China

Pakistan a pawn in Chinese policy, serious Indo-Sino conflict not good for China: IAF Chief
29Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia, China, Conflict

Pakistan a pawn in Chinese policy, serious Indo-Sino conflict not good for China: IAF Chief

Pakistan has become a pawn in the Chinese policy and its military dependence on China would increase further in view of the debt trap due to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Indian Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said on Tuesday. In an address at a webinar on 'National Security Challenges and Air Power' organised by Vivekanand International Foundation, he said China has invested billions of dollars in the CPEC as loans to Islamabad and the already debt-ridden Pakistani administration would be under a lot of financial stress to repay even the interest as per the current fiscal situation there. Bhadauria said India's "most important" national security challenge is to understand China, its "possible game plan" and the deepening and evolving Sino-Pak relationship. "Pakistan has inc...
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High-level Chinese delegation calls on Nepal President amidst political crisis
28Dec By Nectar GanNo Comments
China, Politics

High-level Chinese delegation calls on Nepal President amidst political crisis

Amid political chaos in Nepal, a high-level Chinese delegation, led by a vice minister of the Communist Party of China on Sunday called on Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari ahead of meeting other top leaders to mend differences between the two warring factions of the ruling Nepal Communist Party.Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Guo Yezhou, who arrived in Nepal on Sunday morning met President Bhandari at the Rastrapati Bhawan. “They discussed matters relating to further strengthening centuries-old bilateral relations,” said an official at the President’s office.Guo, who personally knows all senior Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leaders, is scheduled to meet Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Monday, according to sources. He will also hold meetings with senior political
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Pakistan International Airlines in deep trouble
21Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China, World

Pakistan International Airlines in deep trouble

For a nation in deep economic distress, a losing national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) the net loss of Rs. 19.26 billion, increased by 54.08 percent in 2020 compared with the last year, is a serious drag. But a big damper in its fledgling credibility with fliers and the aviation world has emerged in the shape of licences of over 50 of its 800-plus pilots being cancelled. These licences were fraudulently procured and issued. All this comes in the wake of other setbacks like many global airlines refusing to fly to Pakistan, or allowing the PIA to fly in for reasons of security and the scare of the spread Covid-19 virus. This is but one of the many pointers to the economic situation that is having its political fall-out, what with rising prices of power, gas an...
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Possible Coup in Pakistan?
18Dec By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China, World

Possible Coup in Pakistan?

Pakistan Army has literally taken over the Imran Khan government in what can be called a 'creeping coup'. It has been setting the political agenda for the country for a long time. Last year, the army had decided to become `part` of the Imran Khan government by facilitating the posting of own candidates on key positions. The Army chief, General Javed Bajwa took upon himself to guide the economic policy, though not with any success. He then got another of his protégé, Major General Asim Bajwa, appointed to the inner coterie of the Prime Minister. In the latest move to capture even more power, the army has leaned on the Imran Khan government to pass a Bill giving over-riding powers of authority to the Generals over the $60 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor project. The CPEC Auth
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China plans to use possible COVID-19 vaccine as political tool
17Dec By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

China plans to use possible COVID-19 vaccine as political tool

In a recent announcement, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the COVID-19 vaccine being developed by China will become a 'global public good'.Chinese officials have begun to use a possible vaccine for the pandemic as a political tool and are thus promising early access to the vaccine to poor and developing countries.It is now clear that China's global health work is all an attempt by Beijing to control the narrative surrounding the origins and handling of the coronavirus.China has received a lot of criticism from other nations for its inefficient handling of the coronavirus outbreak, leading to the virus spreading to other parts of the world, as well as for withholding critical information regarding the virus from the world-leading to greater devastation.China has been accused of silen...
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US Congress passes defence policy bill that calls out Chinese aggression against India
16Dec By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

US Congress passes defence policy bill that calls out Chinese aggression against India

The USD 740 billion defence policy bill has officially been passed by the United States Congress which, among other things, include calling out Chinese aggression against India along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was passed on Tuesday by the US House of Representatives and the Senate, include key components of Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi's resolution language urging the Chinese government to end its military aggression against India along the LAC.The House and Senate versions of the bill were reconciled by a bipartisan Congressional conference committee earlier in December.The inclusion of this provision, which Krishnamoorthi led as an amendment when the bill passed the House, reflects the US government's...
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China sanctions US officials over Hong Kong moves
10Dec By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

China sanctions US officials over Hong Kong moves

In retaliation to restrictions slapped on Chinese officials this week, China on Thursday said that it will impose sanctions on US officials who have "performed badly" over Hong Kong issues.Last year, Hong Kong was rocked by pro-democracy protests that were halted by Beijing’s draconian national security law, drawing criticism over eroding rights from countries including the US.On Monday, the US said it was freezing any US assets and barring travel to the United States for 14 vice chairs of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which spearheaded the tough new law.In response, China would impose "sanctions on US executive officials, congressional personnel, non-governmental organisation personnel... who have performed badly on Hong Kong-related issues," foreign ministry s
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China tells airline crew to wear diapers on risky covid flights
10Dec By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

China tells airline crew to wear diapers on risky covid flights

In a 38-page list of guidelines, China's aviation regulator has recommended its cabin crew on charter flights to high-risk Covid-19 destinations to wear disposable diapers and avoid using the bathroom to reduce the risk of infection.The Civil Aviation Administration of China said the recommendation applies for charter flights to and from countries and regions where infections exceed 500 in every one million people.The diaper advice is in a section on personal protective equipment, which also recommends the cabin crew to wear medical protective masks, double-layer disposable medical rubber gloves, goggles, disposable caps, disposable protective clothing, and disposable shoe covers.Other advice for the flights includes dividing the cabin into "clean area, buffer zone, passenger sitting area ...
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US acts against Pakistan, China for violations of religious freedom
9Dec By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

US acts against Pakistan, China for violations of religious freedom

Pakistan and China have been included in the list of "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPC) by the United States for engaging in or tolerating "systematic and egregious violations of religious freedom".The US State Department has highlighted both Pakistan and China as CPCs among the 10 countries for their failure to stem the persecution and discrimination of faith groups.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a statement, said Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, the DPRK, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have been designated as CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as amended, for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom.He further informed that countries - Comoros, Cuba, Nicaragua and Russia have bee...
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US raises concerns over CCP’s threat to national security
7Dec By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

US raises concerns over CCP’s threat to national security

Raising concerns over China’s threat to national security, the US State Department has listed over 80 Chinese companies mentioned in the US stock exchange in which US retail investors have been investing unknowingly in Chinese companies.According to an official statement: “The Chinese Communist Party’s threat to American national security extends into our financial markets and impacts American investors. Many major stock and bond indices developed by index providers like MSCI and FTSE include malign People’s Republic of China (PRC) companies, listed on the Department of Commerce Entity List and/or the Department of Defense List of Communist Chinese military companies. The money flowing into these index funds - often passively, by US retail investors - supports Chinese companies involved in
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