In shaky camera footage, a member of the Philippine coast guard can be seen dipping below the waters of South China Sea, ready to carry out the instructions of the country’s president. “Just cut it off,” says a voice in the background and the coast guard, posing as a fisher in a snorkel, proceeds to hack away at a piece of rope. The video, taken on Monday near the fiercely contested Scarborough Shoal, shows the Philippines’ mission to remove what it described as a hazardous floating barrier installed by China’s…
Month: September 2023
Desperate for More Children, China Urges Soldiers to Procreate
As China faces a demographic dilemma with a ballooning number of elderly citizens and fewer newborns, the country’s leader, Xi Jinping, has given soldiers and their spouses a new order — lead the charge in childbearing. The move, analysts say, is aimed not only at addressing the country’s population challenges, but also at making the military a more attractive career option for educated urban professionals. On Sept. 7, China’s communist leaders announced a new executive order on family planning and the military. Highlighting the urgency, the order went into effect…
Chinese high-end EV brand Zeekr expands into Middle East
Receive free Geely Automobile Holdings Co Ltd updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Geely Automobile Holdings Co Ltd news every morning. Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle brand of Chinese automaker Geely, is launching in four Middle East countries next year as it intensifies its global push ahead of a planned US listing. The brand joins other Chinese EV makers including Warren Buffett-backed BYD that are expanding overseas in search of growth at a time of slowing sales and fierce competition in China. The…
Chinese high-end EV brand Zeekr expands into the Middle East
Receive free Geely Automobile Holdings Co Ltd updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Geely Automobile Holdings Co Ltd news every morning. Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle brand of Chinese automaker Geely, is launching in four Middle East countries next year as it intensifies its global push ahead of a planned US listing. The brand joins other Chinese EV makers including Warren Buffett-backed BYD that are expanding overseas in search of growth at a time of slowing sales and fierce competition in China. The…
South Korea says China must push Pyongyang to curb nuclear plans
Receive free South Korea Politics & Policy updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest South Korea Politics & Policy news every morning. South Korea’s unification minister has accused Russia and China of undermining international sanctions against North Korea but said Seoul was pushing Beijing to put pressure on Pyongyang over its weapons development. Kim Yung-ho said in an interview with the Financial Times that Seoul was “making efforts to persuade Beijing to . . . play a constructive role to rein in Pyongyang” and expected “some positive results”.…
South Korean says China must push Pyongyang to curb nuclear plans
Receive free South Korea Politics & Policy updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest South Korea Politics & Policy news every morning. South Korea’s unification minister has accused Russia and China of undermining international sanctions against North Korea but said Seoul was pushing Beijing to put pressure on Pyongyang over its weapons development. Kim Yung-ho said in an interview with the Financial Times that Seoul was “making efforts to persuade Beijing to . . . play a constructive role to rein in Pyongyang” and expected “some positive results”.…
US Security Deal With Marshalls at Risk Over Nuclear Payments Description
The United States struck security agreements this week with Pacific Island nations seen as a key part of U.S. plans to counter China’s territorial expansion. But after three years of negotiations, one of those nations, the Marshall Islands, still has not reached a deal with Washington. At issue is how the agreement describes compensation for decades-old U.S. nuclear testing. VOA’s Jessica Stone reports. Voice of America
Analysis: Xi and Putin to Meet as Allies Despite Differences
washington — Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in October on the sidelines of China’s Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The trip will be Putin’s first known travel abroad since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in March over alleged war crimes, but the second time the two have met in person this year. Analysts say the meeting will be an opportunity for the two leaders to bolster their countries’ relationship and to voice their shared…
US intensifies scrutiny of China’s bid to hold sway over domestic policy in ‘threat of our lifetime’
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Wednesday took up Beijing’s influence operations and alleged transnational repression. The hearing addressed the need to update the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), a federal law from 1938 that monitors overseas lobbyists. In addition, Washington’s lawmakers were considering new laws targeting anyone involved in efforts to intimidate members of America’s Chinese community or other Beijing critics. Alan Kohler, formerly with the FBI’s counter-intelligence division, told the committee that China-related investigations now make up about half of all counter-intelligence work, accounting for “well over…
First made-in-Taiwan submarine unveiled as island seeks to strengthen naval defences
“In the past, a domestically developed submarine was considered an impossible task, but today, a submarine designed and built on our own is right before us. We did it,” she said, adding it was not only a new milestone for the island but also an “important realisation of our concrete commitment to defending” Taiwan. Tsai said it was an important development towards developing the island’s asymmetric warfare capacity. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s popularity hit by #MeToo and egg scandals “We will continue to complete equipment installation, testing, and sea trial…