India, China struggle for influence in neighborhood;

Russia-China trade drops precipitously in 2009

HK democrats resign, press for referendum;

Chinese GPS rival Beidou gets third satellite

China to strengthen social management for Asian Games;

Taiwan President Ma drops in U.S. on South American tour

China bucks the trend: Chinese language on the rise in U.S.;

No Sino-Indian army exercises in 2010

India bolsters anti-China defenses in northeast;

Vietnam parrying Chinese moves in South China Sea

Iranian and Chinese hackers in cyber-skirmish;

Japan and Vietnam draw closer as tensions rise in South China Sea

Plans to (partially) privatize publishing industry;

China to establish space lab in 2010

China expands anti-piracy mission in the Gulf;

Landmark LNG deal with Australia prematurely terminated

Party officials top quotes of 2009;

Xinhua to get an international face

Military shuffle underway in Xinjiang and Tibet;

“

Pre-emptive attacks”

against threats to Party control