China

CRA keen to work with China on variant busters
China, World

CRA keen to work with China on variant busters

CRA keen to work with China on variant busters Yang Xin: New vaccines on way The Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) has expressed an intent to cooperate with Chinese state-owned company Sinopharm in developing second and third generation vaccines against Covid-19. The potential cooperation on vaccine development has been unveiled by acting Chinese Ambassador Yang Xin, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Thailand. Mr Yang said China is developing second and third generation vaccines targetting the Covid-19 variants and bilateral cooperation on vaccine development is on the cards. He said the CRA, which procures the Sinopharm vaccine to supplement the government's vaccination drive, has expressed an intent to join hands with the firm in vaccine development.
Hong Kong leader says city set to adopt China’s anti-sanctions law
Business, China, World

Hong Kong leader says city set to adopt China’s anti-sanctions law

Hong Kong leader says city set to adopt China's anti-sanctions law Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said the city is set to adopt China's anti-sanctions law. HONG KONG: China's anti-sanctions law will be implemented in some form in Hong Kong, the city's leader confirmed Tuesday, a move that will add fresh regulatory pressure on international companies in the finance hub. Beijing's rubber-stamp legislature passed the law in June in response to Western penalties that were imposed following crackdowns in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Its powers include denying visas, deportation, or seizing assets of those who formulate or comply with sanctions against Chinese businesses or officials. Foreign companies can be sued in Chinese courts for applying sanctions and the law can also be wielded against ...
The Latest: China pledges 2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses
Business, China, World

The Latest: China pledges 2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged that 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines would be supplied to the world through this year, increasing China’s commitment as the largest exporter of the shots. Xi’s announcement was delivered late Thursday at a vaccine forum China hosted virtually. The figure likely includes the 770 million doses China has already donated or exported already and it’s not clear if it includes a COVAX agreement for Chinese producers to supply 550 million doses. Xi also promised to donate $100 million to the UN-backed COVAX program, which aims to distribute vaccines to low- and middle-income countries. Vaccine distributions have been starkly unequal, as wealthy countries now consider issuing booster shots to their citizens and poorer nations struggle to ge
Japan, US, S Korea reaffirm co-operation on N Korea
China, World

Japan, US, S Korea reaffirm co-operation on N Korea

TOKYO - The United States, Japan and South Korea on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to work together on North Korea’s denuclearization and other regional threats but made no progress in bringing closer together the two U.S. allies. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who held talks in Tokyo with her counterparts, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori and South Korea’s Choi Jong-kun, said their alliance remains a “lynchpin of peace, security and prosperity.“ The officials reaffirmed the importance of respecting international law, including maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, and opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and in the Taiwan Strait. “When countries take actions that run counter to t
Hong Kong’s biggest protest group disbanding
China, World

Hong Kong’s biggest protest group disbanding

Anti-government protesters rally in Hong Kong on New Year’s Day 2020 in a march organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, which is preparing to disband. (Photo: Nora Tam/South China Morning Post) HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s largest protest group, which drew upwards of two million of the city’s residents onto the streets in 2019, is preparing to disband, according to local media reports. Members of the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), which organised many of the largest rallies during the territory’s 2019 pro-democracy protests, endorsed a resolution to disband late Friday, local media including the South China Morning Post reported. The CHRF will make an announcement about its future on Sunday, RTHK reported, citing Chung Ching-fai, its interim convenor. Hong Kong’s police chief has warned
Chinese cities test millions as virus cases jump
China, World

Chinese cities test millions as virus cases jump

Chinese cities test millions as virus cases jump A woman receives a nucleic acid test for the Covid-19 coronavirus in Zhengzhou, in China's central Henan province, on Saturday. (AFP photo) Chinese cities rolled out mass testing of millions of people and imposed fresh travel restrictions as health authorities battled Sunday to contain the country's most widespread coronavirus outbreak in months. China on Sunday reported 75 new coronavirus cases with 53 local transmissions, with a cluster linked to an eastern airport now reported to have spread to over 20 cities and more than a dozen provinces. The outbreak is geographically the largest to hit China in several months after the country's successes in largely snuffing out the pandemic within its borders last year. That record has been thr...
US ex-VP Mike Pence slams Biden for being weak on China
China, World

US ex-VP Mike Pence slams Biden for being weak on China

WASHINGTON - Former US vice-president Mike Pence urged President Joe Biden to keep up the pressure on China, criticising the Democratic administration for “already rolling over” for Beijing on Wednesday (July 14) in his latest speech since leaving office. Mr Pence called on Mr Biden to de-list Chinese companies that flout American accounting standards, improve the readiness of America’s navy to protect freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region and, among other things, demand that China come clean on the origins of the coronavirus. Mr Pence said that the Chinese government views America as an adversary and posed the greatest threat to American prosperity, security and values, adding: “China may not yet be an evil empire, but it is working hard to become one.” He also slammed the B
MEDICAL DEVICES TO LEVERAGE THAILAND’S COMPETITIVE SUPPLY CHAIN
Business, China, Singapore, World

MEDICAL DEVICES TO LEVERAGE THAILAND’S COMPETITIVE SUPPLY CHAIN

MEDICAL DEVICES TO LEVERAGE THAILAND’S COMPETITIVE SUPPLY CHAIN With technology for medical devices continuing to evolve in line with rising demand, Thailand remains focused on promoting technology and innovation in its medical device industry, leveraging the country’s global strengths as a top medical destination with a well-established and thriving industrial supply chain. The database of Global Trade Atlas showed that the international trade of medical devices has continued to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the trade volume standing at approximately US$830 billion in 2020. Interestingly, the value of global exports outstripped imports at approximately US$530 billion versus US$300 billion, respectively. Durable medical devices accounted for the majority of the global exports a
Food group expands into ready-to-eat products
Business, China, Singapore, World

Food group expands into ready-to-eat products

Food group expands into ready-to-eat products Ms Sudatip promotes the company's new multigrain oatmeal product. Pataya Food Group, the producer and marketer of Nautilus canned fish, has diversified its business to ready-to-eat products as a part of an effort to boost the group's sales to 10 billion baht over the next three years. Sudatip Kiatsrichart, the group's executive director, said starting from this year the company will gear toward expansion in the health food market which is worth more than 100 billion baht. The company recently entered Thailand's ready-to-eat cereal market by launching Nautilus Xten healthy meals to tap into a growing market of health-conscious consumers both in Thailand and abroad, with a particular focus on China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Singa...
Chinese cities test millions as virus cases surge
China, World

Chinese cities test millions as virus cases surge

Chinese cities test millions as virus cases surge Millions in China are undergoing mass testing as the country battles surging virus cases. BEIJING: Chinese cities rolled out mass testing of millions of people and imposed fresh travel restrictions as health authorities battled Sunday to contain the country's most widespread coronavirus outbreak in months. China on Sunday reported 75 new coronavirus cases with 53 local transmissions, with a cluster linked to an eastern airport now reported to have spread to over 20 cities and more than a dozen provinces. The outbreak is geographically the largest to hit China in several months after the country's successes in largely snuffing out the pandemic within its borders last year. That record has been thrown into jeopardy after the fast-spreadi...