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☆ During the last attempted coup in Russia, ballet dancers alerted citizens of the turmoil. As the Wagner mercenary boss turns on the Russian military, Tchaikovsky's swans may dance again.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Friday a new attack on the Russian military began, led by Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. But instead of Yanayev taking control, one of Gorbachev's political rivals, Boris Yeltsin, urged the Soviets to resist the attempted coup and fight back. Three protesters died in a tense, three-day standoff against the army, but Yanayev and the others behind the attempted coup eventually relented. On Friday, Prigozhin appeared to openly declare taking up arms against the Russian military. The infighting between the mercenary leader and the Russian military comes after months of Prigozhin feuding with Putin over the treatment of his for-hire army.

Persons: Swan, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, —, Leonid Brezhnev, Gennady Yanayev, Mikhail Gorbachev, Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, Putin, Prigozhin, Russia's, Prigozhin's, GeoConfirmed Organizations: Swan Lake, Russian, Service, NPR, Soviet Union's Communist Party, Treaty, Wagner Group, Wagner Locations: Russia, Soviet, Moscow, Russian, Swan, USSR

☆ Temu reportedly thinks shoppers should be blamed if they buy goods from the site that were produced by forced labor
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Online retailer Temu relies on its customers to report when products are made with forced labor. Temu prohibits suppliers from using forced labor, but relies on external reporting to enforce that policy. Lawmakers said there is an extremely high risk that Temu's supply chains are contaminated with forced labor. That makes it difficult to know whether the companies are following the Certa Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which prohibits international imports manufactured by forced labor, particularly in the Xinjiang region of China. The investigation concluded that, "American consumers should know that there is an extremely high risk that Temu's supply chains are contaminated with forced labor."

Persons: —, Temu, hasn't Organizations: Temu, Lawmakers, Service, Chinese Communist Party, Customs, Border, Labor Locations: United States, Xinjiang, China, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, American

☆ Why Chinese students are taking graduation photos looking ‘more dead than alive’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

These are graduation photos, and their theme is “being more dead than alive,” according to the accompanying caption. Urban youth unemployment is at record levels, reaching 20.8% in May, and an influx of new job seekers will only increase the competition. Li Nian, a PhD student who graduated this past week, is among those to have posted “more dead than alive” style photos. After being inspired by examples online, Li took her own graduation photos, which are funny despite the tiredness depicted. “I thought I would remember such graduation photos for the rest of my life,” she told CNN.

Persons: sprawled facedown, banister, –, Ren Yong, …, commiserate, ”, Li Nian, Li, Goldman Sachs, ” Young, lockdowns, “, can’t Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Urban, Students, Wuhan University, China’s Ministry of Education, CNN, Communist Party, Twitter, Weibo, ” Locations: Hong Kong, China, Nanjing, Spain, Italy

☆ Shein and Temu are skirting tariff costs by selling their imported merchandise at super-cheap prices, US lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Shein and Temu sell products that are so cheap the companies avoid paying import tariffs. US lawmakers found that these fast-fashion companies are exempt from tariffs on products under $800. So low, in fact, that the companies don't have to pay tariffs when the products are shipped to the US. Lawmakers highlighted the Certa Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) which prohibits international imports manufactured by forced labor, particularly in the Xinjiang region of China. Temu's code of conduct prohibits suppliers from using forced labor but does not prohibit them from sourcing products based on region.

Persons: —, Temu, Shein Organizations: Service, Chinese Communist Party, Customs, Labor Locations: China, United States, Xinjiang

☆ Retailers Shein and Temu violate U.S. tariff law and evade human rights reviews on imports, House report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — A House committee exploring economic competition between the U.S. and China on Thursday released a damning report connecting retail giants Shein and Temu to a disproportionate number of import violations. Lawmakers argue the tariff violations give Temu and Shein unfair advantages over U.S. retailers. Both companies have faced allegations of human rights abuses: Shein for alleged forced labor in its supplier factories in the Uyghur region and Temu for allegedly failing to develop compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the committee reported. Temu and Shein did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. Temu has previously said it is "not the importer of record with respect to goods shipped to the United States," and Shein has denied allegations of forced labor.

Persons: WASHINGTON, Shein, Mike Gallagher, Temu Organizations: U.S, Chinese Communist Party, Nike, Adidas, Uyghur, Labor, U.S . Customs, Wisconsin Republican, House CCP Committee Locations: China, U.S, Wisconsin, United States

☆ US Coast Guard ship transits Taiwan Strait after Blinken’s trip to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A US Coast Guard ship “conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit” on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the US Navy. Koh’s database notes two occasions where Coast Guard cutters have sailed the strait with US Navy destroyers. China’s Coast Guard responded on Thursday on their official Weibo account where Gan Yu, the spokesperson of China’s Coast Guard, said that “on June 21 US Coast Guard Stratton sailed through the Taiwan Strait” and accused the US of “hyping up” the matter by announcing it publicly. According to the US, the Chinese ship came within 150 yards of the USS Chung-Hoon – less than the length of the Arleigh Burke-class ship itself. A Chinese military spokesperson later accused Washington of “deliberately stirring up trouble and risks in the Taiwan Strait.”

Persons: “, USCGC, ”, Antony Blinken’s, Xi Jinping, Collin Koh, Xi, Gan Yu, Coast Guard Stratton, Haley Sims, Hoon, USS Chung, Arleigh Burke Organizations: South Korea CNN, Coast Guard, US Navy, Beijing, USCG, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Navy, China’s Communist Party, Taiwan, China’s, Guard, Weibo, China’s Coast Guard, US, CNN, USS Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Taiwan Strait, Canadian, Washington

☆ Dozens Die After Explosion in a Barbecue Restaurant in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Chris Buckley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A gas explosion that ripped through a barbecue restaurant in northwestern China killed at least 31 people, officials said on Thursday, hours after the blast had turned the restaurant into a charred ruin. The explosion hit the two-story restaurant in Yinchuan, the capital of the Ningxia region, at 8:40 p.m. on Wednesday, when it was busy with customers eating lamb kebabs and other dishes cooked on gas burners. Firefighters rushed to the scene, where thick smoke rose into the sky and shattered glass and debris covered the street. Chinese Communist Party authorities have become increasingly effective at withholding details of accidents and disasters until they are in full control of the situation. A brief initial report from Xinhua, the official news agency, had said one person was killed and 20 injured.

Organizations: Firefighters, Communist Party Locations: China, Yinchuan, Ningxia, Xinhua

☆ As growth stalls for the U.S. and China, Blinken talked up economic ties in high-stakes Beijing trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Leah Millis | Afp | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the importance of the economic aspects of the bilateral U.S.-China relationship during his high-stakes trip to Beijing earlier this week. The German Chamber of Commerce in China said that during her Beijing trip, Baerbock visited German company Flender, a gearbox manufacturer. Chairman Colm Rafferty and Vice Chair Roberta Lipson attended the meeting with Blinken on behalf of AmCham China. Slowing growthRegulatory challenges aside, a more pressing issue for businesses is slower economic growth in China and the U.S. in the last few months. He said the growth of major economies such as China is in the U.S. interest and described the economic relationship as "vitally important."

Persons: Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Leah Millis, Blinken, Michael Hart, Hart, Annalena Baerbock, Baerbock, Colm Rafferty, Roberta Lipson, AmCham, Xi, Gabriel Wildau, Teneo, Central Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi, Qin, Trump, Yellen, Joe Biden, it's, Biden Organizations: of, People, Afp, Getty, BEIJING —, State Department, American Chamber of Commerce, CNBC, German, of Commerce, The U.S . Department, State, Communist, Central Foreign Affairs Office, Qin Gang, U.S . Federal Reserve Locations: Beijing, BEIJING, U.S, China, AmCham China, The, China U.S, Taiwan

[1/2] Chinese President Xi Jinping looks on as he meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, June 19, 2023. Biden also said Xi was very embarrassed when a suspected Chinese spy balloon was blown off course over U.S. airspace early this year, making a personal comment on the Chinese leader when Blinken said on Monday the "chapter" should be closed. It was unclear why Biden made the comments on Xi - China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong after he secured a precedent-breaking third term as president and head of the Communist Party. Biden said on Tuesday that Xi had been concerned by the so-called Quad strategic security group, which includes Japan, Australia, India and the United States. The U.S. president said he previously told Xi the U.S. was not trying to encircle China with the Quad.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, Leah Millis, Joe Biden, Biden, Xi, Blinken, Mao Zedong, John Kerry, Narendra Modi, Trevor Hunnicutt, Ryan Woo, Kanishka Singh, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S, of, People, REUTERS, Communist Party, Indian, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, , California, BEIJING, California, Washington, Japan, Australia, India, United States, U.S

☆ China is trying to dig up hidden, unpaid government bills in an attempt to minimize financial risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

China is looking into hidden, unpaid debt across local governments, sources told Bloomberg. Officials have launched nationwide inspections in a sign that Beijing is trying to minimize financial risk. China has more than 3,000 administrative units, with many relying on "local government financing vehicles." Earlier this year, a Bloomberg survey found LGFVs were the most frequently cited risk among money managers and economists. Officially, China's Ministry of Finance reports local governments had 37 trillion yuan, or about $5.1 trillion, in debt outstanding, as of April, though there's no official tally for the hidden debt.

Persons: —, wouldn't, there's Organizations: Bloomberg, Officials, Service, Privacy, China, National, China's Ministry, Finance, People's Bank of, Communist Party's Locations: China, Beijing, People's Bank of China

Hong Kong CNN —Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Tuesday the company is looking to invest in India “as soon as humanly possible,” following a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York. “[Modi] really cares about India because he’s pushing us to make significant investments in India, which is something we intend to do. “I am confident that Tesla will be in India and will do so as soon as humanly possible,” he said, without specifying a timeline. Back in 2017, the CEO said that Tesla (TSLA) was planning to sell cars in India as soon as that summer. Both China and India have been trying to attract global EV investment and boost the EV industry.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Elon Musk, India “, Narendra Modi, “, Modi, ” Musk, ”, Musk, Tesla, ” Tesla, ” “, Xu Hongcai, Chen Jining Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Indian, Reuters, EV, Communist Party Locations: Hong Kong, India, New York, Asia, Shanghai, The Shanghai, United States, China, Beijing

☆ China: Strange thing found in student's meal is rat head, officials rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The furore has also exposed deep levels of public distrust in Chinese local governments, whose attempts to cover up negative news have often backfired. “This is duck meat, duck meat,” the staffer insisted. It said the student had invited classmates to look at the object and confirmed it was duck neck, and had submitted a written clarification. “I found out it was not a rat head but a duck neck, so I would like to clarify,” the student said in the video. Instead, it fueled even more anger online, with users accusing the school and local officials of lying and pressuring the student to change his stance.

Persons: “, ”, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, ’ ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Jiangxi Industry Polytechnic College, Jiangxi Radio, Television Station, CNN, Disney, Communist Party Locations: China, Hong Kong, Jiangxi, Qin, Weibo

☆ Exclusive: Taiwan on alert for Chinese-funded election interference
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Yimou Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"They hope to influence Taiwanese people by reaching out to the grassroots," said one Taiwan security official with direct knowledge of the matter. "They hope to influence swing voters who don't have particular political affiliation and would vote for whoever gives them benefits." It is illegal under Taiwanese law for an election campaign to receive money from "external hostile forces," including China. The report said the underground banking systems in Taiwan, which are widely known but difficult to regulate, could provide foreign exchange support. Some Taiwanese have been prosecuted in recent years over receiving illicit support from China in election campaigns.

Persons: Tsai Ing, China's, Wellington Koo, Tsai, Yimou Lee, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, National Security Council, Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, Democratic Progressive Party, Mainland Affairs Council, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, China, Beijing, Taiwan, Wellington, New Taipei City

☆ Blinken says he failed to revive military-to-military talks with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Aly Song | ReutersBEIJING — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday he failed to revive military-to-military talks with China, despite earlier hopes of reopening that communication channel. China's Defense Ministry declined a call with its U.S. counterpart in early February after the discovery of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over U.S. airspace. Blinken told NBC News on Monday that the spy balloon "chapter should be closed." "I think it's absolutely vital that we have these kinds of communications, military to military," Blinken said. The U.S. shot down the alleged Chinese spy balloon in February.

Persons: Biden, —, Aly Song, Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Central Foreign Affairs Office Wang Yi, Qin Gang, Blinken Organizations: Reuters, Reuters BEIJING —, China's Defense, U.S, Communist, Central Foreign Affairs Office, NBC, Pacific Command Locations: Beijing, China, Reuters BEIJING, Reuters BEIJING — U.S, Singapore, U.S, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan

☆ Ex New York police sergeant convicted of acting as Chinese agent in 'Fox Hunt' trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The case was the first of several involving alleged Fox Hunt schemes to reach trial in the United States. Jurors also convicted McMahon on a stalking charge, but found him not guilty of conspiring to act as a foreign agent. THREATENING NOTE ON TARGET'S DOORCo-defendant Zhu Yong, who hired McMahon in 2016 for the job, was convicted on all charges. A third defendant, Zheng Congying was convicted of stalking but found not guilty of acting as a Chinese agent. Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Michael McMahon, Xu Jin, Fox Hunt, Attorney Breon, McMahon, Lawrence Lustberg, Prosecutors, Meredith Arfa, Zhu Yong, Kevin Tung, Zheng Congying, Zheng, Renee Wong, Xu, Luc Cohen, Matthew Lewis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: YORK, New York City, U.S, Attorney, FBI, Chinese Communist Party, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Brooklyn, surveil New Jersey, China, United States, Washington, Paramus , New Jersey, Wuhan

But beneath those positive signals, the two-day visit to Beijing from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted another reality: a wide and dangerous gulf between the two powers. The timing of the visit, which followed two close encounters between Chinese and American armed forces in Asia in recent weeks, underscored the urgency of talking. In the same vein, the United States needs to respect China and must not hurt China’s legitimate rights and interests,” he said. We don’t want to look up to the United States, at the very least we should look at each other at eye level,” he said. Baby stepsIn the lead-up to and during Blinken’s visit, China made clear who it thinks is responsible for the problems in the relationship.

Persons: Antony Blinken, –, Xi Jinping, Blinken, Xi, ”, “, Bonnie Glaser, China …, Nancy Pelosi’s, Yang Tao, ” Yang, Li Shangfu, Shen Dingli, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, ” Blinken, Dexter, Roberts Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Washington, China, China’s Communist Party, German Marshall Fund of, United, Pacific, Military, US, Chinese Defense, Minister of Defense, Beijing, Economic Cooperation, Atlantic Council Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Asia, ”, United States, Washington, Taiwan, American, South China, America, Shanghai, “ China, Bali, “

☆ Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai loses appeal against phone search
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, June 19 (Reuters) - A Hong Kong appeal court on Monday blocked jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai's bid to challenge in the city's highest court a warrant obtained by national security police to scrutinise the contents of his mobile phones. Lai, 75, is the founder of the now shut pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and is due to face trial in September on three charges under the city's sweeping national security law, including collusion with foreign forces. Lai is one of the most prominent Hong Kong critics of China's Communist Party leadership, including President Xi Jinping. Lai lost a bid to end his national security trial in May. Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after months of anti-government protests.

Persons: Jimmy Lai's, Lai, Xi Jinping, Hong, Jessie Pang, Greg Torode, Robert Birsel Organizations: Apple Daily, China's Communist Party, Monday, Apple, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Beijing, China

☆ AstraZeneca planning China business spin off, Financial Times reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies AstraZeneca PLC FollowJune 18 (Reuters) - Drugmaker AstraZeneca (AZN.L) is drafting a plan to spin off its China business, and listing a separate unit in Hong Kong is being viewed as an option, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The company would seek to be a patriotic company in China that "loves the Communist Party", its China president said in May. Last year, the country accounted for 13% of AstraZeneca's total sales, and the company is China's biggest drugmaker. The spin off could protect AstraZeneca from tensions between China and other global powers, while the company retained control of the business, the FT's report said. AstraZeneca said it did not comment on "rumours or speculations around future strategy or M&A."

Persons: Bharat Govind Gautam, Rishabh Jaiswal, Chris Reese, Diane Craft Organizations: AstraZeneca, Financial Times, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bengaluru

China's top graft-busting watchdog earlier this year vowed to eliminate ideas of a Western-style "financial elite" and rectify the hedonism of excessive pursuit of "high-end taste". Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) (601398.SS) and China Construction Bank Corp (CCB) (601939.SS) plan to cut some allowances of employees at the banks' headquarters from this year, two sources familiar with the matter said. Domestic rival China International Capital Corp (CICC) (3908.HK) last month cut this year's bonuses for investment bankers by 30%-50% from a year earlier, Reuters has reported, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. Besides anti-corruption crackdown and "common prosperity" drive, financial firms are also reining in the flashy lifestyle of their staff to make sure they are not violating the Communist Party's ideology, said industry officials. China's securities regulator and the central bank cut the budget allocation for employee salaries in 2023, following reforms ordered as part of a broader drive to reduce income disparity, Reuters reported last month.

Persons: Xi Jinping's, CCB, Xin Sun, Sun, Xie Yu, Julie Zhu, Selena Li, Ziyi Tang, Binbin Huang, Rong Ma, Sumeet Chatterjee, Lincoln Organizations: Industrial, Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank Corp, Securities, Reuters, China International Capital Corp, HK, Party, King's College London, Thomson Locations: China, HONG KONG, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai

China became Germany's single biggest trade partner in 2016 and is a core market for top German companies including Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), BASF (BASFn.DE) and BMW (BMWG.DE). "They know German companies will run up direct channels to the chancellery," said Andrew Small, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund's Asia program. The talks come after Antony Blinken on Sunday became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit China in five years, stressing the importance of keeping open lines of communication to reduce the risk of miscalculation. The Chinese delegation will meet with some of those CEOs on Monday, according to people familiar with the plans. The Chinese delegation will head to Paris for an official visit and to attend a financial conference on June 22 to 23.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Fabrizio Bensch, China Scholz, Scholz, Li Qiang, Li, Wang Yiwei, Andrew Small, Marshall, Mikko Huotari, Antony Blinken, Sarah Marsh, Andreas Rinke, Laurie Chen, John Geddie, Giles Elgood Organizations: REUTERS, Volkswagen, BASF, BMW, Centre, European Studies, Renmin University of China, Greens and Free Democrats, Social Democrats, Analysts, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, China, Beijing, Munich BERLIN, Europe, European Union, Asia, Munich, Bavaria, Paris

Beijing CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sat down with China’s top diplomat on the final day of a high stakes visit to Beijing aimed at stabilizing relations, with all eyes on whether Washington’s envoy will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping later in the day. Blinken and China’s top diplomatic counterpart Wang Yi began talks Monday morning, posing for photos at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse before heading into closed door discussions. Whether Blinken also meets with Xi will be a key indicator of China’s interest in taking steps to rebuild that rapport. “Profound differences” between the US and China, however, were also clear during the meeting, the official added. While Qin holds the title of foreign minister, he wields less power than Wang, who directs China’s foreign policy through his position among the party’s core leadership.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Blinken’s, Qin Gang, Blinken, Xi, “, Qin, ”, Wang, ” Blinken’s, Joe Biden, China’s Xi, –, Nancy Pelosi Organizations: Beijing CNN —, Chinese Foreign, United, United States ’, State Department, Communist Party, senior State Department, US Locations: Beijing, loggerheads, China, Moscow, Washington, United States, Taiwan, Bali

☆ China fails to release cremation data from late 2022 when its Covid-19 outbreak raged
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

A review of the past 10 years of ministry data shows the annual figure of cremations was consistently included in the fourth quarter data report – until now. China has faced criticism of its data transparency throughout the pandemic, including how it counts Covid-19 deaths. In January, a top WHO official accused China of “under-representing” the severity of its Covid outbreak, and repeated the agency’s critique of Beijing’s “narrow” definition of what constitutes a Covid death. At that time, Chinese health officials only listed those Covid patients who succumbed with respiratory failure and pneumonia as having died of Covid. It’s not clear if China plans to release the national data on cremations at a later date.

Persons: cremations, Yanzhong Huang, Covid, ” Huang, Hector Retamal, China’s, “, bode, It’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs, Council, Foreign Relations, Ministry, Civil Affairs, CNN, Getty, WHO, Covid, World Health Organization Locations: Hong Kong, China, New York, Shanghai, AFP, Wuhan, Communist, “

☆ Bill Gates, in First Visit to China Since 2019, Meets With Xi
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Chang Che | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Xi told Mr. Gates that he was “the first American friend I met in Beijing this year,” according to People’s Daily, the Communist Party newspaper. Mr. Xi also said he wanted to build stronger ties with Mr. Gates’s philanthropic organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to help with aid to developing countries. The Gates Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mr. Gates’s trip to China, his first since 2019, overlaps with a visit by Antony J. Blinken, his first since becoming secretary of state. It was unclear if Mr. Blinken, who arrives Sunday, would meet with Mr. Xi.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Bill Gates, Xi, Gates, I, Melinda Gates, Antony J, Blinken Organizations: Communist Party, Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Foundation, Mr Locations: American, Washington, Beijing, China, U.S

☆ AIIB will investigate claims of Chinese Communist Party control after Canada suspends ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —A Beijing-based multinational lender is launching an internal review after Canada suspended its ties with the regional development bank, citing explosive claims that the Chinese Communist Party had infiltrated the institution. Alexander’s comments Friday were in response to a freeze on activity ordered by Ottawa this week, pending its own review of claims about Chinese government control. She said Canada would discuss the matter with allies and partners, raising the specter of more AIIB members suspending their ties. Alexander told CNN that the AIIB isn’t concerned about losing members, which number 106 including the United Kingdom, Germany and France. “Those are independent people appointed by different constituencies of our members,” Alexander added.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Danny Alexander —, —, Alexander, Bob Pickard, ” Picard, Chrystia Freeland, Pickard, ” Alexander, Picard, Xi Jinping Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Canada, Chinese Communist Party, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, World Bank, UK Treasury, CNN, Communist Party, Canadian Finance, Asian Development Bank Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Ottawa, Canadian, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Washington ,, Japan, United States, China

☆ As Blinken Heads to China, a Wall of Suspicion Awaits Him
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Vivian Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rising nationalist sentiment in China — often stoked by the authorities — cheers on Beijing’s hawkish foreign policy. President Biden, even as he has declared his desire for dialogue, has described China as America’s greatest geopolitical challenge. The United States has issued a barrage of sanctions on Chinese officials and companies, and tried to cut off Chinese access to critical technology globally. At the heart of Beijing’s chilly posture toward Mr. Blinken’s visit is its claim that American overtures are insincere, and its treatment of China unjust. When Mr. Blinken postponed his previously scheduled visit in February, over a Chinese spy balloon, Beijing called it an overreaction.

Persons: Xi, Beijing’s, Biden, Blinken’s, Blinken Organizations: Communist, United, Mr Locations: China, Washington, United States, Cuba, American, Beijing, Ukraine

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