by Eva XIAO BEIJING, China (AFP) — China warned Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters Tuesday that “those who play with fire will perish by it”, a day after the most widespread unrest of the two-month crisis. In its harshest warning yet, Beijing said the immense strength of the central government should not be underestimated, while police in the semi-autonomous city announced they had arrested almost 150 people in connection with Monday’s violence. The global financial center […]
Tag: china
China reiterates support for Hong Kong’s embattled leader
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s ruling Communist Party once again underlined its wholesale support for Hong Kong’s embattled leader on Tuesday as she struggles to contain increasingly violent anti-government unrest. The two-month crisis has become the biggest threat to Beijing’s rule of the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city since its handover from the British in 1997. One of the protesters’ key demands is for Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam to stand down. But, a day […]
Beijing warns of ‘countermeasures’ over US missile plans
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China warned Tuesday it would take unspecified countermeasures if the United States goes ahead with plans to deploy ground-based missiles in the Asia-Pacific region. The comments come days after US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the US was now free to deploy the weapons following its withdrawal last week from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia. “China will not stand idly by and will be forced to take countermeasures […]
US designates China as a ‘currency manipulator’
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Monday formally named China a currency manipulator, accusing Beijing of weakening the yuan as the two countries’ trade war escalates. The move came as China earlier on Monday allowed its currency to fall to its weakest levels against the dollar in almost a decade, prompting irate Twitter outbursts from US President Donald Trump and sending global equities markets diving into the red. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin […]
Global stocks tumble on escalating US-China trade war
by John BIERS NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — World stock markets plunged Monday as Beijing parried US President Donald Trump’s latest tariff announcements by moving to let the China yuan currency devalue and halting purchases of US agricultural products. The rebuttal sparked Wall Street’s worst selloff of the year and also led to significant declines in leading bourses in Europe and Asia amid fears the escalation of the months-long conflict will further dim the […]
Asia markets sink as the Chinese yuan tumbles
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Asian markets plummeted Monday as the Chinese yuan fell sharply, days after US President Donald Trump’s vow to impose fresh tariffs on goods from China sent trade war fears soaring. Trump’s announcement, which came on Thursday, means virtually all of the $660 billion in annual merchandise trade between the world’s two biggest economies will be subject to punitive tariffs, with the latest duties due to take effect September 1. The […]
Hong Kong protests pushing city to ‘very dangerous situation’: leader
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong’s embattled pro-Beijing leader on Monday accused pro-democracy protesters of trying to “destroy” the city in a dramatic escalation of rhetoric as the financial hub is rocked by two months of rallies and clashes. Two months of protests and clashes with police have pushed the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city to a “very dangerous situation”, chief executive Carrie Lam said, as she struck a defiant tone as strikes and travel […]
Pro-democracy push causes transport chaos in Hong Kong
by Jerome TAYLOR / Elaine YU HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Peak-hour morning train travel and international flights in Hong Kong were thrown into chaos on Monday as pro-democracy protesters launched an attempted city-wide strike to ramp up pressure on the financial hub’s embattled leaders. Activists descended on key subway stations during the morning rush hour, deliberately keeping open doors to stop trains departing, causing long queues and triggering occasional scuffles between angry commuters and […]
More than 100 flights cancelled in Hong Kong: airport
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — More than 100 flights were canceled in Hong Kong on Monday morning with airport authorities warning passengers of potential disruption, as pro-democracy protesters kick off a city-wide strike. At least 105 flights were listed as canceled on the airport’s departure page on Monday morning. When contacted, an airport spokesman did not give any reason for the cancellations but said passengers should check to see if their flight was departing. “The […]
Hong Kong protesters defy China warnings with weekend rallies
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Anti-government protesters in Hong Kong kicked off a new mass rally on Saturday as they defy increasingly stern warnings from China over weeks-long unrest that has plunged the city into crisis. The semi-autonomous southern Chinese financial hub has seen two months of protests and clashes triggered by opposition to a planned extradition law that quickly evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms. Authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing […]
Latest Trump tariffs to directly hit consumers
by John BIERS NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Earlier US tariffs enacted in President Donald Trump’s trade war with China has dealt only a glancing blow to consumers, but those announced Thursday are different. “This hits consumers straight on,” Steve Pasierb, president of the Toy Association, said in an interview. “This is the finished products. It’s not raw materials.” The tariffs, a 10 percent levy on $300 billion in Chinese goods that Trump said […]
Pompeo says US not asking ASEAN allies to ‘choose’ on China
by Francesco FONTEMAGGI / Dene-Hern Chen Agence France Presse BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted Thursday that Washington was not asking Southeast Asian nations to “choose” between his country and rival power China, as he trailed a rebooted security and trade strategy at a Bangkok summit. The denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, a bitter trade war between the superpowers and open access to contested seas dominated talks between Pompeo […]





