EU mulls blocking China’s access to medical device procurement – Bloomberg

Richard Sanders The European Union is examining the possibility of imposing restrictions on public procurement contracts across the bloc for Chinese medical device producers, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing a person familiar with the plans. Brussels and Beijing have recently been locked in an escalating tit-for-tat stand-off over trade protectionism. Earlier this year, the European…

Read More

China calls out CIA ‘provocation’

Richard Sanders Beijing has accused the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of committing a “political provocation” by releasing recruitment videos in Chinese targeting officials in the country. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the US “has long been using all kinds of despicable methods to steal other countries’ secrets, interfere…

Read More

China’s Aggressive Posturing Escalates Tensions in the South China Sea

Richard Sanders In a troubling development in the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, China’s coastguard has seized control over a small sandbank known as Sandy Cay, state media reported. This bold move marks a significant escalation in China’s aggressive tactics against its regional neighbors, particularly the Philippines, heightening fears of increased militarization…

Read More

China orders its airlines to dump Boeing – Bloomberg

Richard Sanders China has ordered its airlines to stop accepting Boeing jets as the trade war with the US continues to escalate, Bloomberg wrote on Tuesday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter. This development follows a series of reciprocal tariff hikes between the two nations. Last week, Washington increased tariffs on Chinese imports to…

Read More

Europe’s Moral Cowardice: How the EU’s China Policy Betrays Its Own Commitment to Democracy

Taiwan’s streets pulse with the chaotic energy of a free society – debates rage in parliament, newspapers print unvarnished truths, and citizens elect leaders without fear of disappearance. Meanwhile, in Brussels, bureaucrats cling to a diplomatic relic crafted half a century ago, based on a flawed interpretation of a UN Resolution (2758), bowing to Beijing’s…

Read More

Trump threatens China with extra 50% tariff

Francis Tuschek President Donald Trump has threatened to slap an additional 50% tariff on all Chinese imports, unless Beijing recalls its proposed retaliatory 34% levy hike in another escalation of the trade war that has wiped trillions of dollars from stock markets. Last week, the US president rolled out sweeping tariffs ranging from 10% to…

Read More

Philippines Alarmed by Espionage Arrests of Citizens in China

Richard Sanders On Saturday, the Philippine government voiced deep concern over the recent arrest of three Filipino citizens in China on allegations of espionage. Officials believe these detentions may be a retaliatory measure following Manila’s intensified efforts against suspected Chinese spies. According to a report from the state-run China Daily, Chinese authorities claim the individuals…

Read More

US embassy staff in China banned from dating locals – AP

Richard Sanders Washington has banned its diplomatic personnel in China, as well as their family members and contractors with security clearances, from engaging into any sort of “romantic and sexual relations” with Chinese citizens, AP reported on Thursday, citing four people with direct knowledge of the matter. The policy was reportedly enacted by departing US Ambassador Nicholas…

Read More

This is how China could invade Taiwan as island surrounded in ‘practice’ drill

by Martin Haffner Associate Editor In recent years, the geopolitical tension surrounding Taiwan has escalated significantly, particularly with China ramping up its military exercises in the region. The island, which Beijing regards as a breakaway province, has been the focal point of a potential flashpoint in East Asia. Recent military drills conducted by the Chinese…

Read More

China drills around Taiwan continue with code name ‘Strait Thunder’

by Martin Haffner Associate Editor In recent weeks, the Taiwanese Strait has become a focal point of heightened military activity, as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China undertakes a series of large-scale military drills dubbed ‘Strait Thunder.’ These maneuvers have raised concerns in Taiwan and among international observers, signaling escalating tensions in the region….

Read More