Xu arrived in New Delhi on May 10 and assumed charge as the Chinese Ambassador to India….reports Asian Lite News
China’s Ambassador to India called on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday evening, and discussed the bilateral relationship between India and China.
Upon receiving the Chinese envoy, Jaishankar, in a post on X, wrote “Received Ambassador of China Xu Feihong this evening. Discussed our bilateral relationship and our common interest in its stabilization and progress.”
He wished him a “successful tenure,” through the post on X.
Xu arrived in New Delhi on May 10 and assumed charge as the Chinese Ambassador to India.
Xu Feihong is the 17th Chinese Ambassador to India. Notably, he became the first Chinese envoy to India in over 18 months.
The last Chinese Ambassador to India was Sun Weidong, who left in October 2022, at a time when India and China were trying to manage ties via multiple channels, following the Ladakh border standoff in 2020.
After assuming the charge, Xu said that India and China boast of being time-honoured civilizations and are each other’s, important neighbours.
In an interview with China Global Television Network, Xu Feihong shared his first reaction to being appointed as the Indian ambassador after a considerable hiatus and said that it is an honourable mission and a sacred duty.
“I will do my best to deepen understanding and friendship between the two peoples, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and improve and advance the bilateral relationship,” he said.
He further stressed that India and China are the biggest emerging markets and developing countries of the world.
“As President Xi Jinping said If China and India speak with one voice, the whole world will listen; if the two countries join hands, the whole world will pay attention,” he noted. (ANI)
China’s new guidelines, unveiled on June 21, include severe penalties such as the death sentence for what it terms “diehard” supporters of Taiwan independence….reports Asian Lite News
The United States has sharply criticised China’s recent actions and rhetoric towards Taiwan, describing them as provocative and unsettling. This condemnation comes in response to Beijing’s announcement of new judicial measures aimed at penalising individuals who advocate for Taiwan’s independence, Central News Agency Taiwan reported.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Department of State on Monday, spokesman Matthew Miller addressed the issue, stating, “We strongly condemn the escalatory and destabilising language and actions from PRC officials. We continue to urge restraint and no unilateral change to the status quo.”
China’s new guidelines, unveiled on June 21, include severe penalties such as the death sentence for what it terms “diehard” supporters of Taiwan independence. Under these directives, individuals convicted of inciting secession or other serious offences related to Taiwan independence may face capital punishment, even in absentia, as reported by Focus Taiwan.
According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, the guidelines outline the legal framework for prosecuting “Taiwan independence” activities, asserting their criminal nature, and specifying the procedures for imposing penalties. Xinhua characterises these measures as building upon the foundation laid by China’s 2005 Anti-Secession Law.
In response to China’s move, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te vehemently defended Taiwan’s democratic principles, emphasising that “democracy is not a crime, whereas autocracy is.” He criticised China’s attempt to punish Taiwanese citizens for expressing their political views, asserting that China lacks the authority to dictate or prosecute such matters.
“According to China’s logic, not supporting unification equates to supporting Taiwan independence,” President Lai remarked, calling on Beijing to acknowledge the Republic of China’s existence and engage in diplomatic dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected government.
The United States reiterated its stance advocating for meaningful dialogue between China and Taiwan, emphasising that coercion and legal threats are counterproductive to resolving differences across the Taiwan Strait peacefully.
The US continues to urge both parties to uphold stability and avoid actions that could escalate tensions or alter the current state of affairs unilaterally, Focus Taiwan reported. (ANI)
Khawaja Asif clarified that the main focus of operations under ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ will be in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan…reports Asian Lite News
China’s reported hesitation to invest in new projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) stems largely from concerns about the security of its citizens and assets in Pakistan.
This hesitation appears to have prompted the Pakistani government to take action, as Islamabad recently approved a revitalised national counter-terrorism campaign known as ‘Operation Azm-e-Istehkam’.
According to a recent editorial in Dawn, the move underscores Pakistan’s recognition of the importance of addressing China’s security concerns, especially at a time when attracting foreign investment is critical for the country’s economic development.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif clarified that the main focus of operations under ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ will be in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan.
He mentioned that a comprehensive plan detailing the framework for these operations will be announced in the coming days. Notably, Chinese citizens, workers, or projects have been targeted by violence or security threats within Pakistani territory.
These incidents have raised concerns about the safety and security of Chinese nationals and investments in Pakistan, particularly under projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Such attacks can have significant implications for bilateral relations between China and Pakistan, as well as for regional stability and economic cooperation.
However, military operations conducted by Pakistan frequently face allegations of human rights violations, which involve accusations of excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests, disappearances, and mistreatment of civilians in conflict zones such as Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and in areas affected by insurgency.
These allegations are often reported by human rights organisations and international observers, raising concerns about the protection of civil liberties and adherence to international humanitarian law.
Such reports can strain Pakistan’s relations with the international community and prompt calls for accountability and reforms within the military and security forces. (ANI)
Chinese President Xi Jinping pinpointed “deep-seated problems” in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), whose root causes “lie in the lack of ideals and beliefs.”…reports Asian Lite News
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA), paradoxically named since it is beholden to the party rather than the people, is still not politically pure, according to its head, Chairman Xi Jinping. Despite an anti-corruption campaign lasting more than a decade, Xi continues to call for greater loyalty within China’s military.
During a Central Military Commission (CMC) Political Work Conference from June 17-19, Xi pinpointed “deep-seated problems” in the PLA, whose root causes “lie in the lack of ideals and beliefs.”. The correct response, according to China’s leader, is for personnel at all levels, especially senior cadres, to “introspect, engage in soul-searching reflections and make earnest rectifications”.
As quoted by state broadcaster CCTV, Xi asserted, “The gun barrels should always be in the hands of those who are loyal and reliable to the party, and there must be no place for corrupt elements to hide in the military.”
Xi convened this meeting in Yan’an, an old revolutionary PLA base in the northwest province of Shaanxi. Recalling past glories, Xi took CMC members and department heads to visit revolutionary relics at Wangjiaping, where the CMC’s headquarters was stationed from August 1937 till March 1947.
According to PLA reports, “Xi emphasised the need to uphold the party’s absolute leadership over the military and to build a high-quality cadre team that is loyal, clean, responsible, and capable of fulfilling the mission of strengthening the military.”
Significantly, this was the first such conference since Xi held one in Gutian, Fujian Province, a decade ago. In his landmark 2014 speech on that occasion, Xi accused PLA officers of laxity and being too focused on personal aggrandisement over professional responsibilities to “fight and win wars.”.
Subsequently, Xi granted more authority to discipline inspectors and financial auditors, though he allowed the PLA to continue self-policing.
This occurred because, at the time, Xi needed the PLA’s support to consolidate his power and push through his massive military reorganisation of 2013. As an example of his light-handed approach, Wang Qishan, who oversaw zealous anticorruption measures within the party hierarchy, had no mandate to do so in the PLA.
Nonetheless, from 2013-16, Xi’s anti-graft pogrom netted at least 45 high-ranking PLA officials, as well as retired figureheads like CMC vice chairs Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong. After that, investigations have been lower profile. Relatively loose oversight, as well as generous defenxe budget increases, have kept the PLA satiated.
Indeed, some 40 percent of funds have been dedicated to procuring shiny new toys such as aircraft carriers, fifth-generation fighters, and missiles.
The PLA has no congressional oversight, no independent judiciary, and is not investigated by a free press. Indeed, at its heart, China’s military is a self-governing institution that enjoyed its highest autonomy in the 1980s. As much as Xi tries to root out corruption, bad practices have been part of the PLA’s DNA since its foundation.
While individual bad apples may be removed, it is impossible to expunge a culture that operates with few checks and balances or the rule of law.
By allowing the roguish PLA a certain degree of autonomy, Xi may even have been genuinely taken by surprise by the 2017 Doklam incident on India’s border, and by last year’s embarrassing spy balloon saga.
Xi is heavily involved in military appointments and promotions, supposedly of candidates who are reliable, competent, and loyal. Yet with so much cash being splashed around in ever-increasing defence budgets, some high-up officers in the PLA have seized the opportunity to profit personally.
This unsatisfactory state of affairs, as the PLA shows its true colours, catalysed Xi’s second, ongoing major round of detentions. That purges are continuing, twelve years after Xi came to power, shows the hopelessness of the task of entirely rooting out corruption.
In July 2023, the CMC announced a corruption probe into the PLA’s Equipment Development Department (EDD) dating all the way back to 2017. This entity had been led by disgraced defence minister Li Shangfu for five years. Formerly known as the General Armaments Department, the EDD has long been regarded as a hotbed of corruption, simply because so much money passes through its hands.
Actual disappearances began in August 2023 with the two top commanders of the PLA Rocket Force (PLARF), which is responsible for China’s ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. A bevy of other senior PLARF leaders were snared too. By September, Defence Minister Li was noticeably gone as well.
In December 2023, and again on February 27, 2024, the National People’s Congress removed senior military officers. It kicked out three generals and five lieutenant generals, most of them currently or previously in the PLARF or EDD, as well as the PLARF’s two commanders. The only one not connected to either of these entities was General Ding Laihang, former commander of the PLA Air Force until September 2021.
Such high-profile purges within the EDD and PLARF are unprecedented. Last September, Cheng Dongfang, President of the Military Court of the PLA, was removed too. The court has a critical role in prosecuting graft. Meanwhile, February’s dismissals included Lieutenant General Li Zhizhong, deputy commander of the Central Theatre Command. Another was Lieutenant General Ju Xinchun, most recently the naval commander of the Southern Theatre Command, but before that a deputy minister of the EDD.
2. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with representatives of the aircraft carrier unit and the manufacturer at a naval port in Sanya, south China’s Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Li Gang/IANS)
Lyle J Morris, Senior Fellow for Foreign Policy and National Security at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Centre for China Analysis, noted: “If the downfall of PLARF commander Li Yuchao and his subordinates is related to intel leaks, as some reports have suggested, that suggests trouble within China’s nuclear forces–a key piece of Xi’s military modernization drive. Some of the intel leaks reportedly include the ‘blueprints’ of China’s nuclear strategy and posture towards the United States. If there is any shred of truth in these rumours, that would constitute a big setback for China’s nuclear program and raise questions about the political reliability of senior PLA leadership in charge of the nuclear forces.”
It is not just PLA personnel being purged, either. He Wenzhong, deputy general manager of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) was investigated by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Boasting 2,00,000 employees, CETC specialises in electronic equipment such as radars.
Additionally, last December, Liu Shiquan, chair of Norinco; Wu Yansheng, chair of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC); and executive Wang Changqing of China Aerospace Science a Industry Corporation (CASIC), were all removed from these state-owned enterprises.
This indicates how deep corruption runs in China’s military-industrial complex, where kickbacks are common.
Morris observed, “Corruption is baked into the system of governance in China. Given these dynamics, which have been a feature of China’s military bureaucracy for decades, the recent purge will likely not greatly influence the overall trajectory of PLA modernization or combat effectiveness.”
He Weidong, Vice Chairman of the CMC, urged tenacity and persistence in improving discipline and battling corruption. “It is necessary to promote in an integrated manner those who do not dare to corrupt, those who cannot corrupt, and those who do not want to corrupt, rectify the source and build a solid ideological dam, coordinate and deepen various rectifications and reforms, and jointly tighten the institutional cage between the military and civilians to improve the comprehensive efficiency of system governance.”
This was Xi’s message at the CMC Political Work Conference in Yan’an, too. He said the PLA’s political work is confronted by complicated challenges, and that political loyalty is necessary “to ensure that the people’s armed forces always uphold their core values, maintain purity, and strictly adhere to discipline.”.
Xi concluded that the PLA must “nurture a contingent of high-calibre officers, eradicate the breeding ground for corruption, and enhance the comprehensive oversight of high-ranking officers in terms of their performance of duty and exercise of power.”.
Xi said, “Measures to govern the military with strict discipline have been comprehensively implemented with unprecedented determination and intensity, achieving historic accomplishments in enhancing political loyalty in the military.”.
The party hierarchy must hope that these stark lessons, where even ministers are not immune to arrest, might force others into line. However, this approach could backfire, as many personnel will rightly or wrongly fear being purged.
Regardless, Xi still harbours deep and abiding doubts about the loyalty and honesty of his most senior officers and their promises of combat readiness. China’s authoritarian leader doubtlessly watched the issue of corruption in Russia’s military as it battled Ukraine, and is worried the PLA might be similarly infected.
These suspicions will hopefully act as a deterrent to war, even as China’s economic woes continue to reveal themselves. The nation’s latest budget projected a 2024 government deficit equal to 3 percent of GDP. However, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in the USA predicts it is more likely to reach a deficit of 8 percent this year.
Xi might well end up with a more politically loyal PLA, at least on the surface, but will it be any more capable militarily? It will have to readjust and reorganise as it implements Xi’s decrees. More time will be devoted to political theory and party activities, which comes at the expense of true military training. There is also the possibility of unqualified personnel being promoted to high positions based simply on political loyalty rather than their military or leadership acumen. This may be good news for Taiwan if Xi is uncertain of the PLA’s loyalty as he contemplates an invasion.
A Taiwan invasion would represent the PLA’s most complex military task ever undertaken. At best, a swift victory would create a long occupation of a hostile populace, while, at worst, a protracted and costly campaign would jeopardise the party’s legitimacy. The PLA is historically corrupt, it underwent a major restructure less than a decade ago, and it has no recent combat experience.
This all suggests the PLA needs as much time as it can get to improve itself.
Conversely, others believe China’s weakness might encourage it to act even more boldly. For instance, retired Admiral Phil Davidson, former commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, noted: “The lessons [China is] learning is that a much more comprehensive attack – delivered with much more violence – is actually the solution to what they’re viewing as Russia’s problems in Ukraine.”
Incidentally, China did not attend the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland earlier this month, nor did President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet with Chinese officials in Singapore when he was there in May. He said, “Ukraine has no powerful connections with China, because China does not want it.”
Xi knows the PLA is riven by scandals and corruption. This explains his repeated prognostications for political loyalty and a lot of propaganda about its combat readiness. Overseas buyers of Chinese equipment often complain about quality issues, and this presumably also applies to the PLA’s flashy new equipment. There may be a range of defects in Chinese weapons, some known and others yet to emerge, their exposure is surely accelerated by any conflict with a capable adversary such as Taiwan.
Certainly, Xi has built a powerful military on paper, but politics have forced him to treat it with relative mildness for many years. Consequently, even as he ramps up his latest anti-corruption purge, there must be credible doubts in his mind about the PLA’s reliability and capability during a crisis. (ANI)
Graphene plays an increasingly important role in extensive areas, including planetary and space science….reports Asian Lite News
Chinese researchers have for the first time discovered natural few-layer graphene in the lunar soil samples brought back by the Chang’e-5 mission, following observation and analysis of the samples.
The study, jointly conducted by researchers from Jilin University, the Institute of Metal Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China’s deep space exploration laboratory, and the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration, was published in the journal National Science Review.
Graphene plays an increasingly important role in extensive areas, including planetary and space science. It is estimated that graphene makes up about 1.9 percent of total interstellar carbon. The composition and structure characterization of natural graphene therefore can provide rich information on the geologic evolution of parent bodies.
Researchers used the correlative Scanning Electron Microscope/Raman technique to collect Raman spectra in several spots with relatively high carbon content in the lunar soil samples, confirming that the crystalline quality of the graphite carbon in the samples is relatively high.
They also explored and confirmed that the graphite carbon detected in the samples is few-layer graphene, reaching this conclusion through the comprehensive application of various characterization techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy, along with rigorous comparative analysis of test results from multiple perspectives.
The study offers new insights into the geological activities and evolutionary history of the moon, as well as its environmental characteristics. It also broadens understanding of the complex mineral composition of lunar soil, and provides important information and clues for the in-situ utilization of lunar resources.
In addition, researchers proposed that the formation of few-layer graphene and graphite carbon may stem from a mineral catalysis process jointly induced by the solar wind and early volcanic eruptions on the moon.
The statement came as a response towards the recent incident of a violent clash between Chinese and Philippine sailors near the Second Thomas Shoal…reports Asian Lite News
Amid China’s growing aggression, Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has said that the nation would not be intimidated by Beijing’s expansionist acts, Al Jazeera reported.
His remarks came at the headquarters of Philippine South China Sea forces at Palawan island.
According to the Philippine President “In defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that we would like to settle all these issues peacefully.”
During the visit to the headquarters, Marcos awarded medals to 80 sailors who took part in the resupply mission, and urged the sailors to continue defending their nation despite the situation being “dangerous”.
Quoting Marcos as saying, Al Jazeera reported that the Philippines will continue to exercise its freedom.
“We will never be intimidated or oppressed by anyone. Continue to exercise our freedoms and rights in support of our national interest, in accordance with international law,” Marcos said.
The statement came as a response towards the recent incident of a violent clash between Chinese and Philippine sailors near the Second Thomas Shoal about 200 km away from Palawan island.
During that incident, the Chinese forces injured Filipino navy personnel and damaged at least two military boats in the South China Sea.
Additionally, the Filipino sailors also accused Chinese coastguards of stealing and damaging their equipment, the Al Jazeera report claimed.
Previously, the Philippines News Agency (PNA) had reported that the Armed Forces of the Philippines had rejected China’s allegation that a Philippines ship illegally entered its waters and collided with one of its coast guard vessels, terming it “deceptive and misleading of the China Coast Guard.
In a message to reporters, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad stated, “The AFP will not discuss operational details on the legal humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal, which is well within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone).” Trinidad added, “We will not dignify the deceptive and misleading claims of the China Coast Guard (CCG),” PNA reported.
The AFP official stressed that the presence and actions of Chinese vessels within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that infringe on Manila’s sovereignty and sovereign rights remain the main issue.
Trinidad said that the China Coast Guard’s continued aggressive actions escalated tensions in the region, according to PNA
The statement of the Armed Forces of the Philippines came after the China Coast Guard (CCG) claimed that a Philippine replenishment ship illegally entered waters near Ren’ai Reef (Chinese name of Ayungin Shoal) on Monday last week, forcing them to take appropriate actions.
Notably, Ayungin Shoal is a submerged reef in the Spratlys Islands in the South China Sea (SCS). The BRP Sierra Madre, which is considered an outpost of the Philippine Navy, has been grounded in Ayungin since 1999. (ANI)
Analysts and military strategists said that there are two key options available to China – a full-scale invasion or a military blockade….reports Asian Lite News
China’s military could isolate Taiwan, cripple its economy, and compel the democratic island to submit to Beijing’s Communist Party without firing a shot, CNN reported citing a Washington think tank.
There are concerns about the Communist Party’s intentions to take control of Taiwan, potentially by force, have intensified due to Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s increasingly aggressive stance towards the self-governed island. China’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has further fueled these fears.
According to CNN, analysts and military strategists said that there are two key options available to China – a full-scale invasion or a military blockade.
However, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington highlights a third option: quarantine. This method, using “gray zone” tactics, involves actions just below the threshold of war. The China Coast Guard, its maritime militia, and various police and maritime safety agencies could enforce a full or partial quarantine of Taiwan, potentially cutting off access to its ports and essential supplies, such as energy, for the island’s 23 million people.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) might play only auxiliary and support roles, according to CSIS authors Bonny Lin, Brian Hart, Matthew Funaiole, Samantha Lu, and Truly Tinsley.
“China has significantly increased pressure on Taiwan in recent years, stoking fears that tensions could erupt into outright conflict. Much attention has been paid to the threat of an invasion, but Beijing has options besides invading to coerce, punish, or annex Taiwan,” the report says.
Recently, China’s Minister of National Defence Admiral Dong Jun warned “external forces” for emboldening Taiwan Independence separatists in an attempt to contain China with Taiwan and said that these malicious intentions are dragging Taiwan into a dangerous situation.”
He said that anyone who dares to separate Taiwan from China will “end up in self-destruction.”He accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of pursuing Taiwan’s separation in an incremental manner and added that they are bent on erasing the Chinese identity of Taiwan.
Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships that operate near Taiwan’s territory.Gray zone tactics are called “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force,” according to Taiwan News.
This latest incident adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. China has increased its military activities around Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, has long been a contentious issue in China’s foreign policy. China continues to assert its sovereignty over Taiwan and considers it a part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. (ANI)
A former FAO insider alleged that Chinese officials within the organisation are influencing it for geopolitical objectives, aiding the Beijing’s strategic goals through institutional means….reports Asian Lite News
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the largest specialized agency of the United Nations focusing on agriculture, food security, and nutrition policies worldwide, is composed of 194 member countries. However, controversy has surrounded the FAO since the election and subsequent re-election of Qu Dongyu from China as Director-General in 2019.
Recently, in a documentary, a former FAO insider alleged that Chinese officials within the organisation are influencing it for geopolitical objectives, aiding the Chinese government’s strategic goals through institutional means.
Qu Dongyu’s election in 2019 was marred by controversy. Prior to his candidacy at the FAO, Dongyu served as Vice Minister of Agricultural and Rural Affairs in China. His election saw significant diplomatic efforts from China to secure his victory.
Reports indicated that developing countries faced pressure from China to disclose their voting intentions. Dongyu won decisively with 108 out of 191 votes but his victory was met with allegations that China had orchestrated it.
One accusation suggested China forgave a large African debt, prompting the country to withdraw its FAO candidate. Additionally, China allegedly threatened smaller developing nations burdened with Chinese debt with economic repercussions if they did not support Dongyu.
Following the 2019 election, the FAO underwent significant restructuring and saw an increase in Chinese nationals appointed as directors within its central departments, rising from two to six under Qu Dongyu’s leadership.
The national flags of China and Russia are seen on Red Square, Moscow.(Xinhua/IANS)
These officials are believed to report their activities at the FAO to the Chinese Embassy in Rome, where the FAO is headquartered.
Paid by the Chinese government, they are expected to promote Chinese political ideology on international platforms.
Notably, one Chinese national assumed directorial responsibility for the department overseeing crop production and pesticide management.
Under Dongyu’s tenure, a controversial shift occurred as the FAO formed a partnership with pesticide companies, contradicting its efforts to minimise pesticide dependency as a last resort.
In October 2020, the FAO signed a strategic agreement with Crop Life International (CLI), a trade association advocating agricultural technologies including pesticides, despite CLI companies reportedly deriving a significant portion of their sales from highly hazardous pesticides linked to environmental damage and farmer poisoning.
The partnership sparked strong backlash from environmental activists, with 352 civil society organisations and indigenous groups from 63 countries voicing concerns to FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.
Similar objections were echoed by scientists, researchers, and academics. However, Dongyu did not directly address these major concerns, prompting continued appeals from a global coalition advocating for environmental justice to urge the FAO to terminate its alliance with CLI.
The FAO’s collaboration with pesticide companies and its authorization of pesticide shipments since 2020 were highlighted in an internal document.
It revealed the distribution of numerous hazardous pesticides to Asian and African countries, which are banned in Western nations due to their high toxicity levels.
Since late 2019, over 95.8 per cent of the pesticides approved and delivered by the FAO to East African countries have been scientifically proven to cause serious harm to human health and ecosystems.
Half of these pesticides, authorized for managing locust plagues as emergencies, contain chlorpyrifos, a chemical known to cause brain damage in children and fetuses, and banned in the EU.
These revelations have raised ethical concerns about the FAO’s management practices and China’s increasing influence within the organization. Questions regarding the specificity of pesticide approvals remain unanswered by the FAO.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu faced additional criticism from Western countries for suspending the UN’s Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) from conducting an independent review of his leadership until after the next FAO election held in July 2023.
Dongyu’s alignment with Chinese foreign policy in responding to the global food crisis exacerbated by the Ukraine conflict was also condemned by the West, further undermining the FAO’s effectiveness and credibility.
China’s interest in leveraging the FAO’s influence in global food dynamics stems from its status as the world’s largest agricultural sector.
Beijing sees control over the FAO as crucial for asserting dominance globally, particularly in culturally aligned regions of the global south and to advance its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The FAO Director-General’s initiatives like the Hand-in-Hand (HiH) Initiative and South-South Cooperation are seen as serving China’s foreign policy goals.
In 2021, a EU delegate expressed concerns that the HiH Initiative could be monitoring social unrest worldwide, but requests for clarification from the FAO were denied.
The FAO’s lack of accountability mirrors the autocratic tendencies of the Chinese government, which is alarming.
Furthermore, the FAO is accused of obstructing the publication of leaked documents unfavourable to Chinese interests in the global market.
Under Qu Dongyu’s leadership and amid increasing Chinese influence, the FAO appears aligned with Beijing’s national interests, prompting calls from the international community for greater transparency and ethical governance in global agricultural policies.
This proposal if put into action, will further strain economic ties with Beijing at a time when trade tensions are rising. The proposal is expected to be finalized later this year….reports Asian Lite News
The Joe Biden administration is mulling to curb US investment in critical Chinese technology industries that are crucial to modernising China’s military.
The proposed Treasury Department rules would prohibit certain US investments in Chinese companies that are developing semiconductors, quantum computers and artificial intelligence systems. The Biden administration is trying to restrict American financing from helping China develop advanced technology that could be used for weapons tracking, government intelligence and surveillance, The New York Times reported.
This proposal if put into action, will further strain economic ties with Beijing at a time when trade tensions are rising. The proposal is expected to be finalized later this year.
“This proposed rule advances our national security by preventing the many benefits certain U.S. investments provide — beyond just capital — from supporting the development of sensitive technologies in countries that may use them to threaten our national security,” the New York Times cited Paul Rosen, the Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for investment security.
Earlier, President Biden signed an executive order calling for the investment ban, which will largely affect venture capital and private equity firms that do business with Chinese companies.
As per the proposed restriction, the investors are required to notify the Treasury Department about certain kinds of transactions, and some types of investments are explicitly prohibited.
If it is implemented, the Treasury Department will have the power to force a divestment, and violations could be referred to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution, it reported.
The rules apply to equity investments, debt financing that could be converted to equity, and to joint ventures.
Earlier in May, US President Joe Biden has directed his Trade Representative to increase tariffs on USD 18 billion of imports from China, including semiconductors, solar cells, batteries, and critical minerals to ‘protect’ American workers and businesses, the White House said in a statement.
The White House said that the decision has come in response to China’s ‘unfair trade practices’ and to counteract the resulting harms.PlayUnmuteFullscreen”China’s unfair trade practices concerning technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation are threatening American businesses and workers. China is also flooding global markets with artificially low-priced exports.
In response to China’s unfair trade practices and to counteract the resulting harms, President Biden is directing his Trade Representative to increase tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on USD 18 billion of imports from China to protect American workers and businesses,” the White House statement read.
The statement on hiked tariffs on imports from China also noted that the Chinese government has used unfair and non-market practices for too long now.”China’s forced technology transfers and intellectual property theft have contributed to its control of 70, 80, and even 90 percent of global production for the critical inputs necessary for our technologies, infrastructure, energy, and health care–creating unacceptable risks to America’s supply chains and economic security,” the White House said. (ANI)
The entities include Lockheed Martin Missile System Integration Lab, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories, and Lockheed Martin Ventures
China has said that it has banned several business units of American aviation manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. and three of its executives over arms deals the company has signed with Taiwan, the self-ruling island it claims as its own territory, media reports said.
The statement from China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the company’s cooperation with Taiwan had violated the country’s sovereignty, standard terminology in its discussions of any outside dealings that support the island’s government, the Independent reported.
The entities include Lockheed Martin Missile System Integration Lab, Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, according to the statement.
All of their movable and immovable properties, and other kinds of assets within China shall be frozen, the statement added.
The senior executives under sanction include James Donald Taiclet, chairman, president and chief executive officer; Frank Andrew St. John, chief operating officer; and Jesus Malave, chief financial officer.
China has been steadily growing its domestic aircraft industry, producing parts, planes and services for Airbus and producing its commercial jets. Foreign technology has played a large part in that process, but Chinese companies have increasingly developed the means to replace their overseas suppliers, The Independent reported.
The executives’ movable and immovable properties and other kinds of assets within China shall be frozen, and it has been prohibited for any organisations or individuals within China to engage in any transactions, cooperation, or activities with them. They shall also be denied visas or entry into China, according to the statement.
Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, on Friday urged the US to honour its commitment to not support “Taiwan independence” and stop arming Taiwan in any form.
The newly approved US arms sales to Taiwan were reportedly worth about $360 million.
Taiwan relies heavily on US suppliers for arms, even as it works to boost its defence industries and increase mandatory military service for men from four months to one year. That comes against the backdrop of China’s rising threat to encircle or invade Taiwan to achieve what it calls a historical mission to annex the island.
Taiwan was formerly a Japanese colony and separated from mainland China amid a civil war in 1949.
