Gaining control: A report to Congress reveals efforts to hack into two government satellites in 2007 and 2008 were traced to a station in Norway China is suspected of interfering with two U.S. government satellites in one of its most advanced hacking operations to date. On four occasions between 2007 and 2008 Chinese agents are said to have breached security on the environment-monitoring craft. The... 

Obama meets with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and announces a permanent military presence in Australia beginning next summer. Communist Party paper attacks Obama’s plan to deploy up to 2,500 troops and boost air force co-operation with Canberra. China has reacted angrily to remarks by Barack Obama signalling a significant shift in US policy vis-a-vis Asia. The US president has pledged... 

New arrivals: Between 500 and 1,000 U.S. Marines are to be stationed permanently in Darwin Australia is set to become home to hundreds of U.S. Marines – as America moves its servicemen to a military base on the northern tip of the country. In a bid to combat China’s increase in global military and financial power, between 500 to 1,000 officers are to form a permanent U.S. military presence... 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei Chinese Foreign Ministry has rejected the idea of imposing additional sanctions against Iran, calling for further dialogue to resolve concerns around the Islamic Republic’s nuclear issue. “We always believe that dialogue and cooperation is the right way to solve the Iranian nuclear issue,” said China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei... 

After cooperating with Vietnam, the US conduced military exercises again in the South China Sea between October 17 to 28, this time with the Philippines. As usual, the two countries announced that the exercises weren’t aimed at China. I think this kind of military exercise is meaningless, as the small countries are just being over-confident in their ability to provoke China and the US ultimately... 

West to East: EU officials have been refused help by China as the balance of power shifts. Hopes that China will ride to the rescue of the single currency were dealt a blow last night after Beijing warned that it will not be Europe’s ‘saviour’. State-run news agency Xinhua said the country cannot ‘provide a cure for the European malaise’. It came after European officials begged China for... 

Humiliating phone call: It has been revealed that Nicolas Sarkozy contacted Chinese leader Hu Jintao to ask for investment and backing of the European fund. Further embarrassment as one trillion euro bailout fund announced yesterday does not really exist. Europe is holding out the begging bowl to China in an effort to keep the rescue package for the single currency alive. In a clear sign of how the... 

US Senator Jim Webb China is one of the biggest economies in the world and grew at more than 9 percent over the last year. It also has loaned more than $1 trillion to the U.S. to fund its deficit-spending. But at the same time, the U.S. sends foreign aid to China, which lawmakers of all stripes say is just plain nuts. “Why in the world would we be borrowing money and then turn around and giving... 

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin lambasted “parasitic” US monetary policies today at a press conference in Beijing. “The US is not a parasite, but the US dollar’s monopoly is a parasite,” he said, backing Chinese calls for an alternative global reserve currency in light of the economic crisis crippling the developed world. Mr Putin said his comments were “constructive... 

A spokesman with China’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday called on the U.S. government, its congress and various communities to firmly oppose domestic legislation meant to pressure China’s currency, the Renminbi or yuan, into rising further. “China calls on the U.S. government, its congress and various communities to oppose the pressure put on the RMB exchange rate by domestic legislation... 

Anger: Susan Rice, US Ambassador to the UN, walked out of a security council meeting after Russia and China vetoed a resolution on Syria America’s ambassador to the U.N. stormed out of a security council meeting after China and Russia vetoed a resolution condemning Syria’s crackdown on anti-government protests. Furious Susan Rice claimed Washington was ‘outraged’ by opposition... 

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin Russia and China have vetoed a Western-backed United Nations Security Council resolution threatening military action and sanctions against Syria. On Tuesday, nine countries voted for the text drawn up by France, Britain, Germany and Portugal, but Russia and China voted against, killing the resolution because of their veto power as permanent members of Security... 

A grim Federal Security Services (FSB) report on Prime Minister Putin’s plan to meet China’s leader Hu Jintao [both pictured top photo right] in Beijing next week warns that both Russian and Chinese military forces are being placed on their ‘highest alert’ in anticipation of a massive land invasion believed being planned by the United States of both the Middle East and Central Asia. The plans... 

The emergence of China as the world's fastest-growing major economy has led to often strained relations with the United States. The passage of a bill intended to make Beijing let its currency rise could lead to a trade war between the world’s top two economies, Chinese officials have warned. Both China’s central bank and ministries of commerce and foreign affairs are accusing the U.S.... 

China on Tuesday said it backs Palestine’s efforts to seek recognition by the United Nations. “China understands, respects and supports Palestine’s bid for UN membership,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said at a daily press briefing on Tuesday. Hong’s comments came after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday that he will formally apply...