Although June saw a spike in key sectors, many economists warn that this will almost certainly not translate into the beginning of a new upward trend as the gains are not sustainable, writes Cary Huang

Donald Trump is approving more frequent arms sales to Taiwan as part of a deliberate policy to deepen the strategic partnership between the two democratic allies in the face of the challenge from communist China.

The Turkish leader once described Beijing’s treatment of the Muslim community as ‘genocide’ – now he calls it ‘deradicalisation’. How far is he willing to go in seeking Beijing’s favour?

Neither leader has agreed to anything more than they had previously. And the lack of a deadline to negotiate the final ‘10 per cent’ of sticking points betrays a lack of confidence that doing so is even possible.

The show of friendship when Kim Jong-un hosted Xi Jinping last month in a Chinese leader’s first-ever state visit cannot cover up the cracks in the traditionally ‘teeth and lips’ relationship between the two communist allies.

When Hongkongers protested against the Tiananmen crackdown, Jiang Zemin said the “well water should not mix with the river water”. Thirty years on, it’s apparent there’s no filter to stop that happening

Xi’s Pyongyang visit could see a trade-off between the US-China trade row and denuclearisation, which both Washington and Beijing want – and the US and China can also find compatible interests in the Middle East.

The ‘big five’ of the UN Security Council have split into two alliances: the US, Britain and France in one, China and Russia in the other. One of the relationships has stood the test of time – is the other just a marriage of convenience?

Neither side can afford a trade war – and neither side can afford to back down.

China is the world’s biggest producer of rare earths but doesn’t have the monopoly on them. After Beijing briefly weaponised them against Tokyo, the Japanese built their own supply chain. China should not use them again, against the US.

No event in history has done so much to tarnish the Communist Party. But it is not too late to salvage something good from this stain on its history

Taiwan’s embrace of same-sex marriage further establishes it as a champion of freedom, democracy and human rights and sets an example to Hong Kong. It also highlights a widening gap that makes reunification look ever less likely

With the US facing other foreign policy challenges, Trump cannot afford a protracted trade war that hurts his political base. Meanwhile, Xi has built his reputation on his statesmanship and must preserve China’s most significant bilateral relationship.

With polar ice caps melting faster than expected, a new ocean is emerging – along the prospect of new shipping lines and untapped resources. Also emerging: a new arena for conflict and an environmental disaster

Xi Jinping’s signature project has grown far beyond its original purpose of promoting infrastructure to become both economically risky and politically explosive. It’s time for a new approach, says Cary Huang.

The anti-imperialist messages of 1919 fit well with President Xi Jinping’s agenda of ‘national rejuvenation’, but the students’ calls for democracy and pluralism have been conveniently ignored.

Under Xi Jinping’s stewardship, China has overhauled the navy and overtaken the US in the number of vessels launched yearly. But instead of focusing on the goal of building an invincible armada, China should convince the world of its peaceful intentions.

Spurred by fiscal stimulus and a softening of its deleveraging campaign, China has seen a rebound in growth – but it is too early to conclude that the economy is back on a sustainable recovering trajectory.

There’s no guarantee that China’s economy will surpass America’s – and even if there was, it wouldn’t mean much

As it turns out, the ‘unofficial’ relationship built on laws committing US support for Taiwan and a shared mistrust of Beijing is stronger than a bilateral relationship often called the world’s most important – between the US and China.

A passionate liberaliser in the 1980s, Hu sought to overturn the remnants of the Maoist era. His death in 1989 triggered widespread public mourning, which snowballed into weeks of student-led pro-democracy protests

As the island’s presidential campaign season begins, its troubled relationship with the Chinese mainland will be front and centre stage.

China’s official economic figures point to a bad year. Beijing has only one real way out of the slump – it needs to end the tariff war with Washington. Vice-Premier Liu He, who visits the US this week, should hammer out a trade deal soon.

Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un. They’re stuck in a three-way chess game in which the two seemingly unconnected issues are used as leverage. Here’s what the endgame looks like

Beijing, Brussels and Washington appear stuck in an uncomfortable diplomatic love triangle. China may think it’s the new apple of the EU’s eye, but in the end Europe will stick with its old flame, America

Though the reforms that the US demands are also to China’s benefit, both leaders, and the political and economic systems they represent, are so far apart in ideology that an agreement can only come about through compromise. But whose compromise?

It’s bad news for those blue skies: in a year of sensitive political anniversaries, stability obsessed Beijing is likely to prioritise economic growth over its ‘three critical battles’ against financial risks, pollution and poverty

Hong Kong’s economy grew 3 per cent last year compared with Shenzhen’s 7.6 per cent growth, but for the likes of per capita income and social, cultural and educational development the former British colony is still on top.