Robert Marquand

After the Chen and Hao cases in Australia this week, a Beijing-based diplomat sheds light on the nature of China's extensive efforts to monitor religious and media activity.

The leaders of China and Japan appear likely to meet this weekend, prodded by Asian neighbours' concerns over unstable relations between the two.

Weeks after North Korea pulled out of six-nation talks and claimed it has nuclear weapons, the new US top diplomat is coming to town.

There's a reservoir of anger existing just below China's social surface, as well as a growing "consciousness of rights".