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☆ China unexpectedly cancels top EU diplomat's Beijing visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell was due to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, pictured on May 23, 2023 in Beijing, China. High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell was initially due to visit Beijing in April for the annual EU-China strategic dialogue with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, but that was delayed after Borrell tested positive for Covid-19. On Wednesday, an EU foreign affairs spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that Borrell's team had been told by their Chinese counterparts the new dates of July 10-11 were no longer possible and an alternative would need to be found. CNBC has contacted China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment. The cancellation, or possible postponement, comes ahead of a scheduled visit to Beijing by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Thursday.

Persons: Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, Qin Gang, Thomas Peter, Borrell, Wang Wenbin, China's, Janet Yellen Organizations: Foreign Affairs, Foreign, High, CNBC, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S, Treasury, Monday Locations: Beijing, China, EU, Ukraine

WHAT IS THE COMMON FRAMEWORK? The Common Framework requires debtor countries to secure restructuring assurances from any bilateral lenders first and commercial and multilateral lenders second - to Beijing's dismay. "We call on multilateral financial institutions and commercial lenders, who are the main creditors for developing countries, to participate in developing countries' debt relief efforts," Mao said. In Paris, analysts expect China to continue to voice support for the Common Framework but for debt relief to be dispensed "case-by-case". The last time global policymakers met to discuss the Common Framework in Washington, China proposed the IMF should speed up and improve information sharing on debt sustainability analyses.

Persons: Li Qiang, acceding, Yi Gang, Mao Ning, Mao, Qin Gang, Sri, Wang Wenbin, Joe Cash, Ryan Woo, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Paris Club, International Monetary Fund, Bank, IMF, World Bank, Foreign Ministry, China's, France, Thomson Locations: Paris, China, Zambia, Chad, Ethiopia, Ghana, United States, U.S, Beijing, Washington, CHINA, Addis Ababa, Japan, India, France, Sri Lanka's

☆ Blinken heads to Beijing hoping to calm fears of a US-China break
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Thomson Reuters | Humeyra Pamuk Is A Senior Foreign Policy Correspondent Based In Washington Dc. She Covers The U.S. State Department | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Blinken will hold meetings in China on June 18-19 and may meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, sources said. He will be the highest-ranking U.S. government official to visit China since Biden took office in January 2021. That followed a tense evening phone call with Blinken on Tuesday during which Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told the U.S. to stop meddling in China's affairs. So even going through the motions has some utility for both Washington and Beijing." Particularly worrisome for China's neighbors has been its reluctance to allow regular military-to-military talks between Beijing and Washington, despite repeated U.S. attempts.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Biden, Qin Gang, Wang Wenbin, Joe Biden, Andrew Small, Marshall, Tsai Ing, Stephane Dujarric, EYEING BIDEN, Xi, Emanuel Macron, Blinken's, Janet Yellen, Gina Raimondo, Yun Sun, Humeyra Pamuk, David Brunnstrom, Laurie Chen, Martin Pollard, Michelle Nichols, Ben Blanchard, Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Blinken, Foreign, Washington, French, U.S, Treasury, China Program, Stimson, Economic Cooperation, APEC, Biden, Thomson Locations: Beijing, United States, China, U.S, Asia, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, Washington, Bali, Europe, East, Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, San Francisco, New York, Taipei

☆ China's Premier Li to visit Germany, France June 18-23
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, June 15 (Reuters) - China's Premier Li Qiang will visit Germany and France from June 18 to 23, the foreign ministry said on Thursday. Li will hold the seventh round of China-Germany inter-governmental consultation, and attend the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in France, ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular news conference. Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Li Qiang, Li, Wang Wenbin, Jason Neely Organizations: Global, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Germany, France, China

☆ China says allegations of Chinese spying in Cuba are false
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, June 12 (Reuters) - China said on Monday that allegations that it was using Cuba as a spying base are false and it denounced the U.S. government and media for releasing what it called inconsistent information. A Biden administration official said on Saturday China had been spying from Cuba for some time and it had upgraded its intelligence collection facilities there in 2019. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that a new spying effort was underway on the island, citing U.S. officials. "On the alleged spy activities of China in Cuba, this is a piece of false information," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, told a regular press conference. The allegation about Cuba comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepares to visit China this week.

Persons: Biden, Wang Wenbin, Wang, Antony Blinken, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Washington, Andrew Hayley, Bernard Orr, Ryan Woo, Philippa Fletcher, Robert Birsel Organizations: U.S, China, Wall Street Journal, White House National Security, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Cuba, Beijing, United States, U.S, America, Caribbean

☆ China hopes India can meet it halfway in media row
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"In recent years, Chinese journalists in India have been accorded unfair and discriminatory arrangements," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a Monday briefing. "We hope that India will continue to issue visas for Chinese journalists and remove the unreasonable restrictions and create favourable conditions for media exchanges." China has declined to renew the visas of the last two Indian journalists based there, citing India taking similar action this month against the two remaining Chinese state media journalists in India. "China is ready to act on the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit to keep in communications with the Indian side, and we hope that India will meet China halfway." India's foreign ministry said this month it hoped China would allow Indian journalists to work in China, adding that India allowed all foreign journalists to operate there.

Persons: Wang Wenbin, Wang, Andrew Hayley, Laurie Chen, Bernard Orr, Philippa Fletcher, Robert Birsel Organizations: Hindustan Times, Press Trust of India, China, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, India, Indian

☆ China warns Europe against official ties with Taiwan ahead of minister's visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationBEIJING/PRAGUE, June 9 (Reuters) - China urged Europe on Friday not to have any official exchanges with Taiwan or support "independence forces" ahead of a planned trip to the continent next week by Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky confirmed Wu was due to visit Prague next week, saying on Friday state officials were not expected to shift from their existing policy towards Taiwan. Taiwan, which is claimed by China, has no formal diplomatic ties with any European country except the Vatican. Asked about the visit on Friday, Czech Minister Lipavsky said he had "been informed" about Wu coming to Prague. In January, then-Czech President-elect Pavel and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen spoke by telephone shortly after his election, in a diplomatic coup for Taiwan that infuriated China.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Joseph Wu, Jan Lipavsky, Wu, Petr Pavel, Lipavsky, Wang Wenbin, Wang, Pavel, Tsai Ing, Marketa Pekarova Adamova, Liz Lee, Robert Muller, Ben Blanchard, Simon Cameron, Moore, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Taiwan Foreign, Reuters, Foreign Ministry, Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, PRAGUE, China, Europe, Taiwan, Joseph Wu . Czech, Prague, Vatican, Beijing, Czech, Czech Republic, Brussels, Slovakia

☆ China: 'Hacker empire' US is 'spreading rumours' with talk of Cuba spy station
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, June 9 (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry on Friday said "spreading rumours and slander" is a common tactic of "hacker empire" the United States, after a media report that China has reached a deal with Cuba to set up an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island. Cuba and China have reached an agreement in principle, the U.S. officials said, with China to pay Cuba "several billion dollars" for the eavesdropping station, according to the Journal. "As we all know, spreading rumours and slander is a common tactic of the United States," said Wang Wenbin, spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry. "The United States is also the most powerful hacker empire in the world, and also veritably a major monitoring nation." The reported deal could raise questions about a near-term visit to China that U.S. officials say Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning.

Persons: John Kirby, Wang Wenbin, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Liz Lee, Ryan Woo, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Wall Street Journal, White House National Security Council, Reuters, Cuban, Foreign, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, United States, China, Cuba, Beijing, U.S, Washington, America, Caribbean

☆ China, Russia launch joint air patrol, alarms South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING, June 6 (Reuters) - China and Russia conducted a joint air patrol on Tuesday over the Sea of Japan and East China Sea for a sixth time since 2019, prompting neighbouring South Korea to scramble fighter jets. South Korea scrambled fighter jets, according to its military, after after four Russian and four Chinese military aircraft entered its air defence zone in the south and east of the Korean peninsula. An air defence zone is an area where countries demand that foreign aircraft take special steps to identify themselves. Unlike a country's airspace - the air above its territory and territorial waters - there are no international rules governing air defence zones. Since last week, the coast guard of the United States, Japan and the Philippines have held their first trilateral naval exercise in the South China Sea.

Persons: Wang Wenbin, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Liz Lee, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Air Defence, Russian, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Russia, Japan, East China, South Korea, Russian, Ukraine, Beijing, Moscow, United States, Tokyo, India, Australia, Philippines, South China, Taiwan Strait, Chinese, U.S, Taiwan

WASHINGTON, June 5 (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday recent dangerous encounters between U.S. and Chinese forces in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea reflect a growing aggressiveness by Beijing's military that raises the risk of an error in which "somebody gets hurt." It also follows a May 26 incident in which a Chinese fighter jet carried out what the United States called an "unnecessarily aggressive" maneuver near an American military plane over the South China Sea in international airspace. "Sadly, this is just part of, again, a growing aggressiveness by the PRC (People's Republic of China) that we're dealing with, and we're prepared to address it," White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters amid deteriorating ties between Washington and Beijing. In Beijing, Wang Wenbin, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said that "the measures taken by the Chinese military are completely reasonable, legitimate, and professional and safe." Kirby said the United States would continue to stand up for the freedom of navigation in the air and sea.

Persons: we're, John Kirby, Kirby, Wang Wenbin, Heck, it's, Vedant Patel, Joe Biden's, Biden, Patel, Chung, Hoon, Wang, Derek Grossman, Andrea Shalal, Daphne Psaledakis, Matt Spetalnick, Jasper Ward, Will Dunham Organizations: PRC, People's, American, U.S . State Department, Montreal, U.S . Navy, RAND Corporation, Thomson Locations: Taiwan Strait, South China, U.S, Taiwan, Ukraine, United States, American, South, People's Republic of China, Washington, Beijing, China, Canadian, Hainan, Jasper

☆ U.S.-China ties weigh on security summit as defense chiefs meet in Singapore
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Regional concerns were underscored recently with the Pentagon saying that a Chinese fighter jet made an "unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" against an American reconnaissance plane in the South China Sea late last week. Under President Xi Jinping's leadership, China has grown more hawkish on the global stage, particularly in its historic claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea. "What you are seeing is the emergence of a regional security architecture," said Thompson of the LKY School. "The region is really coming together with a common interest in regional security and stability." Singapore is Austin's second stop on a whirlwind tour that will also take him to Japan, India and France.

Persons: Li, Xi Jinping's, We're, Chin, Hao Huang, Wang Wenbin, Huang, What's, Anthony Albanese, Thompson, Li —, Donald Trump, Austin, Joe Biden Organizations: Yale, NUS College, CNBC, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Australian, LKY, Pentagon, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Observers Locations: Austin, American, South, China, Taiwan, South China, Asia, Pacific, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Beijing, Korea, France, U.S

☆ China opposes G20 meeting in Indian-rule Kashmir and will skip it
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW DELHI, May 19 (Reuters) - China said on Friday that it is opposed to a G20 tourism meeting next week in the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir in India and will not attend. "China is firmly opposed to holding any kind of G20 meetings in disputed territory, and will not attend such meetings," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. In 2019, India split the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir to create the two federal territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, will host a meeting of the tourism working group for G20 members on May 22-24. Kashmir is claimed in full but ruled in part by nuclear-armed neighbours India and China-ally Pakistan, which has also opposed India's decision to hold a G20 meeting in Kashmir.

☆ China says it will work for better solution of Zambia's debt issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, May 19 (Reuters) - China has always taken Zambia's debt issues seriously and will jointly work for a better solution, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday. Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson of the ministry, made the remarks at a regular news briefing when answering a question regarding Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema saying he wants to meet with President Xi Jinping to get Zambia's debt restructuring done. Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ G7 leaders gather on China's doorstep to seek unified response to Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

‘Economic coercion’Another important theme of the summit will be economic security, including how to counter China’s economic pressure tactics. As the G7 summit gets underway, Chinese officials will be closely watching from Beijing and will not hide their displeasure, experts say. In the lead-up to the summit, Beijing has already berated a statement by G7 foreign ministers. Similarly, Beijing also lashed out at accusations of its “economic coercion,” claiming it is the “victim of US economic coercion” rather than a perpetrator. And while China is not invited to Hiroshima, it is hosting its own summit with Central Asia countries, experts noted.

CNN —South Korean soccer star Son Jun-ho has been arrested in China for allegedly accepting bribes as Beijing clamps down on alleged corruption in the upper ranks of Chinese football. A South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday the ministry was aware of Son’s situation and that local Korean diplomatic missions were providing consular assistance. Wang said China would provide South Korean officials with the “necessary facilitation” to perform their consular duties. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said it had written to the Chinese Football Association and the Asian Football Confederation regarding the player on Tuesday but had not yet heard back. Vice President Kim Jeong-bae was checking on Son’s condition with the South Korean Foreign and Sports Ministries, a KFA official told CNN.

☆ China says S.Korean soccer player detained for suspected bribery
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, May 16 (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday a South Korean soccer player is suspected of taking bribes from non-state workers and has been detained by the public security department of Liaoning province. China is a country that follows the rule of law and handles relevant cases in accordance with the law, ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a news briefing. South Korean soccer player Son Jun-ho is being held in police custody in northeast China in connection with a bribery case, a Korean diplomatic source said on Monday. read moreReporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China's security crackdown could signal new realities for foreign investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Last Monday, state broadcaster CCTV singled out a consulting company for not complying with China's national security laws. "It may seem a paradox," said Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore who studies Chinese foreign policy. So much of what is now regarded as national security or state secrets is not sufficiently defined or classified. This includes passing a data security law in 2021 on the protection of information involving national and economic security and on issues of important public interest. "To have multiple companies involved now in this crackdown and the restriction of financial data to foreigners, it appears that Chinese security departments are on to something larger."

☆ Top Chinese envoy to visit Ukraine, Russia on 'peace' mission
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING, May 15 (Reuters) - A top Chinese envoy will begin a tour of Ukraine, Russia and other European cities on Monday in a trip Beijing says is aimed at discussing a "political settlement" to the Ukraine crisis. "The visit ... is a testament to China's efforts towards promoting peace talks, and fully demonstrates China's firm commitment to peace," foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing. He is the most senior Chinese official to visit Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, and his trip could coincide with the beginnings of a long anticipated counteroffensive by Ukraine to recapture territory seized by Russia. Ukraine is scheduled to be Li's first stop on his trip, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The visit comes weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy in late April, in the first talks between the two leaders since the war began.

Capvision said in a statement soon after the broadcast that it would resolutely abide by national security rules. The CCTV report was the first clear indication of the national security scope of recent police action against several consulting firms. "The state security organ and other authorities will intensify law enforcement against activities that endanger national security, such as illegal consulting," the state-owned Global Times said. The revisions will see all documents, data, materials and items "related to national security and interests" given the same protection as state secrets. The law does not define China's national security or interests.

☆ US urges WHO to invite Taiwan to observe May meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, May 9 (Reuters) - The United States is encouraging the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan as an observer at its annual meeting in Geneva from May 21 to 30, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday, in remarks that provoked criticism from China. "Inviting Taiwan as an observer would exemplify the WHO’s commitment to an inclusive, 'health for all' approach to international health cooperation," Blinken said in a statement. Excluded from most global groups due to Beijing's objections, Taiwan says its exclusion from the WHO hampered efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. In Beijing, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said the United States' comments were confusing the public, and urged it to avoid using the WHO assembly meeting to "hype up" Taiwan-related issues. "Taiwan's participation in the activities of international organisations, including WHO, must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle," Wang Wenbin told a regular press conference on Wednesday.

☆ EU takes aim at Chinese firms in proposed new Russia sanctions - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A spokesman for the European Commission on Monday confirmed the proposal was sent out to member states and aimed at closing loopholes in Russia trade restrictions but declined to give detail. In what would be the EU's 11th package of sanctions against Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February, 2022, the bloc would introduce a new mechanism to cut its exports to third countries seen as involved in bypassing Russia sanctions. "It will be an empty vessels for now that can then be filled up as needed," said one EU diplomat. "The analysis... shows a sharp drop in direct exports from the EU to Russia following the introduction of sanctions in March 2022. "Both patterns are particularly pronounced for product groups partially or fully subject to the EU sanctions as well as goods that are similar to the sanctioned ones," the EBRD said.

☆ China may have to bail out one of its poorest provinces
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hong Kong CNN —One of China’s poorest and most indebted provinces has admitted defeat in trying to sort out its finances and is appealing to Beijing for help to avert default. Guizhou, located in a mountainous region of southwest China, has hired a top state-owned distressed debt fund, China Cinda Asset Management, to resolve its “urgent” problems. China’s local governments are struggling with trillions of dollars of debt, after three years of strict pandemic controls and a real estate crash drained their coffers. The Pingtang Bridge links two cities in southwest China's Guizhou province. In China, most local government liabilities are composed of “hidden debt” issued by their financing arms.

☆ S.Korea summons Chinese ambassador over reaction to Yoon's Taiwan remarks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The move came after China and South Korea exchanged harsh words over Yoon's comments in a recent interview with Reuters. "The Taiwan issue is not simply an issue between China and Taiwan but, like the issue of North Korea, it is a global issue." Asked about Yoon's comments, the Chinese foreign ministry denounced Yoon and called on South Korea to "prudently handle matters" related to Taiwan. Hours later, South Korea's foreign ministry hit back and said comments by the Chinese foreign ministry were "unspeakable". A vice foreign minister called in Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming and strongly protested what South Korea called "diplomatic discourtesy", the South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement.

☆ Chinese people say they don't care that India is taking over as the world's most populous country: 'No one even wants 1st place'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

India's population is set to hit 1.428 billion, while China's drops to 1.425 billion, per the UN. "No one even wants first place for this," one user wrote on the social media platform. India's population boom also marks a shift in China's long-held identity of bursting growth — China has been the world's most populous country for decades. But people on Weibo, China's version of Twitter, say the title is inconsequential, and some are even happy to see it go. "No one even wants first place for this," one user wrote in a top comment as news broke of the UN estimates last week.

☆ China's CCTV slams Western hype of its population decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, April 20 (Reuters) - Western media reports on China's population being overtaken by India deliberately ignores China's development, using the topic to "bad mouth" it and advocate decoupling, state broadcaster CCTV said on Thursday. CCTV's sharply worded commentary said the subtext from Western media in recent years was that China's development was in "big trouble" and that when China's demographic dividend disappears, it would decline, and the global economy would also suffer. "The United States is stepping up efforts to contain China's development and advocate further decoupling and found new hype points from the United Nations report," CCTV said, adding that the West simply equated population size with development achievements. "Such hype lacks a basic understanding of the law of population development. "Population is important but talents are also important...China has taken active measures to respond to population aging," Wang told reporters on Wednesday.

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