China News Stories
Politics & Law
China has lost Taiwan, and they know it
“Not a chance,” the president’s tweet said, in Chinese characters. That was the message from Tsai Ing-wen, the leader of Taiwan, on Nov. 5, after the Chinese government announced a string of initiatives to lure Taiwanese companies and residents to the mainland. “Beijing’s new 26 measures are part of a greater effort to force a … Continue reading
China holds out carrot ahead of Taiwan election, but few convinced
China is stepping up efforts to be nice to Taiwan ahead of key elections on Jan. 11, offering better treatment to Taiwanese in China and urging the democratic island to “come home,” but many there only see Beijing wielding a threatening stick. China denies interfering in elections in Taiwan, which Beijing claims as sacred territory, … Continue reading
China vows to retaliate with ‘firm counter measures’ over U.S. Hong Kong rights law
China warned the United States on Thursday it would take “firm counter measures” in response to U.S. legislation backing anti-government protesters in Hong Kong, and said attempts to interfere in the Chinese-ruled city were doomed to fail. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law congressional legislation which supported the protesters, despite angry objections from Beijing, … Continue reading
Hong Kong’s landslide democratic win puts pressure on leader Carrie Lam
Hong Kong‘s leader pledged to listen to public opinion on Monday and referred to deep-seated problems in society after a landslide election victory by opponents of Chinese rule amid months of sometimes violent pro-democracy unrest. Democratic candidates secured almost 90% of 452 district council seats in Sunday’s poll, held during a rare weekend lull in … Continue reading
‘Dictators’: Europe is waking up to threats from China, defence experts say
China’s attempt to gain economic influence in Europe poses major strategic threats to American allies, according to defense officials, including one on the front lines of NATO. “We really need to be careful that, as well, China would not be dictators [of] us economically,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis told the Washington Examiner. Lithuania, a … Continue reading
From Singapore to Sweden, China’s overbearing campaign for influence is forcing countries to resist and recalibrate relations with Beijing
Russia’s efforts to influence elections in the United States and Europe were a wake-up call about the threat of foreign influence in domestic public opinion and politics, blatantly violating norms of non-interference. China is not guilty of Russia’s excesses, but Beijing’s information and influence campaign has affected countries from Singapore to Sweden, causing many to … Continue reading
Beijing’s plan to tighten its grip on Hong Kong could spell the end of China’s economic dream
Although the rapid escalation of violence in Hong Kong seems terrifying enough, things may be about to get much worse. The communique of the recently concluded fourth plenum of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party indicates that Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to tighten his grip on the former British colony at any … Continue reading
China is sabotaging itself in Taiwan
China has a lot at stake in getting its favored candidate across the line in Taiwan’s presidential election in January, so it’s strange that Beijing is doing so much to sabotage Han Kuo-yu’s chances. Without a change in its approach, the Communist Party risks making the already difficult task of winning over the self-governing island next … Continue reading
Pro-democracy activist barred from running in Hong Kong election
Hong Kong authorities barred pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong from an election as the city’s leader warned Tuesday that months of violent protests have pushed the city to the brink of recession. In comments likely to further anger protesters, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said there would be no political solution until the violent protests gripping the semi-autonomous Chinese … Continue reading
Prague refuses Beijing’s demand to recognise Taiwan as part of China
On a typical day, Prague’s City Hall is buzzing with discussions about contracts to upgrade the centuries-old city’s network of cobblestone streets or sewers. But this month, assembly members have been debating a bigger topic — China, and what to do about it. “This is clearly a topic for our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and … Continue reading
China and India are fighting over Nepal’s railways
China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has stirred worldwide controversy. The seizure of Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka, a land grab in Africa, debt traps in the Maldives, and the angry response in India and the tumultuous Pakistani region of Balochistan to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor are just some of the developments drawing international … Continue reading
China’s worldwide investment project is a push for more economic and political power
Inspired by the ancient Silk Road, China is investing in a massive set of international development projects that are raising concerns about how the country is expanding its power around the world. Initially announced in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the so-called “Belt and Road Initiative” has China planning to invest in economic development … Continue reading
Chinese officials will soon be required by the U.S. to report American contacts
The Trump administration said Wednesday that it will soon require Chinese officials in the U.S. to notify the State Department ahead of any contacts they plan to have with American educators, researchers and local and state governments. The release of the new rules was accompanied by notices to American educational and research institutions and local … Continue reading
Xi Jinping visits Nepal as first Chinese president to do so in over two decades
Xi Jinping has become the first Chinese president in more than two decades to visit Nepal, where he’s expected to sign agreements on major infrastructure projects. Xi arrived Saturday from New Delhi, where he met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was received by Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister K.P. Sharma … Continue reading
Is geographical hindrance a key to stop China in Nepal?
Recently, in September, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) countries conducted a military exercise (MILEX) to raise the coordination between the armies of member nations. Threatened from the Nepal-China’s tryst, India designed and formed this exercise in an order to help both India and Nepal to increase their ties … Continue reading
Taiwan president rejects China’s offer of ‘one country, two systems’
Taiwan’s president on Thursday delivered a fiery rebuke to China’s offer of a “one country, two systems” formula to unify the self-governing island with the mainland, saying that such a framework has taken Hong Kong to “the brink of disorder.” President Tsai Ing-wen’s comments, delivered during a National Day speech, came amid a renewed push by … Continue reading
China’s heavy-handed reaction to the NBA is just the wake-up call the world needed
Many financial journalists and political pundits have been trying for years to get the U.S. public more concerned about China’s increasingly repressive regime and the questionable trade-offs many American companies have been making to continue doing business in the country. Thanks to the NBA, Twitter and a Chinese government that feeds a national “outrage culture,” … Continue reading
Life in China is getting harder, and President Xi Jinping should worry
Shopkeepers in Shenzhen. Pork sellers in Nanning. Factory workers in Dongguan. All across China’s southern industrial belt, the working class is under pressure — and so is President Xi Jinping. A protracted U.S. trade war, protests in Hong Kong, soaring food prices and the slowest economic growth in decades are among the many problems facing … Continue reading
Now is the beginning of the end for China’s Communist Party rule
After nearly 70 years in power, China’s one-party regime is approaching the longevity frontier for dictatorship amid an economic slowdown and tensions with the US. A crackdown on opponents and an emphasis on nationalism may boost support in the short term but staying in power to celebrate the party’s centenary will be a challenge. On … Continue reading
Taiwan just lost Solomon Islands, its biggest ally in the Pacific, to China; US may retaliate
Taiwan lost its largest ally in the Pacific on Tuesday, when the Solomon Islands confirmed it was switching diplomatic allegiance to China. A spokesman for the Solomon Islands’ prime minister said the government’s caucus took a poll on Monday, with 27 lawmakers voting in favour of switching and six abstaining, followed by the Cabinet voting … Continue reading
Saudi oil attack cultivates a critical juncture for China to play a role
The Sep 14 Saudi Arabia oil attack exposed at least three issues. First, Saudi is highly vulnerable. It seems there is a lack of sufficient military capacities of detecting intrusion, becoming alert to attack timely, and taking immediate reactions to protect the facilities, etc. Second, Saudi did not get sufficient protection from the U.S. at … Continue reading
The U.S. is about to do something big in Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protest movement, the David to China’s Goliath, is calling out to the land of the free for help—and help may be on the way. The question is whether it will be substantial enough and fast enough, and have the support of the president of the United States. For months now, a small … Continue reading
How long can China’s workers tolerate China’s dictator?
Many observers have warned that the Chinese could dominate the field of artificial intelligence. Maybe it will dominate them. The potential impact of technology on the Chinese workforce could be driving Beijing to try again for a U.S. trade deal. Lingling Wei and Chao Deng report in the Journal: China is looking to narrow the … Continue reading
Beijing’s hostility started the trade war
I first traveled to mainland China as a high school student in 2008. Like many observers at the time, I was enthralled by the apparent success of China’s development model, manifested in the urban landscapes of Beijing and Shanghai. I was influenced by the then-prominent idea of Chinese exceptionalism, which one could encounter in both … Continue reading
China calls Justin Trudeau’s accusations of arbitrary detentions ‘purely unfounded’
China accused Canada of not abiding by international norms Friday in response to comments from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who accused Beijing of arbitrarily detaining two Canadians. Trudeau’s remarks are “purely unfounded countercharges that confound black and white,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said. Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou – Chinese telecom giant Huawei’s … Continue reading
Canada’s Justin Trudeau accuses China of using arbitrary detentions to achieve ‘political goals’
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says China uses arbitrary detentions as a tool to achieve its international and domestic political goals. He brands that as a pressure tactic that is worrying not only to Canada, but to its Western allies. Trudeau offered that assessment during a meeting today with the editorial board of the Toronto … Continue reading
China’s Great Game in Iran
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s visit to the G-7 summit in France late last month was a surprise to many in the West. Some even viewed it as a good omen. But for the Iranian leadership, Zarif’s quick trip to Biarritz was always a long shot and with little chance to turn the tide … Continue reading
Japan cannot stop China from owning Africa
Japan cannot stop China from owning Africa. When it comes to votes of African nations in international agencies, that is. It’s too late. China already owns the votes of most Africa nations. Japan has a new mission in Africa: to save it from China’s “debt trap,” the prospect that some African nations become so indebted … Continue reading
Canada’s Justin Trudeau sharpens criticism of China in Huawei spat
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has accused Beijing of using “pressure tactics” to try to secure the release of a senior Huawei executive being held in Canada. Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were detained in China days after Meng Wanzhou was arrested at the request of US authorities. Mr Trudeau says that China is “using … Continue reading
Rodrigo Duterte is a gift to The Philippines by playing China against USA
Rodrigo Duterte is at the halfway point of his presidency of the Philippines and since coming to power in 2016, he has made huge waves domestically and internationally for his tough talk and policies. The one policy that has defined his presidency is his signature war on drugs that has killed thousands and prompted fierce … Continue reading
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam reportedly said she would quit if she could and had ‘very limited’ ability to contain protests
Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, told a group of business leaders in the city that she would quit if she had a choice, according to leaked audio of her remarks obtained by Reuters, amid increasing calls from protesters for her to resign. Protests in Hong Kong have entered their 13th week and show no sign … Continue reading
China says Taiwan was always part of it, but an old stamp shows a telling propaganda snafu
If you were to rely on the official Chinese version of events, the island off the southern coast of Fujian province, Taiwan, has “always been part of China.” The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, for example, proclaims: “Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times,” and then … Continue reading
The inevitable dismantlement of the Chinese Communist empire has begun
The geopolitical tectonic plates are moving, and the inevitable dismantlement of the Chinese Communist empire has begun. History teaches that the lifespan of a major communist power is about seven decades, even under the best of circumstances — that is, when the dictatorship is given every strategic advantage through sporadic Western naivete, timidity and other … Continue reading
China has reportedly told Hong Kong it isn’t allowed to scrap the incendiary extradition bill which sparked its impassioned protest movement
China reportedly blocked Hong Kong from axing the controversial extradition bill which triggered months of protests in the region as a tactic to end the tension. Reuters, citing testimony from Chinese and Hong Kong government officials, reported that Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam told Beijing that giving into one of the protesters’ key demands … Continue reading
John Pilger warns a West-China ‘war situation’ is developing
“World War 3: The West is already at war with Russia and China”, warns John Pilger (1939- ), two times ‘Journalist of the Year’ 1967 and 1979 (British Press Awards), ‘International Reporter of the Year 1970’ (Society of Editors), and producer of over 50 documentaries (one got BAFTA award 1991). His such a polemical view, … Continue reading
Hong Kong’s protests are rattling China’s leadership and the world
Audrey Wu, a video editor at a Hong Kong TV station, was not even born in June of 1989, but her father has told her about what happened back then in Beijing. He told her of the demonstrations that began to honor the late Chinese leader, Hu Yaobang, a liberal reformer who had just died. … Continue reading
A quick look at Dalio’s warning of US T-Bond weaponization by China
World’s largest hedge fund manager, Ray Dalio of Bridgewater, said “he wouldn’t rule out China using its Treasury holdings to gain an upper hand against the U.S, in the trade war — a view that contrasts with many other observers …” reported by CNBC on Aug 16. In the wake of China’s USD1.11 trillion of … Continue reading
Assuming Versace, Coach and Givenchy are simply careless, it still matters to China
“…This weekend, all three companies (Givenchy, Coach, and Versace) apologized to Chinese customers after backlash over inaccurate T-shirt designs… “Between Sunday night and early Monday morning, both Givenchy and Coach issued apologies after social media users called for a boycott of the brands due to separate T-shirts from both fashion houses that suggested Hong Kong … Continue reading
Why Myanmar prefers China to the West
In early August 2019, Myanmar proudly celebrated their first domestically produced car. The manufacturer, which is a China-Myanmar joint venture, can produce 5,000 local brand vehicles a year. On Sep 18, 2012, when Hillary Clinton, the then US Secretary of State, hugged with Aung San Suu Kyi (1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate) passionately and joyfully, … Continue reading
UK-China relations depends on tactics Boris Johnson will adopt
The prospect of the UK-China relation, according to the analysis of the ‘UK in a Changing Europe’, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and based at King’s College London, is that: “ … the UK will be left out if the EU is able to negotiate more favourable access for European companies to … Continue reading
US’ Bible shortage (caused by Trump’s tariff) reminds the world of CCP’s Marxist doctrine
‘USA Today’ reported on July 8: “… Religious publishers say President Donald Trump’s most recent proposed tariffs on Chinese imports could result in a Bible shortage. That’s because millions of Bibles – some estimates put it at 150 million or more – are printed in China each year …” While the Chinese factories print Bibles … Continue reading
Why China can’t sell Its ‘One Country, Two Systems’ narrative to the people of Hong Kong
About two million residents took to the streets to protest subversion of their civil liberties. As a result, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam shelved a reviled extradition bill and apologized profusely for misreading the public’s mood and promised to do better. And she very well may be able to do better—if she manages to … Continue reading
The ultimate betrayal by Rodrigo Duterte to the Republic of the Philippines and the international community
It is a basic and elementary knowledge that in international law, “sovereignty means that a government possesses full control over affairs within a territorial or geographical area or limit.” While in our local jurisdiction, the fundamental law in Article I of the 1987 Philippine Constitution expressly provided that the national territory of the country is … Continue reading
The ultimate betrayal of Rodrigo Duterte to the Filipino people and his utter love for China and Xi Jinping
I refer to “Duterte Stands by China, Doubts Own Fishermen in Sea Collision” by Andreo Calonzo published by Bloomberg on June 18th with regard to the indescribable betrayal of the hoodlum from Davao to the Filipino people and his unquestionable bias and love of China and its leader, specificallyXi Jin Ping. According to the said … Continue reading
Science journal ‘Nature’ says Chinese investments fuel growth in African science
“… US hegemony is the result of objective material conditions … the perpetuation of US primacy is a matter of policy …” (Layne 2006, p.12) It is one of the most academically known conceptions about ‘Hegemony’ stipulated by Christopher Layne (1949- ), a neo-realist and the Chair in Intelligence and National Security at the George … Continue reading
The Regan-Liu (Fox-CGTN) Debate did have winners
The essay title “A debate with no winner” was used to describe the “first time in history” TV live debate between Fox Business Network’s Trish Regan and China Global TV Network (CGTN)’s Liu Xin by The Star Online on June 3. Was there really no winner? The background to this debate, briefly speaking, is that: … Continue reading
US using Iran to punish China for supporting Venezuela
The Trump administration announced on April 22 that “buyers of Iranian oil must stop purchases by May 1 or face sanctions …” reported by CNBC on April 23. “The move, which took many market participants by surprise, ends six months of waivers which had allowed Iran’s eight biggest buyers of crude to continue to import … Continue reading
RAND: “Russia can be contained, but China cannot.” Really?
A recent research conducted by RAND Army Research Division says that “Russia is not a peer or near-peer competitor but rather a well-armed rogue state that seeks to subvert an international order it can never hope to dominate. In contrast, China is a peer competitor that wants to shape an international order that it can … Continue reading
A map ‘error’ solidifies China’s resoluteness to support Russia to confront US over Venezuela
Surprise?! Ten weeks after the US-backed Juan Guaidó declared himself the ‘interim president’ of Venezuela on Jan 23, Nicolás Maduro’s government is still alive. What is diplomatically significant is that on March 26, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang dared to say at the daily press briefing that “… Latin American affairs are not a … Continue reading
U.S. warns Italy against joining China’s ‘One Belt One Road’
A spokesman for the White House’s group of national security advisors warned Rome that “Italy is a major global economy and great investment destination. No need for Italian government to lend legitimacy to China’s infrastructure vanity project…” Euronews reported on March 9. Reuters further reported on March 15 that Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte “… … Continue reading
