Day: April 16, 2023

Flights out of Taipei Delayed After China Launches Satellite

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Taipei —  Flights out of northern Taiwan were delayed Sunday after China launched a rocket carrying a satellite that dropped debris into waters north of the capital Taipei. While the satellite launch had no obvious military purpose, it comes after China held large-scale military drills in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s transit visit to the United States earlier this month, during which she met U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. Tensions remain high and China sent warplanes flying toward Taiwan more than 200 times last weekend, while its…

China’s defence minister and Putin vow to strengthen military cooperation

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Vladimir Putin and China’s defence minister Li Shangfu have vowed to deepen military cooperation between China and Russia after the men met in Moscow over the weekend. Li, who met the Russian president on Sunday on his first trip overseas in the role, said China was willing to work with Russia to have close strategic communications between their militaries. He said China was prepared to strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation with Russia, according to state-run CCTV news. “China is willing to work with Russia to make new contributions to the…

Scale of glacier loss in Himalayas previously hidden, say scientists studying accelerated melting

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The Himalayas host more than 5,000 glacial lakes, many of which are “proglacial” lakes formed by moraines – material such as soil and rock left behind a glacier – or ice dams. Compared to glaciers that terminate on land, lake-terminating glaciers retreat faster and have a higher rate of glacier mass loss, according to the study. Glacial retreat refers to a glacier shrinking over time because of a variety of factors, including rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns and other environmental factors. Advertisement Lake-terminating glaciers only account for 10 to…

How one man went from China’s Communist party golden child to enemy of the state

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Xu Zhiyong’s dream is for China to become a democratic country that is “beautiful, free, fair and happy.” It is a simple wish, yet in the eyes of the authorities, his vision is dangerous and subversive. The 50-year-old human rights lawyer and champion of social equality was sentenced to 14 years in jail earlier this month, along with fellow activist and lawyer Ding Jiaxi, who was jailed for 12 years. Both were convicted of the crime of “subversion of state power.” The Communist party-controlled court has accused Xu of intending…

Germany Backs EU-Indonesia Trade Pact to Curb China Reliance

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Berlin —  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sunday that he will press for a trade agreement between the European Union and Indonesia as part of his country’s efforts to reduce its reliance on China for crucial raw materials. Speaking at the opening of the annual Hannover Messe trade fair, Scholz told Indonesian President Joko Widodo that a trade deal between Southeast Asia’s most populous nation and the 27-nation bloc would create an economic area with 700 million people. “I am working to finally get this agreement across the finish line,”…

Lack of Security for Japanese PM Surprised Many

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The fishermen who tackled the man suspected of the second attack on a Japanese politician in less than a year said Sunday that they were surprised by the lack of security for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Fisherman Tsutomu Konishi was watching Kishida at a campaign event at this fishing port when an object flew overhead and landed near the prime minister, Konishi said. A security officer covered the object with a bulletproof briefcase, said Konishi, 41. The fishermen swarmed the attacker. “I never thought a crime like this would happen…

Putin Hails Russia’s Broad Ties With China

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Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed his country’s broad ties with China on Sunday, including military cooperation, as he met with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu in Moscow. “Development of relations between our two nations is going well in all areas — in the economy, social, cultural and educational sectors, and in military departments,” Putin said in opening remarks. The Kremlin posted footage of the meeting showing Putin shaking hands with Li and then sitting down at a table. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was also present. Beijing had announced Li’s…

EU Leaders Beat a Path to Xi’s Door Seeking China’s Help

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Brussels —  In the weeks since Chinese leader Xi Jinping won a third five-year term as president, setting him on course to remain in power for life, leaders and diplomats from around the world have beaten a path to his door. None more so than those from Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron made a high-profile state visit to Beijing last week accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, just days after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrived in the northeastern port city of…

While the US plays the blame game, China takes the higher road on Afghanistan

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On the other hand, China is showing an eagerness to pursue peaceful reconstruction and normalisation in Afghanistan, and to push for its independent and sustainable development. China’s well-timed position paper clarifies its stance on a long-simmering and complex issue that poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability. Unsurprisingly, China’s Afghan paper shares some aspects with its Ukraine position paper, unveiled on February 24. Common to both are the elements of collaboration, dialogue, peaceful resolution, non-interference, respect for sovereignty, and reconstruction and development. People receive China-donated quake relief supplies…

Bear more children – they’re like consumer durables, Chinese economist urges

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Have more children – it’s your patriotic duty. They are like durable consumer goods that you pay off over the long haul, but bring far more benefits. That was the message from a prominent Chinese economist at a government-backed think tank, and the most recent effort by the Communist Party’s campaign to boost the country’s flagging birth rate that includes a slew of economic perks for couples – long limited to just one child – to have more children. “Durable consumer goods pay off in the long run, so it’s…