14/03/2019
The bonhomie witnessed between India and China over the last one year after the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan April last year has clearly evaporated following the Chinese action
Even as China asserted on Thursday that the ‘Wuhan Spirit’ was still on, there is a sense of betrayal in New Delhi over Beijing’s decision to stand by its ‘all-weather friend’ Pakistan by blocking the designation of JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council.
The bonhomie witnessed between India and China over the last one year after the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan April last year has clearly evaporated following the Chinese action.
Amid the growing clamour in India for boycotting China after it used its veto power to block listing of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, New Delhi has expressed disappointment over Beijing’s move while reaffirming its determination to pursue all avenues to bring the JeM chief to justice for terror attacks in different parts of India.
A number of reasons, including the significant role Pakistan plays in China’s ties with the Islamic world and Beijing’s anxiety over spill-over effect of a ban on Azhar in China’s own restive Muslim-dominated Xinjiang region, could have played a role in Beijing deciding to yet again stonewall any action by the UNSC against the JeM chief, observers say.
Despite its burgeoning trade relationship with India, China has never hidden the fact that it needed Pakistan more than any other country for achieving its geo-strategic goals in the region. Pakistan’s importance for China has increased manifold in recent years in view of the heavy economic and manpower investments it has made in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as part of President Xi’s signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Sources said it was quite clear to New Delhi over the past few days that China was adopting double standards in the global fight against terrorism only to shield Pakistan. China, they said, could no longer take shelter under ‘lame excuses’ like India had not provided any ‘updated material’ on Azhar’s terrorist activities in India which could compel Beijing to reconsider its position on the JeM chief.
Sources pointed out that India had submitted to China and other key nations ‘clinching and irrefutable’ evidence linking JeM to terror attacks in India, including the Pulwama attack. All other members of the UNSC, including those in the non-permanent category, solidly backed India’s effort to get the JeM chief banned but China put a spanner in their works yet again, they regretted.
The US, meanwhile, said responsible UNSC members might be forced to other actions at the Security Council if Beijing continued to block Masood’s designation.
China’s veto against banning Masood Azhar has once again highlighted the deep-rooted suspicion and mistrust between India and China on strategic issues, particularly the fight against terrorism. Despite pledging to work with India in combating terror, China has done precious little to assuage India’s concerns over terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
China has, in fact, praised Pakistan on many occasions for its role in the global war against terrorism. Beijing’s contention has been that Pakistan itself has been one of the main victims of terrorism and it must be supported in combating the menace.
There is also a feeling in Chinese circles that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is the prime reason for terrorism in India. The argument being advanced by them is that while Kashmir is a disputed territory, Xinjiang is a province of China and, therefore, a comparison can not be drawn between the two regions.
Source: The Statesman
Posted in Beijing, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), betrayed, bilateral ties, bonhomie, boycotting China, China alert, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Chinese President Xi Jinping, global terrorist, India alert, Islamic world, Jammu and Kashmir, JeM chief, Masood Azhar, New Delhi, Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, trade relationship, UN Security Council, Uncategorized, UNSC, Wuhan, Wuhan Spirit, Xinjiang |
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13/03/2019
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with deputies from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and armed police before attending a plenary meeting of the delegation of the PLA and armed police at the second session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2019. Xi delivered an important speech at the meeting on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) — President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed fulfilling the set targets and tasks of national defense and military development as scheduled.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when attending a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and armed police force at the second session of the 13th National People’s Congress, China’s national legislature.
This year is the key year for completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
The entire armed forces must clearly understand the importance and urgency of implementing the 13th Five-Year Plan for military development, firm up their resolve, intensify the sense of mission, forge ahead with a pioneering spirit, and go all out to carry out the plan so as to ensure that the set targets and tasks are fulfilled as scheduled, he said.
Xi called on the whole army to adhere to the guidance of the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, fully implement the Party’s thinking on strengthening the military for the new era and the military strategy for new conditions, concentrate on war preparedness, and intensify reform and innovation.
On implementation of the plan, Xi stressed that it is imperative to strengthen overall planning and coordination, as well as make breakthroughs in key areas.
Xi pointed out that it is necessary to take into consideration the overall situation and coordinate the task plans, resources, and management procedures to ensure orderly advancement of various projects.
Focusing on the overall layout of the plan, the military should give prominence to key projects including urgent necessities for military preparedness, crucial support for combat systems, and coordinated projects for the reform of national defense and armed forces, he noted.
Xi stressed the formulation of the 14th Five-Year Plan for military development should serve the demands of the national development, security and military strategies, and should take into account both the actual condition and long-term development needs.
Source: Xinhua
Posted in Chairman of the Central Military Commission, China alert, China's national legislature, Five-Year Plan, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, military development goals, national defense, National People's Congress, People's Liberation Army (PLA), President Xi, Uncategorized |
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13/03/2019
JINAN, March 13 (Xinhua) — Transport authorities in east China’s Shandong Province announced that it plans to invest 162.2 billion yuan (about 24.2 billion U.S. dollars) on roads, railways, ports and airports this year.
The investment is aimed at building an integrated infrastructure network in the province, said Jiang Cheng, head of the provincial transport department.
Last year, fixed asset investment in Shandong’s transportation sector reached 160 billion yuan, among which 115.8 billion yuan was spent on roads, highways and waterways, up 28 percent year on year.
This year, 61 percent of the investment will be on roads, Jiang said.
Shandong has set a target for its expressway mileage to reach 7,400 km by 2020. By the end of this year, the total will hit 6,400 km, he said.
More roads, bridges, and stations will be built in rural areas, he added.
About 10 railway projects are under construction in the province this year, with a total planned investment of 32 billion yuan (4.7 billion dollars). Upon completion, the province will be better connected with big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin.
Shandong had a permanent population of 100.4 million at the end of 2018. It is one of the most populous provinces in China. An improved infrastructure network will better meet economic and social needs.
Source: Xinhua
Posted in airports, Beijing, bridges, China alert, head of the provincial transport department, Highways, infrastructure plan, Jiang Cheng, ports, railways, roads, rural areas, shandong province, Shanghai, stations, Tianjin, Transport authorities, Uncategorized, waterways, yuan |
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13/03/2019
HAIKOU, March 13 (Xinhua) — China’s southernmost island province of Hainan requires all new vehicles for official business to use clean energy from 2019.
The provincial government offices administration said Wednesday that all government vehicles in Hainan, except cars providing special services, are scheduled to use clean energy by 2028.
The administration said 10 percent official cars in the province would use clean energy by 2020. The proportion will reach 70 percent by 2025.
Qiu Yu, deputy director of the administration, said Hainan had carried out more stringent policies to promote the use of clean energy in government vehicles, which included all-electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.
The local finance department has budgeted for clean energy government vehicles purchase and relevant facilities. The government offices administration will be in charge of the construction and installation of charging facilities in government agencies’ parking areas.
Hainan has previously announced the ban of oil-fueled automobile sales throughout the province by 2030.
The province had 37,100 clean energy vehicles by the end of 2018, accounting for about 2.9 percent of the province’s total, among which 22,800 were NEVs. More than 4,500 charging facilities for electric cars have been built.
Source: Xinhua
Posted in all-electric vehicles, China alert, clean energy government, deputy director of the administration, Hainan, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, Qiu Yu, Uncategorized, vehicles |
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13/03/2019
NANJING, March 13 (Xinhua) — The space-tracking ship Yuanwang-3 is sailing to the Pacific Ocean from a port in east China’s Jiangsu Province Wednesday for upcoming monitoring missions.
This year, the ship will carry out two maritime space monitoring missions, which will last about two months.
The mission members have conducted a series of training programs and tests before the voyage, to increase emergency response.
Yuanwang-3, which entered service in the mid-1990s, is China’s second-generation space tracking ship. Sailing more than 650,000 nautical miles, it has completed 80 missions, including maritime tracking of the Shenzhou spacecraft, Chang’e lunar probe and BeiDou satellites.
Source: Xinhua
Posted in BeiDou satellites, Chang'e lunar probe, China alert, jiangsu province, monitoring missions, Pacific Ocean, Shenzhou spacecraft, Uncategorized, Yuanwang-3 |
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13/03/2019
Chinese scientists used ancient traditional medicine to find a cure for malaria in the 1970s.
Artemisinin was discovered by exploring the medicinal properties of a herbal remedy from the 4th century.
It can cure most forms of malaria with very few side effects and has saved millions of lives all over the world.
Professor Lang Linfu was one of the scientists involved in its discovery.
Source: The BBC
Posted in Artemisinin, China alert, herbal remedy, malaria, Professor Lang Linfu, traditional medicine, Uncategorized |
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13/03/2019
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Smartphone shipments to China in February fell to their lowest in six years, market data indicated, as consumers continued to put off handset purchases amid a slowing economy.
Shipments to the world’s biggest smartphone market totaled 14.5 million units, down 19.9 percent from a year ago, according to data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, a government-affiliated research institute.
That is the lowest since February 2013, when shipments to the China totaled 20.7 million.
Overall consumer purchases typically slow during February as the Chinese spend much of the month with family celebrating the Lunar New Year. But shipments this year fell more than usual as a slowing economy, exacerbated by a Sino-U.S. trade war, hurt demand for gadgets across the board.
Apple cited slowing iPhone sales in China when it took the rare step of cutting its sales forecast earlier this year. The firm then teamed up with China’s Ant Financial and local banks to offer interest-free iPhone financing in its first such move in the country as it looked to boost waning sales.
Several third-party retailers have also offered iPhones at discounted prices.
With smartphone sales expected to stay weak, companies like Chinese market leader Huawei Technologies have aimed to launch more expensive models to corner higher margins.
In 2018, Huawei’s market share of China’s $500-$800 device segment rose to 26.6 percent from 8.8 percent, according to Counterpoint Research. Apple’s share fell to 54.6 percent from 81.2 percent as it launched devices cracking the $1,000 price point, while others released competitive devices for less.
Source: Reuters
Posted in Apple, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, China alert, Counterpoint Research, huawei technologies, IPhone, lunar new year, Sino-U.S. trade war, Smartphone shipments, Uncategorized |
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13/03/2019
The move comes three days after 157 people were killed after an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed 6 minutes after take-off from Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Sunday.
SNS Web | New Delhi | March 13, 2019 9:37 am
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday informed that all Boeing 737 Max aircraft will be grounded before 4 pm today. This is to cater to situations where aircraft are to fly back to India or go to maintenance facility for parking.
Boeing 737 Max operations will stop from/to all Indian airports. Additionally no Boeing 737 Max aircraft will be allowed to enter or transit the Indian airspace effective 1600 hrs Indian time or 1030 UTC, the DGCA ordered.
The timeline is to cater to situations where aircraft can be positioned at maintenance facilities and international flights can reach their destinations.
Earlier on Tuesday, India grounded Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft used by the country’s airline companies in light of the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 people.
SpiceJet has around 12 ‘737 Max 8’ planes in its fleet, while Jet Airways has five.
“DGCA has taken the decision to ground the Boeing 737-Max planes immediately. These planes will be grounded till appropriate modifications and safety measures are undertaken to ensure their safe operations,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a tweet.
“As always, passenger safety remains our top priority. We continue to consult closely with regulators around the world, airlines, and aircraft manufacturers to ensure passenger safety,” it added.
Following the DGCA decision, SpiceJet suspended Boeing 737 Max operations. “Safety and security of our passengers, crew and operations are of utmost importance to us,” the airline informed.
The move comes three days after 157 people were killed after an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed 6 minutes after take-off from Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Secretary has called an emergency meeting of all airlines at 4 pm today in Delhi.
Earlier, the DGCA had issued additional safety instructions to the two Indian carriers that operate the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Pilots of SpiceJet and Jet Airways should have at least 1,000 hours of flying experience to command these planes, the regulator ordered.
A total of 149 passengers and 8 crew members from 35 countries were on board the Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 302 when it ploughed into a field in Bishoftu (formerly Debre Zeit), a town located 48 kilometres south east of Addis Ababa.
Four Indians, including a UNDP consultant attached to India’s Environment Ministry, lost their lives in the crash.
This was second such crash involving the 737 Max 8 aircraft in less than five months.
In October last year, an aircraft operated by Lion Air crashed killing over 180 people in Indonesia.
Following Sunday’s accident, Ethiopian Airlines grounded its entire Boeing 737 Max 8 fleet until further notice.
European Union and many countries across the world have already banned the use of 737 Max 8 aircraft in their respective airspace.
On Monday, China, too, grounded all of its Boeing 737 Max 8 jets. Australia too followed the suit on Tuesday.
Source: The Statesman
Posted in Addis Ababa, airline companies, Australia, Boeing 737, China alert, Civil Aviation Secretary, crashed, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA, Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian capital, European Union, India alert, India’s Environment Ministry, Indian airports, Indian airspace, Jet Airways, Lion Air, maintenance facilities, Ministry of Civil Aviation, SpiceJet, tweet, Uncategorized, UNDP consultant |
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12/03/2019
Ecology and Environment Minister Li Ganjie attends a press conference on “fighting resolutely to prevent and control pollution” for the second session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)
BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) — China has made sound progress in addressing the prominent problems over environmental protection along the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the country’s Ecology and Environment Minister Li Ganjie said Monday.
After two years of work, 99.9 percent of the 1,474 drinking water sources in cities above the county-level along the Yangtze River Economic Belt, stringing up 11 provinces and municipalities from west to east, have had their problems resolved, Li told a news conference on the sidelines of the annual legislative session.
Meanwhile, over 90 percent of the 12 “black and malodorous water bodies” in the provincial capital cities have been cleaned up, while prefecture-level cities are catching up on this front, Li said.
A special campaign targeting illegal disposal of solid and hazardous waste along the Yangtze, China’s longest river, has also been successful, the minister said, adding that the country has made notable progress in enhancing protection of the nature reserves in the Yangtze River basin.
The country will continue to improve the supervision system for Yangtze protection, Li said.
China has made the “defense of lucid waters” a primary task in the battle against pollution for 2019. Research will be conducted for the drafting of laws on bio-security and Yangtze River conservation this year, according to the work report of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress.
Source: Xinhua
Posted in bio-security, China alert, China's longest river, Ecology and Environment Minister, Li Ganjie, National People's Congress, Standing Committee, Uncategorized, Yangtze environment, Yangtze River, Yangtze River basin, Yangtze River conservation, Yangtze River Economic Belt |
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12/03/2019
BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent messages of condolence respectively to his Ethiopian and Kenyan counterparts, Sahle-Work Zewde and Uhuru Kenyatta, over the plane crash that killed 157 people on Sunday.
In his messages, Xi said he was shocked to hear about the crash of the Ethiopian Airlines plane and the massive casualties it caused, including Ethiopian, Kenyan and Chinese victims.
On behalf of the Chinese government, the Chinese people and in his own name, he expressed deep mourning for the victims and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
Xi said that he believes the Ethiopian government is capable of properly handling the aftermath of the tragedy. He added that China would provide any necessary support and assistance.
Also on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a message to his Ethiopian counterpart, Abiy Ahmed, offering his condolences over the plane crash.
Source: Xinhua
Posted in Abiy Ahmed, China alert, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ethiopian, Kenyan president, plane crash, Premier Li Keqiang, Sahle-Work Zewde, Uhuru Kenyatta, Uncategorized |
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CHINDIA ALERT: You'll be living in their world, very soon 