Page 3 - China

China fights rumours of Panda abuse at US zoo in sign of goodwill

The crackdown on rumours about the US' treatment of the Chinese national symbol is now similarly seen as a gesture of goodwill as Beijing braces for a turbulent second Trump presidency

Nepal 2024: Shifting coalitions; new PM balances ties with India, China

The tradition of musical chairs continued in Nepal politics in 2024. Coalition equations changed yet again with a dispensation perceived as pro-China coming to power, a development India viewed with caution. K P Sharma Oli, 72, became prime minister for the fourth time to lead a new coalition government that faces the daunting challenge of providing political stability to the Himalayan nation. In July, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', 69, lost a trust vote as Oli's Communist Party of Nepal (Unified-Marxist) withdrew support to his government after inking a new power-sharing deal with the largest party in the House led by Sher Bahadur Deuba. Under their deal, Oli will hand over power to Nepali Congress leader Deuba after 20 months. The year began with a visit by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to Nepal in January, and Nepal's Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba visited India as the year came to a close. Rana also visited earlier in August, a week after India's Foreign Secretary .

Taiwan detects 23 Chinese aircraft and 6 naval vessels near its territory

Military activity was also reported on Saturday when seven Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels were around its territory

China unveils world's fastest high-speed train model, to travel at 450 kmph

China on Sunday unveiled an updated model of its high-speed bullet train which its manufacturer claims reached speeds of 450 kmph during the test runs, making it the world's fastest high-speed train. According to the China State Railway Group Co (China Railway), the new model, known as the CR450 prototype, will further shorten travel time and improve connectivity, making travel more convenient and efficient for the country's vast passengers. The CR450 prototype reached a test speed of 450 kmph, with key performance indicators operational speed, energy consumption, interior noise, and braking distance setting a new international benchmark, official media here reported. It is significantly faster than the CR400 Fuxing high-speed rail (HSR) currently in service, which operates at speeds of 350 kmph, a report by state-run Xinhua said. China Railway will arrange a series of line tests for the prototypes and optimise technical indicators to ensure the CR450 enters commercial service as

DGTR for anti-dumping duty on PVC paste resin from China, 5 others

The commerce ministry has recommended imposition of an anti-dumping duty of up to USD 707 per tonne on imports of PVC paste resin, used to make artificial leather and other technical textiles' products, from six countries, including China, for five years, with an aim to guard domestic producers. In its findings, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), a wing of the ministry, has concluded that 'Poly Vinyl Chloride Paste Resin' has been exported to India at a price below the normal value from certain players of the six nations -- China, Korea, Malaysia, Norway, Taiwan, and Thailand. The move has resulted in dumping of the product into Indian markets. The notification of the directorate said imports from these countries have caused material injury to the domestic industry. "The authority recommends imposition of anti-dumping duty on the imports... so as to remove the injurious effects of the dumped imports on the domestic industry," it has said. The recommended duty ranges

Taiwan reports 5 Chinese aircraft, naval vessels around its territory

Military activity was also reported on Saturday when seven Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels were around its territory

China sentences man to death for driving car into crowd, killing 35 people

China has been witnessing a rise in incidents of violence targeting random members of the public - including children - in recent months as economic growth stutters

China deploys troops to Larung Gar, intensifies repression in Tibet

The recent military buildup and impending regulations highlight an escalation in Beijing's campaign to limit religious freedom in Tibet

China approves world’s largest hydropower dam in Tibet: Why is India concerned?

Won't affect lower reaches: China defends plan to build dam on Brahmaputra

China on Friday defended its plan to build the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet saying that the project will not affect riparian states and safety issues have been addressed through decades of studies. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning played down apprehensions over the massive project estimated to cost around USD 137 billion being built in the ecologically fragile Himalayan region located along a tectonic plate boundary where earthquakes occur frequently. She said China has carried out in-depth studies for decades and taken safeguard measures. China has always been responsible for the development of cross-border rivers, Mao told a media briefing here a question on the concerns related to the dam. She said the hydropower development in Tibet has been studied in an in-depth way for decades and safeguard measures have been taken for the security of the project and ecological and environmental protection. The project will not affect lower reaches, s

Recovery in markets, focus on key products boost export prospects for 2025

India's growing capabilities in high-value sectors like machinery and electronics are supporting the country's exports, amid global uncertainties caused by conflicts, and the gradual economic recovery in developed markets offers improved growth prospects for the Indian exporting community in 2025. Trade experts suggest that if the new US administration imposes higher tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, Indian exporters could benefit further by seizing those opportunities. They noted that the possible intervention of the new US administration under Donald Trump to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict could ease the Red Sea crisis, streamline global supply chains, and reduce shipping costs for traders. However, Trump's threat for reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods may have an impact on the country's outbound shipments, as additional duties affect exporters' competitiveness. The European Union's green regulations, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and deforestation

China launches amphibious assault ship that can launch fighter jets

China launched a new amphibious assault ship Friday, capable of launching fighter jets and designed to strengthen the navy's combat ability in distant seas. The Sichuan, the first ship of the 076 type, is China's largest such ship yet, displacing 40,000 tons and equipped with an electromagnetic catapult which will allow fighter jets to launch directly off its deck, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The ship is designed to launch ground troops in landing crafts and provide them with air support. Developed by Chinese researchers, it's also equipped with an arrestor technology which allows fighter jets to land on its deck. China's first amphibious assault ships, the type 075, launched in 2019. China's People's Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN, has been working on modernizing its forces for more than a decade, with the aim of being able to operate globally rather than being restricted to waters near the Chinese mainland. China first managed to launch fighter jets with the new

China probes personal disputes after mass killings; more curbs feared

The order came from the top. China's leader Xi Jinping wants the recent spree of mass killings that shocked the country not to happen again. He ordered local governments to prevent future extreme cases". The attacks, where drivers mow down people on foot or knife-wielding assailants stab multiple victims, are not new in China. But the latest surge drew attention. Local officials were quick to vow to examine all sorts of personal disputes that could trigger aggression, from marital troubles to disagreements over inheritance. However, the increasing reach into people's private lives raises concerns at a time when the Chinese state has already tightened its grip over all social and political aspects in the East Asian nation. 'Revenge on Society Crimes' This is how people in China label these attacks. In November alone, three took place: A man struck people at an elementary school in Hunan province, wounding 30, after suffering investment losses. A student who failed his examination

China's President Xi Jinping will visit Russia in 2025, says Russian envoy

China, working with Brazil, has put forward a peace plan for the Ukraine war, calling for a freezing of battle lines and taking into account the security interests of both sides

China's industrial profits set for steepest annual drop since 2000

Industrial profits at large Chinese companies fell 7.3 per cent last month compared to a year ago, the National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement on Friday

China approves construction of world's largest dam over Brahmaputra River

The dam will be built in one of the rainiest parts of mainland China bringing bountiful flows of water.

China's BYD slams reports of poor conditions at Brazil's factory site

A spokesperson for Chinese automaker BYD has objected to reports about poor conditions at a construction site in Brazil where it is building a factory, saying the allegations were aimed at smearing China and Chinese brands. Earlier in the week, a task force led by Brazilian prosecutors said it had rescued 163 Chinese nationals it said were working in slavery-like conditions at the site. A video from the Labour Prosecutor's Office of dorms housing the workers showed beds with no mattresses and rudimentary cooking facilities. A BYD spokesperson, Li Yunfei, vehemently objected in a statement posted Thursday on his Weibo social media site. In the matter of smearing Chinese brands, smearing China, and attempting to undermine the friendship between China and Brazil, we have seen how relevant foreign forces maliciously associate and deliberately smear, it said, also criticizing media reports about the situation. BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, is one of the world's largest produc

World Bank raises China's GDP forecast for 2024, 2025; adds some warnings

Thanks to the recent policy easing and near-term export strength, the World Bank sees China's gross domestic product growth at 4.9 per cent this year, up from its June forecast of 4.8 per cent

China's first batch of 2025 fuel export quota flat compared to a year ago

State-owned oil firms Sinopec and CNPC, the key receivers of these quotas, were given combined allowances of 13.34 million tonnes, or 70 per cent of the 19 million tonnes

China approves construction of world's largest hydropower dam in Tibet

The dam, which will be located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, could produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually