How will Raisi’s Beijing visit affect Iran-China ties? Tehran wants to expand ties with its ‘strategic’ partner, but it faces serious hurdles. Al Jazeera · Feb 18, 2023
China blasts 'hysterical' US balloon claims MUNICH: China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Saturday blasted the United States' reaction to what Washington has called a Chinese spy balloon as "hysterical and absurd", in uncharacteristically strong remarks against the top Western power. Bangkok Post · Feb 18, 2023
Ukraine invasion reshaped global alliances, renewed fears Nearly a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, the diplomatic consequences of the war still reverberate worldwide The Independent UK · Feb 18, 2023
Philippine president says nation won’t lose ‘inch’ of territory Marcos Jr earlier summoned Beijing’s envoy to express ‘serious concern’ over China’s harassment of a Philippine ship. Al Jazeera · Feb 18, 2023
U.S. completes recovery of Chinese balloon but other "object" searches called off The United States said on Friday it had successfully concluded recovery efforts off South Carolina to collect sensors and other debris from a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon shot down by a U.S. fighter jet on Feb. 4, and investigators are now analyzing its "guts." Reuters · Feb 18, 2023
President Marcos says Philippines 'will not lose an inch' of territory Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Saturday that the country "will not lose an inch" of territory, his remarks coming on the heels of continuing maritime tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea. Reuters · Feb 18, 2023
California lawmaker leads delegation to Taiwan amid already high US-China tensions WASHINGTON — Despite heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over the recent spy balloon downing , a U.S. congressional delegation led by California Rep. Ro Khanna plans to visit Taiwan this weekend, a move sure to be seen by China as a provocation. Los Angeles Times · Feb 18, 2023
Chinese balloon saga is part of a long history of U.S.-China tensions It’s not surprising the recent Chinese “weather balloon” incident has set off alarm bells. The Conversation · Feb 17, 2023
Brazil's Lula to meet China's Xi on March 28 in Beijing Brazil's new President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping on March 28 on Lula's first trip of his current term to his country's largest trading partner, official sources told Reuters. Reuters · Feb 17, 2023
Philippines sides with US amid rising regional tensions between Beijing and Washington The US-China rivalry in east Asia has taken an interesting turn after the recent visit of US defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, to the Philippines. Austin’s trip ended in an expanded deal, the enhanced defense cooperation agreement (EDCA). The Conversation · Feb 17, 2023
'Crouching Tiger' brings back beauty, exhilaration and a never-better Michelle Yeoh It begins with a plaintive cello solo, followed by a crashing of drums: Serene melancholy yields to pulse-quickening excitement. Right from the start, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is built on a series of tensions that director Ang Lee is in no hurry to resolve. He eases us into a lost… Los Angeles Times · Feb 17, 2023
Chinese arrivals forecast to reach 1m in August About 161,000 Chinese tourists have entered Thailand since Beijing eased travel restrictions on Jan 8, with the total expected to reach 500,000 on May 1 and one million in August, authorities said on Friday. Bangkok Post · Feb 17, 2023
Truss urges west to safeguard Taiwan security ‘before it’s too late’ In Tokyo speech to conservative lawmakers, former British PM issues warning about Chinese aggression The Guardian - AU · Feb 17, 2023
Liz Truss’s delusional speech about China is digging the trenches of a second cold war Does she really think Xi’s threats to Taiwan will be stopped by the sabre-rattling of the failed PM of a former colonial power? asks foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall The Guardian - UK · Feb 17, 2023
Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 17, 2023 TikTok Planning 2 More Data Centers in Europe amid Data Security Concerns Chinese social media company TikTok plans to open two more data centers in Europe, a senior executive said on Friday, a move that could mitigate concerns over the security of users' data and ease regulatory pressure on the company. TikTok has been seeking to assure governments and regulators that users'…
Radio France Internationale · Feb 17, 2023 France lifts Covid testing requirement for travellers from China France has dropped Covid testing restrictions imposed on travellers from China, the French embassy in Beijing has announced.
Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 17, 2023 Chinese President to Visit Iran Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to Iran, Beijing’s foreign ministry said Thursday, as a three-day trip to China by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi drew to a close. The Chinese president “gladly accepted the invitation” by Raisi, said a joint statement by both countries, although no date…
The Guardian - AU · Feb 17, 2023 Top Pentagon official to visit Taiwan, report says, amid US-China tensions Relations between Beijing and Washington have soured since the US accused China of sending a spy balloon into its airspace
Tribune News Service · Feb 17, 2023 US reportedly sending Pentagon official to Taiwan within days The U.S. is sending its top China defense official to Taiwan in the coming days, according to the Financial Times — though it’s unclear how Beijing will respond given the softer tone it has adopted in its diplomacy with the U.S. and allies recently.
Al Jazeera · Feb 16, 2023 Biden says flying objects likely tied to private sector, research US president says objects shot down over North America do not appear to be linked to alleged Chinese ‘spy’ balloon.
Reuters · Feb 16, 2023 Uyghur groups call for U.N. action against China over rights abuses Uyghur advocacy groups called on United Nations bodies to take action against China on Thursday over its abuses against the mainly Muslim ethnic minority, after U.N. experts this week reviewed Beijing's rights record.
Tribune News Service · Feb 16, 2023 China hits back at US with sanctions on Lockheed, Raytheon China imposed fines and sanctions against two U.S. defense companies in a further escalation of tensions between the world’s two biggest economies.
The Guardian - AU · Feb 16, 2023 Former Australian PM Scott Morrison likens west’s ‘appeasement’ of China to Munich agreement with Hitler Speech in Tokyo draws parallel with pre-second world war agreement, and claims credit for urging others to stand up to Beijing ‘bullying’
Al Jazeera · Feb 16, 2023 China calls for Iran sanctions to be lifted during Raisi’s visit Beijing has condemned the punitive economic measures during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s first state visit.
Bangkok Post · Feb 16, 2023 Xi Jinping to visit Iran BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to Iran, the foreign ministry said Thursday, as a three-day trip to China by the leader of the Islamic republic drew to a close.