China

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong police have earned a total of HK$135 million in allowances during the past six months of anti-government protests, government figures show.

The meal and work-related allowances were on top of HK$950 million overtime pay that police have earned since the protests intensified in June, according to the figures released to city legislators on Friday.

BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- An amendment to the law on the protection of investments by compatriots from Taiwan was adopted in Beijing on Saturday to welcome more investment from Taiwan.

The amendment simplifies the procedures for investment in the mainland by Taiwan compatriots by removing the requirement of government examination, approval and filing.

The amendment was approved at end of a six-day bimonthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

BEIJING, Dec 27 (APP): China on Friday called on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions which could escalate tension between the two sides and peacefully resolve disputes through dialogue.

“As a neighbor to both India and Pakistan, we call on both sides to exercise, retrain and refrain from taking actions that will escalate tensions,” Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Geng Shuang said during his regular briefing while responding to a question regarding the exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani armies on the Line Of Control (LOC).

BEIJING (AP) — China said Friday its Beidou Navigation Satellite System that emulates the U.S. Global Positioning System will be competed with the launch of its final two satellites in the first half of next year.

Project director Ran Chengqi told reporters that the core of the positioning system was completed this month with the launch additional satellites bringing its total constellation to 24.

That was up from 19 the year before, making it one of rising space power China’s most complex projects.

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets were mixed Friday after Wall Street rose amid optimism that U.S.-Chinese trade relations are improving.

Frankfurt, Paris and Hong Kong gained in early trading. London and Shanghai were unchanged and Tokyo declined.

Investors welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment that an interim “Phase 1” trade deal was “getting done.” Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping would hold a signing ceremony.

26 Dec 2019; MEMO: China, Iran and Russia will hold joint naval drills starting on Friday in the Indian Ocean and Sea of Oman, China’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday, amid heightened tensions in the region between Tehran and Washington, Reuters reports.

China will send the Xining, a guided missile destroyer, to the drills, which will last from Dec. 27 to 30, and is meant to deepen cooperation between the three countries’ navies, ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing.

Beijing, Dec 26 (AFP/PTI) Beijing on Thursday said it "firmly opposes" trade restrictions included in a new US defence act, having already admonished the bill for interfering in China's internal affairs.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) -- signed into law last week -- bars the use of federal funds to buy railcars and buses from China, and slows the lifting of sanctions on tech giant Huawei.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China Southern Air Holding, the parent of China Southern Airlines (600029.SS), has set up a cargo company with registered capital of 1 billion yuan ($143 million), as it looks to consolidate its air cargo assets through state-led reforms.

The move from December 24 was disclosed by a filing approved on the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System and comes as China prioritizes implementing mixed ownership reforms to revamp its bloated, debt-ridden state sector.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is in close touch with the United States on signing a Phase 1 trade deal, the country’s commerce ministry said on Thursday, adding that both sides are still going through necessary procedures before the signing.

Gao Feng, commerce ministry spokesman, made the comments to reporters at a regular briefing.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s imports of soybeans surged in November following the announcement of an interim trade deal with the United States.

Imports rose 53.7% over a year earlier to 5.4 million tons, according to customs data.

Imports of U.S. soybeans more than doubled from the previous month to 2.6 million tons, according to AWeb.com, a news website that serves the Chinese farming industry.