भारतीय रोज़ नई ख़बरें – Page 14 – भारतीय रोज़ न्यूज़ भारत की सबसे अधिकारपूर्ण, समय पर और विश्वसनीय समाचार सलाहकार वेबसाइट है

Asia News Wrap: Landslide win for opposition in S. Korean polls, and more

Members of the South Korean ruling People Power Party wait for news on the results of exit polls for the parliamentary election at the National Assembly on April 10, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. /CFP

South Korea’s liberal opposition parties scored a landslide victory in a parliamentary election held on Wednesday. Opposition parties secured a total of 192 seats in the 300-member National Assembly. The result deals a blow to President Yoon Suk Yeol and his conservative party who will find it difficult to pass laws in a parliament dominated by the opposition. The Korean Herald reported that “The ruling bloc managed to defend the 100-seat threshold that could otherwise have deprived President Yoon Suk Yeol of his veto power, a vote count showed Thursday morning.”

Japan’s modified destroyer, JS KAGA. April 6, 2024. /Photo courtesy Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force announced on Saturday in a post on X that it completed the first of a two-stage modification for its helicopter carrier JS Kaga to operate the American-made Lockheed Martin F-35B fighter aircraft. This would upgrade the helicopter carrier to an aircraft carrier, which the country did not possess so far, as Article 9 of Japan’s constitution prohibits the country from having an active military. Over the past few years, Tokyo has tried to redefine that position by pushing heavy increases in military spending and easing its postwar ban on lethal weapons exports, underscoring a shift away from the country’s self-defense-only principle.

Thai military personnel keep guard atop an armored vehicle along the Moei river on the Thai side, next to the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Thailand’s Mae Sot district on April 11, 2024. /CFP

Thailand’s military tightened security on Wednesday along a western border town adjoining Myanmar, where clashes continue with the military. Myanmar’s government has been battling rebels in frontier areas since last October. Several Thai army vehicles, patrolled the streets of Mae Sot, a border town in Thailand even as the sound of explosions and heavy fighting rang out from across the border in Myawaddy in Myanmar, according to residents. Border crossings in the area were open for civilians who were arriving in Thailand from Myanmar in large numbers, said the immigration superintendent in Tak, the province where Mae Sot is located.

The Netflix logo on one of their Hollywood buildings in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 12, 2023. /Reuters

Vietnam has ordered video streaming service Netflix to stop advertising and distributing its games in the country by April 25 as the U.S. streaming platform has not yet been granted a license for games services, its broadcasting authority said on Thursday.

“Vietnam demands Netflix comply with the Vietnamese regulations on game online services,” the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information said on its website. Netflix began its push into gaming by launching Netflix games on mobile phones in November 2021.

Masatsugu Asakawa, president of the Asian Development Bank, meeting with Chinese officials at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on July 11, 2023. /CFP

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Thursday that Asia’s growth this year is expected to be slightly stronger than previously forecast as healthy domestic demand in many economies offsets other negatives. The ADB pushed its 2024 growth forecast for Developing Asia to 4.9 percent from 4.8 percent projected in December. However, it warned of persistent challenges such as rising geopolitical tensions, including in the Middle East, that could disrupt supply chains and reignite inflation.

(Cover: Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea’s largest opposition party and his wife Kim Hye-kyung, watch the live broadcast of the vote count in Incheon City, South Korea on April 11, 2024. /CFP)

International Day of Human Space Flight: To the moon!

/CFP

April 12 is the International Day of Human Space Flight, which is the date when the Soviet Union’s Yuri Gagarin became the first human to go to space in 1961.

The latest trending destination for human space flight is the moon, as many countries and organizations are trying to bring astronauts back to the lunar surface.

China’s program is named “Chang’e” after the goddess of the moon in Chinese mythology. In 2020, the fifth mission, the Chang’e-5, retrieved samples of the moon back to Earth weighing about 1,731 grams, the first lunar samples retrieved in over 40 years.

The country has launched the Queqiao-2 satellite as a communication relay for the coming Chang’e-6 mission, which will test key technologies used for the next manned mission.

The country plans to land its taikonauts on the moon before 2030 to carry out scientific exploration.

China is also planning to build an international lunar scientific research station at the south pole of the moon, which is expected to be completed by 2030.

The U.S., which has sent astronauts to the moon before, is also preparing for a grand return. The first phase of its Artemis program was a success, during which a probe was sent to orbit around the moon and then returned to the earth.

Now the country is working on a manned mission, aiming for a launch in September 2025, sending four astronauts on a lunar flyby.

Two astronauts are planned to land on the moon in 2026, while a space station called the Lunar Gateway is expected to start assembly in an orbit near the moon in 2028.

Russia launched its first lunar probe in 47 years – the Luna-25 – in August 2023. Unfortunately, the probe, intended for a soft landing, crashed onto the moon.

With that said, the country is also working with China on the lunar research station, which would also see participation from the European Space Agency (ESA). ESA’s own mission, named Heracles, has been superseded and is no longer actual.

During India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission in 2023, a lander-rover combo was sent to the moon. The country targets 2040 to send astronauts to the lunar surface.

Japan launched Smart Lander for Investigating Moon to become the fifth country to reach the moon in 2024. Though the touchdown was a bit wonky, the probe managed to regain power and resume its mission.

Peru’s dengue deaths triple as climate change swells mosquito population

Deaths caused by the mosquito-borne dengue disease have more than tripled in Peru so far this year, according to data from the South American nation’s government, which is redoubling efforts to contain an epidemic that has hit poor areas the hardest.

The government of President Dina Boluarte this week said it had approved an “emergency decree” allowing extraordinary economic measures to bolster the plan to counter the outbreak, which experts say is exacerbated by climate change.

A health worker leaves a home after fumigating it for mosquitoes to help mitigate the spread of dengue in the Las Penitas area of Talara, Peru, March 1, 2024. /CFP

Mild symptoms include nausea, rashes and body pains, while a rarer severe form, more threatening for infants and pregnant women, can cause internal bleeding and is potentially fatal.

Peru’s Ministry of Health said that as of Thursday, there were 117 registered deaths from dengue so far this year, compared with 33 in the same period of 2023. Suspected cases have also more than tripled to reach some 135,000.

Over the past few days, health officials have carried out fumigations in poor neighborhoods across Lima, the capital, including in cemeteries where mosquitoes have been found to breed in the water that gathers in vases honoring the deceased.

Experts say the figures in Peru are alarming because they show the ability of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the disease, to spread to areas where dengue had not previously been detected. The highest numbers of cases were recorded in the coastal and northern parts of the country, including Lima.

A staff member of the Peruvian Ministry of Health shows an image of an Aedes aegypti mosquito at the populous district of El Agustino in Lima, Peru, February 27, 2024. /CFP

“The mosquito has been adapting to climate change and is reproducing at a faster rate than in previous years,” University of Lima epidemiologist Augusto Tarazona said.

Considering respective population sizes, Tarazona said that with an incidence rate of 330.27 cases per 100,000 people, Peru was seeing both higher infection and mortality rates than in either Brazil or Argentina.

“We are in a critical situation in Latin America,” he said.

(Cover: A health worker carries out fumigation for mosquitoes inside a home to help mitigate the spread of dengue in the Las Penitas area of Talara, Peru, March 1, 2024. /CFP)

Source(s): Reuters

China committed to defending its territorial sovereignty, maritime interests: Foreign Ministry

China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao, including Ren’ai Jiao and their adjacent waters, as well as the Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islets, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday during a regular press briefing.

She made the remarks in response to U.S. President Joe Biden’s commitment to “deepening maritime and security ties” with Japan and the Philippines.

Japan, the Philippines and the U.S. held a summit on Thursday and voiced oppositions to China’s activities in the South China Sea and East China Sea in their joint vision statement.

China’s activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea are in full compliance with international law, Mao said.

China is committed to safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and maintaining the peace and stability of the South China Sea, she added.

Mao said China resolutely opposes relevant countries infringing on China’s sovereignty and development interests in the name of freedom of navigation and overflight.

The so-called award of the South China Sea arbitration is illegal and void, the spokesperson noted, adding that China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime interests are not affected by the award in any circumstances.

Emboldened by the support of non-regional countries, certain countries have continued to take provocative actions at sea, thus raising the tension of the situation, Mao said. It is outrageous that certain non-regional countries are fanning the flames and provoking confrontation, she added.

The U.S. clings to the Cold War mentality and threatens other countries with a bilateral treaty of alliance, which seriously violates the United Nations Charter and undermines regional stability, she said.

She also reiterated China’s commitment to dealing with maritime issues with countries directly concerned through dialogue and consultation while opposing the interference of non-regional countries to stir up trouble and escalate the situation.

China will continue to play constructive role in Middle East: Foreign Ministry

Rescuers work at the destroyed building of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, April 1, 2024. /Xinhua

China calls on all parties to the ongoing Gaza conflict to immediately ceasefire and will continue to play a constructive role in resolving the Middle East issue, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Mao Ning made the remarks while briefing the media during a regular press conference on Thursday’s phone conversation between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

During the phone call, Wang said China strongly condemned the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria and stressed that the security of diplomatic institutions is inviolable and the sovereignty of Iran and Syria should be respected, according to Mao.

Mao added that this round of escalation is the latest manifestation of the spillover from the Gaza conflict, and it’s imperative that the conflict be put to rest as soon as possible.

China calls on all parties to the conflict to earnestly implement UN Security Council Resolution 2728, immediately cease fire and stop fighting, and stop the humanitarian crisis, said the spokesperson.

Resolution 2728, which was adopted on March 25, was the first Security Council resolution that demands or calls for a cease-fire in Gaza after the flare-up of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza on October 7, 2023.

China will continue to play a constructive role in resolving the Middle East issue on its own merits and contribute to cooling down the situation, Mao said.

Defense Ministry spokesperson warns against separatist activities seeking ‘Taiwan independence’

Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, speaks at a regular press conference in Beijing, China, April 12, 2024. /Website of Chinese Ministry of National Defense

China is firmly opposed to any form of official exchange or military contact between the U.S. and China’s Taiwan region, a Defense Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a regular press conference when asked to comment on a recent visit by the head of Taiwan region’s navy force to the headquarters of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii.

Media report said the visit was part of U.S. efforts to implement the “Joint Island Defense Concept,” which aimed to coordinate with the authorities in the Taiwan region to counter China’s armed forces within the “first island chain.”

Slamming the so-called “first island chain” as a product of Cold War geopolitics, Wu said “any attempt to block and contain China is nothing but wishful thinking.”

“We urge the U.S. side to truly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. Joint Communiqués, fulfill its commitment to not supporting ‘Taiwan independence,’ and immediately stop its military collusion and official contact with Taiwan.”

“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. To solve the Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair and brooks no foreign interference,” Wu added.

Wu also warned the Democratic Progressive Party authorities that being a “chess piece” in others’ power games will ultimately be abandoned and that “seeking independence by force” will get it nowhere but to a dead end.

“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army will take resolute actions against any form of separatist activities seeking ‘Taiwan independence,'” Wu said.

Expert: China, Europe ‘have much to say and much that can be said’

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte speaks to journalists at the Dutch embassy in Beijing, March 27, 2024. /CFP

China and Europe “have much to discuss and much that can be said” as recent visits by officials from European countries to Beijing signify a stronger willingness to cooperate, a Chinese expert on international relations said.

In recent weeks, China has received a number of European officials, including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne and climate envoys from other countries, a development that echoed what Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said was a full resumption of interactions between China and Europe since the beginning of this year.

On the one hand, China and Europe need to discuss myriad matters “because events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have had a certain impact on China-Europe relations, and some misunderstandings and prejudices between the two sides urgently need to be resolved through communication,” Chen Yang, executive director of Institute of European Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said in an interview with Youth.cn.

On the other hand, he added, China and Europe “have a lot that can be discussed,” as they have broad common interests and a cooperation foundation in fields such as economic and trade exchanges, and global governance.

Remarks by the visiting officials also resonated with Wang’s recent statement that Europe is understanding China with increasing rationality. Rutte, who was in Beijing late last month, said de-coupling is not a policy option for the Dutch government, as any act harming China’s development interests will hurt the Netherlands itself.

Earlier this month, the top climate diplomats sent by the European Union, Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands landed in Beijing, marking an unprecedented diplomatic move that was coordinated multilaterally to discuss climate change with China.

Against the backdrop of closer ties between China and EU countries were growing signs of them coordinating with the U.S. on pursuing economic and trade protectionism, which analysts attribute to not only the ideological differences between China and the West but also the fact that Western countries are facing economic and social development challenges.

The exacerbation of income inequality in EU countries has significantly affected their political development, and some politicians lay the blame on “unequal competition” caused by developing countries, represented by China, which they say is using low labor costs and government subsidies to seize markets, Li Xiangyang, director of National Institute of International Strategy (NIIS) in Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told Youth.cn.

Nonetheless, EU members’ eagerness to communicate with both China and the United States indicates that they do not wish to take sides with either of them, Chen said.

China and the United States have different strategic objectives regarding their approaches to Europe, with the U.S. focusing on preserving the status quo while China, in pursuit of incremental growth, directing its attention to future developments, he added.

Graphics: The fourth China International Consumer Products Expo sets sail in Hainan

China’s inaugural major international exhibition of 2024, the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), is set to commence on Saturday in Hainan Province. Anticipated to be the largest boutique exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, it will welcome over 4,000 brands from 71 countries and regions.

Spanning a vast indoor exhibition area of 128,000 square meters, alongside spaces on ships and docks, the Expo will showcase an extensive array of brands from diverse corners of the globe. This impressive participation is facilitated by Hainan’s visa-free entry policy for citizens from 59 countries.

With expectations of hosting more than 55,000 buyers and industry professionals, the Expo promises to be a bustling hub of commerce and networking opportunities.

Showcasing Hainan’s progress

Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping highlighted the Expo’s significance in showcasing the substantial achievements of the six-year endeavor to construct the Hainan Free Trade Port. The region’s offshore duty-free sector, encompassing over 500,000 square meters and boasting more than 1,500 brands offering around 150,000 product varieties, has recorded cumulative sales surpassing 180 billion yuan ($25 billion) during this period.

GT exclusive: Former Philippine president Duterte warns Manila to turn back from detrimental path, resolve disputes through dialogue

Editor’s Note:

Looking back on the brotherhood between China and the Philippines that former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte highlighted during his visits to China while in office, many Chinese people fondly remember the friendly atmosphere between the two countries during his presidency, and appreciate the independent foreign policy the former leader pursued.

When the Global Times recently visited the Philippines, many local people praised Duterte for the significant improvements he made in social security, public wellbeing, and the economy. On local social media apps in the Philippines, one can also see many people sharing videos of Duterte’s life after retirement.

Recently, Global Times reporters Hu Yuwei, Fan Wei, and Zou Zhidong (GT) visited and exclusively spoke with Duterte (Duterte) in Davao, the Philippines, where he repeatedly called for rational and friendly dialogue with China on current intense bilateral relations.

He expressed sadness over the disputes in the South China Sea and the policies adopted by the current administration toward China. He warned that the US is trying to provoke a war between China and the Philippines and cautioned that the US will not risk American lives for Filipinos. He hopes that the Philippines can turn back from its detrimental path and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation.

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte Photo: Zou Zhidong/Global Times

GT: Based on current China-Philippines relations, what kind of message would you like to convey to the people of both the Philippines and China?

Duterte: First of all, I would like to express my deep appreciation for China and the Global Times for coming here to interview us and talk about the relations between China and the Philippines. We should deal with the geopolitical mess that we are in. So China could get a clear view, at least around the former president of what we would like to happen between the Philippines and China.

When I was elected as president then (in 2016), I tried to craft an independent foreign policy, not really against America. I have no quarrel with America. But the problem was our foreign policy was dovetailing theirs, and not so good with China. So I started on a neutral foreign policy. I announced to the world that I had no friends and no enemies to fight. I just want to be neutral. And I did not have to kowtow to anybody’s foreign policy, especially the Americans. I know that the previous administrations were always favoring the Americans in everything. Whatever be the events, whatever be the problems of Southeast Asia or the world, for that matter, it seems that China here in Asia is doing everything that is possible to encourage that we gather as good neighbors, especially when President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). That was really intended to galvanize relations between Asian countries.

But America, from a foreign policy standpoint, appears to be very hostile. So if you stick with America, if you identify yourself with America, then everything becomes blurry with our relations with China and the rest of the ASEAN countries.

Most of the ASEAN countries have followed a very neutral, independent foreign policy. I would have wanted that. Had I listened to the advisors of government, I could not have improved the relations between the Philippines and China. That is why I slowly detached myself, and, at least in foreign policy, and announced to China that we are not enemies, that we have never been, and never will be in our lifetime.

Now the BRI was meant to attract cooperation between ASEAN member states and China. America was very wary about that, very suspicious, and so they called us not to join as it was “bait for us.” There’s nothing wrong with economic cooperation. So I made it clear that I was more of a friend.

I must reiterate that I do not have a quarrel with the America. I just don’t like their behavior. Their behavior is because at one time or another, they were imperialists. After Spain, they also occupied my country. And even though they say that it was good for the Philippines that they came and educated us, that’s nonsense.

We could have developed on our own. We do not need anybody. We do not even need China. We could have developed the Philippines on our own without any interference from anybody.

Now in terms of geopolitics and trade, we have robust trade relations between China. Before I went to Beijing, the durian fruit and mangos were not acceptable to China. After I visited China and talked to the president, humbly asking [the Chinese government] to consider the plight of my nation, so that we earn money at least through our exports, because we are an agricultural country. When I came home, China opened the door.

So I was very appreciative of the brotherly gesture, almost like to cry. That was really very kind to us Filipinos.

Now even in the bilateral trade, China is near, America is far. We have some trade relations with America but not good for a day-to-day, like food. I don’t think that we have really good trade relations with America. Maybe they are kind, I do not care to know, because I’m not interested.

Now our bilateral relations [with the US] focus on trade and maybe defense. We’ve been talking about it. There are issues with the island of Taiwan. We do not tinker with Taiwan. Taiwan is a province of China so we understand.

Here in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), when I was president, there was no quarrel. We can return to normalcy. I hope that we can stop the ruckus over there, because the Americans are the ones pushing the Philippine government to go out there and find a quarrel and eventually maybe start a war.

So I am very sure of that – America is giving the instructions to the Philippine government to “not be afraid because we will back you up.”

But I do not think that America will die for us. And yet America has so many bases in the Philippines now; I objected to it when the US wanted to build a military base in Philippines. Then with the consent of the president of the Republic of the Philippines, they have so many bases.

I am sorry for my country. I am not the president anymore. I cannot run. But if there is a way we can reverse the situation, we might find a way inside to implode somewhere. And if God would allow it then perchance I would be able to reverse the situation. I would remove the bases.

And I would tell the Americans, you have so many ships, so you do not need my island as a launching pad or as a launching deck for you.

Global Times reporters take a photo with former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on March 26, 2024, in Davao, the Philippines. Photo: Courtesy of Duterte’s office

GT: What are your feelings about the change of the friendly diplomatic policy toward China that you always pursued and the peace you created in the South China Sea?

Duterte: I’m very sad. And I hope that we can bring it back again. With the present situation, there has to be a plan.

GT: The current Philippine government has taken a more hardline stance on the South China Sea issue, including the Senate’s passage of the Maritime Zones Act, and has attempted to push more fishermen into disputed waters, which is seen as not conducive to dialogue and peaceful settlement. What’s your comment?

Duterte: It’s not been possible to talk since the current administration took office. Maybe one remedy is I can talk to the Chinese government. We can talk about easing up a little bit; And I will tell the people that this is the protocol that China wants too, and that it’s good.

During my term, China allowed fishing [by Philippine fishermen] and nobody was disturbing them.

So, if you want a mid-term change, a radical change, we will have a hard time. You can begin to talk to others, not necessarily with me, but with others. But I’m the only one who’s visible right now because I am not afraid of the situation.

GT: During your visit to China in October 2016, we saw a great improvement in China-Philippines relations, and the Chinese side made proper arrangements regarding your concerns. Do you remember how the consensus was reached at that time?

Duterte: The Chinese side allowed us to go there to fish. We do not quarrel with that. We do not ask for any solution to this issue now. We just leave it that way as long as there are no military [conflicts].

It was a very good arrangement. Everybody was happy. And if China should also go there and fish, then go there and fish. If the catch is already enough, then they can go back home.

The city of Davao, the Philippines Photo: VCG

GT: The current Philippine government has strengthened its military ties with the US, opening up new military bases in the Philippines and there have also been some voices shifting toward the US economically. How do you view the “deepening” of US-Philippine relations?

Duterte: It is very hard to comprehend the Philippines detaching a little bit and remaining neutral. That cannot happen until the end of the current term. We’ll just have to wait it out. But in the meantime, we should educate the Filipino people and I can always go back to my public life.

I am retired, but I suppose I can still stand and call for a press conference and express my views about it and express my sentiments.

We have bilateral relations with America, but if your foreign policy is crooked or favors one country and is sometimes hostile because you are with America, then everything is wrong. That is the problem.

In terms of the Taiwan question, I said that’s a province of China. There was a revolution (Chinese People’s War of Liberation) in China between Chairman Mao Zedong of the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang. They (Kuomintang) retreated to an island, which is a part of China. And some in Taiwan want to be independent, and America is supporting them, despite the fact that they know it is illegal because Taiwan is part of China’s territory. That’s the problem.

So, including the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and the island of Taiwan, and asking for bases, a foreign policy that is not taken care of by the government by allowing itself to be attached to another country, is really at war every day.

In the matter of principle, there is a quarrel going on because there is the US telling everybody, “Okay, you fight. Do not be afraid because we are here.” It’s antagonistic and hostile.

A view of the city of Nanning, South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Nanning is a Chinese sister city of Davao. Photo: VCG

GT: How do you think China and the Philippines can return to the table of dialogue and negotiations on the South China Sea issue?

Duterte: It will come after Marcos. We will just have to wait. You cannot talk to him because it is the Americans that will tell him what he should say to you. So it’s forever a cycle of incongruity.

Lastly, I would say that we are not enemies.

Remember that. We do not have any quarrel with China. We know that if it would come, it would come because of the Americans. So we have to accept it because our government admittedly allowed it.

But we will always be friends. I can assure you.

Maybe we can look for ways to convince political leaders that this president is dragging us through a situation that can harm the relations between China and the Philippines.

GT: People have given you various tags regarding your governing style. For example, among your political opponents, there is a voice that believes you are too friendly to China on the South China Sea issue. However, many Chinese people are full of praise for the strong and powerful actions you’ve taken to deal with drugs and terrorism, as well as your independent foreign policy approach despite pressure from the US, and they often refer to you as a man of iron will, or a strong leader. What do you think of all these tags?

Duterte: First of all, let me explain. In the matter of foreign policy, and even in the matters of governance, it is a matter of principle.

The principle that I see is that I see things from the right perspective.

That is, whether or not it would be good for my country to remain neutral and not to entertain invasive activities.

The second is in governance. I’m a hardliner, especially on drugs, criminality, and every facet of governance. But I try to be friendly with all. And it’s not a pretend friendship with China.

I really love China more than the Americans, simply because I do not believe in their habit, and the habit of saying things and doing what they are doing now. It is a pity that the BRI program has been slowed down [in the Philippines], maybe because of the economy. But I still hope that China will grow more powerful.

I dream of China and the Philippines working together; of better people-to-people exchanges. Most of the Filipinos are pro-American because of the educational system; I dream of Filipinos also gaining new views. There’s a school in Fujian named after my mother; an exchange of peoples brings better trade and better bilateral relations.

China vows ‘necessary measures’ as US intensifies tech crackdown on Chinese firms

China US

The US crackdown on China in the high-tech sector has intensified, with a latest move of blacklisting a couple of Chinese firms over their alleged involvement in military business. Chinese observers said on Thursday that the US tech hegemony will not defeat China but only hinder its own tech advance, and they urged Washington to match its words to deeds to maintain the stabilization momentum of China-US relations.

China’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday vowed that the country will do what is necessary to firmly safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies, while urging the US to stop politicizing trade and tech issues and turning them into weapons.

The US is adding four Chinese companies to an export blacklist because they are “involved with providing artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China’s military modernization programs” and “military intelligence users,” Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing Kevin Kurland, an export enforcement official with the US Commerce Department.

These companies are LINKZOL (Beijing) Technology Co, Xi’an Like Innovative Information Technology Co, Beijing Anwise Technology Co and SITONHOLY (Tianjin) Co, according to the report.

“The latest US move is not surprising at all. Considering China its most important strategic competitor in recent years, the US has made it a fundamental policy to crack down on and decouple from China in a bid to contain China’s development,” Yuan Zheng, a deputy director and senior fellow at the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Yuan said that the technological hegemony and monopoly of the US will only harm its own image and hinder its technological advance. As the years-long China-US tech war drags on, the US has recognized that China can’t be struck down overnight.

“China holds no illusions about the US side stopping technological containment one day, and thus it is focusing its efforts on technological breakthroughs and self-reliance,” Yuan said. He said that China-US relations are unlikely to see substantial improvement in the short term, despite recent exchanges between senior officials from the two sides.

The US Commerce Department also added China’s Jiangxi Xintuo Enterprise Co to the list for supporting Russia’s military through the procurement, development and proliferation of Russian drones, Reuters said, citing a posting on the US Federal Register.

Another Chinese company, Shenzhen Jiasibo Technology Co, was added, it said.

Mao Ning, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a regular press conference on Thursday that “China and Russia have the right to normal economic and trade cooperation, and such cooperation should not come under external interference or constraint. We strongly oppose the US’ illegal unilateral sanctions.”

For some time, the US has blacklisted Chinese companies for export controls with their alleged involvement in Russian business or military purposes. The US has abused the national security concept and export control measures, and randomly imposed unilateral sanctions and pursued long-arm jurisdiction. This is a typical economic coercion and unilateral bullying, He Yadong, spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Commerce, said on Thursday.

Rong Ying, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Thursday that the unilateral and protectionist behavior of the US has seriously harmed the stability and safety of global industrial and supply chains, negatively affected the green transition of developing countries, and violated the market economy and fairness rules it has always advocated.

“Most countries do not want to engage in camp confrontation or choose sides between China and the US, and even US allies are half-hearted in following Washington’s containment against China,” Rong said, calling for increased communication between China and the US to avoid strategic misjudgment.

More discussions are needed so as to clarify the “red lines” and boundaries of some concepts, of which, the Taiwan question is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations, Rong said.

As China-US relations have shown signs of further stabilization amid US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s recent visit to China, it is hoped that the Biden administration will refrain from taking more unilateral actions that may lead to a reversion of the sound trend, he said.

“During her stay in China, Yellen repeated Washington’s pledge not to seek decoupling from China. Then, the US should match its words with deeds by taking concrete actions to stop sanctions and restrictions on Chinese companies,” Rong said.

While China faces temporary challenges, the US has more troubles domestically, for example race issues and partisanship, which will weigh in on the country’s long-term development and international competition, Yuan said. He said that China will focus on its own business such as boosting its economic recovery and improving its business environment so as to strengthen national cohesion.