Tag: china

Taiwanese celebrate freedom in the face of China’s war games

by Jack MOORE Agence France-Presse TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Retired lecturer Donald Ho was out for his morning stroll in a busy downtown park Sunday, anxious about what Chinese jets and ships holding war games around Taiwan meant for freedom in the self-ruled island. “I am a little worried, I would be lying to you if I say that I am not,” the 73-year-old told AFP in Taipei. “The problem is sovereignty. I want independence […]

China’s military hardware for its drills around Taiwan

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China is brandishing a wide array of military equipment and weapons as it conducts drills around Taiwan intended to intimidate the self-ruled island. The three-day show of force, which began on Saturday, comes after a visit by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to the United States sparked China’s ire. Here is a rundown of Beijing’s arsenal: – Aircraft – China has deployed dozens of planes in the airspace around Taiwan over the […]

China launches three days of military drills in Taiwan Strait

  Beijing, China | AFP | Saturday 4/8/2023 by James Edgar with Matthew Walsh in Pingtan China launched military drills around Taiwan on Saturday, in what it called a “stern warning” to the self-ruled island’s government following a meeting between its president and the US House speaker. Dubbed “United Sharp Sword”, the three-day operation — which state media said includes rehearsing an encirclement of Taiwan — will run until Monday, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) […]

China vows ‘resolute’ response to high-level US meet with Taiwan leader

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s foreign ministry on Thursday condemned the meeting between US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen in California, state media Xinhua reported. Tsai met with a delegation of US politicians from the Republican and Democratic parties during a stopover in the United States on Wednesday after visiting Guatemala and Belize, two of Taipei’s dwindling group of official allies. “In response to the seriously erroneous acts of collusion between […]

US talks show Taiwan ‘not isolated’: President Tsai

by Romain FONSEGRIVES Agence France-Presse SIMI VALLEY, United States (AFP) — US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy welcomed Taiwan’s president in California on Wednesday, in a meeting she said reassured the island’s people they were “not isolated” in the face of rising Chinese anger. Speaking to reporters after talks with the top Republican, Tsai Ing-wen said the welcome from a large delegation of politicians from both sides of the aisle was proof Taipei had friends in […]

China calls for WTO review of US-led chip export restrictions

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Beijing has asked the United States, Japan and the Netherlands to confirm the existence of an alleged agreement between the three countries to curb semiconductor exports to China, state media reported Wednesday. Beijing’s representatives issued the request during a regular meeting this week at the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to a state television broadcast. Representatives demanded that the three countries “notify the WTO of the agreement and subsequent measures, and […]

France’s Macron begins China trip with Ukraine, trade on agenda

BEIJING, China (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron was due in Beijing on Wednesday for a visit in which he hopes to dissuade China from supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while also forging closer ties with a crucial trade partner. Macron will look to stand firm on Ukraine during talks with his counterpart Xi Jinping and offer “another path” from the directly confrontational tone often heard from Washington, an official from his office told reporters […]

China warns Philippine-US base deal ‘endangering regional peace’

China warned on Tuesday that Washington was “endangering regional peace” in a new deal with the Philippines that will see four additional bases be used by US troops, including one near the disputed South China Sea and another not far from Taiwan. “Out of self-interest, the US maintains a zero-sum mentality and continues to strengthen its military deployment in the region,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. “The result will inevitably be increased military tension and […]

Australia bans TikTok on government devices

by Steven TRASK Agence France-Presse SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia said Tuesday it will ban TikTok on government devices, joining a growing list of Western nations cracking down on the Chinese-owned app due to national security fears. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the decision followed advice from the country’s intelligence agencies and would begin “as soon as practicable”. Australia is the last member of the secretive Five Eyes security alliance to pursue a government TikTok ban, […]

Top Republican McCarthy to meet Taiwanese president in US

Washington, United States | AFP | Monday 4/3/2023 Republican US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Monday he would meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in California on Wednesday, a move China said would be a provocation. “On Wednesday, April 5, Speaker Kevin McCarthy will be hosting a bipartisan meeting with the President of Taiwan at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library,” his office announced in a statement. China has warned the United States that it is “playing with fire” over […]

Malaysia ready to negotiate with China on South China Sea: PM

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | AFP | Monday 4/3/2023 Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Monday that Malaysia was prepared to negotiate the South China Sea dispute with Beijing to safeguard the country’s energy exploration efforts. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea — a strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually — despite an international court ruling that Beijing’s assertion has no legal basis. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and […]

Troubled investment bank China Renaissance suspends share trading

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Investment bank China Renaissance suspended trading in its Hong Kong-listed shares on Monday, saying the disappearance of its chairman meant it was unable to publish its annual results. Bao Fan, the group’s billionaire chairman and executive director, went missing in February and was later revealed to be “cooperating” in an official investigation — sparking fears of a renewed crackdown on China’s finance sector. The bank, which specializes in the Chinese tech […]