Leo Timm
Leo Timm covers China-related news, culture, and history. Follow him on Twitter at @kunlunpeaks
South Korea’s Birthrate, Already Lowest on Earth, Falls Even Further
The average number of children born per woman in the Republic of Korea (ROK) sank to a new low in the third quarter of 2023 — just 0.70, or less than half of the 2.1...
Argentina’s Incoming Milei Administration Rebuffs Diplomatic Overtures by Beijing
News analysis Recent attempts by Communist China to stay in Argentina’s good graces following the Nov. 19 election of presidential candidate Javier Milei — a prominent Beijing critic — have so far fallen on deaf...
North Korea Spy Satellite Launch Raises Tensions in East Asia
Relations with South Korea and the diplomatic situation in East Asia generally deteriorated following North Korea's Nov. 21 launch of its first spy satellite, which soon began transmitting data, including on U.S. military positions and...
Soaring Numbers of Chinese Nationals Arrested at US Southern Border as Communist Party Intensifies Oppression
More and more people from mainland China are attempting the difficult and illegal journey from Latin America to the United States via the Mexican border, with over 22,000 arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol...
Beijing Sees High-level Talks as Tool to ‘Forestall and Delay’ US Pressure, Congressional Report Warns
Recent diplomatic activity between the United States and Communist China, including the high-profile Nov. 15 meeting in San Francisco between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, has focused public attention on...
Death of Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Puts Pressure on Xi, Communist Leadership
On Oct. 27, various Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-run media reported the sudden death from “sudden heart failure” of Li Keqiang, who served as China’s premier for a decade, in Shanghai. He was 68. His sudden...
Xi to Meet Biden During APEC Summit in San Francisco
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have agreed to meet on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, as reported by the Associated Press citing an...
Israeli Forces Invade Gaza From Three Directions
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) invaded the Palestinian territory of Gaza in the last days of October, closing in on Gaza City, which lies in the northeast, from multiple directions as of press time. Weeks...
Toyota, Other Japanese Companies to Start Hydrogen Energy Investment Fund
Japan's first investment fund dedicated to the development of hydrogen fuel and infrastructure technology is planned to start in 2024 and will be backed by industrial giants such as Toyota and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group...
China’s Former Premier Li Keqiang Dead of Heart Attack at 68
On Oct. 27, various Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-run media reported the sudden death from "sudden heart failure" of Li Keqiang, who served as China's premier for a decade, in Shanghai. He was 68. Li, who...
Middle East Crisis Heightens Global Tensions
News analysis With the Israeli army poised for a difficult invasion of Gaza following the terrorist attacks and massacres carried out by extremist group Hamas starting Oct. 7, the Middle East appears to be on...
A Trip to Baochan Mountain: The Ambition of Chancellor Wang Anshi
In today’s Anhui Province of eastern China, there is a scenic locale known as Mount Baochan (褒禪山), which one might translate as "Zen Mountain" for its association with the Buddhist order. Within Baochan Mountain is...