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☆ Spy balloon witness thought it might have been a star or UFO
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 3 (Reuters) - Chase Doak was getting ready to leave work when he spotted what he thought might have been a star or even a UFO. It turned out to be a spy balloon floating high over the United States and his images have been seen around the world. The Pentagon reported on Thursday that a spy balloon it suspected is Chinese had been flying over the country for a couple of days. But it was just a run-of-the mill Chinese spy balloon!" China has itself often complained about surveillance by the United States, including its deployment of ships or planes near Chinese military exercises.

☆ China 'seriously concerned' about report U.S. has halted approvals of exports to Huawei
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, Jan 31 (Reuters) - China is seriously concerned about a report that the United States has stopped approving licences for U.S. companies to export items to tech giant Huawei, a foreign minsitry spokesperson said on Tuesday. "We are closely following relevant developments," Mao Ning told a regular news briefing in response to a query on the export curbs. read moreReporting by Yew Lun Tian; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China says it is ‘deeply concerned’ about reports of the latest US clampdown on Huawei
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has hit back after reports that Washington is moving to further restrict sales of American technology to Huawei. “China is deeply concerned,” Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the country’s foreign ministry, said at a press conference Tuesday. The following year, the US government expanded on those curbs by seeking to cut Huawei off from chip suppliers using US-made technology. US officials have argued that Huawei poses a risk to US national security. Western security experts, however, have said that China’s national security and intelligence laws require Chinese companies to comply with demands for information.

☆ China raps Czech president-elect over Taiwan call
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Czech presidential candidate Petr Pavel speaks to the media at his headquarters, during the country's presidential election, in Prague, Czech Republic January 28, 2023. REUTERS/David W CernyBEIJING, Jan 31 (Reuters) - China condemned on Tuesday a phone call between Czech President-elect Petr Pavel and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen, saying he ignored Beijing's repeated attempts at dissuasion. "Czech President-elect Pavel ignored China's repeated attempts to dissuade him and our repeated representations," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning Mao told reporters. "Before his election, Pavel publicly stated that the 'one China' principle should be respected, yet now he has gone back on his words," Mao said. "China once again urges the Czech Republic to...take immediate and effective measures to eliminate the negative impact of this incident and avoid irreparable damage to China-Czech relations."

☆ Russia seeks 'new level' of China ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Russia said on Monday that it wanted to take ties with China to a "new level" and was looking forward to face-to-face talks with Beijing's leadership as a Russian newspaper reported that China's top diplomat would visit Moscow in February. "We are convinced that the potential for Russian-Chinese bilateral cooperation is still far from exhausted," Russia's foreign ministry said. The Russian foreign ministry's comments came shortly after Russia's Vedomosti newspaper reported that China's chief diplomat Wang Yi was set to visit Moscow in February. According to the newspaper, Wang may visit Putin during his stay. The purpose of Wang's visit is unclear but may be related to preparations for an upcoming visit to Russia by Chinese President Xi Jinping, it added.

☆ How investors are playing the China reopening — from beer to travel stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Seema Mody | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China is reopening and investors are ready for it. After a bruising 2022, hedge funds have been adding positions in Chinese stocks. Carter points out that even with China's outperformance this year, the MSCI China ETF is trading at 12 times earnings versus a Nasdaq valuation of 22 times earnings. HBSC analysts are recommending Yum China , saying the company is set to benefit from restaurants reopening. With the Lunar New Year underway, travel analyst Jake Fuller at BTIG raised his estimates on Booking Holdings for the first quarter citing "strong trends so far in January" and "China's reopening."

☆ Ten Chinese players face match-fixing charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Snooker - Betway UK Championship - York Barbican - 28/11/15 Li Hang during his second round match Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Craig Brough Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. Jan 18 (Reuters) - Ten Chinese snooker players face match fixing charges following an investigation by the governing World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA)'s integrity unit, it announced on Wednesday. Liang Wenbo, Li Hang, Lu Ning, Yan Bingtao, Zhao Xintong, Zhang Jiankang, Chen Zifan, Chang Bingyu, Zhao Jianbo and Bai Langning are the players charged. Zhao Xintong, who won the 2021 UK Championship and last year's German Masters, is ranked ninth in the world, while Yan is a former Masters champion. Zhao Xintong has been charged with being concerned in fixing matches on the World Snooker Tour and betting on snooker, while Yan has been charged with fixing matches on the World Snooker Tour and betting on snooker.

☆ China's Lunar New Year travel to boost economy after COVID crunch
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

While many analysts say a return to economic normality will be gradual as the impact of COVID weakens, some see the Lunar New Year as a welcome early consumption boost. But with so many people on the move, health experts fear a deepening of the COVID outbreak, leaving the elderly in rural villages particularly vulnerable. Reuters reported on Tuesday that doctors in both public and private hospitals were being actively discouraged from attributing deaths to COVID. State media reported that some 390,000 passengers were expected to travel from Shanghai train stations on Tuesday alone for what is known as the Spring Festival holiday - seen as the world's largest annual mass migration before COVID. As travellers moved through stations in Shanghai, China's largest city, some expressed optimism despite the risks.

☆ China's Lunar New Year travel offers spark of economic rebound from COVID crunch
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

While many analysts say a return to economic normality will be gradual as the impact of COVID weakens, some see the Lunar New Year as a welcome early consumption boost. But even as workers move out, health experts fear a broadening and deepening of its COVID outbreak, leaving the elderly in rural villages particularly vulnerable. The WHO earlier welcomed Saturday's announcement after last week warning that China was heavily under-reporting deaths from the virus. "This is especially important during periods of surges when the health system is severely constrained," the statement said on Monday. As travellers moved through stations in Shanghai, China's largest city, some expressed optimism despite the risks.

☆ Nike is going all in on luxury-obsessed Gen Z
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Danni Santana | Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Nike CEO John Donahoe on CNBC this week said the company is focused on Gen Z in China. But some sneaker brands like Nike are deliberately targeting Gen Z and their supposedly frivolous spending habits to help bolster sales. The semiannual Piper Sandler survey of teenagers, which includes Gen Z, shows Nike and its Converse brand, and rival Adidas, atop the footwear category in the US. "I think that the buying power of our customer is much higher than it used to be," Schultz told reporters, referring to Gen Z. Meanwhile, Anta in mid-2021, announced a five-year strategy that includes focusing on Gen Z.

☆ China is still racing to develop its own mRNA jabs. But they won't use foreign vaccines to fight COVID because of 'national pride,' says South Korea's top vaccine maker.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It hasn't yet approved any mRNA vaccines. But SK Bioscience says China is unlikely to source foreign COVID-19 vaccines, due to "national pride." SK Bioscience has developed its own COVID-19 vaccine, which is now being used in South Korea. "China has administered 3.4 billion doses of COVID vaccines for its people, covering over 90% of its population," said Liu. Even so, Chinese drugmakers are racing to produce mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.

☆ China’s reopening has gotten Wall Street excited. Here’s how the pros are playing it
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Over the past week, a host of Wall Street banks have turned increasingly bullish on the world's second-largest economy and have upgraded their outlook on Chinese stocks. Morgan Stanley expects China's GDP to grow by an "above-consensus" 5.4% in 2023, on the back of a "fast-tracked" reopening and more proactive policy easing. Meanwhile, UBS says Chinese stocks look increasingly attractive. How to play the reopening Against this backdrop, analysts have named a slew of both Chinese and global stocks they think will benefit most from China's reopening. Bank of America's domestic reopening beneficiaries include consumer stocks such as alcoholic beverage makers Kweichow Moutai and Tsingtao Brew , airline stocks including China Southern Airlines , as well as online travel platform Trip.com .

☆ EU strongly recommends travelers from China to take Covid test before entering Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

European nations are looking at new travel requirements from China after Beijing lifted Covid restrictions. European nations on Wednesday recommended imposing new restrictions on travelers from China amid fears of an increase in Covid cases. Passengers departing from China will likely have to present a negative Covid test before leaving the country if heading toward one of the 27 EU countries. Several EU nations have already stepped up their protection measures against potential new cases from China. Correction: This story was updated to reflect that European officials on Wednesday recommended pre-flight testing of travelers from China.

☆ China threatens response to ‘unacceptable’ Covid measures
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

The Chinese government blasted Covid-19 testing requirements imposed on passengers from China and threatened countermeasures against countries involved, which include the U.S. and several European nations. “We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing Tuesday. “We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the Covid measures for political purposes and will take countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity,” she said. The comments were China’s sharpest to date on the issue. Other countries including the U.S., U.K., India, Japan and several European nations have announced tougher Covid-19 measures on travelers from China amid concerns over a lack of data on infections in China and fears of the possibility that new variants may emerge.

☆ EU offers China free vaccines as COVID-19 infections surge
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The European Union has offered free COVID-19 vaccines to China, the EU executive said on Tuesday, as infections there surged following Beijing's relaxation of its "zero-COVID" policies. China has not responded to the offer yet, a spokesperson for the European Commission told journalists at a regular briefing. He did not specify the amount of vaccines the EU was offering or their manufacturers. "In view of the COVID situation in China, (Health) Commissioner Stella Kyriakides has reached out to her Chinese counterparts to offer EU solidarity and support," he said. Last month, Germany shipped 11,500 BioNTech (22UAy.DE) COVID vaccines to German companies and embassy and consulate locations in China for use by German nationals there.

☆ China calls entry restrictions targetting its travellers unreasonable
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Some countries' COVID-19 entry restrictions targetting China lack scientific basis and are unreasonable, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign minsitry said at a regular briefing on Tuesday. Mao Ning said that we are "firmly opposed to such practices" and will take corresponding measures accordingly. Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 23 major brands suspected of illegally sourcing products made by forced labor in China
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

And more ...Mary Meisenzahl/InsiderThese companies have also been suspected of having direct or indirect ties to Chinese forced labor in the aforementioned reports. Bosch"Bosch is committed to ensuring that its products are not produced wholly or in part by forced labor. "Compliance with human rights, labor rights and environmental standards is a top priority at PUMA and has been specified in our Codes of Conduct for over 20 years." As stated in our Business Conduct Guidelines, we reject all forms of oppression, forced labor and participation in human rights violations. We will continue to respect human rights and take a strong stand against forced labor."

☆ China's Yan suspended amid match-fixing investigation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 12 (Reuters) - China's former Masters champion Yan Bingtao has been suspended from the World Snooker Tour as part of an investigation into alleged match-fixing, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) said on Monday. The 22-year-old Yan beat Scotland's John Higgins 10-8 last year to become the youngest Masters champion in 26 years. "WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Yan Bingtao from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect," WPBSA, which governs professional snooker, said in a statement. The WPBSA last week suspended five Chinese players - Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu - as part of the match-fixing investigation. Their compatriot Liang Wenbo was suspended in October pending the results of a misconduct investigation.

☆ China to allow German expats to use German COVID-19 vaccines
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Dec 10 (Reuters) - The Chinese foreign ministry said China and Germany had reached an agreement on providing "German vaccines" to German nationals in China, after the German Chancellor recently said that BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine would be used by German expatriates. Relevant arrangements will be discussed and determined by the two sides through diplomatic channels, Mao Ning, a spokeswoman at the Chinese foreign ministry told reporters on Friday at a regular press conference. On Nov. 4, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on his visit to Beijing, announced an agreement to let expatriates in China use the COVID-19 vaccine from Germany's BioNTech. BioNTech's (22UAy.DE) COVID vaccine would be the first non-Chinese coronavirus vaccine to be administered in China, although to just German nationals, as Beijing had until now insisted on administering domestically produced vaccines. Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The meeting between the global economic powerhouse and Gulf energy giant comes as Saudi ties with Washington are strained by U.S. criticism of Riyadh's human rights record and Saudi support for oil output curbs before the November midterm elections. China, the world's biggest energy consumer, is a major trade partner of Gulf oil and gas producers. Saudi Arabia is its top oil supplier and state-run Saudi Aramco has annual supply deals with half a dozen Chinese refiners. While economic ties remain anchored by energy interests, bilateral ties have expanded under the Gulf's infrastructure and technology push, part of diversification plans that have gained importance as the world turns away from fossil fuels. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have said they would continue to expand partnerships to serve economic and security interests, despite U.S. reservations about their ties with both Russia and China.

☆ Man behind the Korean wave talks about the future of K-pop and what aspiring artistes can do
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Kimberley Kao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Gabriel Olsen | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images"But when foreign bands come to [South Korea to] perform, they completely took over the stage and fans went wild. Future of K-popAs for the future of K-pop, "I think the metaverse that everyone is talking about these days is the future," Lee says. SM Entertainment established a metaverse world called SM Culture Universe, and launched its first metaverse girl band, Aespa in 2020. SM Entertainment established a metaverse world called SM Culture Universe, and launched its first metaverse girl band, Aespa in 2020. Alexi Rosenfeld | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images"SM Entertainment is building 'Play-2-Create'… people can discover their creative side and create in the metaverse.

☆ Nexperia and Elmos cases show how the US-China chip war is spilling over to Europe
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Last week, the new owner of Britain’s biggest chipmaker was ordered to unwind its takeover, just days after another chip factory sale was blocked in Germany. “These decisions mark a shift towards tougher stances regarding Chinese investment in critical industries in Europe,” said Xiaomeng Lu, director of geo‑technology at Eurasia Group. A worker in a clean room for silicon semiconductor wafer manufacturing at the Newport Wafer Fab, owned by Nexperia, in Newport, Wales on Aug. 18. A company sign of Elmos Semiconductor, seen on Nov. 9 in the German city of Dortmund. Both Britain and Germany have recently added rules that expand government oversight over such decisions, making outcomes harder to predict.

☆ Beijing says testy Xi-Trudeau exchange sparked by leak to media
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Eduardo Baptista | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A tense exchange between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at this week's G20 summit was triggered by the leaking of details of a conversation between the two, China's foreign ministry said on Friday. A video published by Canadian broadcasters on Wednesday showed Xi telling Trudeau, via a translator, that "everything we discussed was leaked to the paper(s), that's not appropriate." The video captured a rare candid moment for Xi, whose image is carefully curated by Chinese state media. While the incident was widely covered by foreign media, there has been no coverage of it in China and the foreign ministry did not include references to it in its published transcript of a briefing on Thursday, where four questions related to the incident were asked. Relations have grown tense again this month after Trudeau accused the Chinese government of "aggressively" interference in Canadian elections.

It shows Xi rebuking Trudeau over alleged leaks from a 10-minute conversation the two leaders had on Tuesday, their first meeting in more than three years. “Everything we discussed has been leaked to the paper; that’s not appropriate,” a smiling Xi told Trudeau through a translator. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the video showed a “normal” conversation between the two leaders. Asked about the video at a news conference in Bali on Wednesday, Trudeau confirmed that he had raised the question of foreign interference with Xi. “This is something we always do, and we will continue to.”Trudeau sidestepped a question about whether the confrontation was a “power play” by Xi.

☆ China says Xi was not criticising Trudeau during candid exchange at G20
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIJING, Nov 17 (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry on Thursday said Chinese President Xi Jinping was not criticising Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after Xi was seen confronting him at the G20 summit over alleged leaks from an informal meeting they had held on Tuesday. "The video you mentioned was indeed a short conversation both leaders held during the G20 summit. I don't think it should be interpreted as Chairman Xi criticising or accusing anyone," Mao said. [1/2] Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with China's President Xi Jinping at the G20 Leaders' Summit in Bali, Indonesia, November 16, 2022. Trudeau confirmed the conversation with Xi, and what the Canadian source had said were the topics of discussion, at a news conference at the end of the G20, after Xi had confronted him.

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