China imposes countermeasures against U.S. defense-related firms, senior executives

China has announced sweeping sanctions against 20 U.S. defense companies and 10 of their senior executives over recent arms sales to the Taiwan region.

China has condemned Japan's substantial increase in defense spending, saying the move exposes what Beijing calls the "sinister intention" of Japanese right-wing forces of advancing remilitarization.

Japan's Cabinet has approved a record defense budget of over nine trillion yen (58 billion U.S. dollars), aiming to double defense spending from its long-standing one percent of GDP by 2027.

A Chinese military spokesperson has condemned Japan's remilitarization, warning it threatens regional peace and calling on all nations to counter the rise of right-wing militarism.

China has expressed its readiness to work with other countries to advance global sustainable development. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson was commenting on a U.S. magazine's recent release of its list of ten major scientific breakthroughs in 2025.

China's offshore yuan strengthened further on Thursday, climbing past the psychological benchmark of seven per U.S. dollar for the first time since 2024.

Ukraine has unveiled a new 20-point peace plan with Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signaled it includes concessions on a number of thorny issues.

China has called on Japan to promptly explain a radioactive water leak at the Fugen nuclear reactor, accept international oversight, and improve safety management to protect the marine environment.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson has again strongly criticized recent remarks by a senior Japanese official about possessing nuclear weapons.

China has voiced strong opposition to a U.S. plan to impose tariffs on the Chinese semiconductor industry starting in 2027, warning that the move would disrupt global supply chains and hurt all sides.