Tag: East Asia

Indonesia Set to Launch Southeast Asia’s First High-Speed Railway, Largely Funded by China

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indonesia set to launch southeast asias first high speed railway largely funded by china

JAKARTA, Indonesia —  Indonesia is launching Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway, a key project under China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative that will cut travel time between the capital and another major city from the current three hours to about 40 minutes. The project has been beset with delays and increasing costs, and some observers doubt its commercial benefit, but President Joko Widodo has championed it and will be inaugurating the 142.3-kilometer railway as it begins commercial operations Monday. The Chinese-made bullet train, called “Whoosh,” will connect Jakarta with Bandung,…

Factory Activity in China Grows for First Time in 6 Months

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factory activity in china grows for first time in 6 months

BEIJING —  China’s factory activity in September recorded its first expansion in six months, an official survey said Saturday, providing another sign that the world’s second-largest economy is gradually improving after its post-pandemic malaise. According to the government statistics bureau and an official industry group, the monthly purchasing managers’ index rose to 50.2 this month from 49.7 in August measured on a 100-point scale. Numbers above 50 indicate activity is increasing. Measures of production, new orders and employment all rose from August, the National Bureau of Statistics and the China…

Appointment of Ambassador Signals China’s Ambition in Afghanistan, Experts Say

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appointment of ambassador signals chinas ambition in afghanistan experts say

washington —  Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi attended talks Friday in the Russian city of Kazan, where he praised China for sending a new ambassador to Afghanistan and urged other countries to follow China’s example. The newly appointed Chinese ambassador to Kabul signals China’s continued interest in Afghanistan, analysts say. The Taliban’s deputy prime minister, Abdul Salam Hanafi, said the new development “will play an effective role in strengthening the relations between Afghanistan and China.” During a meeting in Kabul last week, Hanafi and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Xing “exchanged…

Uyghur News Recap: Sept. 22-29, 2023

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uyghur news recap sept 22 29 2023

WASHINGTON —  US Adds 3 Chinese Firms to Uyghur Forced Labor List in Crackdown The United States on Tuesday added three Chinese companies to its forced labor entity list regarding Uyghurs. These companies — Xinjiang Tianmian Foundation Textile Co, Ltd.; Xinjiang Tianshan Wool Textile Co. Ltd., and Xinjiang Zhongtai Group Co. Ltd. — were targeted as part of efforts to eradicate forced labor practices within the U.S. supply chain. This action aligns with the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List, which restricts imports of goods produced in Xinjiang…

Bangkok’s New Chinatown Offers Mixed Bag of Economic Changes

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bangkoks new chinatown offers mixed bag of economic changes

BANGKOK —  At sunset, Bangkok’s Huai Khwang district comes alive with Chinese-speaking pedestrians bustling to their favorite hot pot restaurants among the many lining Pracharat Bamphen Road. The hungry parade is just one indication of how an influx of Chinese residents is transforming the 15-square-kilometer (5.8-square-mile) neighborhood in the city’s eastern reaches, with new arrivals restoring the pre-pandemic inflow. With the Chinese Embassy in nearby Din Daeng exerting a magnet-like force for Huai Khwang, local Thais now call the area “New Chinatown.” Some refer to it as a special administration…

Millions Travel in China in 1st Big Autumn Holiday Since End of Zero-COVID

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millions travel in china in 1st big autumn holiday since end of zero covid

HONG KONG —  Many millions of Chinese tourists are expected to travel within their country, splurging on hotels, tours, attractions and meals in a boost to the economy during the 8-day autumn holiday period that began Friday. This year’s holiday began with the Mid-Autumn Festival on Friday and also includes the Oct. 1 National Day. The public holidays end Oct. 6. Typically hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and overseas during such holidays. The eight-day-long holiday is the longest week of public holidays since COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were…

US Warns of China’s Plans for Information Domination

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us warns of chinas plans for information domination

washington —  China is pouring billions of dollars into efforts to reshape the global information environment and, eventually, bend the will of multiple nations to Beijing’s advantage, according to a new assessment from U.S. officials. The report, released Thursday by the State Department’s Global Engagement Center, accuses the Chinese government of using a combination of tactics in a bid to create a world in which Beijing, either explicitly or implicitly, controls the flow of critical information. China’s goal is to “construct an information ecosystem in which PRC propaganda and disinformation…

Analysis: Xi and Putin to Meet as Allies Despite Differences

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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…

Q&A: Taiwan’s Digital Minister Audrey Tang on AI and Censorship

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qa taiwans digital minister audrey tang on ai and censorship

WASHINGTON —  On the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, Taiwan’s Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang delivered a speech at the Concordia Annual Summit on digital democracy and artificial intelligence. VOA spoke with Tang about how AI might help break through China’s censorship and the challenges and opportunities the technology brings to global democracy. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. VOA: You mentioned the concept of AI governance in your speech. In addition to being applied to democratic countries,…