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☆ Blinken meets China’s top diplomat in Laos as global giants keep communication lines open
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Nectar Gan | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as China’s increasingly assertive moves in the South China Sea and threats toward Taiwan, have in recent years soured the Washington-Beijing relationship. In contrast, both Putin and Russia’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov have been greeted in Beijing multiple times since the invasion. against a backdrop of increasingly violent clashes between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea. “We are pleased to take note of the successful resupply today of the Second Thomas Shoal, which is the product of an agreement reached between the Philippines and China,” Blinken said. His running mate JD Vance has advocated halting military aid to Ukraine in favor of focusing on Taiwan’s defense.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Wang Yi, Joe Biden’s, China’s, Xi Jinping’s, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Wang, Dmytro Kuleba, Beijing “, ”, Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Kuleba, Lavrov, Russia …, “, ” Lavrov, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, Beijing’s, Shoal, Thomas, ” Blinken, Biden, Donald Trump, JD Vance, Kamala Harris Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United, Foreign, ASEAN, Laos –, North American Aerospace Defense Command, NATO, Ukraine, European Union, Ukrainian Foreign, South China, Republican, Democratic Locations: Hong Kong, China, Laos, Asia, Vietnam, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Mongolia, Ukraine, South, Taiwan, Washington, Beijing, Alaska, Russia, Moscow, Russia’s, Southeast Asia, South Korea, Manila, South China

☆ China’s hosting Palestinian and Ukrainian delegations this week. But can it play peace broker in global conflicts?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-25 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s top diplomat Wang Yi has had a busy week in which two devastating conflicts have loomed large. Kuleba’s visit was the first time in the nearly 29 months of Russia’s war on Ukraine that a high-level Ukrainian official has visited China. Official statements from Beijing and Kyiv after Wednesday’s Wang-Kuleba talks gave no indication that the Ukrainian diplomat had swayed Beijing toward Kyiv’s vision for peace. Observers say Beijing could, at some point, play a role in any potential future talks, but is unlikely to shift its relationship with Russia. But it was met with some skepticism from observers in the region given the failure of past attempts at unity.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Wang Yi, Wang, Fatah, Dmytro Kuleba –, –, Kuleba, Beijing “, ” Wang, ”, Steve Tsang, Kuleba’s, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Zelensky, Russia ”, Antony Blinken, Mahmoud al, Mussa Abu Marzuk, Pedro Pardo, Beijing’s, Wednesday’s Wang, ” Kuleba, Xi, Chong Ja Ian, Donald Trump, Trump’s, JD Vance, ” Chong, Jonathan Fulton Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hamas, Ukrainian, SOAS China Institute, University of London, Beijing, NATO, Central Committee, Fatah, China's, Getty, Foreign Ministry, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Kyiv, Observers, West, National University of Singapore, Republican, Global, ”, Palestinian, US State Department, West Bank ”, Atlantic Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, United States, Russian, Kyiv, Laos, AFP, Guangzhou, Ukrainian, Moscow, China’s, ” Russia, India, Brazil, Israel

☆ China Unexpectedly Cuts Interest Rate as World Markets Sag
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Keith Bradsher | More About Keith Bradsher | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

China’s central bank on Thursday cut a key interest rate, in Beijing’s second move this week to try to offset a weakening economy and a housing market crisis. The unexpected action came as stock markets fell sharply across most of Asia in early trading, in an echo of Wall Street’s sharp drop the day before. Market indexes were down 1 to 3 percent in Australia, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong. That could reflect a favorable response by investors to the central bank’s rate move, or a sign of intervention by the Chinese government, which plays an extensive role in the country’s stock markets. As markets opened in China on Thursday, the People’s Bank of China, the central bank, reduced its interest rate for one-year loans to commercial banks to 2.3 percent, from 2.5 percent.

Organizations: People’s Bank of China Locations: Asia, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, China

☆ China’s leaders have floated the idea of raising the retirement age. It hasn’t gone down well
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The retirement age for female urban workers is 50 or 55 depending on their occupation. “In accordance with the principles of voluntariness and flexibility, [we] will steadily and orderly advance the reform of progressively delaying the statutory retirement age,” China’s ruling Communist Party said on Sunday. Tingshu Wang/ReutersStruggling with declining birth rate and an ageing population, China’s policymakers have been talking about increasing the retirement age for over a decade. On Weibo, the hashtag “advancing the reform of delaying retirement age” has been a top trending topic since Sunday. On Xiaohongshu, China’s equivalent of Instagram, the hashtag “retirement age” has also attracted about 100 million views by Tuesday morning.

Persons: ” China’s, Ma Qiuhua, Tingshu Wang, ”, “, ’ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist Party, Reuters, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Communist Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Weibo, Communist China, India

☆ Hamas and Fatah sign agreement in Beijing ‘ending’ their division, Chinese state media says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Isaac Yee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Palestinian factions including rivals Hamas and Fatah have signed an agreement on “ending division and strengthening Palestinian unity,” Chinese broadcaster CCTV said Tuesday, following a deal brokered by China. There is a long history of bitter enmity between Hamas in Gaza and Fatah. Israel launched its military operations in Gaza following Hamas’ October 7 attack that killed more than 1,100 people and saw roughly 250 others kidnapped. Around 39,000 Palestinians have died in Israel’s war in Gaza that has triggered a mass humanitarian crisis and widespread destruction. Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation agreement in Cairo in October 2017 under pressure from the Arab states, led by Egypt.

Persons: Fatah, Wang Yi, ”, ” Wang, Mousa Abu Marzook, “, ” Abu Marzook, –, Xi Jinping, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ’, Rami Hamdallah Organizations: CNN, Hamas, PLO, Palestine Liberation Organization, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, China’s Foreign Ministry, Palestinian Locations: China, Beijing, Israel, Gaza, Oslo, Fatah, United States, Cairo, Egypt

☆ 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

☆ Taiwan’s Blunt-Talking Leader Faces China’s Backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Chris Buckley | Amy Chang Chien | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese Coast Guard ships have sailed near Taiwan’s outer islands. When Lai Ching-te became Taiwan’s president in May, he vowed to stick with the China policies of his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen. Ms. Tsai sought to avoid confrontation even as she defended Taiwan’s right to self-rule and rejected Beijing’s assertion of sovereignty. Yet Mr. Lai, while keeping Taiwan’s basic policy toward China unchanged, has been blunter in rebuffing its demands. Mr. Lai, who rose as a more plain-spoken politician, sees a need to more sharply lay out Taiwan’s separate status.

Persons: Lai Ching, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Lai, Ms . Tsai, “, ”, David Sacks Organizations: Coast Guard, Council, Foreign Relations Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Taiwan’s, rebuffing, Asia

☆ JD Vance: Why Europe looks at Trump’s VP pick with anxiety
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Many of America’s closest allies were already dreading the prospect of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Now that the former president has picked JD Vance as his running mate, they potentially have a lot more to worry about. By choosing Vance, Trump has sent a clear signal that, if elected, his America-first foreign policy will be back in force. “JD Vance does not appear to be interested in being a good ally to Europe,” Berzina said. I think Russia has incentive to come to the table right now.

Persons: America’s, Donald Trump’s, JD Vance, Vance, Trump, ”, Kristine Berzina, “ JD Vance, ” Berzina, Putin, Vance’s, “, Sergey Lavrov, Lavrov, Volodymyr Zelensky, CNN’s Kaitlin Collins, Zelensky, Jose Luis Magana, China Vance, we’re, ” Vance, Trevor McCrisken, you’ve, Ukraine that’s, ” McCrisken, ” Sam Greene, Biden, Greene, Joe Biden, ” Greene, –, Nikki Haley Organizations: CNN, Trump, NATO, Labour, Marshall Fund of, United, Munich, Conference, United Nations, Conservative Political, East, Fox News, New York Times, Patriot, University of Warwick, Republicans, Democratic, Center for, King’s College London, Republican, Republican Party Locations: America, Ohio, Ukraine, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, Washington, Europe, Russian, Munich, Oxon Hill, China, East Asia, Beijing, Taiwan, Asia, Czech, UN

☆ China’s internet dominated by talk of Trump’s ‘luck’ and American ‘violence’ after attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Discussion of the assassination attempt, in which a gunman opened fire at a Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday evening, dominated Chinese social media in the hours after the attack. Trump, who said he was shot in the ear, was declared safe following the incident. As shots rang out during his speech at the rally, the former president ducked to the ground and was covered by Secret Service agents. I bet (US President Joe) Biden would take ages to crouch down,” read one social media comment that got thousands of likes and appeared to allude to concerns about Biden’s age. There were also repeated links made between the attack and recurring instances of gun violence in the United States, which are often highlighted by Chinese state media as an example of the country’s failings.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Trump’s, “, Joe, Biden, crouch, ”, Shinzo Abe, Xi Jinping “, ” Biden, …, what’s, “ Chuan, “ Trump Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Trump, Weibo, Republican, Secret Service, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trump . State, Beijing, Sunday, Global Times, Washington Locations: China, Hong Kong, Pennsylvania, United States, Weibo, Trump, ”, Beijing, Russia

☆ The Chinese Base That Isn’t There
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Agnes Chang | Hannah Beech | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +10 min

Security gate Chinese-funded buildup CAMBODIA Chinese warship CAMBODIA CAMBODIA Dry dock and other repair facilities Before After China insists it is not building a naval base in Cambodia. CHINA Ream, CambodiaThe Chinese Base That Isn’t There New facilities and the months-long presence of Chinese warships show Beijing’s growing global influence. In 2020, something curious happened at Cambodia’s Ream military base, on the Gulf of Thailand. The Chinese military presence near one of the world’s most vital sea lanes raises fundamental questions about Beijing’s ambitions. “The Ream military base is Cambodia’s, not the military base of any country,” Mey Dina, the commander of the base, told The New York Times.

Persons: CHINA, —, ”, Jan, John, “ We’re, Lloyd J, Austin III, ” Mey Dina, Mey Dina, Xi Jinping, dredgers, Ream, Gregory B, Poling, ‘ Ream, Xi, Hun Sen, Mr, Hun Sen’s, Hun Manet Organizations: U.S . Defense Department, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University, Agence France, Navy, Planet Labs, Ream, Pentagon, New York Times, China’s, China’s Djibouti Naval, Basketball, Djibouti ETHIOPIA Perimeter, NAM Ream, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Cambodian, Congressional Research Service, White, AMERICA Ports, SOUTH AMERICA SRI LANKA, China, China ASIA EUROPE CHINA AFRICA Djibouti Ream SRI LANKA, United States Military Academy Locations: CAMBODIA CAMBODIA, China, Cambodia, CHINA Ream, Thailand, Ream, South China, American, Cambodian, U.S, People’s Republic, China’s, Djibouti, Horn of Africa, China’s Djibouti, YEMEN Djibouti, Djibouti ETHIOPIA, THAILAND, Cambodia Malacca, Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, Djibouti Ream Africa, ASIA EUROPE, China CHINA AFRICA Djibouti, AUSTRALIA, China ASIA EUROPE CHINA AFRICA Djibouti, United States, Spratlys

☆ China third plenum: Communist Party meets to set direction for troubled economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Stakes are high for the meeting, which takes place every five years and is known as China’s third plenum. It has historically been a platform for the party’s leadership to announce key economic reforms and policy directives. China’s gross domestic product expanded by 4.7% in the April to June months, compared to the previous year. But observers of China’s opaque political machine don’t believe there will be fundamental economic reforms this time around. Uncompleted residential buildings at a real estate project on the outskirts of Shenyang in China's Liaoning province earlier this year.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Xi Jinping, Xi, , Xi’s, Andrea Verdelli, They’ll, ”, Neil Thomas, Jing Qian, Li Shangfu, Qin Gang, Li Yuchao, Xu Zhongbo Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist Party, West, Reuters, party’s Central, US, Congress, Bloomberg, Getty, Observers, ” Asia Society Center, China, Tech, EU, Central Committee, Foreign, People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, United States, Europe, party’s, Shenyang, China's Liaoning, China's Shandong

☆ NATO allies call China a ‘decisive enabler’ of Russia in Ukraine war as bloc eyes Asia security threats
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —China is a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war against Ukraine, NATO leaders said Wednesday, as the defense alliance hardens its stance on Beijing and the “systemic challenges” they say it poses to their countries’ security. For the third consecutive year, leaders of New Zealand, Japan and South Korea attended the NATO leaders’ summit in another sign of closer ties between the bloc and those countries, as well as Australia. NATO’s increasing focus on AsiaThe NATO leaders’ declaration is the latest step in what has been the bloc’s gradual hardening of tone on China in recent years. NATO leaders first mentioned the need to jointly address “opportunities and challenges” posed by China in a 2019 declaration, before moving to refer to “systemic challenges” the country poses in 2021. “The Indo-Pacific is important for NATO, given that developments in that region directly affect Euro-Atlantic security,” the leaders said in their declaration.

Persons: ”, Joe Biden, China’s, “, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Bobylov, –, Putin, Kim Jong Un Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, NATO, US, ’, Getty Images China, Union, European Union, EU, Wednesday, North Locations: China, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Beijing, Washington, Russia, Moscow, North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Russian, ”, North Korea, Iran, Pyongyang, Tehran, North, Pacific

☆ NATO allies are discussing reclaiming some Chinese-owned infrastructure in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Kayla Tausche | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —NATO officials are discussing taking action to reclaim some Chinese-owned infrastructure projects in Europe should a wider conflict with Russia break out in the east of the continent, three officials involved in the discussions told CNN. A decade ago, when Europe was still crawling out of the economic crater caused by the global financial crisis, the promise of infrastructure funding from Chinese-owned investment firms seemed like a major windfall. The fear, according to one US official, is that Beijing could use the infrastructure it owns in Europe to provide material assistance to Russia if the conflict were to expand. The discussions reflect an increasing focus on China by the NATO alliance. A NATO official said that if a war erupted, the infrastructure “would almost certainly be nationalized, or nations would temporarily assume operating control, under emergency security measures.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Kishida, ” Blinken, Jens Stoltenberg, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: CNN, NATO, Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Initiative, Helsinki Shipyard –, US, Ukraine, European Union Locations: Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Beijing, China, NATO, Eastern Europe, Baltic, Finland, Canada, Japan, East Asia, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, France, Washington

☆ China examining if EU is putting up ‘trade barriers’ as tensions intensify
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Earlier this year, the EU launched investigations into China’s state support for its wind turbine and solar panel suppliers. Now, China will investigate if the bloc’s probes violate the two sides’ economic treaty and if they have hurt the country’s trade with the 27 EU member states. The announcement comes just days after the provisional additional duties on imports of Chinese-made EVs into the EU came into effect. Beijing has spoken out strongly against the EU tariffs, saying it will make “all necessary moves” to safeguard China’s interests. According to Wednesday’s announcement, MOFCOM is launching its latest investigation in response to a June request by an industry group in China.

Persons: MOFCOM Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s Ministry of Commerce, EU Locations: Hong Kong, EU, China, Beijing

☆ Jiang Ping: Rural Chinese student sparks awe and suspicion after beating math elites in global contest
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Yuxuan Jiang | Joyce Jiang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Launched in 2018 by Chinese e-commerce behemoth Alibaba, the free online contest is open to math enthusiasts worldwide, though Chinese math majors typically dominate the top places. She was later trained by math teacher Wang Runqiu at Lianshu Secondary Vocational School, where she studies fashion design. Social stigma for vocational studentsAmong the cacophony of commentary, some suspect the harsh public scrutiny of Jiang is rooted in social prejudice against vocational students. But structural discrimination in China’s schools, universities and workplaces means society still favors academic degrees over trades. Jiang considers math her “Plan B,” prioritizing fashion design for future study, according to The Beijing News.

Persons: Jiang Ping, Alibaba, –, Wang Runqiu, Wang, Jiang, Richard Xu, China’s, Yin Wotao, ”, Yin, there’s, “, Zhao Yong, ” China’s, Einstein, Zhao Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Harvard, Oxford, MIT –, DAMO Academy, Xinhua, Secondary Vocational School, Weibo, Harvard Business School, CNN, University of Kansas, Beijing, Communist Party, Zhejiang University Locations: Hong Kong, China, China’s Jiangsu, Xinhua, Lianshui, Beijing, Hangzhou, Jiangsu, Germany, Finland

☆ Fun or frightening? A brief history of Olympic mascot design
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Stephane De Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images Merchandise featuring Beijing mascot Bing Dwen Dwen, the 2022 Winter Olympics mascot, has been extremely popular. MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/AFP via Getty Images Rio 2016 Olympic mascot Vinicius was selected four years before the Games kicked off. Rudi Blaha/AP Syd the platypus, Millie the echidna and Olly the kookaburra, helped represent the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Amicar de Leon/AP The Albertville Olympic Games in 1992 was cheered on by a star-shaped gnome-looking character. International Olympic Committee In pictures: Olympic Mascot History Prev NextTo find a worthy representative, each host country will typically organize a submission call-out or contest.

Persons: snowmen, Aline Lafargue, “, Lafargue, Stephane De Sakutin, Bing Dwen Dwen, Lintao Zhang, Maja Hitij, MARTIN BERNETTI, Vinicius, Alex Ferro, Andrej Isakovic, Mo Farah, Adrian Dennis, Jeff Vinnick, Amy Sancetta, Michael Sohn, Rudi Blaha, Syd, Olly, Claro, Eric Draper, Izzy Whatizit, Ross Kinnaird, Michel Euler, Amicar de Leon, Nicolas Le Corre, David Cannon, Sam, Eagle, Tony Duffy, Howdy, Dieter Endlicher, Misha, Armin Weigel, AP Shuss, Iris, ”, Millie Organizations: CNN, Olympic Games, International Olympic Committee, Grenoble Winter, Getty, Tokyo, Games, Reuters, Sochi, Getty Images Beijing, Winter Games, Sydney, Lillehammer Games, Albertville Olympic, Disney, International Olympic, Moscow's, AP, Dachshund, Olympics, Olympic, International, Sochi Winter Games, Angeles Summer, London Games, Soyuz Locations: France, Paris, AFP, Beijing, Vancouver, Canada, China, Turin, Italy, Athens, Salt Lake, Snowbasin , Utah, Claro Cortes, Japan, EMPICS, Barcelona, Barcelona's Port, South Korea, Sarajevo's Yugoslavia, Calgary , Alberta, Lake Placid, Munich, Innsbruck, Kitzbuhel, Austria, Algonquin, Russia, Sydney, Australia

☆ Japan: US sending dozens of F-15EX, F35 fighter jets in $10 billion modernization
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Japan said basing the new fighter aircraft in the country would enhance US capabilities there. But from 2022, as the twin-engine fighters neared the end of their service life, the US Air Force began pulling them from Kadena. The F-15EX is the Air Force’s newest fighter jet, with the first operational plane delivered to the Oregon Air National Guard in early June. The F-35As that will be stationed at Misawa Air Base are the Air Force’s newest stealth fighters. F-35s deliver “an enhanced capability to survive in the advanced threat environment in which it was designed to operate,” an Air Force fact sheet says.

Persons: Yoshimasa Hayashi, Carlos Barria, 15EX, Peter Layton, ” Layton, Layton, ”, CNN’s Hanako Montgomery Organizations: CNN, Defense Department, Pentagon, Japan Alliance, Misawa Air Base, Kadena Air Base, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, U.S . Air Force, Chinese Communist Party, US Air Force, Boeing, Military, Air Force’s, Oregon Air National Guard, USAF, Air Force, Griffith Asia Institute, Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Locations: Japan, Okinawa, Hiroshima, Honshu, United States, U.S, China, Russia, North Korea, Tokyo, East, North, Pyongyang, Britain, Australia, Nevada, Taiwan, Kadena, Washington

☆ Putin touts ‘stabilizing’ force of China-Russia ties as Xi hails ‘lasting friendship’ at security summit
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Russian-Chinese cooperation in global affairs serves as a main stabilizing factor on the international stage, and we continue to further enhance it,” Putin said. China has surpassed the European Union to become Russia’s top trade partner, offering a crucial lifeline to its heavily sanctioned economy. The two nuclear-armed neighbors have also continued to hold joint military exercises, including with Iran. Both moves are widely seen as part of a broader push by Xi and Putin to create an alternative world order that is no longer dominated by the West. Xi said Wednesday that China backed Russia’s role as BRICS chair this year in uniting the Global South, preventing a “new Cold War” and opposing hegemonism, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Xi, Putin, ” Putin, “, ’, ” Xi, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Wednesday, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, “, Union, Foreign Ministry, West, China, Xinhua Locations: Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Russia, China, Russian, Moscow, Central Asia, United States, Belarus, Ukraine, Iran, Beijing, North Korea, Europe, “

☆ China PMI: No end in sight for uneven economic story
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Factory activity among China’s private firms expanded at the fastest pace in three years, a private gauge showed Monday, suggesting healthier domestic and international demand for Chinese goods. The Caixin manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 51.8 in June, up from 51.7 in May, according to a statement from S&P Global, which compiled the survey. The Caixin survey covers more export-oriented and consumer-related companies. The official PMI, however, is tilted more towards manufacturers that produce industrial materials — including steel, cement, and chemical — making them more vulnerable to a slowdown in fixed-asset investments. Analysts believe that the current data reflects an economic reality characterised by strong exports and consumption, but softer investment.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, ”, Wang Zhe, ” Wang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Factory, P, National Bureau of Statistics, PMI, Caixin Insight, European Union, EU Locations: Hong Kong, Siyang County, Suqian City, Jiangsu, China, European, United States

☆ Peleliu: US Marine Corps rebuilds runway on site of ‘nightmare’ World War II battle
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Marines named the rebuilt landing strip the “Sledge” runway in honor of a veteran of the Peleliu battle, Pfc. The United States must recapitalize islands gained during World War II to form a Second Island Chain of strategic expeditionary points,” Georgulis wrote. For Washington, establishing strong ties to Pacific island states is also seen as a way to keep China from gaining footholds in the region. Along with the runway, US Marines are helping make improvements to the Peleliu Civic Center Museum, to house artifacts from the World War II battle. At an event last month marking the landing of the Marine aircraft on Peleliu, island Gov.

Persons: weren’t, Eugene Sledge, Corbis, Sledge, Grant Georgulis, ” Georgulis, Xi Jinping, Biden, Palauans, Carlos Del Toro, Del Toro, Surangel Whipps, Emais Roberts, ” Organizations: CNN, Marine Corps, Marines, KC, Heritage Command, 1st Marine Regiment, HBO, ” Troops, First Marine Division, Pentagon, “, US Air Force, US Defense Department, Marshall, Xinhua, US Coast Guard, US, Palau, Peleliu Civic Center Museum, Marine, Gov Locations: Peleliu, China, Palau, Okinawa, ”, Beijing, Japan, Philippines, United States, Marianas, Guam, China’s, Yap, Federated States, Micronesia, Pacific, Washington, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Palau’s, Koror, South Korea, Taiwan

☆ The world’s biggest capital cities are heating up – and Asia tops the charts
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Lex Harvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Beijing Meteorological Observatory issued the first yellow alert for high temperatures in 2024, with the highest temperature in the city reaching 35 degrees Celsius. New Delhi topped the list of hottest cities, recording 4,222 days above 35 degrees Celsius in the past three decades – more than any other city analyzed. In 2018, Seoul saw 21 days over 35 degrees Celsius — more than the previous 10 years combined. Beijing’s number of days over 35 degrees has increased by 309% since 1994. In October 2023, Jakarta experienced 30 consecutive days over 35 degrees Celsius — more days than during the entire period between 1994 and 2003.

Persons: –, ”, Tucker Landesman, there’s, “ We’ve, Kalyani Saha, “, Anthony Wallace, CNN he’d, Sagar, Young, Parveen Kumar Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, International Institute for Environment, Development, Egypt’s, “, Palace Museum, Beijing Meteorological Observatory, CNN, Getty, NGO Centre, Health Development India, Hindustan Times, Dartmouth Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Paris, Egypt’s Cairo, Beijing, China, Southeast Asia, India, New Delhi, Delhi, Lajpat Nagar, South East Delhi, Seoul, AFP, Jakarta, South Korea, rehydrate, Gurugram

☆ Abu Dhabi wants to be an AI leader. Aligning with the US is just the start
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Amy Gunia | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The world’s first minister dedicated to developing artificial intelligence (AI) strategy is already becoming embroiled in a global power struggle for tech supremacy. The UAE is one of the world’s largest producers of fossil fuels, and Abu Dhabi sees its AI push as crucial for diversifying away from oil. Christopher Pike/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesWashington has also limited the sale of sophisticated US chips to ensure China doesn’t use Middle Eastern nations as a back door to access the newest AI technology, according to Reuters. By opening up the technology, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as an ally to developing nations that don’t have the resources to build their own AI tools. In March, a report commissioned by the US State Department warned that the most advanced AI systems could, in a worst-case scenario, “pose an extinction-level threat to the human species.”Olama has some specific concerns.

Persons: Biden, Omar Al Olama, “, Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi, ”, ” Olama, Al Olama, ’ ”, Christopher Pike, Olama, Abu Dhabi’s, ” James Lewis, Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin, Gifty Sahany, Lewis, ” He’s Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, United Arab Emirates, UAE, PwC, Commerce Department, Huawei, Etihad, United, Bloomberg, Getty, Washington, Reuters, Nvidia, Apple, Technology Innovation Institute, Google, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Washington DC, University of Artificial Intelligence, Systems, US State Department Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, China, United States, Dubai, Gulf, United Arab Emirates, Beijing, Washington, University, Valley

☆ Li Qiang warns against ‘vicious cycle’ of China decoupling from the West
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for CNN’s Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the country’s rise and how it impacts the world. Hong Kong CNN —Chinese Premier Li Qiang has warned against a “vicious cycle” of economic decoupling from the West, as Beijing struggles to contain rising global pushback over soaring electric vehicle (EV) exports. This will “drag countries … into a vicious cycle of scrambling for a cake that becomes smaller and smaller,” Li added. Last month, the Biden administration quadrupled tariffs on EV imports from China, from 25% to 100%, aiming to protect American jobs and manufacturing. Chinese EV sales to the United States are tiny.

Persons: Li Qiang, Li, ”, China’s, Xi Jinping, Biden Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, EV, European Union, Reuters, EU, Global Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Dalian, Canada, Beijing’s “, United States, European

☆ The fertility crisis is here and it will permanently alter the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

In the 1960s, there were six people of working age for every retired person, according to the World Economic Forum. “What you’re seeing is increased spending on programs like Medicare and Social Security as the baby boomers are aging into those programs. And then of course, fewer workers relative to the number of people who are receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits,” said Dahl. Social Security payments still provide about 90% of income for more than a quarter of older adults in the United States, according to Social Security Agency surveys. But without intervention, the Social Security trust fund will be depleted by the mid-2030s, meaning that only a portion of retirees’ expected benefits will be paid out.

Persons: it’s, Louis, Simona Paravani, ”, Elon Musk, Kimberly, Clark, Mark Schneider, he’s, Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump, Molly Dahl, Dahl, Eric Schmidt, ” Schmidt, Goldman Sachs, Stefano Scarpetta, Li Qiang, Juliana Liu, Joyce Jiang, Li, China’s, Xi Jinping, Biden, Max Prosecutors, haven’t, Max, Read Organizations: London CNN, Organisation for Economic Co, Development, Economic, Federal Reserve Bank of St, BlackRock, Disease Control, Congressional Budget Office, CBO, Social Security, Social, Social Security Agency, Google, Summit, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, OECD, ” Companies, West Chinese, CNN, EV, Prosecutors, Boeing, Max, US Justice Department, Alaska Air, Justice Department, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: Chad, Niger, Somalia, Samoa, Tonga, Tajikistan, United States, London, China, Beijing, Dalian, Canada, Beijing’s “

☆ How China could take Taiwan without even needing to invade
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“China has significantly increased pressure on Taiwan in recent years, stoking fears that tensions could erupt into outright conflict. China’s escalating gray zone tactics were on stark display this week as China Coast Guard vessels clashed with Philippine Navy boats in the South China Sea. In the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. Friday, 36 Chinese military aircraft crossed into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry says. Meanwhile, a quarantine, rather than a blockade, would not require China to close or restrict access to the Taiwan Strait, the CSIS report notes. Under its claims that Taiwan is Chinese territory, Beijing could require customs declarations to be filed before vessels can call in Taiwan.

Persons: CNN —, Beijing’s, Xi Jinping’s, Bonny Lin, Brian Hart, Matthew Funaiole, Samantha Lu, Tinsley, stoking, Adm, Dong Jun, ”, Dong, China’s, “, Joe Biden, Rong Xu, Carl Schuster, ” Schuster, Alessio Patalano, Sidharth Kaushal, Patalano Organizations: CNN, Communist Party, Center for Strategic, International Studies, China Coast Guard, CSIS, TAIWAN, GUARD, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Chinese Defense, Philippine Navy, Taiwan Relations, White, PLA Navy, Maritime Safety Agency, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, Bloomberg, Getty, “, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Taipei, King’s College, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Imports, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Taiwan, Ukraine, China, Washington, United States, Pengjia, Beijing, Singapore, South China, Manila, Second, Philippines, Taiwan’s, Taiwan Strait, Port, Taichung, Kaohsiung, London, Covid

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