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☆ Opinion: It doesn’t take an Agatha Christie detective to work out something’s up in Xi’s China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sheena Mckenzie | Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. The latest to vanish from view is China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu. But anti-corruption campaigns are an ideal vehicle for political crackdowns, and in the opaque world of China’s regime, with no official explanation, there’s much that doesn’t meet the eye. (Rahm Emanuel, dripping with sarcasm, joked that the unemployment rate among Xi’s ministers might exceed that of China’s young people.) But China, of course, still promotes its system as a superior alternative to western-style democracy; tries to pretend that it’s not a dictatorship.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Li Shangfu, “ I’m, Nobody, Rahm Emanuel, ”, Xi’s, Agatha Christie’s, Li, China’s, Qin Gang, Qin, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Qi, Xi, Mao Zedong, didn’t, Joe Biden, “, Hu Jintao, Hu, chastened, Jack Ma, Jeff Bezos Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Frida Ghitis CNN, China’s Defense, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Twitter, Qin, Street Journal, PLA’s, Force, United Nations General Assembly, Communist Party Congress Locations: China, Japan, Denmark, Vietnam, Beijing, Washington, Russia, Ukraine, Germany

☆ Romania's Enescu music festival eyes next edition as 2023 event wraps up
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Luiza Ilie | Thomson Reuters | Bucharest-Based General News Reporter Covering A Wide Range Of Romanian Topics Elections | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The French National Orchestra plays during the George Enescu Classical Music Festival, in Bucharest, Romania, September 21, 2023. The 27th Enescu festival, a biennial event, could bring in American orchestras for the first time in years, said Cristina Uruc, one of the main planners, alongside established festival performers. The 26th Enescu festival, named after Romania's most famous composer and begun in 1958, ends on Sunday with a performance by the Dutch-based Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. "If we had a proper concert hall, top orchestras could play in Bucharest outside the festival as well, we could build on the classical music tradition this festival has created." Asked whether the rise of generative artificial intelligence threatened classical music performances, one artist at the festival said he was not concerned.

Persons: George Enescu, George Calin, Enescu, Cristina Uruc, Maestro Macelaru, Cristian Macelaru, Simon Rattle, Zubin Mehta, Vladimir Jurowski, Yuja Wang, Martha Argerich, Gautier Capucon, Uruc, Artexim, Capucon, Luiza Ilie, Matthew Lewis Organizations: French National Orchestra, George Enescu Classical, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Enescu, Reuters, Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Rome's National Academy of Santa Cecilia Orchestra, Musicians, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Bucharest, Romania, Rights BUCHAREST, Dutch, French, Sala

☆ Huang Xueqin: Chinese activists expected to appear in secret trial as civil society crackdown deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Independent journalist and #MeToo activist Huang Xueqin and labor rights activist Wang Jianbing were detained by authorities in the southern city of Guangzhou in September 2021. Rights advocates say Huang and Wang are unlikely to receive a fair trial in a judicial system controlled by the party with a conviction rate above 99.9%. Wang Jianbing, a labor rights activist, was detained along with #MeToo activist Huang Xueqin in September 2021. #FreeXueBing/AP/FILE‘Isolated atoms’A close friend of Huang told CNN the journalist had suffered significant weight loss in detention and stopped menstruating for months. In the months following their detention, more than 70 friends and supporters of Huang and Wang were summoned by the police for questioning, according to supporters.

Persons: Huang Xueqin, Wang Jianbing, Huang, Wang, ”, William Nee, “ Huang, ” Nee, menstruating, Huang’s, –, “, it’s, ’, Sarah Brooks Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist, People’s, CNN, Rights, Human, Guangzhou Public Security, University of Sussex, Authorities, Human Rights, Amnesty Locations: China, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, United Kingdom, “

☆ Thousands of Greeks rally as state workers strike over labour law plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Renee Maltezou | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The one-day nationwide strike called by Greece's largest public sector union ADEDY is the first walkout since the Mitsotakis government's re-election for a second term. The protesters marched to parliament, where lawmakers were debating the planned changes, which are expected to be passed this week. It also enables employers to implement a six-day working week. Employers face a fine up to 10,500 euros ($11,175) if they fail to declare an employee's extension of working hours or change of shifts. The bill also introduces fines and a six-month jail term against those who obstruct employees from working during a strike.

Persons: Louisa Gouliamaki, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Lambrini Christoyanni, Renee Maltezou, Andrew Cawthorne, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Employers, Greece's Communist Party KKE, Thomson Locations: Athens, Greece

☆ Greek State Workers Strike Against Government Labour Law Plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Renee MaltezouATHENS (Reuters) - Greek public sector workers including teachers, doctors and transport staff walked off the job on Thursday to protest against labour law changes the conservative government plans, months after it was re-elected. Trains and buses were operating on reduced hours during the one-day nationwide strike called by Greece's largest public sector union ADEDY. It also enables employers to implement a six-day working week if needed. Employers face a fine up to 10,500 euros ($11,175) if they fail to declare an employee's extension of working hours or change of shifts. The bill introduces fines and a six-month jail term against those who obstruct employees from working during a strike.

Persons: Renee Maltezou ATHENS, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mitsotakis, Renee Maltezou, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Workers, Employers, Greece's Communist Party KKE Locations: Athens

☆ Two mainland China bishops to attend big Vatican meeting after tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsVATICAN CITY, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Two bishops from mainland China are due to attend a major Vatican meeting next month, officials said on Thursday, a positive sign after recent tensions between the Holy See and Beijing. The two bishops were chosen by their brother bishops in China, meaning they likely had approval from the Communist government, which holds great sway over the Chinese Catholic Church. Two other Chinese bishops were allowed by the government to attend another synod for the first time in 2018 but did not stay for the entire meeting. A landmark 2018 agreement between the Vatican and China on the appointment of bishops has been tenuous at best, with the Vatican complaining that Beijing has violated it several times. Two months ago the Vatican chided Beijing for not consulting over the transfer of two bishops from one diocese to another.

Persons: Pope Francis, Anthony Yao Shun, Jining, Joseph Yang Yongqiang, Francis, Philip Pullella, Alex Richardson Organizations: Vatican, Handout, REUTERS, CITY, Communist, Catholic Church, Communist Party, Catholic, Churches, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Zhoucun, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vatican, Mongolia

☆ Opinion | The Underground Historians Keeping the Truth Alive in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Ian Johnson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“Spark is history,” Jiang Xue told me. The same problems the older generation faced, especially the lack of freedom of expression, is the same issue I face today. Her work clashed with her husband’s desire for a successful career as a researcher on religion in a government think tank. What sustains Jiang Xue and many other underground historians is the sense of community that their movement provides. Some of her interviewees have become close friends, such as Tan Chanxue, whom she regularly visited until she died in 2018.

Persons: ” Jiang Xue, —, “, ”, Jiang Xue, Tan Chanxue, Xiang Chengjian, Uncle Xiang, Hannah Arendt Organizations: Chinese Communist Party Locations: North America

☆ US Attorney General Merrick Garland tells Republicans defunding FBI would be 'catastrophic'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Sarah N. Lynch | Thomson Reuters | Sarah N. Lynch Is The Lead Reporter For Reuters Covering The U.S. Justice Department Out Of Washington | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Justice Department works for the American people." [1/3]U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and attendees in the room hold their hands over their hearts for the U.S. Republicans have also been critical of the department's handling of a five-year-long tax investigation into Hunter Biden, 53. Hunter Biden lives in California. Republicans on Wednesday grilled Garland about the Hunter Biden case.

Persons: General Merrick Garland, Garland, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Hunter Biden, Biden, Hunter, Jerrold Nadler, Jack Smith, Trump, Smith, Tanya Chutkan, David Weiss, Weiss, Mike Johnson, Sarah N, Lynch, Scott Malone, Matthew Lewis, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, FBI, Justice Department, Republican, Department of Justice, Democratic, Department, Trump, Capitol, Chinese Communist Party, House, U.S . Department of Justice, Republicans, Attorney, Internal Revenue, Justice, D.C, DOJ, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York, Georgia, Delaware, Washington, Central California, California

☆ Republican Party infighting is driving America toward a government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

More broadly, it could raise fresh doubts about the capacity of a polarized nation – featuring an ever more extreme and performative Republican Party in ex-President Donald Trump’s image – to govern itself. But the Republican majority is so thin – the speaker can lose only four votes with its current margin – and the party is so bitterly divided, that past experience may be a poor predictor of outcomes. So handing a win to the critical Republicans on whom the GOP majority depends may be a poor strategy. Rep. Mike Lawler talks on his way to a House Republican Conference meeting at the US Capitol on September 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. Rep. Matt Gaetz talks on his way to a House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol on September 19, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Donald Trump’s, Nancy Mace, McCarthy, Mike Simpson, it’s, ” Simpson, ”, Trump, Mike Lawler, ” Lawler, Chip Somodevilla, Hakeem Jeffries, they’ve, Matt Gaetz, “ It’ll, Mike Garcia, CNN’s Manu Raju, Don Bacon, Ukraine –, Biden, “, ” McCarthy Organizations: CNN, Republican, Chinese Communist Party, Capitol, GOP, Senate, Republicans, ” South Carolina GOP Rep, Trump, Democrats, Democrat, House Republican, Democratic Party, Congressional Progressive Caucus, ”, Democratic, ex, Navy, Nebraska Rep, Biden, United Nations Locations: America, ”, Idaho, Ukraine, New York, Washington ,, ” Florida, California, Nebraska, Washington

☆ Xi's economic policies are leaving many China watchers perplexed and confused
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Michelle Caruso-Cabrera | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Why is a nation with ambitions to become the dominant economic power in the world doing so many things to blunt that potential? Xi vs. the CCPMost, though not all, China watchers point to Xi himself as the instigator of those recent changes. "China's private sector, previously the growth engine of the Chinese economy, is paying the consequences," he told CNBC. In addition, he said "in recent months, China's National Development and Reform Commission has set up a bureau especially for private sector development." They cite external factors for weakness in the Chinese economy, including U.S. tariffs, trade restrictions, sanctions, and the sluggish post-pandemic global economy.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Lintao Zhang, Orville Schell, Schell, Jinping, Yasheng Huang, Xi, Ryan Hass, Kevin Rudd, Rudd, Anne Stevenson, Yang, Stevenson, Jack Ma, Mikhail Gorbachev, Liu Pengu, Yang Fan, Zhang Xinyu, Liza Tobin, Eric Schmidt Organizations: Political, CPC Central Committee, of People, Getty, Center, U.S, China Relations, The Asia Society, CNBC, Chinese Communist Party, Communist, MIT Sloan School, CCP, China Center, Brookings, Foreign Policy, Oxford University, J Capital Research, Communist Party, Party, U.S ., Soviet Union, National, Reform, Marxist Locations: Beijing, China, New York, U.S, Australia, United States, U.S . Congress, USSR, Soviet Union

☆ US Republicans push for security review of China-linked battery company
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Amanda Andrade Rhoades/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Republican lawmakers on Wednesday urged the U.S. Treasury Department to conduct a security review over China-linked ownership of Gotion Inc, which plans to build electric vehicle battery plants in Michigan and Illinois, arguing its management is under Beijing's sway. The move is the latest push by Republicans to question Chinese-linked EV battery producers looking to set up shop in the U.S., possibly with access to taxpayer funding. The governors of Michigan and Illinois have announced plans for Gotion to open EV plants in their states, facilities expected to create thousands of jobs. Those include the company's founder Li Zhen and his son whom, they said, were members of CCP organizations. The Treasury Department, Gotion and Gotion High-Tech did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Persons: Marco Rubio, Amanda Andrade Rhoades, Janet Yellen, Li Zhen, Joe Biden, Tesla, Ford, Michael Martina, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Wednesday, U.S . Treasury Department, Gotion Inc, Foreign Investment, China's Communist Party, Germany's Volkswagen AG, Gotion, Tech, CCP, Treasury Department, Republicans, CATL, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Washington , U.S, China, Michigan, Illinois, U.S, United States

☆ Turbulence in China’s top ranks raises questions about Xi Jinping’s rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Defense Minister Li Shangfu has not been seen in public for three weeks, sparking speculation he is under investigation. Both Li and Qin serve among China’s five state councillors, a senior position in the cabinet that outranks a regular minister. Li also sits on the Central Military Commission, a powerful body headed by Xi that commands the armed forces. China's Defence Minister Li Shangfu gives a speech during the Moscow Conference on International Security on August 15. Last week, as speculation mounted over the whereabouts of the defense minister, Xi called for unity and stability within the military during an inspection in China’s northeast.

Persons: China’s, Li Shangfu, Weeks, Qin Gang, Xi, Li, Qin, outranks, “ What’s, ”, Drew Thompson, Xi Jinping, James Char, Lloyd Austin, Alexander Nemenov, Xi’s, Deng Yuwen, ” Rahm Emanuel, Agatha Christie’s, “, –, Craig Singleton, General Zhang Youxia, Zhang, He’s, Thompson, they’re, ” Thompson, Mao Zedong, Char, …, ” Char, Jinping Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Defense, Foreign, Central Military Commission, People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, Wall Street Journal, Communist Party, National University of Singapore, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Belarus ’, US, Singapore’s Navy, China's, Conference, International Security, Getty, Twitter, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Washington DC, Development Department, Rocket Force, Equipment Development Department Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Washington, Beijing, Singapore, Moscow, Belarus, Minsk, AFP, Japan, Soviet, Sichuan, “

☆ China's ex-Foreign Minister Qin Gang was ousted after alleged affair, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a press conference after talks with his Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra in Beijing, China, May 23, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/Pool/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 19 (Reuters) - China's former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was ousted from his position in July, had an extramarital affair while he was ambassador to the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with a briefing. The report said Qin was cooperating with the investigation, which was now focused on whether the affair or Qin's conduct had compromised China's national security. Senior Chinese officials were told that an internal Communist Party investigation found Qin engaged in the affair throughout his tenure as China's ambassador to the United States, the report said. Qin was replaced by veteran diplomat Wang Yi in July as the foreign minister after a mysterious one-month absence from duties barely half a year into the job.

Persons: Qin Gang, Wopke Hoekstra, Thomas Peter /, Qin, spokeperson Mao Ning, Wang Yi, Shubham, Neil Fullick, Michael Perry Organizations: Foreign, REUTERS, Wall Street, Senior, Communist Party, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, United States, U.S, Washington, Bengaluru

Hong Kong CNN —China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday declined to address a report its former foreign minister Qin Gang was ousted from his position over an alleged extramarital affair. When asked about the report during a regular press briefing Tuesday, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said she was “not aware” of the information. “As for the appointment and removal of the Chinese Foreign Minister, the Chinese side has released information before,” spokesperson Mao Ning said in an apparent reference to the July announcement of his replacement. Qin served as Chinese Ambassador to the US from July 2021 until early 2023 when he assumed his short-lived role as foreign minister. According to a biographical information page on China’s Foreign Ministry website, Qin is married with a son.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Qin Gang, Qin, Xi Jinping, Li Shangfu, “, Mao Ning, Wang Yi, –, Xi, Antony Blinken Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong CNN — China’s, Wall Street Journal, Communist Party, Rocket Force, China’s Defense, Foreign Ministry, Communist, Wall Street, CNN, China’s, Information Office, China’s Foreign Ministry, Foreign Locations: Hong Kong, Washington, Beijing, China’s, China, United States

☆ Meet Vladimir Medinsky, Putin’s Ghostwriter - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Mikhail Zygar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Mr. Medinsky was born in the Cherkasy region of Ukraine in 1970. His father was a military man and his childhood was spent traveling across the Soviet Union, from garrison to garrison. In this peripatetic environment, according to close acquaintances, Mr. Medinsky was brought up with very conservative values and as a sincere patriot of the Soviet Union. That’s when I met Mr. Medinsky, when I was as an undergraduate at the institute in the late ’90s. man should, Mr. Medinsky adapted to the change in atmosphere, parlaying a job in the civil service into a political career.

Persons: Medinsky, —, Christopher Buckley’s, ”, Putin, Boris Yeltsin, Putin’s Organizations: Soviet Union . Education, Moscow Institute of International Relations, School of Journalism, Komsomol, Communist Party’s, Mr, Ya Corporation, Putin’s United Locations: Cherkasy, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Soviet Union, Soviet, Russia, Putin’s United Russia, Russian

☆ Huawei's chip breakthrough poses new threat to Apple in China — and questions for Washington
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

There is no Chinese company that can do what TSMC does. Along with Huawei, SMIC is on a U.S. trade blacklist called the Entity List. The 7nm process is seen as highly-advanced in the world of semiconductors, even though it is not the latest technology. While SMIC is able to create 7nm chips, it's unclear how efficient, profitable and sustainable that is on a bigger scale. While the yield of SMIC's 7nm process for Huawei chips is not known, it is "probably low," Kotasthane said.

Persons: Aly Song, Donald Trump, shockwaves, SMIC, Dan Hutcheson, Kotasthane Organizations: Apple, Reuters Apple, Huawei, China's, Chinese Communist Party, U.S ., Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, SMIC, 5G, CNBC, Takshashila, The U.S . Department of Commerce, Street, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S Locations: Shanghai, China, U.S, Washington, . U.S, The

U.S. flag and TikTok logo are seen in this illustration taken, June 2, 2023. The states say TikTok, which is used by more than 150 million Americans, has faced growing calls from U.S. lawmakers for a nationwide ban over concerns about possible Chinese government influence. Efforts to pass legislation to give the Biden administration more power to ban or crack down on TikTok have stalled. TikTok estimates 380,000 people in Montana use the video service, or more than a third of the state's 1.1 million people. Former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2020 sought to bar new downloads of TikTok but a series of court decisions blocked the ban from taking effect.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, TikTok, China's ByteDance, Austin Knudsen, Donald Trump, David Shepardson, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, Chinese Communist Party, Biden, Republican, Former U.S, Thomson Locations: Virginia, Georgia, Alaska , Utah , Indiana , Nebraska , Indiana , Iowa, Kentucky, South Dakota, Montana, Former

☆ Taiwan’s defense ministry urges Beijing to stop ‘military harassment’ after 103 Chinese warplanes fly near island
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Eric Cheung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Taipei, Taiwan CNN —Taiwan’s defense ministry has urged Beijing to stop its “persistent military harassment,” after it detected more than 100 Chinese warplanes close to the island in a 24-hour span between Sunday and Monday. The number of warplanes recorded posed “severe challenges to the Taiwan Strait and regional safety,” the ministry said in a statement. According to a flight map provided by the ministry, 40 of the 103 Chinese warplanes crossed the median line on the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s self-declared air defense identification zone (ADIZ). Those 40 incursions were made by 10 Su-30 fighter jets, 12 J-10 fighter jets, four J-11 fighter jets, 10 J-16 fighter jets, two Y-20 aerial refueling aircraft, and two KJ-500 airborne early warning and control planes. The highest record of Chinese warplanes that entered Taiwan’s ADIZ within 24 hours was reported in October 2021, when 56 planes made the incursion in one day.

Persons: Taiwan CNN —, Su, Taiwan – Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Party, Taiwan, Communist Party, Taiwan’s ADIZ Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Beijing, Taiwan Strait

☆ Women’s tennis returns to China after Peng Shuai boycott
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) kicked off its first tournament in China in more than three years Monday, ending its boycott over the uncertain fate of tennis star Peng Shuai. Peng, a three-time Olympian and grand slam doubles champion, later denied having made the sexual assault claim. But despite the lack of such an investigation, Simon announced this April that the suspension, which he called a “principled stand,” would come to an end by September. The WTA had already pulled its tournaments in China in 2020 due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. Cornet had posted an Instagram story saying her season would only resume later in October, the newspaper said.

Persons: Peng Shuai, Peng, Zhang Gaoli, –, Zhang, Steve Simon, ”, Simon, ” Peng “, Alize Cornet, Cornet, ” Cornet Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Tennis Association, United, Communist, WTA, Guangzhou, Olympic, Beijing Winter Games, Human Rights Watch, Reuters Locations: China, Hong Kong, United Nations, Beijing, Ningbo

☆ Explainer-China's Military Hierarchy Under Spotlight After Defence Minister Disappears
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By Greg Torode and Yew Lun TianHONG KONG (Reuters) - The disappearance of Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu highlights the opaque and complex nature of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), diplomats and analysts say. In the Chinese system, the Minister of National Defence is seen as significantly less powerful than the U.S. defence secretary and many international equivalents. HOW DOES THE CHINESE MILITARY SYSTEM OPERATE? When the forum was last held in-person in 2019, more than 530 defence and military officials and scholars attended, including defence ministers from 23 countries. The Chinese defence minister would typically give the keynote speech at the forum and meet with delegations.

Persons: Greg Torode, Li Shangfu, Li, Xi Jinping, technocrat, Xi, Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi, Zhang Youxia, Tian, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, Defence, People's Liberation Army, PLA, of National Defence, Central Military Commission, Communist Party, Strategic, Force, . Defence, White House, Foreign, Austin, CMC, Diplomats, China Locations: HONG KONG, U.S, ., Singapore, Malta, China

HONG KONG, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The disappearance of Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu highlights the opaque and complex nature of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), diplomats and analysts say. In the Chinese system, the Minister of National Defence is seen as significantly less powerful than the U.S. defence secretary and many international equivalents. HOW DOES THE CHINESE MILITARY SYSTEM OPERATE? When the forum was last held in-person in 2019, more than 530 defence and military officials and scholars attended, including defence ministers from 23 countries. The Chinese defence minister would typically give the keynote speech at the forum and meet with delegations.

Persons: Li Shangfu, Li, Xi Jinping, technocrat, Xi, Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi, Zhang Youxia, Greg Torode, Tian, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Defence, People's Liberation Army, PLA, Reuters, of National Defence, Central Military Commission, Communist Party, Strategic, Force, . Defence, White House, Foreign, Austin, CMC, Diplomats, China, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, U.S, ., Singapore, Malta, China

☆ China's Wang Yi visits Russia ahead of possible Xi-Putin meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi poses as he meets Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (not seen) in Ankara, Turkey, July 26, 2023. Wang, who heads the foreign ministry as well as the ruling Communist Party's foreign affairs office, will meet Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev for annual security talks, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. The veteran diplomat's talks with counterpart Sergei Lavrov will cover a "wide range of issues" including "contacts at higher and the highest levels," the Russian foreign ministry said last week. Ahead of this week's visit, Wang travelled to Malta for hours of "constructive" talks with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Reporting by Ryan Woo; Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wang Yi, Hakan Fidan, Stringer, Vladimir Putin, Wang, Nikolai Patrushev, diplomat's, Sergei Lavrov, Xi Jinping, Putin, Xi, Hague, Maria Zakharova, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Ryan Woo, Lidia Kelly, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Turkish, Rights, Security, China's, Criminal Court, ICC, White House, Thomson Locations: Ankara, Turkey, Rights BEIJING, Russia, Beijing, Communist, Moscow, Ukraine, China, Rome, United States, Malta, U.S

☆ U.S. and Chinese Officials Meet in Malta to Discuss Ukraine and Other Flashpoints
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Edward Wong | More About Edward Wong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

However, recent developments, especially within the Chinese government and the party, have cast doubt on whether that would happen. Questions are swirling around recent purges within the top levels of the Chinese government and the Communist Party. U.S. officials determined last week that Gen. Li Shangfu, the Chinese defense minister, who had not made any public appearances or pronouncements since late August, had been placed under investigation for corruption. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled to Beijing in June for two days of meetings, mainly separate talks with Mr. Xi, Mr. Wang and Mr. Qin, after canceling a trip during the balloon episode in early February. She was followed by John Kerry, the special climate envoy, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

Persons: Sullivan, Wang, Biden, Xi, Li Shangfu, Qin Gang, Antony J, Blinken, Qin, Janet L, Yellen, John Kerry, Gina Raimondo Organizations: Communist Party . U.S, Mr Locations: San Francisco, United States, China, Beijing

☆ China's Wang Yi Visits Russia Ahead of Possible Xi-Putin Meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, begins on Monday a four-day trip to Russia during which both nations are expected to pledge deeper mutual political trust, readying for a possible landmark visit by President Vladimir Putin to Beijing in October. Wang, who heads the foreign ministry as well as the ruling Communist Party's foreign affairs office, will meet Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev for annual security talks, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. On Sept. 1, Putin said he expected to meet Xi soon, but did not explicitly confirm that he would travel to China again. However, China is not a party to the Rome Statute that led to the establishment of the ICC in 2002. Ahead of this week's visit, Wang travelled to Malta for hours of "constructive" talks with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

Persons: Wang Yi, Vladimir Putin, Wang, Nikolai Patrushev, Xi Jinping, Putin, Xi, Hague, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Ryan Woo, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Security, China's, Criminal Court, ICC, White House Locations: BEIJING, Russia, Beijing, Communist, Moscow, Ukraine, China, Rome, United States, Malta, U.S

☆ China's Wang Yi and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan meet in Malta for 'substantive and constructive' talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

China’s Foreign Ministry said the two sides agreed to continue high-level communication on several fronts, including consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs, maritime affairs, and foreign policy. Biden and Xi last met in November 2022 on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali. Military communicationThe two sides also discussed the need to re-establish military-to-military dialogue between the US and China, the senior Biden official said following the weekend meeting. Wang would visit the country between September 18 and 21, China’s Foreign Ministry said Monday. He is expected to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss “a wide range of bilateral cooperation issues,” according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry last week.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Wang Yi, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Xi, Biden, Wang, Sullivan, Nancy Pelosi, China’s, ’, Li Shangfu, Li, Qin Gang, Sergey Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United, China’s, Ministry, Economic Cooperation, Biden, White, US, Party, Foreign Ministry, Chinese Defense, Communist Party, Foreign, Russian, Russian Foreign Ministry, North Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Malta, Asia, Pacific, Beijing, San Francisco, Bali, Washington, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, ”, Ukraine, Moscow, Pyongyang

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