The Chinese Communist Party has detailed its ambitious but secretive strategy for transforming the internet into a force for keeping it in power and projecting ''soft power'' abroad.

Fifteen students from Peking University in China started a 10-day sightseeing tour around Taiwan by bicycle Tuesday. Chairwoman of the Sports Affairs Council Tai Hsia-ling fired a starting pistol to launch the 832 kilometer ride that was organized by the council as part of a cross-strait student exchange program.

Chinese people are familiar with the slogan of "Let Chinese culture go abroad". However, there seems to be some misunderstanding, with many mistakenly thinking that "Chinese culture" only means traditional Chinese culture.

There has been much talk on the European side about developing a grand strategy for dealing with a more assertive China. In many ways, China will be the ultimate litmus test for Europe’s new foreign policy.

Cross-Strait relations between China and Taiwan took a dramatic and historic turn with the recent signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). The trade liberalization deal will create closer economic linkage between Taiwan and China, but beyond increasing the flow of goods across the Taiwan Strait, there are serious political and public diplomacy aspects tied up in the trade pact.

China’s tourism to Taiwan, once banned, is now growing fast as bilateral ties improve. But with the influx of visitors comes a culture clash.

China's hydropower plans are a test of its avowed good neighbourliness...

The Government is using "rugby diplomacy" - sending former All Blacks to China - to strengthen trade links...The initiative was the brainchild of Sports Minister Murray McCully, who calls it "rugby diplomacy". "In the context of our overall relationship with China, which is going places quickly, it's one of those areas where we can underpin the growth of trade and economic relations," Mr McCully said.