The United States military started two weeks of joint exercises with its Philippine allies and other international partners on Monday. This is happening at a time when there are growing tensions between Manila and Beijing over disagreements about land and waters in the South China Sea.
Maritime Training Activity Sama Sama 2023 is a big event where different countries like Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia are coming together with the US and the Philippines to practice and train. This is the seventh time it is happening and it will be the biggest one yet. This information comes from a press release by the US Navy.
The activities near the Philippines will involve practicing how to fight against submarines, ships, and aircrafts, both on the water and on land.
Captemphasized that the phrase “Sama Sama” in Tagalog means “together” and it perfectly represents the essence of this exercise. Sean Lewis, leader of the US Navy’s Destroyer Squadron 7, mentioned in the statement.
“He said that if we work together, we can deal with many types of security problems. By getting more countries involved, we can come up with new ideas and create a strong and unified force that keeps the region stable. ”
The situation in the region is becoming less stable because Chinese coast guard and maritime militia units are having confrontations with Philippine vessels around disputed areas in the South China Sea.
The head of the Philippine Navy, Vice Admiral, said that ‘Samasama’ helps us to confront various dangers together, including protecting our territory and fighting against crimes that occur across borders. According to the state-run Philippine News Agency (PNA), Toribio Adaci Jr. said these words during the opening ceremonies in Manila on Monday.
Last week, Gilberto Teodoro Jr. , who is the defense secretary of the Philippines, had a special interview with CNN. The writer compared Chinese actions in the area to a bully in a schoolyard.
There have been some recent events that have made people in the region worried. For example, Chinese water cannons stopped a Philippine military outpost from getting supplies. Also, a Filipino diver managed to cut through a floating Chinese barrier all by himself. Earlier this year, the coast guard of the Philippines accused a coast guard ship from China of using a powerful laser to shine into the eyes of some of its crew members, causing temporary blindness.
“This is the most obvious example of bullying I can think of,” Teodoro stated. “It’s not about taking your lunch money, but it’s about taking your lunch bag, your chair, and even kicking you out of school. ”
The Philippine president promises to protect the country’s land and says he is not seeking problems.
China’s Foreign Ministry told CNN that the ongoing conflicts at sea between China and the Philippines are mostly because the Philippines keeps causing problems and spreading incorrect information.
China says that Philippine boats are entering its territory in the Spratly Islands, even though a ruling by an international tribunal in 2016 said that Beijing’s claim is not valid.
China says that it has complete control over almost all of the South China Sea, which is a very big area, and the islands and sandbars in it. They even claim control over places that are far away from the Chinese mainland. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan also have different claims.
Sama Sama has over 1,800 people from different countries participating, including people from warships in the Philippines, the US, the UK, Japan, and Canada. The exercises will happen in the Southern Luzon area of the Philippine Naval Forces. The headquarters will be on the Pacific coast of the country, which is around 300 miles southeast of Manila. It is also around 560 miles away from the Spratly Islands.
Tag: China
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US and Philippines begin joint military exercises as tensions with China grow
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China, Europe, other countries to import cashew from Ghanaian company
Plant Manager of Bui Cashew Limited, Wu Yun Ling, has disclosed that the factory’s products will be distributed to the global market, encompassing China, the United States, and Europe.
Furthermore, he emphasized that residents of the Bui enclave and people throughout Ghana would have access to their products for purchase at any time.
Speaking to GhanaWeb’s Ernestina Serwaa Asante on BizTech programme, Mr Ling, while talking about their target market said, “It depends. Some sellers in other countries contact us. We’ll sell to the locals, some will go abroad; maybe Europe, America and some to China.”
Additionally, Wu Yun Ling mentioned that the factory processes between 6 to 8 tonnes of cashews daily.
When discussing the rapport with local employees, the plant manager affirmed that it was highly favorable, with workers receiving competitive compensation.
In a similar vein, Eric Opoku Acheampong, Deputy Director of Lands and Impact at Bui Power Authority, emphasized that job creation for the substantial number of unemployed youth in the Bui region aligns with BPA’s vision.
He said, “That’s the main intent for the investment we are bringing…the plant itself at full operation will be able to employ about 250 people. So far, 25 people are working in term of the seeds that we have gotten from the local people…”
Mr. Opoku Acheampong underscored that these employees will receive fair treatment and will not face any unfair practices from their Chinese counterparts.
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Philippine defence secretary promises to confront China’s ‘bullying’
China is acting like a schoolyard menace toward more modest nations, the Philippine defense secretary told CNN Friday during an elite meeting in which he cautioned his country, and the more extensive world, needed to face Beijing’s regional development in the South China Ocean.
“I can’t imagine any more clear instance of harassing than this,” said Philippine Secretary of Public Safeguard Gilberto Teodoro Jr. “It’s not the topic of taking your lunch cash, but rather it’s actually an issue of taking your lunch pack, your seat and even enlistment in school.”
His remarks follow progressively confident moves by the Philippines to safeguard its case to reefs in the South China Ocean during over a month of high-stakes sea show.
While strains among China and the Philippines over the exceptionally challenged and vital stream have rotted for quite a long time, conflicts have spiked this mid year, restoring provincial feelings of dread that an error or error adrift could set off a more extensive clash, incorporating with the US.
The district is generally viewed as an expected flashpoint for worldwide blaze and the new showdowns have raised worries among Western onlookers of possibly forming into a global episode if China, a worldwide power, chooses to partner act all the more strongly against the Philippines, a US deal.
Late occurrences have involved stalemates between China’s coast monitor, what Manila says are shadowy Chinese “sea civilian army” boats and little wooden Philippine fishing vessels, Chinese water cannons hindering the resupply of a wrecked Philippine military station, and a solitary Filipino jumper slicing through a drifting Chinese boundary.
Teodoro portrayed the Philippines’ refusal to withdraw in the waters inside its 200 nautical-mile select monetary zone as a battle for the actual presence of the Philippines.
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Ghana, China trade at a record-high level of $10.2b
Ghana-China trade to hit a record-high level of US$10.2 billion in 2022, up from US$6.67 billion in 2017.
More crucially, Ghana’s exports to China surged by 60% last year, according to the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Lu Kun.
During the commemoration of the 74th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in Accra, the ambassador revealed that collaboration and alliances between China and Ghana are yielding concrete advantages for both nations.
“Since this year, China-Ghana cooperation has yielded fruitful results, delivering tangible benefits to the Ghanaian people. In March, construction began on a China-aided annex building for the foreign affairs ministry in Accra. In May, China joined the official creditor committee for Ghana as co-chair and helped Ghana secure the IMF US$3 billion deal in record time.
“In June, construction began on a China-aided military building. In July, the 43rd fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy visited Ghana. The Embassy donated relief items to flood victims in the Volta Region and a Chinese medical team in Ghana provided free clinical services. In August, the China Visa Application Centre in Accra officially opened. Therefore, China will remain Ghana’s largest trading partner and major foreign investments source for years to come,” he stated.
Dependable partner in socio-economic development
As a guest speaker at the occasion, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta hailed China for its ongoing contributions to Ghana’s socioeconomic development.
‘Let me indeed extend our sincerest appreciation to China for the strong show of support demonstrated in helping Ghana secure the US$3billion extended credit facility from the International Monetary Fund,” he stated.
China stands as Ghana’s foremost trading partner and the primary contributor to recent foreign direct investments. Mr. Ofori-Atta emphasized that the Ghanaian government remains committed to creating a favorable environment that facilitates the activities of Chinese companies within the nation and aims to attract additional investments from China.
New opportunities to deepen trade
While recognizing the two countries’ excellent trade ties, the finance minister emphasized the significance of achieving a balanced trade and investment partnership between the two countries.
In this regard, he has recommended the investigation of new economic routes to promote continuing growth and the enhancement of the two countries’ commercial partnership.
“We believe that by fostering a win-win cooperation with the People’s Republic of China, Ghana will have a greater chance of realising its developmental objectives,” he stated.
Trade in 2023
As of June 2023, China’s exports to Ghana amounted to a total of US$747 million, while its imports from Ghana reached US$183 million. This resulted in a positive trade balance of US$563 million for the Asian giant, as reported by the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), a leading tool for visualizing international trade data.
China’s primary exports to Ghana in June 2023 included coated flat-rolled iron (valued at US$32.4 million), pesticides (US$29.5 million), rubber footwear (US$17.6 million), large construction vehicles (US$15.4 million), and motorcycles and bicycles (US$14.8 million).
Conversely, the top imports from Ghana to China during the same period were dominated by crude petroleum (valued at US$159 million), manganese ore (US$49.7 million), sawn wood (US$1.44 million), cocoa paste (US$1.16 million), and rough wood (US$1.09 million).
However, according to OEC data, China’s exports saw a decline of US$158 million (-17.5 percent), dropping from US$905 million to US$747 million between June 2022 and June 2023. Imports also experienced a decrease of US$123 million (-40.2 percent), decreasing from US$307 million to US$183 million during the same period.
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China invests billions in infrastructures in Africa
Last month, Zimbabwe’s Hwange power station added two new units for generating electricity. This is a common occurrence for big infrastructure projects in Africa.
In a rural area of a country in southern Africa, government officials and the Chinese ambassador came together to celebrate and praise the expansion of a coal-fired plant. The purpose of the plant is to decrease power outages in the country, and China provided the funding for it.
The project received around $1 billion in loans from China several years ago. However, China has stopped funding new coal-powered projects overseas now. This project is just one of many expensive projects in Africa that are supported by Chinese lenders as part of Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The money from China has made a big difference in Africa. People in big cities like Lagos, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa can now travel every day on new railways, highways, and airports built with Chinese loans and with the help of Chinese construction companies.
Now, as the world continues to build infrastructure for the past ten years, there are concerns about how Beijing will guide the initiative in the future. People are wondering if China will reduce its funding due to new challenges and changes in its plans.
China is facing challenges in repaying debts due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Additionally, China itself is experiencing financial difficulties, and there is a growing need to address environmental concerns. These factors are putting pressure on how China lends money and how countries borrow from China.
New research from the Boston University Global Development Policy Center indicates that there is a noticeable change happening. They have observed a consistent decrease in the number of new loans given by Chinese organizations to African governments. This decline has become more pronounced in the last two years.
The amount of money lent through new loans decreased significantly. In 2016, it was at its highest point, $28. 5 billion, but last year it was just under $1 billion. This is the second year in a row that lending has dropped below $2 billion. According to researchers, this decline may not only be due to the pandemic but also a bigger change in lending practices. This could mean there will be fewer large loans given out in the future.
“The Belt and Road Initiative seems to be making adjustments,” said the report’s author, Oyintarelado Moses, when speaking to CNN.
And this phenomenon might not only happen with Chinese money in Africa.
Moses, a data analyst at the Global China Initiative, predicts that the new phase of Belt and Road lending will probably have less overall financing due to a decrease in loan averages worldwide.However, it is difficult to know exactly how much money is leaving China to support global development because the government of China does not publicly disclose this information, and there are many different financial organizations involved.
The information from the Global Development Policy Center mainly looks at loans given by African governments or loans that have a guarantee from the government. This means that loans from China that are given directly to private individuals or companies for projects in Africa are not included in the data.
Some experts say that the main reasons Beijing became the world’s biggest lender to other countries are still the same. This means that Beijing will keep giving money to both big and small projects in the future, but we don’t know how much they will give.
What happens next can affect how much money developing countries get for building important things like roads and buildings.
Policymakers will be observing a big international forum happening next month in Beijing for clues about what will happen next.
Xi started a plan that would become very important to his foreign policy when he visited Kazakhstan in 2013.
There, the Chinese leader said that the ancient Silk Road should be improved so that countries can have stronger economic connections, deeper cooperation, and more opportunities for development.
After that, a lot of money in the form of loans has been given by both development finance institutions and China’s commercial banks to build railroads, power plants, highways, ports, and telecoms in developing countries.
This helped China’s economy by giving it a way to use its extra industrial capacity and money. It also helped China to make connections with over 150 countries and increase its influence around the world.
A lot of its friends have gained advantages from the new buildings and roads.
But the projects that fall under the Belt and Road initiative have caused concerns because of poor environmental and labor practices, as well as risky loans. Critics believe that China has burdened low- and middle-income governments with excessive debts compared to their economies.Beijing disagrees with these statements and thinks that the initiative is a way for people all over the world to increase economic opportunities and share them with others. Beijing believes that this initiative can create new ways for economic growth.
Now, there are new economic situations happening because countries are still dealing with the effects of the pandemic while also being affected by higher interest rates and prices of goods caused by the conflict in Ukraine.
The most important thing we need to understand is that the time of low interest rates and cheap money from China going into these countries has come to an end. And now China is the largest country that collects debts in the world, said Ammar A. Malik is a senior scientist at AidData research lab in the US. The lab also keeps track of money that China gives to other countries.
The challenge for China is to ensure that these countries have enough money and that these projects work well, so that China can get their repayments with interest and on time.
In the past few years, some governments that owe money to China and other lenders have asked for more time to pay back their debts or for some of the debt to be forgiven. China has given loans to help out these struggling borrowers, and has also worked together with other lenders to come up with a plan to ease their debt burden.
Malik said that some countries with low and middle incomes may not be able to borrow more money because of their financial troubles.
But many poorer countries still want to get money for big projects that are important for their economies to grow. There are reasons for both China and the receiving countries to keep working together, so financing may not slow down.
China is currently facing tough economic challenges at home as it continues its second decade of the Belt and Road.
The economy was supposed to get better after Covid, but that hasn’t happened. Now, local governments are dealing with a lot of debt because of a property crisis.
We are not sure yet how much Beijing’s own economic problems will affect its lending to other countries in the future. However, Moses from the Global Development Policy Center says there are already some signs of impact.
Beijing is currently focusing more on using its foreign exchange reserves and increasing liquidity to address domestic challenges. This shows that lenders are now more focused on meeting the financial needs within the country.
However, despite the economic issues China is facing, some of the reasons why China was originally investing in global infrastructure projects, such as creating new investment chances in a slowing economy, are still important to them, says Austin Strange, a professor at the University of Hong Kong.
He said that this basic idea is probably still true as the slowdown continues, especially because tensions between countries are making it harder for Chinese companies in certain industries to invest more in developed countries.
Representatives from over 100 countries will meet in Beijing for a Belt and Road forum soon, and policymakers worldwide will be paying attention to see how the initiative will develop.
China is not just paying attention to loans getting smaller, but they might also focus more on environmental problems, improving social safety nets, and doing proper research. This is because Beijing and its banks are learning from the project’s first ten years, according to analysts.
A report from AidData in 2021 found that around 35% of projects under the Belt and Road initiative, which were managed only by Chinese organizations from 2013 to 2017, faced difficulties in their implementation. These challenges included issues related to the environment, corruption controversies, and violations of labor rights.
China in 2017 provided instructions on promoting an environmentally friendly Belt and Road initiative. It emphasized the need for sustainable development and the protection of the environment. Recently, officials have started asking for “small and beautiful” projects that they think local people will like.
In 2021, Xi promised that China will not construct any new coal power plants in other countries.
But compared to Western lenders who impose their own environmental and other rules on the projects they support, China has typically let the recipient country choose the type of project. This could restrict how well Beijing can achieve its environmental goals.
Researchers at the Global Development Policy Center say that in the future, when lending money to Africa, there will be fewer big loans of more than $500 million. Instead, there will be more loans with smaller amounts below $50 million, which will have positive effects on society and the environment.
China will probably keep providing money for projects that support its political goals and try to gain influence over the United States. The United States has also started its own programs to compete with China’s spending on foreign development.
China used to give a lot of money for big infrastructure projects around the world, but now they are probably giving less. However, there are probably still some countries near China that are enthusiastic about the Belt and Road Initiative and want to work with China.
If Chinese policymakers and project leaders have invested a lot to improve how they manage projects in the last ten years, then new projects should benefit from what they have learned in the past. “Looking back can be helpful in this situation. ” -
Philippines takes down China’s maritime wall in disputed waters
The Philippines coast protect said it had been educating to do so by President Ferdinand Marcos Junior.
Manila says China damaged its angling rights with the 300m (1,000ft) boundary within the Scarborough Reef.
China claims more than 90% of the South China Ocean and seized the reef in 2012.
Beijing guarded the activities of its coastguard, expressing they were “fundamental measures”.
“The obstruction postured a danger to route, a clear infringement of universal law. It too ruins the conduct of angling and vocation exercises of Filipino fisherfolk,” the Philippines coast watch said in a explanation.
It depicted the shore as “an indispensably portion of the Philippine national domain”.
Commodore Jay Tarriela of the coast protect said the obstruction was found by a watch on Friday.
Three Chinese coast watch vessels and a Chinese oceanic local army benefit watercraft introduced the obstruction when the Philippine vessel arrived, he said.
The Chinese vessels issued 15 radio challenges and denounced the Philippine transport and anglers of damaging worldwide and Chinese laws, some time recently moving absent “upon figuring it out the nearness of media staff on board the [Philippine] vessel”, he said.
Japan has encouraged calm and said the South China Ocean was central to territorial solidness.
“Our nation unequivocally contradicts any conduct that increases pressure within the South China Ocean,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a customary press conference.
What is the South China Sea dispute?
The South China Sea may be a wealthy angling ground that’s accepted to hold tremendous oil and gas saves. More than half of the world’s angling vessels work in this region.
China’s claims – which incorporate sway over plots of arrive and their adjoining waters – have irritated not fair the Philippines but moreover Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.
China has sponsored its broad claims with island-building and maritime watches.
The US says it does not take sides in regional debate, but has sent military ships and planes close debated islands in what it calls “flexibility of route” operations.
Beijing seized the Scarborough Shore in 2012 and constrained anglers from the Philippines to travel encourage for littler catches.
It afterward permitted the Philippines to angle adjacent when relations made strides beneath previous President Rodrigo Duterte.
Be that as it may, pressures have increased since Ferdinand Marcos Jr got to be president final year.
President Marcos Jr reestablished security ties with the US and in early 2023 allowed American troops more extensive get to to Philippine military bases.
This irritated China as a bigger US presence within the Philippines gives Washington with an circular segment of collusions extending from South Korea and Japan within the north to Australia within the south. -
Philippines criticises China for installing floating barrier in the controversial South China Sea
The Philippines criticized China’s coast guard for putting up a “floating barrier” in a disputed part of the South China Sea. This barrier has stopped Filipino boats from entering and fishing in the area.
In a statement, a person named Jay Tarriela, who speaks for the Philippine coast guard, said that they found something called a floating barrier. This happened when the Philippine ships were doing a regular patrol on Friday. The barrier was about 300 meters long (984 feet).
The Philippine coast guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources are very mad at the China coast guard for putting up a barrier in the Southeast part of Bajo de Masinloc. This barrier stops Filipino fishing boats from going into the shoal and taking away their ability to fish and make money.
Tarriela posted pictures of a supposed floating barrier. He said that after a Philippine government ship arrived in the area, three Chinese coast guard boats and one Chinese maritime militia service boat installed the barrier.
The National Security Council of the Philippines announced on Monday that it will take necessary steps to remove barriers and ensure the safety and rights of the country’s fishermen in that specific area.
According to national security adviser Eduardo Año, the barriers being set up by China go against the Philippines’ right to fish in certain areas of the South China Sea, which was confirmed by a ruling from an international tribunal in 2016.
On Monday, Beijing explained its actions by saying that it has complete control over Huangyan Island and its surrounding waters, using the Chinese name for the disputed area. It accused the Filipino vessel of entering without permission.
“The Chinese Coast Guard followed the law and did what was needed to make the other boat go away. They showed professionalism in how they handled the situation,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin during a normal press briefing.
Filipino fishermen say that Chinese ships often put up barriers when they see many Filipino fishermen around.
Bajo de Masinloc, or Scarborough Shoal, is a small and important reef and good place for fishing. It is located 130 miles (200 kilometers) to the west of the Philippine island of Luzon.
The shoal called Huangyan Island by China is part of a group of islands and reefs in the South China Sea. There are arguments among different countries over who owns these areas.
In 2016, a court in The Hague decided that the Philippines won a major disagreement over the ocean. The decision meant that China could not legally say that they had the right to most of the South China Sea because of history.
China did not follow the decision made.
This happened a few days after the Philippine coast guard showed videos of lots of damaged and discolored coral. Because of this, officials blamed China for causing a lot of destruction in that area. China’s foreign ministry said that the allegations are not true and have no basis. -
Russia and China applaud their cooperation in advance of Putin’s scheduled trip to Beijing
The top diplomats from Russia and China had a meeting in Moscow to talk about working together more closely on global issues. They also talked about an important visit that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be making to Beijing soon.
The two countries will work together at the UN General Assembly and other important meetings, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Wang, a person from China, went to Russia for a four-day trip. While Wang was in Russia, there was a meeting. At the same time, Han Zheng, who is the Vice President of China, met with Antony Blinken, who is the Secretary of State of the United States, in New York. They talked about keeping communication open between their countries.
The meeting between Wang and Sullivan in Malta last weekend might make it easier for Biden and Xi to meet in November during the APEC summit in the United States.
The Chinese government has been doing a lot of diplomatic work recently. This is because both China and the United States want to improve their relationship, which has become more and more difficult. Additionally, Chinese leaders want to change the way the world is governed because they think that the current system is controlled too much by Western countries. They believe that Russia is an important partner in achieving this goal.
During their meeting on Monday, Wang told Lavrov that China and Russia should collaborate to create a world where power is shared among many countries. He also mentioned that both countries have a duty to keep the world stable and peaceful.
Wang said China and Russia should work together more closely and make global governance fairer in response to one-sided actions and confrontations. This statement is in line with how China often describes actions from the US.
Wang also said that China and Russia’s relationship is not focused on or influenced by any other country.
“The diplomat said that China and Russia choose their own ways of dealing with other countries. ”
The information suggests that Putin is likely to visit China next month. Lavrov said that Russia will prepare for important meetings between the two countries.
During a meeting in Moscow in March, Xi invited Putin to come to a conference that is going to happen next month in Beijing. A person who works for the Kremlin said recently that the leader of Russia plans to go to China this summer.
Putin has not traveled much to other countries since he invaded Ukraine. This year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin because they believe he committed war crimes. He is now isolated from other countries diplomatically.
The meeting between the two leaders in March, which happened when Russia was attacking Ukraine, made it clear that Beijing is very dedicated to building a good relationship with Moscow. This resulted in over twelve agreements to strengthen collaboration in different areas like trade, technology, and state propaganda, as mentioned in a list provided by the Kremlin.
We work in tough situations when the world is going through major changes. In simpler words: Lavrov said during his meeting with Wang on Monday that it was very important that our leaders set clear directions for strengthening our strategic relationship in March of this year.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has changed their relationship. Because of sanctions, Moscow is now depending more on China for economic and diplomatic support.
China is trying to present itself as someone who can help make peace and is not favoring any particular side in the conflict. At the same time, China is supporting Russia financially and has not asked them to stop their attacks or remove their troops.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Lavrov and Wang both agreed that they need to think about Russia’s interests when trying to solve the conflict in Ukraine.
“The parties talked extensively about the current situation in Ukraine, recognizing that it is pointless to try and solve the crisis without considering everyone’s interests, especially without involving Russia,” the statement explained.
China’s summary said that they have consistently followed the peace talks and they promise to help find a political solution to the crisis.
Wang came to Moscow on Monday after a big meeting between Putin and Kim Jong Un last week. The US was worried that this meeting could result in North Korea giving weapons to Moscow for the war in Ukraine. -
Wang Yi, China’s top representative, visits Russia for security talks
China’s main diplomat Wang Yi is traveling to Russia to have discussions about security, as Moscow looks for ongoing assistance for its conflict with Ukraine.
China, a strong friend of Russia, is being accused of indirectly helping Russia during the war. However, China denies these claims.
He came to visit after Vladimir Putin met with Kim Jong Un from North Korea. The US was worried that they might make an agreement about weapons.
Russian media reports that Mr. Wang’s trip will prepare the way for Mr. Putin to make an important visit to Beijing in the near future.
Earlier this month, Mr Putin said he planned to meet with President Xi Jinping of China, but he did not specify the date or time of the meeting.
Some people think it’s probable that he will go to the Belt and Road Forum in the upcoming month.
He hasn’t gone to another country since the International Criminal Court said he did something wrong in March and wants to catch him for it. Putin last went to other countries in December 2022 when he visited Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.
China’s foreign ministry stated that Mr. Wang is currently in Russia for four days to discuss and analyze matters related to strategic security.
According to Russian news agency Tass, the Kremlin said that he would meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and the war in Ukraine would be an important topic of discussion.
They will also talk about increasing the number of Nato forces and infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as improving their coordination in international organizations like the UN.
China wants the Ukraine war to stop so it can fix its relationship with Europe. However, it doesn’t want to hold anyone responsible for the war because it supports Russia.
She said inviting Putin to China is a way to show support for Russia. But supporting Russia must also be seen as an effort to get Russia to the negotiating table. This is important so that China doesn’t make its position worse with the Europeans.
Mr Wang’s visit follows a few days after Mr. Putin’s very much talked-about greeting of Mr. Kim in the far east of Russia. The US claimed that the purpose of this visit was to discuss the sale of weapons from North Korea to Russia. It is believed that Moscow doesn’t have enough weapons and ammunition.
Russia and North Korea recently discussed helping each other with military activities and providing assistance for North Korea’s satellite program.
Mr Kim has finished his trip to Russia, according to the Korean Central News Agency on Monday. According to Russian and North Korean media, he is going home with some gifts which include a Russian-made gun, a glove worn by an astronaut, a vest that protects against bullets, a hat made of fur, and some military flying machines.When asked about Mr. Kim’s trip last week, China’s foreign ministry chose not to comment, stating that it was “something between their two countries. ”
But some experts think that if North Korea and Russia are supporting each other, China probably knows about it or even approves of it, because China has strong relationships with both countries.
These relationships go beyond socialist beliefs and their common lack of trust in the US and the West. Beijing has been a crucial source of economic support for Pyongyang by trading with them. In recent times, Beijing has also started buying more Russian oil and gas, which has become significant for Moscow.
Whatever is going on between Russia and North Korea cannot happen without China knowing about it. According to Alexander Korolev, an expert on the relationship between China and Russia, I don’t believe they would work together in military matters without Beijing’s permission.
China might consider North Korea as a helpful ally for Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
Allowing North Korea and Russia to work together in the military is a way for Russia to benefit without damaging its reputation much. It might say that North Korea’s bad government is to blame, even though other people aren’t involved. “He said it would be a good idea if this happens. ”
Mr Wang is visiting Russia after meeting with Jake Sullivan in Malta. In addition to the relationship between the US and China, the two men also talked about security in the region and the war in Ukraine, as stated by the US and China.
Mr Korolev said it is uncertain if China would put pressure on North Korea to stop cooperating, even though the US is discussing this with China. “If China wanted to follow America’s approach, they had more than a year to end the war but they chose not to,” he said.
The US has accused China of helping Russia with money and important technology since the war started.
A report from US intelligence, published in July, stated that Beijing is using different ways to help Russia’s economy, in order to reduce the impact of sanctions from Western countries and restrictions on exports.
This text mentions that China is buying more energy from Russia, using its currency more for transactions with Russia, and likely providing technology that can be used for both civilian and military purposes, like drones, to Ukraine.
China has always denied these claims and says it stays neutral in the war.
The country has made its own plan to bring peace to Ukraine. They shared the plan when their leader visited Moscow and met with the President earlier this year. -
Police in China arrest employees of Evergrande wealth unit
Employees of embattled real estate developer Evergrande’s investment division have been arrested by authorities in Shenzhen, a city in southern China. The police asked people to tell them if they see any crimes or fraud.
On Friday, it was announced that a newly formed government-owned insurance company has taken over the firm’s insurance division.
Evergrande is in the middle of a big problem that has affected China’s real estate business since 2021.
A while ago, the police arrested Du and other suspected criminals from Evergrande Financial Wealth Management Co, according to the Shenzhen Nanshan District Police Bureau.
They did not provide more information about the number of people who were arrested, their names – except for one person called Du – or what crimes they might be accused of.
The police are still investigating the case and if you are an investor, you can report any complaints to the authorities.
Evergrande Financial Wealth Management Co is a company that manages people’s money and helps them grow their wealth. This company is owned entirely by Evergrande. It was created in 2015 and is located in Shenzhen.
Du Liang is the boss of Evergrande Financial Wealth Management, as stated on his Linkedin page. The BBC could not confirm if he was one of the people arrested by the police.
China’s National Administration of Financial Regulation (NAFR) has a plan to transfer Evergrande Life Assurance’s assets and liabilities to Haigang Life Insurance Co. , which is owned by the government. An abbreviation for “Limited,” which means a company or business entity.
Shares of Evergrande were not moving much on Monday afternoon after bouncing back from a 25% drop earlier in the day.
Since 2020, it has become harder for property developers in Beijing to borrow money.
Evergrande used to be one of China’s largest companies, but it borrowed more than $300 billion as it grew quickly.
The company is trying to change its business plan because it didn’t pay its debts and lost a lot of money.
Other big Chinese real estate companies, such as Country Garden and Sino-Ocean, have been having difficulty paying back their debts.
China’s real estate industry is an important part of the second biggest economy in the world.
Some experts are worried that the problem in the industry could harm the economy and affect the global financial markets.
Beijing has been working on stopping corruption in the financial sector of the country for over two years.
High-ranking officials have been given very harsh punishments, such as the death penalty. -
Taiwan requests Beijing to stop its ‘military harassment’ after 103 Chinese warplanes fly close to island
Taiwan’s defense ministry wants China to stop its continuous military disruption. Taiwan noticed over 100 Chinese warplanes near the island in just one day.
The ministry said that the large number of warplanes observed in the area created serious problems for the safety of Taiwan Strait and the region.
Based on a map from the government, 40 out of 103 Chinese military planes flew past the middle line in the Taiwan Strait and into Taiwan’s self-declared zone for air defense.
These 40 incidents were done by a group of different fighter planes including Su-30, J-10, J-11, J-16. There were also two aerial refueling aircraft called Y-20 and two early warning and control planes named KJ-500.
An ADIZ is a zone that a country sets up on its own, and it is different from the airspace that a country controls. Sovereign airspace is the area that a country has authority over, and it is usually 12 nautical miles from the coast of the country. No planes from China were seen entering Taiwan’s airspace that belongs to Taiwan.
China’s ruling Communist Party believes that Taiwan, a democratic island with a population of 24 million people, belongs to them, even though they have never governed it.
The Communist Party wants to connect Taiwan with China, even if they have to use force. However, the Taiwanese government strongly disagrees with China’s belief that Taiwan belongs to them.
The defense ministry of Taiwan said that they are always practicing to get better at fighting. They believe that if there is peace between Taiwan and China, it will help keep the Indo-Pacific region stable and successful.
The Communist military keeps bothering other militaries, which could make tensions rise and make the region less secure. We ask the Beijing authorities to do their duty and stop this harmful action right away.
In October 2021, there was a new record of Chinese warplanes entering Taiwan’s ADIZ within a 24-hour period. On that day, 56 planes crossed into Taiwan’s airspace. -
China danger to way of life in UK – Rishi Sunak
The Communist government in China, according to Rishi Sunak, poses a “special threat to our open and democratic way of life.”
In his remarks, the prime minister addressed a report that the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament had issued in July.
He promised that ministers will take “all necessary steps” to defend the UK from foreign state interference.
Some of Mr. Sunak’s own MPs have been pressuring him lately to formally classify China as a “threat.”
The prime minister has refrained from doing this, instead referring to China as a “epoch-defining and systemic challenge” while accepting the necessity of engaging the superpower.
The ISC report was used by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday to accuse the PM of ignoring warnings about China and leaving the UK “desperately playing catch up” in terms of security. He demanded an investigation into UK-China relations.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that police had detained a researcher working for Parliament on suspicion of espionage for China under the Official Secrets Act.
In a statement sent through solicitors, the researcher—whom the BBC is not naming—debunked the allegations. The Official Secrets Act led to the arrest of two persons, one of which was him.
In response to the report from the committee, which was written before the arrest became public, Mr. Sunak stated that he was “particularly conscious” of the necessity for a “robust approach to any and all state threat activity.”
The ISC had issued a warning that China would “successfully penetrate every sector of the UK’s economy” using its “size, ambition, and capability.”
“While seeking to exert influence is a legitimate course of action, China oversteps the boundary and crosses the line into interference,” the cross-party committee of parliamentarians continued.
China has been particularly successful at buying academic institutions with its money and influence to advance its international narrative and quell criticism of it.
‘Sabotage’
Along with Mr. Sunak’s declaration, the entire administration responded, agreeing that “some Chinese action crosses the line from influence into interference.”
Recognising that China had “tried to headhunt British and allied nationals in key positions and with sensitive knowledge and experience, including from government, military, industry, and wider society,” it claimed that China had “tried to headhunt these individuals.”
Additionally, it stated that targeting of current and former civil workers was something British intelligence was “acutely aware and vigilant” about.
However, it said that the UK intelligence community’s amount of resources allocated to China had grown “significantly” in recent years.
Using new authority to examine foreign investment, the government reportedly vetoed eight investment deals last year when the buyer had ties to China.
In addition, the government noted that it had taken control of CGN’s former ownership of a share in the Sizewell C nuclear power facility and barred Huawei from the UK’s 5G telecom network.
To be able to meet the challenge, the government understands that “further investment” would be required.
It declared that it was increasing money for activities and training in the Mandarin language in order to broaden knowledge.
The UK will become a “harder target” because of the National Security Act, which was approved in July and “introduces a range of new offences for foreign interference, assisting a foreign intelligence service, sabotage, and theft of trade secrets,” according to Mr. Sunak.
And he claimed that this year’s Higher Education Act included measures to defend colleges against attacks to free expression.
‘Glacial’
The ISC’s chair, Conservative MP Julian Lewis, refuted Mr. Sunak’s assertion that the committee’s report was out-of-date.
Given the glacial pace at which the government’s China policy proceeded, he stated, “We observed all important changes and highlighted them throughout the report up until two months before publication.
According to the government, its approach to China is determined by the need to safeguard the UK’s prosperity and security, by uniting with friends to address Beijing’s challenges, and by engaging with China itself to seek out stable and positive ties.
According to the administration, cooperation is essential in many areas, from shared economic interests to the need to combat climate change.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly justified his meeting with Chinese officials in Beijing last month, the first such encounter by a foreign secretary in five years, by saying it would not be “credible” to end relations with China.
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China presents ‘blueprint’ for integrating Taiwan
China presented a plan to strengthen connections between the province of Fujian and Taiwan. They highlighted the advantages of working together and demonstrated their military power by sending warships near Taiwan.
The Chinese Communist Party and the State Council have issued a directive stating that they want to develop Fujian as a place where Taiwan and China can work together, and where Taiwanese people and businesses can live and work in China.
Chinese experts, mentioned in state media, are praising a document that is seen as a plan for Taiwan’s future development. This is happening at a time when relations between Taiwan and China are tense due to Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election in January.
China is increasing its military pressure on Taiwan, a country with 24 million people and a democratic system. China’s ruling Communist Party says Taiwan belongs to China, even though they have never had control over it.
Taiwanese authorities have noticed that a Chinese aircraft carrier and about twenty Chinese warships have gathered near Taiwan’s waters. This happened just before Beijing is set to reveal its integration plan.
China has, for a long time, used both rewards and punishments as a way to deal with Taiwan. They threaten Taiwan with the possibility of a military attack, but also give them chances for economic and cultural exchanges if they agree with China’s opinions.
Because there has been a significant deterioration in the relationship between Taiwan and China in recent years, it is uncertain how open people in Taiwan will be to China’s broad suggestion.
On Wednesday, Wang Ting-yu, a politician from Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said the integration plan was “absurd. ”
In a video message, Wang said that China needs to focus on dealing with its financial problems instead of trying to push its agenda against Taiwan through government-related efforts.
The idea of developing Fujian along with Taiwan was mentioned in a Chinese document in 2021, but no specific information was given.
In June, a top Chinese leader suggested a plan to join Taiwan with China. The Mainland Affairs Council in Taiwan responded by calling the proposal pointless and unsuccessful. They said it did not meet the expectations of the people in Taiwan and made Taiwan feel insignificant.
CNN has contacted Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council to ask for their statement or response.
In the directive, Beijing promises to make the business environment better for Taiwanese companies in Fujian. They also want to strengthen cooperation in industries and investments, and encourage Taiwanese companies to join Chinese stock exchanges.
For the first time ever, companies from Taiwan can invest in and create radio and TV production companies in Fujian as part of a trial program.
The directive also aims to encourage people from Taiwan to come and live in Fujian. It promises to improve programs that help the people of Taiwan live and work in the province, like buying property. It also promises fair treatment for Taiwanese students who want to go to public schools.
Chinese experts noted that the document is like a plan for the future of Taiwan, and by working with Fujian, Taiwan can have more opportunities and grow even more. This was reported by the state-run Global Times.
Fujian is a province with 40 million people located on the side of Taiwan Strait. It is the province that is nearest to Taiwan, both in terms of geography and culture.
Many people in Taiwan are descendants of Chinese immigrants from the Fujian province who came in large groups over many years. They brought with them their language, customs, and religion, which became the foundation of Taiwan’s traditional culture among the majority Han population.
China’s ruling Communist Party has always tried to use the fact that Fujian and Taiwan are close geographically, historically, and culturally as a reason to become more economically and socially connected, and eventually unite, with Taiwan.
Beijing is trying to bring together Taiwan’s outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu with the mainland. These islands are closer to Fujian than Taiwan and have a strong historical connection with the mainland.
In a directive on Tuesday, Beijing promised to make the integration between the city of Xiamen and Kinmen even faster. These two cities are very close to each other, only a few miles apart.
It promises to work together on building things like roads and buildings between the two cities. This will make it possible to move electricity and gas from Xiamen to Kinmen. They also want to connect the two cities with a bridge. People living in Kinmen will be treated the same as people living in Xiamen, according to the plan.
They have also introduced similar integration plans for the cities of Fuzhou and Matsu.
Some people who live in Kinmen may like the idea of making it easier to connect with other places. This year, a group of eight local councilors from Kinmen wanted to build a bridge to Xiamen to improve economic connections. They also wanted Kinmen to become a demilitarized zone and promote peace.
Kinmen is a place that is right in between Taiwan and China. After the Chinese civil war, it experienced many attacks from the Chinese military, like soldiers coming from sea and bombs being shot at it.
The plan of the councilors suggests that they want to take away all the soldiers and military buildings from Taiwan’s islands. They want to change Kinmen into a place where people from Beijing and Taipei can talk and try to reduce tension. -
Heavy flooding in southern China released more than 70 crocodiles
Officials in a city in southern China are trying to catch more than 70 crocodiles that escaped from a farm during heavy flooding. The news has been reported by several state media outlets, and some residents have been told to stay inside.
The scary reptiles used to be kept at a crocodile farm in Maoming, in the south part of Guangdong province. However, a lot of rain caused a nearby lake to become too full, which allowed the animals to get out and be free.
According to a news report from Hai Bao News, there were about 69 grown-up crocodiles and six young ones near Peng Cun village. They were moving around and looking for things. The place said it talked to the nearby authorities who told people to stay inside and not go out.
A special team was sent out to find the crocodiles using special technology that uses sound waves, as reported by The Beijing News.
But the high level of the floodwater made it very difficult for the operation. This made the authorities ask residents to stay at home.
A person from the emergency team said they might have to kill the crocodiles instead of catching them.
The video on Chinese social media shows crocodiles hiding near a sign by a road that is underwater.
People in special uniforms and safety gear were on boats looking for reptiles.
Some videos show that some crocodiles were caught and taken to land. Their mouths and legs were tied to limit their movement. A few local people watched this happening from the shore out of curiosity.
In China, people really value crocodiles because they have nice skin and their meat is thought to be good for health in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Guangdong is a good place for raising crocodiles because it has a warmer weather compared to other areas.
Heavy rain has hit Southern China and Hong Kong after typhoon Haikui passed through the area last week. -
China systemic threat to UK values – Dowden
Assuring that the UK is safe from “foreign state activity that seeks to undermine our national security” is a top responsibility, the deputy prime minister told MPs.
Oliver Dowden was speaking following the revelation that a parliamentary researcher had been detained in March on suspicion of working as a Chinese spy.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle earlier instructed lawmakers to bring up concerns in private rather than bring up security risks related to the claim before the Commons.
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Two construction workers detained for breaking down Great Wall of China
China’s greatest historical defense against invading forces has been broken by two workers who were trying to take a quick and easy way.
Chinese authorities arrested two construction workers, a man named Zheng who is 38 years old, and a woman named Wang who is 55 years old. They are accused of breaking through the Great Wall.
The government of Youyu County, which is far away from Beijing, shared some pictures showing a bumpy road going through a broken part of a barrier.
The part being talked about is believed to be at the far west end of the wall in Shanxi province.
Some parts of this area were built around 2,000 years ago, but they are not close to the restored sections that tourists usually visit at the United Nations protected heritage site.
According to reports, Zheng and Wang made a new pathway because they needed a faster and easier way to do their construction work in nearby towns.
They will stay in jail as more legal steps are being taken.
This picture, posted online on August 31, 2023 by the Youyu Police, shows a path that seems to have been made through a part of the old Great Wall in Youyu county in northern China’s Shanxi province. Authorities in China have taken two people into custody for breaking through a part of the ancient wall, which is a famous cultural symbol and a site protected by the United Nations.
A recent online post by the Youyu Police in northern China’s Shanxi province shows a path that seems to go through a part of the old Great Wall in Youyu county.
The Great Wall of China was built a long time ago, starting around the 7th century BC. The most famous parts of the wall were finished during a period called the Ming dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644. It is a very important and special historical site in China.
The attempt to stop the Ming dynasty from being overthrown by the Manchu people from the north wasn’t successful. The Manchu people were able to conquer the Great Wall and eventually took control of the entire empire, establishing the Qing dynasty.
A person is wearing a mask to stay safe from the coronavirus while standing close to a part of the Badaling Great Wall in China, near Beijing, in October. On the 6th of January 2020. The police in China caught two men for breaking a section of the old wall, which is a very important cultural and protected site by the United Nations.
In the years after, the wall mostly fell apart, as many of its original stones were stolen by nearby villagers.
China’s communist government brought back interest in the wall as a symbol of love for one’s country and standing up against external influences in the middle of the 20th century.
In the past, the Great Wall has been in the news because it can be dangerous for tourists in the winter. There have been videos of many people slipping and holding onto the handrails while trying to walk on the icy surfaces.
Airbnb, an online rental service, has previously provided eco-friendly lodgings near the Great Wall in China. This was done to encourage sustainable tourism. -
China’s latest chatbot has censorship issues
Ernie, China‘s newest sensation, often responds this way when asked “difficult” questions.
The chatbot created by Baidu, a big search engine company, avoids talking about things that are considered too risky or sensitive.
Ernie, a new technology created by Baidu to compete with ChatGPT, was launched with a lot of excitement in the past few weeks, which caused an increase in the company’s stock value. Baidu got 33. 42 million people asking questions in the first day, which is about 23,000 questions per minute.
Another big Chinese technology company, Tencent, said on Thursday that it had also created a chatbot. Currently, only certain people are allowed to access it, and it seems like this mainly applies to businesses.
However, based on Ernie’s previous performance, it is expected that Tencent’s version will also be greatly limited by China’s strict censorship. This censorship not only affects social media and chat apps, but also influences all types of online activities.
For instance, Ernie didn’t seem to understand why Xi Jinping won’t be at the next G20 meeting. It answered by sharing a link to the official page about China’s leader.
Another question was asked about the Chinese government no longer sharing information about how many young people are unemployed. The answer given was that the person didn’t know how to answer that question.
Ernie has learned to watch out for words and phrases that can cause arguments or disagreements.
So if you ask, “Are Xinjiang and Tibet good places. ” it will tell you that it doesn’t know how to answer those questions yet.
The United Nations has accused the government of doing very bad things to Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Rights organizations also claim that the government is oppressing Tibetan people based on their ethnicity. Beijing says both claims are not true.
It is possible that the technology still needs improvement to answer these questions completely. However, sometimes Ernie appears to be avoiding questions.
If someone asks whether Xi Jinping or his predecessor, Hu Jintao, are not feeling well, the response will be: “Let’s talk about a different topic. ”If you mention the date when the Tiananmen Square crackdown happened, or the name of a Communist Party member who is in jail (Bo Xilai), or the name of the Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winner who died in prison (Liu Xiaobo), people might say they don’t want to discuss those topics and ask to talk about something different.
Baidu did not answer the BBC’s question about how much chatbots in China are affected by censorship.
But the CEO and co-founder of the company, Robin Li, said in an email that Baidu will gather a lot of important feedback from real people in the world. This will not only help make Baidu’s basic model better, but also make changes to Ernie Bot more quickly, resulting in a better experience for users.
The company wants to make it clear that the chatbot is just one part of their new AI services, called Ernie.
“According to Mr. Li, ERNIE 4. 0 will give entrepreneurs the ability to be the first to create innovative AI applications in today’s time. ”
The focus on giving more power to business owners suggests a potential way to use this technology.
Prof Jeffrey Ding from the George Washington University explained that China has introduced new rules for generative AI models. These rules are particularly strict for services that have the ability to impact public opinion or shape societal views.
He said that this might make companies create apps that are made specifically for businesses rather than for everyone.
Professor Ding also mentioned that because of technical issues with data reliability and research focus, there is still a considerable difference in quality between China’s models (like Ernie Bot) and OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The Chinese government said websites need to follow certain values and not share information that goes against the government’s power and unity.
Baidu has been relying on its new bot to help it make a lot of money. The company’s search engine is very popular in China and is used by more than 90% of people for their internet searches. However, it has not been doing as well as other technology companies in recent years.
Baidu lost money on advertising because people started using other platforms instead. They are also testing taxis that can drive themselves and they are the biggest company in the country that stores information on the internet, but Ernie is their new idea that they are very hopeful about.
Ernie is getting a lot of attention, but there are a few other chatbots that are already working or will be available soon.
Like in other technology battles in China, not all products will survive. However, Baidu really has to be successful in this particular situation. -
China accused by Philippines of engaging in ‘dangerous manoeuvres’
The Philippines claims that Chinese vessels are engaging in dangerous maneuvers within a disputed region of the South China Sea.This is the most recent disagreement between the two countries in that area.
The Philippine coast guard said on Friday that while they were near Ayungin Shoal, also called Ren’ai Reef by China, doing their usual rotation and resupply work, eight Chinese boats came close to them.
It said that the Chinese boats put the safety of the Philippine crew members at risk, but it didn’t explain how. It said that the situation included four ships from the Chinese coast guard and four ships from the Chinese “maritime militia. ”
Experts who specialize in marine security in the West think that Beijing controls a large group of boats called a maritime militia. This group helps China claim territories in the South China Sea and other areas, and can be denied by the Chinese government if needed.
The Philippines says that the militia has been involved in both of the most recent events at Ayungin Shoal, which is also called Second Thomas Shoal.
China has not admitted that this militia is real.
After the latest problem, the coast guard of the Philippines contacted the coast guard of China and asked them to stop any illegal activities in the waters of the Philippines right away.
Beijing says it has complete control over almost all of the South China Sea, which is 1. 3 million square miles in size. It also says it owns most of the islands in the sea. This means that there is a group of small islands called the Spratlys. These islands are claimed by many countries including the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
Manila also refers to a portion of the area as the West Philippine Sea. In 1999, it purposely ran aground a navy transport ship called the BRP Sierra Madre on Second Thomas Shoal. The ship was staffed by Filipino marines, and it was done to support the country’s ownership of the area.
In reply to the recent conflict, the Chinese coast guard made a statement on Friday, blaming the Philippines for going into the area without permission.
The statement said that two ships from the Philippines, used to supply goods, and two ships from the Philippine coast guard went into the waters near Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government.
China says that it definitely owns the Nansha Islands and the nearby waters. They are also against the Philippines bringing illegal materials to the warships on the beach.
Manila says it has the right to the South China Sea, and a court in the Hague agreed with them in 2016, saying China does not have a legal reason to claim most of it as their own.
Beijing didn’t listen to the decision and says that the Philippines promised to take away the vessel. The President of the Philippines is Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He said his government never made that promise. -
Apple shares decline following news of iPhone ban in China
Apple’s stock has gone down for two consecutive days due to news that Chinese government employees are not allowed to use iPhones.
The value of the company’s stocks in the stock market has decreased by more than 6%, which is almost $200 billion or £160 billion, in the last two days.
China is the third-biggest market for the technology giant. It made up 18% of the total money the company earned last year.
Most of Apple’s products are made in China by its largest supplier Foxconn.
The Wall Street Journal recently said that officials working for the Chinese government have been told not to bring iPhones to work or use them for their job.
The next day, Bloomberg News said that the ban may also apply to employees working at businesses owned by the government or supported by the government.
According to sources, officials were told not to use iPhones by their bosses recently. Other devices from foreign brands also had limitations placed on them.
Some agencies had already banned iPhones, according to the paper. But now, it seems like more agencies have decided to ban them as well.
It is unclear how well the instructions were shared with Chinese officials.
The reports were shared before the iPhone 15 is released on September 12th.
On Chinese social media, some individuals claiming to work for government-owned companies said they were instructed to stop using Apple devices before September ends. Someone made a joke that they were poor and could not afford to buy a new phone. They wondered what they should use for work.
China is a very important country for Apple, and they make iPhones there. But now Apple is also making more iPhones in India.
The Chinese government has not made an official statement in reply to the reports.
Apple did not quickly reply to the BBC’s request for a comment.Knock-on effect means that when one thing happens, it can cause other things to happen as a result.
Apple is the most valuable company in the world, worth about $2. 8 trillion on the stock market.
In addition to Apple’s stock dropping, the stocks of some companies that supply Apple were also affected.
Qualcomm, the largest provider of smartphone chips, went down by over 7% on Thursday, while SK Hynix, a company from South Korea, saw its shares decrease by around 4% on Friday.
Tensions between the United States and China about technology have been increasing steadily, with both sides putting limitations.
This year, the countries Washington, Japan, and the Netherlands made it harder for China to get certain chip technology.
China responded by limiting the amount of two important materials used in the semiconductor industry that they would export.
Beijing is getting ready to create a new investment fund worth $40 billion to help strengthen its chip manufacturing industry.
Last week, when the US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was in Beijing, the Chinese tech company Huawei surprised everyone by revealing its new Mate 60 Pro smartphone.
On Friday, the company started selling the Pro+ version of the phone in advance.
The company TechInsights from Canada said that the phone has a new processor called 5G Kirin 9000s. This processor was made specifically for Huawei by China’s biggest chip-making company called SMIC.
TechInsights analyst Dan Hutcheson said that it shows how much China’s semiconductor industry has improved in terms of technology.
Investment firm Jefferies stated in a research note that this is a significant technological advancement for China.
This week, a US congressman named Mike Gallagher, who is in charge of a group in the House of Representatives that deals with China, asked the Commerce Department to put more limits on sending products to Huawei and SMIC.
Security update means making changes or improvements to protect a computer system or network from threats or attacks.
On Thursday, Apple came out with an urgent software update for many older and newer devices.This was because they found a security problem that unknown hackers were taking advantage of.
The update was released because some experts found that hackers were breaking into Apple devices using a new and unknown method.
Apple also discovered a similar vulnerability on its own, so it quickly released updates to improve security for its customers.
This is the 15th time this year that Apple has had to release big security updates. -
Russia pushes North Korea to participate in ‘three-way war exercises with China’
Vladimir Putin‘s government suggested having joint naval exercises with Russia, China, and North Korea.
Russia and North Korea’s relationship has gotten stronger since Russia invaded Ukraine, but they have not yet done military exercises together.
There was talk that this could happen after Russia’s ambassador to Pyeongyang said to Russian media last week that joint exercises ‘seem right’.
A member of parliament from South Korea who was at a private meeting with the country’s spy agency mentioned that the topic was brought up.
The head of the agency, Kim Kyou-hyun, reportedly said that the Russian defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, probably suggested doing group navy exercises involving three countries during a meeting with Kim Jong-un in July.
On Monday, Shoigu spoke to reporters and said that Russia was thinking about doing the exercises, but he didn’t say whether he had suggested them or not.
He said: ‘We talk about this with everyone, even North Korea. Why not These people live next to us. Of course, we are talking about it.
‘We are currently doing exercises with our Chinese colleagues, and we are also doing patrols together with strategic bombers from our naval units. ‘
In July, there was a visit to remember and celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean war.
At that time, Shoigu promised to make the military relationship with North Korea stronger because they have a border and have worked together in the past.
He also went with an important Chinese Communist Party member to a military parade in North Korea.
It was seen as a demonstration that Russia and China are working together in their military activities. This comes after many reports that China is worried about the war in Ukraine.
According to recent reports from US intelligence, Putin himself has sent a letter to Kim Jong-un, requesting more weapons to be used against Ukraine. -
China indicates Xi Jinping won’t be present at G20 conference in India
China has made it clear that its leader, Xi Jinping, will not be attending a significant meeting of world leaders in New Delhi this weekend. Instead, Premier Li Qiang will be representing China at the event.
Xi’s presence at the G20 event was uncertain last week after a news report from Reuters suggested that he might not attend. The report relied on information from two Indian diplomats who were not named.
China’s Foreign Ministry stated at a news conference that Li will be going to the summit on Saturday and Sunday, but they didn’t mention Xi.
Mao Ning, who speaks for the ministry, avoided answering a reporter’s question about why Xi is not at the G20 summit. This would be the first time China’s leader has missed a G20 summit.
Mao said that China highly values and takes part in important international economic cooperation events, such as the Group of 20. However, Mao did not directly answer the question being asked.
Beijing made an announcement because US President Joe Biden was sad that he won’t be meeting with Xi at the summit.
“I feel sad, but I will still have the opportunity to see him,” Biden informed reporters on Sunday.
Biden had said before to CNN that he would be meeting with Xi in “the autumn”.
They last talked on the sidelines of a meeting called the G20 Summit in Bali, which happened in November last year. -
Updated Model 3 released by Tesla in China
On Friday, Tesla unveiled a redesigned Model 3 produced in China with an extended driving range, marking the first time the automaker has introduced a new model in China ahead of the United States.
The new Model 3 is being manufactured at Tesla’s Shanghai plant and comes with a starting price that is 12% higher than the previous base model in China. It will also be exported to various markets across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Concurrently, Tesla reduced the prices of its premium Model S and Model X by approximately 14% to 21% in both China and the United States, its two largest markets.
Raising the base price for the Model 3, Tesla’s top-selling model after the Model Y, could help protect profit margins. However, the price reductions for its higher-end models highlight the ongoing competitive pressures faced by EV manufacturers, particularly in China, where Tesla initiated a pricing battle with Chinese rivals, including industry leader BYD, earlier in the year.
The new Model 3 marks Tesla’s first modification to its mass-market vehicle lineup since the launch of its global best-seller, the Model Y, in 2020.
Tesla has not disclosed a launch date for the new Model 3 in the U.S. market, where it currently offers discounts of over $5,000 on certain inventory vehicles. The Model 3 is also manufactured in Fremont, California.
CHINA-FIRST INTRODUCTION
Tesla intends to introduce the latest Model 3 at a trade fair in Beijing on Saturday, and some of its new features, such as a rear display for rear-seat passengers, appear tailored to appeal to Chinese car buyers.
Tesla stated that the vehicle boasts an improved acoustic system, a more comfortable interior, and additional airbags. Exterior images revealed minor alterations that give the sedan a sleeker front end and new headlights.
The new Model 3 also promises an increased driving range. The standard version is rated for a range of 606 kilometers (377 miles) based on China’s testing standards, representing a 9% improvement over the previous base model in China.
Tesla has initiated order bookings and will commence deliveries in China during the fourth quarter. It is also accepting orders in other markets where it exports vehicles from Shanghai, including Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand.
The new Model 3 is anticipated to perform well outside China, where there is less competition in the EV market, according to Yale Zhang, Managing Director at the Shanghai-based consultancy Automotive Foresight.
“But in China, we have already seen plenty of new models rolling out since the (Shanghai) auto show in April with similar and even better features and lower prices,” he added.
As reported by Reuters in November of last year, Tesla had been working on a redesigned Model 3 under the codename “Highland.” Individuals involved in the project had indicated that its primary objectives were cost reduction in production and enhancing the model’s attractiveness.
While Tesla did not provide specific details about the new Model 3’s battery, a source familiar with the features mentioned that it employs the same lithium-iron-phosphate battery supplied by CATL for the base model.
The increased driving range is attributed to weight reduction and improvements in the car’s aerodynamic profile to minimize wind resistance, according to the same source. Tesla had not immediately commented on the battery-related information.
In the Chinese market, the Model 3 faces competition from vehicles like BYD’s Seal, Geely’s Zeekr 001, Nio’s ET5, and Xpeng’s P7i. Xpeng recently introduced zero-interest loans and free upgrades for the P7i.
Tesla also announced plans to showcase the new model at the Munich auto show, potentially overshadowing German automakers like Volkswagen and Mercedes, who are expected to unveil numerous new EVs, partly in response to China’s rapidly evolving EV market.
In China, the starting price for the new Model 3 is 259,900 yuan ($35,807), while in Germany, it begins at 42,990 euros ($46,670). Tesla stated that deliveries in Europe would commence in late October.
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China advises India to ‘remain calm’ in boundary map dispute
China has advised India to stay composed regarding a newly made map, which India alleges depicts their land as Chinese territory.
India got angry when China released a map that claimed that Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin belonged to China.
Beijing said that India should not overanalyze or overthink the matter.
Media reports are saying that Chinese President Xi Jinping might not attend the G20 leaders’ meeting in Delhi next week.
There are reports that haven’t been confirmed yet, but they say that Premier Li Quang might go instead. Xi previously said he would go to Delhi for the meeting on September 9th and 10th. However, when asked about his attendance at a press briefing on Thursday, China’s foreign ministry did not confirm it.
Sources that are not known told Reuters news agency that he decided not to go through with his plan because of the dispute over the map. The BBC was unable to confirm the statement on its own.
The disagreement over China’s standard national map for 2023 is getting worse. This disagreement happened shortly after the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Xi talked at the Brics summit in South Africa.
The Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, said that China’s claim is “ridiculous”. An Indian official later stated that both countries agreed to “work harder to quickly pull back and lessen tensions” along the disputed border.
China made it clear on Thursday that it was not willing to change its stance on the map, a problem that has caused difficulties in their relationship for many years.
“China regularly follows its laws when exercising its sovereignty,” stated Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry.
We want everyone involved to stay unbiased and relaxed, and not make too many assumptions about the problem.
India gets very angry when China tries to claim its land.
The reason for the tension between the neighbors is a disagreement over a border that is about 3,440km long (equivalent to 2,100 miles). This border is called the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and is located in the Himalayas. The border is not clearly marked, and soldiers from both sides often encounter each other at different points along the border.
China claims that Arunachal Pradesh belongs to it and refers to it as “South Tibet. ” However, India strongly disagrees with this claim. India says that they own the Aksai Chin plateau in the Himalayas, but China controls it.
Relations between India and China have become worse since 2020. This happened because their soldiers had a deadly fight in the Galwan valley in Ladakh. It was the first time they had such a deadly fight since 1975. -
Country Garden: Property titans in China suffer record losses
Country Garden, one of the largest property developers in China, recently mentioned that it might not be able to repay its debts on time.
The company that was in a crisis announced that they lost a huge amount of money, $6. 7 billion, during the first six months of this year.
Country Garden said in the statement that it was very sorry for not doing a good job.
This news adds to worries about how the world’s second largest economy will recover after the pandemic.
Country Garden has also said that it did not make the required interest payments on the bonds that were supposed to be paid this month. However, it said that there was still a 30-day period where you could make the payments without any consequences.
It is also said to be trying to get more time to pay back another loan.
The company said that it might not be able to pay back its debts if its financial situation keeps getting worse.
Country Garden said in a statement to regulators in Hong Kong that the group may not be able to meet the financial requirements of these borrowed funds. This could lead to a default on the borrowed money, which may also cause a default on other borrowed funds.
Earlier this month, the company said that it might lose around $7. 6 billion in the first half of this year. The company predicted a loss between 45 billion yuan and 55 billion yuan, and the actual loss was at the lower end of that estimate, at around 45 billion yuan.
Shares of Country Garden were up by approximately 1% during trading in Hong Kong on Thursday morning.
The issues in China’s property market, which involve things like constructing houses and manufacturing the goods used in them, are having a huge effect because it makes up about one-third of the economy.
China’s property industry was shaken up by new regulations in 2020, which limited the borrowing capacity of large real estate companies.
Evergrande, a popular company in China, gathered a debt of over $300 billion. This happened because the company grew quickly and became one of the largest companies in the country.
The company’s money issues have affected the property industry in the country. Other developers have also failed to pay their debts and have abandoned construction projects throughout the country.
During the weekend, Evergrande reported that it lost 33 billion yuan in the first half of the year.
On Monday, the value of its shares dropped by almost 80% when they were traded in Hong Kong for the first time in a year and a half.
The value of Evergrande shares dropped by over 99% in the last three years because the government in Beijing took action against real estate companies.
China is also dealing with other problems, such as slow economic growth, excessive debt in local governments, and very high unemployment among young people.
On Thursday, new information was released showing that activity in China’s factories decreased for the fifth month in a row.
The Purchasing Managers’ Index was 49. 7 in August It got better compared to last month, but it’s still below 50, which means there was a decrease. -
China’s neighbours upset with its new national map
The Philippines, alongside Malaysia and India, is unhappy with China‘s new national map because it seems like China is claiming their land.
China released a new version of its national map on Monday, which it has been doing since at least 2006, to fix what Beijing has previously called “problematic maps” that it believes incorrectly depict its boundaries.
The Philippines stated on Thursday that they did not accept the map because it showed a dashed line around disputed parts of the South China Sea. This line was part of a ruling by an international tribunal in 2016, which supported the Philippines’ claims.
The Philippines Foreign Affairs department said that the map is China’s recent attempt to make it seem like they have power and control over Philippine areas and waters. However, this is not supported by international law.
India was the first to express unhappiness on Tuesday by strongly objecting to China including the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and the disputed Aksai-Chin territory as part of its own territory.
India’s foreign secretary, Arindam Bagchi, said that we have expressed our strong disagreement with China through diplomatic channels about their map claiming India’s land in 2023. “We disagree with these statements since they lack any proof or foundation. ”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Malaysia disagreed with China’s claims and said that Malaysia does not accept any foreign party’s ownership or control of Malaysia’s maritime features.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded to the complaints during a press briefing on Wednesday. He said that the changes made were a normal practice of exercising control within the country’s laws.
“He added that he hopes everyone involved can stay fair-minded and calm, and avoid making too many assumptions about the issue. ”
Since becoming the leader in 2012, Xi Jinping has tried to make China very powerful worldwide. He has been aggressive in dealing with other countries and has made bold moves in important areas in Asia.The argument over the map happened a few days after the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and Xi met in South Africa. During their meeting, they agreed to work harder to reduce tensions at their disputed border. This was seen as a positive step towards improving their strained relationship.
This happened after India and China talked for the 19th time to sort out their border problem. It happened before there might be a meeting between Modi and Xi at the G20 summit in New Delhi next week – if Xi goes to the summit.
Although it seems like progress is being made in their border disputes, experts say that may not always be true.
Akhil Ramesh, a senior fellow at the Pacific Forum, a foreign policy research institute in Honolulu, said that India and China try to resolve their differences, but it seems like they make little progress and often face setbacks.
In this situation, even though both sides may say they want to reduce tensions, I don’t think it will actually happen. Both countries want to become leaders in the southern part of the world, and they are both working hard to achieve this.
Borders have caused problems between New Delhi and Beijing for a long time, and conflicts in the area have led to war in the past, which China won in 1962. Over the years, a border known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has divided two very populated countries.
The two countries had more problems in 2020 after a big fight in the Galwan Valley. This place is near Aksai Chin, an area controlled by China but both countries say it belongs to them. Tensions have been building up since then and recently became more serious in December when there was a clash between soldiers from both sides in the Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh, causing minor injuries.
While there are problems between Beijing and New Delhi, politicians from India’s main opposition party, Congress, have criticized Modi for not taking the border issue seriously.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said that China frequently changes the names and boundaries of territories that belong to other countries. The Modi government needs to make sure that the Chinese occupation of 2,000 square kilometers of Indian land along the LAC is stopped and ended.
Lawmaker Rahul Gandhi told the reporters on Wednesday that he has been saying for a long time that the prime minister was not telling the truth when he claimed that no land was lost in Ladakh.
Everyone in Ladakh knows that China has taken our land. This map problem is very important. the prime minister should talk about it,” he added.
Modi has mostly stayed away from talking about the border problem, even going on live TV and claiming that no one has entered or is entering the country.
But India has taken some actions to resist potential dangers from China. They have prohibited the use of popular Chinese apps like TikTok on social media because they believe these apps may harm their independence and unity. Additionally, they are also preventing Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE from providing their 5G network.
With a growing sense of patriotism in both countries, New Delhi has become more worried about China’s increasing assertiveness. This worry has strengthened India’s relationship with the United States, particularly through the Quad – a group consisting of Japan, the US, India, and Australia, which is seen as a way to balance China’s power.
China refused to attend a G20 tourism meeting organized by India in the Himalayan territory of Jammu and Kashmir. They did this because they disagree with having any G20 meetings in disputed areas. Both India and Pakistan say that they own the disputed region of Kashmir completely. -
China demands President Bongo’s safety
In response to a group of military officers declaring they were “putting an end to the current regime” in the Central African country, China on Wednesday called for “all sides” in Gabon to ensure the safety of President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
According to Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the foreign ministry, “China is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Gabon.”
“China is closely following the developing situation in Gabon,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin said.
“We call on all sides in Gabon to proceed from the basic interests of the country and the people, resolve differences through dialogue, (and) restore normal order as soon as possible,” he added, urging parties to “guarantee the personal safety of President Bongo, and uphold national peace and stability”.
In the oil-rich Central African nation, Bongo has been in power for 14 years. After the passing of his father, Omar Bongo Ondimba, who had controlled the nation for 41 years, he was first elected in 2009.
His meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing in April earned him the title of “an old friend” of the Chinese people.
Xi also hailed Bongo’s “significant achievements” in development.
Bongo, in turn, thanked China for its “valuable assistance in promoting Gabon’s economic diversification and industrialisation”, a readout from state news agency Xinhua said.
Beijing has long aimed to increase its influence in Africa; last year, the former foreign minister Qin Gang made his first overseas trip while serving in that capacity.
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India objects Chinese map claiming territory
China‘s recent release of a new map, asserting territorial rights over Indian land, has left India discontented.
Indian news outlets have stated that the map indicates that Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin are considered to be China’s land.
China’s ministry of natural resources announced it on Monday.
India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, said that wedo not accept these claims because there is no evidence to support them.
He said that China’s actions make it harder to solve the border issue.
Beijing has not given an official response yet.
India’s Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, said that China’s claim is ridiculous.
China has made maps that say it owns land that really belongs to other countries. “He said to the TV channel NDTV on Tuesday that this is a habit they have had for a long time. “
India recently protested shortly following a meeting between their Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and the President of China, Xi Jinping, during the Brics summit in South Africa. An official from India said later that both countries agreed to work harder and faster to reduce tensions and withdraw troops along the disputed border.
India gets very upset when China tries to claim its land.
The reason for the tension between the neighbors is a disagreement over a border along the Himalayas. This border, called the Line of Actual Control or LAC, is 3,440km (2,100 miles) in length and is not clearly marked. Rivers, lakes, and snowcaps can cause the line to move in certain areas.
Soldiers from both India and China meet each other in many places, which can create tensions. The most recent clash happened in December when Indian and Chinese troops fought each other along the border in the town of Tawang.
China claims that the entire region of Arunachal Pradesh belongs to them and they refer to it as “South Tibet”. However, India strongly disagrees with this claim. India says it owns the Aksai Chin plateau in the Himalayas, but China is currently in charge of it.
In April, Delhi strongly responded to China’s efforts to give new names to 11 areas in Arunachal Pradesh. Delhi stated that the state will for ever remain a significant and inseparable part of India.
The relationship between India and China got worse in 2020 when their soldiers had a very violent fight in the Galwan valley in Ladakh. It was the first time in many years that there was a deadly battle between the two sides. -
Breaking relations with China not credible – Cleverly
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has explained that it is important to have discussions with Chinese officials in Beijing, as completely disconnecting from them would not be seen as believable or reliable.
When Cleverly met China’s vice president, he said that this trip, which is the first one by an important UK representative in five years, would help prevent misunderstandings and mistakes.
However, before his visit, some UK members of parliament criticized the government’s way of dealing with China as confusing.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a senior member of the Conservative party, said that it is like appeasing someone.
The relationship between the UK and China has gotten worse in the past few years because of worries about people’s rights in Hong Kong, China’s attempts to spy and influence people in the UK, and China supporting Russia when it invaded Ukraine.
Mr Cleverly spoke to the BBC and said that his visit was a chance to talk clearly about their differences and collaborate when it benefits both parties.
He said it would let the UK to “reopen communication” and added that not meeting in person could create “more chances for misunderstandings, lack of trust, and mistakes”.
He said that one call, one visit, or one meeting won’t completely change things. However, if we communicate patiently, consistently, and reliably, it could make a difference.
I talk about human rights, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and individual cases whenever I meet with Chinese government representatives.
When asked about China’s support for Russia in Ukraine, Mr. Cleverly said that China wants the war to end fairly and successfully.
I don’t believe China wants people to think that they support what Putin is doing, whether actively or without doing anything.
I believe Beijing pays attention to what the world thinks about them. They know that their future depends on other countries around the world.Difficult to find or catch.
On Wednesday, Mr. Cleverly had a meeting with China’s Vice President Han Zheng at a big building called the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. He is also supposed to have discussions with China’s foreign affairs minister Wang Yi.
The relationship between the UK and China has changed a lot since 2015 when David Cameron’s government called it a “golden era”.
Back then, Chancellor George Osborne said the UK had become China’s top partner in the West, and Prime Minister Cameron took Chinese President Xi Jinping to a pub for a drink.
However, since then, disagreements about various problems have caused relations to become very bad.
The UK government has expressed dissatisfaction with China’s treatment of a specific group of Muslims called Uyghurs who live there. In 2021, the UK government also decided to prohibit a Chinese company named Huawei from participating in the country’s 5G network due to worries about safety and security.
In the same year, China stopped five Members of Parliament (MPs) from entering the country. One of them was Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former leader of the Conservative party. China accused them of spreading false information and lies.
Liz Truss, who was the prime minister, was said to be considering labeling China as a danger to the UK.
Rishi Sunak didn’t want to go that far, but in 2022 he said that the good times of relations with China were over and trying to improve relationships had been foolish.
MrCleverly is visiting at a time when the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Commons has expressed criticism towards the government’s dealings with China in a recent report on UK’s policies in Indo-Pacific region.
The report says that the Chinese Communist Party’s activities are seen as a danger to the UK and the things it cares about.
This statement raises worries that the government doesn’t have a clear plan and it asks for a version of its strategy on China to be published in a way that everyone can understand, so it can help both the public and private parts of society.
The committee also says that all important ministers should be told about the more important version of the plan.
The Conservative chairwoman of the committee, Alicia Kearns, said: “The secret China plan is hidden in the government offices and not shared with important ministers. ”
How can people who create rules and laws do it without knowing the big plan.
When asked if Mr. Cleverly should be going to Beijing, she told the BBC on Tuesday: “It is more important for us to be in the same place with them, even if we strongly disagree, instead of ending our relationship. ”
‘Weak’ means not strong or not having a lot of power or ability.
But former leader of the Conservative party and minister Sir Iain called the visit the most recent part of “Project Kowtow”.
He said to the PA news agency that the UK’s stance “strongly suggests giving in to avoid conflict”.
“He said that we want to increase our business, so we don’t want to make the Chinese too angry. ”
What happens is that they believe we are not strong enough.
Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, accused the Conservative government of being divided, inconsistent, and complacent towards China for over ten years.
He said the government needed to achieve real victories in diplomacy, like stopping Chinese sanctions on British parliament members. -
Chinese export restrictions rejected by the US commerce secretary
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced on Tuesday that she turned down China’s request to reduce the quantity of goods and services sold by the United States to them. The two governments have rules about controlling the export of technology that could be used for military purposes. However, they have agreed to have experts meet and talk about disagreements related to keeping trade secrets safe.
During a recent visit to improve icy relations, Raimondo said she expressed concerns to Chinese officials, including the country’s top leader. Technology companies are businesses that focus on creating and selling products or services related to technology. She said that the situation for foreign companies is getting more difficult because of a new law against spying and government investigations on consulting companies.
Raimondo, along with other American officials including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, visited Beijing in the last three months. They are trying to fix their relationships, which are currently at their worst point in many years because of disagreements over technology, security, Taiwan, and other problems.
A major issue for China is that they are not able to easily get computer chips and other technology from the United States. Technology for security reasons. This could make it difficult for the ruling Communist Party to achieve its goal of developing artificial intelligence and other industries. The regulations severely affected the smartphone business of Huawei Technologies Ltd. , China’s well-known global technology company.
Their request was to lessen the restrictions on technology that could potentially be used for military purposes, and to cancel an order issued by President Joe Biden that limits the United States. Raimondo said that investing in Chinese companies that may be connected to military development.
“Of course, I refused,” Raimondo said. “We don’t discuss or make deals about things that could harm our country’s safety. ”
The two governments agreed on Monday to share information about the United States. Export controls are regulations and procedures put in place by governments to monitor and limit the exportation of certain goods, technologies, or intellectual property, in order to protect national security, public health, or prevent the proliferation of weapons. Raimondo said that Washington wants people to follow the rules more.
Meanwhile, the two governments agreed to have experts meet to “begin to solve problems with sharing private business information,” Raimondo said.
“She said that one of the main things business people talk about all the time is keeping their trade secrets safe. ”
Before, Raimondo had a meeting with Premier Li. Premier Li requested that Washington take real steps to improve relations, referring to China’s desire for changes in the U. S The policy about Taiwan, technology, and other topics.
We hope that the United States Li said that our side will work together with the Chinese side, being honest and taking real actions.Raimondo said that the meeting, which the American Embassy previously mentioned would only be a short and polite visit, actually lasted for one hour and fifteen minutes.
The leader of China, Xi Jinping, is working to make people more interested in investing in China and to make foreign companies feel safe. He is doing this to improve the country’s economy, which has been doing poorly. Raimondo said that she didn’t talk about the Chinese economy during her meetings, and she didn’t feel that her Chinese colleagues were motivated by the economic decline.
In August 2020, Beijing stopped talking to Washington about military, climate, and other matters because they were upset about a visit from former U. S Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Taiwanese House of Representatives. The Communist Party says that the self-governed island democracy is part of its land.
Relations between the two countries were already not good because of a trade war started by former President Donald Trump. He was unhappy with how Beijing was developing its industries. China’s trading partners say that China protects its new industries from competition, even though they promised to have open markets. They also say that China takes technology from foreign companies by either stealing it or putting pressure on them to give it up.
Foreign companies are facing worse conditions because of a law designed to prevent spying. This law has been expanded and now some companies are unsure about what kind of information they are allowed to collect from consumers and others. A company called Mintz Group got in trouble and had to pay $1. 5 million because it collected data in a wrong and improper way.
Raimondo mentioned that American companies told her that they are encountering a higher difficulty level in China. She mentioned that she had talked to about 120 to 150 CEOs and labor leaders on the phone to get ready for her trip.
Raimondo said we need that problem to be solved. “Each of those things can be dealt with to demonstrate action. ”
Raimondo mentioned that she also pushed Chinese leaders to share more details about limitations on American imports. The woman mentioned that technology companies seemed random and hard to predict, but she didn’t get any promises from them.
This year, Beijing told companies that make equipment handling sensitive information to stop using products from the largest American company. Micron Inc, which creates memory chips. It said the American company did not pass a security check, but did not provide any specifics, which led to ideas that the ban was done to get back at the U. S Restrictions on the use of technology.
Raimondo said the mood of her meetings was good, but she was aware that it would be hard to restart official conversations and achieve desired outcomes.
Raimondo said that we will wait and see if any action will be taken.
“She said we had a lot of honest conversation. ” “I want this to be the time when we begin to see things actually happening. ”
Chinese state media have portrayed the American visitors in a good light. But, Beijing has not shown any sign of changing its trade, strategic, and other policies that are creating tension with Washington, Europe, and its Asian neighbors.
On Tuesday, both parties had positive conversations about artificial intelligence regarding safety measures.
She said that the world wants our two countries to work together. “That was met with some openness. ”
The visits happen because Xi and Biden made a deal when they met in Indonesia last November.
Raimondo also met with Vice Premier He Lifeng, who is responsible for economic relations with Washington. He expressed optimism about having detailed conversations with Janet Yellen, the US Treasury Secretary, in July.
“I’m prepared to work together with you on that, to make new positive efforts to strengthen our agreement and expand our collaboration,” He told Raimondo.
Raimondo supported the plan of the Biden administration to make high-tech manufacturing safer in the US and find more places to get industrial supplies from to prevent problems. Beijing has said that this could be an effort to separate China and slow down its progress.
Raimondo told He that although we will always prioritize national security, we don’t want to separate or hinder China’s economy.
Raimondo said that she and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao had a two-hour lunch meeting on Monday. They agreed to have informal and frequent conversations to improve trade relations.
Raimondo said that she and Wang agreed to meet once a year and their deputies would meet twice a year as part of an agreement to form a group to talk about other business matters.
It won’t fix all our problems. When we talk, it doesn’t mean I’m going to give in or agree,” Raimondo said. “It means we have a chance to make fewer mistakes and exchange information. ”
Officials have decided to organize a meeting in early 2024 to discuss and plan ways to boost tourism between the two countries. This comes after China lifted its restrictions on travel due to the pandemic. The meeting aims to find ways to revive and promote tourism.
Chinese officials have agreed to start allowing big groups of tourists from China to visit the United States again, said Raimondo. -
China benefits greatly from BRICS expansion – Steve Tsang
The gathering of BRICS country leaders in Johannesburg last week depicted China’s efforts in establishing a fresh global arrangement through their united photo session.
At the front and center was Xi Jinping, the strong leader of China. He stood on a stage with leaders from developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The summit was the biggest meeting ever for the BRICS countries. More than 60 countries came to the meeting, including the member nations Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Next to the BRICS leaders, there were also leaders from Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, who were recently invited to join the club.
This is a big win for Xi, who wanted to make the group bigger and more influential. Even though some members like India and Brazil had doubts, he was able to make it happen.
The group is getting bigger and it will have more than twice as many members as before. This will make the group have a bigger influence around the world, especially in the Middle East.
“China is the obvious winner,” said Steve Tsang, who is the director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London. “Adding six new members is a big step in the way it wants to go. ”
Beijing and Moscow want to expand their economic group to be a powerful force against the West and Western organizations like the G7.
That goal has become more important in the past year because China and the United States are in a growing rivalry, and the Ukraine war has also caused China to become more distant from the Western countries because of its support for Moscow.
The BRICS expansion and the long waiting list to join show that many countries in the Global South are interested in Xi’s offer of a different world order. These countries feel left out in the current international system, which they believe is controlled by the US and its wealthy allies.
The BRICS leaders want emerging markets and developing countries to have more power and influence in international organizations like the United Nations, the IMF, and the World Bank.
Xi, who criticized the dominance of the US in his speeches at the summit, expressed positive feelings about the expansion, calling it a significant moment and the beginning of a new phase for cooperation among BRICS countries.
Happymon Jacob, a professor who studies international affairs at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, said that the expansion shows a change in global political borders.
He said that if China becomes a leader in non-Western forums and the Global South, they will be able to challenge the US and the world order that is controlled by the US.
BRICS group, which consists of five countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), has invited six other nations, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, to become members.However, if more countries join BRICS, it may become less unified and less organized. This is because the current members of BRICS already have significant differences in their political systems, economic strength, and diplomatic objectives.
“I have doubts about how well the organization will work after it expands, and whether the expansion will actually make a significant impact,” said Yun Sun, who leads the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington.
The bigger the group, the more different interests the organization has to deal with and make everyone happy.
This is especially true for a group like BRICS, where decisions are only made if everyone agrees.
The new employees are a slightly different and varied group. There are two economies that are facing a lot of difficulties. Argentina has a history of not being able to pay back its debts and has faced problems with high prices and money issues. It borrows the most money from the IMF. Egypt has financial problems of its own, and it owes a lot of money to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is an organization that provides financial assistance to countries.
Ethiopia, a country in Africa with a lot of people, used to have a strong economy but is now suffering a lot because of a civil war that happened in the Tigray region. The war lasted for two years and ended in December. During the war, many people’s rights were violated.
The bigger group will also have three of the biggest countries that sell a lot of oil: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran.
In simpler words, both countries used to be very close friends with America, but now they are getting even closer to China. China has been increasing its presence in the area because it seems like the US isn’t as involved anymore.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are enemies who have been fighting each other for a long time. However, this year they made an agreement with the help of China to start talking to each other again.
This is very different from a more united group like the G7, which is made up of democracies that think similarly and have big developed economies.
Helena Legarda, a top analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin, said it is not clear how much the BRICS expansion will raise the worth and power of the group.
If BRICS doesn’t have a common belief and a clear main objective, it is possible that adding six new members will make the group more split or divided.
One big issue is that China and Russia are against the United States, and now Iran has joined them, making their agenda even stronger.
India and Brazil are worried that the bloc could become too against the West and controlled by China. Some of the new members may also have doubts about this.
Even though China has specific goals for the group, many other developing and emerging economies do not view BRICS as only about politics. She said that they are also driven by the chance to make money and get special advantages in the Chinese and other markets.
However, China is currently facing economic difficulties within its own country. These difficulties include a worsening situation with their real estate market, increasing debt among local governments, a high number of unemployed young people, and a population that is growing older. A lot of economists think that the world’s second largest economy is going to start growing much more slowly. This could have a big effect on the economy of the whole world.
The BRICS expansion may cause more competition and disagreements between China and India. China and India already have strained relations due to an ongoing border conflict.
Jacob in New Delhi said that the competition between China and India for leadership of the Global South is going to intensify even more, with China having a clear advantage.
India has good relationships with the new BRICS members. However, China has lots of money and power which allows them to have more influence in the Middle East and in the institution compared to India.
Sun, from the Stimson Center, said that because of the rivalry and tensions between China and India, as well as between Iran and Saudi Arabia, there will not be many important issues that they can agree on and work together on.
The expansion gives the impression that there is a larger group of countries working together against the West, but just having more countries in the group does not necessarily mean they will be more effective. -
Chinese media urges British Museum to return artefacts
Social media users in China are urging the British Museum to return Chinese artifacts, which were taken following the theft of approximately 2,000 objects.
The demand became very popular on Weibo after an article in a nationalist newspaper that is controlled by the government.
The Global Times is asking the museum to return all Chinese cultural artifacts without asking for payment.
The Chinese government has not said anything about the problem yet.
The BBC has contacted the British Museum for a reply, but has not yet received a response.
The museum is feeling stressed because about 2,000 things were said to be gone, taken or harmed two weeks ago.
An employee lost their job when the news was first announced. Last week, the person in charge, Hartwig Fischer, said he will leave his position.
In this article, Global Times said that the famous museum did not do a good job of taking care of cultural items from other countries.
The British Museum has been found to have big problems with how they manage and protect cultural objects. This scandal has shown that the claim that foreign cultural objects are safer in the British Museum is not true anymore.
The British Museum has a really large collection of old Chinese things in the Western world. According to their website, they have around 23,000 Chinese items. These items range from really old times to now.
These include many valuable things like art, jewels, and pottery. One very famous artwork is a copy of a long piece of paper called “Advice for the Ladies in the Royal Court”. It is an amazing artwork that is very important in the history of Chinese art.
Chinese people online have been asking the British Museum for a while now to give back the things they took, because a lot of Chinese people are feeling very proud of their country.
But more people are talking about the editorial on the theft this time.
The hashtag “The British Museum please give back Chinese old things” was the most popular topic on Weibo’s search list until noon on Monday. This has been seen over five hundred million times.
“Give back the things to the person who originally owned them,” says a comment that has been appreciated by over 32,000 people.
“Now that the country has a lot of money and the people are powerful, it is time to bring our valuable things back to our home,” another top comment says.
Many people agree with Global Times’ request, but some people were not as impressed.
“Why not visit the UK to see our amazing things. Just talking on Weibo in China is too careful and embarrassing,” a message that over 10,000 people liked says.The Global Times, a newspaper that strongly supports aggressive actions, has been at the forefront of publishing critical articles in English against Western countries. This has been especially true in recent years, as China’s relationship with the West has gotten worse.
It is uncertain if the Chinese government will do anything after receiving the requests.
But the feeling of asking the museum to give back objects is not only felt by China.
After hearing about the theft, other countries have also stated that they no longer believe the British Museum can keep their ancient artifacts safe.
The Greek government has asked again for the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles, to be returned.
Greece’s Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, said that the safety concerns about the missing objects strengthen Greece’s ongoing request for the Elgin marbles to be returned permanently.
Nigerian officials have asked the museum to give back the Benin Bronzes that were taken from the Benin kingdom and are now in its possession.
Tim Loughton, a politician from the Conservative Party who leads a group in Parliament for museums, has described these requests as “opportunistic”.
He said to the BBC that instead of taking advantage, other countries should come together to help bring back objects. -
China Evergrande shares have fallen by over 80% amid crisis
Shares of Evergrande, the distressed Chinese real estate firm, have experienced a sharp decline of approximately 80% during their initial day of trading in Hong Kong following a span of 18 months.
The stocks have decreased in value by over 99% in the last three years because the government took action against real estate companies.
Evergrande is in the middle of a crisis affecting the real estate market, which is a big problem for the world’s second biggest economy.
This Sunday, the company announced that it had a loss of 33 billion yuan ($4. 5 billion; £36 billion) for the first half of this year.
However, it was better than the 66. 4 billion yuan loss that it reported for the same period last year.
The company’s bosses have made some changes to make sure the group has enough money and is financially stable, according to a document submitted to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by Evergrande.
The company said that its earnings for the first half of this year increased by 44% to 128. 2 billion yuan compared to the same time last year. However, the amount of money it has available decreased by 6. 3% during the same time.
Evergrande’s shares were not allowed to be bought or sold since March of last year.
According to Qian Wang, who is an economist at investment firm Vanguard, it is important for policymakers to stop the spread of financial problems and minimize its impact on the entire financial system.
She said that policymakers will need to give more money and help with loans to the economy and the real estate industry.Problems in China’s property market are making people worry about the recovery of the world’s second largest economy after the pandemic.
On Monday, China reduced a tax on stock trading by 50% in order to make the capital market more active and increase the trust of investors.
The decision was made a few days after the national bank lowered its important interest rate for the second time in three months. This move was taken because the country’s exports were declining and people were not spending much on products.
The value of the main stock markets in Hong Kong and China went up after the announcement.
Evergrande recently announced that they suffered a loss of 581. 9 billion yuan in both 2021 and 2022.
Country Garden, a big real estate company in China, recently announced that it might lose around $7. 6 billion in the first half of this year.
Moody’s gave the company a lower rating because they think there is a high risk of not having enough money and not being able to pay back loans.
China’s real estate industry was greatly affected when new regulations were introduced in 2020 to limit the amount of money that large real estate companies could borrow.
Evergrande, which used to be the most successful real estate developer in China, accumulated debts of over $300 billion as it grew rapidly to become one of the largest companies in the country.
The company didn’t pay the interest on some loans from other countries, which caused them to miss an important deadline in 2021.
Evergrande is trying to talk again with the people it owes money to because it couldn’t pay them back on time.
Earlier this month, the company asked a New York court for help with their financial problems by filing for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection.
Chapter 15 helps protect the American possessions of a company from another country while it tries to fix its financial problems.
Evergrande’s financial issues have caused problems for other property companies in the country. These companies are also unable to repay their debts and have halted construction on various projects across the nation. -
Man in Nottingham uses bread knife to stab housemate
A man has been sentenced to imprisonment for stabbing his housemate in the head and neck while yelling “I will kill you.”
Yehya Mahdi admitted to authorities that he had consumed 12 cans of beer and armed himself with a bread knife prior to carrying out the assault. The incident took place on January 14th at their Home Office-approved mid-terrace residence on Sneinton Boulevard in Nottingham. Both individuals involved were asylum seekers.
Nottingham Crown Court imposed a sentence of two years and eight months on Mahdi.
The assailant, originally from Sudan, expressed his dislike for his housemate, attributing his animosity to the fact that the victim hailed from Libya – a country he held responsible for his brother’s death.
According to Nottinghamshire Police, the victim overheard Mahdi creating a commotion and using foul language within the house shortly before the attack occurred. The victim remained in his room until Mahdi knocked on his door, pretending to be…
‘One violent man’
Following the assault, the individual who was attacked successfully repelled Mahdi’s advances and fled the scene, as reported by the authorities.
Upon receiving the distress call, law enforcement arrived at the location to discover the victim injured and bleeding on the premises.
The victim was subsequently transported to a hospital and admitted to intensive care. Fortunately, his condition improved significantly, leading to his discharge after five days.
Mahdi admitted his guilt in committing grievous bodily harm and received a prison sentence on Monday.
Image caption,Mahdi was arrested at the property minutes after the attack Det Con Rory Greer described Mahdi as a “dangerous individual”.
“This was a horrific attack and it was only by pure luck that the victim was not more seriously hurt,” he said.
“Having escaped a war in Libya, the victim had come to the UK as an asylum seeker in order to try and create a better life for himself.
“By coming here, he believed he would be much safer – but this proved not to be the case because of the actions of one violent man.”
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China fishy business ‘mad’ over japan’s Fukushima nuclear water release
The Japanese government is calling on China to rescind the ban they have imposed on seafood imports from Japan.This ban was put in place because Japan released treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, which was approved by scientific experts.
China, who buys the most fish from Japan, said on Thursday that they are making the order because they are worried about the health of their consumers.
However, scientists disagree with this statement and say that the release does not harm the ocean life or the seafood we eat.
International trade law expert Henry Gao told the BBC that the main reason is not actually about safety concerns. “It is mostly because of Japan’s actions against China,” he explained, mentioning that Japan has been getting closer to the United States and South Korea in the past few years.
After the water was released, experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) measured its radiation levels. They found that the radiation levels in the water were even lower than the limits set by Japan, which is 1,500 becquerels per liter. This is about seven times lower than the global standard for safe drinking water.
And even though Japanese fishermen are worried, experts say that the negative impact on Japan’s industry from the trade will not last long and will be smaller than anticipated.
Japan primarily sells its fish to its own citizens.
The people who live in the area eat most of the fish, so the big fish companies Nissui and Maruha Nichiro don’t think China’s ban will affect them much. According to Reuters, both companies’ stock prices went up a little when the ban was announced at the end of the trading day.
No country other than China has suggested a complete ban. South Korea still does not allow imports of seafood from Fukushima and a few nearby areas.
Experts say that even if people eat a lot of seafood, they will only be exposed to very small amounts of radiation. This amounts to about 0. 0062 to 0032 microSv per year, according to Mark Foreman, a professor of nuclear chemistry in Sweden.
Humans can be safely exposed to radiation levels that are up to 1,000 times higher than that, which is equivalent to 1,000 microSv of radiation each year, according to Associate Prof Foreman.The government of Japan has acknowledged that the local fishing industry will probably suffer significantly.
Beijing had already come under fire for disseminating “scientifically unfounded claims,” and on Thursday night, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pleaded with Beijing once more to check into the study.
On Thursday night, Mr. Kishida told reporters, “We have asked the revocation (of China’s restriction) through diplomatic channels. We firmly support expert conversation that is grounded in science.
Authorities had already implemented a limited restriction on seafood from select regions of Japan in China and its territories Hong Kong and Macau, but they have now increased that prohibition.
Mainland China and Hong Kong, which each purchase approximately $1.1 billion (£866 million) or 41% of Japan’s seafood exports, are the two largest foreign consumers of Japanese seafood.
According to local media, the leader of a Japanese fisheries union called Japan’s Industry Minister after China’s ban to ask him to push Beijing to lift the restriction.
However, those who monitor the sector are composed because they are aware of the customary fluctuations in supply and demand in international trade.
Although Prof. Gao anticipates some short-term disruption, he added that “soon the exporters shall be able to shift to other markets so the long-term effect will be small.”
In Chinese cities, there will be plenty of seafood delicacies available in restaurants. According to Reuters, China buys a lot more seafood from India, Ecuador, and Russia compared to the amount it buys from Japan. Japan only supplies 4% of China’s seafood imports from foreign countries.
China’s decision to stop importing seafood will hardly have any impact on Japan’s overall economy.
Marine products are only a small part of what Japan trades with other countries. Most of Japan’s trade is made up of cars and machinery exports. Experts say that the effect of prohibiting seafood is very small.
Stefan Angrick, an economist at Moody’s Analytics, said that the release of water in Fukushima has important implications for both politics and the environment.
Economically, if Japan’s food shipments are banned, it won’t have a big impact.
However, many people still believe that the industry is causing harm and is not safe. This is not only the case in China, but also in South Korea where there have been protests by large groups of people.
Before the water was released, fishermen in South Korea noticed that the money they earned from selling their fish was going down. However, the prices of the fish stayed the same on the day after the water was released.
In Japan, polls at people’s homes also indicate a disagreement among the population. The government has worked hard to make both the people feel safe and happy, and to satisfy the business sector. It has promised to give money and help seafood sellers if their sales go down.
On Friday, the government in Osaka suggested serving seafood from Fukushima at its office buildings. The Fukushima plant’s company, Tepco, said it would give money to local businesses if they lost money.
But the people who live here are tough too. After China’s announcement on Thursday, a lot of Japanese people on Twitter were happy about the ban. They jokingly said that it might make fish cheaper in Japan.
Great news despite rising prices. “Someone on Twitter said that Hokkaido sea urchin will be very affordable. “ -
China bars importation of seafood from Japan as Tokyo starts discharging radioactive water
China announced on Thursday that it will prohibit the importation of seafood from Japan. Japan has made the decision to discharge radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, so they are taking action.This new move has intensified the existing tension between China and Japan.
The release of this plan has caused a lot of disagreement among people. – A large number of consumers and several countries are highly opposed to it, with Beijing at the forefront of the disapproval. China expressed strong displeasure and condemned the operation initiated on Thursday afternoon as self-centered and reckless.
China’s customs department said it will no longer import any sea products from Japan. This could also affect other ocean products like sea salt and seaweed.
The action was taken to make sure that food in China does not become contaminated by radioactive materials from the water released by the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. This is important for the safety of Chinese people who consume the food.
Japan has been saying that it is safe to release the treated water and it needs to be done quickly to make room at the broken nuclear power plant.
The discharge started at 1 p. mThe local time was declared as midnight ET by the state-owned electricity company called Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO).
The company said it thinks it will release only about 200 or 210 cubic meters of cleaned wastewater. Starting on Friday, they will release 456 cubic meters of cleaned wastewater every day for 24 hours. In total, they will release 7,800 cubic meters over the course of 17 days.
TEPCO announced that they would stop the operation right away and look into any problems with the equipment or the level of diluted wastewater.
On Thursday, a boat will be sent to the harbor to collect samples of wastewater. These samples will be tested to make sure they meet international safety standards.
Japan experienced a very powerful earthquake and tsunami in 2011. This caused the water in the Fukushima nuclear plant to get contaminated with extremely dangerous radioactive substances. After that, they added more water to cool down the leftover fuel in the reactors. However, water from the ground and rain also got in, making the wastewater even more radioactive.
The idea to let the water go has been in progress for a long time. In 2019, officials said they were running out of room to keep the stuff and had no choice but to release it in a safe and very diluted form.
Some governments are in favor of Japan’s actions, but others strongly disagree. Many people in Asia are stockpiling salt and seafood because they are worried about the potential for pollution in the future.
The US supports Japan, and Taiwan also agrees that the amount of tritium being released should have only a small impact.
But China and the Pacific Islands have strongly expressed their disagreement, saying that the release could affect many countries in the region and around the world, and could possibly be harmful to people’s health and the ocean ecosystem.
Before China said they would stop selling seafood, they said that releasing the dirty water would cause problems for everyone and hurt future generations of people.
On Thursday, many Chinese people were very angry and sad about the release. They showed their feelings on social media, with over 800 million views on Weibo in just a few hours for a hashtag about it.
Some people agreed with the ban on seafood, but others wanted the authorities to do more. “One person suggested that we should stop allowing the sale of products from Japan. ”
Lots of people in China have mixed feelings about Japan. Despite many Chinese people liking Japanese products and culture, there are often calls to boycott everything Japanese when past conflicts resurface due to current disputes between the two countries.
In 2012, there were many protests against Japan in China’s cities because Japan made the decision to own some islands in the East China Sea that both Tokyo and Beijing said belonged to them. These protests became violent.
The complete ban on seafood and aquatic products from Japan now includes all areas affected by regulations in the past, including Fukushima and nine other regions. Earlier this week, Hong Kong said that it would not allow any food from certain parts of Japan to be brought into the city.
Mainland China and Hong Kong are Japan’s two largest markets for seafood exports. This could be a problem for Japan’s fishing industry.
Even though many people disagree, the Japanese authorities and their international supporters, like the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, believe that the release is not harmful.
Over time, the dirty water has been regularly cleaned to remove all the bad stuff, and then kept in containers. TEPCO says that a lot of the water is treated again.
When the dirty water is let go, it will mix with clean water, which will make it have only a tiny bit of radioactive stuff in it. It will go through a tunnel underwater that is about 1 kilometer away from the coast and into the Pacific Ocean.
Other organizations like the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency will watch the release of waste both during and after it happens.
The IAEA said that they have staff members in a newly-opened office in Fukushima. They will keep an eye on the situation there for many years. -
Local bread producers worry about foreign competition invasion
The recent establishment of a new bread factory along the Tema motorway has stirred significant apprehension within Ghana’s local baking sector.
Local industry participants have voiced concerns over potential unwarranted competition this development might pose to the pre-existing bread brands within the nation.
Reportedly under the ownership of Chinese investors, the factory named “Amigo Bread” is visibly designed for large-scale bread production.
A significant aspect of the concerns raised revolves around the potential impact on small-scale bakers who currently serve their local communities while sustaining their livelihoods through this occupation.
GhanaWeb Business investigations have also revealed that the new bread product is comparatively more cost-effective than established local brands. Amigo Bread is priced at 10 cedis per loaf, whereas other known local brands are marketed at 13 cedis and 15 cedis respectively.
Offering his perspective on the matter via Twitter, Economist Theophilus Acheampong highlighted that a nation’s focus should not solely revolve around foreign direct investments, drawing attention to the broader considerations at hand.
He stated that as a country, “We must be DELIBERATE about protecting certain industries. Even America, China, the EU, and others do the same!!!! We’ve over liberalised the Ghanaian economy. Too much neoliberalism! FDI is not everything!”
Other Twitter users also shared varied opinions on the subject.
Mista Darko said: “I think govt needs to consider taking steps to build the capacity of local entrepreneurs to scale their business so there will be no need for some of these FDIs.”
Nick wrote “Spot on bro! You can’t enter China today and start a bakery.”
Thinker said: “The govt should protect local industries for once. We can’t open our economy to everybody just like that.”
Kiko also said: “The impact of these kinda of investments are grossly overstated. The amount of jobs it creates vs the mom&pop outfits that are going to go out of business, doesn’t offset. That being said, will connoisseurs of real Ghana made bread patronize a commercially made bread? I won’t!”
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China’s leader to be received in South Africa on state visit
South African officials have verified that Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to conduct a state visit to South Africa in the coming week. During this time, he will also participate in the Brics summit, which is to be hosted in the same country.
The acronym “Brics” represents the nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. For some, this grouping is seen as a potential alternative to the G7, a collection of developed countries.
This upcoming journey will mark President Xi’s second international excursion this year, following his official state visit to Russia in March.
These developments coincide with an imminent meeting of Brics leaders, where one of the agenda items will involve discussions on potentially expanding the group’s membership. Various African countries, including Algeria, Egypt, and Ethiopia, have previously expressed their desire to become part of this bloc.
Initially, uncertainty surrounded the participation of Russia’s president in the summit. Subsequently, South Africa’s presidency clarified that he would not be in attendance.
It’s worth noting that there were concerns about the implications if Russia’s president had left the confines of his country. Specifically, he would have been susceptible to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to matters related to the conflict in Ukraine.
Given South Africa’s status as an ICC signatory, the country would have been obligated to assist in executing the arrest had he set foot on South African soil.
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China comes under fire for its online anti-black racism
Human Rights Watch (HRW), an advocacy group for human rights, has criticized the Chinese government for failing to “acknowledge and condemn” the pervasive anti-black racism on the Chinese internet.
“The Chinese government likes to tout China-Africa anti-colonial solidarity and unity, but at the same time ignores pervasive hate speech against Black people on the Chinese internet,” said Yaqiu Wang, HRW’s senior China researcher.
In recent years, China has witnessed a surge in the popularity of racist online content, as an increasing number of content creators seek to capitalize on it for profit.
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), this type of content frequently perpetuates offensive racial stereotypes by portraying Africans as destitute and inferior compared to the Chinese, who are positioned as “saviors.”
The organization also pointed out that some of this content belittles interracial relationships involving black individuals, especially black men, who are criticized for supposedly tarnishing China’s image.
Furthermore, HRW’s findings revealed instances of accounts impersonating black individuals to disseminate fabricated and hostile information, alongside direct attacks on black individuals that even include calls for violence and harm. These attacks often extend to encompass the associates and advocates of black individuals.
The rights group also criticized both the Chinese government and social media platforms for their inadequate responses to reports of online racism, exemplified by cases like the 2022 BBC Africa Eye investigation titled “Racism for Sale.”
This documentary brought to light the sale of videos in which African children were coached by Chinese individuals to utter derogatory statements about themselves in Mandarin. Subsequently, a Chinese man was sentenced to 12 months in jail in Malawi on charges such as child trafficking and involving children in entertainment through coercive means.
HRW cautioned that if this prevailing trend of anti-black racism on China’s internet remains unchecked, it poses a substantial risk of fueling racial discrimination and even inciting violence against black individuals.
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US warns China’s defence minister against ‘playing with fire’ on Taiwan at meeting with Russia
Speaking at a security conference in Russia on Tuesday, China’s defence minister Li Shangfu indirectly poked fun at the US by cautioning against “playing with fire” when it comes to Taiwan.
According to state-run news agency Xinhua, Li stated that attempts to “use Taiwan to contain China” would “certainly end in failure” while speaking at the Moscow Conference on International Security.
The venue of Li’s address was significant and symbolic in light of Moscow’s ongoing assault of Ukraine, even though his remarks were a repetition of earlier ones made by Chinese leaders.
Taiwan is a self-governing democracy, but China’s ruling Communist Party claims it and has promised to seize control of it, using force if necessary. It has repeatedly criticised US dealings with the island, with which Washington has no formal diplomatic relations, including the delivery of US weapons to Taipei.
Li joined the Moscow security conference as he started a six-day journey to Russia and its close partner Belarus. Li was sanctioned by the US in 2018 for purchasing Russian weapons.
Senior defence officials from more than 20 “friendly states,” including Belarus, Iran, and Myanmar, will also be present at the conference, according to a recent report by Russian state media, which cited the defence ministry in Moscow, which oversees the gathering’s yearly organisation. According to state media, no Western countries were invited.
Taiwan is a self-governing democracy, but China’s ruling Communist Party claims it and has promised to seize control of it, using force if necessary. It has repeatedly criticised US dealings with the island, with which Washington has no formal diplomatic relations, including the delivery of US weapons to Taipei.
Li joined the Moscow security conference as he started a six-day journey to Russia and its close partner Belarus. Li was sanctioned by the US in 2018 for purchasing Russian weapons.
Senior defence officials from more than 20 “friendly states,” including Belarus, Iran, and Myanmar, will also be present at the conference, according to a recent report by Russian state media, which cited the defence ministry in Moscow, which oversees the gathering’s yearly organisation. According to state media, no Western countries were invited.
In addition, Li said to the audience on Tuesday that Xi Jinping wanted to maintain security in a “world of chaos” and that China’s military was “a firm force in maintaining world peace.”
“We are willing to work with other militaries to strengthen mutual trust in military security strategies and practical cooperation in various specialised fields,” Li further stated, according to Xinhua.
Li also stated, as Chinese authorities have in the past, that military ties between China and Russia do not target any third party, according to the Russian state-run media outlet Sputnik. The assertion was left out of the Xinhua report.
According to Xinhua, Li met with Sergei Shoigu, his Russian counterpart, to discuss military cooperation between the two nations. Regular cooperative exercises between China and Russia include a recent coordinated naval patrol off the coast of Alaska.
On the margins of the conference, the Chinese defence minister also met privately with the defence ministers and military chiefs of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Vietnam.
Li’s remarks on Taiwan follow a backlash from Beijing as William Lai, the vice president of Taiwan and the current front-runner in the island’s forthcoming presidential election, plans to make stops in the US on his way to an official visit to Paraguay.
On Sunday, China’s foreign ministry denounced the visit and referred to Lai as a “trouble maker through and through.”
After establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1979, the US still maintains an unofficial relationship with Taipei, but is required by law to give the democratic island the means to defend itself.
Speaking in New York, Lai vowed Taiwan will “never back down” in the face of Chinese threats.
“No matter how great the threat of authoritarianism is to Taiwan, we absolutely will not be scared nor cower, and we will uphold the values of democracy and freedom,” he stated.
Following meetings between Taiwanese authorities and US congressmen, for example, China has increased its military intimidation of the island in recent years.
Taiwan has received more attention as a potential security flashpoint in Asia as a result of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The optics of a supposedly more powerful aggressor launching an attack motivated by a vision of unification have increased focus on China’s intentions towards Taiwan despite significant distinctions with the geopolitical situations of Russia and Ukraine.
According to some observers, China was observing the West’s response to Russian aggression in Ukraine in order to anticipate potential reactions to any future moves against Taiwan.
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Northwest China affected by fatal flash flood and landslip due to heavy rains
At least 21 people have died and six are missing, according to local authorities, who blame a flash flood and landslip that happened on the outskirts of the northwest Chinese city of Xi’an.
The Xi’an City Emergency Management Bureau reports that 900 residences experienced power outages as a result of the natural catastrophe, which took place in a mountain town on Friday. The incident also reportedly caused damage to roads, bridges, and communication equipment.
Due to recent record high temperatures and disastrous flooding in parts of China, experts link extreme weather events around the world to climate change.
Following the landslip and flash flood, about 1,000 rescuers were sent to Xi’an’s Weiziping village. As of Sunday evening, 186 people had been rescued, and relief operations were still in progress. In addition, two homes were demolished.
Two structures were destroyed by a tremendous flow of mud and debris that cascaded down the hillside on Friday in the late afternoon, according to a restaurant owner in the town who spoke to the state-run media site Cover News.
He was cited as adding, “Both houses were gone, and the people went missing too.”
According to Cover News, the two demolished residences were used as restaurants.
People travel to the mountains to escape the summer heat in Xi’an. The main source of income in our hamlet is the summertime operation of farm eateries, according to a second local who spoke to Cover News.
Following significant floods on the other side of the nation in northeastern China, which was pummelling by unprecedented rainfall from local typhoons starting late last month, the calamity occurred.
According to local authorities, flooding claimed the lives of at least 29 individuals in the province of Hebei and 33 people in Beijing.
As the rains proceeded north and flooded farmlands in the nation’s grain-producing region, another 14 deaths were recorded in the Jilin province city of Shulan.
According to state media, more than 1.5 million people were forced to abandon their houses in Hebei, including those who had to flee so-called “flood storage areas,” which were flooded as flood control officials let go of trapped water.
According to provincial authorities, approximately 200,000 homes were damaged or completely destroyed by flooding, with the total cost of the disaster’s damage anticipated to exceed $13 billion.
By the end of next month, according to the authorities, they hope to have everyone back in their homes.
Separately, on Sunday, a house in Leyu village, Hengnan county, collapsed due to severe winds, leaving three people dead and two others hurt in Hunan province. According to China National Radio, seven individuals were inside the house when it fell as they sought refuge from the torrential rains.
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China has wealth of genomic data at its disposal
Better cancer treatments, increased longevity, ground-breaking drugs and vaccinations are just a few of the possible rewards up for grabs in the rapidly-emerging international competition to develop the biosciences.
And considering that its enormous population of 1.4 billion people can supply a goldmine of data, China has been investing enormous sums of money in its quest to become the dominant power.
The government is now conducting a “national genetic survey” to gather data about and exercise more authority over these resources, say experts. Vast amounts of this data already exist in biobanks and research centres around the nation.
In contrast to the numerous Western countries that have vowed to give up information for global exchange, authorities have also tightened limitations on international access to this data in recent years.
The country’s genetic resources are now governed by new laws that went into effect in July. These laws include the national survey and limitations on access from abroad.
Some scientists have cautioned that this genetic hoarding, however, may make international scientific collaboration more challenging and may even work against China.
“The government realises there is tremendous economic potential in this region, so they want to have a very tight grip on it, but… Joy Y. Zhang, the director of the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice, stated that for China to reach its full potential, international cooperation is necessary. Throughout the creation of the new regulations, Zhang attended consultation sessions.
She said, “Right now, a gold mine is right outside your door, but you don’t know how to mine it.
There is a lot at stake: the genetic building blocks that make up our bodies could lead to discoveries that have an impact on everything from national defence and biosafety to health care and the economy.
Chinese scientists and authorities have emphasised recently how genetic information could be helpful in studying and treating diseases, developing pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and understanding how genes affect longevity or how birth defects are formed. This is especially important given China’s impending demographic crisis as its workforce ages and its birth rate declines.
Due to the large number of people and its “healthy and long-lived populations,” the nation’s DNA might also be a “strategic resource and a treasure trove,” according to officials. However, scientists caution that each country’s genetic population is valuable in its own manner.
With publicly traded biopharma businesses worth hundreds of billions of dollars, new research centres have sprung up all around China, reflecting this increased concentration. According to Chinese scholars, the government claimed that their database, which had about 44 million entries, was the largest in the world in 2015.
In its most recent five-year strategy plan, the government named biotechnology as one of the “strategic emerging industries” the nation will concentrate on developing. The ruling Communist Party has thrown its support behind the boom.
In 2021, Anna Puglisi, head of biotechnology programmes at Georgetown’s Centre for Security and Emerging Technology, said before a US Senate hearing on national security that “China has amassed the largest genomic holdings of anywhere in the world.”
Understanding what genes do is “one of the most important questions in the next generation of both medicine and also biological research,” Puglisi continued. They have an advantage in solving some of those challenges because they have access to that kind of data, both from within their own country and from other parts of the globe.
There are indications that the United States, who has long been China’s opponent in terms of technology, regional sway, military might, and economic might, is beginning to feel the squeeze. Think tanks and research organisations have issued a number of publications warning that the US may lose its competitive advantage.
Others, though, say that closing that gap might take years. Additionally, Zhang noted that China’s current databases are dispersed and disorganised, which presents a problem that the government is currently striving to solve.
According to Zhang, China’s biobanking, or the gathering of biological samples, is still in its “embryonic stage” and is “very fragmented.”
To begin with, she added, it’s challenging to transfer data even within the country, such as when attempting to access data banks in several provinces with various legal frameworks. Additionally, a lot of smaller institutions lack the infrastructure needed to collect, catalogue, and preserve genetic material in a form that makes it “useful in scientific research.”
“Running a biobank costs a lot of money, and it’s a waste of resources not to be able to use the data or material that has been collected,” she added.
With the recently passed laws, which build upon a prior set of regulations announced in 2019, China hopes to better assess this data. One of the most significant breakthroughs is the description of a “national survey of human genetic resources,” which, according to Zhang, intends to standardise and centralise the data already collected from institutions and research centres.
According to the new regulations, the survey will be conducted every five years, with provincial officials gathering data in respective districts and presenting it to the national scientific ministry. The regulations give special consideration to “important genetic families” and inhabitants of “specific regions,” such as those with inherited illnesses or “special physical characteristics or adaptive traits.”
The published regulations, however, are ambiguous and provide few details about the survey’s methodology or scope, including the institutions or data that would be used.
Katherine Wang, a partner at the international law firm Ropes & Grey who specialises in bio sciences, claimed the science ministry hadn’t yet identified the “contents or areas of focus of this exercise.”
But she also noted that the poll would probably “involve analysis of data already captured by the (ministry),” such as details on significant genetic pedigrees provided by “organisations and individuals” – as well as “newly collected data.”
According to Wang, the ministry would probably compile a “catalogue of significant genetic pedigrees” and examine the security of outgoing data transfers that are pertinent.
The adoption of the regulations is accompanied by concerns about how to safeguard people’s privacy in the biodata era, particularly in a nation with extensive digital surveillance.
According to the rules, genetic resource collection in China must abide by an ethical evaluation, have “written informed consent,” and protect the “privacy rights” of donors.
However, a number of recent events have brought attention to the danger of data breaches.
For example, a sizable online database containing the private data of up to one billion Chinese residents was left exposed and available to the public for more than a year before an anonymous user proposed to sell the information in 2022.
The international community has long expressed concern about China’s use of genetic information in law enforcement, particularly in the wake of revelations that authorities were gathering DNA samples and other biometric information from millions of residents in the far-western region of Xinijang, which is home to the Muslim Uyghur community and other ethnic minorities. China has long been accused of violating human rights in Xinjiang, a claim it has vehemently refuted.
However, these worries are not new, and several experts acknowledged that the national genetic survey appears to be more focused on scientific research than other objectives.
According to Wang, “the government has long wanted to have better awareness over significant genetic pedigrees and significant genetic resources about minority races. Therefore, in this situation, I believe the survey is attempting to give the government a tool or method by which to demonstrate that visibility.
Finally, the human genome has been deciphered. Here’s why this finding changes everything.
To the consternation of some scientists who fear the loss of global collaboration, China is eager to protect its people’s genes as DNA is increasingly viewed as a valuable natural resource like oil or land.
To prevent them from exploiting it for “typical commercial purposes” like genome sequencing services, Wang said, the first 2019 laws barred foreign firms from obtaining Chinese genetic material or transmitting such material abroad.
Clinical studies and other research collaborations are still permitted, but they are subject to much stricter regulations, requiring “foreign parties” and their Chinese partners to notify the authorities and obtain government approval. The new regulations also stipulate that security reviews may be required in certain situations.
The adjustments coincide with a rise in national security emphasis under Chinese President Xi Jinping, with Beijing tightening legislation on a number of priority issues, from counter-espionage to biosecurity.
The method to managing human genetic resources is so strict that it “basically grants Chinese nationals based in China exclusive access to conduct this research,” according to Zhang, the director of the global science centre.
This strategy is justified for a number of reasons.
Tighter regulations are required, according to officials, to stop “the illegal outflow” of Chinese genetic material. This may be a result of the infamous case involving a Harvard scientist who was accused of taking genetic samples from poor Chinese farmers without their informed consent around the turn of the century, Zhang said.
Chinese authorities also highlight He Jiankui as an example of unethical behaviour. He was highly criticised for making the first gene-edited infants in the world in China in 2018.
China also wants to achieve what some experts refer to as “genomic sovereignty,” or total control over the genetic resources in their nation.
There are rules governing the use and transfer of genetic material in many other nations, but few are as stringent as China’s.
For instance, the UK Biobank, a government-backed database, offers anonymized genetic information from UK citizens to “researchers around the world who use it to make new scientific discoveries,” according to the biobank’s website.
Similar to this, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the US government maintains a database of genomic data produced by NIH-funded research, to which qualified scientists from across the world can apply. On its website, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) refers to genomic data as a “critical shared resource,” noting that “timely sharing of research results can accelerate discoveries” that are advantageous to the greater scientific community.
Zhang noted that China seemed to have taken the complete opposite tack. China is shutting down because it only wants to focus inward and keep things home.
This may have larger effects on scientists’ capacity to collaborate with global peers, given the decline in US-China cooperation brought on by escalating political tensions and the isolation of Chinese researchers during the Covid-19 outbreak. All of this might ultimately undermine China’s efforts to push boundaries and outperform rivals.
Chinese life sciences are a significant global force, but they are not yet a superpower. It still depends on international collaborations in many cutting-edge fields, said Zhang.
She continued, “Today, scientific progress looks extremely different from what it did only a few decades ago. We’re talking about huge data, we’re talking about mining the data. Furthermore, limiting access in this situation would be detrimental to China.
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Chinese officials welcomed by Western leaders to Ukraine peace talks
Chinese representatives attending a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last weekend gave European diplomats some little solace. The goal of the gathering was to settle the Ukrainian issue peacefully.
Although Beijing maintained its posture of neutrality, some sources contend that Beijing’s mere attendance at a meeting to which Russia claims it was not invited sent a signal to the world that it was unwilling to publicly align with Russia against the West.
Putin, the president of Russia, may not have gotten everything he wanted, but even a little success in the zero-sum game of diplomacy is cause for celebration.
A senior EU source told CNN, “We never anticipated China to go totally to the Western stance, but sponsoring this conference will be a significant disappointment to Russia.
“In our opinion, China is actively interacting with the West, speaking with the Ukrainians, and rebuffing Russia. The official said, “We truly appreciate that. This opinion is shared by other European sources.
Even if China’s involvement in world affairs may be a setback for Russia, Western allies continue to be wary of China, in part because the two nations continue to have close economic, diplomatic, and security relations.
Beijing hasn’t given the impression that it is cutting back on relations with Russia, despite the delegation’s attendance in Jeddah. A day after the Jeddah negotiations ended, China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, called his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and reiterated Beijing’s “impartiality” in the crisis.
Throughout the conflict, the military of the two nations have continued to train together. Last week, a naval patrol was conducted off the coast of Alaska. According to Russian media, Putin will also travel to China in October after accepting Xi Jinping’s invitation in March.
The same senior EU source recognised that Beijing has few reasons to want to end the war outside of its relationships with trading partners. “From their viewpoint, the US, its main opponent, is preoccupied, and Russia has grown even more into a subordinate partner. The only drawback is how it influences others’ perceptions of China.
It’s no secret that China and Europe have a strained relationship. That, according to officials, is problematic for Chinese leaders who see European countries as targets in Beijing and Washington’s struggle for global supremacy.
It’s also no secret that China’s tight ties to Russia, along with Beijing’s unwillingness to denounce Moscow’s full-scale invasion, have unnerved a number of European nations, particularly those that are geographically close to Russia, and caused them to reevaluate how Europe should interact with China.
According to a European security source, “China’s main goal is to maintain ambiguity in the European position so they don’t go as far as the US would like.” “Retaining economic ties makes it more difficult for hawks to distance Europe from China. Jeddah may have been a response to Russia’s efforts to bring Europe closer to the US. China will feel compelled to get involved in Ukraine again.
Policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations Alicja Bachulska concurs:
“China’s recent actions unquestionably involve PR damage management. China is waiting to act, and it will do so as long as it can. Attending this kind of meeting fits in very well with this plan, especially if Russia is not present. For everyone who still has the foolish belief that China can make a difference, it makes for fantastic headlines.
In short, the EU’s most challenging but crucial international relationship hasn’t changed in Brussels as a result of China coming to the table.
According to several officials who spoke with CNN, the relationship with China is currently in a state of stasis as it tries to strike a balance between what Europe needs and what Europe wants.
Despite its dependence on China, Europe still imports far more from that country than it does. The trade imbalance increased significantly from 2020 to 2022, reaching €396 billion ($436 billion).
This has occurred despite Europe’s reluctance to ratify official treaties and agreements. Because China has penalised members of the European Parliament for criticising China’s human rights record, the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, which was negotiated for nearly ten years before a basic agreement was reached, is on hold.
The official position of Europe towards China has likewise altered, and as of 2019, it officially recognises Beijing as a “systemic rival.” In an effort to counter China’s hegemony in Eurasia, Brussels has launched distinct strategic actions since 2019.
According to a CNN interview with an EU official, Brussels has not yet “solidified” its stance on China. “A Jeddah-style declaration is nice, but it won’t change the rules of the game. Since the beginning of the war, we have wished for China to act in this manner.
The official emphasised that even positive actions like these are eventually judged in light of other actions like Beijing’s regard for human rights, its aggressive posture towards Taiwan, and its purported involvement in corporate espionage. In that sense, Brussels’ varied complaints against Beijing can be seen through yet another lens when it comes to China’s actions or inactivity in regard to Ukraine.
It’s this conflicting reality—China is needed by Europe for some things, but it’s also seen as a security danger and a bad actor on the international stage—that makes things so difficult.
In fact, despite the tense nature of their relations, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, as well as the leaders of France, Germany, and Spain, have all recently visited China.
In areas like climate change, setting the pace for emerging technology, and establishing a free-standing foreign policy, Brussels has set itself lofty goals. The EU chose a third option in which the US would continue to be its principal ally but closer commercial connections with China were established because it did not want to choose between the two major powers of the East and West.
In doing so, it intended to persuade China to adopt European viewpoints on a variety of issues, including human rights, the rules-based international order, and climate change.
European leaders in 2023 are aware of China’s significant security risks and the dangers of becoming unduly dependent on China. But they also acknowledge that they could need China’s assistance to accomplish their grandiose goals.
Future society will be heavily dependent on items like inexpensive electric cars, solar panels, and steel for wind farms. Sam Goodman from the China Strategic Risks Institute argues that China can create these items at a low cost and already has a good start in terms of being a significant supplier for the global market.
Additionally, Goodman points out that given the current economic situation for Europe, smaller governments may be more susceptible to the allure of Chinese funding for significant infrastructure projects.
“China has historically been keen to buy up or heavily invest in European infrastructure projects, be they nuclear power stations, roads, or water companies,” he said. “European nations have recently become less enthusiastic about this, but it might be tempting for countries with weak economies to accept some money as a temporary fix.”
Wide-ranging security issues have been raised by officials on numerous occasions. Senior EU security officials told CNN that China continues to be the main source of cyberattacks, with the majority of them concentrating on business espionage.
Others say that Europe doesn’t want to end up in the same position it did with Russia in terms of relying on one provider so heavily for energy or other resources, especially in the event China becomes even more forceful in its own backyard and goes from systemic rival to full-blown international pariah, as seen with Putin’s Moscow.
Between these fears over security, Europe’s international ambitions and China’s global ambitions, it might seem hard to pin down exactly what either side want from their future relationship.
“I don’t believe China has given up on Europe just yet. According to Charles Parton, a former first counsellor to the EU delegation in Beijing, “it hopes it can still influence the decisions of enough European nations to prevent America from fleeing in the struggle over new technology.”
“They have recently lost on things like Huawei and will be desperate to remain competitive on semiconductors, AI, and all the things that will matter a lot in the coming years,” the author continues.
More challenges arise for Europe. According to officials, Brussels is steadfast in defying Washington’s demands to entirely cut off relations with China while treading the fine line of the US remaining its closest partner. They assert that it will collaborate with China on some of the most significant global challenges at the same time as aiming to achieve its global goals without becoming unduly dependent on China.
It’s an ambitious strategy, but one that mostly leaves its own destiny up to chance. Or, at the very least, in the control of a nation that has seen its standing as a partner with Europe considerably decline over the past ten years.
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Chinese real estate company Country Garden issues $7.6 billion loss warning
One of China‘s largest real estate developers, Country Garden, has issued a warning that its first-half losses could reach $7.6 billion (£6 billion).
The announcement is the most recent indication of the serious problems the second-largest economy in the world is having.
China plunged into deflation for the first time in more than two years, according to official data released this week.
Along with a steep decline in exports, youth unemployment has reached an all-time high.
On Friday afternoon, Country Garden Holdings‘ stock fell more than 5% in Hong Kong exchange.
In a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Country Garden stated that it “expects to record a net loss ranging from approximately RMB45 billion [$6.24 billion; £4.9 billion] to RMB55 billion for the six months ended 30 June 2023.”
The anticipated deficit contrasts with a $265 million profit at this time last year.
The company added that it has formed a special task group under the leadership of Yang Huiyan, its chairman, to look for measures to revive the company.
The company’s rating was reduced earlier on Thursday by rating agency Moody’s, which highlighted “heightened liquidity and refinancing risks” as its justification.
It happened at a time when China was struggling economically, which has led some to wonder how quickly the country is recovering from the pandemic.
In line with expectations, the nation’s exports declined by a larger-than-expected 14.5% in July compared to the same month last year, while imports decreased by 12.4%.
As a record 11.58 million university graduates are anticipated to enter the job market this year, youth unemployment, which is at an all-time high, is also being keenly studied.
President of the United States Joe Biden stated on Thursday that China’s economic woes are a “ticking time bomb.”
Mr. Biden also stated that “China is in trouble” while highlighting its high unemployment and ageing workforce at a fundraising event in the western state of Utah.
The nation is also addressing issues with the housing market and the soaring local government debt.
Evergrande, formerly China’s largest real estate company, disclosed this month that it lost a combined $81.1 billion in 2021 and 2022.
It happened at the same time that the company, which went into debt default in late 2021, announced to investors its overdue earnings.
Evergrande has been battling debts worth an estimated $300 billion.
The significant losses show how severely the developer was impacted by the Chinese real estate crisis in recent years.
Given that the property sector makes up around a third of China’s GDP and encompasses everything from home construction to the manufacturing of white goods used in them, issues there might have a significant influence on the nation.
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Man tries to smuggle 14 snakes through customs by stuffing them in his pockets
A man attempted to cross a Chinese border with 14 live snakes hidden in his pockets.
He was apprehended at Futian Port, a crossing point between Hong Kong and mainland China in Shenzhen, eastern China.
The individual was apparently observed by border patrol officers at Huanggang Customs in China to be uneasy and to be avoiding eye contact.
When they asked to look over his stuff, they discovered 14 snakes wrapped in cotton stockings and socks.
The passenger is shown on camera nervously checking his pockets as he waits at the checkpoint while wearing all black and a white hat.
The video then switches to border agents handling socks with snakes poking out of them.
The reptiles were delivered to the authorities in plastic containers.
Ball pythons, sometimes known as royal pythons, are an African species categorised as “near threatened” on the Red List by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Three of the serpents were ball pythons.
All animals that are brought into or out of China must first be quarantined and inspected, according to the law.
The man may or may not have been charged at this time.
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China’s exports have decreased significantly for the first time in 3 years
Last month, China‘s imports and exports decreased more drastically than anticipated as lower global demand jeopardised the chances of the world’s second-largest economy recovering.
According to official data, imports decreased by 12.4% in July compared to the same month last year while exports plummeted by 14.5%.
The dismal trade numbers increase worries that the nation’s economic development may slow down much more this year.
Beijing will be under more pressure to speed up the post-pandemic recovery.
The poorest export numbers since February 2020 point to a possible impact on China’s post-pandemic recovery from the growing cost of living and more expensive borrowing in other areas of the world by lowering demand for its goods.
Demand has also lagged behind expectations in China, where the economy has not recovered despite three years of harsh lockdowns and restrictions meant to stop the coronavirus from spreading.
Due to its status as the largest exporter and greatest importer in the world, China’s slow trade performance is expected to have an impact on the global economy.
Prices in China, in contrast to most of the rest of the world, seem to be declining as businesses and consumers emerge from the zero-growth period unwilling to spend and with big inventories of items to sell.
However, officials in China have so far resisted taking any significant steps to revive the economy in the face of soaring youth unemployment and a housing industry in crisis.
One of China’s largest markets, the US, saw a 23.1% year-over-year decline in exports.
Additionally, the European Union imported 20.6% less from China. Due to a dispute between the EU and China over semiconductor chips, some of the important raw materials used to build computer chips are now subject to more stringent export controls from China.
Some of the strictest coronavirus regulations in the world were in place in China. Shanghai, China’s financial centre and home to some 25 million people, was placed under total lockdown beginning in March 2022. The government sent food parcels to inhabitants who were confined to their homes during this time.
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Pictures from Typhoon Doksuri depict terrifying floods in China, Philippines
Large areas of East Asia have been inundated by storms that brought unusually heavy rain and fierce gusts so early in the north Pacific typhoon season, with China among the worst affected nations.
The quantity of rain that fell during the last week in Beijing alone surpassed a record that had stood for 140 years.
As Doksuri, a previous super typhoon, flooded China’s northeast, residents of Beijing and the nearby province of Hebei fled their houses on inflatable boats and trucks.
Authorities have evacuated millions of people, and at least 10 individuals have perished and 18 are still missing.
Image caption,People stand on a front loader after the rains and floods in Zhuozhou, Hebei province, China 
Image caption,Mentougou District, Beijing, China 
Image caption,An evacuation in Quanzhou, Fujian province, China 
Image caption,Beijing, China 
Image caption,A temporary shelter in Longquan Primary School of Mentougou district, Beijing, China. The floods damaged roads and bridges, submerged cars and destroyed construction sites.
Doksuri slammed into China last weekend and drenched the north-east for most of the week. The region had barely recovered from typhoon Talim the week prior.
Then, there’s the threat of typhoon Khanun out at sea off China’s east coast, which threatens to intensify rains in areas hit by Doksuri.
Image caption,Fengtai District, west of Beijing, China 
Image caption,Beijing, China 
Image caption,Uncompleted residential buildings were swamped in Beihai, Guangxi, China In areas where the floods have subsided, residents have started shovelling mud out of their homes. The following three photos were also taken in Beijing.
The waterlogged scenes also played out in the Philippines, where Khanun, Doksuri and Talim exacerbated seasonal monsoon rains.
While storm-weary Filipinos went about with as much of their daily routines as they could, the typhoons highlighted perennial problems of flooding in the capital, Manila, and its suburbs of Bulacan and Pampanga.
Image caption,Balagtas, Bulacan province, Philippines 
Image caption,Balagtas, Bulacan province, Philippines 
Image caption,Balagtas, Bulacan province, Philippines 
Image caption,A man collects washed up rubbish along the shore of Manila Bay, Philippines 
Image caption,Calumpit, Bulacan Province, Philippines Slow-moving Khanun lashed Okinawa in the middle of the week and threatens to curve back to mainland Japan while intensifying rains in China.
It cut power to one-third of Okinawa in its wake and shut the airport for a day during peak tourism season.
Typhoon Khanun led to offices and schools being shut for a day in Taiwan.
Image caption,Naha, Okinawa 
Image caption,Most stores are closed in this residential area of Taipei, Taiwan Meanwhile, India is in the middle of a heavy monsoon season that has waterlogged parts of the country.
In the first two weeks of July alone, floods and landslides there have killed almost 100 people in the north.
Image caption,Ajmer, India 
Image caption,Kolkata, India 
Image caption,Kolkata, India -
China charged by Philippines with using water cannons to shoot at boats in South China Sea
The Philippine Coast Guard has accused its Chinese counterpart of stopping its ships in the disputed South China Sea and firing water cannons at them.
It said that this incident occurred as its ship escorted boats carrying supplies for Filipino military stationed on a disputed Spratly Island.
The US condemned Beijing’s “dangerous actions”, also blaming Chinese “maritime militia” for the incident.
Regarding the alleged incident, China has not made any public comments.
The Spratly Islands, which are also partially claimed by the Philippines, are included in Beijing’s almost total claim to the South China Sea.
Additionally, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan have countervailing claims.
The incident took place on Saturday while PCG vessels were traveling to Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, according to a statement.
It added that the actions taken by China were “excessive and unlawful” and that they also broke international law.
The US Department of State has stated that “our Philippine allies” have its support.
“Firing water cannons and employing unsafe blocking manoeuvres, PRC [China’s] ships interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardised the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew,” the department said in a statement.
China has disregarded the ruling of an international arbitration court, which declared its claim to almost the entire South China Sea as unfounded.
In April, a BBC team aboard a PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) ship witnessed firsthand instances of Chinese harassment.
The South China Sea has become a major global hotspot, particularly amid escalating tensions between the United States and China in recent years.
The strategic access to these waters plays a crucial role in defending Taiwan, especially as China’s claims over the self-governed island have become more assertive.
Moreover, the waterways facilitate approximately $5tn (£4tn) of global trade each year, leading to concerns that China’s expanding presence in the region could potentially impede commerce.
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Two US Navy personnel are accused of spying for China
Two US Navy sailors in California have been arrested on charges related to providing sensitive military information to China.
Jinchao Wei, a 22-year-old naturalized US citizen, is accused of conspiring to send national defense information to a Chinese agent. Petty Officer Wenheng Zhao, 26, was arrested for accepting money in exchange for sensitive photos and videos.
It remains unclear whether the same Chinese agent is connected to both cases.
Both individuals were apprehended on Wednesday in California. Jinchao Wei was arrested while on his way to work at Naval Base San Diego.
Prosecutors made the announcement regarding the charges during a news conference in San Diego on Thursday.
Jinchao Wei, who served as a machinist’s mate on the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship, possessed security clearance and had access to sensitive information concerning the vessel.
According to the indictment, a Chinese agent approached him in February 2022 while he was in the process of becoming a US citizen. The agent allegedly paid him thousands of dollars for photographs, videos, technical manuals, and blueprints of the ship.
Furthermore, Justice Department officials disclosed that Jinchao Wei also provided the agent with details of US Marines involved in a maritime training exercise.
“When a soldier or sailor chooses cash over country and hands over national defence information in an ultimate act of betrayal, we have to be ready to act,” said US Attorney Randy Grossman.
China has so far refuted any knowledge of the purported action.
The Wall Street Journal cited Liu Pengyu, a spokeswoman for China’s embassy in Washington, as saying: “The US government and media have routinely exaggerated examples of ‘espionage’ relating to China.
“China firmly opposes the US side’s groundless slander and smear of China,” he added.
Mr. Zhao, also known as Thomas Zhao, was employed at Naval Base Ventura County near Los Angeles. In 2021, he was reportedly approached by a Chinese agent who masqueraded as a researcher seeking information for investment decisions.
The agent paid Mr. Zhao nearly $15,000 (£11,800) in exchange for photos, videos, diagrams, and blueprints of a radar system deployed on a US military base in Okinawa, Japan, as per authorities’ statements.
If found guilty, Mr. Wei could face a prison sentence of 20 years to life, while the charges against Mr. Zhao carry a maximum penalty of 20 years.
Both individuals were charged in separate cases.
Authorities have categorized this alleged espionage as part of a larger effort by China to obtain US military secrets.
Earlier this year, a Chinese spy balloon floating over the United States created tension between the two countries. However, American authorities later confirmed that it did not collect any sensitive information.
“The Department of Justice will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to counter threats from China and to deter those who aid them in breaking our laws and threatening our national security,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen.
It was not clear if either Mr Wei or Mr Zhao had hired lawyers who could comment on their behalf.
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China restricts export of drones due to ‘national security concerns’
China will impose export restrictions on drones and drone equipment to “safeguard national security and interests,” according to a statement made by the country’s commerce ministry on Monday. This decision may have an impact on the situation in Ukraine.
Vendors will need to request approval to export specific drone engines, lasers, imaging, communications, and radar equipment due to the equipment restrictions. The restrictions, which go into effect on September 1, also apply to consumer-grade drones that meet particular requirements.
An unnamed ministry representative issued an internet statement banning the export of any civilian drones not covered by the regulations for military use.
The statement added that China has “consistently opposed the use of civilian drones for military purposes” and that its “modest expansion of the scope of drone control this time is an important measure to demonstrate its commitment as a responsible major country to implement global security initiatives and maintain world peace.”
As Moscow wages war on its neighbour, drones have become a more prevalent component of modern warfare, being used by both Russia and Ukraine. During the conflict, civilian drones that could be modified or used for military purposes have also gained attention.
CNN discovered proof of an armed, downed Chinese-made drone earlier this year that had been deployed to target Ukrainian military.
It was their airframe, the manufacturer, Mugin Limited, said CNN, calling the situation “deeply unfortunate.”
The devices are referred to as “Alibaba drones” by some tech journalists since they can be purchased for up to $15,000 on Chinese marketplace websites like Alibaba and Taobao.
China has a substantial domestic drone manufacturing business and exports drones to many nations, including the United States.
A report created by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which claimed that as of March, China “had shipped more than $12 million in drones and drone parts” to Russia, was published last week. The report cited a “third-party analysis” of Russian customs data and stated that China had exported more than $12 million in drones and drone parts to Russia.
The paper, headed “Support Provided by the People’s Republic of China to Russia” and dated 2023, mostly bases its assertions on information from open sources and news coverage from Western media.
The report mentions shipments of “dual-use” equipment but does not say if the alleged drone shipments were utilised in combat.
Friday, a representative for China’s Foreign Ministry denied the claim, stating that Beijing’s collaboration with Moscow “does not target any third party.”
In a statement released in April, the Commerce Ministry refuted claims that China was aiding Russia militarily by exporting drones to the front lines, labelling media reports of such behaviour as “deliberate smears.”
A spokeswoman stated that some Chinese civilian drone businesses had also “taken the initiative to suspend their operations in conflict areas” since the “crisis” in Ukraine started. This was due to China’s limitations on specific drones, which barred them from being used for “non-peaceful purposes,” the spokesperson added.
Chinese leaders have long been cautioned by Western officials not to financially back the Russian war. Beijing has maintained its diplomatic and financial backing for Moscow despite claiming neutrality in the war.
However, there are “ongoing concerns” that Chinese companies may be giving Russia technology that could “advance its aggression in Ukraine,” according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who stated in June that Washington had “received assurances from China that it is not and will not provide lethal assistance to Russia for use in Ukraine.”
The measures also come amid high-tech export restrictions between the United States and China as a result of growing worries in Washington about the threat Beijing poses to its national security.
China claimed that its new policies, which were unveiled on Monday, do not target “any specific” nation.
Henry Gao, a law professor at Singapore Management University, claims that the limitations are an addition to the drone export prohibitions Beijing has already put in place for the better part of the last 20 years.
In recent years, “especially since the US-China trade war,” China has also placed restrictions on the grounds of national security, he claimed.
The additional actions would “further exacerbate US-China tensions and make it harder for businesses in both countries to do business,” Gao continued.
According to two US lawmakers, the largest drone manufacturer in the world, DJI, which is based in Shenzhen, makes more than 50% of the drones marketed in the US. US public safety agencies like DJI models. They proposed legislation earlier this year that would prevent the firm from using the communications infrastructure in the US.
The US implemented broad rules last year that prevent Chinese corporations from acquiring sophisticated semiconductors and chip-making machinery without a licence. Beijing implemented export restrictions on two components necessary for the production of semiconductors last month. The restrictions start on August 1.
Already, drones are a factor in US-China tensions.
In 2021, the US added DJI to a list of companies to avoid investing in because of allegations that the company assisted in the mistreatment of Uyghur Muslims and other racial and religious minorities in China’s Xinjiang region.
The business was prohibited from acquiring American technology since it was already on the US Entity List. DJI vehemently denied doing anything to earn a spot on the list.
Following the ministry’s announcement on Tuesday, DJI posted a statement to its website in which it declared that it had never created or marketed any technology for military use and that it would “actively cooperate” with the new export control regulations.
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Thousands evacuate their homes as Typhoon Doksuri drenches Beijing
After Typhoon Doksuri, one of the strongest storms in years, dumped torrential rain throughout China and forecasters warned another storm with the intensity of a hurricane was on its way, tens of thousands of people evacuated their homes in Beijing.
Similar to much of the rest of the world, China is struggling with this summer’s harsh weather events. This year, heat waves seared China sooner than usual as global temperatures, ocean heat, and sea ice loss all broke records.
Doksuri ploughed into the coastal province of Fujian in the southeast late last week, weakening as it made its way north but dumping copious amounts of rain since Saturday on at least five northern Chinese provinces.
As of Sunday night, more than 31,000 individuals have left the Chinese capital, according to state television station CCTV. According to state news agency Xinhua, another 500,000 residents in the southern province of Fujian had to leave because of flooding.
According to CCTV, two people were killed by the storm and two more went missing while mushrooming in the northeastern Liaoning province.
According to the China Meteorological Administration on Monday, about 40 inches of rain are expected to fall on portions of the capital’s southwest and the nearby province of Hebei, perhaps breaking previous records for precipitation in Beijing.
Through Tuesday, there is a chance for more intense rain, raising worries of landslides and hazardous flooding.
In accordance with the country’s warning system, the weather signal was dropped to the second-highest level in some areas on Monday, but was at the highest level in nine Beijing districts. There were at least 95 other weather alerts issued nationwide.
Numerous railroads and highways in the capital were temporarily shut down as a result of the heavy rains, and residents were advised to stay inside.
According to CNN Weather, based on early data, Doksuri is the most potent typhoon to make landfall in China and the strongest storm to impact Fujian since Typhoon Saomi in 2006. Rita in 1972 was the storm that passed the closest and closest to Beijing.
At least 39 people were killed in the Philippines and sections of southern Taiwan before it made landfall in Fujian.
According to Xinhua, the flooding caused by the rains cost Fujian’s economy approximately $60 million ($428 million yuan) in direct economic losses. According to the state media agency, more than 151 hectares of crop failure occurred on more than 6,333 hectares of farmland in Fujian.
And the future holds little hope for relief. Authorities are getting ready for Khanun, the sixth typhoon predicted to hit China this year, as Doksuri winds down.
As Typhoon Khanun approaches, forecasters anticipate storm tides to affect Zhejiang’s coastal districts from Monday through Thursday. As a result, local authorities activated the lowest of four emergency reaction levels on Monday, according to Xinhua.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre has upgraded Khanun to a Category 3-equivalent typhoon as it intensifies in the Pacific Ocean. Over the next two days, it is expected to approach the southern Okinawa islands of Japan and start a lethargic trudge into the East China Sea.
From Monday through Wednesday, more than 200 domestic flights to and from Okinawa’s Naha, Miyako, and Ishigaki islands were cancelled, displacing approximately 30,000 people.
Asia, the largest and most populous continent in the world, is having to deal with the devastating consequences of summer’s harsh weather as its nations experience scorching heatwaves and monsoon rains that set records.
The neighbouring Korean peninsula is experiencing fatal heat waves while most of northeastern China is being swamped by rain.
According to data issued on Sunday by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), at least 10 people have passed away as a result of illnesses brought on by the heat in South Korea, which is suffering from a heat wave that has caused several areas of the country to see their highest temperatures this year.
In South Korea, flash floods and landslides killed at least 41 people just two weeks earlier, including at least 13 from a flooded subway that trapped cars in the downpour.
A total of 1,015 persons experienced heat-related illnesses this past weekend, which the KDCA classifies as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, cramps from the heat, syncope from the heat, and heat edoema.
Around 20% of individuals impacted by the heat were between the ages of 50 and 59, while more than 25% of those affected were 65 years of age or older.
According to the research, more than 35% of the incidents involved people who were engaged in outdoor activity, and 14% involved farms.
The majority of the country has been under heat wave warnings since late July as temperatures soared over the weekend to between 33 and 39 degrees Celsius (about 91 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit).
Many cities recorded their warmest day temperatures of the year on Saturday. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, temperatures in Gyeongju reached 36.8 degrees Celsius (98.24 degrees Fahrenheit) while in Jeongseon county reached 36.1 degrees Celsius (96.98 degrees Fahrenheit).
Temperatures in the affluent Gangnam neighbourhood of Seoul reached 35.7 degrees Celsius (about 96.2 degrees Fahrenheit), while temperatures in North Gyeongsang Province reached 38.1 degrees Celsius (100.58 degrees Fahrenheit).
On Monday, a heat wave warning is still in effect, indicating that daily maximum temperatures are predicted to be 35 degrees Celsius or higher for at least two days.