A Canadian lawmaker has accused government officials of turning a blind eye to Chinese harassment of his family as pressure mounts on Justin Trudeau to launch a public inquiry into Beijing’s attempts to meddle in the country’s domestic politics. The Globe and Mail reported that China’s intelligence agency had sought information about Michael Chong’s family in Hong Kong “for further potential sanctions” over the Conservative MP’s criticism of Beijing’s human rights abuses. The paper also reported that Zhao Wei, a Chinese diplomat in Toronto, was part of the harassment campaign.…
Tag: Americas
Guatemalan President in Taiwan for Visit Slammed by China
Taipei, Taiwan — Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei arrived in Taiwan on Monday to reinforce diplomatic ties with the self-ruled island, on a visit that has drawn China’s ire. The Central American nation is one of the few remaining countries to recognize the sovereignty of Taiwan, a list that has shrunk in recent years as Beijing moves to isolate Taipei on the international stage. China considers democratic Taiwan part of its territory to be retaken one day and does not allow other countries to recognize both Beijing and Taipei. Images released…
Taiwan Strait: top EU diplomat calls for European navy patrols
European navies should patrol the disputed Taiwan Strait, the EU foreign policy chief has said, echoing earlier comments stressing how crucial Taiwan is to Europe. Josep Borrell wrote in an opinion piece in the Journal Du Dimanche that Taiwan “concerns us economically, commercially and technologically”. “That’s why I call on European navies to patrol the Taiwan Strait to show Europe’s commitment to freedom of navigation in this absolutely crucial area,” he wrote. Two weeks ago, China launched three days of military exercises around Taiwan – simulating targeted strikes and a…
Lavrov’s Brazil visit highlights Lula’s neutral foreign policy despite US dismay
Russia’s minister of foreign affairs, Sergei Lavrov, is due to arrive in Brasília on Monday for talks with his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, in the latest of a series of bilateral encounters likely to ruffle the US. Lavrov arrives just as Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, returns from a state visit to China, and both missions are part of a diplomatic reset Lula has pursued since returning to power this year, as he strives to recover Brazil’s international reputation after his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, dismantled Brazil’s established tradition…
In China, Lula Seeks Help Building Back Brazilian Industry
beijing — The trip by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to Beijing has made clear he is counting on China to help reinvigorate the South American nation’s ailing industrial sector — particularly by picking up the slack of exiting U.S. companies. After Lula met Friday with China’s President Xi Jinping, Brazilian finance minister Fernando Haddad told reporters the nations are planning a “leap forward” in their relationship. “President Lula wants a policy of reindustrialization. This visit starts a new challenge for Brazil: bringing direct investments from China,” Haddad…
‘Brazil is Back!’ Lula Says During State Visit to China
Shanghai — Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised Thursday that “Brazil is back!” during a state visit to China aimed at strengthening trade ties and winning support for his push for peace in Ukraine. The veteran leftist, who arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday night, is seeking to reposition Brazil as a key global player after four years of relative isolation under his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. “The time when Brazil was absent from major world decisions is in the past,” Lula said at a ceremony to inaugurate his political…
Brazil’s Lula Arrives in China for State Visit
Shanghai, China — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived late Wednesday in China for an official visit aimed at boosting the deep ties between the Asian giant and Latin America’s biggest economy. The veteran leftist, who is to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday in Beijing, arrived first in Shanghai with his wife, Rosangela “Janja” da Silva. Before departing Brazil, Lula said he planned to invite President Xi to visit but didn’t specify a date. “We’re going to consolidate our relationship with China,” Lula said Monday evening.…
Biden Wants to Build Global Coalition Against Fentanyl
Washington — The Biden administration is ramping up efforts to address the fentanyl crisis, increasing sanctions on traffickers and announcing plans to set up a global coalition to combat the illicit drug trade. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid painkiller 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Drug overdoses from synthetic opioids killed more than 70,000 people in the U.S. in 2021, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a statement, the White House said it will work with international partners to build a…
Taiwan president heads to Latin America after partners switch ties to China
Taiwan’s president will visit diplomatic allies Guatemala and Belize next week while also making stopovers in the United States, as it aims to shore up ties in Latin America. Tsai Ing-wen will depart Taiwan on 29 March for the 10-day trip, stopping in New York and Los Angeles while en route to and from the Central American countries, the island’s ministry said on Tuesday. Belize and Guatemala are two of just 14 countries that officially recognise Taiwan over China, and Tsai’s trip comes after Honduras said earlier this month that…
Canada Investigates Alleged Chinese ‘Police Stations’ in Montreal
ottawa, ontario — Canadian police said on Thursday they were investigating allegations that two Montreal-area centers were being used as Chinese state-backed “police stations” to intimidate or harass Canadians of Chinese origin. The investigation adds to mounting allegations of Chinese interference in Canada’s internal affairs, including accusations by Ottawa that Beijing tried to influence the last two Canadian elections. China has denied those accusations. “We are carrying out police actions aimed at detecting and disrupting these foreign state-backed criminal activities, which may threaten the safety of persons living in Canada,”…