https://www.rferl.org Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is an international news organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:33:18 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Retired general and strategist Mick Ryan explains the military lessons that Beijing is taking from the war in Iran and what it means for US-China competition and Chinese designs on Taiwan. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-taiwan-trump-xi-military-invasion-mick-ryan/33721581.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-taiwan-trump-xi-military-invasion-mick-ryan/33721581.html Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:29:00 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle EastChina Chinese leaders don’t mind seeing the US bogged down in the Middle East instead of focusing on Asia, but US-Israeli strikes on Iran bring a tough calculus for Beijing in the region. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-china-israel-us-strikes-middle-east-oil-energy-xi-trump/33692214.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-china-israel-us-strikes-middle-east-oil-energy-xi-trump/33692214.html Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:25:27 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesChina Efforts to pressure Beijing have failed to slow support for Moscow, highlighting enforcement gaps and deep economic dependencies, analysts and EU officials told RFE/RL. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-ukraine-russia-sanctions-peace-deal-putin-xi-zelenskyy/33682608.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-ukraine-russia-sanctions-peace-deal-putin-xi-zelenskyy/33682608.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 09:30:14 +0100 UkraineFeaturesRussiaThe Rundown HeadlineThe Rundown StoriesEuropeChina Targeting Iran’s oil sales to China could test the limits of Beijing’s backing as Washington seeks leverage in renewed nuclear negotiations. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-china-nuclear-talks-trump-technology-surveillance-huawei-tiandy-zte/33680429.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-china-nuclear-talks-trump-technology-surveillance-huawei-tiandy-zte/33680429.html Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:21:16 +0100 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineChina Michael Caster, the head of Article 19's Global China Program, speaks with RFE/RL about the organization's new report looking at how Chinese technology underpins Iran’s internet control and what it means as Tehran looks to consolidate control after weeks of deadly protests. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-china-internet-playbook-cooperation-deal-firewall-huawei-zte/33676070.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-china-internet-playbook-cooperation-deal-firewall-huawei-zte/33676070.html Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:53:02 +0100 IranFeaturesRussiaThe Rundown StoriesChina A trial is under way against 19 activists in Kazakhstan who protested against China’s camp system in Xinjiang. Earlier reporting by RFE/RL showed that the Chinese consulate in Almaty pushed for the Kazakh government to open the case. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-xinjiang-pressure-rights/33661489.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-xinjiang-pressure-rights/33661489.html Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:48:21 +0100 VideosKazakhstanThe Rundown StoriesChina Kazakhstan’s prosecution of 19 Atazhurt activists over a Xinjiang-related protest has escalated into one of the country’s most sweeping cases against rights defenders, highlighting growing Chinese influence and a sharp squeeze on dissent at home. https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-china-xinjiang-activism-uyghur-xi-atazhurt-rights/33654001.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-china-xinjiang-activism-uyghur-xi-atazhurt-rights/33654001.html Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:06:46 +0100 KazakhstanFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesChina European Union sources told RFE/RL that the bloc’s 27 foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss China-Russia ties, including potential evidence that Beijing is sending weapons to Russia. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-ukraine-war-eu/33623752.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-ukraine-war-eu/33623752.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:08:38 +0100 NewsChina In EurasiaThe Rundown StoriesChina Moscow recently relaxed rules allowing for visa-free entry to Russia for Chinese nationals, which could spark a tourism boom to the country. But why have the "no limits" partners waited until now to boost people-to-people ties? https://www.rferl.org/a/chinese-citizens-can-tavel-to-russia-visa-free-putin-xi/33613065.html https://www.rferl.org/a/chinese-citizens-can-tavel-to-russia-visa-free-putin-xi/33613065.html Thu, 04 Dec 2025 18:10:23 +0100 VideosRussiaChina Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry has refuted claims about ongoing talks with Russia regarding border security along Afghanistan, following a deadly attack on Chinese nationals in the region. https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-china-worker-killed-russia-troops-mining-taliban/33611762.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-china-worker-killed-russia-troops-mining-taliban/33611762.html Wed, 03 Dec 2025 11:04:25 +0100 TajikistanNewsKazakhstanThe Rundown HeadlineChina A mega–solar power plant in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina was announced as a development project by local authorities. But the Chinese-backed project soon faced local pushback, leading to rare legal setbacks and an investigation into possible land misuse. https://www.rferl.org/a/chinese-projects-legal-setbacks-balkans/33610156.html https://www.rferl.org/a/chinese-projects-legal-setbacks-balkans/33610156.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:11:49 +0100 VideosBosnia-HerzegovinaSerbiaChina Kazakhstan will join the Abraham Accords, a hallmark achievement of Trump’s first term in office. The move puts Kazakhstan at the center of a new push by the White House to reinvigorate the foreign policy initiative. https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-abraham-accords-russia-china/33583991.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-abraham-accords-russia-china/33583991.html Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:41:48 +0100 KazakhstanFeaturesThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump unveiled a slew of trade, diplomatic, and mineral deals at a summit with Central Asia’s five leaders as Kazakhstan announced plans to join the Abraham Accords. https://www.rferl.org/a/central-asia-trump-critical-minerals-diplomatic-deals-summit/33583397.html https://www.rferl.org/a/central-asia-trump-critical-minerals-diplomatic-deals-summit/33583397.html Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:17:03 +0100 NewsKazakhstanKyrgyzstanTajikistanTurkmenistan UzbekistanThe Rundown HeadlineChina US President Donald Trump will host Central Asian leaders in Washington on November 6 for a high-profile summit where the region’s vast deposits of critical and rare earth minerals are set to take center stage. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-rare-earths-critical-minerals-central-asia-china-kazakhstan/33581310.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-rare-earths-critical-minerals-central-asia-china-kazakhstan/33581310.html Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:03:50 +0100 FeaturesKazakhstanKyrgyzstanTajikistanTurkmenistan UzbekistanChina In EurasiaThe Rundown StoriesChina Amid escalating global tensions, US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have concluded high-stakes talks in South Korea. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-trade-war-talks-busan-south-korea-russia-ukraine/33576746.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-trade-war-talks-busan-south-korea-russia-ukraine/33576746.html Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:30:25 +0100 NewsRussiaUkraineChina In EurasiaThe Rundown StoriesChina Brussels will host top officials from across Central Asia and the Caucasus as the EU aims to use its influence and pocketbook to push back against Beijing and Moscow. https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-china-central-asia-caucasus-russia-middle-corridor-global-gateway/33562604.html https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-china-central-asia-caucasus-russia-middle-corridor-global-gateway/33562604.html Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:03:38 +0200 FeaturesArmeniaAzerbaijanGeorgiaKazakhstanKyrgyzstanRussiaTajikistanTurkmenistan UzbekistanChina In EurasiaThe Rundown StoriesChina As Kazakhstan forges ahead with a plan to build up a state-of-the-art surveillance network, it's increasingly relying on Chinese hardware. That’s raising concerns among activists and experts that Astana will have new tools to track dissidents and enforce censorship. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-surveillance-hikvision-dahua-huawei-kazakhstan-ai-central-asia/33544093.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-surveillance-hikvision-dahua-huawei-kazakhstan-ai-central-asia/33544093.html Mon, 06 Oct 2025 08:13:15 +0200 KazakhstanFeaturesChina In EurasiaThe Rundown HeadlineChina US President Donald Trump suggested that his administration was negotiating with the Taliban for US forces to once again occupy the base outside of Kabul, which was abandoned in 2021 shortly before the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-bagram-china-taliban-afghanistan-talks-nuclear/33534864.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-bagram-china-taliban-afghanistan-talks-nuclear/33534864.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:03:23 +0200 AfghanistanFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesChinaNews Analysis Chinese universities linked to the country’s defense sector have dramatically increased their partnerships in Russia, providing Moscow with access to innovations that help its war effort in Ukraine, data compiled by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and shared with RFE/RL shows. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-xi-putin-military-university-drone-aircraft-engine/33533979.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-xi-putin-military-university-drone-aircraft-engine/33533979.html Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:01:10 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineChina In EurasiaThe Rundown StoriesChina China's Xi Jinping will welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin and other SCO leaders for a two-day summit as China looks to deepen its influence across Eurasia.   https://www.rferl.org/a/xi-modi-putin-shanghai-cooperation-india/33514366.html https://www.rferl.org/a/xi-modi-putin-shanghai-cooperation-india/33514366.html Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:23 +0200 China In EurasiaFeaturesArmeniaAzerbaijanKazakhstanKyrgyzstanRussiaUzbekistanThe Rundown HeadlineChina