China Archives - Page 8 of 41 - The Singapore Post

China rejects US’ allegation that coronavirus originated from Wuhan lab

4Jan

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China rejects US’ allegation that coronavirus originated from Wuhan lab

Refuting US’ allegations that the novel coronavirus was leaked from Wuhan Lab in China, Beijing on Monday said that the pandemic was likely to have been caused by separate outbreaks in multiple places in the world.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying's remarks came amidst reports that a ten-member team of the World Health Organisation (WHO) scientists would visit China in January to investigate the origin of the coronavirus.Beijing is yet to confirm the visit by the WHO team and remained silent about granting permission for it to visit Wuhan city in central China."I have no detailed information for you," Hua told a media briefing when asked about the visit of the WHO team and whether its schedule included a visit to Wuhan."China attaches high importance to cooperation with th

China’s new defence law expands power of its military

3Jan

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

China’s new defence law expands power of its military

At a time when China is at loggerheads with US and India, Beijing has revised its National Defence Law, expanding the power of its armed forces to mobilise military and civilian resources to defend its national interests both at home and abroad.The new law, effective from January 1, weakens the role of the State Council, China’s Cabinet headed by Premier Li Keqiang, in formulating military policy, handing decision-making powers to the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high-command of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) headed by President Xi Jinping.The amendments for the National Defence Law (NDL) were passed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on December 26 last year.The revised law came into force after the key conclave of the ruling CPC in Novembe

US President-elect Joe Biden says coalition needed to confront Beijing

30Dec

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

US President-elect Joe Biden says coalition needed to confront Beijing

US President-elect Joe Biden made it clear on Monday that Washington needs to build a coalition of like-minded nations to confront Beijing."As we compete with China to hold China's government accountable for its trade abuses, technology, human rights and other fronts, our position would be much stronger when we build coalitions of like-minded partners and allies that make common cause with us in defence of our shared interests and our shared values," Biden said.Under the Donald Trump administration, ties between China and US had deteriorated over issues such as human rights violations in Xinjiang, encroachment on the special status of Hong Kong, accusations of unfair trade practices by Beijing, lack of transparency concerning the pandemic and China's military aggression in various parts of...

Canada calls for transparency in trial of 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors

30Dec

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Canada calls for transparency in trial of 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors

After Beijing detained 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists - also known as the Shenzen 12 – who were allegedly attempting to flee to Taiwan in August to escape the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) draconian National Security Law, Canada has voiced its concern and urged the Chinese authorities to conduct trials on the basis of the Human Rights framework."Canada expresses deep concern over the secret trial involving the Shenzhen12. We urge Chinese authorities to conduct trials in accordance with due process and judicial transparency in line with international Human Rights norms and standards," the Canadian Government's foreign policy handle tweeted.London also expressed concern that the defendants were "tried in secret" and were denied access to lawyers of their choosing."We are deeply conce

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

29Dec

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

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...

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

28Dec

By Nectar GanNo Comments

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

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

17Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

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...

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

16Dec

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

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...

China sanctions US officials over Hong Kong moves

10Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

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

China tells airline crew to wear diapers on risky covid flights

10Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

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 ...