Page 9 - China

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

President Xi Jinping, a princeling turned Mao 2.0 in China's 'new era'

A decade ago when the powerful covert factions of China's ruling Communist Party chose Xi Jinping as a compromise candidate to lead the party, few had an inkling that the suave and sedate princeling will cast himself on the mould of party founder Mao Zedong and bulldoze his way to become the leader for life. On Friday, the 69-year-old "core leader" was endorsed by China's rubber-stamp Parliament for an unprecedented third five-year term, a privilege accorded only to Mao by the Communist Party of China (CPC), as all his predecessors retired after two five-year terms. But Xi will continue, perhaps for life, as a new powerful leader of the world's second largest economy, heading the party, the military and the Presidency, which observers say will have wider implications for China internally and externally, especially for the immediate neighbour India, considering the aggressive postures struck by the Chinese military in eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). At the 18th

China's Parliament endorses Xi's leadership for rare 3rd five-year term

China's Parliament on Friday unanimously endorsed an unprecedented third five-year term for President Xi Jinping. Xi, 69, was re-elected by the once-in-a-five-year Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) as its leader in October last year, becoming the first Chinese leader after the party founder Mao Zedong to continue in power beyond the two five-year terms. China's legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC) often described as the rubber stamp Parliament, for its mechanical and routine endorsement of the decisions of the CPC on Friday voted on the expected lines ratifying Xi's third term. Xi is widely expected to continue in power for life. He has already been elected as the General Secretary of the CPC during its last October Congress, which also elected a new leadership for all its top policy bodies. This year's annual session of the NPC is regarded significant as it heralds a once-in-a-ten-year change of leadership of the Chinese government, including the

China making efforts to be 'pre-eminent power' in East Asia: US intel

China's leaders probably will seek opportunities to reduce tensions with the US when they believe it suits their interests

Biden proposes over $25 bn spending in Indo-Pacific to out-compete China

US President Joe Biden on Thursday proposed more than USD 25 billion spending, mostly in the Indo-Pacific region, in particular in the critical infrastructure sector and defence to out-compete China, amid Beijing's increasingly assertive presence in the strategic region. This includes over USD 15 billion of proposed investment in the infrastructure sector in the Indo-Pacific and USD 9 billion for shoring up American defence in the region. "This Budget cements our commitment to confronting global challenges and keeping America safe. It outlines crucial investments to out-compete China globally and to continue support for Ukraine in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression," Biden said in his message to the Congress. Biden said it also continues his administration's work to restore America's global leadership - reviving key alliances and partnerships, strengthening the military, fostering democracy and human rights, protecting global health, honouring the veterans, fixing immigration

Vietnam chief of Apple supplier exits after flagging shift from China

Deputy Chairman Kazuyoshi Yoshinaga is departing for "personal reasons," the Chinese firm said in a brief exchange filing, without elaborating

Mobius bets big on chip stocks as US, China increase investments in sector

Chip stocks have had a great start to 2023 after rising interest rates led to a carnage in 2022. Investor focus has started shifting to the sector's long-term growth prospects and cheaper valuations

Col Geeta Rana becomes first woman to command EME unit near China border

The officer has taken over the command of the EME independent workshop after the Army cleared 108 vacancies for women officers for taking command of independent units in the Corps of Engineers

India likely to be largest market in the world this year: Walmart CFO

John David Rainey, CFO Walmart, said during an investor conference that Walmart-owned Flipkart and PhonePe have exciting opportunities and have large portions of market share in India

China plans to tighten grip on finance industry; watchdogs face pay cuts

Currently, China Securities Regulatory Commission and the CBIRC are among rare central government agencies that pay their staff significantly above the compensation of civil servants, said the people

Supply chain exodus from China to India, Vietnam faster than anticipated

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Yoshinaga was quoted as saying that Apple suppliers, including Goertek, have been moving manufacturing capacity out of China faster than observers

Covid-19 lab leak fight obscures the global rise of high-security biolabs

There are 69 so-called Biosafety Level 4, or BSL-4, facilities designed to study dangerous infectious pathogens in operation, under construction or planned worldwide, according to Global Biolabs

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,

President Xi Jinping doubts Chinese military's ability to invade Taiwan

In a startling revelation of intelligence input, the US CIA Director William Burns claimed that Beijing is still determining whether its potential invasion of Taiwan would be successful

UN rights chief opens channels of communication about issues in China

The new UN human rights chief said Tuesday that his office has opened "channels of communication" to help follow up on concerns about the rights of minorities in China, including Uyghur Muslims and Tibetans. But this fell short of activists' hopes for a stronger message to Beijing. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk, in an address highly anticipated by rights advocates, didn't detail how his office plans to follow up on a critical report on China's western Xinjiang region published in August by his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet. That report cited possible "crimes against humanity" against Uyghurs and others in Xinjiang. Trk noted that the UN rights office "documented grave concerns" like arbitrary detentions and family separations in China, and called for "concrete follow-up." He also voiced concerns about the impact of the national security law in Hong Kong that has suppressed its pro-democracy movement. "Regarding China, we have opened up channels of communication with

Biden administration to relax Covid testing rules for travellers from China

The Biden administration is preparing to relax COVID-19 testing restrictions for travellers from China as soon as Friday, according to two people familiar with the decision. The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the administration has decided to roll back the testing requirements as cases, hospitalizations and deaths are declining in China and the US has gathered better information about the surge. The restrictions were put in place on December 28 and took effect on January 5 amid a surge in infections in China after the nation sharply eased pandemic restrictions and as US health officials expressed concerns that their Chinese counterparts were not being truthful to the world about the true number of infections and deaths. At the time, US officials also said the restriction was necessary to protect US citizens and communities because there was a lack of transparency from the Chinese government "about the size of the sur

Pak tells IMF about asking China for rollover of $2 bn deposits for next yr

Pakistan has informed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Islamabad has requested China for rollover of $2 billion SAFE (State Administration of Foreign Exchange) deposits for another one-year

Xi Jinping's right hand, Li Qiang to become China's next premier

All eyes are now on Li Qiang, who is favourite to replace Keqiang as Premier. Li is a crony of Xi's from his days in provincial government, having served as Xi's de facto chief of staff

Conflict with America inevitable unless they 'hit the brakes': China

US had been engaging in suppression and containment of China rather than engaging in fair, rule-based competition, Foreign Minister Qin Gang told a news conference

UN rights chief cites 'communication' about human rights issues in China

The new U.N. human rights chief said Tuesday that his office has opened channels of communication to help follow up on concerns about the rights of minorities in China, including Uyghur Muslims and Tibetans. But this fell short of activists' hopes for a stronger message to Beijing. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk, in an address highly anticipated by rights advocates, didn't detail how his office plans to follow up on a critical report on China's western Xinjiang region published in August by his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet. That report cited possible crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and others in Xinjiang. Trk noted that the U.N. rights office documented grave concerns" like arbitrary detentions and family separations in China, and called for "concrete follow-up. He also voiced concerns about the impact of the national security law in Hong Kong that fanned huge protests. Regarding China, we have opened up channels of communication with a range of actors to