CHINA CRITICIZES, SANCTIONS JAPAN OVER PM'S TAIWAN COMMENTS
China has suspended imports of Japanese seafood as part of a series of rhetorical, symbolic, and economic retaliations after Japan's new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, told the country’s parliament that Tokyo could become militarily involved if China attacked Taiwan. Beijing issued a travel warning to tourists and students planning to visit Japan, prompting airlines to offer refunds to passengers and resulting it about 500,000 cancelled tickets. PRC state-owned enterprises have told staff not to visit Japan, while Japanese film releases and cross-cultural events have been suspended or cancelled. China also sent a coastguard fleet through the disputed waters around the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands and military drones past Japan's most westerly territory, Yonaguni Island, near Taiwan. (The Guardian, November 19, 2025)
CHINA BUILDS THE WORLD'S FIRST FLOATING ARTIFICIAL ISLAND
China is building a 78,000-ton floating artificial island designed to survive nuclear blasts. Officially called the Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility, the semi-submersible platform — the first mobile, self-sustaining island of its kind — is scheduled to enter service in 2028. The structure is 138m long and 85m wide, with a deck rising 45m above the water. It can ride out heavy seas and the strongest typhoons, house 238 people for 120 days, and travel at 15 knots. Beyond research and deep-sea exploration, it could act as a command post, logistics base, or surveillance platform, giving China a long-term presence in remote waters. (South China Morning Post, November 20, 2025)
UK SET TO APPROVE NEW PRC MEGA EMBASSY
Despite concerns over possible espionage, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to approve a new 20,000 square meter Chinese embassy in central London. Having been greenlighted by MI5 and MI6, the Home Office and the Foreign Office will not raise any formal objections to the plan. Beijing has made the Prime Minister's upcoming visit to China in January or February contingent on the embassy plans being greenlit before a December 10th deadline. This week, shadow home office minister Alicia Kearns and Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Lisa Smart both pressed the government to reject the proposed embassy near Tower Bridge, calling China's plans "not sufficient." (The Independent, November 21, 2025)
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Beijing chose not to appeal after its new embassy proposal was rejected by the Tower Hamlets Council back in 2022. Beijing resubmitted its application soon after Labour's election victory last year.]
AMSTERDAM SUSPENDS NEXPERIA TAKEOVER
The Netherlands has suspended its effort to take control of chipmaker Nexperia. Economic Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans paused the order restricting the company’s decisions after "constructive" talks with Chinese officials and consultations with European partners. He said China's steps to secure chip supplies for Europe showed goodwill and that dialogue would continue. Beijing welcomed the move as a "first step" but urged full revocation of the order and criticized a Dutch court ruling that removed Nexperia’s Chinese CEO, Zhang Xuezheng, for alleged mismanagement. The Dutch government took effective control of Nexperia, owned by China's Wingtech, in October over concerns Zhang might shift production and intellectual property to China. (BBC, November 19, 2025)
CHINESE STAKES IN ITALY'S ENERGY GRID RAISE RED FLAGS
China's stakes in Italy's energy companies limit their expansion in Europe. Germany regulators raised concerns prompting Snam, Italy’s gas grid operator, to drop out of plans to buy a stake in Germany's largest independent gas transmission firm. Berlin opposed the deal because of China's State Grid Corp.’s indirect investment in Snam and thus allowed Snam only a financial, not operational, role. Chinese entities own 35% of CDP Reti, which controls 31% of Snam, 30% of Terna, and 26% of Italgas, and a Chinese representative sits on all of their boards. Beijing has no plans to sell these stakes, which are worth more than €5 billion ($5.8 billion). (Reuters, November 21, 2025)