Has Beijing snared itself in its own debt trap? The lure of cheap cash has bought it diplomatic support and access to ports across Africa, Asia and the Pacific. But now those nations are struggling to meet repayments. And someone still has to pay. “China is a loan shark withContinue Reading
BEIJING: At a dinner reception before the 74th anniversary of the founding of modern China on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the nation to “work together in unity” in a speech more usually delivered by the premier.Since assuming the office of president in March 2013, Xi has previously deliveredContinue Reading
Beijing is willing to accept a “package resolution” to end a trade dispute with Australia, says China’s Ministry of Commerce. But it hasn’t detailed what that package must be. Or has it? Ministry (MOFCOM) spokesman He Yadong told State-controlled media this week that China “stands ready to work with Australia”Continue Reading
HANGZHOU: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday vowed to help Nepal transform itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked nation by facilitating infrastructure connectivity and transit transportation cooperation as he met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ here. Xi said the two countries sharing borders through Tibet made progressContinue Reading
A Chinese wildlife conservation group has issued a desperate appeal for volunteers to donate food to animals at a zoo due to a lack of funds for feeding the animals — pointing to a much bigger crisis. The ugly debacle has raised concerns for animals held at other zoos aroundContinue Reading
Western countries have not only lost the industrial capacity required to fight a war, but they’re rapidly forgetting how to make the things they used to — and should consider bringing retired workers back to pass on their knowledge to the next generation, defence experts say. While recent headlines haveContinue Reading
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin will on Wednesday host China’s foreign minister Wang Yi for talks in Saint Petersburg, the Kremlin said. The top Chinese diplomat is on a four-day visit to Russia, in the latest of a series of high-level contacts between Moscow and Beijing. “Today Putin will receiveContinue Reading
Leading Chinese planners voiced confidence on Wednesday in the outlook for the world’s second-largest economy, holding key interest rates steady amid signs of improvement in some areas such as services.The upbeat tone of officials speaking at a news conference in Beijing was in contrast to forecasts by the Asian DevelopmentContinue Reading
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s national security adviser met with China’s foreign minister over the past two days on the Mediterranean island nation of Malta in an effort that the White House said on Sunday was intended to “responsibly maintain the relationship” at a time of strained ties and mutual suspicionContinue Reading
A senior politician has flagged a “very high” likelihood of Chinese spies operating inside Australia’s Parliament House after a UK parliamentary staffer was arrested under suspicion of espionage. Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said the vast majority of staff working in parliament were not security vetted or cleared inContinue Reading