Author: Grace Tsoi

Vietnam president Thuong goes China way…
8Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Singapore

Vietnam president Thuong goes China way…

The election of Vo Van Thuong as the country’s new president has been welcomed by China as Thuong is likely to continue with his predecessor’s foreign and economic policies. Even analysts and experts said that there won’t be major changes to Vietnam’s foreign policy following Thuong’s elections. A foreign investor based in Vietnam said that the elections have put an end to uncertainty caused by the sudden dismissal of the former president. Fifty two year old Vo Van Thuong was nominated by the Vietnam’s communist party as the country’s new president following the sudden forced resignation in January of his predecessor NguyenXuanPhucas part of a sweeping anti- corruption campaign.Thuong is the youngest member of the party’s Politburo, the country’s top decision-making body, and is widely
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We’re on the side of peace: India Foreign Minister urges Russia, Ukraine to return to dialogue and diplomacy
8Jan By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, Politics

We’re on the side of peace: India Foreign Minister urges Russia, Ukraine to return to dialogue and diplomacy

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated on Sunday that his country is supporting peace in the present turmoil in Ukraine and that New Delhi has been working to resume conversation and diplomacy ever since the conflict broke out since disagreements cannot be resolved by violence. Jaishankar, who arrived India from Cyprus on the second leg of his two-nation tour, made the remarks while addressing the members of the Indian diaspora. "This (Ukraine) conflict is really a matter of very, very deep concern… Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared in September (that) we actually genuinely believe that this is no longer an era of war. You cannot settle differences and issues through violence,” Jaishankar said. “We know this is not (an) easily resolvable situation. But i
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Is the integrity of the EU compromised?
23Dec By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia

Is the integrity of the EU compromised?

The world has been taken aback by revelation of a scandal in the European Parliament (EP) which involves illicit lobbying activities by Qatar. Sabotage of the EP, an important diplomatic body known for applying pressure to hostile regimes or those that engage in human rights abuses or anti-democratic behaviour, threatens to blow up into a major crisis at the heart of the European Union. On December 09, 2022, Belgian police in coordination with Europol searched 16 homes and detained at least four people in and around Brussels as part of an inquiry into what prosecutors called “criminal organization, corruption and money laundering”. Over €600,000 worth of cash in denominations of €100 €200 and even €500 notes was also seized. The arrests follow a six month investigation into widespread
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Why China opposes sanctions on Russia ?
24Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Why China opposes sanctions on Russia ?

China is at its wits end as a plethora of the US and the European Union-led sanctions on Russia has started bearing effect on the Chinese companies’ approach towards the Russian market. Despite pressure from the Chinese authorities for staying the course Russian market, DiDiChuxing and Hong Kong-based Lenovo-both prominent Chinese companies have announced plans to cease their business in Russia, which has complained that sanctions have deprived it of the access to US $300 billion of its $640 billion in gold and foreign exchange reserves in the US. Of this reserve, China’s Yuan forms a substantial foreign currency asset. Around 14 percent of Russia’s total foreign currency reserves---around $90 billion belongs to Chinese currency, Yuan,  CNBC said in its recent report. Amidst
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THE OLYMPIC ‘FORTRESS’ OF XI JINPING
27Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

THE OLYMPIC ‘FORTRESS’ OF XI JINPING

President Xi’s ‘outstanding success’ in controlling the public dissent in mainland China and colonies like Tibet, Xinjiang, S. Mongolia and Hong Kong during the Beijing Winter Olympics-2008 is a testimony to the power and grip of the CCP apparatus over China. With the conclusion of Winter Olympics-2022 in Beijing, President Xi Jinping and his fellow communist rulers of China must be feeling relieved for a very special reason. Unlike during the countdown months to the Beijing Olympics-2008, there was no news of big anti-Beijing demonstrations either inside or outside China. President Xi has all the more reasons to congratulate himself for his achievement that the world did not hear any news about anti-China uprisings or public demonstrations in Tibet, Xinjiang, ‘Inner’ Mongolia or Hong
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XI Jinping absent from world state in recent times
6Nov By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, China, World

XI Jinping absent from world state in recent times

It has been over 650 days since Chinese President Xi Jinping has been seen on the world stage outside his country. Since his visit to Myanmar on January 17, 2020, he has not met any leader in-person, attended any international event or visited any foreign country. As usual, his self-siege is shrouded in mystery. In the last couple of months, with a lull in the coronavirus pandemic, world leaders are shedding their virtual personalities and touching elbows with fellow Presidents and Prime Ministers at in-person meetings. The two high level events in recent days were the G20 summit in Rome and the COP26 on climate change in Glasgow. Delegations of European Union and several fora in Africa attended physical meetings. In Asia, Taliban-centric events, whether of the Moscow Format or the ...
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Chinese projects in south Asia facing hurdles
2Oct By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, World

Chinese projects in south Asia facing hurdles

The much touted Chinese infrastructure projects in important South-Asian countries, like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal are reportedly bedevilled by delays, complications and increasing cost for the host countries. Despite all efforts and public posturing by Pak officials that CPEC project in Pakistan was on track and beneficial for the country, a section of the Pak bureaucracy is believed to be unhappy with the Gwadar Port project. At a recent high-level meeting on CPEC, some members raised objections over the marketing plan proposed by the China Overseas Port Holding Company Pakistan Ltd. (COPHC), the Chinese operator of the Gwadar Port. However, the Chinese company representative blamed Pak government’s inability to provide requisite infrastructure, including power, water an
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1st dose of COVID-19 vaccination given to 799 Tibetan people in Ladakh, Jangthang
17Jun By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia

1st dose of COVID-19 vaccination given to 799 Tibetan people in Ladakh, Jangthang

Leh, Ladakh, India: 799 adults of Tibetan residents in Ladakh and Jangthang received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine that constitutes the 80% of the population. Despite the vaccine shortage across India, the authorities and staff of Tibetan Primary Health Centre in Ladakh has successfully done the vaccination.Despite the vaccine shortage across India, especially for the age group of 18-44, vaccinated 799 adults from 18-44 with the first dose.The COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched by Tibetan Primary Health Center (TPHC) with the support from Indian Union Territory Government of Ladakh starting March 2021, reported Central Tibet Administration.As of 11 June, the TPHC has so far vaccinated 2597 Tibetans and 840 locals (all 18 plus) with the first dose of the Covid vaccine in addition...
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J&K: Army rescues 41 civilians stranded due to heavy rains in 3 hour long operation
17Jun By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia

J&K: Army rescues 41 civilians stranded due to heavy rains in 3 hour long operation

Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India: The Indian Army rescued 41 civilians in a 3 hour long rescue operation. People were stranded at blocked Mughal Road in Jammu following heavy rains, informed Defence PRO, Jammu on Saturday.According to Defence PRO, the Mughal Road was blocked due to heavy rainfall, uprooted trees and lightning."On 11 June, in swift 3 hrs long night rescue ops, #IndianArmy rescued 41 civilians, stranded at blocked #MughalRoad due to heavy rainfall, uprooted trees and lightning at between Ratta Chamb and Mansar Mod in #Poonch. All help and support extend to them," Defence PRO had said in a tweet.The rescued passengers were provided food and heating arrangements and no injuries were reported in the operation."The civilians were highly appreciative of the swift action of the Ar...
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China being held by other G7 countries for forced labour in Xinjiang
14Jun By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China

China being held by other G7 countries for forced labour in Xinjiang

London, UK: In China’s Xinjiang region the people are kept to do forced labour against which US is trying to gather other G7 countries.According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Biden will join leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom for a session focused on China on the second day of the G7 summit. The main issue during the session will be how China has divided world leaders and Biden will be urging democratic nations to jointly confront Beijing and French President Emmanuel Macron calling for a more cautious approach.The G7 leaders and their delegations were still negotiating the details of a communique expected to be released at the end of the summit, although it is unclear that the document will call out China by name."It's an expression of our shared
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