News Updates
23 August - 31 August, 2019
- China accuses G7 countries of ‘meddling’ in Hong Kong affairs
Biarritz meeting ends with statement reaffirming importance of Sino-British Joint Declaration
Chinese foreign affairs spokesman says no country has the right to intervene in the city
Beijing has condemned “irresponsible comments” by the G7 leaders, who made reference to Hong Kong in a joint statement at the end of their three-day meeting in southwestern France.
China also accused the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US of having “ulterior motives” and of meddling in Hong Kong affairs, after they expressed “deep concern” about the situation in the city. (South China Morning Post, China, August 28, 2019)
- Hong Kong riots wouldn't take place without Western support: Russian expert
The violent protests in Hong Kong are, in essence, a continuation of pressure on China exerted by certain Western countries, Grigory Trofimchuk, a Russian expert in the field of foreign policy, defense and security, said in a recent interview with People's Daily Online. (People’s Daily, China, August 29, 2019)
- China ushers in a new era of service economy
The service sector accounted for 52.2 percent of China’s total GDP in 2018, which suggests that China has entered an era of service economy, according to a research group with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. (People’s Daily, China, August 29, 2019)
- China, Russia sign heavy helicopter deal
China and Russia have fully agreed upon and signed a commercial contract on a joint heavy helicopter development project, said Miao Wei, China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, on Wednesday. (Global Times, China, August 29, 2019)
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China should hasten defense system deployment in South China Sea: analysts
A US Navy destroyer sailed near Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea under the pretense of "freedom of navigation" on Wednesday. Chinese analysts believe the US is once again trying to provoke China and are calling for the speeding up of defense system deployment.
The US destroyer Wayne E. Meyer carried out the operation, traveling within 12 nautical miles of the Yongshu Reef and the Meiji Reef, according to Reann Mommsen, a spokesperson for the US Navy's Seventh Fleet. (Global Times, China, August 29, 2019)
- China seeks to change economic landscape as Donald Trump escalates US decoupling risks
President Xi Jinping decides China’s economic efforts should concentrate on major cities, while also building up complete and modern value chains
Decisions from China’s supreme economic policy decision making body follows the US extending current and planned tariffs on US$550 billion of Chinese imports
(South China Morning Post, China, August 29, 2019)
- US moves quickly to implement Donald Trump’s trade war tariff increase on Chinese-made consumer goods
US Federal Register notice confirms tariff rise from 10 to 15 per cent on US$300 billion of goods from Friday
Move in response to China’s decision to impose retaliatory tariffs of between 5 and 10 per cent on US$75 billion worth of American products. (South China Morning Post, China, August 28, 2019)
- India dismisses Beijing’s concerns over Kashmir because ‘it won’t have any impact on China’
New Delhi’s ambassador says decision to strip state of its autonomous status is purely an ‘internal matter’
Decision has angered China’s long-standing ally Pakistan, but India insists the move has ‘zero international ramifications’ (South China Morning Post, China, August 28, 2019)
- US cruise missile test will start a new arms race, says China
Test of ground-launched missile on island off California will help develop intermediate-range capabilities, US says
Russia also on alert as test hints at Washington’s changing priorities after recent arms treaty withdrawal (South China Morning Post, China, August 21, 2019)
- Beijing won’t make trade concessions if US plays Hong Kong card, Chinese state media says
People’s Daily commentary follows Donald Trump’s suggestion that trade talks could be hampered if Beijing used violent means to suppress protests
The United States should not link trade negotiations with China to the Hong Kong protests, Chinese state media has said, denouncing such a move as a miscalculation.
Chinese diplomatic observers also said Beijing considered the worsening situation in Hong Kong a sovereignty issue and would be highly unlikely to cave to Washington’s pressure. (South China Morning Post, China, August 21, 2019)
- The US breaks free of its nuclear treaty with Russia to focus on its main target: China
Washington is now free to test and deploy the intermediate-range missiles it believes it needs to compete with its most serious challenger
China’s growing arsenal sets the scene for the resurgence of nuclear geopolitics
On the surface, the primary reason behind the United States’ recent withdrawal from the bilateral
(South China Morning Post, China, August 21, 2019)
- Xi Jinping urges Rodrigo Duterte to help build China-Philippine relations as pair meet amid growing South China Sea tensions
Philippine leader has faced a growing domestic backlash after a Chinese vessel sank a Filipino ship, but Xi insists the two countries should cooperate and try to agree on a code of conduct for the disputed waters
Manila’s ambassador says ‘now is the time’ to discuss their dispute after three years in which Duterte has worked to build up reservoir of goodwill (South China Morning Post, China, August 30, 2019)
1 August - 22 August, 2019
- China says it will support Pakistan ‘upholding its rights’ in Kashmir row with India
Beijing urges calm after Indian government moves to strip disputed territory of its special status but offers support to its Pakistani ally
Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi tells counterpart Wang Yi that he is confident China will ‘uphold justice’ on this issue
(South China Morning Post, China, August 10, 2019)
- Are Hong Kong protesters pro-American or British when they wave the US and UK flags? The answer is complicated
The flying of flags of other countries at protests is often cited as evidence of foreign interference or an attempt to spark an uprising against central government
But ask the flag-bearers themselves and the picture is more nuanced and quite different from these assumptions
(South China Morning Post, China, August 22, 2019)
- Donald Trump’s trade war tariffs on China failing to bring jobs and manufacturing back to the US
The US president promised tariffs on Chinese goods as part of the trade war would help bring jobs back to the United States
But while firms are leaving China, it is the likes of Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Mexico, and Bangladesh that are benefiting the most
(South China Morning Post, China, August 22, 2019)
- China, France pledge to enhance cooperation in easing tensions on Iran nuclear issue
China is willing to work with France to prevent further escalation of tensions on the Iran nuclear issue, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday in a phone conversation with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron. (Global Times, China, August 10, 2019)
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Japan and South Korea raise concerns about Hong Kong protests in meeting with Chinese foreign minister
Taro Kono and Kang Kyung-wha discuss situation in the city during a summit with their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi
Chinese state media says both neighbours were concerned about well-being of their countries’ citizens and businesses
(South China Morning Post, China, August 22, 2019)
- US calls Beijing a ‘thuggish regime’ for ‘harassing’ American diplomat over Hong Kong meeting with Joshua Wong
State Department accuses Chinese government of ‘leaking’ official’s personal details, including photograph and names of children
China has demanded that US diplomats ‘stop interfering’ in city’s affairs after reported meeting with local democracy activists (South China Morning Post, August 9, 2019)
- US flexes military muscle in South China Sea with nuclear aircraft carrier port call in the Philippines
Washington and Manila use visit to bang drum for community and military ties. Analyst expects stopover to prompt show of military might from Beijing. The United States has sent its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan to the Philippines to show its commitment to an ally and in a display of military might aimed at checking China’s expansion in the South China Sea. (South China Morning Post, August 8, 2019)
- China and ASEAN coming closer on South China Sea controversy
At the 52nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, which concluded Saturday, ministers reaffirmed promoting implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and strengthening cooperation with their dialogue partners. ASEAN members threw their weight behind multilateralism and free trade, promoted consultations and managed disputes, agreeing to further carry forward ASEAN economic integration. (Global Times, China, August 7, 2019)
- China urges Western nations not to intervene in Hong Kong affairs
China on urged the United States and some other Western countries to honor their commitment and stop supporting violent activities and intervening in Hong Kong affairs in any form.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks when commenting on reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had described what was happening in Hong Kong as "riots for a long period of time" that China will have to deal with itself. (People’s Daily, China, August 3, 2019)
- China rebukes accusation of militarizing South China Sea
China rejected to be labeled as militarizing the South China Sea, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.
Wang made the remarks in response to accusations from a certain non-regional power regarding the South China Sea issue during the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) foreign ministers' meeting and other related meetings. (Global Times, China, August 3, 2019)
- Donald Trump’s latest China tariffs threat could breach WTO rules, says Australian trade minister
Simon Birmingham warns during visit to Beijing that impact on global economy is a ‘more immediate concern’
The Guardian
Australia’s trade minister said US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on US$300 billion worth of Chinese goods could breach World Trade Organisation rules.
Speaking on Sky News on Sunday, Simon Birmingham said it “may well” be the case that the US would breach WTO rules.
(South China Morning Post, China, August 4, 2019)
- Pentagon chief takes aim at China as US and Australia reaffirm defence ties
Mark Esper says America won’t stand by as one nation tries to reshape the region through ‘destabilising’ military and economic expansion
The chief of the Pentagon labelled Beijing’s military and economic expansion “destabilising behaviour” on Sunday, after talks to cement military ties with traditional US ally, Australia.
“We firmly believe no one nation can or should dominate the Indo-Pacific, and we are working alongside our allies and partners to address the region’s pressing security needs,” US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said in Sydney. (South China Morning Post, China, August 4, 2019)
- China no longer US’ top trade partner: statistics
China is no longer the biggest trade partner of the US, as tariff barriers imposed by the US caused a slowdown of bilateral trade, according to statistics released by the US Department of Commerce on Friday. But as the trade fight is exacerbated by the next round of tariffs announced by the Trump administration, more ordinary US consumers will be harmed, said experts.
(Global Times, China, August 4, 2019)
- Former Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa accuses the United States and Taiwan of orchestrating ‘well-organised’ recent protests
City’s first chief executive reiterates support for Hong Kong police and says there can be no compromise with those who challenge Beijing
‘We have reasons to believe there were masterminds behind the storm,’ he adds
(South China Morning Post, China, August 1, 2019)
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