Hong Kong's grief meets Beijing's red lines
The blaze that consumed Wang Fuk Court burned for two days, but its political shock waves may echo for weeks, even months.
Bang Xiao
Australia
Born in China and having lived in Australia for nearly two decades, Bang Xiao is an award-winning journalist at ABC's Asia Pacific Newsroom who uncovers Chinese politics, ranging from digital censorship and human rights violations to the intricacies of Beijing's diplomacy.
As the supervising producer for ABC News's in-language service, ABC Chinese, Bang's investigation into Australia's illegal visa sponsorship and systemic exploitation earned him a Quill Award in 2021 for Reporting on Multicultural Affairs.
In 2020, his two-week exclusive coverage of over 600 Australians stranded in Wuhan during the earliest days of COVID-19 led to three government evacuation flights.
Bang can be reached via his encrypted email at xiao.bang@pm.me. His work is available in Chinese.
Latest by Bang Xiao
Seven towers burned — but the real fear in Hong Kong is how many could be next
Hong Kong's worst fire in decades exposed long-standing weaknesses in its aging residential blocks. The question haunting the city is whether the disaster could happen again.
Hongkongers built their own SOS map as seven towers burned
When a fatal fire tore through seven high-rise towers in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, thousands of families were glued to a single webpage that offered updates far more quickly than official government briefings.
China's CPTPP bid runs into an old problem — Japan
China's escalating confrontation with Japan is colliding directly with its attempt to join one of the world's most demanding trade agreements.
Silence was strategy, not oversight in Trump's meeting with Xi
Donald Trump's gains are immediate and personal while Xi Jinping's are quiet, reversible, and strategic
China's factories keep running — and its influence keeps growing
For Australia and the US, the Pacific is no longer a comfortable backyard — it's a battleground of credibility.
'To eat bitterness': In the Pacific, there is 'old' Chinese and 'new' Chinese
China's presence in the Pacific is often viewed in the context of geopolitical tension and rivalry. But Chinese people have been in the region for generations — these are their stories.
Xi and Putin overheard talking about organ transplants and immortality
Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have been caught on a live microphone talking about the potential of medicine to extend human life spans and "perhaps even achieve immortality".
The new front in China's soft power strategy: your kids
Beijing is launching a charm offensive aimed at the younger generation of Australians — because shaping minds today means shaping alliances tomorrow.
Xi Jinping has Beijing singing to his tune on Anthony Albanese
The prime minister's visit to Beijing featured an unusual one-on-one meal with China's most powerful man. It's significant in more ways than one.
China backs Iran at the UN – but stops short of putting skin in the game
China has condemned the US strikes on Iran and pushed a ceasefire proposal at the UN. But its actions are more about defending its own interest than shaping the war.
Beijing's inner circle fractures as Xi's top military official disappears
General He Weidong, China's second-ranking military official and a co-vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, has not been seen in public since March.
Why a picture of 'one banana and four apples' could be censored in China
Hundreds of pages of secret documents leaked to the ABC provide a rare glimpse into how human censors and AI erase references to Beijing's violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1989.
Second China visit for Albanese as Xi seeks closer Australia ties
The trip follows a warm letter of congratulations from China's leader following Anthony Albanese's election win.
'Chinese Dream' vs 'America First': What's really behind the tariff war
While the 90-day tariff truce between China and the US is seen as a relief, at the heart of the stand-off is a clash between Donald Trump's America First vision and Xi Jinping's Chinese Dream.
Trump claims 'reset' with China following tariff agreement
The US president says he could speak to China's President Xi Jinping by the end of the week, after the two countries agreed to a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs.
China congratulated Albanese on election night. That tells us a lot
Xi Jinping sees Australia as a strategic partner — a relatively stable player amid the turbulence of Beijing's deteriorating relationship with the United States.
Chinese Australians see frustration and humour in Liberal 'spies' claim
Chinese Australians have pushed back strongly against the Liberal Party, after a video clip emerged of Liberal senator Jane Hume referring to alleged "Chinese spies" volunteering for Labor.
My first time voting in an election as a Chinese Australian
ABC Chinese Supervising Producer, Bang Xiao, has just cast his ballot in Australia's 2025 federal election — the first free vote of his life. #ABCAsiaPacific #Australia #FederalElection #Election #Voting
For him, it was a moment that carried the weight of memory — and a hard-won freedom.
Chinese group denies links to Beijing after roping in election volunteers
The head of a Chinese community group that helped organise volunteers for two candidates has furiously denied he is trying to help China's government influence the federal election.
A journalist's journey from political theatre in China to a confronting vote in Australia
I remember my first vote in China — three candidates, three ballot boxes and voting slips. There was just one thing missing and in Australia, it's everywhere.
Why Xi Jinping remains silent on Pope Francis's death
As leaders from around the world pay tribute to the late Pope Francis, China's President Xi Jinping has not offered his condolences.
Head of the Catholic church, 88, died from heart failure on Easter Monday – as it happened
The Vatican confirms the death of Pope Francis, who sat at the head of a church encompassing more than 1 billion worshippers worldwide. Follow Monday's events as they happened.
'Going to China with an empty suitcase': US shoppers swap tips to beat tariffs
Chinese factories are trying to sell directly to American consumers on social media platforms in a bid to bypass the 145 per cent tariff hike imposed by Donald Trump.
'Don't give them a cent': Chinese netizens boycott US goods in trade war
Chinese social media has exploded with memes mocking the Trump administration's hefty tariffs on the country.