China’s veteran free skier Xu Mengtao, a four-time Olympian and the runner-up at Sochi 2014, fulfilled her dream of winning an Olympic gold medal in the women’s aerials here on Monday evening…reports Asian Lite News
Austria beat Slovenia to take the ski jumping men’s team gold at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Chongli, on Monday. The Austrian team, comprised of Stefan Kraft, Daniel Huber, Jan Horl and Manuel Fettner, scored 942.7 points to win the gold.
Slovenia, the leader after the first round, took the silver with 934.4 points and the bronze went to PyeongChang silver medallist Germany with 922.9 points.
Xu wins women’s aerials gold
China’s veteran free skier Xu Mengtao, a four-time Olympian and the runner-up at Sochi 2014, fulfilled her dream of winning an Olympic gold medal in the women’s aerials here on Monday evening.
This is the first Olympic gold from the women’s aerials for China. After Han Xiaopeng was crowned in the men’s aerials at Turin 2006, China, one of the powerhouses in the free ski aerials, has been waiting for 16 years to win its second Olympic gold from the discipline, reports Xinhua.
Furthermore, it is also the fifth gold medal for China at Beijing 2022, equaling the record number of gold won by China in a single Winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010.
Xu, 31, scored the winning mark of 108.61 points for her world top-notch trick of back-full-full-full which boasts of the difficulty degree of 4.293. PyeongChang 2018 champion Hanna Huskova from Belarus, 29, collected 107.95 points on her trick with the difficulty degree of 4.028 to settle for the silver.
The bronze medal went to American Megan Nick, 25, who completed her trick with the difficulty degree of 3.525 for 93.76 points in her Olympic debut.
Putin, who is on a visit to China, attended Friday’s opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games….reports Asian Lite News
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng on Saturday informed that the talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin were “very successful”.
Le told reporters that Friday’s talks were rich in content and yielded fruitful results.
In recent years, the two leaders of China and Russia held talks about 38 times and communicated with each other over 100 times through various means including phone calls and letters, Xinhua news agency reported. This is unique among leaders of major countries, Le said.
“In a cordial and friendly atmosphere, President Xi and President Putin had an in-depth and thorough exchange of views on China-Russia relations and a series of major issues concerning global development and stability, drawing up a blueprint and charting the course for China-Russia relations under the new historical conditions,” he said.
The two presidents issued a joint statement, which will have an important and far-reaching impact on improving the global governance system under the new situation, Le said, adding that the joint statement has become the most important political achievement of their meeting on Friday.
China and Russia signed nearly 20 documents on cooperation in areas including economy and trade, investment, energy and sports, laying a solid foundation for deepening bilateral pragmatic cooperation.
Putin, who is on a visit to China, attended Friday’s opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
Xi described Putin’s visit as a fulfilled commitment to a “get-together for the Winter Olympics.” He shared his belief that Friday’s “Spring Festival meeting” will add fresh vitality to China-Russia relations.
He underscored that in response to an international landscape full of profound and complex evolution, China and Russia have stayed committed to deepening strategic coordination of mutual support and standing shoulder to shoulder for international fairness and justice.
Xi highlighted China’s readiness to work with Russia to fully leverage the political advantage of their bilateral ties to make their all-round practical cooperation still more fruitful, added the statement.
He said that the two sides need to implement the Road Map of High-Quality Development of Goods and Services Trade, deepen cooperation in areas including agriculture, green trade, medicine and health, and digital economy, and enhance transport infrastructure connectivity to keep logistics on the Eurasian continent smooth and the global industrial and supply chains stable. He stressed further to synergize Belt and Road cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union.
Meanwhile, Putin expressed his delight at attending upon invitation the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.
“I believe that with meticulous preparations, the Chinese people will offer the world the best Winter Olympic experience,” said Putin. “I look forward to the brilliant performance of Russian and Chinese athletes at the Games.”
President Putin sincerely congratulated China on the great development achievements made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, said the statement.
In 2008, during Summer Olympics in Beijing, the Chinese government announced that it had designated three parks in the capital for anyone wanting to protest during the Games….reports Asian Lite News
Beijing Winter Olympics reveal a very different face of China as during the Summer Olympics in 2008, authorities had not imposed severe restrictions on locals and did not warn visiting athletes over speaking against Beijing. However, this time a lot has changed and Chinese officials have warned athletes not to speak against the country’s law and also made house arrests of local activists whom the communist regime believes might stage protests during the Winter Olympics that might taint the reputation of China, according to a media report.
In 2008, during Summer Olympics in Beijing, the Chinese government announced that it had designated three parks in the capital for anyone wanting to protest during the Games. It seems quaint to recall this gesture these days, as empty as it was. In the end, no protest permits were issued by the local police. The demonstrators who did take the risk during the Games were rounded up and taken away, reported Nikkei Asia
But the moment is worth remembering if only to contrast it with the lead-up to the Beijing Winter Olympics, scheduled to open tomorrow, as organizers warned athletes that their accreditations could be cancelled if they spoke out of turn, said the publication further.
In January, the Beijing organizing committee’s Yang Shu had said that any behaviour or speech that is against the Olympic spirit, especially against the Chinese laws and regulations, is also subject to certain punishment.
The journey from protest parks for locals, albeit Potemkin ones, to “certain punishment” for outspoken foreigners is instructive, and not just because it tells you how Beijing no longer thinks it has to pander to critics of its human rights record, according to Nikkei Asia.
Further, the publication stated that the short decade-and-a-half from the Summer Games to the Winter Games traces the arc of a much bigger story — China’s rising power and its willingness to display it for all to see.
It came after last week 243 global groups including non-governmental organisations have called for action against China over human rights concerns as the Beijing Winter Olympics is set to begin in the first week of February.
“The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will open amid atrocity crimes and other grave human rights violations by the Chinese government, 243 non-governmental organizations from around the world said today. The groups urged governments to join a diplomatic boycott of the Games, slated to begin February 4, 2022, and for athletes and sponsors not to legitimise government abuses,” the Human Rights Watch (HRW) had said in a statement last week. (ANI)
Two weeks before Punjab votes in the Assembly elections, the Enforcement Directorate has arrested the nephew of the Punjab Chief Minister over money laundering charges. Meanwhile, India has announced its diplomats will boycott the Winter Olympics in Beijing after China decided to field PLA Galwan commander as the Olympic torchbearer…writes Joyeeta Basu.
A quick look at South Asian stories that matter:
India
ED arrests Punjab CM’s nephew: The Enforcement Directorate today, has arrested Bhupinder Singh Honey, nephew of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal sand mining in the border state, reports The Hindu.
Chinese soldiers ‘panicked into retreat’ in Galwan: Report: The account of the Galwan violence in Australian newspaper “The Klaxon” claims China had lost 42 soldiers in the clash — many more than the four it had claimed. The “PLA soldiers panicked into retreat”, reports NDTV.
COVID-19: In the Omicron-driven third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India, a comparatively younger population was more infected, a survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research has revealed, reports the Hindustan Times.
Financial news
India’s services sector activity slips further in January: India’s services sector activity moderated further in January as new business rose at a noticeably slower rate amid the escalation of the pandemic, reintroduction of restrictions, and inflationary pressures, a monthly survey said, reports The Hindu.
China
Galwan soldier as torchbearer; India, US rap China’s move: Referring to China choosing a PLA commander injured in Galwan clash, for the 2022 Winter Olympics torch relay, India has expressed regret that its charge d’affaires will not attend the opening or closing ceremony as Beijing has chosen to politicise the event, reports AsianLite News.
China’s new stealth bomber unlikely to breach US island defences: China could unveil its H-20 stealth bomber by November this year — a move, which when fitted into the big picture, could message the United States that its era of dominance of the Pacific is receding fast, reports AsianLite News.
Pakistan
Pakistan on high alert day after seven soldiers killed in attacks: Pakistan has been put on high alert following attacks by armed assailants on two security camps in the Balochistan province, resulting in the death of seven soldiers and 13 insurgents, reports News 18.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh factory collapse trial resumes after five years: Bangladesh has resumed the murder trial in the collapse of a textile factory after five years of appeals and legal holdups. More than 1,100 workers died when a factory complex came down on the outskirts of Dhaka in 2013, reports Frontline.
Afghanistan
Qatar, Afghanistan to commence direct flights: The governments of Afghanistan and Qatar have reached an agreement to begin direct flights between Kabul and Doha every week, officials said, reports TOLO News.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka asks IMF for advice amid worsening economic crisis: Sri Lanka has asked the International Monetary Fund for ‘advice’ amid a worsening economic crisis, the finance minister said on Wednesday, signalling that Colombo could seek an international bailout, reports India Today.
On a lighter note…
Victoria Beckham gives shout-out to ‘beautiful’ Deepika Padukone for rocking one of her ‘favourite’ looks: Victoria Beckham has dedicated an Instagram post to Deepika Padukone who dressed up in white with pieces from the designer’s collection, reports the Hindustan Times.
After mommy duties, mystery on my mind for Kareena Kapoor Khan: A year after son Jeh’s arrival, Kareena is set to return to the film set. She will kick off Sujoy’s adaptation of The Devotion of Suspect X in March, reports Mid-Day.
Sara Ali Khan shuts down troll who asked why her shayari is “so bad” with aplomb: While interacting with fans, a troll asked her, “Why are your shayaris so bad?” Sara Ali Khan’s reply was: “So I drive positive people like you mad, And because rude judgements don’t make me sad, And I am who I am inspite efforts of mom and dad, As it’s a result of all the laughter and fun I had, And not to mention after that I feel glad, I hope you don’t actually dislike my shayari, and if you do then just a tad…”, reports NDTV.
India has informed that the charge d’affaires of the embassy of India in Beijing will not be attending the opening or closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympics…reports Asian Lite Newsa
Referring to China choosing a PLA commander injured in Galwan clash for 2022 Winter Olympics torch relay, India on Thursday expressed regret that Beijing has chosen to politicise an event like the Olympics and said its charge d’affaires will not be attending the opening or closing ceremony of the event.
“It is indeed regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicise an event like the Olympics. I wish to inform you that our charge d’affaires of the embassy of India in Beijing will not be attending the opening or closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympics,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at the weekly media briefing.
Earlier today, a Chinese state media report said a PLA commander, who had suffered severe injuries during the Galwan clash, became a torchbearer at the Beijing Winter Olympics..
The 2022 Winter Olympics will take place in Beijing from February 4 to 20. The US, UK and Canada are among countries that have declared a diplomatic boycott of the Games.
A US lawmaker on Wednesday slammed China for choosing the PLA commander for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics torch relay.
“It’s shameful that Beijing chose a torchbearer for the Olympics2022 who’s part of the military command that attacked India in 2020 and is implementing genocide against the Uyghurs. The US will continue to support Uyghur freedoms and the sovereignty of India,” said Senator Jim Risch, a Republican who is a Ranking Member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
It's shameful that #Beijing chose a torchbearer for the #Olympics2022 who's part of the military command that attacked #India in 2020 and is implementing #genocide against the #Uyghurs. The U.S. will cont. to support #Uyghur freedoms & the sovereignty of India.
— Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member (@SenateForeign) February 3, 2022
A report in an Australian investigative newspaper has revealed that China is hiding its losses in the Galwan Valley clash with India. The new research has shown that the PLA lost at least nine times more soldiers than its official count of four.
At least 38 PLA troops drowned while crossing a fast-flowing, sub-zero river in darkness, according to an article in the ‘The Klaxon’ which cited a report prepared by a group of social media researchers after a year-long investigation.
Of the four soldiers China has confirmed died, only one– Junior Sergeant Wang Zhuoran– is reported as having drowned, the investigative newspaper said. The report cited “several Weibo users” and said, “at least 38 PLA troops along with Wang were washed away and drowned that night…of which only Wang was declared among the four officially dead soldiers.”
The report cited a year-long investigation involving discussions with mainland Chinese bloggers, information obtained from mainland-based Chinese citizens and media reports that have since been deleted by Chinese authorities. (ANI)
DD not to telecast ceremonies
Soon after it was announced that the Indian diplomats in Beijing will not attend the opening and closing ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics (February 4-20) following reports of China making a Galwan soldier one of the torchbearers for the quadrangular Games, Prasar Bharati announced on Thursday that its DD Sports channel will not telecast live the two ceremonies.
“Consequent to the announcement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) @meaindia, @ddsportschannel will not telecast live the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics being held in Beijing,” Shashi Shekhar Vempati, CEO, Prasar Bharati, tweeted.
The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing from February 4-20. The Winter Paralympics will take place in the Chinese capital from March 4…reports Asian Lite News
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam is set to skip the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic and stay at home to manage the fight against a surge in untraceable COVID-19 cases.
Hong Kong Chief had planned to go to Beijing on Wednesday to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics on Friday, Sputnik reported citing the South China Morning Post on Monday. However, she had to cancel her plans due to the virus.
The Hong Kong-based newspaper reported this news citing sources.
Hong Kong has seen 14,105 COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with 12,572 recoveries and 213 deaths.
The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing from February 4-20. The Winter Paralympics will take place in the Chinese capital from March 4-13. (ANI)
The protestors termed the Beijing games as “Genocide Winter Olympics” and they also demanded CBC News to drop its sponsorship for the event….reports Asian Lite News
Uyghur rights groups and Tibetans gathered in Belgium’s Diksmuide and protested against China’s human rights violations urging the world community to boycott Beijing Winter Olympics.
“To raise awareness of Genocide games #Beijing2022 we co-organised the protest with Tibetan friends, gathered in Diksmuide, Belgium where thousands of soldiers sacrificed their lives for the peace during the World War 1,” said Belgium Uyghur Association in a tweet on Saturday.
Another protest was also held in Belgium’s Antwerp “by Uyghur Association to spread awareness about China’s human rights abuses against Uyghurs, Tibetans and Hong Kongers.
It came after 243 global groups including the non-governmental organisations have called for action against China over human rights concerns as the Beijing Winter Olympics is set to begin in the first week of February.
“The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will open amid atrocity crimes and other grave human rights violations by the Chinese government, 243 non-governmental organizations from around the world said today. The groups urged governments to join a diplomatic boycott of the Games, slated to begin February 4, 2022, and for athletes and sponsors not to legitimise government abuses,” said the Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a statement on Thursday.
“It is not possible for the Olympic Games to be a ‘force for good,’ as the International Olympic Committee claims, while the host government is committing grave crimes in violation of international law,” said Sophie Richardson, China director at HRW.
Protest in Toronto
A protest was held in Toronto against Beijing Winter Olympics which will start from February 4.
The protestors termed the Beijing games as “Genocide Winter Olympics” and they also demanded CBC News to drop its sponsorship for the event.
The protest took place at CBC headquarters in Toronto around 2 pm to 3 pm and at Roncesvalles pedestrian bridge around 4 pm to 5 pm.
The protest was joined by many groups like — Uyghur Youth Group, Tibet Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association of Ontario and East Turkistan Republican Party.
“Protest held in Toronto, against China’s Genocide Winter Olympics 2022 and demanded @CBCNews to drop its sponsorship for the Beingiing 2022! Thanks to Uyghur Youth Group, Canada; Tibet Youth Congress, RTYC Toronto; Tibetan Women’s Association of Ontario, Dhokham Chushigangdruk,” tweeted East Turkistan Republican Party.
Earlier the International Campaign for Tibet also urged the NBC, the broadcaster of the Beijing Winter Olympics to “go beyond the business” as they also have an ethical responsibility as a defender of freedom especially that of expression.
The advocacy groups called the Chinese government one of the most brutal human rights abusers the world has seen in decades.
In 2020, the US government has chosen China’s oppression of the Uyghurs as genocide. Including the US, a lot of other government has called on a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics in response to China not abiding by international norms.
With regards to Beijing Winter Olympic next month, over 250 right groups have called out UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for accepting the official invitation for the opening of the ceremony.
The US and a number of countries have announced the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region. Meanwhile, human rights groups and activists across the world have also urged countries and leaders to boycott Winter Olympics over Beijing’s human rights abuses. (ANI)
China, particularly in the Ladakh region of India, is fortifying its side of the border with good roads and bridges and is giving Chinese names to the towns in Arunachal Pradesh…reports Asian Lite News
After the Winter Olympics’ Grand Spectacle comes to a close in Beijing, in late February, multiple threats of conflict may arise in 2022 as China looks out for greater dominance in Taiwan, Soloman Islands, Lithuania, Greenland, Horn of Africa, reported Policy Research Group (POREG).
The Chinese are keen to see the US response on Ukraine as much as Russia is however President Biden, unlike the tweet-friendly Donald Trump is treading very carefully whether it is Ukraine or the South China Sea.
Ukraine is not in the area of American influence since it is located far from American coastlines. The US must stretch its resources to maintain its interest in the South China Sea. However, China is not waiting for any move by the US as it has already amped up its influence on Taiwan, Policy Research Group reported.
China, particularly in the Ladakh region of India, is fortifying its side of the border with good roads and bridges and is giving Chinese names to the towns in Arunachal Pradesh. Because China is still healing from last year’s diplomatic and military snub, President Xi Jinping may not be itching for a showdown with India. He will, however, not be reluctant to take military risks elsewhere for short-term gain.
What if Beijing closes the Taiwan Strait to sea traffic and declares the East and South China seas no-fly zones, claiming that both are ‘sovereign Chinese territory’, said the POREG.
To make it a success, President Xi Jinping will have to first assemble a multi-platform assault force on the Chinese coast close to Taiwan, it observed.
Peter Jennings, executive director of Australian Strategic Policy Institute, (ASPI), a defence and strategic policy think tank based in Canberra said that China on Taiwan will be no more than a replay of Putin’s tactics over Ukraine.
China, on the other hand, is also aiding the Solomon Islands and seeking to grow dominance.
US Navy warships sailing through the South China Sea (Photo twitter@USNavy)
All this has security implications to the dismay of neighbours, as South Asia realised after Sri Lanka’s tryst with China!, reported POREG.
Lithuania’s deepening ties with Taiwan has further gotten an aggressive posture from China which has threatened an economic blockade – exclusion of Lithuanian entities from the Chinese market.
Greenland is another emerging sphere of conflict as the Chinese investment hawks trade influence for funds. If Greenland tries to move toward independence, it may attract Chinese investment to tide over its troubles.
China will become increasingly involved in the Horn of Africa by 2022 as Beijing has just appointed a special envoy to the region. Even though Eritrea is under US sanctions, the country’s relationship with China has been elevated to a “strategic alliance.” (ANI)
Pakistan’s criticism of the boycott moves closely follows its decision about not attending the ‘Summit for Democracy’ being hosted by the US….reports Asian Lite News
The Pakistan foreign office has criticised the planned diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing scheduled in February next year by the US and some other countries, and called for keeping politics out of sports, the Dawn reported.
“Pakistan opposes any form of politicisation of sports and hopes that all nations would come together in Beijing and afford their athletes the opportunity to compete against the best and showcase their skills,” foreign office spokesman Asim Iftikhar said at a weekly media briefing.
He was commenting on reports that the US, Canada, the UK and Australia would not send their officials to Beijing in protest against the host country’s alleged human rights violations as well as crackdown in Hong Kong. These countries would, however, not stop their athletes from participating in the Games.
China had reacted strongly to the boycott announcements. Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesman Zhao Lijian warned of “resolute counter-measures”, but did not specify what actions could be taken. He had also accused the US of violating the principle of “political neutrality in sport”.
Iftikhar also wished China success in hosting Beijing Olympics.
“We are confident that despite the limitations imposed by Covid-19, the Beijing Winter Olympics would offer a spectacular and colourful gala to sports enthusiasts around the world, including in Pakistan,” he said, the report said.
Pakistan’s criticism of the boycott moves closely follows its decision about not attending the ‘Summit for Democracy’ being hosted by the US.
Many believed Pakistan decided to skip the event because China had not been invited, while Taiwan was on the guest list.
This impression was further strengthened when Zhao Lijian, in a Twitter posting, hailed Pakistan’s decision to stay out by saying: “A real iron brother.”
According to reports, Biden is expected to soon approve a recommendation to not send American officials to the games….reports Asian Lite News
The Biden administration is still weighing how to approach the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympic Games, including the possibility of a diplomatic boycott, but hasn’t reached a final conclusion, officials familiar with the matter said Tuesday, CNN reported.
The issue did not arise during a highly anticipated virtual summit between President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday, American officials said after the meeting, the report said.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Biden is expected to soon approve a recommendation to not send American officials to the games. Typically, the White House sends a delegation to the opening and closing ceremonies.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have advocated for such a diplomatic boycott in protest of China’s human rights abuses.
Some Republicans have gone further, insisting no American athletes attend either, CNN reported.
The White House declined Tuesday to say whether any boycott was planned for the upcoming games.
“I don’t have anything to add on that subject. But I can tell you that was not part of (Biden and Xi’s) conversation,” deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US and allies are in “active conversations” about how to approach the upcoming Winter Olympics in China.
Blinken, appearing virtually at the New York Times DealBook Summit, was asked whether he thinks US athletes should participate since he has said in the past that China is involved in genocide, given its policies toward Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province, the report said.
“We are talking to, to allies, to partners, to countries around the world about how they’re thinking about the games, how they’re thinking about participation,” Blinken said. “It’s an active conversation. We’re coming, we’re coming up on the games, but let me leave it at that for today.”
The games are set to begin on February 4 in Beijing and last until February 20. When asked what date the deadline is for the US and other countries to make a decision, Blinken sidestepped.
“Well, let’s see,” he said. “The games are coming up, when, in February, early in the year, so before then.”
