Tag: china

US ambassador calls on South China Sea claimant countries to “refrain from provocative” actions

  (Eagle News) – United States Ambassador Sung Kim urged all countries with varying claims on the South China Sea to “refrain from provocative unilateral actions” even as he slammed China for its continuous military action in the region. During the Embassy’s pre-celebration of the 243rd US Independence Day, Ambassador Kim said that this had always been the US government’s position. “We always say we urge all countries to refrain from provocative unilateral actions that’s […]

China tells UK to ‘refrain’ from Hong Kong ‘interference’

  LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — China warned Britain on Wednesday that it must “refrain from further interference” in Hong Kong’s protests or risk “further damaging” its relationship with Beijing. China has appeared irked by Britain’s public rebukes over the unprecedented anti-Beijing demonstrations that have rocked Hong Kong in recent weeks. “I do hope that the British government will realize the consequences and… refrain from further interference, from further damaging the relationship,” China’s UK ambassador […]

Palace to Duterte critics: “It’s absolutely fallacious to argue that the President is surrending PHL sovereignty”

  (Eagle News) — Malacanang described as “fallacious” arguments made by critics of President Rodrigo Duterte that he was surrendering the country’s sovereignty by not pressing China to recognize and abide by the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea. In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo also reminded critics, including Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, that the proper way in reading the Constitution was not to read one provision in […]

Trudeau ‘confident’ that Trump backed Canada in China G20 talks

TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that he was “confident” US President Donald Trump brought up Canadians held by Beijing during talks with China’s Xi Jinping. Relations deteriorated between China and Canada following the December arrest in Vancouver of Meng Wanzhou, a top official in China’s telecom giant Huawei, who is wanted by the United States for allegedly circumventing sanctions on Iran. Since then, Chinese authorities have arrested two Canadians on […]

Hong Kong grapples with protest aftermath as China demands criminal probe

  by Yan ZHAO / Catherine LAI Agence France Presse Hong Kong Tuesday grappled with the aftermath of a night of unprecedented anti-government protests which saw parliament ransacked, as Beijing called for a criminal probe into the unparalleled challenge to its authority. The semi-autonomous financial hub has been thrown into crisis by weeks of demonstrations over a bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland, with the issue becoming a lightning rod for resentment […]

Xi urged Trump to ease North Korea sanctions in ‘timely’ fashion

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping urged US President Donald Trump to “show flexibility” towards North Korea, including the “timely” easing of sanctions, at the G20 summit last week, China’s foreign minister said Tuesday. Xi visited North Korea prior to meeting Trump at the G20 in Japan on Saturday, and analysts had said the Chinese leader could use the trip as leverage in his trade war talks with the US leader. Trump […]

Clashes as Hong Kong marks China handover anniversary

by Elaine YU / Yan ZHAO HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Police in Hong Kong used pepper spray and batons against anti-government protesters who seized highways early Monday ahead of what is expected to be a huge pro-democracy rally on the anniversary of the city’s handover to China. The international financial hub has been shaken by historic demonstrations in the past three weeks, driven by demands for the withdrawal of a bill that would allow […]

Starfish shaped giant Beijing airport set to open on eve of China’s 70th birthday

  by Patrick BAERT Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — Beijing is set to open an eye-catching multi-billion dollar airport resembling a massive shining starfish, to accommodate soaring air traffic in China and celebrate the Communist government’s 70th anniversary in power. Work on the Beijing Daxing International Airport officially ended on schedule Sunday, ready for a September 30 inauguration — on the eve of the anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic on […]

Trump hints at softer stance on China’s Huawei

  OSAKA, Japan (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that US companies could sell equipment to Chinese telecom giant Huawei, indicating a potentially softer position on a key sticking point in the US-China trade war. “US companies can sell their equipment to Huawei,” Trump told reporters in Osaka hours after sealing a tariff truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “We’re talking about equipment where there’s no great national security problem with it.” […]

Duterte tells critics threatening to impeach him: “Just do it”

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte dared critics, including former Foreign Affairs chief Albert Del Rosario, to file an impeachment complaint against him as they raised the issue that he could be impeached for allowing Chinese fishermen to fish in the Philippines exclusive economic zone, including Recto Bank. Duterte, who had previously explained how it was almost impossible to prevent China from going into the country’s EEZ, said that there had been a “mutual […]

Canadian navy ships ‘buzzed’ by Chinese warplanes

OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — Two Canadian naval vessels were “buzzed” by Chinese fighter jets when they sailed through the East China Sea this week, the Canadian military said Thursday. A Canadian navy helicopter was also targeted by a laser detected from a nearby fishing boat, it said in a statement. There were no injuries nor damage, but the revelations come amid heightened tensions between the two nations over Canada’s arrest of a senior telecoms executive […]

De Lima says Duterte could be impeached for allowing China to fish in waters under PHL EEZ

  (Eagle News) – Opposiiton senator Leila De Lima said that President Rodrigo Duterte could be impeached for allowing Chinese fishing vessels to enter the Philippines exclusive economic zone. De Lima’s reaction was in support of the contention made by Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio that what President Duterte did in allowing foreign vessels to fish in the country’s EEZ was unconstitutional. In her statement, De Lima claimed that the President had “committed […]