Beijing

Honduras cuts diplomatic ties with Taiwan, paves way for ties with Beijing

Honduras has cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Chinese state media reported Sunday, paving the way for the Latin American country to establish a formal relationship with Beijing. The announcement by Honduras's foreign ministry on Saturday, which was reported by China's CCTV, comes amid rising tensions between Beijing and the United States, including over China's increasing assertiveness toward self-ruled Taiwan. The move leaves Taiwan recognized by only 13 sovereign states. Honduras is the ninth diplomatic ally that Taipei has lost to Beijing since pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen first took office in May 2016. China and Taiwan have been locked in a battle for diplomatic recognition since the sides split amid civil war in 1949, with Beijing spending billions to win recognition for its One China policy. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary, and refuses most contacts with countries that maintain formal ties with the

Apple CEO praises China's innovation, history of cooperation during visit

Cook is in Beijing to attend the China Development Forum, a government-organised event being held again in full force after the country ended its Covid controls late last year

Beijing's population declines for first time in 19 years, shows report

For the first time in 19 years, Beijing witnessed a drop in its population drop in 2022, according to a media report

Taiwan's chip exports sputter on US-China tensions, falling demand

The total amount of semiconductors Taiwan shipped worldwide declined 17.3% last month from a year ago

Beijing asks bankrupt Pakistan to release dues for CPEC power firms

The Chinese embassy has asked Pakistan to release overdue payments to the tune of $1.5 bn to Chinese Independent Power Plants working under the mega $64 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Beijing monitors share prices of Indian companies linked to Chinese biz

China's financial market regulators are monitoring the over valuation of India-listed companies which have business dealings with Chinese-origin companies in Asia, following a recent dispute settlement of two firms from both countries, informed sources said on Friday. The sources cited a judgement by the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) this month, involving India's Kiri Industries and DyStar Global Holdings (Singapore), a subsidiary of the world's largest dye manufacturer from China. The Hong Kong-based sources pointed out that Kiri's hope for a USD 603.8-million buyout of its stake by DyStar is looking dim. The deal, as per the sources, is the buyout of Kiri's 37.57 per cent interest in Dystar which was valued at USD 603.8 million. China's regulatory approvals for such a massive outflow of funds is unlikely, as regulators in Beijing are convinced that the Indian company's stake is highly overpriced due to speculative play in share prices. Hong Kong-based Senda ...

UK PM Rishi Sunak takes nuanced approach to China threat in defence plan

It's a regime that is increasingly authoritarian at home and assertive abroad and has a desire to reshape the world order," Sunak told reporters on his way to the US Sunday

Beijing to increase unification pressure on Taiwan, says US spy agencies

As Chinese President Xi Jinping begins his third term, Beijing will continue to press Taiwan on unification and try to undercut US influence in the region, according to an annual report

Beijing's air quality deteriorates amid dust storm, heavy pollution

Skyscrapers in Beijing disappeared into the haze and air quality plummeted as China's capital was enveloped in a dust storm and heavy pollution on Friday. Concentrations of the tiny PM 2.5 particles that can reach deep into the lungs and bloodstream entered a dangerous range on air quality monitoring sites, with the IQAir website showing an air quality index of 1,093, a hazardous level, many times higher than what are considered unhealthy levels. Beijing was formerly notorious for its terrible air quality, but conditions had much improved in recent years as authorities took heavily polluting vehicles off the roads and moved coal-fired power plants and heavy industry to the surrounding provinces. The capital also used to be known for regular springtime dust and sandstorms caused by winds blowing in from the loess hills along the upper sections of the Yellow River to the west. Anti-desertification efforts have helped reduce both the frequency and intensity of the storms that had ofte

China's foreign minister warns of conflict unless US changes course

China's foreign minister has warned Washington of conflict and confrontation if it fails to change course in relations with Beijing, striking a combative tone amid conflicts over Taiwan, COVID-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Qin Gang's language appeared to defy hopes China's might abandon confrontational wolf warrior rhetoric. It followed an accusation by Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Western governments led by the United States were trying to encircle and suppress China. Washington's China policy has entirely deviated from the rational and sound track, Qin said at a news conference Tuesday during annual meeting of China's ceremonial legislature. China's relations with Washington and Japan, India and other Asian neighbours have soured as Xi's government has pursued assertive policies abroad. If the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation,

China sets economic growth target at 5% for 2023, lowest in over 25 years

China unveiled its lowest growth target in more than a quarter-century as Beijing faces challenges in the domestic and global economy

Communist party members in EY China asked to wear party badges in office

The demand was made by the party's branch committee at the company ahead of China's annual parliamentary meeting

Moving beyond Beijing

Economic revival may not sustain

Beijing blasts US over response to suspected Chinese spy balloon incursion

China's ceremonial parliament has accused American lawmakers of trampling on the sovereignty of other nations after the U.S. passed a measure condemning a suspected Chinese spy balloon's intrusion into U.S. airspace. The statement issued Thursday by the National People's Congress's Foreign Affairs Committee repeated Beijing's insistence that the balloon was an unmanned civilian weather research airship, a claim the U.S. has dismissed citing its flight route and payload of surveillance equipment. While China at first expressed regret over the Feb. 4 incident, it has toughened its rhetoric in a further sign of how badly relations between the sides have deteriorated in recent years. On Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry said it will take measures against U.S. entities somehow related to the downing of the balloon, without giving details. The resolution earlier passed unanimously by the U.S. House of Representatives deliberately exaggerated the China threat,'" the Foreign Relations Commit

China's world-beating drop in Covid-19 deaths revives data concerns

After meticulously tracking cases for most of the pandemic, China abruptly abandoned its signature zero-tolerance policy at the end of 2022, halting mass testing, quarantines and lockdowns

More than 10 US high-altitude balloons flew in our airspace: China

China on Monday said more than 10 US high-altitude balloons have flown in its airspace during the past year without its permission, following Washington's accusation that Beijing operates a fleet of surveillance balloons around the world. The Chinese allegation comes after the US shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had crossed from Alaska to South Carolina, sparking a new crisis in bilateral relations that have spiralled to their lowest level in decades. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin gave no details about the alleged US balloons, how they had been dealt with or whether they had government or military links. It is also common for US balloons to illegally enter the airspace of other countries," Wang said at a daily briefing. Since last year, US high-altitude balloons have illegally flown over China's airspace more than 10 times without the approval of Chinese authorities." Wang said the US should first reflect on itself and change course, rather than smear and

Was the Chinese balloon indeed a spy at work or was it just hot air?

Balloons are 18th century tech; Chinese satellites allow for surveillance with far higher levels of efficiency

US moves to recover Chinese balloon as pressure mounts on President Biden

The balloon, said to be the size of at least two school buses, and its sensors are lying in 50 feet (15 meters) of water and scattered over a seven-mile (11-kilometer) area off Myrtle Beach

Xi Jinping the 'most unpleasant' among leaders I met as secretary: Pompeo

Mike Pompeo has said that among the dozens of world leaders he met as the US Secretary of State he found the "most unpleasant" was Chinese President Xi Jinping, who threatened to stop sending PPF kits to America if it kept asking for accountability from Beijing on Covid-19. In his book titled 'Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love,' former US Secretary of State Pompeo, 59, writes that he held multiple interactions with the Chinese leader and found him "dour" and a "quintessential Communist apparatchik". He writes that Xi told stories about Chinese victimhood and talked about his "demands to avenge grievances from long before any of us were born. "Personally, I thought Xi was dour. While Putin can be funny and mirthful, even while being evil, Xi was not so serious as dead-eyed. I never once saw an unforced smile, Pompeo writes in the book that hit the bookstores on Tuesday. I also found Xi a quintessential Communist apparatchik: heavy in the abstract, light on the issu

Despite Chinese aggression, India's trade with Beijing up by 50%: Kejriwal

Despite Chinese aggression, India's trade with Beijing has increased and that is not right, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in an apparent swipe at the BJP-led Centre. "We are purchasing items like slippers, figurines and mattresses from China. Why can not we manufacture these in India?" he posed while addressing a Republic Day celebration event at Chhatrasal Stadium here. Stressing that all these items can be manufactured in the country, Kejriwal said it will create jobs for youths and give a strong message to China. He claimed that according to reports China has "occupied" some of India's territory which is a cause of worry for every citizen. "Despite Chinese aggression, we have been increasing our trade with them. It increased by 50 per cent. We are making China richer. This is not right," he said. Kejriwal alleges that various state governments are being "harassed". In many states, university vice-chancellors were appointed by elected governments of the states but th