China has passed the US as the world’s biggest trading nation as measured by the sum of exports and imports in 2012. It’s a position the US has held for over six decades. ­US exports and imports of goods last year amounted to $3.82 trillion, the US Commerce Department said last week. China’s trade in goods was $3.87 trillion, according to the country’s customs administration report in January. While... 

Aerial shot taken on September 15, 2010 shows the disputed islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China in the East China Sea. Japan’s Foreign Ministry has summoned China’s ambassador in protest at the sailing of Chinese ships near the group of islands in the East China Sea disputed by Beijing and Tokyo. “The foreign ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador over ships entering... 

The fact that the relations between China and the U.S. have been slipping into a confrontation similar to the Cold War has been discussed by media for two years, but for the first time these allegations began to take practical shape. Obama called China a “rival” and instructed to study the degree of nuclear threat posed by the country. The U.S. began redeploying its fleet in the Pacific... 

Top managers of the global automotive industry interviewed by KPMG consultancy unanimously agreed that redistribution in the auto market is to be expected within the next five years. They believe that in the stagnating traditional markets, markets of developing countries, in particular, Asian ones, will have increasingly more weight. This will give an additional impetus to the development of the Chinese... 

The Philippines will sue China over its claim on disputed territory in the South China Sea. This is the first legal case over land to be launched against the Asian powerhouse, despite a number of current territorial rows with neighbors. The Philippines Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario announced his government’s legal challenge to the press on Tuesday, summoning the Chinese ambassador in Manila. “The... 

Outgoing US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned China over its territorial dipute with Japan on East China Sea islands. American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has issued an indirect warning to China, vowing that the US opposes any efforts to challenge “Japanese administration” of disputed islands in East China Sea. Clinton’s remarks came at joint press conference on Friday following... 

A pro-party daily lambasted anti-censorship strikers in China’s Guangzhou, saying their “issue will see no surprise ending.” Several major outlets reposted the piece only with disclaimers, prompting speculation they’d taken a stand against Beijing. ­On Monday, all five of China’s major web portals started publishing an editorial put together by the Global Times, a tabloid associated with... 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying China has censured the United States for the imposition of new sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing on Friday that her country “has consistently opposed” sanctions against Iran over its peaceful nuclear energy program. She renewed China’s call for the resumption... 

A US Air Force Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle Japan is considering plans to deploy US spy drones over the East China Sea to monitor a group of islands disputed by both Tokyo and Beijing. Japan’s Kyodo News said on Monday that the Japanese Defense Ministry was making arrangements to introduce the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft in order to boost surveillance of its waters near the islands, known... 

As believers across the globe prepare for the forecast Mayan apocalypse, a Chinese villager says he’s going to save humanity with his giant tsunami proof survival pods. ­The pods are made using a fiberglass casing over a steel frame, cost $48,000 each to make and are equipped with oxygen tanks, food and water supplies. They also come with seat belts – essential for surviving in storms. “The... 

Scientists reprogram urine cells to generate neurons: Chinese scientists claim to have succeeded in reprogramming cells from human urine into brain cells (neural progenitor), in a study that may contribute to future advances in the treatment of degenerative illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Research has contributed to the advancement of the treatment of degenerative diseases... 

Japan launched 8 fighter jets in response to an airspace “violation” by a Chinese plane that strayed into territory above disputed islands in East China Sea. Japan slammed the move as “deplorable” and lodged a formal complaint against the Chinese. The Japanese Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying a Chinese state aircraft had strayed into airspace over the disputed archipelago, prompting... 

Did you see the huge crowds of protesters that flooded the Michigan Capitol on Tuesday? They were there to protest two bills there were being considered by the state legislature that would limit the power of unions in the state. Michigan lawmakers approved the bills and this absolutely infuriated the protesters. There is a lot of passion on both sides of this debate, but I am afraid that both sides... 

Inmates in a Chinese prison German multinational engineering and electronics company, Bosch, has come under attack by human rights activists for offering surveillance systems to China to spy on inmates at visiting time. Kai Muller, the manager of the International Campaign for Tibet, told the German-language newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung that it is unacceptable that the Gerlingen-headquartered company... 

In just five years, China surpassed the US as leading a trading partner in the world. With 124 countries considering China their largest trading partner and only 76 having that relationship with the US, the Asian country’s influence is on the rise. In 2006, the US was the larger trading partner for 127 countries, while China dominated among 70. In 2011, the numbers reversed, with China dominating...