China put on an extravagant display of once-secret high-end military technology at its largest air show this week while broadcasting its growing ambitions in space exploration and for self-sufficiency in commercial aircraft. Pandemic-related travel restrictions meant Airshow China in the southern city of Zhuhai was a largely domestic affair, but …
Read More »China’s Xi warns of ‘grim’ Taiwan situation in letter to opposition
The situation in the Taiwan Strait is “complex and grim”, Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote in a congratulatory letter on Sunday to the newly elected leader of Taiwan’s main opposition party, who has pledged to renew talks with Beijing. Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT) elected as their leader on Saturday former New …
Read More »Canada releases Huawei CFO after deal with US; China frees two Canadians
The Canadian government has released a top executive of Chinese communications giant Huawei held in the country on allegations of US fraud charges, a move that shortly prompted the release of two Canadians detained in China for spying. Media reports said Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou flew home to …
Read More »Huawei CFO Meng to appear in court, expected to reach agreement with US: Reuters
She had been indicted on bank and wire fraud charges for allegedly misleading HSBC about Huawei’s business dealings in Iran. Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou and US prosecutors are expected to appear in court to say they have reached an agreement to resolve charges against her, according to …
Read More »China turns the screws on crypto, Bitcoin stumbles
China intensified a crackdown on cryptocurrency trading on Friday, vowing to root out “illegal” activity and banning crypto mining nationwide, hitting bitcoin and other major coins, and pressuring crypto and blockchain-related stocks. Ten Chinese government agencies, including the central bank as well as banking, securities, and foreign exchange regulators, said …
Read More »China wraps up first multinational peacekeeping exercise
China wrapped up the country’s first multinational peacekeeping exercise on Wednesday, demonstrating the extent of its military might on a huge training ground ringed by mountains. China’s defense spending is the second-largest in the world after the US, and tensions have dramatically increased between rival powers as Beijing has poured …
Read More »China shows off defense diplomacy with multinational peacekeeping exercise
China has highlighted its role in United Nations peacekeeping operations by hosting multinational exercises called “Shared Destiny 2021.” About 1,000 troops from China, Pakistan, Mongolia and Thailand participated in the comprehensive exercise, which kicked off on September 6 at a training base in Queshan County of central China’s Henan Province, …
Read More »Slovenia’s PM urges EU to stand with Lithuania against Chinese pressure
The European Union must stand with Lithuania against Chinese pressure and not give in to trade threats, Slovenia’s prime minister said in a letter to fellow EU leaders, according to a copy seen by Reuters. China’s decision to withdraw its ambassador to Lithuania over a dispute about Taiwan was “reprehensible” …
Read More »China FM visits Singapore in bid to challenge US regional influence
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held talks with the Singaporean leader, foreign and deputy prime ministers in separate meetings on his two-day visit to Singapore. The visit is part of Wang’s six-day trip to four countries – Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and South Korea – in the region that started …
Read More »Biden to host leaders of Australia, Japan, India Sept. 24 – White House
US President Joe Biden will host a first in-person summit of leaders of the “Quad” countries – Australia, India, Japan, and the United States – which have been seeking to enhance cooperation to push back against alleged China’s growing assertiveness. The summit will be held at the White House on …
Read More »Shanghai suspends schools, flights as typhoon approaches mainland China
Authorities in Shanghai and neighboring coastal regions canceled flights and suspended schools, subways, and trains as Typhoon Chanthu approached mainland China after drenching Taiwan. The storm, with winds of more than 170 kilometers per hour near its eye, had been downgraded from a super typhoon to a strong typhoon on …
Read More »Japan, Vietnam sign defense transfer deal amid China worries
Japan can now give defense equipment and technology to Vietnam under an agreement signed Saturday, as the two countries step up their military cooperation amid worries about China’s growing military influence. Japan’s Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said the deal elevates their defense partnership “to a new level” and that Japan …
Read More »Biden talks to Xi as US-China relationship grows more fraught
US President Joe Biden spoke with China’s Xi Jinping on Thursday amid growing frustration on the American side that high-level engagement between the two leaders’ top advisers has been largely unfruitful in the early going of the Biden presidency. Biden initiated the call with Xi, the second between the two …
Read More »Deadly bat caves & humanized mice tests: Released docs describe ‘HIGHEST RISK’ involved in US-funded coronavirus research in Wuhan
Documents obtained by The Intercept reveal that the US government-funded studies into coronavirus in bats in Wuhan long before the pandemic, with the proposal showing it was aware of the risk that researchers would be infected. More than 900 pages of material related to this research were published on the …
Read More »Beijing concerned about NATO’s ‘China nuclear threat theory’
China has expressed concern about NATO’s assertions about an alleged nuclear threat from Beijing, stressing that the country is not involved in any arms race and its nuclear activities are for national security purposes. “China is gravely concerned about and firmly opposes the ‘China nuclear threat theory’ NATO has been …
Read More »German ambassador to China dies two weeks into the job
Germany’s ambassador to China Jan Hecker died suddenly, less than two weeks after taking up his post, the European nation’s foreign office said on Monday. Hecker, 54, a foreign policy adviser to Chancellor Angela Merkel, had presented his credentials at China’s foreign ministry on August 24, the embassy in the …
Read More »Rally marks 1,000 days since two Canadians detained in China over Huawei dispute
Supporters of two Canadians accused of spying and held in prison in China for 1,000 days rallied on Sunday, demanding their release in a case that has soured diplomatic ties between Ottawa and Beijing. Businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were detained in December 2018, shortly after Canada …
Read More »US Scientist Claims He Heard About Covid Breakout Two Weeks Before Beijing Reported First Cases
Washington and Beijing remain locked in a high-stakes battle to convince the world that the other was responsible for causing the global coronavirus pandemic, a calamity that has caused more than 4.5 million deaths, devastated economies around the planet, and led to severe restrictions in personal freedoms in some countries. …
Read More »Taiwan scrambles jets against flyby by 19 Chinese aircraft
Taipei says nuclear-capable bombers were among planes entering the air identification zone Taiwan’s air force scrambled on Sunday against renewed Chinese military activity, with its defence ministry reporting that 19 aircraft including nuclear-capable bombers had flown into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone. Chinese-claimed Taiwan has complained for a year or …
Read More »Brazil suspends China beef exports after confirming two mad cow disease cases
Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter, has suspended beef exports to its No. 1 customer China after confirming two cases of “atypical” mad cow disease in two separate domestic meat plants, the agriculture ministry said on Saturday. The suspension, which is part of an animal health pact agreed between China …
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