Halifax, Canada — A dangerous encounter between a Chinese jet fighter and a Canadian helicopter over the South China Sea has called attention to Canada’s heightened interest in the Western Pacific, including participation in patrols through the disputed Taiwan Strait. In the October 29 incident, first reported by CNN, a helicopter was flying off the deck of the frigate HMCS Ottawa over international waters east of the Paracel Islands when the Chinese warplane began circling the helicopter, firing flares and at one point passing within about 30 meters of the…
Tag: Americas
Weather Tracker: unseasonal cold air brings widespread snowfall to China
Low pressure developed across eastern China on Sunday, tracking across the northern coast of the sea of Japan on Monday. On the west side of this low, an unseasonably cold air mass was drawn south across north-eastern China, resulting in a broad area of significant snowfall. More than 30cm of snow is expected across higher parts of the Chinese provinces of Inner Mongolia, Jilin, and Heilongjiang. Clear skies accompanying the widespread snow cover will lead to temperatures significantly below normal on Tuesday. For example, Shenyang is expected to experience subzero…
Canada Slams China Over Second ‘Unsafe’ Aircraft Intercept in Two Weeks
ottawa, ontario — Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair on Friday slammed Chinese fighter jets’ second “significantly unsafe” intercept in two weeks of Canadian aircraft patrolling the Pacific. Blair said at a news conference that a Chinese fighter jet on October 29 twice flew close to a Canadian Cyclone helicopter near the Paracel Islands, in the South China Sea, and on the second flyby fired flares “directly in front” of the helicopter. There was “little separation” between the fighter jet and the helicopter, he said. “The actions of the People’s Republic…
Analysts Call Massa’s Surprise Win in Argentina Good News for China
washington — No candidate won Argentina’s recent presidential election by an outright majority, but analysts say the surprise front-runner is most inclined to ensure that strong ties with China continue their current trajectory. After placing third in an August primary, ruling Peronist coalition candidate and current economy chief Sergio Massa captured nearly 37% of the vote over the weekend, defeating two other contenders both of whom questioned their nation’s ties with Beijing. Argentina’s battered economy was a key focus in the race in a country that has seen poverty rise…
Colombian President to Visit China This Week
Beijing — Colombian President Gustavo Petro will visit China this week, Beijing’s foreign ministry said Monday, with the leftist leader seeking to strengthen ties with the world’s second-largest economy. Petro’s visit comes at the invitation of President Xi Jinping and will take place from Tuesday to Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said. He will meet with Xi on Wednesday, Colombia’s presidency said. The two will discuss progress on construction of the subway system in Bogota — which is being overseen by a Chinese firm, it added. China’s foreign…
Canada accuses China fighter jets of ‘reckless’ interception of military plane
Canada’s defence minister has accused China fighter jets of carrying out a “dangerous and reckless” interception of a Canadian military plane over international waters. Bill Blair spoke after Canada’s Global News said a Chinese jet had come within five meters (16ft) of a Canadian surveillance plane taking part in a UN operation to enforce sanctions against North Korea. The incident took place in international waters off the coast of China, said Global, which had a crew on the plane. Blair said that while the Chinese air force regularly interacted with…
BRI Boosts Beijing Efforts to Expand Influence in Latin America
Washington — For years, China has been seeking to expand its influence in Latin America, a region that is rich in natural resources and considered to be within the U.S. sphere of influence. Since the launch of its Belt and Road Initiative a decade ago, Beijing’s reach has expanded through loans, trade agreements and investments in infrastructure as well as the extraction of minerals. As of 2023, 21 Latin American countries have joined the BRI — including Nicaragua and Argentina last year. After the launch of the BRI in 2013,…
On International Peace Day Women’s Critical Role Highlighted
On this International Day of Peace, and on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the United States announced new initiatives to help consolidate the role women play in building peace and strengthening security around the world. VOA’s Veronica Balderas Iglesias has the details. Camera: Veronica Balderas Iglesias Voice of America
Competing Interests for UN Spotlight at Annual Meeting
The war in Ukraine is likely to be the big topic for a second year when leaders gather at the U.N. General Assembly next week, but many developing countries are hoping to shine a light on issues important to them, including development, the economy and climate. This year’s general assembly will take place after Asian countries met in Indonesia for the ASEAN summit, G20 leaders gathered in India, and developing countries in the Group of 77 plus China met in Cuba. After a busy September, several high-profile leaders are skipping…
Venezuela’s Maduro to Visit China to Reengage Amid China-West Tensions
BEIJING — Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro will visit China over Sept. 8-14, China’s foreign ministry said on Friday, marking renewed engagement between the two countries amid deepening tensions between Beijing and Western capitals. Maduro’s arrival will follow meetings between a Venezuelan delegation, including the country’s vice president and oil minister, and Chinese officials including foreign minister Wang Yi in Shanghai earlier this week, according to China’s foreign ministry. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said in a post on X on Friday that the two governments were strengthening bilateral relations, and…