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Category: China

  • Philippines Accuses China of Reckless Behavior

    Philippines Accuses China of Reckless Behavior

    The Southeast Asian nation has been raising its deep concerns for a long time now over China’s strategic expansion into the South China Sea…reports Asian Lite News

    Slamming China for its “reckless behaviour” in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines on Monday said that its armed forces will go all out to protect the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

    “China’s dangerous and reckless behaviour in the West Philippine Sea shall be resisted by the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). Their behaviour contravenes their statements of good faith and decency. We will exert our utmost to fulfill our sworn mandate to protect our territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights,” said Gilberto Teodoro, Secretary of the Philippines’ Department of National Defence (DND).

    “It should now be clear to the international community that China’s actions are the true obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he added.

    The Southeast Asian nation has been raising its deep concerns for a long time now over China’s strategic expansion into the South China Sea.

    Last week, during a reception held on the Swedish National Day, Teodoro asserted that tensions in the region “emanate solely” from the “so-called ten-dash illegally claimed” by China as their territory.

    “China wants us to go to the small details to forget the main message. The main message is: The ten-dash-line is the provocation. And everything flows from that,” the Defence Secretary told reporters at the sidelines of the event.

    “They have no business being anywhere in the West Philippine Sea and other areas where we have jurisdiction. They are trying to bait us by straying from the main points and dragging us into an action-drama debate, where we focus on minor details which stray us from the main message. Let’s stick to the message,” he said.

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  • Australia, China agree to ‘manage differences’

    Australia, China agree to ‘manage differences’

    The visit by Li Qiang marks the first visit to Australia by a Chinese premier in seven years and demonstrates a further thawing of the once-frosty ties between the two nations

    Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Annual Leaders’ Meeting in Canberra on Monday. Terming his talks with Albanese as “candid, in-depth and fruitful,” Li said they also exchanged views on some differences and disagreements between the two countries and agreed to manage them properly.

    The visit by Li marks the first visit to Australia by a Chinese premier in seven years and demonstrates a further thawing of the once-frosty ties between the two nations, ABC News reported.

    Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Li Qiang said that the two sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and strengthen exchanges between the legislatures, government departments and political parties between the two countries.

    Li Qiang said, “Just now, Prime Minister Albanese and I had a candid, in depth and fruitful meeting and reached a lot of consensus. We both agreed to uphold the right characterisation of our bilateral relationship and consolidate its momentum of improvement and development. We reaffirmed our commitment to defining this relationship as a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, to mutual respect and trust and to viewing and handling this relationship in a positive attitude.”

    “The two sides agreed to maintain high-level interactions, strengthen exchanges between the legislatures, government departments and political parties and fully resume various areas of institutional dialogue and bring their role into full play. We also had a candid exchange of views of some differences and disagreements and agreed to properly manage them in a manner befitting our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” he said

    The Chinese Premier said that Australia and China signed several cooperation documents on trade, education, climate change, culture and intellectual property. Li said China and Australia will make good use of such dialogue mechanisms like Strategy Economic Dialogue, the joint Ministerial Economic Commission and the Free Trade Agreement Committee to address each other’s economic and trade concerns and provide a fair, open and non-discriminatory business environment for companies.

    Australian PM Albanese termed the talks as “constructive” and stressed that the two nations cannot address differences without talks.

    Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Albanese said, “We had a constructive discussion today at our Annual Leaders’ Meeting, building on our Annual Meeting last year in Beijing. My government has put dialogue at the centre of Australia’s relationship with China because it is always most effective when we deal directly with each other.”

    “That’s how we make progress on our shared interests and protect regional stability. Without dialogue, we can’t address any of the differences that arise between us. Australia and China have renewed and revitalised our engagement. We’ve agreed across a range of MoUs and arrangements today that will continue to shape and drive our practical cooperation as we continue the process of stabilising the relationship,” he added.

    Albanese also extended a welcome to the Chinese Premier in Canberra. In a post on X, Albanese stated, “Welcome to Canberra, Premier Li Qiang.”

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday arrived in Australia for an official visit, Xinhua reported. Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong received him at the airport. He arrived in Australia after his official visit to New Zealand as part of his three-nation visit. (ANI)

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  • China’s detention rules in SCS draw worldwide flak

    China’s detention rules in SCS draw worldwide flak

    The international community, including the Group of Seven (G7) economies, has also weighed in on the matter…reports Asian Lite News

    China’s latest move to enforce new maritime regulations in the South China Sea has sparked significant international concern and condemnation. These regulations empower China’s coastguard to detain foreigners suspected of violating border management laws in disputed waters, a move that has raised questions about its legality under international law, Al Jazeera reported.

    China asserts expansive territorial claims over almost the entire South China Sea, a stance contested vehemently by neighbouring countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

    These nations have overlapping claims supported by international law, including a 2016 ruling by an arbitration tribunal in The Hague that declared China’s claims without legal basis.

    The escalation in tensions comes amidst ongoing maritime confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in contested areas. Chinese activities, including the militarisation of artificial islands and patrols by coastguards and other vessels, have intensified these disputes.

    Incidents such as the use of water cannons against Philippine boats and collisions resulting in injuries to Filipino soldiers have further fuelled regional tensions, as reported by Al Jazeera.

    The Philippines, in response to China’s new regulations, has taken legal action by submitting filings to the United Nations, asserting its own maritime entitlements under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

    This move underscores Manila’s efforts to uphold its rights in what it terms the West Philippine Sea, part of the larger South China Sea region.

    President Ferdinand Marcos Jr of the Philippines has described China’s actions as “very worrisome,” while Philippine military officials have vowed to protect their fishermen operating within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

    Despite Beijing’s regulations, which threaten the detention of foreign vessels in Chinese-claimed waters, Philippine authorities have urged fishermen to continue their activities without fear.

    The international community, including the Group of Seven (G7) economies, has also weighed in on the matter. The G7 issued a statement criticising what it termed “dangerous” actions by China in the South China Sea.

    The waterway is vital for global trade, with trillions of dollars worth of goods passing through annually, and is also rich in untapped oil and gas reserves, making it a critical geopolitical flashpoint, according to Al Jazeera.

    China, however, defends its new coastguard rules as necessary for maintaining order at sea. Chinese officials argue that these regulations are aimed at safeguarding sovereignty and upholding maritime security in the region.

    The Chinese defence minister has cautioned that there are limits to Beijing’s restraint in the face of perceived challenges to its territorial claims.

    The United States and its allies have conducted freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea, sailing warships through waters that China claims as its own.

    These operations are viewed by Beijing as provocations and violations of its sovereignty, leading to occasional confrontations between Chinese and US naval forces, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)

    Taiwan slams Coast Guard regulation rules

    Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said on Friday that the new regulations that would allow the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) to board vessels and detain foreign citizens accused of trespassing are in violation of international law, Taiwan News reported.

    In a statement, Taiwan’s MOFA stated that the unilateral implementation of Chinese law violates regional peace and stability. It said that the new law will not only cause regional tensions but also impact the security of regional commercial shipping and fishing activities.

    Taiwan’s MOFA stated that it would closely monitor developments and condemned China’s lack of respect for relevant international laws and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

    As per the news report, China, under the guise of maintaining maritime order, continues to increase its military threats against other nations in the region, according to Taiwan News report.

    The new measure, known as Regulation No. 3, which will bring a 2021 law governing the China Coast Guard (CCG) into force, is scheduled to take effect on June 15. Other nations that also have maritime sovereignty disputes with China, including the Philippines, have also expressed concern about Beijing’s decision, Taiwan News reported.

    In a statement, Taiwan’s MOFA said that it will continue to safeguard the security of foreign ships and crews passing through its waters. It further announced that Taiwan will continue to cooperate with regional allies and nations sharing the same values to deal with the potential impact of the new measures that will take effect today and to protect the rules-based international order. (ANI)

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  • South Korean Regulator Investigates $35 Billion Synopsys-Ansys Deal

    South Korean Regulator Investigates $35 Billion Synopsys-Ansys Deal

    The regulator will review the deal for 30 days, and the review period can be extended to 90 days…reports Asian Lite News

    South Korea’s antitrust regulator said on Wednesday that it has launched a review of chip design software giant Synopsys’ proposed acquisition of engineering software firm Ansys.

    The US-based software maker said in January that it struck a $35 billion deal to buy Ansys, an American firm that makes software used to simulate and analyse product designs for electronics manufacturers and carmakers, among others, reports Yonhap news agency.

    “We will carefully assess whether the proposed transaction would negatively affect competition or hamper innovation in the sector in accordance with due standards and processes under the Fair Trade Act,” the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said in a release.

    “We will closely cooperate with foreign regulators and listen to opinions from competitors and other stakeholders at home and abroad over the course of our deliberation,” it added.

    The regulator will review the deal for 30 days, and the review period can be extended to 90 days.

    If finalised, it will be the biggest acquisition in the technology sector since chipmaker Broadcom’s takeover of software maker VMware in 2023.

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  • China stunned by Canada’s backing of Tibetan self-determination

    China stunned by Canada’s backing of Tibetan self-determination

    The relationship between China and Tibet has long been complex and marked by historical tensions….reports Asian Lite News

    The recent motion passed by the Canadian House of Commons acknowledging Tibetan self-determination has left China surprised. The motion, proposed by Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, a Member of Parliament representing the Bloc Quebecois, gained unanimous support from attending MPs during Monday’s session.

    Expressing satisfaction with the outcome, the Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) declared on social media platform X, “Thrilled to announce that the Parliament of Canada has passed a unanimous motion declaring Tibet’s right to self-determination.”

    The relationship between China and Tibet has long been complex and marked by historical tensions.

    China asserts sovereignty over Tibet, viewing it as an integral part of its territory. However, Tibetans, led by the Dalai Lama and the exiled Tibetan government, advocate for greater autonomy or even independence.

    China’s control over Tibet traces back to the 1950s when Chinese troops entered the region and established authority.

    The 17 Point Agreement of 1951 formalised Tibet’s incorporation into the People’s Republic of China, though it remains disputed by Tibetan activists who argue it was signed under duress.

    Under Chinese governance, Tibet has faced political, economic, and social control, with controversial policies implemented by Beijing.

    Tibetans often feel marginalised and oppressed, with reports of human rights abuses, restrictions on religious freedom, and attempts at cultural assimilation.

    Human Rights Watch in May released a report on the relocation of hundreds of Tibetans in recent times, revealing increasing atrocities against members of the Tibet community in China. Over 140,000 residents have been relocated or are currently relocating from 500 villages to new locations, Human Rights Watch said in a release.

    The 71-page report – ‘Educate the Masses to Change Their Minds: China’s Coercive Relocation of Rural Tibetans,’ details how participation in “whole-village relocation” programs in Tibet, in which entire villages are relocated, amounts to forced eviction in violation of international law.

    Officials misleadingly claim that these relocations will “improve people’s livelihood” and “protect the ecological environment.” The government prevents relocated people from returning to their former homes by generally requiring them to demolish these homes within a year of relocating., said the news release.

    “The Chinese government says that the relocation of Tibetan villages is voluntary, but official media reports contradict this claim,” said Maya Wang, acting China director at Human Rights Watch. “Those reports make clear that when a whole village is targeted for relocation, it is practically impossible for the residents to refuse to move without facing serious repercussions.”

    The report draws on over 1,000 official Chinese media articles published between 2016 and 2023. It includes three case studies and video footage that show in detail the arguments and methods Chinese officials use to obtain the “consent” of residents to relocate their villages.

    Chinese government policy in Tibet sets out that every household in every village targeted is to consent to relocation. Human Rights Watch found multiple references to initial reluctance among Tibetans whose villages were scheduled for relocation.

    In one case, 200 out of 262 households in a village in Nagchu Municipality initially did not want to relocate to a site nearly 1,000 kilometres away. The government claimed that all eventually agreed to move voluntarily. (ANI)

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  • ‘Taiwan has never been an independent country, never will be’

    ‘Taiwan has never been an independent country, never will be’

    Beijing emphasised that both sides of the Taiwan Straits are part of one China, with Taiwan being an integral component….reports Asian Lite News

    During a routine press briefing in Beijing, Chen Bihua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, reiterated China’s stance that Taiwan has never been an independent country and never will be.

    He emphasised that both sides of the Taiwan Straits are part of one China, with Taiwan being an integral component.

    Chen strongly opposed any military interactions between nations recognising China and Taiwan, including the sale of arms.

    He called on the United States to uphold the One-China principle and cease actions such as arms sales and military support that could be seen as backing pro-independence groups in Taiwan.

    For decades, China has warned against military support for Taiwan by countries that recognize the One-China Policy, viewing such actions as interference in its internal affairs and a threat to its territorial integrity. The One-China Policy, a foundational element of Chinese foreign policy, maintains that there exists a singular Chinese nation and includes Taiwan as an integral component.

    In recent years, tensions between China and Taiwan have been heightened by various factors, including Taiwan’s increasing international presence and calls for greater independence from Beijing.

    The United States, along with several other countries, maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan and has provided it with military support, which China views as interference in its internal affairs.

    US’ ‘Hellscape Strategy’

    To thwart President Xi Jinping’s plan of invasion of Taiwan which China’s President has asked the People’s Liberation Army to do by 2027, the US military is ready with its strategy of turning the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape using a number of classified capabilities, a Washington Post columnist said.

    “I want to turn the Taiwan Strait into an unmanned hellscape using a number of classified capabilities,” Adm. Samuel Paparo, the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, told The Washington Post at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue Summit.

    The key to thwarting Xi’s assumed strategy is a U.S. strategy called “Hellscape,” Paparo told me. The idea is that as soon as China’s invasion fleet begins moving across the 100-mile waterway that separates China and Taiwan, the U.S. military would deploy thousands of unmanned submarines, unmanned surface ships and aerial drones to flood the area and give Taiwanese, U.S. and partner forces time to mount a full response.

    In doing so, he said, “I can make their lives utterly miserable for a month, which buys me the time for the rest of everything.”

    According to the top US military official, That plan hinges on quickly building and deploying thousands of new drones that would swarm the Taiwan Strait and keep China’s military busy until more help can arrive.

    This type of strategy would require heavy investments in cheap, reliable drones, which the US has been doing with its Replicator initiative.

    Last year, the Department of Defence officially announced the program, which is a long-term plan to field thousands of autonomous systems.

    Moreover in an Interview with Washington Post, Adm. Samuel Paparo, the new head of US Indo-Pacific Command said, “For any US president, to send American men and women to defend a small democracy on the other side of the world would be a very tough call.”

    “That’s why Plan A is to deter Xi from ever attempting an invasion, by making sure that he never looks across the Taiwan Strait and sees an easy victory.” he added. (ANI)

    China ups military activity near Taiwan territory

    Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that it has tracked 23 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels operating around the island country from 6 am (local time) on Wednesday to 6 am (local time) on Thursday.

    Of the 23 Chinese military aircraft, 19 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southwest and eastern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response to China’s action, Taiwanese armed forces sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor China’s activity.

    In a post on X, Taiwan’s MND stated, “23 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around #Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 19 of the aircraft crossed the median line of #Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s SW and eastern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”

    So far in June, Taiwan has detected Chinese military aircraft near its territory 132 times and naval/coast guard vessels 109 times, Taiwan News reported. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating near Taiwan.

    According to Taiwan News report, gray zone tactics are termed as “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.”

    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.

    On June 12, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that 13 Chinese military aircraft and nine Chinese naval vessels were detected operating around Taiwan from 6 am (local time) on Tuesday to 9 am (local time) on Wednesday.

    Of the 13 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 9 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the Southwest and Southeast parts of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), according to Taiwan’s MND. In response to China’s action, Taiwan’s armed forces monitored the situation and responded accordingly. (ANI)

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  • Taiwan arrests former Chinese navy captain over illegal arrival in island

    Taiwan arrests former Chinese navy captain over illegal arrival in island

    An investigation and questioning is underway of the 60-year-old, who Taiwan claimed was an officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy …reports Asian Lite News

    A Chinese man who was arrested on Sunday for unlawfully entering Taipei harbour in a speedboat is a former navy commander who may have been on a military probe, Al Jazeera reported.

    According to the Taiwan authorities, after travelling in his little boat across the 160 km Taiwan Strait, which divides the island nation from China, the guy was taken into custody by Taiwan’s coast guard.

    He told the authorities that he wanted to defect. However, officials said, he might have been gauging Taiwan’s reaction to his strategy.

    An investigation and questioning is underway of the 60-year-old, who Taiwan claimed was an officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy with the surname Ruan, reported Al Jazeera on Tuesday.

    Kuan Bi-ling, the president of Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council (OAC), who is in charge of the coastguard, told the reporters at parliament that he was “quite elegant and well presented.”

    Speaking to reporters, Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo stated that the boat incident might be another instance of China’s “grey zone” operations against the island.

    ‘Grey Zone tactics’ are referred to as irregular tactics to evaluate an area without engaging in open combat and have included China sending boats and military aircraft above the self-governed island.

    Previously, in March, two Taiwanese fishermen entered Chinese territorial seas when they ventured into the area around the Kinmen Islands, which is adjacent to China’s shore. One of the military officers from Taiwan, is still being held captive in China, while the other was freed shortly after, according to Al Jazeera.

    The most recent incident occurred while tensions between China and Taiwan were on the rise and there were worries that China may use force to assert its claim on the island.

    Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that 13 Chinese military aircraft and nine Chinese naval vessels were detected operating around Taiwan from 6 am (local time) on Monday to 9 am (local time) on Tuesday.

    Of the 13 Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 9 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the Southwest and Southeast parts of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), according to Taiwan’s MND. In response to China’s action, Taiwan’s armed forces monitored the situation and responded accordingly.

    In a post on X, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence stated, “13 #PLA aircraft and 9 PLAN vessels operating around #Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the #Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s SW and SE ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”

    So far in June, Taiwan has detected Chinese military aircraft 109 times and naval/coast guard vessels 102 times, Taiwan News reported. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan. (ANI)

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  • Four US college instructors on visit to China stabbed

    Four US college instructors on visit to China stabbed

    Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said he is in touch with Iowa’s federal delegation and the state department…reports Asian Lite News

    Four American instructors from Iowa College who were on a visit to their partner university in China, sustained injuries after being attacked in a stabbing incident in a public park, CNN reported citing a school spokesperson.

    The instructors from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, were at a public park on Monday (local time) with a faculty member of their partner institution when they were injured “in a serious incident,” school President Jonathan Brand said in a statement to the college community.

    “We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time,” Brand said.

    School spokesperson Jen Visser told CNN the stabbing incident happened in Jilin City and the partner school is Beihua University.

    The US State Department is aware of reports of a stabbing incident in China and is monitoring the situation, according to a spokesperson.

    No students were participating in the program, according to the school.

    Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said he is in touch with Iowa’s federal delegation and the state department.

    “I am in touch with Iowa’s federal delegation and the state department in response to this horrifying attack. Please pray for their full recovery, safe return, and their families here at home,” he said.

    Iowa Senator Joni Ernst also said her team is “closely following reports that personnel from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon were stabbed in China.”

    “We are in touch with the college and the State Department and stand ready to further assist these Iowans. Praying for a speedy recovery for all,” she said on X.

    New York Times cited a video posted on Chinese social media, purportedly taken after the attack, which showed three people lying on the ground, surrounded by onlookers. One was soaked in blood, while another appeared to be using his hand to apply pressure to his wound. All three were using their cell phones.

    Cornell College is a private four-year school where the enrolment for the 2022-2023 academic year was 1,074 students and the student-to-faculty ratio was 13:1.

    The top majors at the school that year were biochemistry, kinesiology, engineering, computer science, and politics. The college’s academic calendar is divided into 18-day blocks where students take one course at a time.

    China and the United States have recently sought to bolster their educational ties to help stabilize their tense relationship. Last November, China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, announced a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to participate in exchange and study programs over a period of five years.

    President Xi has a personal connection to Iowa, having lived there with a host family in 1985 as part of an agricultural exchange. (ANI)

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  • Chinese premier Li Qiang to visit Australia

    Chinese premier Li Qiang to visit Australia

    Most of those barriers have been removed since Albanese’s government was elected in 2022…reports Asian Lite News

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia starting Thursday, officials said. Li will visit the three countries from June 13 to 20, a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said Tuesday.

    Australia earlier announced that Li would land in the Australian city of Adelaide on June 15 and leave Perth on June 18. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Li are to hold an annual leaders’ meeting at Parliament House in the Australian capital, Canberra, during the visit.

    The New Zealand and Malaysian governments have yet to announce Li’s itinerary in their countries. Li’s visit to Australia and New Zealand will be the first by a Chinese premier, the second most powerful official in China’s leadership, in seven years. A Chinese premier hasn’t visited Malaysia since 2015.

    Li’s Australian trip follows a visit by Albanese to Beijing last November, when leaders agreed to resume key bilateral dialogues and further several areas of cooperation.

    China imposed a series of official and unofficial trade barriers that cost Australian exporters up to 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion) a year after Australia’s previous government urged an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Most of those barriers have been removed since Albanese’s government was elected in 2022.

    Albanese said he would push for barriers to Australian lobster to be lifted and for imprisoned Australian democracy blogger Yang Hengjuno to be freed.

    “Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Australia is an important opportunity to engage directly on key issues for both our nations,” Albanese said.

    “Australia continues to pursue a stable and direct relationship with China, with dialogue at its core,” he said.

    New Zealand officials say their discussions with Li will focus on their aim to double the value of the nation’s exports to China in a decade.

    New Zealand has traditionally sought to balance its trade relationship with China with the interests of its Western allies in the Five Eyes intelligence sharing partnership, who have more assertively decried China’s growing influence in the region. Malaysia has similarly resisted taking sides in the U.S.-China rivalry.

    Australia has more vocally sided with its most important security ally, the United States, in challenging China’s expanding influence.

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  • Chinese jets confront Dutch warship on mission

    Chinese jets confront Dutch warship on mission

    The Netherlands is now the latest addition to the long list of countries that have blamed China for its unsafe and threatening activities…reports Asian Lite News

    The Netherlands alleged that its warship HNLMS Tromp was confronted by the Chinese aircrafts while enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea.

    The Dutch defence Ministry claimed on Friday that two Chinese fighter jets flew around their frigate, HNLMS Tromp, multiple times, while one of their marine patrol helicopters was approached by two Chinese warplanes and a helicopter during a patrol in the East China Sea.

    The statement mentioned the events created a “potentially unsafe situation.” The Tromp was stationed in the East China Sea to support a multinational coalition enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea, called the Pacific Security Maritime Exchange (PSMX).

    The Netherlands is now the latest addition to the long list of countries that have blamed China for its unsafe and threatening activities in international waters, CNN reported.

    In the official statement, the Dutch defence ministry said, “In the East China Sea earlier today, two Chinese fighter jets circled the naval ship HNLMS Tromp several times. Additionally, the ship’s NH90 maritime combat helicopter was approached by two Chinese fighter jets and a Chinese helicopter during a patrol. This created a potentially unsafe situation. The incident took place in international airspace”.

    Further, the ministry said, “HNLMS Tromp was conducting patrols in the East China Sea in support of a multinational UN coalition that oversees the enforcement of maritime sanctions against North Korea as defined in UN Security Council resolutions. The HNLMS Tromp continues its journey as part of ‘Pacific Archer ’24’ as planned and is now on its way to Japan.”

    The CNN report on the incident claimed that it had reached the Chinese government for a comment on the Netherlands’s accusations but had received no response.

    Before patrolling in the East China Sea, the Dutch warship had stopped in Busan, South Korea, to participate in a maritime exercise with the South Korean navy.

    Previously Australia had accused the Asian country’s fighter jet of firing flares in the path of a naval helicopter destroyer HMAS Hobart in the international waters near the Yellow Sea when it was conducting patrols to enforce UN sanctions on North Korea.

    However, China defended the actions of its fighter jets and straightaway rejected the interception as an unsafe one, the CNN report mentioned.

    “Under the guise of implementing United Nations Security Council resolutions, Australian warships and aircraft deliberately approached China’s airspace to cause trouble and provocation, endangering China’s maritime and air security. As a warning, the Chinese military took necessary measures at the scene. Relevant operations are legal, compliant, professional and safe,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters at a regular briefing last month, the CNN report claimed. (ANI)

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