Tag: China News

China ignores Hague’s South China Sea ruling, blames Philippines for tensions

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At the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s regular news conference on April 3, spokesperson Wang Wenbin commented on rising tensions between the Philippines and China, saying: “The Philippines keeps accusing China of ‘intimidating smaller countries’ without mentioning at all the Philippine occupation and encroachment on China’s territory in Nansha Qundao. That is a real propaganda ‘trap.’ The Ren’ai Jiao issue is not a case of the big bullying small but unfulfilled promises and deliberate provocations …” The comment came amid growing tension between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.…

President Biden continues group diplomacy strategy

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U.S. President Joe Biden this week welcomed the prime minister of Japan and the president of the Philippines to the White House to discuss security in the Indo-Pacific region. VOA Senior Washington Correspondent Carolyn Presutti compares Biden’s security policies with those of his 2024 presidential opponent Donald Trump. Voice of America

German chancellor heads to Beijing amid efforts to balance trade, geopolitical concerns

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TAIPEI, TAIWAN —  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will kick off a three-day visit to China Saturday, aiming to double down on Germany’s deep economic ties with China amid rising trade tension between Beijing and the European Union. Making his first trip to China since his government released its first China strategy in July, stressing the need to lower economic dependence on China, Scholz will be accompanied by executives from major German companies, such as Siemens, Volkswagen, and Bayer, and three Cabinet ministers. Some analysts say bilateral economic relations will be…

Kyrgyz officials optimistic about China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project

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Kyrgyz officials remain upbeat about a much-anticipated China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, but skeptics say odds are stacked against this mega project. The project, referred to as CKU, dates to 1997, when the three countries signed a memorandum on construction of a railroad to link China’s Xinjiang province with the Andijan province of Uzbekistan through Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn and Osh provinces. Kyrgyz officials rolled out a red carpet April 2 for Erkin Tuniyaz, chairman of China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous region, who was visiting the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, on a two-day tour. The chairman of…

China sanctions 2 US defense companies and says they support arms sales to Taiwan

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Beijing —  China on Thursday announced rare sanctions against two U.S. defense companies over what it said is their support for arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy Beijing claims as its own territory to be recovered by force if necessary. The announcement freezes the assets of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems held within China. It also bars the companies’ management from entering the country. Filings show General Dynamics operates a half-dozen Gulfstream and jet aviation services operations in China, which remains heavily reliant on…

Fashion retailer faces boycott amid allegations of Uyghur forced labor in China 

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washington —  Chinese online fast-fashion retailer Shein, known for its affordable clothing globally, has become a target of a boycott campaign. As Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Chicago-based human rights organization Justice for All has called on Muslim women to boycott Shein, alleging it is involved in the forced labor of Uyghur Muslims in China. The rights group said last week on the social media platform X: A jilbab is a full-length, loose-fitting, head-to-toe garment worn by some Muslim women that also…

US restricts trade with companies tied to drones used by Russia, Houthis

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WASHINGTON —  The United States restricted trade with five companies on Wednesday that it said help produce and procure drones for use by Russia in Ukraine and by Iran-backed Houthis in Red Sea shipping attacks. The companies from Russia and China were among 11 additions to the Commerce Department’s Entity List, which means suppliers need licenses before shipping goods and technology to them. Russia has intensified its drone and missile strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities in recent weeks, causing significant damage and threatening a repeat of the blackouts experienced in…

China’s Xi, former Taiwanese president push unification

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Taipei, Taiwan —  Chinese leader Xi Jinping met former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday, wrapping up an 11-day “journey of peace” aimed at promoting unification between Taiwan and China. Although unification with authoritarian China has little support in democratic Taiwan, according to public opinion polls, Ma and Xi used the meeting to promote a vision they say looks to avert conflict and highlights shared historic and cultural roots instead of differences. Following a 15-second handshake in front of some cameras,…

Taiwan’s Navy leaders seek cooperation with US at annual exposition

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washington —  Taiwan Navy Commander Admiral Tang Hua said during a trip to Maryland that the self-governing island wants more cooperation with the U.S. and other countries amid military pressure from China. But as to whether or not he would hold direct talks with U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, as reported by Reuters, Tang said he would not comment so as to avoid China’s protest causing trouble to the U.S. side. Speaking to VOA on Monday at this year’s Sea-Air-Space Conference hosted by the Navy League of…