All the world's a stage Global issues such as the Russian-Ukraine war affected countries around the world, and Thailand, as the host of the Apec summit, was no exception. Bangkok Post · Dec 29, 2022
China's Xi solidified grip on power during tumultuous 2022 Xi Jinping secured an historic third leadership term in October, emerging as China's most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong, bolstered by a Politburo Standing Committee stacked with allies and no successor-in-waiting to challenge him. Reuters · Dec 29, 2022
Putin and Xi to speak by video link on Friday Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping via video link on Friday to discuss a host of bilateral and regional issues. Reuters · Dec 29, 2022
Philippines and China seek to avoid ‘miscalculation’ MANILA: The Philippines and China will establish direct communication between their foreign ministries to avoid “miscalculation and miscommunication” in the hotly disputed South China Sea, Manila said on Thursday. Bangkok Post · Dec 29, 2022
Analysis-China's COVID policymaking under scrutiny as infections soar After China scrapped three years of zero-COVID curbs in 30 days, setting off a massive wave of infections, Beijing's policymakers face an immense challenge to treat the sick and minimise deaths while winning back public trust dented by previous policies. Reuters · Dec 29, 2022
New chapter of U.S.- China competition Both Washington and Beijing are trying to manage their superpower competition — and still come out on top. Axios · Dec 28, 2022
China’s $1.3 Trillion Housing Crackdown Leaves Few Winners Even after the defaults and sales declines, prices remain high. Businessweek · Dec 28, 2022
Trump's "trading cards": The last straw! They didn't mind the coup, the corruption, the sexual misconduct or the lies. But a trading-card scam — horrors! Salon · Dec 27, 2022
Chinese Make Travel Plans as COVID Rules Ease Further Chinese people, cut off from the rest of the world for three years by COVID-19 curbs, flocked to travel sites on Tuesday ahead of borders reopening, even as rising infections strained the health system and roiled the economy. Zero-tolerance measures - from shuttered borders to frequent lockdowns - have battered… Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 27, 2022
A South Korean trajectory for China's capital? In October, the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China endorsed another five-year term for President Xi Jinping, effectively ending the practice of limiting the presidency to two terms. It was thus also an unmistakable break with the tradition of collective leadership established in the late 1970s after the… Bangkok Post · Dec 26, 2022
Russia's Putin and China's Xi to confer this week - TASS quotes Kremlin Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will speak before the end of the year, Russian state news agency TASS said on Monday, without giving details of the timing or format. Reuters · Dec 26, 2022
China aims to rebuild US ties in diplomatic push for 2023 China said it will strive to “recalibrate” its relationship with the U.S. and increase communication with Europe as the country outlines its major diplomatic tasks for next year. Tribune News Service · Dec 25, 2022
China must raise self-reliance in agricultural technology, Xi says President Xi Jinping wants China to accelerate efforts to achieve self-reliance in agricultural technology, identifying seed development and core equipment among areas to focus on, state media reported. Reuters · Dec 25, 2022
Tao Huabi's Lao Gan Ma chilli sauce is a beloved household staple but will her Chinese success story continue? For decades, Tao Huabi's Lao Gan Ma chilli crisp sauce has dominated China's spicy sauce market but, now, a cloud of competition is looming over her chilli empire. ABC News · Dec 24, 2022
Bangkok Post · Dec 24, 2022 Mid-January reopening of HK-China border planned Hong Kong is aiming to reopen its border with China by mid-January, city leader John Lee announced on Saturday after returning from meetings in Beijing.
Tribune News Service · Dec 24, 2022 Blinken raises China’s COVID ‘transparency’ with his Chinese counterpart U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Chinese counterpart that it was important for Beijing to be transparent about a growing COVID-19 outbreak, as questions mount about whether Chinese officials are trying to downplay the number of deaths.
The Independent UK · Dec 23, 2022 Xi reaffirms China's governing principle for Hong Kong Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to follow the “one country, two systems” governing principle for Hong Kong, saying it is the “best arrangement” to maintain the city’s prosperity and stability
Reuters · Dec 23, 2022 China lacked a 'zero COVID' exit plan. Its people are paying the price At the public hospital in Shanghai where Nora, a 30-year-old doctor, works, tension has spiraled since China relaxed its stringent zero-COVID policy on Dec. 7.
Bangkok Post · Dec 22, 2022 Global, regional, local trends for 2023 Although economic predictions are usually reserved for the foolhardy, as the future is always difficult to ascertain, there are certain trend lines and probabilities that can be discerned at the global and regional level as well as the local level here in Thailand. As a year-end exercise, we can tease…
The Conversation · Dec 22, 2022 The power and the pitfalls of personal storytelling – the best podcasts of 2022 It’s been a strange year for podcasts. Serial, the original 2014 blockbuster from the United States, was back in the news when its protagonist, Adnan Syed, had historic murder charges against him “vacated”. But Serial’s update episode glossed over the flaws in their original reporting, gaps instead plugged by the…
The New Daily · Dec 22, 2022 Australia-China talks under way, but relationship remains fraught and ripe to ‘explode’ The Australian foreign minister's visit to China has reignited hopes the two countries are on the road to patching up their relationship.
The Conversation · Dec 22, 2022 China's increasing economic ties with the Gulf states are reducing the west's sway in the Middle East At the end of November 2022, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak announced that the “golden era” between Great Britain and China was over. China may not have been too bothered by this news however, and has been busy making influential friends elsewhere.
ABC News · Dec 21, 2022 'The return of goodwill' Reflections on 50 years of China-Australia relations through the eyes of two people who have been at the centre from the start.
Bangkok Post · Dec 21, 2022 Xi vows to promote China-Australia strategic partnership Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged Wednesday to promote a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Australia in a message to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, state-run media said.
The Independent UK · Dec 21, 2022 Australia and China agree to continue high-level dialogue to ‘restore relations’ Ministers meet to restore relations between the two Asia-Pacific nations