Written by Lisa Murimi 

China has successfully launched its Shenzhou-21 spacecraft,  carrying the country’s youngest astronaut to date, Wu Fei, 32, as part of its ongoing mission to the Tiangong (“Heavenly Palace”) space station, state media reported on Friday.

The spacecraft lifted off atop a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. 

It marks the seventh crewed mission to the permanently inhabited Tiangong station since its completion in 2022.

Joining Wu on the six-month mission are Commander Zhang Lu, 48, a veteran of the 2022 Shenzhou-15 mission, and Zhang Hongzhang, 39, another first-time astronaut. 

The trio will take over operations from the Shenzhou-20 crew, who are scheduled to return to Earth in the coming days.

In a first for China’s space program, the astronauts were accompanied by four black mice, the first small mammals to live aboard the space station. 

Scientists will use the animals to study reproduction in low Earth orbit, an experiment that could shed light on how life might be sustained on long-duration missions beyond Earth.

The launch continues China’s rapid progress in space exploration, with the Shenzhou programme now launching biannual missions as part of its long-term space strategy. 

In recent years, the programme has achieved several milestones, including its first astronauts born in the 1990s, a record-breaking spacewalk, and plans to send the first foreign astronaut — from Pakistan — to Tiangong in 2026. 

These achievements have attracted global attention and heightened competition with the United States.

 Washington has expressed concern over China’s growing capabilities, as both countries race to expand their influence beyond Earth. The U.S. is also fast-tracking its own Artemis programme to return astronauts to the moon before China does.

Meanwhile, China and Russia are promoting their International Lunar Research Station, viewed as a rival initiative to the U.S.-led Artemis Accords, which set out norms for lunar exploration.

The Shenzhou-21 mission underscores China’s ambitions to become a major space power, building self-reliance in technology and pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight.

 As Beijing eyes deeper space exploration, the youthful faces of its new astronaut corps symbolize the next generation of its rapidly advancing space programme.

Written by Lisa Murimi

Taiwan’s representative to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Presidential Adviser Lin Hsin-i, met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Saturday to discuss semiconductor cooperation and supply chain security amid growing regional trade tensions.

The 40-minute meeting, held on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, focused on strengthening collaboration in the high-tech sector, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing — an area where Taiwan plays a dominant global role.

Lin said the discussions were “wide-ranging,” covering technology partnerships, economic resilience, and the safeguarding of supply chains. 

He added that Bessent expressed strong interest in learning how Taiwan built its globally competitive semiconductor industry. 

“He listened with great interest about how our high-tech cluster developed and the history behind it,” Lin told reporters.

Taiwan’s government has been lobbying Washington to reduce the 20% tariffs imposed on its exports to the United States, excluding semiconductors. 

Lin did not confirm whether any progress was made on the issue but emphasized the importance of continued dialogue between Taipei and Washington to ensure economic stability.

The U.S. Treasury Department has not yet commented on the meeting. Although the U.S. has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it remains the island’s strongest international backer and key security partner.

President Donald Trump left South Korea before the APEC leaders’ summit began, following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, leaving Bessent to lead the U.S. delegation.

 The summit brought together regional leaders to discuss trade, supply chain security, and digital innovation amid global economic uncertainty.

At the event, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also met Lin, underscoring Tokyo’s ongoing support for Taiwan’s participation in international economic forums.

Despite both being present, Lin and Xi did not interact during the summit’s group photo session, continuing a pattern from last year’s APEC meeting in Peru, where the two leaders exchanged only a brief wave.

China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, is set to host the 2026 APEC summit in Shenzhen. Taiwan’s officials have called on Beijing to uphold its commitment to ensure the safety and participation of all members.

As U.S.-China tensions rise, Taiwan’s growing diplomatic engagements at APEC highlight its determination to safeguard its economic interests and assert its presence in global trade discussions.