China

Japan to play placeholder role in Asia as Biden gets his house in order
11Jan By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, Singapore, World

Japan to play placeholder role in Asia as Biden gets his house in order

When U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy gets the boot on Jan. 20, it will be replaced by Joe Biden’s more outward-looking and cooperative approach in Asia — one in which Japan is widely expected to play an integral part. As Washington looks warily at China’s rise, it will aim for Japan to play a placeholder role as the Biden White House focuses immediately on reining in the coronavirus pandemic that has left about 340,000 dead in the U.S. “They’ll have no choice but to take care of that damage first,” a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity. “This will be less about (the Asia-Pacific region) being lowered in priority than about repairing that damage.” In the meantime, Tokyo “will continue to act as a ‘placeholder’ for the incoming adm...
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World shares down from record highs as COVID-19 cases top 90 million
11Jan By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, Market, World

World shares down from record highs as COVID-19 cases top 90 million

Asian shares took a breather on Monday while Treasury yields were at 10-month highs as "trillions" in new U.S. fiscal stimulus plans were set to be unveiled this week, stoking a global reflation trade. LONDON: World shares slipped from record highs on Monday as caution over rising coronavirus cases saw some profit-taking from investors, while Treasury yields remained close to 10-month highs, indicating expectations for global reflation from anticipated U.S. fiscal stimulus. Worldwide coronavirus cases surpassed 90 million on Monday, according to Reuters tally. European shares dipped in early trading, with rising coronavirus cases across the continent and China dragging down commodity stocks. Germany's DAX lost 0.75per cent, Britain's FTSE 100, Italy's FTSE MIB, and France's CAC 40 f...
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China makes representation to UK over meddling in Hong Kong Affairs: Foreign Ministry
7Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

China makes representation to UK over meddling in Hong Kong Affairs: Foreign Ministry

A day after the United Kingdom slammed China for the arrest of over 50 pro-democracy politicians and activists, Beijing on Thursday said that Hong Kong was a territory of China and any interference in its domestic affairs amounted to an “infringement on its sovereignty.“In response to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s statement, China made a strong representation to the UK side,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Thursday.Hua claimed that Hong Kong was a territory of China and, therefore, any interference in its domestic affairs amounted to an “infringement on Chinese sovereignty.”“The United Kingdom should abandon its colonizer mentality and illusions about the continuing colonial influence on Hong Kong. It should as well abandon hypocrisy and double standards, ...
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China slams latest top-level US official visit to Taiwan
7Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

China slams latest top-level US official visit to Taiwan

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement on Thursday of the latest visit by a top-level US official to Taiwan has irked China with Beijing calling it “extremely wrong”.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had announced earlier that Kelly Craft, the US ambassador to the UN, would soon travel to the island, calling it "a reliable partner and vibrant democracy that has flourished despite CCP (Chinese Communist Party) efforts to undermine its great success"."Taiwan shows what a free China could achieve," he added.Pompeo announced the trip by Kelly Craft condemning the mass arrests of 53 democracy activists – including former lawmakers and an American lawyer – in Hong Kong.He said the arrests were an “outrage and a reminder of the Chinese Communist Party’s contempt for its own people and t...
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Alibaba group founder Jack Ma suspected missing amid conflict with Chinese regime
4Jan mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, China

Alibaba group founder Jack Ma suspected missing amid conflict with Chinese regime

Chinese billionaire and Alibaba founder Jack Ma is suspected missing following reports that he has not made any public appearance in the last two months.This comes amid his deepening conflict with the Chinese government.Ma is considered one of China’s internet pioneers, building an ecommerce empire with Alibaba and a fintech giant with the Ant Group.He was to appear as a judge in the final episode of his own talent show, ‘Africa’s Business Heroes' but he did not turn up. Consequently, his photos were reportedly removed from the show’s website. The show provides African entrepreneurs the chance to compete for a slice of $1.5 million prize money.“Due to a schedule conflict Mr Ma could no longer be part of the finale judge panel of Africa’s Business Heroes earlier this year (2020),” an Alibab...
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Under Xi Jinping, China will not be able to join Trans-Pacific Partnership FTA: Japan PM
4Jan mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, China

Under Xi Jinping, China will not be able to join Trans-Pacific Partnership FTA: Japan PM

As long as China has its current regime, Beijing will not be able to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade agreement, Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said on Sunday.Speaking to a commercial broadcaster’s radio programme, Yoshihide said that he believes countries where businesses are run by the state will find it difficult to join the TPP because its regulations are set at levels that are too high for such a business structure to follow.He was responding to Xi Jinping’s recent remarks that China “is positive about joining the pact”.On November 20, China’s President Xi Jinping had said that China is open to joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, in a likely move to bolster the country’s presence in Asia while the US focuses on its presidential transition.China...
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In New Year’s speech, Taiwan urges China to have “meaningful” talks
1Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia, China

In New Year’s speech, Taiwan urges China to have “meaningful” talks

In her New year speech, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday said that the country is willing to have "meaningful" talks with China as equals as long as they are willing to put aside confrontation.Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has come under increasing pressure from Beijing, which has ramped up military activity near the island.China says it is responding to "collusion" between Washington and Taipei, angered at growing US support for the self-governed island. Beijing views this a precursor to Taiwan declaring formal independence.Speaking at the presidential office, Tsai said that in the past year, Chinese military activity near Taiwan has threatened peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."I want to reiterate, that when it comes to cross-strait r...
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US calls for release of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan
31Dec mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

US calls for release of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called for the release of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan who was detained in May for her live stream reporting from Wuhan over Covid-19 and later sentenced to four years of imprisonment."The United States strongly condemns the People's Republic of China's (PRC) sham prosecution and conviction of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan on December 28. We call on the PRC government to release her immediately and unconditionally," Pompeo said in a statement.This comes after a Shanghai court sentenced Zhang to four years in prison on charges of disseminating information that provokes conflict.Pompeo said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has shown once again that it will do whatever it takes to silence those who question its official line, even regarding c...
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Jack Ma and the Chinese Economic Identity Crisis
30Dec By Online DeskNo Comments
Asia, China, Market

Jack Ma and the Chinese Economic Identity Crisis

The CCP has time and again demonstrated its nonchalant use of tyrannic authority over its own citizens; a rather transparent demonstration of its execution of oppressive control can be seen with the implementation of the social credit system; it provides a template for its citizens for acceptable social behavior. Offenses such as purchasing too many video games, spending money frivolously, and driving poorly, can warrant throttled internet connections, domestic travel bans, restricted access to education and employment, etc. Ironically, at the same time, China stands as an elected member of the UN Human Rights Council as of 13 October 2020. Unfortunately, the conventions of international affairs overlook these atrocities for the sake of diplomatic survival. In doing so, nations have au...
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EU and China to sign investment deal amid unease over rights
29Dec mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, Market, World

EU and China to sign investment deal amid unease over rights

Despite rising concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, the European Union (EU) and China are set to sign a business investment deal, which, EU hopes will help correct an imbalance in market access and create new investment opportunities for European companies in China by ensuring they can compete on an equal footing.According to an EU official with direct knowledge of the talks, the provisional agreement is set to be announced on Wednesday.The deal was sealed after China committed to pursuing ratification of the International Labor Organization's rules on forced labor, according to the unnamed official.The EU previously said the agreement, known as CAI, which includes provisions for settling disputes, should increase the transparency of Chinese state subsidies and make susta...
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