China

BEIJING, Aug 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe urged his US counterpart in a phone call Thursday to avoid actions and rhetoric on Taiwan and other issues that could escalate tensions between the rivals, state media reported.

Wei urged the US side to stop erroneous words and deeds” and “avoid taking dangerous moves that may escalate the situation,” referring to the status of Taiwan and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

BEIJING, August 6 (APP): China is seriously concerned about the current situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir and the relevant military actions, said Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, according to local media here on Thursday.

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) - China on Thursday threatened to take countermeasures over a trip to Taiwan by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, as the Chinese-claimed island geared up for its highest-level U.S. official visit in four decades.

The visit, which begins on Sunday, adds to tensions between Beijing and Washington over everything from trade and human rights to the novel coronavirus pandemic. China calls Taiwan the most sensitive and important issue in its bilateral ties with the United States.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Two dozen people in Hong Kong, including pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, have been charged with participating in an illegal assembly at a vigil on June 4 commemorating the crackdown on protesters in and around Beijing’s Tiananmen square in 1989.

BEIJING, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday the Chinese side is ready to enter into candid, effective consultation with the U.S. side and make cool-headed and sensible response to the impulsive moves and anxiety of the U.S. side.

Wang made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on China-U.S. ties.

COOPERATION RATHER THAN DECOUPLING

BEIJING (AP) — China has sentenced a third Canadian citizen to death on drug charges amid a steep decline in relations between the two countries.

The Guangzhou Municipal Intermediate Court announced Xu Weihong’s penalty on Thursday and said an alleged accomplice, Wen Guanxiong, had been given a life sentence.

Death sentences are automatically referred to China’s highest court for review.

BEIJING, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes the U.S. side's blatant bullying of certain non-U.S. enterprises in violation of market economy rules and the WTO principles of openness, transparency and non-discrimination, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.

Spokesman Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a press briefing while commenting on U.S. announcement that TikTok, a Chinese video-sharing app, will be out of business in the United States if it is not sold to a U.S. company before Sept. 15.

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets were mixed Wednesday amid investor concern about U.S. stimulus spending and a trade agreement with Beijing.

Shanghai and Hong Kong advanced while Tokyo and Sydney retreated. Gold, which has set a string of records, rose again after a deadly explosion in Beirut.

Investors are watching the stalemate among U.S. legislators over employment benefits for millions of Americans thrown out of work by the coronavirus pandemic and spending to shore up anemic economic growth.

BEIJING, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The postponement of the 2020 Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was a legitimate move to protect the lives and health of Hong Kong citizens, and was necessary to ensure the safety, justice and fairness of the election, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Monday.

BEIJING, Aug 3 (APP): The scars of last summer remain in Soura, an enclave that became a symbol of Kashmir’s resistance to India’s central government a year ago on Wednesday.

Coils of concertina wire, remnants of makeshift road blocks, lie close to the broken tar of roads dug up to keep the security forces of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi out of this area of 15,000 people in Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar, China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported on Monday.