Day: August 7, 2022

Guadalcanal Anniversary Marked by a Kennedy

Chin@Strategy

Caroline Kennedy, the United States ambassador to Australia, and Wendy Sherman, the U.S. deputy secretary of state, stood together at dawn on Sunday on the island of Guadalcanal to honor the 80th anniversary of the World War II battle there that nearly led to the deaths of their fathers, and that redefined America’s role across Asia. Then and now, there was violence, great-power competition and jittery concern about the future. Their visit occurred as China’s military was expected to wrap up 72 hours of drills around Taiwan simulating an invasion.…

The Troubles of Kenya’s China-Funded Train

Chin@Strategy

MOMBASA, Kenya — Fireworks popped and confetti rained down in the seaside city of Mombasa when Kenya’s president inaugurated the country’s new railway — designed, funded and built by China. President Uhuru Kenyatta proclaimed that the new train would connect the port in Mombasa to the neighboring country of Uganda, create jobs and help transform Kenya into an industrialized, middle-income nation. “This is a very historic moment,” President Kenyatta, waving a giant Kenyan flag, told the gathering of Kenyan and Chinese officials. “We should be proud.” That was five years…

China’s export sector posts stronger than expected figures for July

Chin@Strategy

China’s export industries performed strongly last month after spending the first half of the year hampered by shortages of raw materials and pandemic-related lockdowns at major ports. Offering an encouraging boost to the economy, outbound shipments grew 18% in July from a year earlier, the fastest pace this year, official customs data showed on Sunday, beating analysts’ expectations for a 15% gain, though imports remained sluggish. Analysts had expected exports to fade amid growing signs that Europe, the US, UK and Australia are heading for recession, dampening the outlook for…

Maps: Tracking Tensions Between China and Taiwan

Chin@Strategy

Aug. 7, 2022 Shows of force near Taiwan and Japanese islands Over the past five days, China has been sending military aircraft and unmanned drones into areas close to Taiwan and Japan’s westernmost islands as part of its effort to intimidate Taiwan and the United States. Taiwan’s military reported that Chinese military aircraft have entered what it calls its “Air Defense Identification Zone” or crossed the Taiwan Strait median line at least 131 times during this period. Incursions of Chinese military aircraft Reports of aircraft entering Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification…

China-Taiwan news: White House calls Chinese drills ‘provocative’ and ‘irresponsible’ – live

Chin@Strategy

From 5h ago China’s military drills ‘provocative’ and ‘irresponsible’, US says A White House spokesperson has said China is trying to “change the status quo” through its military drills around Taiwan. These activities are a significant escalation in China’s efforts to change the status quo. They are provocative, irresponsible, and raise the risk of miscalculation,” the spokesperson said. They are also at odds with our longstanding goal of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is what the world expects.” China’s defence ministry said it had carried out…