Page 248 - China

UN rights chief opens channels of communication about issues in China

The new UN human rights chief said Tuesday that his office has opened "channels of communication" to help follow up on concerns about the rights of minorities in China, including Uyghur Muslims and Tibetans. But this fell short of activists' hopes for a stronger message to Beijing. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk, in an address highly anticipated by rights advocates, didn't detail how his office plans to follow up on a critical report on China's western Xinjiang region published in August by his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet. That report cited possible "crimes against humanity" against Uyghurs and others in Xinjiang. Trk noted that the UN rights office "documented grave concerns" like arbitrary detentions and family separations in China, and called for "concrete follow-up." He also voiced concerns about the impact of the national security law in Hong Kong that has suppressed its pro-democracy movement. "Regarding China, we have opened up channels of communication with

Biden administration to relax Covid testing rules for travellers from China

The Biden administration is preparing to relax COVID-19 testing restrictions for travellers from China as soon as Friday, according to two people familiar with the decision. The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the administration has decided to roll back the testing requirements as cases, hospitalizations and deaths are declining in China and the US has gathered better information about the surge. The restrictions were put in place on December 28 and took effect on January 5 amid a surge in infections in China after the nation sharply eased pandemic restrictions and as US health officials expressed concerns that their Chinese counterparts were not being truthful to the world about the true number of infections and deaths. At the time, US officials also said the restriction was necessary to protect US citizens and communities because there was a lack of transparency from the Chinese government "about the size of the sur

Pak tells IMF about asking China for rollover of $2 bn deposits for next yr

Pakistan has informed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Islamabad has requested China for rollover of $2 billion SAFE (State Administration of Foreign Exchange) deposits for another one-year

Xi Jinping's right hand, Li Qiang to become China's next premier

All eyes are now on Li Qiang, who is favourite to replace Keqiang as Premier. Li is a crony of Xi's from his days in provincial government, having served as Xi's de facto chief of staff

Conflict with America inevitable unless they 'hit the brakes': China

US had been engaging in suppression and containment of China rather than engaging in fair, rule-based competition, Foreign Minister Qin Gang told a news conference

UN rights chief cites 'communication' about human rights issues in China

The new U.N. human rights chief said Tuesday that his office has opened channels of communication to help follow up on concerns about the rights of minorities in China, including Uyghur Muslims and Tibetans. But this fell short of activists' hopes for a stronger message to Beijing. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk, in an address highly anticipated by rights advocates, didn't detail how his office plans to follow up on a critical report on China's western Xinjiang region published in August by his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet. That report cited possible crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and others in Xinjiang. Trk noted that the U.N. rights office documented grave concerns" like arbitrary detentions and family separations in China, and called for "concrete follow-up. He also voiced concerns about the impact of the national security law in Hong Kong that fanned huge protests. Regarding China, we have opened up channels of communication with a range of actors to

Oil steady post 5 sessions of gains, as market juggles supply, demand fears

Oil prices were little changed on Tuesday after five sessions of gains, with weak oil data from top crude importer China balanced by concern over supply

Chinese FM hints closer ties with Russia; says US attempts won't succeed

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Tuesday signalled closer ties with Russia, including dropping the US dollar and Euro in bilateral trade while asserting that America's attempts to "contain" China's rejuvenation will not succeed. Addressing his first annual press conference here on the sidelines of China's Parliament session, he said China will defend its core interests and oppose hegemony, bloc politics and unilateral sanctions. Qin said China and Russia are setting a good example for international relations and it was incorrect to see their close bilateral ties through a Cold War perspective. He defined China's relationship with Moscow as no alliance, no confrontation and not targeted at any third party. Asked about dropping the use of the US dollar and the Euro in China-Russia trade, Qin said China will use whatever currency is efficient, safe and credible. Currency should not be used as a trump card for unilateral sanctions, he said. Russian media reports said the Chinese

Sri Lanka secures China assurances to clear way for $2.9 bn IMF bailout

China has given assurances that it will support Sri Lanka's debt restructuring, clearing the biggest hurdle for the debt-ridden country to secure a much-needed USD 2.9-billion bailout package from the IMF, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday. In January, India strongly backed the island nation's efforts to secure a loan from the global lender to recover from its worst-ever economic crisis. Last night we received a new letter from the EXIM Bank of China. I and the governor of the Central Bank signed our letter of intent and sent it to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last night itself," Wickremesinghe, who is also the minister of finance, told Parliament. Wickremesinghe said, our part of obligations are now complete and we hope the IMF will do their duty by the third or fourth week of this month, this will enable us to receive funding from the world bank and the ADB, he added. The IMF bailout process made slow progress due to the need to restructure Sri Lanka's nearl

Apple iPhone SE 4 may feature OLED panel from Chinese supplier: Report

Due to production problems, BOE missed the initial number of OLED panels intended for this year's iPhone 15 series, with Samsung and LG claiming the majority of orders, reports MacRumors

EVs to increase India's dependence on China for raw materials: GTRI report

Manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs) in India will increase its dependence on China for raw materials, mineral processing, and battery production, according to a report of by economic think tank GTRI. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) also said that there is a need for life cycle impact evaluation for the EVs sector EVs result in the release of pollutants during battery making, disposal, and charging and about 70 per cent of materials used to manufacture EVs in India are imported from China and a few other countries, it said. "EVs will increase India's dependence on China for raw materials, mineral processing, and battery production," it said. China has bought the largest lithium mines in Australia and South America. It processes more than 60 per cent of the lithium produced globally. It also processes 65 per cent of cobalt and 93 per cent of manganese. China makes three out of four batteries produced globally, it said, adding over 100 Chinese battery units make 60 p

US must stop suppressing China or risk 'conflict': Chinese FM Qin Gang

"The United States' perception and views of China are seriously distorted," Qin said

Higher defence spending is purely to safeguard nation's sovereignty: China

Foreign media should look at their own countries' military expansions before hyping the "China threat" theory, analysts said

RIC nations unlikely to meet till China border situation normalises

Last week Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said a meeting would be held later this year

Global mkts fully pricing in Fed hike to 5.5%; Indian equities at risk: UBS

India, according to them, is among the more sensitive markets to US rates, and demonstrates the most sensitivity to local rates given higher influence of domestic flows into the market

Will pay up to settle labour dispute with Japan, says South Korea

Forced work under Japan's 1910-1945 occupation: The move presents a unified front against China and North Korea

China plans to create a central agency to manage the flow of data: Report

Chinese officials have in recent years emphasised the need to strengthen their control over the valuable data generated by swaths of the economy, including its internet industry

Will take forceful measures to ensure high-end manufacturing: Xi Jinping

This comes against the backdrop of shifts of production capacity to US, neighbours

From China to India

India should welcome investments looking for alternatives

Chinese planners promise 12 million jobs, economic rebound following Covid

Chinese economic officials expressed confidence Monday they can meet this year's growth target of around 5 per cent by generating 12 million new jobs and encouraging consumer spending following the end of anti-virus controls that kept millions of people at home. The Cabinet planning officials announced no details of spending or other initiatives to revive growth that slumped to 3 per cent last year, the second-lowest in decades. But they said they plan an array of measures to meet goals announced Sunday by Premier Li Keqiang by raising incomes and encouraging innovation. Efforts to revive the Chinese economy have global implications after weak retail, auto and housing sales depressed demand for imports. The country is the biggest export market for its Asian neighbours and an important revenue source for Western companies. There are many policy tools in our toolbox, the deputy chairman of the National Reform and Development Commission, Li Chunlin, said at a news conference held durin