Day: March 3, 2023

What to Expect at China’s Annual Parliamentary Meeting

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Beijing —  Thousands of politicians from across China are set to convene in Beijing for the start of the country’s annual legislative meetings known as the “lianghui” or “Two Sessions.” The tightly controlled voting on legislation already pre-approved by China’s ruling Communist Party is unlikely to implement any major changes. But it does provide a glimpse into the country’s politics and priorities, with observers focused on the specific economic targets set as the country emerges from its “zero-COVID” policy, as well as institutional shake-ups and political horse-trading. Here’s what you…

Fire at Indonesian Fuel Depot Kills at Least 17

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A large fire broke out Friday evening at a fuel storage depot in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, killing at least 17 people. Officials say the fire spread from the Plumpang fuel station, owned by state energy company Pertamina, to the nearby neighborhood of Tanah Merah in North Jakarta. Video from Indonesian broadcasters showed hundreds of people in the densely populated neighborhood running in panic, while firefighters worked to put out the flames. Officials said two of the fatalities were children and said 50 other residents had been hospitalized with injuries, some…

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2023: property tycoons including Evergrande’s Hui Ka-yan may get to plead for friendlier policies in Beijing

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“Other than sorting out plans to get the creditors’ approvals, there is not much they can do to boost sales, which is the key to restarting a normal business operation,” said Yan Yuejin, director of Shanghai-based E-house China Research and Development Institute. 04:30 The ‘two sessions’ – China’s most important political meetings of the year “They are waiting for more relaxing measures and the national meeting could be a good chance to plead for that.” Advertisement National People’s Congress (NPC) and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) delegates at the…

What are China’s ‘two sessions’ and why do they matter?

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The event will begin on Saturday when more than 2,000 CPPCC members assemble at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The legislative session starts the following day. The 2,977 deputies in the legislature represent mainland provinces, autonomous regions (including Hong Kong and Macau), municipalities, and the People’s Liberation Army. There is also a Taiwanese delegation, but it is made up solely of mainland residents. [embedded content] Meanwhile, the CPPCC exists to debate proposals, not pass laws, and consists of 2,172 representatives from various representative groups, industries and nominally…

Biden and Germany’s Scholz Meet Amid Concerns Over Ukraine and China

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At times during their short but eventful alliance, Mr. Biden has appeared keen to let Mr. Scholz and other Western leaders take a public lead on decisions related to penalizing Russia or aiding Ukraine, a strategy designed to bolster the idea that Europe is acting in concert with — instead of at the direction of — the United States. At other times, neither leader has wanted to make the first move. In January, Mr. Biden and Mr. Scholz announced that they would supply battle tanks to Ukraine, ending weeks of you-go-first…

Uyghur News Recap: February 24 – March 3, 2023 

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WASHINGTON —  A summary of this week’s Uyghur-related news from around the world: Uyghur mom imprisoned for sending children to Islamic school, report finds An investigation by Radio Free Asia found this week that Ayshemhan Abdulla, a Uyghur woman, was sentenced to 21 years in prison in 2017 in China’s Xinjiang region for sending her children to a local home-based religious school. Abdulla’s arrest was not likely the decision of judicial authorities but rather that of the Chinese Communist Party’s political and legal committee, a Uyghur former police officer told…

Refugee Journalist Resurfaces in Pakistani Jail Months After Being Deported

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When Syeda received a phone call last month to say that her husband, Syed Fawad Ali Shah, was in a prison in Pakistan, she thought it was a trap. For nearly six months, Syeda had been trying to get answers after Shah abruptly disappeared from his home in Kuala Lumpur. It wasn’t until January that Malaysian authorities admitted they had deported the journalist at Pakistan’s request. And when Syeda — who asked to be identified only by her first name — first pressed Pakistani officials for details, she said officials…

Hong Kongers Keep Wearing Masks Despite Lifting of Mandate

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hong kong —  Days after the Hong Kong government lifted its mask mandate, most Hong Kongers continue to wear the protective anti-COVID-19 coverings, a decision that for some people shows a continued concern about health and for others indicates distrust of the government. Tam Mei Tak, a radio talk-show host and political commentator, told VOA Cantonese that many Hong Kongers have realized that “trusting the government is worse than relying on themselves” in the fight against the pandemic. A poll of Hong Kong residents commissioned by the local South China…

China’s Xi to battle rising debt, economic woes and political rivals at congress

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Ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping will be looking to eliminate high-profile rivals and other influential figures from the political scene, while taking a firmer grip of the country’s purse-strings at the forthcoming National People’s Congress annual session in Beijing, analysts told Radio Free Asia in recent interviews. Xi is widely expected to announce thorough-going political restructuring that will give him still more concentrated power over the daily affairs of the country, including the downgrading of the State Council in favor of special committees controlled by the highest echelons…