China – Page 2 – The Singapore Post

Chinese checkers: Timor-Leste leans on China, takes wind out of Australia’s sails

5Oct

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Chinese checkers: Timor-Leste leans on China, takes wind out of Australia’s sails

Timor-Leste, a nation that sits astride Southeast Asia and South Pacific has cleared the air on its relations with China and denied reports about its discussion with Beijing on military cooperation. However, it has given a broad hint that it has leaned heavily on China by upgrading its diplomatic ties to comprehensive strategic partnership with Beijing. Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta in an interview with Reuters said his country has not discussed military cooperation with China and that Australia and Indonesia can “sleep at peace” as the island nation would not be a security concern to its neighbours. Lying just 680 km away from Australia, Timor-Leste, also known as East Timor, created a ripple in the strategic and diplomatic corridors of Canberra and Jakarta last week when

China refuses to continue CPEC-related collaboration with Pakistan in the areas of energy, water, and environment.

27Sep

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Asia, China

China refuses to continue CPEC-related collaboration with Pakistan in the areas of energy, water, and environment.

Pakistan also gave up its opposition to setting up a new imported coal-fired power plant in Gwadar and agreed to a number of Chinese demands to address Beijing’s concerns China has refused to further expand cooperation in the areas of energy, water management, and climate change under the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), it emerged on September 25, signalling a strain in the 'ironclad' friendship between the two all-weather allies. Cash-strapped Pakistan also gave up its opposition to setting up a new imported coal-fired power plant in Gwadar in Balochistan province and agreed to a number of Chinese demands to address Beijing’s concerns, The Express Tribune newspaper reported, citing the signed minutes of the 11th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the

Does Xi Jinping face difficulty as a result of China’s latest military purges?

26Sep

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China, World

Does Xi Jinping face difficulty as a result of China’s latest military purges?

They were trusted and favoured by Xi Jinping. Now, they seem to be vanishing. In recent months, the disappearances of several high-ranking Chinese officials have sparked intense speculation over whether Mr Xi is embarking on a purge, particularly of those linked to the military. The latest person who appears to have fallen from grace is defence minister Li Shangfu, who has not been seen in public for some weeks now. While his absence was not seen as unusual at first, scrutiny intensified when a top US diplomat pointed it out. A Reuters report later said General Li, who used to oversee arms procurement for the People's Liberation Army (PLA), was being investigated over military equipment purchases. His "disappearance" comes weeks after two top officials in the Ro...

At-Sea Political Officers Could Pose Problems for Chinese Navy in War, Experts Say

21Sep

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Asia, Business, China

At-Sea Political Officers Could Pose Problems for Chinese Navy in War, Experts Say

While the Chinese Navy has made progress operating at sea, institutional issues between its military and political leadership could pose problems in a wartime scenario, a panel of experts said Wednesday. The People’s Liberation Army Navy’s unique command system aboard its warships has never been proven during conflict, Rear Adm. Michael McDevitt said during a panel event hosted by the U.S. Naval Institute. “The shared command between the warship’s captain and a ship’s political officer is a potential weakness, one that is foreign to the Western tradition of naval command because in this case, the commanding officer and the political officer are essentially coequal. Now this is the only system that the PLA Navy officers have ever known,” McDevitt said.“What we do know is it has never

Is China playing a political game with Afghanistan’s resources?

21Sep

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Asia, China, Politics

Is China playing a political game with Afghanistan’s resources?

With increasing stakes in Afghanistan's vast mineral and energy deposits, China is engaged in resource politics in the war-wracked but resource-rich country. Maintaining control of the country's strategic mineral and energy reserves is the name of China's new great game in Afghanistan. China is striking deal after deal with the ruling Taliban to take advantage of Afghanistan's vast mineral and energy resources. Just three months after signing a 25-year contract in January that sees investment of up to US$540 million over three years for oil extraction from the Amu Darya basin in northern Afghanistan, a Chinese firm apparently offered a US$10 billion investment to mine the country's vast lithium deposits. Afghanistan is rich in energy and mineral resources, and has been dub...

India and Vietnam are partnering with the US to counter China

18Sep

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Asia, China, Politics, World

India and Vietnam are partnering with the US to counter China

This fall, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is slated to lead a bipartisan group of U.S. senators to China. The planned trip, like other recent visits to China by high-ranking U.S. officials, is aimed at improving the relationship between the U.S. and China. Such efforts to ameliorate U.S.-China diplomatic relations come amid growing tensions between the two economic giants. They also run parallel to U.S. efforts to strengthen ties with Indo-Pacific countries to limit Beijing’s influence. Take, for example, President Joe Biden’s September 2023 trips to India for the G20 summit and to Vietnam, where U.S. competition with China was a focus of Biden’s discussions. While he was in Asia, Biden made several agreements in science, technology and supply chain security des

Japan appoints serving official as de facto defence attaché in Taiwan, hits ‘One China’ policy

14Sep

By Nectar GanNo Comments

Asia, China, Politics

Japan appoints serving official as de facto defence attaché in Taiwan, hits ‘One China’ policy

Japan may see escalation of tension in its relations with China as Tokyo, which feels its security will be threatened if Taiwan is attacked, has appointed a serving government official to act as its de facto defence attaché in the self-ruling island. Japan has no formal diplomatic representation in Taiwan as Tokyo adheres to ‘One- China’ policy, but handles its bilateral engagement with the self-ruling island through the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in Taipei. It is treated symbolically as Japan’s open support to Taiwan, the Japan Times said. Until a few years ago, Japan and its political leadership avoided playing pro-active role for Taiwan as Tokyo considered the self-ruling island too politically sensitive to speak about or support it publicly. But such cautions were done

Chinese Nationals Gain Unauthorised Access To Us Military Installations

14Sep

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

China, World

Chinese Nationals Gain Unauthorised Access To Us Military Installations

Chinese nationals, occasionally assuming the guise of tourists, have managed to gain unauthorized access to U.S. military installations and other sensitive locations on as many as 100 occasions in recent years, according to reports from U.S. officials. These incidents are viewed as a potential threat to national security due to their espionage implications. To address this issue, the U.S. Department of Defense, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other relevant agencies conducted a comprehensive review last year with the aim of curtailing such breaches. These individuals, often referred to as "gate-crashers," attempt, whether intentionally or inadvertently, to enter U.S. military bases and other facilities without proper authorization. Instances range from Chinese nationals foun...

For Xi Jinping, G20 skipping more out of ego than compulsions

14Sep

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China

For Xi Jinping, G20 skipping more out of ego than compulsions

As Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped the G20 Summit in India, it would prove to be a missed opportunity for Beijing—both politically and strategically as the gathering in New Delhi has enabled the world’s developed and emerging economies to further cement their ties and smash any idea that encourages expansionism in the Indo-Pacific region through cartographic manipulations. In fact, any bigger international gathering offers leaders an opportunity to establish personal rapport with fellow partners or allies and chart out new programmes and policies that suit larger interests of the world. It also enhances the diplomatic clout of the participating countries. By deliberately skipping the G20 Summit in India, Chinese President Xi Jinping not only dented Beijing’s diplomatic weight, but

<strong>Corruption in China unabetted as Xi’s efforts turn futile</strong>

11Sep

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China

Corruption in China unabetted as Xi’s efforts turn futile

The recent cases of probes in the healthcare sector and military procurement indicate that corruption continues to occur in China relentlessly, hinting at the failure of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s so-called crusade against corruption. Xi himself admitted it earlier this year when he said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)- government still faced the uphill tasks of preventing new cases and rooting out existing ones. Xi had rolled out an aggressive anti-corruption campaign soon after he came to power in 2013. While it led to action against some officials and leaders, it appeared more focused on targeting dissidents and those who were perceived as potential threats to Xi, said SOAS China Institute director Steve Tsang. “Xi’s anticorruption campaign was a

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