Tag: china

Pelosi lands in Malaysia as China rages over Taiwan

by Patrick Lee, with Amber Wang in Taipei Agence France-Presse KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Malaysian state media reported, her second stop in an Asian tour that has sparked rage in Beijing over a possible stop in Taiwan. Beijing views Taiwan as its territory and has indicated through repeated warnings that it would view the visit as a major provocation. Pelosi landed at a […]

W.House warns Beijing against turning Pelosi Taiwan visit into a ‘crisis’

by Martin Abbugao, with Amber Wang in Taipei and Sebastian Smith in Washington Agence France-Presse SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — The White House on Monday warned China against overreacting to a trip by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, saying she would have every right to visit the self-ruled island despite Beijing viewing it as a highly provocative challenge. China need not turn any visit by Pelosi into a “crisis,” White House National Security Council […]

Alibaba shares extend losses on US delisting fear

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba led technology stocks lower in Hong Kong on Monday after US authorities put it on a watchlist that could see it delisted in New York if it does not comply with disclosure orders. The market heavyweight sank more than five percent in early trade, pushing it to its lowest level since May and dragging the Hang Seng Tech Index with it. The US securities watchdog on […]

Pelosi’s Asia tour set to kick off under Taiwan cloud

by Martin Abbugao Agence France-Presse SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi was expected to begin her Asia tour Monday in the shadow of diplomatic tensions with China, with no word yet if she will make a stop in Taiwan. Her reported plans to visit the island have sparked strong warnings from Beijing, and even unease in the White House with President Joe Biden trying to lower the temperature with China. […]

Chinese booster rocket makes uncontrolled return to Earth: US officials

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A Chinese booster rocket made an uncontrolled return to Earth on Saturday, US Defense Department officials said, as they chided Beijing for not sharing information on the potentially hazardous object’s descent. US Space Command “can confirm the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Long March 5B (CZ-5B) re-entered over the Indian Ocean at approx 10:45 am MDT on 7/30,” the US military unit said on Twitter, referring to China’s official […]

Hong Kong boy band ends show after falling screen hits dancers

Hong Kong, China | AFP At least two Hong Kong dancers were injured on Thursday night after being hit by a falling screen at a concert of the city’s most popular boy band Mirror. Footage of the incident circulated online showed a group of white-clad dancers performing onstage at the Hong Kong Coliseum when a giant overhead video screen fell and crushed a man. The screen then toppled onto at least one other person before […]

Biden, Xi agree to hold face-to-face summit

by Sebastian Smith Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed to schedule their first in-person summit during a sometimes tense phone call Thursday where Xi warned the United States not to “play with fire” in Taiwan. Although this was their fifth phone or video call since Biden took office a year and a half ago, the summit would be their first in-person meeting as leaders. […]

Biden undecided on China tariffs ahead of Xi call: W.House

by Sebastian Smith Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Joe Biden has still not decided whether to end some trade tariffs on China ahead of a phone call expected this week with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, a senior official said Tuesday. John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said the administration believes the tariffs imposed during a trade war under former president Donald Trump are not working, but that Biden has […]

Taiwan practices repelling Chinese sea invasion in war games

  TAIPEI, Taiwan (AFP) — Taiwan simulated intercepting Chinese attacks from the sea in annual war games on Tuesday, with President Tsai Ing-wen hailing the military’s “determination” as she watched from onboard a destroyer. Democratic Taiwan lives under constant threat of being invaded by China, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory to be seized by force if necessary. On the second day of the island’s largest annual war drills, Tsai, dressed […]

High-level US delegation heads to Solomons to mark WWII amid China moves

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A high-level US delegation will travel to the Solomon Islands to mark the 80th anniversary of the World War II Battle of Guadalcanal, months after the country signed a controversial security pact with China, the State Department announced Monday. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and other senior diplomats and military leaders will visit the islands’ capital Honiara from August 6-8 and attend memorial events organized with Japan, now a […]

As Pelosi eyes Taiwan trip, US anxious on China red lines

by Shaun Tandon Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A potential visit to Taiwan by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is stirring alarm in President Joe Biden’s administration which fears the trip may cross red lines for China — and that there is no exit path. China on Monday warned it was “getting ready” for a Pelosi visit to the self-ruling island next month and that the United States would “bear all responsibility for […]

China swelters under record heat

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Cities across China were on red alert for heatwaves on Monday, as tens of millions of people were warned to stay indoors and record temperatures strained energy supply. Swathes of the planet have been hit by extreme and deadly heatwaves in recent months, from Western Europe in July to India in March to April. Scientists say the extreme weather has become more frequent due to climate change, and will likely grow […]