#SCOOP Biden to warn #China over aggressive acts around #SecondThomasShoal in South China Sea, arguably most dangerous #flashpoint as Washington worries China will trigger US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty

ft.com/content/be5f84… Tensions revolve around the #SierraMadre, rusty World War 2 era ship that the Philippines deliberately grounded on #SecondThomasShoal in 1999 ⛴️📷👇

INVESTIGATION #ChinaSpies

How a Chinese spy ran a Belgian politician as an intelligence asset — Joint investigation with @DerSpiegel & @LeMondefr based on 3.5 years of texts between the MSS case officer and his asset in Brussels.

on.ft.com/3No90xC Daniel Woo, a Chinese spy, was operating remotely from the Zhejiang branch of China’s MSS spy agency. Zhejiang has a focus on targets in Europe. And Brussels is seen as a soft target because Belgian counter intelligence lacks the resources to tackle the threat.

#SCOOP US allies are very concerned that @JoeBiden is considering a landmark shift in nuclear policy that would undermine the #NuclearUmbrella that protects them, as #China rapidly expands its military, including nuclear-capable #hypersonic weapon on.ft.com/3BuxTi2 France, Germany, UK, Japan, Australia and others have told US they are opposed to "No First Use" and "Sole Purpose" nuclear policies. Some are worried that Biden not aware of their opposition. (Me and @HenryJFoy)

SCOOP – #China has stunned US intelligence and military officials by testing a #nuclear capable #hypersonic missile that traveled through low orbit in space, making a full circle around the globe before speeding towards its target.
on.ft.com/3vqpXx1 Missile missed target by couple of dozen miles, but people familiar with the test say China demonstrated a stunning capability that nobody thought they already had mastered.

SCOOP - US & Japan have been conducting top-secret war games to prepare for possible #war with #China over Taiwan on.ft.com/364gMXq (me & @kathrinhille @FT) Japan became more willing to conduct joint planning after the Abe government reinterpreted the constitution in 2015 and as China's military became more assertive around Taiwan and the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

SCOOP – #China refusing to take call from US defense secretary #LloydAustin (@SecDef) who has made 3 requests. General Mark Milley, chairman of joint chiefs, has also not spoken to his Chinese counterpart since @JoeBiden took office on.ft.com/3bFeLnF Austin is pushing to talk to General Xu Qiliang, vice-chair of the Central Military Commission & Politburo member, and not the less powerful defense minister Wei Fenghe

#SCOOP - Biden administration has relaxed restrictions on US officials meeting counterparts from #Taiwan, in yet another example that taking tough stance towards Beijing. #China on.ft.com/3mAWdJC US officials will be able to meet Taiwanese officials at federal government offices, and also at the de facto Taiwanese embassy and consulates across the US.

Anthony #Fauci tells @FT he has not briefed @realDonaldTrump in two months and not seen him at the White House since early June.

ft.com/content/57834c… On a good day, I get 100 RTs. This one has 2400 & rising so #Fauci seems to be resonating - except with Trump. Hats off to my colleague @hannahkuchler who did the interview.

on.ft.com/3fiONGa