Former CIA official John Kiriakou said President Trump's "handshake" deal with China to cut Iran's weapons supply could be a game-changer for the Middle East.

BEIJING, April 20 (Reuters) - China on Monday warned against military cooperation that could undermine trust and deepen division in the region, as the United States and the Philippines begin annual military exercises with expanded participation from Japan.

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Visiting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping before their meeting at the Great

The Chinese foreign ministry said Thursday that if questioned by U.S. law enforcement officers, Chinese nationals should respond calmly and rationally.

But increased shipments from Russia, Malaysia and Indonesia help to partially offset the shortfall, official data shows China's trade with Iran and Gulf countries fell sharply in March as restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz tightened amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.

China is the undisputed global leader in solar energy, making more than 80% of the world's solar panel components.

As Trump pursued an unpopular war, Beijing positioned itself as a peacemaker, with little incentive to pressure Iran or annoy the U.S.

China will kick off this year’s ultra-long special government bond sales with a record offering of 30-year notes on Friday, in a move that will offer a gauge of investor demand.

Beijing had lowered its growth target this year to a range of 4.5% to 5%, the least ambitious goal on record going back to the early 1990s.

For a group of former UCD students, a return trip to China marks half a century since an improbable tour that unfolded at a pivotal moment in the country’s history

China’s exports of rare-earth magnets and materials to Japan fell sharply in March, as souring relations between the Asian nations heighten concerns about a potential supply squeeze.

Countries are navigating between the desire to speed up the green transition and worries over Beijing’s clean-tech dominance.