architecture for the region. He affirmed that China is ready to work with countries in the region to safeguard the security of international shipping lanes and advance development cooperation.

As West Asia continues to reel under the barrage of Iran's drone and missile attacks in response to renewed US strikes, is China trying to fill the vacuum? This seems to be the case, as Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Egypt with a powerful message for Trump. This was Xi's first visit to West Asia in four years and the first visit to Egypt in a decade. Now, the bonhomie between the two countries was clearly on display right from the time of Xi's arrival in Cairo on Tuesday. He was personally welcomed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his wife at the airport tarmac, flanked by a military guard of honour and officials lining up on both sides. This was followed by a grand welcome ceremony at the presidential palace. The limousine carrying Xi and his wife was escorted by a motorcycle convoy and met by a cavalry guard of honour near the palace entrance. A military band played music, and a 21-gun salute was fired as Xi's motorcade entered the palace grounds. But why is this visit so significant? Egypt is a major US defence partner and receives around 1.3 billion US dollars annually in military aid from Washington. What stood out, though, is Xi calling on West Asian nations to remain masters of their own affairs and oppose external interference. This was seen as a call for reducing American presence and influence in the region. As the Iran war continues to drag on, reports have indicated a growing discontent within America's West Asian allies, which host large US military installations on their soil. There is also a grouse that the US military hasn't protected them enough. The depleting stock of interceptor missiles has raised more concerns about the defence of West Asia. https://www.wionews.com/videos/xi-jinping-in-egypt-west-asia-doesn-t-need-us-to-manage-its-security-1788508230486/embed Now, Xi also expressed support for West Asian nations exploring the creation of a new security architecture for the region. Additionally, he affirmed that China is ready to work with countries in the region to safeguard the security of international shipping lanes and advance development cooperation. These remarks assume significance, with two key regional alliances being forged in the last two months. To begin with, Saudi Arabia and 13 other countries came together to form a maritime defence alliance in July, in response to the threat from the Iran-backed Houthis. The alliance, comprising countries like Pakistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Türkiye, resolved to protect shared maritime interests in Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This was followed by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia signing a Mecca joint defence agreement in August. According to this agreement, any armed attack against any one of these three countries shall be regarded as an attack against them all. Now, China has high stakes in reopening the Strait of Hormuz because it is Iran's largest trading partner and purchases roughly 90 per cent of its crude oil. It also emerged as a peacemaker in 2023 by brokering an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which re-established diplomatic relations with each other. During Xi's visit to Cairo, both sides also signed an agreement to expand Beijing's footprint in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, which has already attracted around four billion US dollars in Chinese investment so far. This gives Beijing greater influence in the Suez Canal, which handles around 12 to 15 per cent of global trade. With growing questions over America's long-term role in West Asia, China is seeking to present itself as a stabilising alternative which opposes war and focuses on infrastructural development.

Xi also expressed support for West Asian nations exploring the creation of a new security architecture for the region. He affirmed that China is ready to work with countries in the region to safeguard the security of international shipping lanes and advance development cooperation.

Xi Jinping in Egypt: West Asia doesn’t need US to manage its security | Gravitas

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to India for the BRICS Summit 2026 is about much more than a multilateral meeting in New Delhi. If Xi does arrive, his presence at the September 12–13 summit would mark his first visit to India in seven years and provide the clearest public signal yet that Beijing and New Delhi are trying to stabilise a relationship damaged by the 2020 border clashes. Reuters has reported that Chinese officials are preparing for the trip, including security and hotel arrangements, although Beijing has not formally confirmed Xi’s attendance.&nbsp;But the bigger question is: why now? The answer lies in months of quiet diplomacy and a series of practical bargains between India and China, from the Line of Actual Control to direct air links, border trade and Chinese supplies of strategically important commodities. And behind all of this is another factor: India’s attempt to protect its strategic room for manoeuvre at a time when its relationship with Washington is becoming more complicated.<h2>The border came first</h2>The most important piece of the India-China reset remains the LAC. The 2020 clashes transformed bilateral ties. Military deployments and a prolonged standoff along the disputed Himalayan frontier pushed the relationship to its lowest point in decades. The October 2024 disengagement agreement became the first major opening. It did not resolve the boundary dispute, but it created space for both governments to begin rebuilding political and economic engagement.&nbsp;Since then, Delhi has repeatedly maintained that peace and tranquility along the border are essential for the broader relationship. That remains a crucial Indian red line. Even in August 2026, amid reports of another patrol-related confrontation, India reiterated that border peace is critical to bilateral ties. This distinction matters. India is not abandoning its security concerns or suddenly treating China as a partner. Instead, Delhi appears to be pursuing a more calibrated approach: manage the border dispute, prevent another military crisis and selectively restore engagement where Indian interests are served.<h2>Then came the economic bargaining</h2>The thaw has also been built around very practical issues. In August 2025, India and China agreed to work towards restoring direct flight connectivity, facilitating visas, reopening designated border-trade points and easing trade and investment flows.For India, however, connectivity was only one part of the equation. Beijing also indicated that it would address Indian concerns over supplies of fertilisers, rare-earth minerals and magnets, and tunnel-boring machines, commodities and industrial inputs where Chinese dominance can create vulnerabilities for Indian manufacturers and infrastructure projects.&nbsp;That is where the relationship gets particularly interesting. India's China policy since 2020 has broadly sought to reduce strategic dependence on Beijing while simultaneously recognising that completely decoupling from the world's manufacturing giant is neither practical nor necessarily desirable. The emerging formula is therefore closer to ‘de-risk, not disengage’. India wants alternative supply chains and greater domestic capacity. But it also wants critical Chinese supplies to keep moving when they are necessary for the Indian economy.<h2>Direct flights are more than just connectivity</h2>The agreement to resume direct flights also carries diplomatic significance. For years, the India-China relationship became increasingly insulated from normal people-to-people contact. Tourism, business travel, academic exchanges and other interactions were disrupted after the pandemic and the border crisis. Restoring flights and easing visas is therefore part of rebuilding the infrastructure of the relationship itself. It does not mean the trust deficit has disappeared. Rather, it suggests that both sides have concluded that permanent confrontation is too costly.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/belgium-latest-eu-state-cautioned-by-india-over-arms-for-pakistan-gets-assurances-from-brussels-1788418519449">Belgium, latest EU state cautioned by India over arms for Pakistan; gets assurances from Brussels</a><h2>The SCO groundwork mattered</h2>The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has provided another important diplomatic channel. The SCO platform allowed Modi and Xi to engage at a time when neither India nor China was ready to present the bilateral relationship as fully normalised. That gradual process of leader-level engagement has helped create the political space for the next stage: Xi potentially travelling to New Delhi. The trajectory has been visible since the Modi-Xi meeting in Kazan in October 2024 and the subsequent diplomatic push to stabilise ties. India and China also agreed to support each other’s BRICS presidencies, China backing India’s 2026 summit and India supporting China’s 2027 summit. So the BRICS meeting is not appearing out of nowhere. The groundwork has been laid for months.<h2>But there is a Washington angle too</h2>This is perhaps the most consequential part of the story. India's engagement with China is taking place against a complicated relationship with the United States. Washington remains a critical strategic and economic partner for New Delhi, particularly on defence, technology, supply chains and the Indo-Pacific. But tensions over trade and tariffs have complicated the relationship.&nbsp;At the same time, China has become one of the most important targets of Washington's economic and strategic pressure. That creates an unusual convergence between Delhi and Beijing. India does not want to become part of a US-China confrontation.And China has little interest in seeing India move completely into an American strategic camp. That does not mean India is switching sides.&nbsp;Quite the opposite. New Delhi's approach is better understood as strategic autonomy: maintain strong relations with Washington, deepen ties with other partners, and simultaneously stabilise relations with Beijing where Indian interests demand it. The India-China discussions have themselves reflected this broader outlook, with both sides stressing multilateralism, a rules-based trading system and a multipolar world.<h2>What does Xi want?</h2>For Xi, coming to Delhi would also carry several benefits. First, it would demonstrate that the China-India relationship is moving beyond the post-2020 confrontation. Second, Beijing has an interest in ensuring that BRICS remains cohesive as the grouping expands and becomes a more important platform for the Global South.&nbsp;Third, China's relationship with India cannot be managed entirely through the border. The two countries are competitors in Asia, but they also share interests in trade, multilateral institutions, energy security and the broader question of how global power should be distributed. Xi's presence would allow Beijing to send a message that China and India can compete while simultaneously maintaining dialogue.<h2>What does India want?</h2>For Delhi, the calculation is equally straightforward. India wants the border to remain stable. It wants critical Chinese imports, particularly rare earths and other industrial inputs, to remain accessible. It wants greater connectivity and trade without returning to the pre-2020 model of deep economic dependence.&nbsp;And it wants room to manoeuvre internationally. That makes Xi's potential visit less a symbol of “India and China are friends again” and more a symbol of something far more pragmatic: India and China have decided that managed competition is preferable to uncontrolled confrontation.<h2>The BRICS test</h2>That is why Xi's expected arrival in New Delhi matters. The BRICS Summit will put Modi and Xi in the same room at precisely the moment when both countries are testing whether their fragile reset can survive strategic competition. The border remains unresolved. Trust remains limited. China remains a major security challenge for India.&nbsp;But the channels of communication are reopening. Flights are being restored. Trade mechanisms are being revived. Critical supplies are back in the conversation. Border-management mechanisms are being strengthened. And the two sides are preparing for another round of high-level engagement. So when Xi potentially arrives in Delhi, the headline may be BRICS 2026.&nbsp;But the real story will be the bargain underneath it: India and China are not ending their rivalry. They are trying to make it manageable — while ensuring that neither Washington nor Beijing gets to dictate the limits of India's strategic choices.

Why is Xi Jinping coming to India for BRICS 2026? Here’s how LAC disengagement, direct flights, rare earths, fertilisers and US tensions shaped the thaw

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to India for the BRICS Summit 2026 is about much more than a multilateral meeting in New Delhi. If Xi does arrive, his presence at the September 12–13 summit would mark his first visit to India in seven years and provide the clearest public signal yet that Beijing and New Delhi are trying to stabilise a relationship damaged by the 2020 border clashes. Reuters has reported that Chinese officials are preparing for the trip, including security and hotel arrangements, although Beijing has not formally confirmed Xi’s attendance. But the bigger question is: why now? The answer lies in months of quiet diplomacy and a series of practical bargains between India and China, from the Line of Actual Control to direct air links, border trade and Chinese supplies of strategically important commodities. And behind all of this is another factor: India’s attempt to protect its strategic room for manoeuvre at a time when its relationship with Washington is becoming more complicated. The border came first The most important piece of the India-China reset remains the LAC. The 2020 clashes transformed bilateral ties. Military deployments and a prolonged standoff along the disputed Himalayan frontier pushed the relationship to its lowest point in decades. The October 2024 disengagement agreement became the first major opening. It did not resolve the boundary dispute, but it created space for both governments to begin rebuilding political and economic engagement. Since then, Delhi has repeatedly maintained that peace and tranquility along the border are essential for the broader relationship. That remains a crucial Indian red line. Even in August 2026, amid reports of another patrol-related confrontation, India reiterated that border peace is critical to bilateral ties. This distinction matters. India is not abandoning its security concerns or suddenly treating China as a partner. Instead, Delhi appears to be pursuing a more calibrated approach: manage the border dispute, prevent another military crisis and selectively restore engagement where Indian interests are served. Then came the economic bargaining The thaw has also been built around very practical issues. In August 2025, India and China agreed to work towards restoring direct flight connectivity, facilitating visas, reopening designated border-trade points and easing trade and investment flows. For India, however, connectivity was only one part of the equation. Beijing also indicated that it would address Indian concerns over supplies of fertilisers, rare-earth minerals and magnets, and tunnel-boring machines, commodities and industrial inputs where Chinese dominance can create vulnerabilities for Indian manufacturers and infrastructure projects. That is where the relationship gets particularly interesting. India's China policy since 2020 has broadly sought to reduce strategic dependence on Beijing while simultaneously recognising that completely decoupling from the world's manufacturing giant is neither practical nor necessarily desirable. The emerging formula is therefore closer to ‘de-risk, not disengage’. India wants alternative supply chains and greater domestic capacity. But it also wants critical Chinese supplies to keep moving when they are necessary for the Indian economy. Direct flights are more than just connectivity The agreement to resume direct flights also carries diplomatic significance. For years, the India-China relationship became increasingly insulated from normal people-to-people contact. Tourism, business travel, academic exchanges and other interactions were disrupted after the pandemic and the border crisis. Restoring flights and easing visas is therefore part of rebuilding the infrastructure of the relationship itself. It does not mean the trust deficit has disappeared. Rather, it suggests that both sides have concluded that permanent confrontation is too costly. Also Read: Belgium, latest EU state cautioned by India over arms for Pakistan; gets assurances from Brussels The SCO groundwork mattered The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has provided another important diplomatic channel. The SCO platform allowed Modi and Xi to engage at a time when neither India nor China was ready to present the bilateral relationship as fully normalised. That gradual process of leader-level engagement has helped create the political space for the next stage: Xi potentially travelling to New Delhi. The trajectory has been visible since the Modi-Xi meeting in Kazan in October 2024 and the subsequent diplomatic push to stabilise ties. India and China also agreed to support each other’s BRICS presidencies, China backing India’s 2026 summit and India supporting China’s 2027 summit. So the BRICS meeting is not appearing out of nowhere. The groundwork has been laid for months. But there is a Washington angle too This is perhaps the most consequential part of the story. India's engagement with China is taking place against a complicated relationship with the United States. Washington remains a critical strategic and economic partner for New Delhi, particularly on defence, technology, supply chains and the Indo-Pacific. But tensions over trade and tariffs have complicated the relationship. At the same time, China has become one of the most important targets of Washington's economic and strategic pressure. That creates an unusual convergence between Delhi and Beijing. India does not want to become part of a US-China confrontation. And China has little interest in seeing India move completely into an American strategic camp. That does not mean India is switching sides. Quite the opposite. New Delhi's approach is better understood as strategic autonomy: maintain strong relations with Washington, deepen ties with other partners, and simultaneously stabilise relations with Beijing where Indian interests demand it. The India-China discussions have themselves reflected this broader outlook, with both sides stressing multilateralism, a rules-based trading system and a multipolar world. What does Xi want? For Xi, coming to Delhi would also carry several benefits. First, it would demonstrate that the China-India relationship is moving beyond the post-2020 confrontation. Second, Beijing has an interest in ensuring that BRICS remains cohesive as the grouping expands and becomes a more important platform for the Global South. Third, China's relationship with India cannot be managed entirely through the border. The two countries are competitors in Asia, but they also share interests in trade, multilateral institutions, energy security and the broader question of how global power should be distributed. Xi's presence would allow Beijing to send a message that China and India can compete while simultaneously maintaining dialogue. What does India want? For Delhi, the calculation is equally straightforward. India wants the border to remain stable. It wants critical Chinese imports, particularly rare earths and other industrial inputs, to remain accessible. It wants greater connectivity and trade without returning to the pre-2020 model of deep economic dependence. And it wants room to manoeuvre internationally. That makes Xi's potential visit less a symbol of “India and China are friends again” and more a symbol of something far more pragmatic: India and China have decided that managed competition is preferable to uncontrolled confrontation. The BRICS test That is why Xi's expected arrival in New Delhi matters. The BRICS Summit will put Modi and Xi in the same room at precisely the moment when both countries are testing whether their fragile reset can survive strategic competition. The border remains unresolved. Trust remains limited. China remains a major security challenge for India. But the channels of communication are reopening. Flights are being restored. Trade mechanisms are being revived. Critical supplies are back in the conversation. Border-management mechanisms are being strengthened. And the two sides are preparing for another round of high-level engagement. So when Xi potentially arrives in Delhi, the headline may be BRICS 2026. But the real story will be the bargain underneath it: India and China are not ending their rivalry. They are trying to make it manageable — while ensuring that neither Washington nor Beijing gets to dictate the limits of India's strategic choices.

Xi Jinping’s expected India visit for BRICS 2026 follows a quiet India-China reset over the LAC, flights, rare earths and trade, amid US tensions

Xi at BRICS Summit: US factor, LAC normalisation and other variables ahead of Chinese president's likely visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on nations in the Middle East to oppose any ‘external interference’ and consider reshaping the region’s security order. He added that Beijing and Cairo should jointly oppose “unilateralism and acts of bullying”. Xi is on a visit to Egypt as Beijing is seeking to expand its influence amid the US war against Iran.&nbsp;It is Xi’s first trip to the Middle East in four years and comes at a time when US allies in the region are reassessing their strategic relationships as the ongoing conflict has disrupted trade and raised questions about Washington’s long-term role.&nbsp;Xi touched down in Cairo on Tuesday evening and received a warm welcome from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ram-temple-s-first-ceo-retired-air-marshal-jeetendra-mishra-is-a-kargil-veteran-helmed-west-command-during-op-sindoor-1788358961656">Ram Temple’s first CEO Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra is a Kargil veteran, helmed West Command during Op Sindoor</a><h2>Egypt steadily increasing economic, military cooperation with Beijing</h2>&nbsp;Egypt, which is a major US defence partner and receives around $1.3 billion annually in military aid from Washington, has been steadily increasing economic and military cooperation with Beijing in the past few years.Xi, who was welcomed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with a military ceremony in Cairo, said countries in the region should be “masters of their own ⁠destiny” and explore a new regional “security architecture”, reported China’s state news agency Xinhua.Xi also said China was ready to work with regional countries to safeguard shipping routes, an issue that has assumed great importance after conflict disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/shakti-sharma-scripts-history-as-first-woman-non-medical-air-vice-marshal-1788291494631">Shakti Sharma scripts history as first woman non-medical Air Vice Marshal</a>&nbsp;Xinhua said the leaders agreed to deepen security cooperation and counterterrorism coordination. The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in data centers, semiconductors and critical metals supply chains and strengthen the use of each other’s currencies in trade and investment, according to a joint statement.&nbsp;<h2>‘Egypt pursuing a policy of strategic balance’</h2>&nbsp;In an article published ahead of XI’s visit, Sisi said Egypt pursued a policy of “strategic balance” in the time of growing global rivalry.&nbsp;Stronger ties with China fit Egypt’s broader effort to diversify international partnerships.&nbsp;&nbsp;Similarly for China, Egypt’s regional influence and strategic location ⁠make it an important partner as Beijing seeks a broader economic role and tries to chip away at US influence in the region.&nbsp;Last month witnessed growing military ties during Egypt’s ‘Eagles of Civilization’ exercises with China, which included a rare ⁠air combat drill involving Chinese-made J-16 jets and French-made Rafale aircraft.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-tunnel-rescue-team-makes-progress-at-chilime-langtang-hydropower-sites-in-nepal-1788277838900">Indian tunnel rescue team makes progress at Chilime, Langtang hydropower sites in Nepal</a>&nbsp;Enthusiasm for the Chinese president’s visit has been evident a Cairo’s streets have been decked in Chinese flags and images of iconic sites including Egypt’s Sphinx and China’s Great Wall.&nbsp;Home to the Suez Canal, ⁠Egypt which also has a population of more than 110 million, is an important market for China and has imported $10 billion of Chinese goods in the first half of this year alone.Chinese investment has risen rapidly in Egypt since Sisi visited China and signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2014, with Chinese companies pouring billions into container ports, green hydrogen projects and facilities to make iron ⁠pipes, car tyres, and satellites.

It is Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first trip to the Middle East in four years and comes at a time when US allies in the region are reassessing their strategic relationships as the ongoing conflict has disrupted trade and raised questions about Washington’s long-term role.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on nations in the Middle East to oppose any ‘external interference’ and consider reshaping the region’s security order. He added that Beijing and Cairo should jointly oppose “unilateralism and acts of bullying”. Xi is on a visit to Egypt as Beijing is seeking to expand its influence amid the US war against Iran. It is Xi’s first trip to the Middle East in four years and comes at a time when US allies in the region are reassessing their strategic relationships as the ongoing conflict has disrupted trade and raised questions about Washington’s long-term role. Xi touched down in Cairo on Tuesday evening and received a warm welcome from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Also Read: Ram Temple’s first CEO Retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra is a Kargil veteran, helmed West Command during Op Sindoor Egypt steadily increasing economic, military cooperation with Beijing Egypt, which is a major US defence partner and receives around $1.3 billion annually in military aid from Washington, has been steadily increasing economic and military cooperation with Beijing in the past few years. Xi, who was welcomed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi with a military ceremony in Cairo, said countries in the region should be “masters of their own ⁠destiny” and explore a new regional “security architecture”, reported China’s state news agency Xinhua. Xi also said China was ready to work with regional countries to safeguard shipping routes, an issue that has assumed great importance after conflict disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb. Also Read: Shakti Sharma scripts history as first woman non-medical Air Vice Marshal Xinhua said the leaders agreed to deepen security cooperation and counterterrorism coordination. The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in data centers, semiconductors and critical metals supply chains and strengthen the use of each other’s currencies in trade and investment, according to a joint statement. ‘Egypt pursuing a policy of strategic balance’ In an article published ahead of XI’s visit, Sisi said Egypt pursued a policy of “strategic balance” in the time of growing global rivalry. Stronger ties with China fit Egypt’s broader effort to diversify international partnerships. Similarly for China, Egypt’s regional influence and strategic location ⁠make it an important partner as Beijing seeks a broader economic role and tries to chip away at US influence in the region. Last month witnessed growing military ties during Egypt’s ‘Eagles of Civilization’ exercises with China, which included a rare ⁠air combat drill involving Chinese-made J-16 jets and French-made Rafale aircraft. Also Read: Indian tunnel rescue team makes progress at Chilime, Langtang hydropower sites in Nepal Enthusiasm for the Chinese president’s visit has been evident a Cairo’s streets have been decked in Chinese flags and images of iconic sites including Egypt’s Sphinx and China’s Great Wall. Home to the Suez Canal, ⁠Egypt which also has a population of more than 110 million, is an important market for China and has imported $10 billion of Chinese goods in the first half of this year alone. Chinese investment has risen rapidly in Egypt since Sisi visited China and signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2014, with Chinese companies pouring billions into container ports, green hydrogen projects and facilities to make iron ⁠pipes, car tyres, and satellites.

It is Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first trip to the Middle East in four years and comes at a time when US allies in the region are reassessing their strategic relationships as the ongoing conflict has disrupted trade and raised questions about Washington’s long-term role.

Xi Jinping urges Middle East nations to reject ‘external’ interference, seek new ‘security architecture’

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Egypt comes at a time of heightened tensions across West Asia. Beijing is increasingly presenting itself as a stabilising force capable of engaging all sides in regional disputes while expanding economic and strategic partnerships. Discussions are expected to focus on trade, infrastructure, connectivity, energy cooperation and regional security. The visit also highlights China's growing diplomatic ambitions as it seeks a larger role in shaping developments across the Middle East and North Africa.


Xi Jinping positioning China as a stabilising force amid tensions in West Asia

China on Friday (August 29) removed two senior military officers ‌from its supreme military command body, after investigations were launched against them over suspected serious violations of discipline and law. The removed officers are Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, who were senior PLA figures before their removal from their military careers. Zhang was second-in-command ​under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) along with being a member ⁠of the elite Politburo of China. On the other hand, Liu was a CMC member and chief of staff of ​the CMC's Joint Staff Department.<h3>What do we know about these military officers?</h3>After joining the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee in 2007, Gen. Zhang Youxia rose slowly through China’s political and military hierarchy. In 2012, he was appointed to the Central Military Commission (CMC), marked as the country’s top military decision-making body. After five years, he entered the 24-member Politburo, which oversees the party and central government and then became the CMC’s second-ranked vice chairman. After President Xi Jinping's third-term appointment in 2022 following a constitutional change, Zhang kept his CMC position and was promoted to first vice chairman, becoming China's highest-ranking military officer. While several senior military figures were removed as part of a widening anti-corruption campaign, Zhang, seen as close to Xi, had seemed to avoid the purge. That changed in January, when China's defence ministry said Zhang and fellow CMC member Liu Zhenli were suspected of "serious violations of discipline and the law", a phrase Chinese authorities typically use to refer to corruption.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-broadcaster-backtracks-on-9-11-terrorism-rule-after-backlash-1787991632252">Canadian broadcaster backtracks on 9/11 ‘terrorism’ rule after backlash</a><h3>Zhang's early career</h3>Zhang served as first-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. Born in Beijing, he is the son of General Zhang Zongxun. He joined the army in 1968, fighting in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and the 1984 Battle of Laoshan, making him one of China's few serving generals with combat experience. He commanded the 13th Group Army in 2000, became vice commander of the Beijing Military Region in 2005, and led the Shenyang Military Region from 2007, joining the CCP Central Committee.&nbsp;Promoted to General in 2011, he headed the PLA General Armaments Department in 2012, then its successor CMC department in 2016. He became CMC vice chairman in 2017, rising to first-ranked vice chairman in 2022. In January 2026, Zhang was detained, becoming one of the highest-ranking officers to fall since the 1971 Lin Biao incident.<h3>Liu Zhenli</h3>He enlisted in the People's Liberation Army in September 1983 and joined the Chinese Communist Party in April 1984. In 1986, he took part in the Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991), where he and his men defended their line against 36 separate assaults by the People's Army of Vietnam. He became chief of staff of the 65th Group Army in December 2009, its commander in February 2012, and commander of the 38th Group Army in March 2014. He transferred to the People's Armed Police in July 2015 as chief of staff, then became the first chief of staff of the reorganised PLA Ground Force in December 2015. He was made commander of the army in June 2021, and in September 2022 was appointed chief of staff of the CMC's Joint Staff Department. He was promoted to major general in December 2010, lieutenant general in July 2016, and general in July 2021.

Zhang was second-in-command ​under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), along with being a member ⁠of the elite Politburo of China. On the other hand, Liu was a CMC member and chief of staff of ​the CMC's Joint Staff Department.

China on Friday (August 29) removed two senior military officers ‌from its supreme military command body, after investigations were launched against them over suspected serious violations of discipline and law. The removed officers are Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, who were senior PLA figures before their removal from their military careers. Zhang was second-in-command under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) along with being a member ⁠of the elite Politburo of China. On the other hand, Liu was a CMC member and chief of staff of the CMC's Joint Staff Department. What do we know about these military officers? After joining the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee in 2007, Gen. Zhang Youxia rose slowly through China’s political and military hierarchy. In 2012, he was appointed to the Central Military Commission (CMC), marked as the country’s top military decision-making body. After five years, he entered the 24-member Politburo, which oversees the party and central government and then became the CMC’s second-ranked vice chairman. After President Xi Jinping's third-term appointment in 2022 following a constitutional change, Zhang kept his CMC position and was promoted to first vice chairman, becoming China's highest-ranking military officer. While several senior military figures were removed as part of a widening anti-corruption campaign, Zhang, seen as close to Xi, had seemed to avoid the purge. That changed in January, when China's defence ministry said Zhang and fellow CMC member Liu Zhenli were suspected of "serious violations of discipline and the law", a phrase Chinese authorities typically use to refer to corruption. Also read: Canadian broadcaster backtracks on 9/11 ‘terrorism’ rule after backlash Zhang's early career Zhang served as first-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. Born in Beijing, he is the son of General Zhang Zongxun. He joined the army in 1968, fighting in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and the 1984 Battle of Laoshan, making him one of China's few serving generals with combat experience. He commanded the 13th Group Army in 2000, became vice commander of the Beijing Military Region in 2005, and led the Shenyang Military Region from 2007, joining the CCP Central Committee. Promoted to General in 2011, he headed the PLA General Armaments Department in 2012, then its successor CMC department in 2016. He became CMC vice chairman in 2017, rising to first-ranked vice chairman in 2022. In January 2026, Zhang was detained, becoming one of the highest-ranking officers to fall since the 1971 Lin Biao incident. Liu Zhenli He enlisted in the People's Liberation Army in September 1983 and joined the Chinese Communist Party in April 1984. In 1986, he took part in the Sino-Vietnamese conflicts (1979-1991), where he and his men defended their line against 36 separate assaults by the People's Army of Vietnam. He became chief of staff of the 65th Group Army in December 2009, its commander in February 2012, and commander of the 38th Group Army in March 2014. He transferred to the People's Armed Police in July 2015 as chief of staff, then became the first chief of staff of the reorganised PLA Ground Force in December 2015. He was made commander of the army in June 2021, and in September 2022 was appointed chief of staff of the CMC's Joint Staff Department. He was promoted to major general in December 2010, lieutenant general in July 2016, and general in July 2021.

Zhang was second-in-command ​under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), along with being a member ⁠of the elite Politburo of China. On the other hand, Liu was a CMC member and chief of staff of ​the CMC's Joint Staff Department.

China removes top two military officers from Central Military Commission: Who are they?

China has officially removed Vice Chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia and Commissioner Liu Zhenli from their posts in the latest corruption-related purge led by President Xi Jinping.&nbsp;According to Xinhua, China’s National People’s Congress decided on Friday to strip Zhang Youxia of his position as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China at the closing meeting of its Standing Committee. Liu Zhenli, a Central Military Commission Commissioner who fell from power alongside Zhang, also lost his position.&nbsp;The CMC serves as China’s most important military decision-making body and Xi Jinping chairs it.Chinese authorities launched investigations into Zhang and Liu in January after the Defence Ministry said the two were "suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law", a phrase commonly used to refer to corruption.&nbsp;The latest removals come as part of the sweeping anti-graft campaign that has defined Xi’s time in power. Zhang’s removal carries added significance because of his seniority and his perceived closeness to Xi.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/they-bought-tickets-to-steal-thieves-walk-into-austria-museum-and-flee-with-200-carat-platinum-diamond-necklace-1787914916267">They bought tickets to steal: Thieves walk into Austria museum and flee with 200-carat platinum diamond necklace</a><h3>CMC left with just two known members</h3>The removal of Zhang and Liu leaves the seven-member CMC with only two known representatives: Xi Jinping and anti-corruption chief Zhang Shengmin.&nbsp;The authorities have not disclosed the whereabouts of Zhang and Liu or provided details about the accusations against them.&nbsp;According to a CNN report citing the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, authorities have officially purged 36 generals and lieutenant generals since 2022. Another 65 officers are listed as missing or potentially purged.&nbsp;The latest purge is seen as part of Xi’s longstanding effort to clean up China’s military as he continues to tighten his grip on power and push ahead with major military modernisation.

China has removed top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the Central Military Commission in a corruption purge, leaving the key military body with only Xi Jinping and one other known member.

China has officially removed Vice Chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia and Commissioner Liu Zhenli from their posts in the latest corruption-related purge led by President Xi Jinping. According to Xinhua, China’s National People’s Congress decided on Friday to strip Zhang Youxia of his position as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China at the closing meeting of its Standing Committee. Liu Zhenli, a Central Military Commission Commissioner who fell from power alongside Zhang, also lost his position. The CMC serves as China’s most important military decision-making body and Xi Jinping chairs it. Chinese authorities launched investigations into Zhang and Liu in January after the Defence Ministry said the two were "suspected of serious violations of discipline and the law", a phrase commonly used to refer to corruption. The latest removals come as part of the sweeping anti-graft campaign that has defined Xi’s time in power. Zhang’s removal carries added significance because of his seniority and his perceived closeness to Xi. Also Read: They bought tickets to steal: Thieves walk into Austria museum and flee with 200-carat platinum diamond necklace CMC left with just two known members The removal of Zhang and Liu leaves the seven-member CMC with only two known representatives: Xi Jinping and anti-corruption chief Zhang Shengmin. The authorities have not disclosed the whereabouts of Zhang and Liu or provided details about the accusations against them. According to a CNN report citing the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, authorities have officially purged 36 generals and lieutenant generals since 2022. Another 65 officers are listed as missing or potentially purged. The latest purge is seen as part of Xi’s longstanding effort to clean up China’s military as he continues to tighten his grip on power and push ahead with major military modernisation.

China has removed top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the Central Military Commission in a corruption purge, leaving the key military body with only Xi Jinping and one other known member.

Xi consolidates power: China’s top military body left with just two after generals purged

Nepal issued a warning on Friday (August 28) to move to higher ground after a dam upstream in Tibet was reported to have burst. This comes after two days of glacial collapse, which caused deadly flooding in Nepal, claiming the lives of over 450 people.&nbsp; "Information has been received that a water dam has burst again on the Tibetan side," police said in a statement. “All security personnel, rescue workers, and the general public deployed in rescue and relief operations are requested to remain alert and immediately move to a safe location/report the incident.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nepal-flood-waters-surge-in-up-3-bodies-recovered-as-gandak-river-gates-opened-1787830264949">Nepal flood waters surge in UP: 3 bodies recovered as Gandak river gates opened</a><h3>Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs meeting&nbsp;</h3>Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs a meeting on Tibet rescue operations with his top leaders on Friday, according to state media. The meeting comes two days after a landslide hit the Nepal-China border.&nbsp;"All efforts must be made to search for and rescue missing people inside and outside of the country," officials of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo said at the meeting, according to Xinhua News Agency.&nbsp;"There are still many hidden dangers of glaciers, ice lakes and geological disasters in the surrounding area, and rescue is facing great difficulties," Xinhua reported the leaders saying, adding that China was considering emergency aid to Nepal and "international relief cooperation".&nbsp;Earlier today, the UK pledged £5 million to support relief efforts in Nepal, while China has organised emergency supplies and financial aid, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal said. The European Union also signalled it stands ready to provide further assistance, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicating on X that additional European aid could be mobilised.&nbsp;India, meanwhile, has dispatched 10 metric tons of relief materials, including temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicine. The US State Department has committed $500,000 in emergency relief funding and sent a disaster response adviser to the region to assist with recovery efforts.&nbsp;

Nepal warned people to move to higher ground Friday after a Tibet dam reportedly burst again, days after glacial flooding killed over 350. Police urged rescuers and locals to stay alert.


Nepal issued a warning on Friday (August 28) to move to higher ground after a dam upstream in Tibet was reported to have burst. This comes after two days of glacial collapse, which caused deadly flooding in Nepal, claiming the lives of over 450 people. "Information has been received that a water dam has burst again on the Tibetan side," police said in a statement. “All security personnel, rescue workers, and the general public deployed in rescue and relief operations are requested to remain alert and immediately move to a safe location/report the incident.” Also read: Nepal flood waters surge in UP: 3 bodies recovered as Gandak river gates opened Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs meeting Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs a meeting on Tibet rescue operations with his top leaders on Friday, according to state media. The meeting comes two days after a landslide hit the Nepal-China border. "All efforts must be made to search for and rescue missing people inside and outside of the country," officials of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo said at the meeting, according to Xinhua News Agency. "There are still many hidden dangers of glaciers, ice lakes and geological disasters in the surrounding area, and rescue is facing great difficulties," Xinhua reported the leaders saying, adding that China was considering emergency aid to Nepal and "international relief cooperation". Earlier today, the UK pledged £5 million to support relief efforts in Nepal, while China has organised emergency supplies and financial aid, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal said. The European Union also signalled it stands ready to provide further assistance, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen indicating on X that additional European aid could be mobilised. India, meanwhile, has dispatched 10 metric tons of relief materials, including temporary shelters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lamps and medicine. The US State Department has committed $500,000 in emergency relief funding and sent a disaster response adviser to the region to assist with recovery efforts.

Nepal warned people to move to higher ground Friday after a Tibet dam reportedly burst again, days after glacial flooding killed over 450. Police urged rescuers and locals to stay alert. &nbsp;

Dam burst reported in Tibet, Nepal warns rescuers to head to safety

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is seeking a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss global rules and safeguards for artificial intelligence. Gates has warned that AI is advancing faster than governments can regulate it and has called for international cooperation to manage risks ranging from cyberattacks and biological threats to job displacement. He believes the U.S. and China must work together on AI governance and is advocating for a global framework to monitor and restrict potentially dangerous AI systems. The proposed meeting comes amid growing global competition over AI leadership and regulation.

Bill gates seeks Xi Jinping meeting to push global rules for artificial intelligence

xi-jinping

Xi Jinping, News on Xi Jinping, stories on Xi Jinping, articles on Xi Jinping, Xi Jinping stories at Wion, Xi Jinping news, Xi Jinping latest news

xi jinping

China push to rein in Communist Party leaders

J-20 designers plan to put radar into aircraft wing; strategy to expand coverage during air combat

US, China unveil ‘30-for-30’ trade framework: What could get lower tariffs?

Donald Trump shares image of Xi's arrival in Washington, carries signs of AI

Trump-Xi summit photo sparks AI controversy as experts flag signs of digital alteration

Trump-Xi summit: Trump says US-China talks made 'great strides'

Trump-Xi summit: Xi wraps up us visit with 21-gun salute as Trump, Xi lock in 'strategic stability'

Trump-Xi Summit: China-US Leaders Discuss AI & 'Super Intelligence'

Trump gifts Xi bald eagle sculpture at White House dinner. Why it matters

Trump praises Xi, jokes about White House ballroom at high-stakes state dinner

China expels top generals Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli over ‘disloyalty’, corruption

Trump-Xi summit: US-China trade truce under test on Sept 24

China urges Iran to rein in Houthis after Saudi Arabia’s appeal for help: Report

China urges Iran to rein in Houthis after Saudi Arabia’s appeal for help: Report

Trump’s rare welcome for Xi: US president to greet Chinese leader at airport

The verdict-BRICS at 20: Can the expanded bloc rewrite the rules of global power?

BRICS summit 2026 in New Delhi: World leaders gather for high stakes meeting

'A more balanced, multipolar world': India welcomes Xi Jinping for BRICS Summit

BRICS 2026: India to lead key BRICS deliberations

China Confirms Xi Jinping Will Attend Brics in New Delhi

Xi Jinping to attend BRICS summit in first visit to India since 2019

BRICS summit 2026: India-China ties remain a focal point

Xi-Putin vow stronger ties with Kim Jong-Un

Xi Jinping in Egypt: West Asia doesn't need US to manage its security