China

BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers have proposed formulating a foreign states immunities law following malicious litigations filed against China over its COVID-19 response.

The move will protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens as well as foreign investors, said Ma Yide, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) and a law researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences.

HONG KONG (AP) — Police massed outside Hong Kong’s legislature complex Wednesday before lawmakers debate a bill that would criminalize abuse of the Chinese national anthem in the semi-autonomous city.

Protest calls went out Tuesday night, urging people to surround the legislature buildings and block roads in an attempt to derail the proceedings, but they didn’t materialize.

BEIJING, May 26 (APP): China on Tuesday welcomed the release of Taliban prisoners and reduction of fighting and violence in Afghanistan and said it was conducive to promoting intra-Afghan dialogue and realizing peace and stability.

“The Afghan people’s aim for peace and cessation of violence are more than anything,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said during his regular briefing while commenting on release of Taliban prisoners by Afghan government.

BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- To introduce national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is an important endeavor to safeguard national security and ensure the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, overseas experts have said.

A draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security is under deliberation at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC).

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s leader said Tuesday that national security legislation proposed by China’s legislature will not threaten the semi-autonomous territory’s civil rights, despite widespread criticism of the move as an encroachment on freedom of speech and assembly.

The city’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, told reporters that there was “no need for us to worry” over the move being considered by China’s ceremonial National People’s Congress.

BEIJING (AP) — China demand Monday that Washington withdraw export sanctions imposed on Chinese companies in the latest round of a worsening conflict over technology, security and human rights.

The foreign ministry accused the Trump administration of interfering in China’s affairs by adding eight companies accused of playing roles in a crackdown in its Muslim northwestern region of Xinjiang to an export blacklist.

Beijing, May 25 (PTI) China has reported 51 new coronavirus cases including 40 asymptomatic infections, majority of them in the contagion's first epicentre Wuhan, where over six million tests have been conducted in the last 10 days, health officials said on Monday.

The country's National Health Commission (NHC) said that 11 new imported cases were reported on Sunday.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - China’s foreign ministry office in Hong Kong and the city’s security chief on Monday defended proposed national security laws by describing some acts in mass pro-democracy protests last year as terrorism.

Several government departments issued statements in defence of the proposal after the biggest protest in the city since the coronavirus lockdown on Sunday.

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The frivolous lawsuits against China over COVID-19 are shoddy ones, as they have zero basis in fact, law or international precedence, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday.

Wang made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual national legislative session.

COVID-19 has caught the whole world by surprise and China is a victim like other countries, he said.

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday strongly urged the U.S. to immediately stop arms sales to Taiwan and cease military contacts with the island, to avoid further damages to the relations between the two countries and the two militaries.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in an address on the U.S. State Department's approval of a plan to sell weapons worth 180 million U.S. dollars to Taiwan.