Tag: Xi Jinping

Strained Ties: North Korea’s Shifting Relations with China after 75 Years of Diplomacy
15Oct By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
Asia, China

Strained Ties: North Korea’s Shifting Relations with China after 75 Years of Diplomacy

Despite 75 years of diplomatic relations, Pyongyang's trust in Beijing appears to be fading. North Korea, once closely connected and dependent on China, now finds it increasingly difficult to maintain good relations.  “Their bilateral relations over the past decades were marked by ups and downs. Most of the time, they were not on good terms,” said Choo Jae-woo, a professor of China Studies at Kyung Hee University. “Interestingly, however, their strained ties have managed to be restored each time. Given this dynamic, it would be a mistake to interpret current events as a predictor of the future of their relations.” According to Koreatimes.co.kr, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un does not trust China as his late father Kim Jong-il did. In a list of dos and don’ts for his succes
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China to urge US to drop Trump-era sanctions in Alaska meet: Report
18Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

China to urge US to drop Trump-era sanctions in Alaska meet: Report

In the upcoming Beijing-Washington talks in Alaska, it is being expected that China is going to try to persuade the United States to lift the restrictive measures introduced by the previous administration of President Donald Trump.During the negotiations, the Chinese officials are going to propose the re-establishment of regular high-level contacts as well as to schedule an online summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Joe Biden, during the April conference on climate change, according to sources.According to media reports, the US agenda for the upcoming talks differs from the Chinese one: Washington wants to express its concern over the Chinese policy in Hong Kong, the boost of naval activities in the South China Sea, economic pressure on US allies, intellectu...
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Xi’s dream project ‘Belt Road Initiative’ in trouble amid China’s shrinking economy
15Mar By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia, Business, China, Singapore

Xi’s dream project ‘Belt Road Initiative’ in trouble amid China’s shrinking economy

Due to China’s dwindling economy, President Xi Jinping's dream of setting a new world order seems to have come to a halt after the Covid-19 slowed down the Belt Road Initiative (BRI), pushing it towards becoming financial inviable.According to media reports, Beijing has been forced to cut back on new loans and investments under the BRI due to covid-19 induced economic troubles.According to the Green Belt and Road Initiative Centre, a research organization, Chinese investment has reduced to USD 47 billion in 2020--a whopping slump of 54 per cent in just one year.Wang Xiaolong, director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's International Economic Affairs Department, said 20 per cent of the BRI projects were seriously affected while other 30-40 per cent witnessed adverse impact.China's ec
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Strengthening of US-South Korea ties cause concerns in China: Report
31Jan By Grace TsoiNo Comments
Asia, China, World

Strengthening of US-South Korea ties cause concerns in China: Report

In an early sign of a strong alliance under US President Joe Biden, South Korea Defence Minister Suh Wook has announced that the annual spring military exercises with the US would be resumed this year and such actions have raised China’s concerns.As part of former US President Donald Trump’s “effort to maintain a truce he had struck with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un”, the drills usually held in March every year by the US and South Korea were either suspended or downsized since 2018. And in 2020, the drills could not be held due to COVID-19 pandemic.Soon after resuming office, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in a telephonic conversation with his South Korean counterpart Suh Wook assured Seoul of the US’ “ironclad” commitment to defend its long-term ally through joint defence work.Simil
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Biden administration to release more climate policies, urges China to toughen emissions target
24Jan By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

Biden administration to release more climate policies, urges China to toughen emissions target

The United States’ top climate advisers on Saturday said that the Joe Biden administration will release more policies to tackle climate change next week and urged China to toughen one of its targets on greenhouse gas emissionsGina McCarthy, the White House’s national climate adviser, did not say what policies would be released. However, a report says that Biden will unveil a second round of executive orders as soon as January 27 that include an omnibus order to combat climate change domestically and elevate the issue as a national security priority.“We’ve already sent signals on the things that we don’t like that we’re going to roll back, but this week you’re going to see us move forward with what’s the vision of the future,” McCarthy told a virtual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors
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Xi Jinping writes to former Starbucks chairman for help amid strained US ties
14Jan By Grace TsoiNo Comments
China, World

Xi Jinping writes to former Starbucks chairman for help amid strained US ties

In a letter to former Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz China’s President Xi Jinping has asked for help to promote trade between Washington and Beijing, according to state media on Thursday.Xi, responding to an earlier message from Schultz, urged the multi-billionaire to "continue to play an active role in promoting China-US economic and trade cooperation", the official Xinhua news agency said.China will "provide a broader space for companies from all over the world, including Starbucks and other American companies, to develop in China", Xi wrote in his letter.This comes as relations between US and China have reached a nadir with bitter disputes over trade, tech, security and rights.Schultz, who stepped down as chairman of Starbucks in 2018 but retains an honorary title at the company, had
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China’s new defence law expands power of its military
3Jan By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

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
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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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China slams India’s apps ban; Xi Jinping asks PLA to be battle-ready
26Nov By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
Business, China

China slams India’s apps ban; Xi Jinping asks PLA to be battle-ready

China has “resolutely opposed” India’s “use of national security as an excuse” after New Delhi’s November 24 decision to ban 43 Chinese apps.“India should immediately correct its discriminatory approach and avoid causing further damage to bilateral cooperation”, said Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.A separate statement from the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi said China “firmly oppose[s] the Indian side’s repeated use of ‘national security’ as an excuse to prohibit some mobile apps with Chinese background” even as President Xi Jinping told the armed forces to strengthen training under real combat conditions and raise the capability of winning wars during a meeting of the Central Military Commission.On the app ban, China said the two countries should work together to
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Discontent among Chinese people rises amid CCP’s draconian COVID-19 measures
5Nov By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Discontent among Chinese people rises amid CCP’s draconian COVID-19 measures

A researcher at the Human Rights Watch has said that the citizens of China are “discontent” with President Xi Jinping’s measures to control coronavirus have pushed the country further into a surveillance state.Yaqiu Wang said that though the Chinese people are “proud” of the measures taken by Beijing to control the outbreak in the country, but there are signs people are fatigued and discontent with Xi’s extortions.“I am seeing more citizens criticising surveillance techniques… Many now view the methods as too much and unnecessary… I’ve seen posts to Chinese social media complaining about the facial recognition outside their compound,” Wang said.“Although we are seeing, slowly, an increased awareness and discontent with the state’s methods,” she added.As per media reports, apps were created
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