Tag: European Union

NATO chief raises concern about China’s military investment
28Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

NATO chief raises concern about China’s military investment

Raising serious concerns about China’s heavy investment in military equipment, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Chief Jens Stoltenberg said that Beijing’s actions will have a direct consequence on our security.At a media conference, Stoltenberg said, “the military alliance does not regard China as an adversary, but of course, the rise of China has direct consequences for our security.”“China is investing heavily in military equipment, including nuclear-capable missiles,” he added.“More importantly, China is a country that doesn’t share our values. We see that in the way they deal with democratic protests in Hong Kong, how they suppress minorities in their own country, the Uyghurs, and also how they actually try to undermine the international rules-based order,” he added.Earlier th
Read More
EU warns China to tread carefully on Hong Kong electoral reform
7Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

EU warns China to tread carefully on Hong Kong electoral reform

The European Union has warned China to “carefully consider the political and economic implications” of its decision to alter Hong Kong’s electoral system saying that the bloc is “ready to take additional steps” in response to any further serious deterioration of political freedoms and human rights in the city.On March 4, the National People’s Congress in China announced that it would deliberate on amending the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. A decision can be expected by March 11.“If enacted, such reform would have potentially far-reaching negative consequences for democratic principles and democratically elected-representatives in Hong Kong,” the EU said in a statement.The EU further stated that the amendment would also run counter to previous electoral re
Read More
EU must end over-reliance on China for rare earth elements: European Commission president
24Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, China, World

EU must end over-reliance on China for rare earth elements: European Commission president

To end China’s virtual monopoly on processing rare earth elements, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday suggested that the European Union (EU) must end its over-reliance on imports from abroad so that the EU could develop its technological industry.“Green and digital technologies currently depend on a number of scarce raw materials. We import lithium for electric cars, platinum to produce clean hydrogen, silicon metal for solar panels, 98 per cent of the rare earth elements we need come from a single supplier – China – and this is not sustainable,” von der Leyen said in a video address to mark the EU Industry Days 2021.The president said that the creation of a European Raw Materials Alliance late last year was made for this purpose, so as to alleviate the bloc’
Read More
EU Council condemns military coup in Myanmar, ready to impose sanctions
22Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, World

EU Council condemns military coup in Myanmar, ready to impose sanctions

As incidents of brutal violence against peaceful protestors come forth in Myanmar, the European Union (EU) Council on Monday condemned the military coup and said that it is considering sanctions against the individuals responsible for ousting the country’s civilian government.“The European Union calls for de-escalation of the current crisis through an immediate end to the state of emergency, the restoration of the legitimate civilian government and the opening of the newly elected parliament,” the Council said in a statement.The council called for the results of the democratic elections held on November 9, last year to be respected and demanded that the military must renounce its action.The European Union is “deeply concerned about reports of intimidation”.The EU Council also added that it
Read More
EU recognises India’s strategic role as ‘major vaccine producer’
7Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Business, World

EU recognises India’s strategic role as ‘major vaccine producer’

During the first high-level India-EU dialogue, the European Union recognized India’s strategic role as a “major vaccine producer” and expressed openness to discuss vaccine-related matters.According to sources, India and the EU agreed that ensuring universal, equitable, affordable and safe vaccine is a priority.India hosted the first India-EU high-level dialogue (HLD) on Friday through virtual mode which was co-chaired by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and European Commission Executive Vice-President & Trade Commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis.The dialogue has been established as part of the commitment made during the 15th India-EU Leaders’ virtual Summit held on July 15, 2020, to provide ministerial-level guidance to the bilateral trade and investment relations.“Bo
Read More
Pakistan and Turkey identified by European parliamentarian as serious threat
13Nov By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Pakistan and Turkey identified by European parliamentarian as serious threat

Amid rising terrorist attacks in Europe, French Member of European Parliament (MEP) Nicolas Bay asked the European Union (EU) to “showering” Pakistan and Turkey with subsidies and customs facilitiesFrench MEP Nicolas Bay’s remarks came during the European Parliamentary plenary of November 11, 2020. “MEP Bay’s comments were made in the context of a debate on the ‘fight against terrorism, freedom of expression and education’”, a press statement read.Speaking to the European Commissioner Ylva Johansson responsible for Home Affairs, Bay was critical of the support being given by the European Commission to the countries of concern. “You are showering countries like Pakistan and Turkey with subsidies and customs facilities. We want to sanction them!”, he said.Linking terrorism threats to migrati
Read More
Japan eyes US-style law to sanction Uighur human rights abuses
13Nov By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Business, China, World

Japan eyes US-style law to sanction Uighur human rights abuses

Amid growing criticism, against China for its treatment of Uighur Muslims, Japan is weighing a legal foundation for sanctions similar to those imposed by the United States and Europe.The Japanese government has asked the local companies that operate in China whether functioning in Xinjiang province could get them into trouble.This comes after a report in March by the Australian Global Policy Institute indicated that around 11 Japanese companies were among the 82 well-known global brands which relied on factories that use forced Uighur laborers.The report indicated that more than 80,000 Uighur workers were transferred out of the Xinjiang region, where China's Uighur population is concentrated, to around 30 factories across the country.Companies in the report, including Fast Retailing, maker...
Read More
Coronavirus: Pakistani citizens disallowed to enter EU as the continent gears to open up
10Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Coronavirus: Pakistani citizens disallowed to enter EU as the continent gears to open up

The European Union (EU) has decided that from July, its borders will be reopened to citizens from a draft list of 54 countries barring Pakistan out of it.The countries that made it to the list are -- Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Australia, Bahamas, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau, Paraguay, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Serbia, South Korea, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zambia.China is on the list, but subject to
Read More
US agrees to launch dialogues with EU to address threats posed by China
8Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

US agrees to launch dialogues with EU to address threats posed by China

To counter and address the threats of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the “provocative military actions” of its army, the United States and the European Union have agreed to launch a dialogue, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said.Pompeo made the remarks during the Brussels Forum in a discussion with the German Marshal Fund."Enjoyed the discussions today at the German Marshall Fund's #BrusselsForum. I am excited to announce the U.S. and EU are launching a dialogue on China to address the threats the CCP poses to our common values and way of life," Pompeo wrote on Twitter on June 26.The week before, European Union chief diplomat Josep Borrell had called for talks between Europe and the United States aimed at forging a common transatlantic front against China.During talks with 27
Read More
SP Jihadist terrorism continues to pose threat to Europe amid covid-19 outbreak
7Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

SP Jihadist terrorism continues to pose threat to Europe amid covid-19 outbreak

A recent report has revealed that jihadist terrorism and threats posed by the extreme left and right-wing activists continue to terrorize Europe amid the Covid-19 pandemic.The European Union (EU) Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) 2020 report launched by European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) said, "Activists both on the extreme left and right and those involved in jihadist terrorism attempt to seize the opportunity the pandemic has created to further propagate their aims"."In the first months of 2020, lockdown measures introduced to combat the spread of COVID-19 could further escalate some of the trends identified in the TE-SAT, given the potential economic and social impact of the pandemic worldwide. These developments have the potential to further fue...
Read More