News that caught our eye / The week ending February 21, 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 seeks stronger cooperation with Germany and EU / February 15, 2025
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Germany last week for the Munich Security Conference, promoting a stronger economic and strategic partnership with Germany and the EU as a whole. Wang also met with German officials to talk about peace talks for the war in Ukraine, and he spoke with the Foreign Ministers of Spain and France, as well (Reuters).
China celebrates Trump's talks with Russia / February 16, 2025
A former Chinese military colonel Zhou Bo spoke highly of President Trump’s interest in ending the war in Ukraine, saying that Trump himself asked China to take a part in the process. Zhou proposed three ways China could play a part: China could share in providing a security guarantee to Ukraine and Russia; China could provide a peace-keeping security force in Ukraine; and, China could participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction (DW News).
Sen. Tom Cotton explains China’s ‘ultimate goal’ / February 16, 2025
In his new book, Seven Things You Can’t Say About China, Senator Tom Cotton states that overall, China wants to replace the US as the world’s military and economic power, as can be seen by its behavior over the last few decades (Fox News).
Is China’s military really built for war? / February 17, 2025
While China may be building up its military to engage in war, perhaps over Taiwan, it has another frontline where it hopes to score a victory: the propaganda campaign over its own people. China’s CCP needs a powerful military to help justify its rule over the Chinese people (CNN World).
China angered as US amends wording on Taiwan independence / February 16, 2025
Last week, the US State Department removed a statement from its website that says the US does “not support Taiwan Independence,” causing China’s angry response, saying that the change would inspire “separatist forces” to advocate for an independent Taiwan. A US spokesperson stated that the US still supports the “One-China” policy (BBC).
Revealed: Google facilitated Russia and China’s censorship requests / February 15, 2025
According to information obtained by “The Observer,” a subsidiary of The Guardian, Google acquiesced to censorship requests from Russia, China, the Taliban, dictatorships, and democratic governments since 2011. Between 2020 and 2024, 60% of the requests for the removal of content came from Russia. Google removed over 200 videos about political corruption in China as well as critical impersonations of President Xi, at the government’s request (The Guardian).
China's Xi holds rare meet with business leaders amid US tech rivalry / February 17, 2025
President Xi held a rare meeting with Chinese business leaders on Monday to encourage more innovation among China’s privately held companies, both to inject new life into China’s struggling economy and to keep in the technological race with the US. Many were quick to notice both who was invited, and who was not (Reuters).
U.S. condemns Chinese maneuvers after close encounter with Philippine plane / February 19, 2025
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carson condemned the actions of a Chinese PLA navy pilot who flew his helicopter within ten feet of a Philippines Bureau of Fisheries plane that was flying over the Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday. The helicopter was attempting to force the plane out of the area but threatened the safety of everyone in both aircraft (NBC News).
Cook Islands gives some details of its China deal that has upset partner New Zealand / February 18, 2025
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed agreements with China recently, causing its constitutional partner, New Zealand, to cry foul because Brown did not provide details of the agreement before or after he signed on to the agreement. China has made deals with many South Pacific island nations over the last decade, but often the details are not made public. (AP News).
Cook Islands PM to face no-confidence vote amid protests over China pact / February 18, 2025
Opposition party leaders Teariki Heather and Tina Browne filed a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Mark Brown in the Cook Island’s Parliament after Brown signed an agreement with China without the prior involvement of New Zealand and initially refusing to reveal the details of the deal (ABC News Australia).
As Melania Trump returns to the White House, she’s winning Chinese fans / February 19, 2025
First Lady Melania Trump is becoming a popular figure, especially among Chinese women as she returned to the White House in January. They respect her strength, independence, loyalty to her husband, and her ascension to global notoriety from her small Slovenian town origins. Her success even positively influences her fans’ appreciation of President Trump (AP News).