Author: Grace Tsoi

Japanese report receiving mysterious seed parcels from China
21Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Japanese report receiving mysterious seed parcels from China

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, some Japanese nationals have complained that they have received unsolicited mysterious seed parcels that appear to be coming from China.Plant quarantine officials in Japan have had a number of inquiries about unsolicited packages of seeds apparently sent from China. The authorities have urged people not to plant such seeds.A man in Miura City in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo received a silver packet containing a bag of dozens of seed-like objects, each measuring about 2 millimeters. The shipping label suggests it came from China, national media reported.Officials at the Yokohama Plant Protection Station say they have been contacted by people across the country about suspicious seed shipments since late July.Similar incidents have been reported in more than 2...
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American people overwhelmingly back India over China: Survey
18Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

American people overwhelmingly back India over China: Survey

A survey by an Australia-based think tank has found out that American people overwhelmingly back India over China and prefer the US government to support New Delhi in possible Indo-China military and economic conflict. Lowy Institute.The survey published by Lowy Institute explores US public views on potential military or economic strife between China to India.The web survey was conducted on a sample of 1,012 American respondents on July 7. The respondents were randomly assigned one of two versions of a prompt --- ‘If India and China were engaged in military conflict, would you support the US aiding India, China, or neither side?’ or ‘If India and China were engaged in economic conflict, would you support the US aiding India, China, or neither side?’According to results published by the thi
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Condemning ‘tragedy’ of citizen’s killing, US urges Pakistan to pursue reforms
18Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Condemning ‘tragedy’ of citizen’s killing, US urges Pakistan to pursue reforms

The US State Department has called on Pakistan to take immediate action after an American citizen was killed in Pakistan's courtroom.Tahir Ahmad Naseem, from the minority Ahmadi community, was shot dead in a courtroom in Peshawar. He was was arrested two years ago on blasphemy charges."Condolences to family of Tahir Naseem, an American citizen who was killed today inside a courtroom in Pakistan. We urge Pak to take immediate action and pursue reforms that will prevent such a shameful tragedy from happening again," Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs, US State Department said in a TweetThe assailant, identified as Khalid Khan who managed to get into the court amid tight security was arrested later.Ahmadis, a four million-strong minority group in Pakistan, have faced death, threats, ...
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US’ University under FBI probe over China’s attempt to steal Covid-19 research
17Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

US’ University under FBI probe over China’s attempt to steal Covid-19 research

America’s University of Texas whose work has contributed to some promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates has been contacted by FBI over allegations that Chinese consulate in Houston had sought to obtain such research.As per reports, the University told faculty and research staff in an email on July 27 that it was notified of the investigation by the FBI. FBI agents would contact university researchers about the alleged role of the consulate and "efforts by the Chinese government to illegally procure research from American universities, including coronavirus vaccine research", according to the emailRecently, the US ordered China to close its Consulate General in Houston over allegations of espionage. In retaliation, China ordered US to shut down its Consulate General in Chengdu.The US State D
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US signs MoU to support Vietnamese fishermen against Chinese ‘Intimidation’
17Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

US signs MoU to support Vietnamese fishermen against Chinese ‘Intimidation’

In another setback for China resulting out of its aggressive behaviour in claiming the South China Sea, the United States and Vietnam have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support Vietnamese fishermen against Chinese intimidation.The MOU, which aims to strengthen Vietnam's fisheries management and law enforcement capabilities, came after the US released statements affirming its stance in supporting Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam in disputes with China at sea."Beijing uses intimidation to undermine the sovereign rights of Southeast Asian coastal states in the South China Sea, bully them out of offshore resources, assert unilateral dominion, and replace international law with 'might makes right'," said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.China and Vietnam have been lock...
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Australia rejects China’s claims to historic rights in South Chins Sea: Barry O’Farrell
15Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Australia rejects China’s claims to historic rights in South Chins Sea: Barry O’Farrell

Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell has said that Australia is deeply concerned by destabilizing actions in the South China Sea and that “Australia rejects China's claims to historic rights and internal waters in relation to the South China Sea”.O'Farrell also lodged a note with UN Secretary-General in July refusing China's unlawful maritime claims."We remain deeply concerned by actions in the South China Sea that are destabilizing and could provoke escalation. Last week, Australia launched a note with UN Secretary-General refusing China's unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea," he said."Following a 2016 tribunal which ruled against China's claims, Australia rejects China's claims to historic rights and internal waters," he added.The Australian government has re
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US shutting China’s Houston consulate aimed at reducing Beijing’s espionage
15Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

US shutting China’s Houston consulate aimed at reducing Beijing’s espionage

A former American intelligence official has said that by shutting down the Chinese consulate in Houston, the US is likely making it an example in order to achieve its goal of a reduction in Beijing’s espionage activities without taking even harsher measures, such as shuttering its San Francisco or New York consulates.“San Francisco is the real gem but the US will not close it,” the official said.In July, the US had asked China to close its Houston consulate to “protect American intellectual property and Americans’ private information,” White House National Security Council spokesperson John Ullyot said in a statement.In a tit-for-tat response, Beijing ordered the shutting down of the US consulate in Chengdu.The developments come at a time when ties between US-China are at an all-time low o
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AUSMIN 2020: US-Australia reaffirm commitment to Quad consultation with India, counter China
15Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

AUSMIN 2020: US-Australia reaffirm commitment to Quad consultation with India, counter China

At the 30th Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) 2020, both the countries reaffirmed their commitment to trilateral dialogues with Japan and Quad consultations with Japan and India."The Secretaries and Ministers reaffirmed that the Indo-Pacific is the focus of the Alliance and that the United States and Australia are working side-by-side, including with ASEAN, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Five Eyes partners, to strengthen our networked structure of alliances and partnerships to maintain a region that is secure, prosperous, inclusive, and rules-based," a joint statement released on the occasion said.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper hosted Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds o...
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Pentagon must ‘prioritize’ China in national defense strategy: US think tank
14Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Pentagon must ‘prioritize’ China in national defense strategy: US think tank

Referring to China's territorial expansionism policies, a US-based think tank has suggested that Pentagon should kick off the year-long effort this winter and prepare a new National Defense Strategy (NDS) to shift Washington's attention to the operational challenges posed by Beijing.“China's malevolent actions during the past three years have only increased the recognition that the United States is in a strategic competition and a new NDS will only continue to put a focus on China first”, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) said in a report.Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery (Retd.), an Executive Director at the US Cyberspace Solarium Commission and a former Director for Operations (J3) at US Indo-Pacific Command, as well as Eric Sayers, an Adjunct Senior Fellow at CNAS, said in the re
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China suspends extradition treaties with Canada, Australia, Britain
14Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

China suspends extradition treaties with Canada, Australia, Britain

Angered over Canada, Australia and Britain’s decision to suspend extradition treaties with China, Beijing, in a tit-for-tat move has announced the suspension of Hong Kong's extradition treaties with the three countries. Canada, Australia and Britain are part of the 'Five Eyes' intelligence alliance. The other members, New Zealand, which suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong earlier, and the United States, which has signaled it is preparing to do the same."The wrong action of Canada, Australia and the UK in politicizing judicial cooperation with Hong Kong has seriously hurt the basis of judicial cooperation," Hong Kong Free Press quoted Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin as saying."China has decided to suspend extradition treaties between Hong Kong and Canada, Australi
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