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☆ China's crackdown on Ant and other tech giants is 'basically' over, top official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s heavy-handed crackdown on tech giants is coming to an end and the country’s economic growth is expected to be back on track soon, according to a top central bank official. “Next, we’ll promote healthy development of internet platforms,” said Guo, who is also chairman of China’s Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. Mark Schiefelbein/APChina’s crackdown on its biggest tech companies began in 2020 with new regulations on fintech, which forced Ma’s Ant Group to suspend its $37 billion IPO days before its launch. Regulators then targeted the online financial service units of 13 other tech giants, including Tencent, Baidu, JD.com, Bytedance, Meituan, and Didi. Ant Group’s restructuringMajor tech companies in China have struggled under a sweeping regulatory crackdown for months now.

☆ Russia and China hold naval drills, practise submarine capture
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Russia and China have completed naval drills in the East China Sea, after a week of joint exercises which included practising how to capture an enemy submarine with depth charges and firing artillery at a warship, Russia's defence ministry said. "Detachments of warships of the Pacific Fleet and the Naval Forces of the People's Liberation Army of China have completed practical tasks within the framework of the bilateral naval exercise," Russia's defence ministry said. The ministry published video showing a group of Russian and Chinese warships in the East China Sea, with Russian sailors speaking in Mandarin to their Chinese counterparts and Russian ships firing missiles. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is due to speak to President Vladimir Putin before the end of the year, TASS news agency said. Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, +79856400243 Editing by Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China must raise self-reliance in agricultural technology, Xi says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Dec 25 (Reuters) - President Xi Jinping wants China to accelerate efforts to achieve self-reliance in agricultural technology, identifying seed development and core equipment among areas to focus on, state media reported. "It is necessary to keep an eye on the frontiers of the world's agricultural science and technology," the official Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying at the central rural work conference held in Beijing over Friday and Saturday. The President urged China's agricultural sector to "vigourously improve" its science and technology, with more efficient innovation. Xi urged the sector to address issues with innovation, such as the rate of conversion into commercial applications and a lack of cooperation between research teams. Reporting by Dominique Patton, Roxanne Liu and Bernard Orr Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The country spent big on quarantine and testing facilities over the past three years rather than bolstering hospitals and clinics and training medical staff, these people said. "There is no transition time for the medical system to prepare for this," said Zuofeng Zhang, professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. The failure to boost vaccination rates among the vulnerable could imperil China's health system, more than a dozen experts said. The death of a 23-year-old medical student in Chengdu on Dec. 14 fueled public ire at the strain on China's health system. Chen Jiming, a researcher at China's Foshan University, said there was every chance that China's medical system could cope now that the country has ended quarantine for asymptomatic and mild cases.

☆ China reports first Covid deaths in weeks as virus surges through Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Some fear China’s Covid death toll could rise above 1.5 million in coming months. It was not immediately clear which, if any, of these deaths were included in official death tolls. “The (official) number is clearly an undercount of Covid deaths,” said Yanzhong Huang, a global health specialist at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a U.S. think tank. Overseas-developed vaccines are unavailable in mainland China to the general public, which has relied on inactivated shots by local manufacturers for its vaccine rollout. While China’s medical community in general doesn’t doubt the safety of China’s vaccines, some say questions remain over their efficacy compared to foreign-made mRNA counterparts.

☆ China issues guidelines for data management - Xinhua
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, Dec 19 (Reuters) - China issued guidelines for data management in order to take advantage of the country's vast data and promote the digital economy, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. The guidelines says China will lower the bar for market entities to gain access to data, according to Xinhua. It will promote efficient use and circulation of data on the condition of protecting national data security, personal information, and business secrets. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Reuters could not immediately establish if the deaths were due to COVID. The NHC also reported 1,995 symptomatic infections for Dec. 18, compared with 2,097 a day earlier. A hashtag on the two reported COVID deaths quickly became the top trending topic on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform on Monday morning. But it is not just the elderly that are wary of vaccines in China. While China's medical community in general doesn't doubt the safety of China's vaccines, some say questions remain over their efficacy compared to foreign-made mRNA counterparts.

Analysts expect sentiment to recover gradually next year, as the relaxation of COVID restrictions and property support policies take effect. Property investment fell the fastest since the statistics bureau began compiling data in 2000, down 19.9% on year in November after a 16% slump in October, the NBS said in a statement. Beike's Liu predicted housing demand will be gradually released in 2023 as consumer sentiment will improve with a progress in housing delivery. Although markets cheered the easing policies, which are expected to boost economic growth in the long term, some analysts say fragile overall demand will keep the property sector's recovery gradual. "Considering the challenging demographic trend, and policymakers' long-held stance that 'housing is for living in, not for speculation', we maintain our view that the property sector recovery should be gradual and bumpy," Goldman Sachs analysts said in a note.

[1/2] People line up next to a medical worker in a protective suit, at a fever clinic of a hospital amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Beijing, China December 15, 2022. The pivot away from President Xi Jinping's signature "zero-COVID" policy followed unprecedented widespread protests against it. But, WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan said COVID-19 infections were exploding in China well before the government's decision to phase out its stringent regime. There are increasing signs of chaos during China's exit from the zero-COVID policy - with long queues outside fever clinics, runs on medicines, and panic buying across the country. China Meheco Group Co Ltd (600056.SS) said on Wednesday it signed a deal to import the U.S. drugmaker's treatment.

☆ Gold eases as Fed hints at more rate hikes next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

One kilo gold bars are pictured at the plant of gold and silver refiner and bar manufacturer Argor-Heraeus in Mendrisio, Switzerland, July 13, 2022. Gold prices inched down in early Asian hours on Thursday, after the U.S. Federal Reserve signaled to more interest rates hikes next year. Spot gold slipped 0.1% to $1,806.11 per ounce, as of 0035 GMT. Gold is traditionally known as an inflation hedge but higher interest rates tend to dim the bullion's appeal as it increases the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding metal. SPDR Gold Trust , the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.1% to 911.56 tons on Wednesday.

☆ Kabul hotel attack ends as three gunmen killed; two foreigners injured
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KABUL, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Armed men opened fire on Monday inside a hotel in central Kabul popular with Chinese nationals in an attack that ended when at least three gunmen were killed by security forces, the Taliban-run administration said. Two foreigners were injured while trying to escape by jumping from the hotel balcony, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on Twitter. Kabul's Emergency Hospital, run by an Italian non-profit near the attacked hotel in the Shahr-e-Naw area, reported receiving 21 casualties - 18 injured and three dead on arrival. Taliban sources said the attack was carried out at Longan Hotel where Chinese and other foreigners usually stay. China's state-run Xinhua news agency said the attack happened near a Chinese guesthouse and its embassy in Kabul was closely monitoring the situation.

CNN —Three people were killed and many others injured after gunmen attacked a hotel in Kabul, the Afghan capital, on Monday. The attack ended with all three gunmen killed and hotel guests safely evacuated, according to a tweet from Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mojahid on Monday. Mojahid added that no foreign nationals were killed, but two foreign nationals were wounded after jumping from the rooftop. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday that five Chinese nationals were among the injured. China’s state-run Xinhua news agency said the attack happened near a Chinese guesthouse and its embassy in Kabul was closely monitoring the situation.

☆ Late Chinese leader Jiang Zemin's ashes are scattered at mouth of Yangtze River
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The ashes of late Chinese leader Jiang Zemin were scattered into the sea at the mouth of the Yangtze River on Sunday, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. After arriving in Shanghai, the ashes were taken by hearse to the Wusong military port. Then Jiang's relatives escorted the ashes aboard the Yangzhou, a Chinese People's Liberation Army warship which was named after Jiang's hometown Yangzhou, Xinhua said. At the mouth of the Yangtze River, Jiang's widow Wang Yeping and other relatives, as well as Cai Qi, a senior Communist Party member, slowly scattered Jiang's ashes and colourful flower petals to the river and sea, it said. "Comrade Jiang Zemin devoted his life unreservedly to the motherland and the people," Xinhua said.

☆ China Eastern takes delivery of the world’s first made-in-China C919 jet
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The world’s first C919, a Chinese-made narrowbody jet, was delivered to launch customer China Eastern Airlines (CEA) in Shanghai on Friday and took off for a 15-minute flight to mark the historic moment. The plane, delivered to China Eastern, has 164 seats and was painted with “the world’s first C919” on its side in Chinese and English. China Eastern said Friday it plans to receive the remaining four of its first batch of C919 orders over the next two years, according to Shanghai’s The Paper, a state-owned newspaper. China’s narrowbody jet ambitions intensified over the last few years amid conflicts with the United States from trade to technology that made China increasingly concerned about being overly dependent on Airbus and Boeing. China is trying to raise the proportion of domestic parts in the C919 and an alternative engine called the CJ-1000A is under development.

☆ China Eastern takes delivery of the world's first made-in-China C919 jet
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A model of a C919 airliner by Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC) is displayed at China Beijing International High-tech Expo in Beijing, China June 8, 2017. REUTERS/Jason LeeBEIJING/SYDNEY, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The world's first C919, a Chinese-made narrowbody jet, was delivered to launch customer China Eastern Airlines (600115.SS) in Shanghai on Friday and took off for a 15-minute flight to mark the historic moment. The plane delivered to China Eastern has 164 seats and was painted with "the world's first C919" on its side in Chinese and English. China Eastern said on Friday it plans to receive the remaining four of its first batch of C919 orders over the next two years, according to Shanghai's The Paper. China is trying to raise the proportion of domestic parts in the C919 and an alternative engine called the CJ-1000A is under development.

☆ China medical expert says COVID has mutated, should be renamed - state media
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Gu Xiaohong told the state-run Beijing Daily newspaper that the coronavirus' Chinese name, which identifies it as a pneumonia-causing disease, should be changed to call it simply an infectious virus. Gu said the China Association of Chinese Medicine's infectious disease arm, which she heads, had reached a consensus to change how they describe the virus. Her remarks are in line with a recent softening of the tone from China's health experts and state media towards COVID, while authorities have loosened what remain some of the world's toughest COVID curbs. There are widespread expectations that the moves could herald a more pronounced shift towards normalcy three years into the pandemic. Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China to optimise epidemic prevention and control next year -state media
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Dec 7 (Reuters) - China should optimise epidemic prevention and control measures next year as it seeks to better coordinate epidemic policies with economic and social development, state media reported on Wednesday, after a high-level meeting of the Communist Party. The world's second-largest economy suffered a broad slowdown in October and the recent spike in COVID cases has deepened concerns about growth in the last quarter of 2022. "For next year, China will seek progress while maintaining stability," Xinhua cited the meeting as saying, adding that "it will hold the bottom-line of preventing systemic risks." China will continue to implement active fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy next year, it said. China's economy grew just 3% in the first three-quarters of this year, well below the annual target of around 5.5%.

REUTERS/Thomas PeterDec 6 (Reuters) - China's capital Beijing dropped the need for people to show negative COVID tests to enter supermarkets and offices on Tuesday, the latest in an easing of curbs across the country following last month's historic protests. "Beijing readies itself for life again" read a headline in the government-owned China Daily newspaper, adding that people were "gradually embracing" the slow return to normality. That has sparked optimism among investors for a broader reopening of the world's second biggest economy that could boost global growth. This marks the first decline in Nomura's closely-watched China COVID lockdown index since the start of October, nearly two months ago. Reporting by Ryan Woo and Bernard Orr in Beijing; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Chinese papers go black in mourning for late leader Jiang Zemin
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] A Chinese flag is lowered to half-staff, following the death of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, in Shanghai, China, December 1, 2022. REUTERS/Aly SongBEIJING, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Chinese newspapers turned their front pages black on Thursday and flags were put at half mast in mourning for the death of former president Jiang Zemin, whose death has prompted a wave of nostalgia for the more liberal times he oversaw. Jiang died in his home city of Shanghai just after noon on Wednesday of leukaemia and multiple organ failure. "Beloved comrade Jiang Zemin will never be forgotten," it said in its headline, above a story republishing the official announcement of his death. "Having someone educated as leader really is a good thing, RIP," wrote one user on WeChat adding a candle emoji.

☆ Jiang Zemin, Former China Leader, Dies at 96
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG—Jiang Zemin, the former Chinese leader who rose to power after the deadly crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests and presided over his country’s economic rise heading into the 21st century, died Wednesday at the age of 96. Mr. Jiang died at 12:13 p.m. in Shanghai, where he succumbed to leukemia and multiple organ failure, according to a Communist Party communiqué published by the government-run Xinhua News Agency.

On Monday, the White House said it backed the right of people to peacefully protest in China but stopped short of criticizing Beijing as protesters in multiple Chinese cities demonstrated against heavy COVID-19 measures. The Republican response was swift. Senator Ted Cruz called White House response "pitiful," adding in a tweet: "At a potentially historic inflection point, Dems shill for the CCP." Beyond this, say analysts, the U.S. wants to avoid language that allows China to pin the protests on U.S. interference. Daniel Russel, who served as the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia in the Obama administration, said the Biden White House would be focused on the next steps by Chinese authorities.

☆ Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin dies at age 96, state media reports
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin died on Wednesday at the age of 96 of leukaemia and multiple organ failure, Chinese state media reported. Jiang died at 12:13 p.m. (0413 GMT) in his home city of Shanghai, the official Xinhua news agency said, publishing a letter to the Chinese people by the ruling Communist Party, parliament, Cabinet and the military announcing the death. "Comrade Jiang Zemin's death is an incalculable loss to our Party and our military and our people of all ethnic groups," the letter read, saying the announcement was made with "profound grief". It described "our beloved Comrade Jiang Zemin" as an outstanding leader of high prestige, a great Marxist, statesman, military strategist and diplomat and a long-tested communist fighter. Jiang was plucked from obscurity to head China's ruling Communist Party after the bloody Tiananmen crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1989, but broke the country out of its subsequent diplomatic isolation, mending fences with the United States and overseeing an unprecedented economic boom.

☆ Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin dies aged 96
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] China's President Jiang Zemin gestures during his press conference in Beijing, China, September 2, 1994. REUTERS/Will Burgess/File PhotoBEIJING, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin died on Wednesday at the age of 96 of leukaemia and multiple organ failure, Chinese state media reported. Jiang died at 12:13 p.m. (0413 GMT) in his home city of Shanghai, the official Xinhua news agency said, publishing a letter to the Chinese people by the ruling Communist Party, parliament, Cabinet and the military announcing the death. It described "our beloved Comrade Jiang Zemin" as an outstanding leader of high prestige, a great Marxist, statesman, military strategist and diplomat and a long-tested communist fighter. Reporting by Tony Munroe and Yew Lun Tian; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Unprecedented protests in China are making headlines around the world, except inside China
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It is one of the top stories — if not the top story — for major news organizations around the world. But for the hundreds of millions in China relying on news coverage from state-run media, there has been almost no coverage of the unprecedented challenge to leader Xi Jinping. Other state-run media outlets are also doing their best to wholly ignore the mass demonstrations, which have broken out in at least 16 cities. Mentions of the protests were absent Monday on the websites belonging to the People’s Daily and China Daily, two other prominent state-controlled media organizations. The concerted effort by the state-run media to silence the protests and carry government messaging put on display the lengths Xi’s mouthpieces will go to crush dissent.

In Beijing, hundreds of mostly young people demonstrated in the commercial heart of the city well into the small hours of Monday. Freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of arts, freedom of movement, personal freedoms. A security guard tries to cover a protest slogan against zero-Covid on the campus of Peking University in Beijing. “Open your eyes and look at the world, dynamic zero-Covid is a lie,” the protest slogan at Peking University read. At Tsinghua University, another elite university in Beijing, hundreds of students gathered on a square to protest against zero-Covid and censorship.

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