News that caught our eye / The week ending January 3, 2025
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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.
China’s Xi highlights ‘world peace’ in New Year’s message to Russia’s Putin / December 31, 2024
President Xi Jinping underscored China’s strong relationship with Russia and President Putin in his New Year’s address, stating that China is striving for “world peace.” Xi and Putin have become close allies on the world stage, to the point that some NATO representatives claim China is Russia’s “enabler” in its war with Ukraine (Al Jazeera).
Xi warns 'no one can stop' unification with Taiwan in chilling New Year's Eve threat / December 31, 2024
In his New Year address, President Xi warned that China’s unification with Taiwan is inevitable and that no one can stop it from happening. Since Taiwan’s newly elected President, Lai Ching-te, took office in May, China has held three large military exercises around Taiwan, surrounding the island with warships and military aircraft (Daily Mail).
China is visa-free for most of Europe, but not this EU trio. Why? / December 29, 2024
While tourists from thirty-eight countries—thirty-two from the EU--can enjoy thirty or more days in China visa-free, Sweden, Lithuania and the Czech Republic are not on that list. They have been relegated to a list of other countries, like Britain and the US, to a 10-day visa-free visits to China. Support for Ukraine and Taiwan are among the reasons for China’s snub on those EU countries (SCMP).
White House says 9th telecoms company has been hacked by Chinese espionage / December 28, 2024
The White House announced last week that a 9th telecommunications company had been hacked by the Chinese hacking scheme called the Salt Typhoon that has mainly targeted political figures in the US, but also included dozens of nations worldwide. The US government plans to meet in the coming weeks to respond to the cyber assault. China denies any involvement (Fox News).
‘China has many ways in which it can close down the Panama Canal’ / December 28, 2024
China has a comprehensive hold on its ability to close down the Panama Canal if it chooses to do so, according to China expert Gordon Chang. It controls ports on both sides of the canal as well as four bridges over the canal. Incoming President Trump plans to address the issue when he is in office (Fox News).
China unveils new assault ship and futuristic fighter jets / December 30, 2024
China's first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sechuan, left the harbor in Shanghai on Sunday, demonstrating the latest example of China’s quest to modernize its navy, now the largest in the world. Recently, photos of a new stealth fighter aircraft had been posted online, as well (VOA).
China makes move to assert territorial claim, creates new county in Indian territory / December 28, 2024
Representatives from China and India have met frequently since October to discuss border disputes that have been ongoing for decades. However, just ten days after they last met, China announced that it has created two new counties for China on thousands of square kilometers of land that India had claimed for itself (Deccan Herald).
China sanctions 7 companies over US military assistance to Taiwan / December 29, 2024
In response to the Biden Administration’s announcement of more than $500 million in aid to Taiwan, China placed sanctions on seven companies in the US, Canada and Australia, and sanctioned some of their top executives, as well. China blames the US for increasing the tension over the Taiwan issue (KXAN).
China Builds Over 200 New Prisons As Xi Jinping Ups Anti-Corruption Drive / December 29, 2024
Since 2017, China’s government has built over 200 new prisons or has enlarged existing prisons as President Xi’s anti-corruption campaign targets an ever-increasing number of suspected criminals. The prisons, called Liuzhi centers, are intended to hold prisoners for six, and possibly eight, months without legal council or family visits. Critics of Xi’s anti-corruption plan and the Liuzhi operating philosophy charge the campaign of abusing power and creating forced confessions (NDTV World).
China court hands teen life prison sentence for classmate's cruel murder / December 30, 2024
A teenage boy was sentenced to life in prison in Hebei province after being found guilty of murdering a 13-year-old classmate in a particularly cruel way. Two other teens were also sentenced to lesser punishments. In 2021, China lowered its minimum age limit for criminal responsibility from fourteen to twelve. This is seen as the first case where the new limit applies (CBS News).
US Treasury hacked: Are China and the US stepping up their cyberwar? / January 1, 2025
The US Treasury accused China of infiltrating its internet system in December, marking the latest tit-for-tat charge in espionage between the two countries. Just weeks earlier, China accused the US of hacking two Chinese technology firms (Al Jazeera).