Page 225 - China

China's economic coercion fails to hurt Australia's economy: Report

China's decision of imposing a trade ban backfired as it affected its economic growth

3 Chinese astronauts return home after 6-month stint in space station

Three Chinese astronauts on Sunday returned safely to Earth on board the Shenzhou-15 manned spaceship after completing their six-month mission to build China's space station. Shenzhou-15's return capsule carrying astronauts Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 6:33 am (Beijing Time), China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said here. The three completed their six-month space station mission, it announced. The astronauts were in good shape, and the Shenzhou-15 manned mission was a success, the agency announced. The three were replaced by three other astronauts, including China's first civilian who successfully flew to the space station on May 30. The new set of astronauts will stay in the space station for five months. Once ready, China will be the only country to own a space station as the International Space Station (ISS) of Russia is a collaborative project of several countries. The ISS

China defends buzzing warship in Taiwan Strait, accuses US for provocation

China's defence minister defended sailing a warship across the path of an American destroyer and Canadian frigate transiting the Taiwan Strait, telling a gathering of some of the world's top defence officials in Singapore on Sunday that such so-called freedom of navigation patrols are a provocation to China. In his first international public address since becoming defence minister in March, Gen. Li Shangfu told the Shangri-La Dialogue that China doesn't have any problems with innocent passage but that we must prevent attempts that try to use those freedom of navigation (patrols), that innocent passage, to exercise hegemony of navigation. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told the same forum Saturday that Washington would not flinch in the face of bullying or coercion from China and would continue regularly sailing through and flying over the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea to emphasise they are international waters, countering Beijing's sweeping territorial claims. That same .

34 years of Tiananmen Square massacre: US says will support human rights

On the 34th anniversary of Tiananmen Square massacre, the United States said that it will continue to support human rights and fundamental freedoms in China and around the world

US, allies clash with Russia, China over N Korea's failed satellite launch

The United States and its allies clashed with Russia and China on Friday over North Korea's failed launch of a military spy satellite this week in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, which Moscow and Beijing refused to condemn. The confrontation was the latest over the North's escalating nuclear, ballistic missile and military programs, which US deputy ambassador Robert Wood warned are threatening international peace and security. The failed launch not only disrupted maritime and air traffic in the region, but it also caused alarm for its neighbours in Japan and the Republic of Korea, he said. Pyongyang is threatening another launch soon. The Security Council imposed sanctions after North Korea's first nuclear test explosion in 2006 and tightened them over the years in a total of 10 resolutions seeking so far unsuccessfully to rein in its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and cut off funding. In the last sanctions resolution adopted by the council in Dece

China sourcing Tibet's groundwater, selling it in plastic bottles: Report

It is a case of Chinese entrepreneurs stealing groundwater from Tibet and selling it back to Tibetans, who previously got it for free, Tibet Rights Collective reported

Australian PM stresses need for diplomacy, guardrails in dealing with China

As tensions grow between the United States and China in the Asia-Pacific, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a gathering of top defense officials on Friday that open channels of communication are critical for preserving peace, while also advocating effective deterrence. Albanese, who has been expanding Australia's military power in response to China's growing military assertiveness in the South China Sea, the South Pacific and the East China Sea, said he has also been working to stabilise the country's diplomatic relations with China. We recognise there are fundamental differences in our two nations' systems of government, our values and our world views, he said in his keynote address to the annual Shangri-La dialogue. But we begin from the principle that whatever the issue, whether we agree or disagree, it is always better and it is always more effective if we deal direct. Both US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and China's new defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, wer

India's April finished steel imports from China hit five-year high

India imported 0.5 million tonnes of finished steel in April - the highest since 2019 - up 38.2% from a year earlier, the data showed

China has 'significantly' improved safety of its biggest explosive: Report

After the innovation, the impact sensitivity of the bomb rose from 13 cm to 68 cm

US signs trade agreement with Taiwan despite opposition from China

The United States signed a trade agreement Thursday with Taiwan over opposition from China, which claims the self-ruled island democracy as part of its territory. The two governments say the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade will strengthen commercial relations by improving customs, investment and other regulation. The measure was signed by employees of the unofficial entities that maintain relations between the United States and Taiwan, a center for high-tech industry. They have no formal diplomatic ties but maintain unofficial relations and have billions of dollars in annual trade. The agreement is intended to strengthen and deepen the economic and trade relationship, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a statement. The deputy USTR, Sarah Bianchi, attended the signing. The Chinese government accused Washington of violating agreements on Taiwan's status and demanded the U.S. government stop official contact with the island's elected government. Taiwan a

US defense chief calls China's refusal to meet during unfortunate

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin stressed the importance of communication during a stopover with talks Thursday in Tokyo, calling it unfortunate that his Chinese counterpart refused to meet him at an annual security conference in Singapore, which both men are attending. On the way to the annual Shangri-La Dialogue Asian security summit this weekend, Austin held talks with Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada. Noting China's increasingly assertive military actions in international airspace and waterways in the region, he told a joint news conference in Tokyo, The provocative intercepts of our aircraft and also our allies' aircraft, that's very concerning, and we would hope that they would alter their action. The United States military said Tuesday that a Chinese fighter jet flew aggressively close to a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea, forcing the American pilot to fly through the turbulent wake. I'm concerned about at some point having an incident that

China accuses US of interfering in training before aerial confrontation

China's Defence Ministry accused the U.S. of interference and surveillance of a naval exercise in the South China Sea ahead of an incident in which a Chinese fighter pilot flew at high speed in front of a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance plane, underscoring the rupture in contacts between their militaries. A statement issued late Wednesday by the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command said it had organized air forces to track and monitor the whole process, dealt with it according to laws and regulations, and operated professionally. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the pilot of a Chinese J-16 fighter had performed an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver while intercepting a U.S. Air Force RC-135 aircraft on May 26, flying directly in front of the plane's nose. The RC-135 was conducting safe and routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace, in accordance with international law," the U.S. side said. We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use ..

China's factory activity swings to surprise growth in May: Caixin PMI

The manufacturing subindexes showed factory output rose at the fastest clip in 11 months while new orders including new exports expanded in May.

China alleges 'discriminatory treatment' of its journalists in India

Alleging mistreatment of Chinese journalists in India, Mao Ning alleged that in 2017, India shortened the period of validity of visas held by Chinese journalists in the country

China woos Jamie Dimon, elon Musk in search of economic boosters

Politburo members, ministers recently met Starbucks, Arm, Franklin Templeton execs

India, China review LAC situation; discuss ways for disengagement

The 27th meeting of the WMCC was attended by the Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the External Affairs Ministry, who led the Indian delegation

China assures Lanka of 'steadfast support' on its road to economic recovery

China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sun Weidong has assured Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe of steadfast support to overcome the unprecedented economic crisis the island nation is going through. Weidong met President Wickremesinghe on Tuesday and expressed keen interest in exploring opportunities to strengthen the bilateral relations while reiterating China's steadfast support for Sri Lanka in its ongoing economic recovery, an official statement on Wednesday said. Sri Lanka is in talks with China along with other bilateral creditors to negotiate debt restructuring as part of an IMF-backed plan to reduce and manage the island nation's debt. The crisis-hit country owes USD 7.1 billion to bilateral creditors, with USD 3 billion owed to China. As President Wickremesinghe expressed his sincere appreciation for the unwavering assistance provided by China during this critical period, it highlights China's dedication to fostering closer ties with Sri Lanka on various fronts,

China's smartwatch shipments declined by 28% YoY; lowest in 3 years

Meanwhile, China's 'kids smartwatch' shipments decreased 31 per cent YoY. The country is the world's biggest kids smartwatch market

China's industry minister, Tesla's Musk meet, discuss electric cars

China's industry minister met Tesla Ltd. CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday and the two discussed development of electric and intelligent networked vehicles, the ministry said. The ruling Communist Party is trying to revive investor interest in China's slowing economy. Foreign companies are uneasy following raids on consulting firms and given the strained Chinese relations with Washington. Jin Zhuanglong and Musk exchanged views on the development of new energy vehicles and intelligent networked vehicles, said a statement by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It gave no details. China accounts for half of global electric vehicle sales and is the site of Tesla's first factory outside the United States. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Qin Gang told Musk during a meeting that China's EV market has broad prospects for development, according to a ministry statement. Tesla opened the first wholly foreign-owned auto factory in China in 2019 after Beijing eased ownership restrictio

China warns of AI risks, calls for beefed-up national security measures

China's ruling Communist Party is calling for beefed-up national security measures, highlighting the risks posed by advances in artificial intelligence. A meeting headed by party leader and President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged dedicated efforts to safeguard political security and improve the security governance of internet data and artificial intelligence," the official Xinhua News Agency said. Xi, who is China's head of state, commander of the military and chair of the party's National Security Commission, called at the meeting for staying keenly aware of the complicated and challenging circumstances facing national security. China needs a "new pattern of development with a new security architecture, Xinhua reported Xi as saying. China already dedicates vast resources to suppressing any perceived political threats to the party's dominance, with spending on the police and security personnel exceeding that devoted to the military. While it relentlessly censors in-person protests a