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☆ Xi Jinping is hyping China as Ukraine's peacemaker — while actually helping Russia's invasion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewChina's leader, Xi Jinping, played the role of Ukraine's peacemaker during talks on Tuesday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. At the meeting in Beijing, Xi presented his German counterpart with four principles for peace in Ukraine, according to Chinese state media. AdvertisementThe principles are vague and similar to a Ukraine peace plan proposed by China last year. But despite these public statements, analysts say that Xi's claims to be a peacemaker are a charade and that in reality, China is increasing support for Russia's military. AdvertisementThis is in addition to the diplomatic and economic support China has already given the Kremlin.

Persons: —, Xi Jinping, Olaf Scholz, Xi, Scholz, Vladimir Putin, he's, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Business, London's Royal United Services Institute, The, Associated Press Locations: Beijing, Ukraine, China, Russia, US, Germany, San Francisco

☆ Biden wants to triple China tariffs on steel, aluminum imports
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden is calling on the U.S. Trade Representative to triple the China tariff rate on steel and aluminum imports as he makes the rounds in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania. Biden's demand to raise the current 7.5% average tariff on steel and aluminum is an effort to make clear that his administration's recent warnings about China's trade practices are not empty threats. In an interview with CNBC's Sara Eisen, Yellen said that tariffs were not off the table if those overcapacity qualms went unaddressed. As China shrugs off the overcapacity concerns, the Biden administration is doubling down on what it perceives as the threat to global trade. "China's policy-driven overcapacity poses a serious risk to the future of the American steel and aluminum industry," National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard said on a call with reporters on Tuesday.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Janet Yellen, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Yellen, China shrugs, Biden, Lael Brainard Organizations: Economic Cooperation, U.S . Trade, United Steelworkers, Economic Locations: Asia, San Francisco, China, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh

☆ Germany’s Leader Walks a Fine Line in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Alexandra Stevenson | Melissa Eddy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany tried to strike a delicate balance on a trip to China this week, promoting business ties with his country’s biggest trading partner while criticizing its surge of exports to Europe and its support for Russia. Mr. Scholz met with China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Tuesday, the culmination of a three-day visit with a delegation of German officials and business leaders. Throughout his trip, Mr. Scholz promoted the interests of German companies that are finding it increasingly hard to compete in China. And he conveyed growing concern in the European Union that the region’s market is becoming a dumping ground for Chinese goods produced at a loss. It was Mr. Scholz’s first visit to China since his government adopted a strategy last year that defined the Asian power as a “partner, competitor and systemic rival,” calling on Germany to reduce its dependency on Chinese goods.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Germany, Scholz, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Scholz’s Organizations: European Union Locations: China, Europe, Russia, Diaoyutai, Beijing, Ukraine, United States, European, Germany

☆ China is refusing to condemn Iran's strike on Israel — and it's part of a Middle East power play
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China refused to condemn Iran's missile attack on Israel. AdvertisementChina refused to condemn Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel as it seeks to position itself as a key player in the Middle East. The statement was notable because it contained no condemnation of Iran's attack on Israel on Saturday. The US has sought to enlist China is helping to prevent a bigger regional war, the State Department said. In the readout, China praised Iran for acting with restraint in its response to Israel's embassy attack.

Persons: —, Wang Yi's, Hossein Amir, Amir, Abdollahian, Wang, Israel's, Xi Jinping, Ebrahim Raisi, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Foreign, Saturday, Iran, Iranian, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Israel's, US, State Department Locations: China, Israel, Iran, Damascus, Syria, Iranian, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Beijing

☆ Why Germany Can’t Break Up With China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Melissa Eddy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, took office in 2021, he pledged that his government would shift his country’s relationship with China away from one of economic dependence. Three years later, talk of scaling back reliance on China has been replaced with calls for equal access to China’s market for foreign firms. The U.S. Treasury secretary, Janet L. Yellen, has talked about imposing trade restrictions on China. The chief executives of several leading multinational companies based in Germany joined Mr. Scholz on his three-day tour of China, which included a meeting with Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, in Beijing on Tuesday. All of the company leaders oversee large operations in China that they are eager not only to maintain, but in many cases to expand.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Janet L, Scholz, Xi Jinping Organizations: Treasury, Mr Locations: China, United States, U.S, Germany, Beijing

☆ Wall Street still isn't fretting about geopolitics, even after Iran attacked Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewThe market served up another reminder of its indifference to geopolitics on Monday, as traders seemingly shrugged off the potential impact of Iran's strikes on Israel. Signs that the conflict between the two countries won't escalate any further have calmed the market's nerves, XTB research director Kathleen Brooks said on Monday. "The dollar opened the week fairly muted and US bond yields are slightly higher, suggesting that there was no flight to safe havens." Anyone who's been following markets for the past two years won't be surprised at traders' muted reaction to the latest tensions in the Middle East.

Persons: —, pare, Kathleen Brooks, Joe Biden, Brooks, who's, Jamie Dimon, Ray Dalio, Neal Shearing, Shearing, isn't Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Ali Khamenei —, Jerome Powell Organizations: Service, Brent, West Texas, Business, JPMorgan, Bridgewater, Capital Economics, Federal Reserve, Fed Locations: Israel, Iran, Tehran, OPEC

☆ Can China play a role in avoiding an all-out war in the Middle East?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Nectar Gan | Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“China calls on the international community, especially countries with influence, to play a constructive role for the peace and stability of the region,” the ministry added. The decision by Iran’s leaders to strike at Israel directly has pushed the shadow war between the two regional foes into the open. That’s why China does not condemn Iran,” said Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Washington-based Stimson Center think tank. Beijing meanwhile denounced the strike as a “barbarian act,” with protests erupting outside US diplomatic compounds across China. “For China, had US applies enough pressure on Israel, neither the Israeli attack nor the Iranian retaliation would have taken place.

Persons: Beijing’s, Antony Blinken, Wang Yi –, Saudi Arabia –, ”, William Figueroa, Figueroa, “, Xi Jinping, China’s, Iran ”, Israel, ” Figueroa, Wang Wenbin, Wang, Yun Sun, Bill Clinton, Jiang Zemin, ” Sun, Kishida, Jaishankar, Israel Katz, Hossein Amirabdollahian Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Foreign Ministry, Washington, US State Department, Hamas, Beijing, Tehran, University of Groningen, Global Security Initiative, CNN, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Stimson, NATO, Embassy, Japan’s, Israel’s Foreign, Iranian Locations: China, Hong Kong, East, Iran, Israel, Beijing, Gaza, Tehran, Damascus, Republic, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, Red, Tehran –, Netherlands, underinvestment, United States, Israeli, Syria, Quds, Washington, Belgrade, That’s, Yugoslavia, Asia, ”, India, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia

☆ Germany says Europe is open to Chinese cars but not at any price
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Shanghai Reuters —German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pressed his case on Monday for an open and fair European market for Chinese cars but warned against dumping, overproduction and intellectual property infringements as he spoke to a group of students in Shanghai. “At some point there will also be Chinese cars in Germany and Europe. The only thing that must always be clear is that competition must be fair,” Scholz told students at Tongji University in Shanghai. The German government and German businesses are also wary of any potential future conflict over Taiwan. “One of these principles is that we should not be afraid of our neighbors,” he told students, comparing global values and relations between countries to neighborly relations.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Scholz, ” Scholz, ”, Xi Jinping Organizations: Shanghai Reuters —, “, Tongji University Locations: Shanghai, China, Europe, Germany, “, Moscow, Ukraine, Taiwan

☆ Narendra Modi: India’s popular but controversial leader seeking a transformative third term
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +26 min

Varanasi and New Delhi CNN —Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi once famously made a simple election promise: “good days are coming”. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses his supporters during an election campaign rally in Pushkar on April 6, 2024. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking during a rally in Sydney, Australia, on May 23, 2023. Kalpit Bhachech/Getty Images Narendra Modi, then BJP secretary is welcomed at Ahmedabad Railway Station by the party's followers on January 31, 1992. Brent Lewin/Bloomberg/Getty Images India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on June 22, 2023.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Himanshu Sharma, Getty Images Modi, –, ”, Saba Naqvi, “, Vajpayee, Naqvi, Dileep Patel, John Mees, Akash Jaiswal, “ We’ve, ” Jaiswal, isn’t, Matthew Abbott, Hiraben, Damodardas, Dipam Bhachech, Lal Krishna Advani, Subhas Chandra Bose, Kalpit Bhachech, Kalpit, Negi Yasbant, Amit Dave, Ajit Solanki, Kevin Frayer, Saurabh Das, AP Modi, Manish Swarup, Lucas Jackson, Barack Obama, Adrien Helou, Reuters Modi, Adnan Abidi, Stringer, Mark Zuckerberg, David Paul Morris, Marco Longari, Angela Merkel, Tobias Schwarz, Emmanuel Macron, Charles Platiau, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, India's, Jair Bolsonaro, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Amit Shah, Money Sharma, Boris Johnson, Phil Noble, Anthony Albanese, Brent Lewin, Pedro Ugarte, Joe Biden, Doug Mills, Paul Mashatile, Jacoline, Imtiyaz Khan, Amr Alfiky, Patel, India’s, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv, Rahul Gandhi, Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, “ Narendra Modi, ” Mukhopadhyay, Mukhopadhyay, ” Modi, Keshav Baliram, “ Modi, BJP Modi, Lord Ram, ” Naqvi, Critics, Christophe Jaffrelot, Karan Thapar, ” Jaffrelot, Modi’s, it’s, —, Raj, India Narendra Modi, Kenny Hoston, Ram, ” Raniva, That’s Organizations: New Delhi CNN, Indian, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, India's, Getty Images, Pew, CNN, World Health Organization, New York Times, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Getty, Modi, Hospital, Narendra, India Today, Indian National Congress, AP, Madison, Garden, Reuters, Washington , D.C, French National Space Agency, of Yoga, Meta, Facebook, Bloomberg, European, Saudi Arabia's Crown, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kyodo, British, Summit, Qudos Bank, White, Anadolu Agency, Anadolu, United, United Arab Emirates, Cambridge, today’s Congress Party, Harvard, The Times, Muslim, Australia Locations: Varanasi, New Delhi, Gujarat, Pushkar, India, “ India, United States, Brazil, “, Sydney, Australia, Ahmedabad, Ahmadabad, Washington, Washington ,, Toulouse, France, Xian, AFP, Menlo Park , California, U.S, Pretoria, South Africa, China, Berlin, Paris, Rashtrapati, Russian, Brasilia, Glasgow, Red, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, Oxford, Vadnagar, Babri, Kadi, Kashmir, United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Jama

☆ As China's navy grows, the US fleet is on a 'downward trajectory,' maritime expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"It's the end of the pacifist period on the seas," Dr Steven Wills of the Center for Maritime Strategy, told Business Insider. The US fleet is still widely considered the world's most powerful navy due to its 11 aircraft carriers and cutting-edge nuclear submarine capabilities. "They're scrapping more ships than they're building, which means the US Navy is on a downward trajectory, not an upward trajectory," said Dr Salvatore Mercogliano, a maritime historian at Campbell University. Another piece of the puzzle is shipbuilding capacity. Expanding American shipbuilding capacity ought to start now, Wills said: "You don't make the arsenal of democracy overnight."

Persons: —, Dr Steven Wills, Gerald R, Ford, Nikos Libertas, Wills, Doug Livermore, Arleigh Burke, Salvatore Mercogliano, Tang Ke, Livermore, Defense Mark Esper, David Sacks, Mercogliano, That's, Xi Jinping, HECTOR RETAMAL, Sacks, I'm Organizations: Service, Center for Maritime Strategy, Business, Navy, US Navy, Campbell University, Naval, People's Liberation Army Navy, Defense, of Naval Intelligence, Council, Foreign Relations, Corpus Christi, Pearl, Naval Shipyard . US Navy, Pacific, of Foreign Relations, CSIS, US, South China, Australia Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Virginia, Yantai Port, Asia, America, Japan, South Korea, Los Angeles, Corpus, Taiwan, Beijing, Pingtan, China's, Pacific, Philippines, South

☆ China Had a ‘Special Place’ in Modi’s Heart. Now It’s a Thorn in His Side.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Mujib Mashal | Sameer Yasir | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Narendra Modi once looked up to China. As a business-friendly Indian state leader, he traveled there repeatedly to attract investment and see how his country could learn from its neighbor’s economic transformation. China, he said, has a “special place in my heart.” Chinese officials cheered on his march to national power as that of “a political star.”But not long after Mr. Modi became prime minister in 2014, China made clear that the relationship would not be so easy. Continued border incursions flared into a ferocious clash in 2020 that threatened to lead to all-out war. Mr. Modi, a strongman who controls every lever of power in India and has expanded its relations with many other countries, appears uncharacteristically powerless in the face of the rupture with China.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Xi Jinping — Locations: China, India

☆ China is giving Russia significant support to expand weapons manufacturing as Ukraine war continues, US officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Chinese and Russian entitles have also been working jointly to produce drones inside of Russia, one of the officials said. And Russia’s rapidly expanding production of artillery rounds is due, in large part, to the nitrocellulose coming from China, officials said. The support from China is compensating for the significant setbacks that Russia’s defense industry experienced early in the Ukraine war due to US sanctions and export controls. The US has not seen any interruption to the ongoing Chinese support since that Biden-Xi phone call, though sometimes it takes time to see changes come to fruition. Earlier this month Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen delivered China a warning of “significant consequences” if Chinese companies provide support to Russia for the Ukraine war during her trip to the country.

Persons: ”, Chris Cavoli, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, Biden, Xi, Vladimir Putin, Janet Yellen, Katie Bo Lillis Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, Biden, People’s, European Command, Russia Locations: China, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Kyiv, “, People’s Republic of China, reconstituting, Europe

☆ US airlines ask Biden administration to block additional flights to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US aviation industry has asked the Biden administration to pause approval of additional flights to and from China, saying Beijing’s “existing harmful anti-competitive policies” hurt American airlines and workers. The letter was signed by industry lobby group Airlines for America — whose members include American Airlines (AAL), Delta (DAL) and United (UAL) — and other unions representing aviation workers, including the Air Line Pilots Association. Chinese carriers were given approval by US officials to make 50 weekly round trips to and from the United States, up from 35, from March 31. “These actions demonstrated the clear need for the US government to establish a policy that protects US aviation workers, industry and air travelers,” it said. “It [boosting flights] will help the two peoples strengthen exchanges and enhance mutual understanding,” the ministry added.

Persons: Biden, ”, Antony Blinken, Pete Buttigieg, America —, Washington, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, — Hassan Tayir Organizations: CNN, Airlines, America, American Airlines, DAL, Air Line Pilots Association Locations: China, Delta, United States, Ukraine, San Francisco

☆ Biden warns on Beijing's South China Sea moves in Philippines-Japan summit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Leaders from the three nations are meeting in a first-ever trilateral summit in a show of solidarity as China's assertiveness in the South China Sea has raised tensions in the region. Topping the meeting's agenda is China's increasing pressure in the South China Sea, which has escalated despite a personal appeal by Biden to Chinese President Xi Jinping last year. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the maritime economic zones of neighboring nations. Japan has a dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said "China's activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea fully comply with international law" and that they were prepared to resolve issues through "dialogue and consultation" but criticized both the U.S. and Japan for ratcheting up tensions.

Persons: Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Ferdinand Marcos, Andrew Harnik, Beijing's, Joe Biden's, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Biden, Xi Jinping, Thomas Shoal, Marcos, Thomas, Mao Ning Organizations: Japanese, White, Washington , DC, South China, Getty, East China, U.S Locations: Washington ,, South, China, U.S, Japan, Philippines, Manila, . U.S, American, Washington, South China, States, East

☆ Tycoon’s death penalty in $12.5 billion fraud case highlights Vietnam’s corruption crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The scale of the fraud was said to be equivalent to roughly 3% of Vietnam’s economy. Though widely considered ceremonial, the presidency is one of the top three positions in Vietnam’s political hierarchy after the CPV’s Secretary General, currently Nguyen Phu Trong. In fact, the International Monetary Fund expects Vietnam’s economy to grow by 5.8% this year, compared to 4.6% for China. Their fate remains unclear, given the highly secretive nature of Vietnam’s political system. But Vietnamese political experts said a permanent appointment would not end the instability.

Persons: Truong My Lan, Van Thinh, siphoned, “, Eric Chu, Vietnam’s, Vo Van, Trong, Thuong, Vo Van Thuong, Richard A, Brooks, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Pham Binh, Le Hong Hiep, Yusof, ” Hiep, ”, Thu, General Trong, Xi Jinping, ” Zachary Abuza, Salt Bae, Lam, ” Abuza, Nguyen Phu Trong, Evelyn Hockstein, Abuza, Bui Thanh Soh, ” Soh, Vo, Xuan, Thuong’s, Le Hong Organizations: CNN, Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group, Stock Commercial Bank, Reuters, SCB, Express, Communist Party, Institute, Crisis Group, National War College, Vietnamese Communist Party, Public Security, Vietnam, International Monetary Fund, Companies, Apple, Intel, Vietnam's Communist Party General, Yusof, Brookings Institution, “, Crisis Locations: Vietnam, Saigon, People’s, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Duc, Singapore, Asia, China, Washington, “, London, Turkish, Hanoi, Bangkok

☆ China Feels Boxed In by the U.S. but Has Few Ways to Push Back
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( David Pierson | Olivia Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden’s effort to build American security alliances in China’s backyard is likely to reinforce the Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s view that Washington is leading an all-out campaign of “containment, encirclement and suppression” of his country. And there is not much Mr. Xi can do about it. To China, Mr. Biden’s campaign looks nothing short of a reprise of the Cold War, when the world was split into opposing blocs. That pressure on China expanded Thursday when Mr. Biden hosted the leaders of Japan and the Philippines at the White House, marking the first-ever trilateral summit between the countries. American officials said the meeting was aimed at projecting a united front against China’s increasingly aggressive behavior against the Philippines in the South China Sea and against Japan in the East China Sea.

Persons: Biden’s, Xi, Biden, China’s, Camp David Organizations: U.S, White, Japan, Camp, Mr Locations: Washington, China, Beijing, Japan, Philippines, India, South, East, South Korea, Australia, Britain

☆ Riding Rage Over Israel to Online Prominence
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Steven Lee Myers | Tiffany Hsu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Jackson Hinkle has cultivated an online persona so incendiary that he has been kicked off YouTube, Twitch and Instagram. Along the way, he has employed false or misleading content, promoted manipulated images and made comments that watchdog organizations have denounced as antisemitic. He calls himself an American patriot even as he praises American adversaries, including Vladimir V. Putin, Xi Jinping and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “DROP A LIKE if you stand with IRAN in the face of ISRAELI TERRORISM!” he wrote last week on X after an Israeli airstrike in Syria killed several Iranian military officials. A day later he addressed the Houthi leadership in Yemen over video, praising the group for its attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Persons: Jackson Hinkle, Vladimir V, Putin, Xi Jinping, Ali Khamenei, ” Organizations: YouTube Locations: Israel, American, IRAN, Syria, Yemen, Red

☆ Biden’s China tariff threats are more bark than bite, economists say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden attends a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueThe Biden administration this week sent several signals of a toughening U.S. economic strategy against China. Earlier in the week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen delivered tougher economic red lines on a visit to China. China has so far denied the overcapacity accusation as "groundless" and fired back that the U.S. is threatening protectionist trade policies to stifle global competition. "It remains unclear what this relationship will endure in the months and years ahead," Yellen said at a press conference in Beijing on Monday.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Janet Yellen, Yellen, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Republican Donald Trump Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, China, Japanese, U.S ., Biden, EU, U.S, Republican Locations: Filoli, Asia, Woodside , California, U.S, Washington, Japan, China, United States, Beijing

☆ Biden and Japan's Kishida forge new partnership, eyeing China and Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday unveiled plans for military cooperation and projects ranging from missiles to moon landings, strengthening their alliance with an eye on countering China and Russia. U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday unveiled plans for military cooperation and projects ranging from missiles to moon landings, strengthening their alliance with an eye on countering China and Russia. "Regarding Russia's aggression of Ukraine ... Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow," Kishida said. Biden also vowed to keep open lines of communication with China and said the U.S.- Japan alliance was defensive in nature. He spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

Persons: Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Biden, Kishida, Xi Jinping Organizations: Japanese, Nippon Steel's, U.S . Steel, U.S . Locations: China, Russia, Japan, United States, Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, North Korea, South, East China, Taiwan, Beijing, U.S, East Asia

☆ Vietnam aims to start work on high-speed rail lines to China by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) bids farewell to China's President Xi Jinping after their meeting at the Government Office in Hanoi on Dec. 13, 2023. Vietnam aims to start building two high-speed railway lines linking its capital Hanoi with China before 2030, the Ministry of Planning and Investment said, another sign of a recent warming of ties between the two Communist-ruled neighbors. China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and a vital source of imports for its manufacturing sector. The two countries are already connected via a system of highways and two railway lines that are old and need upgrading on the Vietnam side. One of the planned high-speed lines would run from Vietnam's port cities of Haiphong and Quang Ninh through Hanoi to Lao Cai province, which borders China's Yunan province, the ministry said in a statement released late on Tuesday.

Persons: Pham Minh Chinh, Xi Jinping, Lao Cai Organizations: Vietnam's, Government, Ministry of Planning, Investment Locations: Hanoi, Vietnam, China, Vietnam's, Haiphong, Quang Ninh, Lao, China's Yunan, Lang Son, China's Guangxi

☆ China’s Xi to host former Taiwan president in Beijing, in rare meeting echoing bygone era of warmer ties
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Nectar Gan | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Joint concerns over China’s increasing assertiveness under Xi, including toward Taiwan, are a key driver of that summit. Chinese leader Xi Jinping shakes hands with then Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou before their meeting in Singapore on November 7, 2015. Taiwan's former President Ma Ying-jeou speaks to reporters ahead of his visit to China at the Taoyuan International Airport on April 1, 2024. Ma Ying-jeou” or former chairman of the KMT, with no mention of his former role as the president of Taiwan. Reaction in TaiwanMa’s itinerary – and his meeting with Xi – has been closely watched in Taiwan.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Ma Ying, Xi, Chiang Kai, Eric Chu, Ma, ” Chu, Lai Ching, Joe Biden, Biden, Fumio Kishida, Roslan Rahman, Amanda Hsiao, “, underscoring, ’ ”, Tsai Ing, –, Lai, Lai’s, fixating, ”, ” Sung, China –, Ma’s, Hsiao, Yan Zhao, Mr, Sun, Xi –, Sung, ” Ma, James Chen Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Beijing, Kuomintang, KMT, China’s, shek’s Nationalists, –, Democratic Progressive Party, CNN Beijing, Japanese, Getty, International Crisis, Atlantic, “, Taoyuan International Airport, Communists, Nationalists, Atlantic Council, Taiwan’s Tamkang University, DPP Locations: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, Singapore, Washington, Japan, Philippines, AFP, Taoyuan, Guangzhou, Republic of China, Shaanxi, United States, China . Washington

☆ Vietnam is planning high-speed rail connections with China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Vietnam aims to start building two high-speed railway lines linking its capital Hanoi with China before 2030, the Ministry of Planning and Investment said, another sign of a recent warming of ties between the two Communist-ruled neighbors. The two countries are already connected via a system of highways and two railway lines that are old and need upgrading on the Vietnam side. Earlier this month, Vietnam said it was seeking to learn from China to develop its first high-speed railway network and had sent its officials to work with Chinese railway companies. A massive high-speed railway line linking capital Hanoi with business hub Ho Chi Minh City is also being planned in the country. Trade between Vietnam and China in the first quarter of this year rose 22% from a year earlier to $43.6 billion, according to Vietnamese government data.

Persons: Lao Cai, Vuong Dinh Hue, Xi Jinping Organizations: Ministry of Planning, Investment, National Locations: Vietnam, Hanoi, China, Vietnam’s, Haiphong, Quang Ninh, Lao, China’s Yunnan, Lang Son, China’s Guangxi, Chi Minh City, Beijing, South China

☆ Can China's Comac break up the Airbus-Boeing duopoly?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Nessa Anwar | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China is on a mission to break up the Airbus -Boeing duopoly and it hopes the domestically made Comac C919 will be its first big break into foreign markets. Made by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), the passenger aircraft has been touted as the "dream of a nation" by Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, there are still several hurdles Comac would need to clear before it could take on the French and American aerospace giants' dominance. "As a customer and operator of China's Comac products, we can get financial support from China's import-export bank, and also central banks," Cham told CNBC in an interview. According to Cham, Comac said it would consider creating aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul support for its aircraft in Brunei.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Cham, Comac, Adam Cowburn, Cowburn, Brendan Sobie, It's, Brendan Organizations: Airbus, Boeing, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Cham Chi, CNBC, Alton Aviation Consultancy, " Industry, Sobie Aviation, Airlines Locations: China, American, Brunei, Cham, Shanghai

☆ China is sending its highest-level delegation to North Korea since 2019 to kick off a ‘friendship year’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The three-day visit, at North Korea’s invitation, shows the “great importance” China attaches to those relations, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. The delegation will also arrive amid heightened global concern about North Korea, which has in recent months ramped up its bellicose rhetoric and continued its weapons testing. The trip could also be an important opportunity for the upper echelons of China’s political establishment to better understand the circumstances in North Korea today. Balance of powerChina has long walked a thin line in its relations with North Korea. It is a critical economic lifeline for a North Korea crippled by international sanctions over its illegal weapons testing.

Persons: Zhao Leji, ”, KCNA, Zhao, Xi Jinping, China’s, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Li Qiang, Liu Dongshu, …, ” Liu, Kim, Li Mingjiang, Vladimir Putin, Yun Sun Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — China’s, Beijing, Foreign Ministry, Japanese, CNN, Communist, North Korea –, Hong Kong’s City University, North, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, “, United Nations Security, Stimson Locations: China, Hong Kong, North Korea, Pyongyang, Beijing, Moscow, United States, North, Japan, South Korea, Ukraine, Asia, Washington, Philippines, Russia, North Korean, Covid, Pacific, American

☆ Why Xi Jinping Is Meeting With Taiwan’s Ex-President
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Chris Buckley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But on Wednesday, as the two men met again in Beijing, the prospects for an amicable settlement over Taiwan’s future seemed more distant than ever. Mr. Ma, who pursued closer engagement with China during his eight years in office, is no longer president of Taiwan. Fewer and fewer Taiwanese people now share his belief that Taiwan must see its future as a part of a greater China. Since Mr. Ma left office in 2016, Mr. Xi has frozen high-level contacts with Taiwan, sought to isolate it on the global stage and tried to intimidate it with a tightening military presence around the island. Mr. Xi is profoundly suspicious of Taiwan’s current leadership, which has sought to assert the sovereignty of the island democracy.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Ma Ying, —, Ma, Xi Organizations: Mr Locations: Taiwan, Singapore, Beijing, China

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