China’s President Xi Jinping on Wednesday spoke with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Chinese state television said. China will unswervingly develop friendly relations with Iran and the two sides should continue to support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, Xi was quoted by the state …
Read More »Beijing holds assault drills near Chinese Taipei in response to ‘provocations’
Beijing has held military assault drills near Chinese Taipei, in what its armed forces described as a show of force against “provocations” and “external interference” in the mainland’s affairs. China’s military said in a statement on Tuesday that it had dispatched warships, anti-submarine aircraft and fighter to carry out “joint …
Read More »China says ready to establish ‘friendly, cooperative ties’ with Afghanistan under Taliban
China says it is ready to deepen “friendly and cooperative” relations with Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press briefing on Monday that China welcomed the chance to deepen ties with Afghanistan. “We welcome this. China …
Read More »China holds assault drills near Taiwan after ‘provocations’
China carried out assault drills near Taiwan on Tuesday with warships and fighter jets exercising off the southwest and southeast of the island, in what the country’s armed forces said was a response to “external interference” and “provocations”. Taiwan, which Beijing claims as Chinese territory, has complained of repeated People’s …
Read More »China economy under pressure as factory output, retail sales growth slow sharply
China’s factory output and retail sales growth slowed sharply and missed expectations in July, as new COVID-19 outbreaks and floods disrupted business operations, adding to signs the economic recovery is losing momentum. Industrial production in the world’s second largest economy increased 6.4% year-on-year in July, data from the National Bureau …
Read More »Global shares, Oil slip as Chinese economy unexpectedly stumbles
Global shares slid on Monday after a raft of Chinese economic indicators showed a surprisingly sharp slowdown in the engine of global growth, just as much of the world race to stem the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 with vaccinations. A 10-day run of gains for European stocks …
Read More »Detainee says China has secret jail for Uighurs – in Dubai
Woman says she was held for days at a Chinese-run secret detention facility in Dubai along with at least two Uighurs. A young Chinese woman says she was held for eight days at a Chinese-run secret detention facility in Dubai along with at least two Uighurs, in what may be …
Read More »Russia, China conclude massive anti-terror drills, vow closer alliance
Russia and China have wrapped up their five-day joint strategic military drills in Northwest China involving over 10,000 troops and advanced weaponry as top officials in both countries vowed further collaborations amid rising US-led provocations in eastern Europe and the pacific. The last day of the drills – dubbed Zapad/Interaction-2021 …
Read More »China rejects WHO call for further coronavirus origins probe
China has rejected the World Health Organization (WHO)’s calls for a new probe into the origins of the coronavirus, saying it supports “scientific” over “political” efforts to find out how the virus started. The rejection came on Friday after the WHO urged Beijing to share raw data from the earliest …
Read More »China’s new U.S. envoy stresses importance of Taiwan in first high-level meeting
China’s newly appointed ambassador in Washington stressed the utmost importance of Taiwan in the Sino-U.S. relationship during his first meeting with a top U.S. official since assuming the job, according to Chinese state media. Qin Gang, 55, who has earned a reputation for pointed public defences of his country’s positions, …
Read More »China calls on the US to stop sending wrong signals to Taipei’s separatist forces
China has urged the United States to stop interfering in the affairs of Chinese Taipei and sending wrong signals to separatist forces in the self-governed Chinese island. Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s State Council, made the remarks at a regular news conference in Beijing on …
Read More »Trudeau condemns Chinese court’s 11-year sentence in Canadian’s espionage case
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a Chinese court’s sentencing of Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison for espionage on Wednesday was “absolutely unacceptable” and called for his immediate release. The United States embassy in Beijing also condemned the sentencing in a statement, saying that proceedings against …
Read More »Hong Kong leader favors adopting China law to respond to foreign sanctions
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has thrown her weight behind the adoption of a law introduced by Beijing to uphold the territory’s sovereignty in the face of foreign interference and sanctions. Lam said on Tuesday that her government would do its utmost to fulfill its constitutional responsibility, adding, “The purpose …
Read More »Russian, Chinese forces kick off massive joint military drills in Ningxia
Russia and China are taking part in massive joint military drills in China’s north-central region of Ningxia, in what is widely viewed as the two superpowers’ intention to boost their operational capabilities vis-a-vis the United States. Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that more than 10,000 troops …
Read More »Oil recovers from three-week low amid a surge in Delta variant infections
Oil prices rose more than 1% on Tuesday, recouping some of the losses in the previous session when prices hit a three-week low, but gains are likely to be limited on worries that rising COVID-19 cases and restrictions in China will dent fuel demand. Brent crude was up by 84 …
Read More »US and China clash at UN over South China Sea disputes
The United States and China clashed over actions in the South China Sea at a high-level U.N. Security Council meeting on maritime security Monday that also put a spotlight on attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and drug and human trafficking in the …
Read More »Oil slumps 4% on China virus curbs and climate warning
Oil prices fell by 4% on Monday, extending last week’s steep losses on the back of a rising U.S. dollar and concerns that new coronavirus-related restrictions in Asia, especially China, could slow a global recovery in fuel demand. A United Nations panel’s dire warning on climate change also added to …
Read More »China’s Submarines Attempt to Shadow UK Aircraft Carrier Heading to Pacific, British Media Claims
Chinese nuclear submarines tried to secretly follow UK aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth that was moving into the Pacific Ocean but were soon identified, the Express newspaper reported on Sunday. Queen Elizabeth was on the way from the South China Sea to the Pacific, when sonar radars aboard the ships …
Read More »Blinken expresses US concern about China’s growing nuclear arsenal
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed deep concern about China’s growing nuclear arsenal during a meeting with foreign ministers of Asian countries and partner nations, the State Department said on Friday. Addressing a virtual meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which groups more than two dozen countries, Blinken …
Read More »China blasts US offer of ‘safe havens’ for Hong Kong residents
China has strongly criticized the United States’ recent offer of a temporary “safe haven” to people from Hong Kong, describing the move as “violently intervening” in the semi-autonomous city’s internal affairs. China’s Foreign Ministry Office in Hong Kong made the remarks in a statement on Friday after the administration of …
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