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☆ BRICS: The West wants Putin isolated. A major summit he’s hosting shows he’s far from alone
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was expected to join but canceled his trip after suffering an injury at home. “This BRICS summit is really a gift (for Putin),” said Alex Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, then-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pose as they arrive for the BRICS summit in Brasilia in November 2019. While BRICS is primarily geared toward economic collaboration, its meeting last year took place in the shadow of the war in Ukraine. The gathering in Kazan also gives Putin ample opportunity for one-on-one facetime with his fellow BRICS leaders and other friendly dignitaries in attendance.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, –, Xi, India’s Narendra Modi, Iran’s Masoud, Cyril Ramaphosa, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Putin –, Xi –, Putin, BRICS, Donald Trump, ”, Alex Gabuev, …, BRICS “, ” Gabuev, Xi Jinping, Jair Bolsonaro, Narendra Modi, Adriano Machado, Mahmoud Abbas, Israel –, Jonathan Fulton, Volodymyr Zelensky, Yevhen Titov, they’ll, Manoj Kewalramani Organizations: CNN, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Indian, Reuters, International, Israel, Atlantic Council, United Nations General Assembly, US, New Development Bank, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, BRICS, Kremlin, Takshashila Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Kazan, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, Beijing, Tehran, United States, Berlin, Brasilia, Johannesburg, Israel, Gaza, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Abu Dhabi, “, Gabuev, BRICS, Kharkiv, Indian, Bangalore

☆ Tiger testicles and mythical banquets: What China’s emperors inside Beijing’s secretive Forbidden City really ate
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

CNN —The Forbidden City was once one of the most powerful places on the planet. It was called the ‘Forbidden City’ because few Chinese subjects were allowed to enter. Ancient tableware from the Forbidden City is on display at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. “The majority of (the emperors) grew up in a highly disciplined environment,” says Wang of the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Now popular worldwide, Peking duck was regularly served at Empress Dowager Cixi's Forbidden City banquets.

Persons: Zhao Rongguang, Bin Xiao Zhao, Deng Xiaoping, Beijing . Zhao, wasn’t, Zhao, Kangxi Emperor, VCG Wilson, Kangxi, ”, Qianlong Emperor, Giuseppe Castiglione, –, Qianlong, Daisy Yiyou Wang, Maggie Wong, Nicole Chiang, ” Chiang, Chiang, Emperor Qianlong, it’s, “, ” Zhao, It's, didn’t, Wang, Dowager Cixi, Empress Dowager Cixi –, Cixi, China’s, Han Quan Xi, ’ ”, Dowager, Tian, Yan ”, suckling, Tian An Yan, Leah Abucayan Organizations: CNN, Historical, of China, Beijing's, Hong Kong Palace Museum, Hong, Forbidden, Hong Kong, Museum, Everett, Communists, China Import, Fair, Communist Locations: Europe, Beijing, China, Chinese, Heilongjiang, Paris, Beijing ., Prosperity, Netherlands, Italian, City, Hong Kong, It’s, Beijing’s, Forbidden City, Jiangnan, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Mongolia, Qianlong, Guangzhou, Japan, East Asia, Peking, Imperial

☆ China sees foreign threats ‘everywhere’ as powerful spy agency takes center stage
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

But among the crowds you and I together are protecting national security,” the narrator concludes. Chinese soldiers look at a poster promoting national security in the southwestern city of Beihai on National Security Education Day on April 15, 2024. CFOTO/Future Publishing/Getty ImagesAccording to the MSS, foreign spies are omnipresent and infiltrating everything – from mapping apps to weather stations. But China’s spy agency has gradually stepped out of the shadows as Xi makes national security a key priority. “Shenyin Special Investigation Squad” is a comic series based on real-life counterespionage operations, according to China's spy agency.

Persons: –, “, ”, Xi, Xuezhi Guo, Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Xi Jinping, Greg Baker, Mao Zedong, Greitens, Chen Yixin, Chen, “ Chen, ” Greitens, Xi –, denigrate, Bain, Alex Plavevski, Guo, influencers, China’s, can’t, James Zimmerman, Perkins Coie, Zimmerman, ” Zimmerman Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Security Education, “, Ministry of State Security, National Security, Publishing, CIA, National, Education, Capitol, Guilford College, Asia, University of Texas, Getty, Communist Party, FBI, National Security Propaganda, CCTV, Ministry of State, China’s National Security Commission, Group, China Development Forum, Perkins Coie LLP, ”, MSS Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beihai, British, American, Beijing, Austin, AFP, Zhejiang province, Shanghai, New York, overreaching

☆ 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

☆ Biden and Xi speak for first time since November summit amid global tensions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Mj Lee | Donald Judd | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It is about verifying, as the president says,” the official told CNN when asked about Xi’s pledge that Beijing will not interfere in the US’ 2024 election. The Biden administration plans to continue stressing to Beijing the US’ grave concerns about Chinese efforts to hack US critical infrastructure, the official said. “We would hope there would be a chance for another in-person meeting” in the near future, the senior administration official said. A Treasury official told reporters Monday she planned to have frank discussions on what the administration considers “unfair” trade practices from China. In January, Sullivan met with the Chinese foreign minister in Bangkok, and Blinken met with the Chinese official in Munich in February.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, ”, Antony Blinken, Xi, Xi –, Jake Sullivan, Vladimir Putin, “, Yellen, Janet Yellen, Sullivan, Blinken, Lloyd Austin, CNN’s Sam Fossum, Arlette Saenz Organizations: Washington CNN, White, Biden, CNN, Treasury, Defense Locations: Gaza, Ukraine, Washington, Beijing, Taiwan, South, Taiwan Strait, China, Woodside , California, California, ”, Russia, Guangzhou, Bangkok, Munich

☆ Opinion: When Biden meets Xi, there’s one obstacle he can’t overcome
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Biden may want Xi to help bring down the temperature on the world’s ongoing wars and help prevent new ones from igniting. Although China occasionally tries to keep a façade of neutrality, there’s little question that it is aligned with Russia. White House officials have said Biden will provide “clarity” to Xi, on the US positions regarding Taiwan and Russia’s war against Ukraine. Still, there’s a limit to how much Xi can downplay the need for growth. Even so, Biden and Xi are likely to make some progress in an important and necessary meeting.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Xi, Xi –, Vladimir Putin –, Barack Obama, ”, “, Nancy Pelosi’s, Saul Loeb, Biden, Mao Zedong Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Frida Ghitis CNN, Biden, Central Military Commission, Israel, Kremlin, Hamas, US, Beijing, Getty, Ukraine, Communist Party, China Locations: California, Bali , Indonesia, China, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Washington, Beijing, Iran, Tehran, Moscow, Taiwan, Indonesia, South China, White, Gaza

☆ Biden preparing to discuss Israel and Ukraine wars with Xi – and make case to Beijing for containment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Mj Lee | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The global unrest ratchets up the stakes of Biden’s sit-down with Xi, their first face-to-face meeting in a year. As Biden confronts two presidency-defining conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, he is eager to improve ties with Beijing and prevent another crisis from exploding on his watch. Still, US officials believe there might be a limited role Beijing can play in the Ukraine war, notwithstanding China’s deep economic alliance with Russia. Since the earliest stages of the Ukraine war, Biden has sought to convince Xi to withhold support for his ally in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin. Like Iran, Russia shares China’s aims of reshaping what they see as an American-led world order hostile to their aims.

Persons: San Francisco CNN —, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi, ”, Beijing’s, Wang Yi, week’s Biden, Wang, Jake Sullivan, Vladimir Putin, Putin Organizations: San Francisco CNN, US, United, San, Pacific Rim, Hamas, Saudi, “, White Locations: San, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, San Francisco Bay, Iran, Beijing, East, Europe, United States, San Francisco, California, China, Chinese, Washington, Gaza, Moscow, American, North Korea

☆ Li Keqiang: Death of China’s former premier offers glimpse into discontent with Xi Jinping
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —The sudden death of China’s former Premier Li Keqiang has spurred an outpouring of grief and mourning across the country. But for many, it also appears to offer a rare opening to air pent-up discontent with top leader Xi Jinping and the direction he has taken the country. His death, just months after his retirement, shocked the Chinese public. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang review a guard of honor prior to a meeting at the Chancellery on July 9, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits a hospital in Wuhan on January 27, 2020, days after the city was placed under a complete lockdown to curb the raging Covid-19 outbreak.

Persons: Li Keqiang, Xi Jinping, Li, Xi –, ”, Alfred Wu, Lee, “, Xi, Angela Merkel, Sean Gallup, Zhang Lun, Mao Zedong, Zhang, “ I’ve, Wu, Li Tao, Zhou Enlai, Mao, Hu Yaobang, Fish Leong, ” Zhang Organizations: CNN, Communist, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public Policy, Getty, Studies, University of Cergy, Peking University, Li, AP Party, Communist Party, Xinhua, CPC, Party Locations: Shanghai, China, Singapore, German, Berlin, Germany, Pontoise, France, Communist China, Wuhan, AFP, Yunnan province, Weibo, Malaysian, Hefei, Anhui, Zhengzhou, Henan, Beijing

Blinken told the United Nations this week that he would work with Wang to prevent the conflict in the Middle East from spreading. “China and the United States need to have dialogue. But while the U.S. has publicly stood with Israel, China has called for a cease-fire between Israel and the Western-designated terrorist group Hamas stationed in Gaza. Gavin Newsom met with Xi – the first meeting between a U.S. governor and Xi in six years. While more routes of communication may be opening, China-U.S. relations shouldn’t be mistaken as entirely pleasant at the moment.

Persons: Wang Yi, Antony Blinken, Wang, Blinken, ” Wang, John Kirby, Kirby, ”, Joe Biden's, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Xi Jinping, Gavin Newsom, Xi –, Xi, Newsom, “ We’ve, We’ve, Wu Qian Organizations: Foreign, U.S, State Department, United, National Security, Economic Cooperation, California Gov, CNN, Pentagon Locations: Washington, China, Gaza, Ukraine, United Nations, United States, U.S, Israel, “, Tehran, Asia, San Francisco, California

China’s Foreign Ministry said Beijing was “strongly dissatisfied” with Baerbock’s comments and “firmly opposes” them. “The remarks made by Germany are extremely absurd, seriously infringe on China’s political dignity, and are an open political provocation,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing on Monday. The Chinese Foreign Ministry often leaves out content it deems sensitive from the transcripts of its regular briefings. In June, US President Joe Biden also referred to Xi as a “dictator,” sparking a fierce backlash from Beijing. As a result of this and China’s political decisions, we need to change our approach to China,” the paper said.

Persons: Xi, ”, Berlin’s, Annalena Baerbock, “, Putin, Germany’s, Patricia Flor, Mao Ning, Xi –, Joe Biden, Jiang Zemin, Mike Wallace, Jiang, Deng Xiaoping, Mao Zedong’s, Angela Merkel, Baerbock Organizations: CNN, Fox News, China’s, Ministry, Chinese Foreign Ministry, CBS, South China, Germany’s Greens Locations: China, Germany, United States, Ukraine, Beijing, Berlin, Moscow, Taiwan, South, “ China, Australian

☆ World leaders are lining up to meet Xi Jinping. Should the US be worried?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hong Kong CNN —Xi Jinping has had a busy couple of weeks. “(Chinese leaders) believe it’s time now for China to make its strategic plans,” said Li Mingjiang, an associate professor of international relations at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. Beijing has watched uneasily as the war in Ukraine has driven the US and its European allies closer. When French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Beijing last week, Xi drew comparisons between China and France: both “major countries with a tradition of independence,” Xi said, and “firm advocates for a multi-polar world” – or a world without a dominant superpower. But how Beijing navigates these initiatives, observers say, comes down to a bottom line that’s integrally related to Xi’s global ambitions and world view.

☆ Jiang Zemin: China's Xi calls for unity at former president's memorial service
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on the country to unite around his leadership as he addressed a memorial service for former leader Jiang Zemin, following an unprecedented show of dissent over his zero-Covid policy and authoritarian rule. At the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi led hundreds of China’s political and military elites to pay final tribute to Jiang, who died last Wednesday at the age of 96. Chinese leader Xi Jinping leads other officials to bow during a formal memorial for late former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin in Beijing on December 6, 2022. Coming to power in the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, Jiang led China out of international isolation and guided its integration into the global market. On Tuesday, in his first public speech since the protests, Xi praised Jiang for ensuring the party’s survival from the “political storms” of his time.

☆ Biden’s not the first US President to face a tug of war over China protests
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Going further could imperil US President Joe Biden’s effort to improve relations between the two countries, after he met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Bali. It’s a strategically defensible position, given the need to avoid a clash with China that could spiral into a superpower clash in Asia. In the run-up to Beijing’s suppression of pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989, then-President George H.W. China is unrecognizable since 1989, and recent protests – this time arising out of frustration with Covid-19 lockdowns but expressing some dissent towards Xi – are not fully analogous. Biden would be likely to show far less deference to Beijing given today’s broad, bipartisan anti-China feeling in Washington.

The White House said in a statement after the meeting that Biden raised concerns about human rights and China’s provocations around Taiwan. “President Biden and President Xi reiterated their agreement that a nuclear war should never be fought and can never be won,” a White House readout said, referring to the threat of nuclear weapons use in Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, November 14, 2022. Planning for Monday’s meeting predated Pelosi’s trip, and discussions continued between US and Chinese officials despite Beijing’s furor. “Xi is not an enigma to President Biden,” a senior administration official told CNN.

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