Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 91

Uncovering injustice: Key stories from RFA Uyghur

Radio Free Asia has provided a unique, international news service for Uyghurs that has exposed China’s creeping persecution of the minority Muslim group in real time, culminating in the eventual U.S. government declaration of a genocide. RFA Uyghur was in the vanguard on reporting a massive crackdown in the Xinjiang region in the far west of China in 2017 which led to an estimated 1.8 million

How undersea communication cables surrounding Taiwan could be targeted by China

Submarine communication cables are critical for modern life: for security, economic prosperity and connecting people. Experts warn that the cables serving Taiwan and its high-tech economy are vulnerable not just to wear-and-tear and accidents, but sabotage. In early 2025, a Chinese cargo ship was suspected of damaging the submarine cables between Taiwan and its outlying Penghu islands in the

US Reveals Nuclear Submarine in China's Backyard

The United States has deployed a nuclear-powered submarine, armed with over 100 long-range missiles, to the Western Pacific Ocean amid China's rapid naval fleet expansion. The deployment of USS Ohio, a guided-missile submarine, reflected America's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Submarine Group Seven, which commands submarines deployed in the Western Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean,

Map Shows Countries That Prefer China to the US

Far more countries hold a favorable view of China than the United States, according to a new report. The findings, from the polling organization Nira Data's Democracy Perception Index 2025, found that over three-quarters of the nearly 100 nations surveyed had a preferable view of Beijing compared to Washington.China has been attempting to capitalize on global opposition to President Donald

China Factory Protests Show When US Tariffs Began to Bite

A wave of protests over factory closures in China in recent weeks appeared to show the impact of U.S. tariffs on a highly exposed sector that employs millions. The demonstrations, a reflection of the export-driven economy's early pain, came as Chinese officials quietly engaged with U.S. President Donald Trump's team weeks before last weekend's high-profile meeting in Geneva.The deal that emerged

Devotion and defiance: Highlights from RFA Tibetan

For nearly three decades, Radio Free Asia has provided critical Tibet coverage, serving as an information lifeline for Tibetan audiences living under China’s authoritarian rule and connecting them to Tibetans in exile – and all the while offering a rare window into life in the highly restricted region. Through shortwave radio and digital platforms, RFA Tibetan has reported epochal moments in the

Bullying only leads to self-isolation, Xi says day after US-China tariff truce

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has taken aim at “bullying” and “hegemonism,” in his first public remarks since a temporary truce over tariffs was agreed in the trade war between the United States and China. Great changes unseen in a century are accelerating, which have “made unity and cooperation among nations indispensable,” Xi told an audience of Latin American and Caribbean officials — including

How Trump managed to get his much-needed China trade victory

President Donald Trump’s shock-and-awe tariff approach threatened to rupture the global financial system and drive the US economy into recession. Nervous about the prospect of empty store shelves and reignited inflation, Trump sent in his even-keeled and professional negotiators to Geneva to snag a win.The unexpectedly dramatic de-escalation with China laid the groundwork for a growing series of

In China, some see the ghost of Mao as Trump upends America and the world

Ding Xueliang spent his early teenage years in China as a fervent believer and practitioner of Chairman Mao Zedong’s revolutionary ideals — but he never imagined those memories would one day be stirred by a sitting US president.In 1966, at just 13 years old, the son of poor farmers became one of Mao’s Red Guards. He joined millions of young people across China to participate in the Cultural

Marcos' hold on senate grows shaky while Duterte wins mayor race from jail

Dominated by a fiery feud between two political dynasties, the Philippine mid-term elections have thrown up unexpected results that may shake President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr's hold on the senate. According to the latest count of 80% of the votes, Marcos allies appear to have captured fewer senate seats than expected.Meanwhile his rival, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte who is