Persian Realm

China anoints Xi as new leader

China anoints Xi as new leader (bbc)

Xi Jinping is confirmed as the man to lead China for the next decade, as reformists miss out on membership of the top decision-making body

China set for sweeping leadership change

Generation gap (bbc)

China set for sweeping leadership change

The politicians who are likely to take over power in China

In the wings (bbc, video)

The politicians who are likely to take over power in China

China's Party Congress normally convenes once every five years, but this year it's attracting particular attention as it will oversee a once in a decade leadership transition.

The man widely tipped to lead China for the next 10 years, 59 year-old Xi Jinping, is expected to be formally endorsed as party general secretary along with his team.

BBC Chinese's Weiliang Nie explains about the Party Congress meeting, and the men waiting to lead China.

A Point Of View: Is China more legitimate than the West?

Picking leaders (bbc)

Is China actually more legitimate than the West?

Life at the harsh end of China's widening wealth gap

'Not fair' (bbc)

Life at the harsh end of China's widening wealth gap 

n China's poorest province paddy fields stretch down the mountainsides. Here and there farmers squat, working in the mud.

Men thread their way through the patchwork of fields, balancing heavy sheaves of rice just harvested from poles slung across their shoulders.

Over generations Guizhou's hillsides have been shaped and sculpted by hand. It's work that continues today. There's no sign of any mechanisation in these remote hills.

Tiny villages with creaky, old wooden houses dot the valleys. It's picturesque but it's also a place of poverty.

Taiwan arrests suspected military spies for China

Taiwan arrests suspected spies (bbc)

Taiwan arrests three retired military officers suspected of spying for China, including one whose department handled classified data, officials say.

China condemns NY Times 'smear' China

China condemns NY Times 'smear' (bbc)

China condemns as a "smear" a New York Times report saying Premier Wen Jiabao's relatives have accumulated billions of dollars.

China outcry over school abuse where police detains teachers

China outcry over school abuse (bbc)

Chinese police detain several teachers following a public outcry over pictures circulated online showing teachers being violent to pupils.

A Point Of View: What kind of superpower could China be?

Number one (bbc)

What kind of superpower could China be?

China is on course to becoming a superpower - but not in the way many expect, writes economist Martin Jacques.

China's congress: Profile of Front-runners for power

China's ruling communist party is about to hold a once-in-a-decade congress where a next generation of leaders will be unveiled.

The most important jobs are on the politburo standing committee, since these are the people who decide all important issues about the country's future. There are nine members of the outgoing committee. But it is possible the new line-up will be reduced to seven.

Front-runners for a role in the new power generation

China's growth rate slows to 7.4%

China's growth rate slows to 7.4% (bbc)

China's economic growth slows further in the third quarter, but other figures suggest the economy may be stabilising and even bouncing back.

The increasing reach of China around the globe

The increasing reach of China around the globe

China's ruling Communist Party meets from 8 November to rubber-stamp sweeping changes that will put in place the country's leaders for the next 10 years.

Rare images of Chinese Cultural Revolution go on display

Rare Chinese Cultural Revolution images go on display

A collection of rare photographs from China's Cultural Revolution is on display in London for the first time since they were hidden for safekeeping nearly 45 years ago.

Li Zhensheng's work has been described as a "unique treasure trove of information" during one of the most turbulent periods of 20th Century history, a 10-year campaign of violence and chaos launched by Mao Zedong's feared Red Guards to enforce communism by removing capitalist, traditional and cultural elements from society.

Millions of people were persecuted in a wide range of abuses carried out across the country, including public humiliation, arbitrary imprisonment, torture and seizure of property.

US security warning on China firms

US security warning on China firms (bbc)

Chinese telecom firms Huawei and ZTE pose a security threat to the US, a congressional panel warns after an investigation.

China firm sues Obama over wind farms

China firm sues Obama over wind farms (bbc)

A Chinese-owned firm in the US is suing President Barack Obama after he blocked a wind farm deal on national security grounds.

China rejects Gmail spying claims

China rejects Gmail spying claims (bbc)

China has rejected allegations of involvement in a cyber-spying campaign targeting the Google e-mail accounts of top US officials, military personnel and journalists. 

China Suspected ? White House confirms cyber-attack

The White House confirms one of its unclassified computer networks was breached, but will not say if the cyber-attack originated in China.

China's Top politician Bo Xilai accused of Murder & corruption

Bo Xilai accused of China crimes (bbc)

Top politician Bo Xilai is expelled from China's Communist Party and is accused of abuse of power and corruption, state media say.

US ambassador's car attacked in China

The US ambassador's car was surrounded at the gates of the American embassy in Beijing.

The demonstrators chanted anti-American slogans, and threw small objects at the vehicle.

Tensions were high on Tuesday after days of sometimes violent anti-Japanese protests in China, over a chain of disputed islands in the east China Sea.

Japan, China playing dangerous game

Japan, China playing dangerous game (cnn)

The standoff in the East China Sea over a handful of small islands is occurring amid political transition in China and Japan, and both countries are seemingly dug in. Can either side dial down the rhetoric? 

• Relations between China and Japan remain tense amid ongoing islands dispute
• Kingston: This is a dangerous game of brinksmanship, both countries have a lot to lose
• Fueled by territorial disputes, seabed resources, strategic ambitions, nationalism
• Political transition in both countries might be an opportunity to hit the reset button

China's Vice-President Xi healthy, says Panetta

China's Vice-President appears "healthy", the US Defence Secretary said after holding Beijing talks with the leader, who vanished for two weeks.

China's Bo Xilai implicated in wife's crime - state media

China's Bo 'implicated in crime' (bbc)

China's news agency links fallen politician Bo Xilai to a criminal act for the first time, alleging he knew his wife was suspected of murdering a British man.

China media: Anti-Japan protests

China media: Anti-Japan protests (bbc)

Newspapers condemned anti-Japan protests across Chinese cities over the weekend as they turned violent.

Protests were reported in dozens of Chinese cities on Saturday and Sunday in an escalating row over disputed islands in the East China Sea. Riot police were deployed in southern Shenzhen city to disperse angry crowds.

Most of the editorials and commentaries wrote in support of China's sovereignty over the islands, known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, but lambasted protesters for violence. 

US alarm over Asia territory rows

US alarm over Asia territory rows (bbc)

Escalating territorial disputes in Asia, such as the one between China and Japan, could trigger wider conflicts, the US defence secretary warns.

Shaking the hand of China's last Emperor

Meeting history (bbc)

Shaking the hand of China's last Emperor

Bo Xilai scandal: Key players

Bo Xilai scandal: Key players (bbc)

A quick guide to the key figures in the political turmoil surrounding former Chongqing party chief Bo Xilai, triggered by suspected murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.

A full guide to the personalities involved can be found here. 

China: Leaders who rose and fell

Top China official Ling Jihua in surprise demotion

Ling Jihua, a senior Chinese official with close ties to President Hu Jintao, is demoted amid rumours of a scandal.

In pictures: Anti-Japan protests across China over islands

In pictures: Islands dispute (bbc)

Anti-Japan protests across China over islands dispute

Anti-Japanese protests take place in cities across China after Japanese nationalists raised their country's flag on disputed islands.