News that caught our eye / The week ending June 7, 2024
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NOTE: The news reports below are not in chronological order. There is often a time lag in their reaching the US and in gaining our attention. These reports reflect the opinions of a variety of news sources.
Curated by James Getka.
TTP’s Killing of Chinese Citizens in Pakistan Presents Afghan Taliban with Dilemma / May 30, 2024
Attacks on expat Chinese in Afghanistan by factions of the Afghan Taliban are threatening Afghanistan's relationship with China at a time when the country needs all the friends it can get. China remained committed to its development investment in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but the attack leaves Afghanistan in a catch-22 between its economy and other Islamists (The Jamestown Foundation).
South China Sea: Why is Beijing so aggressive? / June 3, 2024
In an interview with a Chinese delegate at the Shangri-La Dialogue conference, a DW journalist learns that China’s aggressive stance, especially in the South China Sea, is due to the United States’ aggression in the region, threatening China’s aims and turning regional countries against China (DW News).
U.S. and China defense chiefs lock horns on Taiwan at Asia security summit / May 31, 2024
U.S. and China’s defense chiefs verbally dug their heals into the ground, not budging on either side regarding the countries’ positions on Taiwan in a series of discussions at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last week. Both sides, however, recognized the necessity of keeping dialogue channels open (NBC News).
Marcos sets ‘red line’ with Beijing over South China Sea / June 1, 2024
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. defended his nation’s territory in the South China Sea at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, stating that the death of any Philippine citizen by other aggressors could rise to an “act of war,” and that the Philippines would respond appropriately. He also cited a treaty with the US that could involve the US responding along with the Philippines if an incident were to arise (The Straits Times).
China: “It’s ‘hard to meet’ discussions on Russia-Ukraine war, citing arrangement issues / June 1, 2024
In response to invitations for talks to resolve the war in Ukraine, Foreign Minister spokesperson Mao Ning stated that complications for meeting China’s needs were making it difficult to solidify the arrangements. She offered no further explanation. While China says it remains neutral regarding the war, it has heavily supported Russia and President Putin (AP News).
Zelenskyy: China is pressuring other countries to skip upcoming Ukraine Talks / June 2, 2024
Switzerland is hoping to host a peace conference in mid-June to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, but Ukraine’s President Zelensky has accused China of stalling and pressuring other nations not to attend. One of China’s objections: Russia has not been invited to the conference (NewsMax).
China ready to ‘forcefully’ stop Taiwan independence: Defense minister / June 2, 2024
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore, declared that China is ready to take Taiwan by force and that anyone who would support Taiwan’s independence would be crushed. He also spoke out against the Philippines’ attempts to claim territory in the South China Sea that China claims (Al Jazeera).
US President Joe Biden open to military action if China invades Taiwan June 5, 2024
President Biden admitted that the US might involve itself in defense of Taiwan should China attack the island, although he identified different forms of military involvement to hedge his statement. While the US has declared that the US will not support Taiwan’s independence, it would support the status quo and support Taiwan in its self-defense (Mint).
China lands on Moon's far side in historic sample-retrieval mission / June 2, 2024
China successfully landed its Chang’e-6 spacecraft on the dark side of the moon on Sunday, making it the first country to do so. The craft will scoop up just under 5 pounds of moon soil to bring back to Earth for analysis. China plans to place humans on the moon by 2030 (Reuters).
China says MI6 recruited Chinese couple as spies / June 3, 2024
China has accused the British intelligence agency of recruiting two Chinese nationals in Britain to work as spies, continuing a back-and-forth series of arrests and accusations of espionage between China and the West. China has gone to great lengths to urge its citizens to protect its military information and other state secrets (BBC).
China eyes closer ties with Turkey to take on global ‘power politics’ / June 4, 2024
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was in China this week to strengthen ties between China and Turkey and to address a recent slowdown in China’s investment projects in Turkey. Turkey, a NATO ally, wants to join the BRICS group to increase its economic development. Turkey has tried to join the EU for decades but has not yet been successful (SCMP).
Silence and heavy state security in China on anniversary of Tiananmen crackdown / June 3, 2024
Tuesday was the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in China, but China’s government has removed any mention of the event from social media and has also cracked down on any observances that might have taken place. A handful of people were arrested. More observances were held outside of China than in China (ABC News).
Hiker finds pipe feeding China's tallest waterfall / June 6, 2024
A hiker discovered a pipe feeding water to China’s tallest waterfall, took a picture of it, and posted his discovery on China’s social media, drawing millions of views and tens of thousands of likes. Yuntai park representatives personified the waterfall in their response on social media, stating that the waterfall added the water pipe so that tourists would not be disappointed during the dry season (BBC News).