Day: February 12, 2023

What We Know About Mysterious Objects Downed by US

Chin@Strategy

Washington —  The downing of a huge Chinese balloon off the U.S. coast, followed by the shootdowns of two smaller objects over Alaska and Canada — and another over Lake Huron on Sunday — has raised concerns about North American security and further strained relations with China. Here is what we know so far: What were the four objects? The drama began in late January, when a giant Chinese balloon — dubbed a spy craft by U.S. officials — drifted for days through U.S. skies before being shot down February…

Ongoing detention of accused former US marine an ‘affront to Australia’s rule of law’, wife says

Chin@Strategy

The wife of detained Australian citizen and former US Marines fighter pilot Daniel Duggan has described his ongoing incarceration – now at 115 days – as “inhumane” and an “affront to Australia’s rule of law”. Saffrine Duggan will petition the United Nations human rights committee to intervene in her husband’s detention. He is confined to a 2x4m cell in Sydney’s Silverwater prison and classified as an “extreme high-risk restricted inmate” without justification, she says. The US is seeking Duggan’s extradition on charges of arms trafficking and money laundering more than…

More of China’s overseas graduates head home, lured by jobs and convenience: survey

Chin@Strategy

Two other leading reasons were strong links with the home culture and fewer problems finding employment. More than 20 per cent of those polled expected “the economic recovery would speed up with the adjustment of Covid-19 prevention measures, which then would offer more job opportunities”, the report said. Advertisement China abandoned its restrictive zero-Covid policy late last year and has refocused on reviving the Covid-ravaged economy. 04:43 China’s slow road to economic recovery after dropping its zero-Covid policies The report also noted an increase in both job postings for returnees…

What do we know about the four flying objects shot down by the US?

Chin@Strategy

The downing of a huge Chinese balloon off the US coast, followed by the shootdowns of two smaller objects over Alaska and Canada – and another over Michigan on Sunday – has raised concerns about North American security and further strained relations with China. Here is what we know so far: What were the four objects? The story begins in late January, when a giant Chinese balloon – which US officials have said was a surveillance balloon – drifted for days through US skies before being shot down on 4…

Cambodian Leader Orders Shutdown of Independent Media Outlet

Chin@Strategy

Phnom Penh, Cambodia —  Cambodia’s strongman leader ordered the shutdown of one of the country’s few remaining local independent media outlets on Sunday after taking issue with a news report about his son. One of the world’s longest-serving leaders, Prime Minister Hun Sen has increasingly cracked down on any opposition as he prepares for elections later this year. Online outlet Voice of Democracy (VOD) publishes and broadcasts in Khmer and English and is frequently critical of Hun Sen and his government. The premier said late Sunday that VOD would have…

A bill banning Chinese citizens from buying property has some wondering if they’re welcome in Texas

Chin@Strategy

AUSTIN, Texas —  Isaac Jing is starting to reconsider his future in Texas. The engineer works for a large tech company in Austin and owns a house in the city. He’s lived here since finishing grad school in Pennsylvania four years ago, and he invests in real estate as a side gig. But he worries that could change under a bill that would bar him from buying new property in Texas. The reason: He is a Chinese citizen. Details of the proposed law, which would also target citizens of Iran, North…

Chinese leader’s pride in approach to governance displayed in speech on success of country’s modernisation

Chin@Strategy

“Chinese style of modernisation has debunked the myth that modernisation means westernisation,” Xi said on Tuesday. “The Chinese model showcased a different paradigm for developing countries to achieve modernisation.” He added that the modernisation was “different from the West” and was a “brand new form of human civilisation”. Advertisement He urged them to promote Chinese modernisation, which “expands the path choices for developing countries … and provides China’s solution for human beings to explore a better social system”, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday. China needed to create a…

Iranian President Raisi to Visit China to Shore Up Ties

Chin@Strategy

Beijing —  Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will meet with his counterpart Xi Jinping during his three-day trip in China starting Tuesday, as the two U.S. rivals seek further cooperation. China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the announcement Sunday, saying Raisi’s visit was at Xi’s invitation. Raisi will meet with Xi and their delegations will sign cooperation documents, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA. Meeting with Iranian and Chinese business leaders and Iranian expatriates in China is also part of his itinerary, the report added. Raisi’s visit is expected…

US Holds Drills in South China Sea Amid Tensions With China

Chin@Strategy

Beijing —  The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are holding joint exercises in the South China Sea at a time of heightened tensions with Beijing over the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The 7th Fleet based in Japan said Sunday that the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit have been conducting “integrated expeditionary strike force operations” in the South China Sea. It said exercises involving ships, ground forces and aircraft took place Saturday but gave no details on when they began…

Citing security risks, US states move to bar Chinese land purchases and projects with China ties

Chin@Strategy

Behind the political groundswell are deep US-China divisions over technology, Taiwan, espionage – and recognition that anti-China measures resonate with US voters. Some 80 per cent of Americans in recent polling express an “unfavourable opinion” of China. Advertisement Last month, in rapid succession, Republicans Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Youngkin vowed to support legislative bans on Chinese land ownership, even condominiums in some cases. Theirs join eight other states considering laws to limit farmland purchases by Chinese and several that have already passed. Federally, former president…