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☆ China threatens death penalty for ‘diehard’ Taiwan separatists
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —China on Friday threatened to impose the death penalty in extreme cases for “diehard” Taiwan independence separatists, a ratcheting up of pressure even though Chinese courts have no jurisdiction on the democratically governed island. The guidelines are being issued in accordance with laws already on the books, including the 2005 anti-succession law, Xinhua said. That law gives China the legal basis for military action against Taiwan if it secedes or seems about to. Sun Ping, an official from China’s Ministry of Public Security, told reporters in Beijing the maximum penalty for the “crime of secession” was the death penalty. Such punishments have little practical effect as Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

Persons: Lai Ching, ”, Lai, Sun Ping, Hsiao Organizations: CNN, diehard, Xinhua, China’s Ministry of Public Security, Reuters, Senior Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, United States

☆ 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

☆ Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway dumps BYD shares following rise in trade tension over Chinese EVs
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has further cut its large stake in BYD, which vies with Tesla as the world’s largest electric car (EV) maker, as global trade tensions escalate over Chinese EVs. The sale was valued at 310.5 million Hong Kong dollars ($40 million). BYD shares had closed at a record high in June of that year. In 2008, Berkshire spent $230 million in buying BYD shares at an average of HK$8 ($1.02) apiece. Berkshire still holds 75.7 million Hong Kong-listed shares of BYD, which were worth about 17.6 billion Hong Kong dollars ($2.3 billion) by Tuesday.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Warren, Berkshire Hathaway, Tesla, Buffett, Daniel Acker, Biden, Wang Chuanfu, Elon Musk’s Tesla, didn’t, Charlie Munger, Munger “, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong, Berkshire, Bloomberg, Getty, European Union, European Commission, EU, EV, HK, CNN Locations: China, Hong Kong, BYD, European, Europe, Beijing, United States, Shenzhen, Berkshire

☆ World’s nuclear powers strengthening arsenals as geopolitical tensions grow, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Radina Gigova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —Nuclear-armed countries are strengthening their arsenals and several have made ready new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapons systems amid rising geopolitical tensions, a new report has found. “While the global total of nuclear warheads continues to fall as Cold War-era weapons are gradually dismantled, regrettably we continue to see year-on-year increases in the number of operational nuclear warheads,” the institute’s director Dan Smith said. “Accordingly, there is a growing concern that North Korea might intend to use these weapons very early in a conflict.”Protesters against nuclear weapons outside the US mission to the UN. Moscow has continued to make threats involving the use of nuclear weapons in light of Western aid for Ukraine, and in May 2024 carried out tactical nuclear weapons drills close to the Ukrainian border, SIPRI said. “We have not seen nuclear weapons playing such a prominent role in international relations since the Cold War,” said Wilfred Wan, the director of SIPRI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Program.

Persons: Israel –, “, Dan Smith, Jung Yeon, ” SIPRI, ”, Hans M, Kristensen, Matt Korda, Erik McGregor, SIPRI, Wilfred Wan Organizations: London CNN —, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, ”, Korean, Getty, “, SIPRI’s, Ukraine, Hamas, Conference, Nuclear Weapons Locations: United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Stockholm, Seoul, South Korea, Swedish, Ukraine, saliency, ”, “, “ China, Korea, Gaza, Moscow, Ukrainian, Iran, Iraq, Syria

☆ China’s property prices are still plunging despite government efforts to rescue the market
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Prices in 70 major cities were down 0.7% in May from April, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) figures showed on Monday. According to separate calculations by the Macquarie Group, prices of existing homes in those cities fell by 7.5% year-on-year last month, marking the biggest decline on record. A month ago, Beijing unveiled wide-ranging measures to rescue the crisis-hit property market, including asking local governments across the country to buy unsold homes from beleaguered developers and easing rules on purchases. Measures, including efforts to provide cheap loans to state-owned enterprises for buying unsold homes from distressed developers, will “take time” to have an impact on the property market, the analysts said. Property investment for the first five months of the year dropped 10.1% from a year ago, according the NBS on Monday.

Persons: ”, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Bureau of Statistics, Macquarie Group, Societe Generale, NBS, Labor, Macquarie, HSBC, Communist Party Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing

☆ Chinese officials’ attempt to ‘block’ formerly detained journalist mars Australia goodwill tour
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Angus Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s four-day visit to Australia this week was set to be focused on repairing long-strained relations between the two countries. But apparent efforts by Chinese officials to stand in front of an Australian reporter during a press briefing have shone a spotlight back on frictions between the countries. Beijing has also long been condemned by Western nations and rights groups for wrongful and arbitrary detentions. 2 official, to Australia is the highest-level trip to a US-allied country of any Chinese official in seven years. Speaking alongside Li following the signing ceremony, Albanese called the visit “another important step in stabilizing” the relationship.

Persons: Li Qiang’s, Cheng Lei, Li, Anthony Albanese, Cheng, I’m, ” Cheng, Albanese, ”, Yang Hengjun, Yang, Li Qiang, Lukas Coch, ” Li, Scott Morrison Organizations: CNN, Sky News Australia, Australian, Sky News, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, CGTN, Australia's, AP Pandas, Sunday, Adelaide Zoo, New Zealand Locations: Australia, China, Canberra, Beijing, Australian, US, “, New, Chinese

CNN —China will provide a new pair of giant pandas to Australia, Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday, in the latest sign of warming relations between the two countries. He said China will send a new pair of giant pandas to the zoo in Southern Australia after its current pair return to China later this year, according to Chinese state media. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong (left) shakes hands with China's Premier Li Qiang as South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas looks on at Adelaide Zoo on June 16, 2024. Giant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni, the only pandas in the southern hemisphere, have been on loan to Adelaide Zoo since November 2009. “They have become envoys of friendship between China and Australia, and a symbol of the profound friendship between the two peoples,” Li said in the statement.

Persons: Premier Li Qiang, Li, Scott Morrison’s, Penny Wong, Peter Malinauskas, Asanka, Wang Wang, Fu Ni, China’s, ” Li Organizations: CNN, Premier, Adelaide Zoo, ABC, Labor, Australia's, South Australian, Beijing –, Xinhua, China’s Foreign Ministry, “ Locations: China, Australia, Southern Australia, Beijing

☆ G7 leaders accuse China of ‘enabling’ Russia war on Ukraine in stark warning
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —China’s support for Russia is “enabling” its war in Ukraine, leaders of the world’s most advanced economies warned Friday in a hardening of tone against Beijing, while threatening further sanctions against actors that materially support Moscow’s war machine. “China’s ongoing support for Russia’s defense industrial base is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine and has significant and broad-based security implications,” the G7 leaders said in the communique Friday. The US and European Union have already slapped sanctions on Chinese companies, and this week, the US imposed fresh sanctions on China-based firms supplying semiconductors to Russia. “So it is, in fact, helping Russia.”Leaders of the G7 nations gathered in southern Italy this week, with boosting support for Ukraine top of the agenda. “We express serious concern about the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine vessels.”

Persons: “, Joe Biden, Filippo Monteforte Organizations: CNN, Beijing, of, European Union, ”, Ukraine, Getty, EU Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Italy, United States, Europe, China, Western, Moscow, Beijing, “ China, AFP, European, East, South China, South

☆ Guilty Verdict for Chinese Activists Who Gave #MeToo Victims a Voice
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Alexandra Stevenson | Zixu Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A court in southern China on Friday found a prominent feminist journalist guilty of endangering national security and sentenced her to five years in prison, Beijing’s latest blow to civil society. A labor activist convicted of the same charge got a sentence of three years and six months. The activities that prompted the arrest and conviction of the two, Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing, involved organizing discussions, providing support to other activists and receiving overseas training. The legal action against Ms. Huang and Mr. Wang, which experts said was harsh even by China’s standards, signals the shrinking space for independent discussion of social issues. “We are seeing an almost zero-tolerance approach to even the mildest forms of civil society activism in China,” said Thomas Kellogg, the executive director of the Georgetown Center for Asian Law.

Persons: Huang Xueqin, Wang Jianbing, Huang, Wang, ”, Thomas Kellogg Organizations: Guangzhou, People’s, Borders, Protect Journalists, Georgetown Center, Asian Law Locations: China

☆ EU tariffs on EVs sting China but won’t halt BYD’s advance
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The impact on China’s EV makers will vary depending on the level of tariff and each company’s cost structure. “One critical issue for China is that the EU accounted for 38% of China’s EV exports in 2023,” Sebastian said. In February, nine government agencies, including the Commerce Ministry and the central bank, vowed to provide support to accelerate Chinese EV makers’ global push. Tesla prices to riseIn contrast to BYD, state-owned carmaker SAIC is in a “disastrous” situation facing 38.1% in additional tariffs, according to Sebastian. Soula said China could retaliate by imposing tariffs on some European goods such as luxury cars, premium brandies or airplane parts.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, BYD, Tesla, Gregor Sebastian, ”, ” Sebastian, Etienne Soula, It’s, Sebastian, Geely, Andrew Bergbaum, don’t, Soula Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, European Union, EV, China’s, Alliance, Democracy, German Marshall Fund of, Commerce Ministry, SAIC, Volvo, European Commission, UBS, EU Locations: China, Hong Kong, European, Europe, Beijing, Asia, Brazil, Turkey, United States, EU, America, Shanghai, Hungary, Italy, Spain

☆ Europe risks trade war with China by hiking tariffs on its electric cars
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, launched the probe in October to establish whether Chinese EV prices are artificially low because of subsidies and so hurt European carmakers. Europe is the main destination for Chinese EV exports. The new EV tariffs are likely to kick off intense negotiations between Beijing and Brussels aimed at averting a damaging trade war. Many of them manufacture cars in China and then sell them in Europe, a set-up that will be more costly as a result of the higher tariffs. Alternatively, Beijing could pledge investment into EU countries and promise better market access in China for EU firms, the Rhodium analysts wrote.

Persons: ” Will Roberts, BYD, Roberts, …, Olaf Scholz, ”, Joe Biden, Olesya Dmitracova, Mark Thompson, Shawn Deng, Alex Stambaugh Organizations: London CNN, European Union, European Commission, Commission, Volvo, SAIC, EV, EU, Rho Motion, China’s Ministry of Commerce, Rho, Renault’s, CNN, “, France EU, Group Locations: China, Beijing, European, Brussels, Washington, EU, Europe, Renault’s Dacia, “ Beijing, Germany, France, Spain, United States, Hungary, London, Hong Kong

☆ Northern China braces for record high temperatures in major heat wave
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —A major heat wave is forecast to spread across large swathes of northern China this week, bringing record high temperatures to some areas, according to China’s meteorological authorities. The heat wave, which began on Saturday, has already triggered government weather alerts and follows the country’s hottest spring on record. The national observatory on Monday issued an orange alert for high temperatures – the second most severe warning – as sweltering heat engulfed the country’s north. Beijing on Saturday raised its first yellow alert for high temperatures this summer, warning residents to avoid going outdoors during the hottest parts of the day. Zhong said the high temperatures were linked to El Niño, a natural climate pattern marked by warmer than average ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific.

Persons: Zheng Zhihai, Zhong, El Niño, El Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Meteorological Center, NMC, National Climate Center, Xinhua Locations: Hong Kong, China, Shandong, Hebei, Xinjiang, Beijing, ”, Beijing’s Chaoyang, Guangdong

☆ Chinese military harassed Dutch warship enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea, Netherlands says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —A Dutch warship was harassed by Chinese military aircraft in the East China Sea on Friday, the Netherlands said, becoming the latest country to accuse Beijing’s forces of initiating potentially unsafe encounters in international waters. PSMX partner nations include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to the US State Department. This handout picture shows the Dutch frigate Tromp approached in the East China Sea by a Chinese fighter jet. “As a warning, the Chinese military took necessary measures at the scene. Hours later, a Chinese military spokesman accused the United States of “creating division and provoking confrontation” in the region.

Persons: South Korea CNN —, Beijing’s, HNLMS Tromp, “, ”, Tromp, China’s People’s, Richard Marles, Lin Jian, Maj, Rob Millen, Lloyd Austin, Washington, Austin, Jing Jianfeng Organizations: South Korea CNN, Dutch Defense Ministry, CNN, United Nations, Pacific Security Maritime Exchange, European Union, UN Security Council, US State Department, Netherlands Ministry of Defence, South Korean Navy, China’s People’s Liberation Army, South China, Australian Defense, Foreign, Canadian, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force, US, NATO, Joint Staff Department, Military Commission Locations: Seoul, South Korea, East, Netherlands, North Korea, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, Chinese, East China, Busan, South, Hobart, China, South China, Ottawa, Pacific, Singapore, Asia, Ukraine

☆ Chinese trade group seeks drone jammers for Russian buyers
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —A Chinese government trade body has sought drone detectors and jammers for apparent Russian buyers, adding to concerns that Beijing may be supplying dual-use technology to Moscow. They are known for being used by the Russian army during its 2022 invasion of Ukraine to identify drone activity. He told CNN by phone that it was removed because it was “improper.” CNN has also reached out to the Yunfu trade association for comment. Mastro said she is “not particularly surprised” that local Chinese governments would help Russian companies seek drone equipment. Last week, the US warned it could act against Chinese firms and financial institutions in response to Beijing’s alleged backing of Russian war efforts.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, ”, Oriana Skylar Mastro, Stanford University’s Freeman, Mastro, doesn’t, Antony Blinken, Washington Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Guangdong Provincial Association, Promotion of, province’s Commerce Department, Assel Labs, 3MX, City’s Association, Promotion of International Trade, United, CNN, US, Stanford, Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Moscow, Guangdong, Russia, Russian, Ukraine, United States, Singapore, “ Beijing

☆ Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visits Cambodia as US concerns grow over China’s influence
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Phnom Penh, Cambodia CNN —US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin traveled to Cambodia on Tuesday to meet with the country’s prime minister and defense minister, as Washington becomes increasingly concerned that Phnom Penh may grant China’s military exclusive access to a key naval base. Austin’s trip to the Cambodian capital marks his second visit to the Southeast Asian country as Secretary of Defense but is the first time a United States defense chief has traveled to Cambodia specifically to hold a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, Defense Minister Tea Seiha. The outreach reflects the US’ desire to forge a better relationship with Cambodia, defense officials said, particularly as Beijing’s influence over the country has only continued to grow in recent years. “There are no doubts about where our concerns are,” a Pentagon spokesperson said following Austin’s meetings, when asked about Ream. In a meeting with China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun last week, their first face-to-face, Austin said the US wants to keep military-to-military channels open with the Chinese to avoid misunderstandings and escalation.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Tea, “, ”, Hun Manet, Hun Sen’s, ” Austin, Biden, Austin, Hun Sen, Dong Jun, Dong, Beijing “ Organizations: Cambodia CNN, Defense, United, Cambodian, Ream, Base, South China, Pentagon, State Department, US Military Academy, West, United Nations Peacekeeping, China’s Defense, CNN Locations: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Washington, United States, Thailand, China, South China, ” Beijing, South, Taiwan, Beijing, Ream, Asia, Singapore

☆ Taiwan celebrities Mayday, Jolin Tsai in crossfire of political battle as tensions with China rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On Douban, a popular site for reviewing movies, books and music, users compiled a list of nearly 100 Taiwanese celebrities, detailing whether each of them had shared the post. On Saturday, CCTV publicly endorsed Taiwanese celebrities who shared its post, sharing the screenshots of 36 such reposts – fueling a further backlash against those who hadn’t. On Monday, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council weighed in, accusing the Chinese Communist Party of requiring Taiwanese artists to express a political stance. The remarks and retweets by Taiwanese artists of the CCTV unification post came against the backdrop of China’s largest show of force around the island in more than a year. “This is not the first time, and probably not the last, that Taiwanese artists are forced to make a political stand in China,” said the leader.

Persons: Mayday’s, Ashin, ”, –, Xi Jinping, Jolin Tsai, Edgar Su, China’s, Beijing’s, ’, Tsai, “, Lin Chen, ” Lin, Lai Ching, Ichiro Ohara, Lai, Zhu Fenglian, ” Zhu, Lin Organizations: CNN, Party, China, Democratic Progressive Party, Cardiff University, Facebook, Mainland Affairs Council, Chinese Communist Party, Communist, Yomiuri Shimbun, Taiwan Affairs Office, “ Locations: Beijing, Taiwan, China, Taipei, Taiwanese, “, Nanchang ”, Singapore, Weibo, ” Beijing

☆ Tiananmen Square: How journalists smuggled out the iconic ‘Tank Man’ photo
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Mike Chinoy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The photo and footage of the so-called “tank man” became the defining image of the Tiananmen Square crackdown whose 35th anniversary passed on Tuesday. People hold candles at a vigil in Hong Kong to mark the Tiananmen Square anniversary on June 4, 2017. Jeff Widener/AP“I’m biking towards the Beijing Hotel and there’s just debris and charred buses on the ground,” he said. It went out.”A student protester before a burning armored personnel carrier that rammed through student lines, injuring many during an attack on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on June 4, 1989. Several media outlets took a photo of “Tank Man,” but Widener’s shot was the most used.

Persons: Mike Chinoy, ”, Isaac Lawrence, Jeff Widener, Chinoy, Liu Heung, Widener, ‘, Kirk Martsen –, Jonathan Schaer, He’d, “, ” Schaer, “ I’m, ” Jeff Widener's, I’m, ” Liu, Liu, didn’t, ” Widener Organizations: University of Southern, China Institute, CNN, American Journalists, Chinese Communist Party, Getty, Associated Press, AP, of, People, Beijing, Widener, Sony Locations: University of Southern California’s US, Beijing, Asia, China, People’s Republic, Hong Kong, British, AFP, CNN’s Beijing, –, Bangkok, CNN’s, Tiananmen Square, Beijing –

He also warned that the death of any Filipino citizen at the hands of another country in the South China Sea would be “very close” to an act of war. It is also a rare opportunity to hear from, and pose questions to, senior Chinese military leaders. Robert Ward, IISS Japan chair, told CNN he felt Dong’s tone was “more shrill” than he’s seen in previous speeches by Chinese defense chiefs at the gathering. “The strategic environment in Asia has actually got more tense and I think we saw that in the Chinese defense minister’s speech today,” Ward said. “Every year for three years, a new Chinese defense minister has come to Shangri-La,” the official told CNN.

Persons: Dong Jun, ” Dong, ”, Xi Jinping, Dong, Lloyd Austin, ” China’s, “, Lai Ching, China, Ferdinand R, Marcos Jr, Austin –, China “, Robert Ward, he’s, ” Ward, they’ve Organizations: Singapore CNN, Taiwan, National Defense, Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, China’s Defense Ministry, South China, Austin, International Institute for Strategic Studies, CNN, US Locations: Singapore, Beijing, Taiwan, United States, China, Taiwan Strait, East, South, South China, Philippines, ”, American, The Hague, Philippine, Ukraine, Dong, Russia, Asia, Pacific, Japan

Zelensky’s surprise attendance at the gathering is a stark illustration of Kyiv’s determination to keep the international community engaged in Ukraine’s defense – and its vision for peace – more than two years into Russia’s devastating invasion. A CNN team at the summit witnessed Zelensky and his delegation arriving. His attendance at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore provides a rare opportunity for Zelensky to potentially meet with defense chiefs from across the Asia-Pacific, including China which has deepened its relations with Moscow since the war. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and defense heads from US allies Australia, Japan, and South Korea, as well as China’s Defense Minster Dong Jun are expected to be in attendance for the three-day gathering. Announcing his arrival at the summit, Zelensky said in a statement on X that he would hold “a number of meetings,” in particular with Austin, Singapore’s president and prime minister, Timor-Leste’s president and Singaporean investors.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenksy, Zelensky, Lloyd Austin, Dong Jun, ”, Austin, Rustem Umerov, “, Roman Pilipey, Zelenksy, Ukraine’s, Dong, Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy, –, It’s, Sergey Lavrov, Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, CNN’s Ivan Watson, Xiaofei Xu, Alex Stambaugh, Natasha Bertrand, Sharon Braithwaite Organizations: Singapore CNN —, CNN, US, Austin, Ukrainian Defense, Getty, NATO, Russia, Northern, Firefighters, Reuters, Ministry, RIA Novosti, Russian, Key Locations: Singapore, Asia, Kharkiv, China, Moscow, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Timor, Ukraine, AFP, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, Europe, North Korea, Beijing, Beijing’s, Russian, Reuters Beijing, Zelensky, Kyiv

☆ Trump’s conviction: The former US president is trending on Chinese social media, and many are rejoicing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

And as China woke up Friday to the news of Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, the country’s heavily censored social media lit up. Under leader Xi Jinping, China’s most assertive leader in decades, the country’s social media platforms have become increasingly dominated by anti-American, nationalistic voices. Second, can he still run for president?”But analysts say Trump’s conviction could be a tricky topic for Chinese state propagandists to navigate. So far, Chinese state media outlets have yet to publish the kind of blistering commentaries that previously appeared alongside news coverage of Trump’s legal entanglements. Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said China’s state media is unlikely to play up the coverage in the days ahead.

Persons: Donald Trump, it’s, Communist Party —, China’s, “ Trump’s, ”, Trump, Chuan Jianguo, “ Trump, influencers, Xi Jinping, –, Hu Xijin, “, Bill Bishop, Alfred Wu, Lee, they’re, Wu Organizations: CNN, Communist Party, Xinhua, Washington, Global Times, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public, National University of Singapore Locations: China, United States, Weibo, Beijing, America

The meeting, between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and China’s Minister of National Defense Adm. Dong Jun, is the first face-to-face talks between the two defense chiefs and Austin’s first such discussions with a Chinese counterpart since late 2022. The meeting, on the sidelines of an annual defense conference in Singapore, takes place against a fraught regional backdrop. Austin is expected to raise concerns with Dong about China’s support for Russia, US officials said ahead of the meeting. Talks between Austin and Dong are not expected to see substantive progress towards resolving many entrenched issues between them. Several weeks later, US and Chinese top generals spoke in a video call, paving the way for this week’s in-person meeting between the defense chiefs.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Dong Jun, Austin’s, China’s, Austin, Dong, Nancy Pelosi, Li Shangfu, Li, won’t, Xi Jinping’s, Xi, Joe Biden Organizations: Singapore CNN, US, National Defense, South China Seas, Communist Party, Coast Guard, Defense, Washington, Russia, America, East, Communist, Central Military Commission Locations: Singapore, Asia, Pacific, Taiwan, Beijing, East, South, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, China, South China, American, Russia, Ukraine, Austin, Asia –, San Francisco

☆ China to invest $845 million on ramping up its advanced EV battery ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Earlier this month, the Biden administration imposed major new tariffs on Chinese EVs, advanced batteries and other goods. The European Commission is set to announce early next month its own decision on Chinese EV tariffs, which could spell trouble for Chinese EV makers that export hundreds of thousands of cars to Europe every year. In January, Toyota (TM) said it would launch vehicles with solid-state batteries in a few years, according to Reuters. Samsung SDI said in March that it would begin mass producing solid-state batteries in 2027. GAC Group, a state-owned automaker based in Guangzhou, said in November that it had achieved a breakthrough in solid-state batteries and would roll out vehicles with them in 2026.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China Daily, West, European, EV, Global, Toyota, Reuters, Samsung SDI, Volkswagen, GAC Locations: China, Hong Kong, Europe, Beijing, Guangzhou

☆ China’s Xi Jinping calls for peace conference and ‘justice’ over war in Gaza as Arab leaders visit Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —Chinese leader Xi Jinping decried “tremendous sufferings” in the Middle East and called for an international peace conference as leaders from Arab nations visit Beijing this week amid mounting global concern over Israel’s war in Gaza. Justice should not be absent forever,” Xi said Thursday at the opening of a meeting between top diplomats from China and Arab states, also attended by several leaders from the region. Delegations from 22 Arab states joined that event at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, according to Chinese state media. China has recognized a Palestinian state since 1988. Thursday’s ministerial meeting is the first such gathering since China held its first joint summit with Arab leaders in late 2022 in Saudi Arabia.

Persons: Xi Jinping, ” Xi, Israel, Xi, ”, Abdel, Fattah, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Kais Saied, China “, Yun Sun, Fatah, Joe Biden, Jamal Khashoggi, Egypt’s Sisi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United Arab Emirates, States Cooperation Forum, Diplomats, Stimson, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, of Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Gaza, “, Palestinian, Rafah, United States, Israel, Washington, United, Palestine, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Istanbul

The Hong Kong and Beijing governments have repeatedly denied the national security law is suppressing freedoms, arguing it has ended chaos and “restored stability” to the city. Since the national security law came into effect in 2020, civil groups have disbanded, and independent media outlets have been shut down. They are the first defendants to be acquitted in a national security law trial in Hong Kong. But that strategy is in doubt after another local national security law enacted earlier this year curtailed access to reduced sentences for guilty pleas. “It’s absolutely clear that the national security law reduced the independence and the autonomy of the judiciary.

Persons: Hong Kong’s, Hong, Gwyneth Ho, Leung Kwok, ”, Lawrence Lau, Lee Yu, –, “, Joshua Wong, Benny Tai, Claudia Mo, Eric Lai, John Burns, Hong Kong Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Beijing, British, Hong, Hong Kong’s Legislative, Georgetown Center, Asian Law, Communist Party, city’s, University of Hong Locations: Hong Kong, Hong, Beijing, Hong Kong’s, China, University of Hong Kong

☆ This is the word of the summer on Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

New York CNN —Bifurcation is the word of the summer. Or it’s the word of the summer among investors, at least. It’s a word that the market gets hung up on and then all you do is hear that word. But I think that’s nearing an end, and so I would expect a slowdown in consumer spending. I’m not so sure that’s going to happen this time because their balance sheets and cash flows aren’t as strong.

Persons: Bell, Scott Wren, I’ve, We’ve, You’ve, you’ve, they’ve, That’s, hasn’t, you’re, I’m, Elon Musk’s, Elon Musk, Anna Cooban, Andreesen Horowitz, Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, xAI, Musk, Grok, Laura He, Xi Jinping’s Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, Nvidia, Fed, Elon, Investors, Sequoia Capital, xAI, Worth, China Construction Bank, China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, National Enterprise Locations: New York, United States, Wells Fargo, Silicon, Saudi, OpenAI, China, ICBC, Beijing

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