Tag: China

China attempts to shape European media outlets to propagate its narratives
4Jun By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

China attempts to shape European media outlets to propagate its narratives

In the wake of its drowning international image due to coronavirus spread, China has been found investing billions every year in European media firms to present its own narrative through tactics like funding paid-for advertorials and sponsored journalistic coverage.During 2008-2018, China made an investment of Euro 2.8 billion focusing on acquisition of shares in European media firms accounting for about 1% of its total European investments.In its efforts to reshape the global information environment with massive infusions of money, China has resorted to tactics like mergers and acquisitions of media organizations, commercial cooperation with media outlets, hiring PR companies to project Chinese views in mainstream media, cooperation by Chinese agencies with local news agencies, increasing...
Read More
China’s new high-security compound in Pakistan may indicate naval plans
3Jun By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

China’s new high-security compound in Pakistan may indicate naval plans

With recent satellite images of several new complexes at the western end of Pakistan’s coast, analysts are now more confident than ever of the long-expected Chinese naval base at Gwadar in Pakistan.One of the several complexes has been identified as a Chinese company involved in port development and has unusually high security. The base, to complement the one at Djibouti, would strengthen China’s foothold in the Indian Ocean.Located at the western end of Pakistan’s coast, Gwadar is expected to be a major port in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This will allow Chinese goods to shortcut through Pakistan, instead of sailing all the way around South Asia.China was first reported to be planning a naval base there in January 2018. While the plan has never been confirmed officially, it would be
Read More
“Hong Kong’s ‘romantic fusion of East and West’ is evaporating”
1Jun By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

“Hong Kong’s ‘romantic fusion of East and West’ is evaporating”

China's ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai on Sunday said that the central government has the ultimate responsibility for upholding national security in Hong Kong, and that a proposed legislation for the city "will protect law-abiding citizens"."Hong Kong was a romantic fusion of the East and the West. To our regret, such romance is evaporating," the envoy said adding that the violent actions of protesters against police, citizens and property there had crossed "a red line" for Beijing."Hong Kong is in disarray. China's national security is at risk. That is why the central government has chosen to act," he said.Separately, a newspaper in China wrote that the plans outlined by US President Donald Trump at the White House were a "gross interference" in Beijing's affairs and were "do...
Read More
Hong Kong legislation is for city’s stability, prosperity: Chinese Premier Li
29May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

Hong Kong legislation is for city’s stability, prosperity: Chinese Premier Li

Moments after China's parliament on Thursday approved Hong Kong's national security Bill, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that the passage of this legislation is for the city’s long-term “stability and prosperity”.“The decision adopted at the National People’s Congress (NPC) session is designed for study implementation of 'one country, two systems' and Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability,” Premier Li said at an annual press conference rounding up China’s parliamentary season.The NPC, China’s Parliament, passed the resolution on the final day of its annual parliamentary session with 2,878 votes for, one against, and six abstaining, paving the way for the law to be enacted in Hong Kong.Asked if the new law means the Central Government is abandoning the "one country, two systems" p
Read More
Hong Kong police fire pepper pellets as hundreds rally against Beijing’s security law
27May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

Hong Kong police fire pepper pellets as hundreds rally against Beijing’s security law

Hong Kong riot police have made arrests and fired pepper pellets on Wednesday to disperse protesters in the city, as new national security laws proposed and national anthem bill by Beijing revived anti-government demonstrations.At around 1pm, some protesters in Central occupied parts of Pedder Street, disrupting traffic in the area. This prompted the police to fire pepper pellets to disperse the crowd. Over in Causeway Bay, about 100 people were stopped and searched.Police were also deployed to Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui, following calls for people to gather there to protest. Heavy police presence and searches in the morning had dented protesters' initial plans to block roads and disrupt traffic.Some drivers had tried to disrupt the traffic at the cross-harbour tunnel at about 8.30am by dr...
Read More
Beijing’s national security law might bar foreign judges from national security cases
26May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

Beijing’s national security law might bar foreign judges from national security cases

Adding more to Hong Kong’s worries, Beijing's national security legislation for the city is set to block its foreign judges from handling national security trials, which would exacerbate concerns about the city's judicial independence, people familiar with the matter said.Having lost patience with Hong Kong's failure to adopt national security legislation on its own, China announced on Thursday that it would directly enact laws to tackle secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in the city.The legislation, which remains subject to change, would also see both central and city government security agencies set up in Hong Kong.The Hong Kong government has said the legislation would not affect its judicial independence.Beijing's push for the legislation follows months of anti-g
Read More
Hong Kong comes out in protest, police launches tear gas, water cannons
25May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

Hong Kong comes out in protest, police launches tear gas, water cannons

It was chaos on Sunday as police arrested more than 100 people and fired tear gas and pepper spray after thousands of Hong Kong protesters gathered in opposition to a controversial security law proposed by China last week.As the demonstrators and police faced off in Hong Kong, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi insisted that the proposed law be imposed "without the slightest delay".The national security law is expected to ban treason, subversion and sedition. The legislation comes after Hong Kong was shaken last year by months of massive, often-violent protests, and repeated warnings from Beijing that it would not tolerate dissent.With campaigners warning the proposal could spell the end of the city's treasured freedoms, thousands gathered in the busy Causeway Bay and Wan Chai districts, cha...
Read More
China has betrayed Hong Kong so West should stop fooling itself, says former HK governor
23May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

China has betrayed Hong Kong so West should stop fooling itself, says former HK governor

Former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten on Saturday opined that China has betrayed the people of Hong Kong so the West should stop kowtowing to Beijing for an illusory great pot of gold.“The Hong Kong people have been betrayed by China,” Patten said adding that Britain has a “moral, economic and legal” duty to stand up for Hong Kong.Beijing is set to impose new national security legislation on Hong Kong after a sustained campaign of pro-democracy protests last year in the city, which enjoys many freedoms not allowed on mainland China.Patten, now 76, watched as the British flag was lowered over Hong Kong when the colony was handed back to China in 1997 after more than 150 years of British rule.Hong Kong’s autonomy was guaranteed for 50 years under the “one country, two systems” agreement pri
Read More
Pakistan bans political party critical of CPEC
22May By Our NewsroomNo Comments
China

Pakistan bans political party critical of CPEC

A political party, which is critical of financially dubious China's Belt and Road Initiative has been banned by Pakistan government.  Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-Arisar (JSQM-A), a party based in the southern province of Sindh highlighted Pakistan’s the country's reliance on Beijing for political and economic support.Pakistan's interior ministry outlawed the JSQM-A along with two militant groups in the same province -- the Sindhudesh Liberation Army (SLA) and the Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) -- citing "reasonable grounds" that the organizations have ties to terrorism.Pakistan has been regularly banning a variety of organizations, including al-Qaeda-linked jihadi militants as well as secessionist insurgent groups. The list however has expanded since the launch of the China-Pakistan Econom
Read More
COVID-19 fallout: China drops mention of GDP goal as parliament opens
22May By Our NewsroomNo Comments
China

COVID-19 fallout: China drops mention of GDP goal as parliament opens

As coronavirus outbreak hammers the world’s second-biggest economy, China dropped its annual growth target for the first time on Friday and pledged more government spending, setting a sombre tone to this year's meeting of parliament.The omission from Premier Li Keqiang's work report marks the first time China has not set a target for gross domestic product (GDP) since the government began publishing such goals in 1990.Given "great uncertainty" caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Beijing will "give priority to stabilising employment and ensuring living standards", Li told the opening of the National People's Congress.The economy shrank 6.8 per cent in the first quarter, the first contraction in decades, hit by the outbreak of the new coronavirus."We have not set a specific target for economic
Read More