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India has voiced serious worries about China building a massive hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet—the source of the Brahmaputra. The project, first announced in 1986, could threaten water security, ecology, and livelihoods across South Asia, Firstpost reported.

The Indian government is closely watching the development and has urged China to be transparent and consult downstream countries. India also wants hydrological data sharing, which China has stopped during important monsoon periods.

The river flows through sensitive, earthquake-prone Himalayan areas before reaching India and Bangladesh, making environmental impacts potentially severe. India and China continue talks, but India stresses the need for cooperation to protect the region’s people and ecosystems, according to Firstpost.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday briefed the leaders of China, India, and several allies on his recent talks with US President Donald Trump’s envoy over ending the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

The calls followed Putin’s meeting in Moscow with envoy Steve Witkoff, after which the Kremlin said a Putin–Trump summit could be held as early as next week. Trump has given Moscow a deadline to agree to peace or face new sanctions.

China’s Xi Jinping welcomed the dialogue, while India’s Narendra Modi thanked Putin for the update despite facing new US tariffs over Russian oil imports. South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa backed peace efforts, and UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed offered his country as a possible summit venue, according to Reuters.

Putin also shared the developments with Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

At least 10 people have died and 33 remain missing after flash floods swept through Gansu province in northwestern China, state media reported Friday. The floods, triggered by days of heavy rain since August 7, have damaged roads and villages, leaving streets coated in silt and debris, according to Al Jazeera.

President Xi Jinping has ordered “all-out” rescue efforts and urged authorities to step up disaster prevention amid increasingly frequent extreme weather. China has faced record rainfall in recent weeks, with severe flooding killing over 60 people across the north, including Beijing, since late July.

China has lodged a strong protest against Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s recent remarks that the Philippines could not stay out of a conflict over Taiwan. Speaking during a visit to India, Marcos highlighted the country’s large Filipino community in Taiwan and said the Philippines would be drawn into any all-out war there to protect its people, Firstpost reported.

In response, China reaffirmed its “One China” policy, stressing that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and that the issue is a core internal matter. Chinese officials warned Manila against interfering in what they consider China’s sovereign affairs, despite geographic proximity and Filipino ties to Taiwan.

Marcos’s comments come amid escalating South China Sea tensions and reflect the Philippines’ push for stronger strategic partnerships, including with India, to bolster regional security. The Chinese embassy in Manila also lodged formal protests over the remarks, according to Firstpost.

Taiwan has confirmed its first chikungunya fever case this year, linked to a major outbreak in southern China’s Guangdong province. The infected woman had traveled to Foshan, where over 8,000 cases have been reported recently, according to Xinhua.

The virus, spread by mosquitoes, causes fever, rash, and joint pain. The outbreak grew rapidly due to low immunity and heavy rains that helped mosquitoes breed. Chinese authorities have responded with strict measures, including fines and fogging.

Though cases in Foshan are now declining, Taiwan’s health agency has raised travel warnings for the region and advises travelers to stay cautious, Xinhua reported.

One of Thailand’s top art galleries removed, at China's request, materials about Beijing's treatment of ethnic minorities and Hong Kong from an exhibit on authoritarian governments, according to a curator and communications seen by Reuters.

In what the artists called the latest attempt by Beijing to silence critics overseas, the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre changed multiple works by artists in exile in the exhibit on authoritarian governments collaborating across borders.

When Reuters visited on Thursday, some works previously advertised and photographed had been removed, including a multimedia installation by a Tibetan artist, while other pieces had been altered, with the words “Hong Kong”, “Tibet” and “Uyghur” redacted, along with the names of the artists.

China is turning to AI to boost its propaganda efforts abroad, a new report reveals. A Chinese firm linked to the state, GoLaxy, has been tracking individuals and gathering data on US lawmakers, while running influence operations in Hong Kong and Taiwan, according to Firstpost.

Though no direct activity has been seen in the US, officials are watching closely, warning that AI could soon be used to sway political debates or elections.

Experts say AI is reshaping propaganda, making it faster, broader, and harder to detect—marking a new chapter in global information warfare, Firstpost reported.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, according to CNN.

This marks his first trip to China since ties between the two countries soured following the 2020 border standoff in Ladakh, which included the deadly Galwan Valley clash. Further updates are expected as the situation develops.

Rescue crews raced on Wednesday to clear debris and flooded roads as southern China braced for more extreme rainfall and spreading infection after some of the worst downpours this century, brought by a peak in East Asian monsoon rains, Reuters reported.

Forecasters warned of more thunderstorms after the century's second-heaviest August rains pounded Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, forcing its Baiyun airport, one of the world's busiest, to cancel 363 flights and delay 311.

The day before, the skies above Hong Kong and the high-tech cities of China's Pearl River Delta turned livid and dumped the heaviest August rainfall since 1884 on the Asian financial hub, according to Reuters.

Russia and China will launch joint naval patrols in the Asia-Pacific, following recent drills in the Sea of Japan, Al Jazeera reported.

Warships from both navies will form a new task group after resupplying, focusing on coordinated patrol missions. The move follows live-fire and anti-submarine exercises involving key vessels from both sides.

Moscow said the drills are defensive. The patrols reflect deepening military ties as both nations counter growing US presence in the region, according to Al Jazeera.

More than 7,000 cases of a mosquito-borne virus have been reported across China's Guangdong province since July, prompting measures similar to those taken during the Covid-19 pandemic, BBC reported.

In Foshan city, which has been hit the hardest, chikungunya patients must stay in hospital, where their beds will protected with mosquito nets. They can only be discharged after they test negative or at the end of a week-long stay.

Spread through the bite of an infected mosquito, the virus causes fever and severe joint pain, which sometimes can last for years.

Although rare in China, chikungunya outbreaks are common in South and South East Asia and parts of Africa, according to BBC.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China. Over these seven decades, the two neighbors have forged a relationship grounded in mutual respect, non-interference, and shared aspirations for development, peace, and prosperity. This is a unique model of partnership rooted in trust and mutual respect

On 1 Aug 1955, Nepal and  China formally established diplomatic relations. Seventy years later, this historic milestone provides a timely moment to reflect on a multifaceted partnership that has evolved from ancient civilizational exchanges into a dynamic 21st-century cooperation model. Built on the core principles of sovereign equality, mutual respect, and non-interference, Nepal-China relations continue to hold significant relevance for Nepal’s foreign policy trajectory and development ambitions.

A relationship rooted in geography, shaped by history

Nepal and China are more than just neighbors; they share more than seventeen centuries-old ties through trade, religion, culture, and kinship across the Himalayas. The exchanges between Lumbini and Lhasa, between artists and monks, are testimonies to a relationship that predates formal diplomacy. The 1956 Nepal-China Boundary Agreement and subsequent treaties not only delineated borders but also laid the foundation for long-term cooperation.

In modern diplomatic history, China has consistently respected Nepal’s territorial integrity and political independence, while Nepal has firmly adhered to the One-China Policy. This diplomatic symmetry has helped both countries build a resilient and trust-based relationship, despite changing geopolitical dynamics in South Asia and beyond.

Development, connectivity, and the promise of the BRI

China has played a critical role in Nepal’s development efforts through grants, soft loans, and infrastructure projects. From the construction of the Araniko Highway in the 1960s to ongoing efforts in energy, hydropower, airport expansion, and digital connectivity, Chinese cooperation has left visible footprints in Nepal’s development landscape. 

The signing of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework agreement in 2017 marked a new phase in economic diplomacy. While its implementation has been slow and requires better clarity and transparency, the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network—envisioned under the BRI—holds transformative potential for Nepal, particularly in trade facilitation, energy transit, and cross-border infrastructure.

Nevertheless, Nepal must approach such initiatives with strategic foresight—ensuring debt sustainability, environmental safeguards, and equitable benefits for local communities.

Beyond infrastructure: People, culture, and soft power

Nepal-China relations are increasingly shaped by people-to-people engagement. Thousands of Nepali students pursue higher education in China, supported by scholarships. Cultural exchange programs, tourism, and media collaboration have helped build a more nuanced understanding between the two societies.

China established the Confucius Institute in Nepal to promote Chinese language and culture. Regular cultural delegations, exhibitions and performances are organized to strengthen people-to-people relations. There is a growing dissemination of Chinese narratives in Nepali media, especially around regional geopolitics and BRI. Chinese media outlets such as Xinhua News Agency and China Radio international have partnership with Nepali media.

China promotes Nepal as a tourism destination among Chinese citizens and has included Nepal in approved travel destinations. Joint branding of heritage sites such as  Lumbini is  part of soft tourism diplomacy. In times of crisis, such as the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake and the Covid-19 pandemic, China provided critical humanitarian support to Nepal, reinforcing a spirit of solidarity. Such gestures are not merely symbolic but serve as catalysts for strengthening trust among the general public.

The strategic imperative for Nepal

As Nepal seeks to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strategic partnerships with neighbors like China become indispensable. However, Nepal must adopt a clear, consistent, and country-owned foreign policy, grounded in national interest and inclusive development priorities.

The trade imbalance between Nepal and China remains a persistent challenge. Addressing it requires improved access to the Chinese market, support for Nepali agricultural and handmade exports, and the upgrading of border infrastructure at key points like Rasuwagadhi, Tatopani and Mustang. Furthermore, as climate change disproportionately affects the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, Nepal and China should deepen cooperation on climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and green technology transfer.

Looking ahead: Rethinking the next chapter

As Nepal and China commemorate 70 years of friendship, both countries must reimagine their cooperation in light of emerging global challenges—climate change, poverty, digital transformation, and regional security. Future collaboration must focus not only on infrastructure, but also on green development, youth exchange, public health, and social inclusion.

Diplomatic anniversaries are more than ceremonial milestones—they are opportunities to reflect, renew, and re-energize relationships as well as to reimagine the future. The 70th anniversary offers both Kathmandu and Beijing the chance to reaffirm their strategic trust, expand areas of cooperation, and ensure that their partnership contributes meaningfully to regional harmony and Nepal’s long-term national interest. Nepal must seek cooperation for changing from landlocked to land linked.

The 70th anniversary of Nepal-China relations should catalyze a broader conversation among policymakers, academics, and civil society about what an equitable, future-oriented partnership looks like in a rapidly changing global order.

In this next phase, cooperation must move beyond state-to-state interactions and become more inclusive of youth, local governments, academic institutions, and marginalized communities—ensuring that the benefits of diplomacy and development reach the grassroots.

As a small but strategically located nation, Nepal must continue to walk a balanced diplomatic path—maintaining friendly ties with both its neighbors while protecting its autonomy and advancing a just, inclusive development agenda.

The Nepal-China partnership, built over seven decades, can continue to be a model of asymmetric yet respectful diplomacy—one that champions sovereignty, mutual benefit, and the shared dreams of two peoples.

As we look ahead, the friendship between Nepal and China must continue to be guided by the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. A true celebration of this historic milestone would be not only in looking back with pride—but also looking forward with purpose.

The author is former Nepali ambassador to China

China launched a Long March-12 carrier rocket on Monday, sending a group of internet satellites into space, Xinhua reported.

The rocket took off at 6:21 p.m. (local time) from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan. It successfully deployed the payloads, the seventh group of low-orbit internet satellites, to their preset orbit.

The launch marked the 587th mission of the Long March series carrier rockets, according to the launch site.

China and Russia have launched joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan, aiming to boost military ties and counterbalance US influence. The three-day “Joint Sea-2025” exercises near Vladivostok include anti-submarine, air defense, and maritime combat operations, according to Al Jazeera.

Four Chinese warships are participating alongside Russian vessels, with joint patrols planned in the Pacific afterward. While both sides say the drills are defensive, Japan has voiced concerns over their growing military cooperation amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

China’s weather agency on Saturday issued yellow alerts for heavy rain and high temperatures in several regions, according to Xinhua.

Downpours are expected through Sunday across parts of the northeast, east, south, and southwest, including Taiwan, with some areas facing over 70 mm of rain per hour, thunderstorms, and strong winds.

Temperatures are set to hit 35–39°C in many areas, with parts of Shaanxi, Chongqing, and Xinjiang possibly exceeding 40°C. Authorities urged the public to stay safe and take precautions, Xinhua reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nepali President Ram Chandra Poudel on Friday exchanged greetings to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations, vowing to deepen cooperation and friendship.

Xi praised the strong, time-tested ties and called for closer collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative. Poudel thanked China for its continued support and reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to the one-China policy, according to Xinhua.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also pledged to strengthen bilateral ties and deliver tangible benefits to both nations.