Tag: China

‘Let’s each manage our own business’: Top Chinese diplomat on US’ remarks on human rights abuses
7Feb By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

‘Let’s each manage our own business’: Top Chinese diplomat on US’ remarks on human rights abuses

In a sharp response to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling out Beijing for its gross human rights violations in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, the top foreign policy aide to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Yang Jiechi has said “let’s each manage our own business.”Yang told Blinken during their Friday call that the US should “correct recent mistakes, and work with China to promote the healthy and stable development of China-US relations by upholding the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation,” according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.Yang said that both sides should respect the other’s core interests, as well as political systems and developmental paths of their own choosing, according to the statement.“Each side should focus ...
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Quad countries working to arrange first meeting amid China’s growing influence
7Feb By Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia, China, World

Quad countries working to arrange first meeting amid China’s growing influence

Amid China’s growing influence, members of the Quad countries - the US, India, Japan and Australia - are working to arrange the first meeting of their leaders, according to media reports.This comes as the US President Joe Biden’s new administration has expressed its eagerness to build on renewed attention to the grouping of the four major Indo-Pacific democracies. National security adviser Jake Sullivan even called it “a foundation upon which to build substantial American policy in the Indo-Pacific”.According to a source, the US has already proposed to other countries the idea of holding an online meeting of the Quad leaders.During the envisioned meeting, the Quad members are expected to discuss cooperation for the realisation of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” amid concerns over China’s ma...
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Taiwan accuses China of ‘bullying’ after Guyana calls off agreement
5Feb By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

Taiwan accuses China of ‘bullying’ after Guyana calls off agreement

Taipei has lashed out at China for “bullying” and “suppression” after Guyana terminated an agreement with Taiwan to set up a representative office in the South American country.Taiwan’s remarks come after the Guyanese Foreign Ministry issued a statement announcing the termination of the agreement soon after China called the accord a “mistake”.On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded to the “agreement,” urging Guyana to “earnestly take steps to correct their mistake.”There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, said Wang.“We hope the relevant party will abide by the one-China principle, refrain from any form of official exchanges and establishment of official institutions with Taiwan, take concrete actions to correct the er...
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Tibetan community in France protest against Tibetan monk’s brutal killing in Chinese prison
1Feb By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

Tibetan community in France protest against Tibetan monk’s brutal killing in Chinese prison

Condemning the horrific death of a monk in a Chinese prison, the Tibetan community held a demonstration outside the Chinese embassy in Paris calling for the freedom of Tibet from Chinese rule.Tenzin Nyima, the 19-year-old monk died of injuries sustained from beatings and “torture” in a Chinese prison in Sichuan’s Kardze prefecture after being released in a comatose state by his jailers.The protest was organised by Students for Free Tibet on Saturday.The demonstrators called for freedom of Tibet from Chinese rule, stating that they would not be silenced due to oppression by China. They carried Tibetans’ flags and placards and raised slogans against the Xi Jinping government.Though local authorities in Paris had advised the organisers that they should adhere to the covid-19 guidelines and re...
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Taiwan court sentences Chinese national to 26 years in jail for killing pirates
1Feb By Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

Taiwan court sentences Chinese national to 26 years in jail for killing pirates

A Chinese national has been given 26 years of imprisonment in Taiwan after he was found guilty of ordering the killing of four pirates at sea in 2012 while serving as the captain of a Taiwanese fishing vessel.Wang Fangyu, 43, was convicted of homicide and for breaching the controlling guns knives and ammunition acts.The incident took place in September 2012 and came to light in 2014 when a 10-minute video clip of the fatal shootings was circulated on the internet.Last week, the district court ruled that the killing of the unarmed men showed that he clearly had no respect for human life. Wang had asked two Pakistani mercenaries he hired as the acting captain of the Ping Shin to fire at and kill four suspected Somali pirates that day, the court said.Wang, a Zhejiang-native, was hired by a Ka...
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US State Secy, EU Representative discuss ‘strong cooperation’ on China
30Jan By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

US State Secy, EU Representative discuss ‘strong cooperation’ on China

While discussing ways to further US-EU bilateral ties, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell agreed to continue 'strong cooperation' on issues related to China."Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell today to discuss ways to repair, revitalize, and raise the level of ambition in the US-EU relationship," the State Department said in a statement."The Secretary and the High Representative also agreed to continue strong US-EU cooperation on issues related to China," the statement said.Blinken thanked Borrel for the European Union's leadership in various areas and emphasized the United ...
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Nepalese businessmen protest against ‘undeclared blockade’ by China
30Jan By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

Nepalese businessmen protest against ‘undeclared blockade’ by China

Suffering huge loses, local businessmen in Nepal have launched a protest in Rasuwa against China’s ‘undeclared blockade’ of cross-border trade.During the demonstration, businessmen gathered in front of the Rasuwagadhi Customs Office holding placards with messages such as “ensure smooth movement of containers”, “ensure the safety of Nepalis living at the border”, “abide by international trade laws”, “abide by trade and transit agreements”, “take initiative for easy trade with China”, and “end undeclared blockade”.They said that importing Chinese goods through the crucial Rasuwagadhi border was very difficult. Nepali businessmen have also complained that they had to pay a hefty bribe to Chinese agents to import goods across the border.Earlier, locals had staged a protest against China at Tat...
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China’s dam-building over Brahmaputra risks water war with India
25Jan By Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia, China, World

China’s dam-building over Brahmaputra risks water war with India

In a move which could lead to conflicts between China and India, Beijing is planning to build a mega-dam on the Yarlung Zangbao, the world's highest river, which flows through Tibet and eventually becomes the Brahmaputra when it enters India.   The Yarlung Zangbao Dam plan is moving ahead without China discussing or entering into water-sharing agreements with downstream India or Bangladesh. Bangladesh, which maintains cordial relations with China, too protested over the Yarlung Zangbao Dam.Bertil Linter, a Swedish journalist, in an opinion piece wrote that precise technical details regarding the mega-dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River are lacking, but regional media reports indicate it will likely dwarf the massive Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River and generate three times as much electri...
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China adopts law giving coastguards power to fire foreign vessels in disputed waters
25Jan By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, Singapore, World

China adopts law giving coastguards power to fire foreign vessels in disputed waters

China’s top legislative body, the National People's Congress Standing Committee, has passed a law that gives power to its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels and demolish structures built in disputed waters.Although it is yet to be ascertained whether the law will be applied to all waters claimed by Beijing but the move is expected to escalate tensions between China and its neighbours in the East and South China Seas.The law was passed on Friday and empowers the coastguard to use "all necessary means" to deter threats posed by foreign vessels in waters "under China's jurisdiction". It will also allow the coastguards to launch pre-emptive strikes without prior warning if commanders deem it necessary.Under the new bill, coastguard personnel can demolish structures built or installed by oth...
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China’s illegal ‘profiteering’ in power sector leads to blackouts in Pakistan: Report
23Jan By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

China’s illegal ‘profiteering’ in power sector leads to blackouts in Pakistan: Report

A recent report has claimed that the billions which China has invested in Pakistan’s power sector and all the deals made with Pakistan contributed to the recent nationwide blackout, which is likely to return in future.A report of the nine-member committee headed by Muhammad Ali, a former chairperson of the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) of April 2020 FM Shakil, in an opinion piece said the report has made startling revelations about widespread malpractice in the power sector.The report exposed the extent of Independent Power Producer (IPP) corruption, including among Chinese units installed under a government-to-government arrangement for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related operation.The report traced 100 billion Pakistani rupees (USD 625 million) in annual...
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