Year: 2022

Chinese ambassador admits Russian invasion of Ukraine has hurt relations with EU

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Fu – who referred to the conflict as a “so-called special operation” because “this is what the Russians have called it” – said one of his priorities in his new role was to “depoliticise” EU-China relations. He reminded Europeans that China had called for a peaceful resolution since February 25, a day after the invasion was launched. “On the second day after the start of that operation, there was an important phone conversation between Chinese President Xi and President Putin and during that conversation, President Xi clearly advocated trying to…

As Cases Explode, China’s Low Covid Death Toll Convinces No One

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The hearses bearing black and yellow funeral paper flowers crept in a steady stream toward the Dongjiao crematory in eastern Beijing. Several dozen people crowded around the closed gate waiting to be let in. A man unable to get a spot in line could only watch, wondering what to do with the body of a relative who had just died of Covid. The hospital could not keep the body — there were already too many in its morgue. When he called the crematory, an employee told him he had to…

Junta troops kill 9-year-old boy fleeing Sagaing region village

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A nine-year-old boy was shot dead by junta troops as he tried to escape a village in Sagaing region with his family, locals told RFA. Troops raided Wea Daunt in Mawlaik township Thursday after reports a People’s Defense Force (PDF) militia had occupied the village. A resident, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said that a junta column of nearly 80 soldiers opened fire on civilians who were trying to escape ahead of the raid. “The child who was killed was called Khant Pyoe Thu. His…

Chinese-Funded Projects Deepen Sri Lanka’s Economic Woes

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NEW DELHI —  During the past decade, China funded the construction of massive infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka meant to boost the island nation’s economy. However, after the economic collapse of the tiny Indian Ocean country earlier this year, there were questions whether these projects had contributed to the worst crisis it has ever faced. A port city that dominates Colombo’s seafront was built on a 269-hectare patch of land reclaimed from the sea. It was to become a thriving business and financial hub, but it is virtually deserted. An…

Mystery airship spotted over Philippines near South China Sea

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The proximity of the airship to the former US base in Subic Bay, which adjoins the South China Sea – subject to competing territorial claims from China, the Philippines and other countries in the region – has led to speculation Beijing may be collecting military information. A report published by the American website The Drive on its War Zone blog said the general shape of the apparent airship had “broad similarities” to a number of high-altitude, long-endurance types known to be under development in China. Advertisement “The Chinese military ……

Great Reef Census Reaches Milestone Surveying Australian Icon

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SYDNEY —  One of the world’s largest marine citizen science projects has surveyed its 500th section of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef since the effort began in 2020. This year’s Great Reef Census, which runs from September to December, has revealed severe damage to the coral, while other parts of the 2,300-kilometer World Heritage site are thriving. The Great Barrier Reef is made up of about 3,000 individual reefs, making it the world’s largest coral system. The annual reconnaissance of the Great Barrier Reef off northeastern Australia has produced tens of…

Taiwan may restrict Panadol sales to thwart bulk-buying for China

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Taiwan may restrict the bulk buying of pain relief medications as people stock up, with some planning to ship their purchases to China, where the worsened Covid-19 situation has put a strain on supplies. Hsueh Jui-yuan, Taiwan’s minister of health and welfare, told lawmakers at a legislative committee hearing on Thursday that the health agency would first instruct pharmacies to advise customers not to snap up Panadol and related drugs. The health authorities would discuss if they needed to impose restrictions but there was no concreate plan in place yet,…

China steps up Coast Guard patrols near Japanese islands

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Chinese vessels have intensified activities around Japan this week, sending a clear message of deterrence after Tokyo designated Beijing an unprecedented “strategic challenge” in its latest National Security Strategy. On Dec. 16 Japan unveiled three major defense-related documents, which named China as a main challenge to security and stability in the region and called for boosting Japan’s “counter-strike capabilities.” The Chinese Coast Guard said on WeChat that its ships patrolled “in the Chinese territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu islands on Wednesday,” using the Chinese name for the Senkaku islands which…

Beijing sanctions 2 in US-China tit-for-tat over human rights in Tibet

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Stein serves on the legislative body created by Congress to monitor human rights and the development of the rule of law in China and provide an annual report to lawmakers and the president. His background includes the International Campaign for Tibet, where he worked as director of government relations, before taking up a role in 2014 as senior adviser to Sarah Sewall, US under secretary of state for civilian security, democracy and human rights. Advertisement Stein also served as Sewell’s lead staffer in her dual role as special coordinator for…