China

Hong Kong protesters defy mask ban

Masked pro-democracy protesters marched through Hong Kong in defiance of a ban on face coverings as much of the city ground to a halt on Saturday, with the subway suspended and many shops shuttered following another night of violence.Thousands of protesters staged unsanctioned marches and flash mob protests at multiple locations, a day after the city's leader outlawed face coverings at protests, invoking colonial-era emergency powers not used for half a century.The latest acts of resista

6 October 2019
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Shot HK protester charged by police

A teenage pro-democracy protester shot by a Hong Kong police officer was on Thursday charged with rioting, as authorities were reportedly set to ban the wearing of face masks at public rallies.Tsang Chi-kin, 18, was hit in the chest during clashes on Tuesday, a day which saw some of the worst violence in almost four months of unrest. Police said Tsang has also been charged with two counts of assaulting officers.

4 October 2019
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Living with a superpower

Emphasising peaceful development, Chinese President Xi Jinping used his speech at today’s 70th National Day military parade in Beijing to remind the world of its rise as a global superpower.“There is no force that can shake the foundation of this great nation,” Xi said.“No force can stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation forging ahead.”For the past 70 years, this has largely been true – and ASEAN has learnt to live with that.The People’s Republic of China was created on 1 October, 194

1 October 2019
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Protesters vow to overshadow Beijing's festivities

Police fanned out across Hong Kong on Tuesday in a bid to deter pro-democracy protests as the city marked communist China's 70th birthday, with local officials watching a flag-raising ceremony behind closed doors because of security concerns.Authorities ramped up security checks ahead of the anniversary, shutting down two subway stations near government offices and conducting stop and searches in the streets and on public transport.The international finance hub is on edge as protesters v

1 October 2019
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Beijing’s Daxing poised to become aviation hub

Beijing's new futuristic airport that resembles a giant starfish – opened days before the country celebrates the 70th anniversary of communist rule – promises to transform the Chinese capital into a major Asian aviation hub.Located 46 kilometres (29 miles) south of Tiananmen Square, Beijing Daxing International Airport will be able to handle 45 million passengers by 2021, with plans for 72 million by 2025 and 100 million by 2040.It was opened by President Xi Jinping Wednesday, but had an

29 September 2019
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The high price of freedom for China’s Uighurs

Abdullah Rasul has so little contact with his family in China that it took three months for him to find out that his father was dead.Like other Uighur refugees from northwest China, Rasul, 35, who now lives in Istanbul, knows that making contact with relatives back home risks them coming under greater scrutiny from the authorities, or worse.The snippets of news he manages to receive through the restricted communication channels are terrifying, he says.Facebook is blocked in China, and relativ

28 September 2019
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ASEAN faces more risks ahead of next downturn

Several structural shifts have left ASEAN more exposed to an economic downturn than during the last global financial crisis a decade ago.While ASEAN did not technically slide into recession during the last global financial crisis, structural traits that cushioned the region a decade ago – such as China’s strong growth and the global demand for commodities – now offer less of a buffer noted a report by global consultancy firm Bain & Co.

23 September 2019
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Violence marks 99th day of Hong Kong protests

Hong Kong riot police fired tear gas and water cannons at hardcore pro-democracy protesters hurling rocks and petrol bombs on Sunday, tipping the violence-plagued city back into chaos after a brief lull in clashes.Tens of thousands of people defied authorities to march through the city in an unsanctioned rally on Sunday, the latest expression of a popular revolt that has raged for the last 99 days.The rally descended into violence when small groups of hardcore activists – known within the mov

16 September 2019
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New era at Alibaba as Jack Ma rides into the sunset

Jack Ma stepped aside as leader of the Alibaba Group on Tuesday, ending a spectacularly successful 20-year run during which the charismatic former English teacher’s e-commerce company left a profound impact on China's economy.Ma, who also turned 55 on Tuesday, said farewell in a speech in the eastern city of Hangzhou where Alibaba is based, thanking employees and predicting a smooth transition to a team of executives led by CEO Daniel Zhang.“Today is not Jack Ma’s retirement.

11 September 2019
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The renminbi’s bid for freedom

In early August, the renminbi’s exchange rate broke through the psychological threshold of CN¥7 per United States (US) dollar. While investors were still digesting the full significance of this event, US President Donald Trump’s administration startled the market by labelling China a “currency manipulator.”The designation is absurd, to say the least, because China doesn’t meet the US government’s own criteria for being a currency manipulator.

9 September 2019
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Myths about Kashmir

The Indian government’s recent decision to revoke Kashmir’s special semi-autonomous status has raised fears of yet another conflict with Pakistan over the disputed territory. But in order to understand the implications of the events unfolding in Kashmir – a heavily militarised geopolitical tinderbox situated at the crossroads of central Asia – it is essential to dispel the many myths and misunderstandings surrounding it.The first myth relates to the name itself.

8 September 2019
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11 of Our Favourite Sights and Scenes in Quanzhou

When thinking of taking a trip to China, we admit that Quanzhou probably wouldn’t be one of the few places that would come to mind. However, allow us to change your mind because we changed ours after our recent visit there.We detailed our adventures in our previous articles, of course, such as 8 Fun and Exciting Things to Do in Quanzhou and JinJiang, China, as well as 8 Important Religious Sites, Showcase The Importance Of Old Silk Road’s Quanzhou in China.

6 September 2019
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