China’s exports of rare earth products fell in September from a month earlier, as Beijing’s tighter controls on strategic minerals ripple through global supply chains and heighten tensions with Washington.

By David Lawder and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Top U.S. officials on Wednesday blasted China's major expansion of rare earth export controls as a threat to global supply chains, but said Beijing could still change course and avoid steps by Washington to decouple from the world's second-largest economy.

The gathering reminds the U.S. government, on the verge of possibly its longest shutdown in history, that China is a big believer in planning. Beijing has held the strategy-setting meeting twice every decade since the 1950s to rally the country around specific social and economic goals.

The latest spat over rare earth controls underscores how both sides continue to talk past each other, writes Lizzi C. Lee.

Foreign affairs minister Anita Anand met with China's counterpart Friday to restart the dialog over shared objectives, including environment, energy and health.

Evidence prepared for a collapsed espionage trial was published by an under-pressure government in Britain, offering a window into Western countries’ struggle to define Beijing as friend or foe.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan ’s main opposition Nationalist Party chose a former lawmaker as its new chairperson on Saturday in a competitive election clouded by allegations of China’s meddling.

China threatened Britain with “consequences” if the Government does not give approval for a new mega-embassy in London. Beijing hit out after Communities Secretary Steve Reed delayed a decision on the controversial development at the Royal Mint Court site in Tower Hamlets from October 21 to December 10.

A last-minute cancellation led the nonprofit to pull together a timely new exhibition of contemporary Chinese works in just a few months.