Tag: china

Trump vows to block any TikTok deal that allows Chinese control

by Rob Lever WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A deal to restructure ownership of the popular video app TikTok was thrown into doubt Monday when President Donald Trump vowed to block any deal that allows its Chinese parent firm to retain any control. The comments raised fresh concerns over a weekend deal that appeared to avert a US-ordered ban of TikTok, which the Trump administration has called a national security risk and has threatened to […]

Trump and new Japan PM Suga discuss ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’: US

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Sunday spoke to Japan’s new prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, to congratulate him on taking office and to discuss a “free and open Indo-Pacific” region, which is increasingly dominated by China. Beijing’s expanding military presence in the region has worried several of its neighbors, and Washington has vowed to stand up against its territorial claims. China is locked in disputes with neighbors including Japan and […]

China launches sanctions regime after US moves on TikTok, WeChat

by Dan Martin Agence France Presse China on Saturday launched a mechanism that would allow it to sanction foreign companies, upping the ante in a tech war with the United States a day after Washington moved to curb popular Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat. China’s long-expected “unreliable entities list” is seen as a weapon for Beijing to retaliate against the United States, which has used its own “entity list” to shut Chinese telecom giant Huawei […]

US TikTok users prepare for a possible exit from platform

  by Thomas URBAIN Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — American TikTok users reacted with a collective shrug Friday to the US move to ban new downloads of the video-sharing app — but many are already planning an exit to other platforms should the clampdown lead to an outright ban. “Oh my God! Ok! It’s happening! Everybody stay calm!” TikToker Nick Foster told his 577,000 followers, dubbing a video of himself with […]

China holds military exercises near Taiwan as US diplomat visits

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — China said Friday it was conducting military exercises near the Taiwan Strait, as a top US diplomat visits the self-ruled island in a move that has angered Beijing. Relations between the United States and China are at their lowest point in decades, with the two sides clashing over a range of trade, military and security issues as well as the coronavirus pandemic. Keith Krach, US undersecretary of state for economic […]

China lab leak infects thousands with bacterial disease

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — Thousands of people in northwest China have tested positive for a bacterial disease after a leak from a state-owned biopharmaceutical plant making animal vaccines last year. Health officials in Lanzhou city said 3,245 people had contracted brucellosis, a disease often caused by close contact with infected animals or animal products that can bring about fevers, joint pain and headaches. Another 1,401 people tested as an early positive for the disease, […]

Indonesia protests against China ship in its waters

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Jakarta has protested against the intrusion of a Chinese coast guard ship into the Southeast Asian archipelago’s waters, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said Monday. The Chinese vessel, identified as CCG 5204, was seen Saturday in North Natuna waters, Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone near the Riau Islands province. “Following the issue, the ministry on Sunday communicated with Chinese representative in Jakarta to request clarification,” spokesman Teuku Faizasyah told AFP on Monday. The Indonesian […]

US government receives Oracle bid for TikTok

by John BIERS WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US officials were to consider a bid by tech giant Oracle to become an American partner to the Chinese-owned TikTok video app after it was designated a national security risk. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed the offer Monday concerning TikTok’s US operations after its parent company ByteDance rejected a proposal from Microsoft. TikTok said in a statement that “we’ve submitted a proposal to the Treasury Department which […]

India hails ‘game-changer’ French jets as China tensions soar

by Didier Lauras with Jalees Andrabi in New Delhi AMBALA, India (AFP) — India’s defence minister hailed the formal commissioning Thursday of the country’s first new French Rafale jets as a “strong message” to its adversaries, amid an escalating border row with China. The first five of a $9.4-billion order for 36 Rafale aircraft formally entered service following a ceremony in Ambala in northern India. “The induction of Rafale is a strong message for the […]

China rips into Trump order revoking visas of 1,000 Chinese students

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China accused Washington of “political persecution and racial discrimination” on Thursday, after the US confirmed it had revoked the visas of more than 1,000 Chinese students under an order by President Donald Trump that accused some of espionage. Trump declared in May that some Chinese nationals officially in the United States for study have stolen intellectual property and helped modernize China’s military, as tensions between the two countries soar on multiple […]

Pompeo urges Southeast Asia to shun South China Sea firms

  HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Washington’s top diplomat urged Southeast Asia on Thursday to cut ties with Chinese companies helping build islands in the South China Sea, weeks after the US blacklisted two dozen firms working in the disputed waters. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s comments came at a regional Asian summit overshadowed by the US-China rivalry over a range of issues, from trade to the coronavirus. Tensions are also simmering over the South China […]

China says US biggest threat to peace in South China Sea

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China accused the US of becoming “the biggest driver of militarization” in the contested South China Sea, as tensions between Washington and Beijing look set to swamp a regional Asian summit. US-China rivalry is expected to dominate discussion at this year’s ASEAN conference, which comes just days after Beijing launched ballistic missiles in the flashpoint waters as part of live-fire exercises. Beijing claims the majority of the resource-rich South China Sea, […]