Beijing, China | AFP | China is closely following France’s presidential election, but web users appear less interested in the politics than the unusual marriage between moderate candidate Emmanuel Macron and his former teacher. Comparisons with the characters of a popular Chinese television drama called “In the Name of the People” …
Read More »US THAAD missiles arrive in Seoul, China not amused
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | Trailers carrying US THAAD missile defence equipment entered a deployment site in South Korea early Wednesday with tensions high over North Korea’s intentions, Yonhap news agency reported. Arrival of the six trailers at the golf course location sparked clashes between locals and police, the …
Read More »China’s Xi Jinping urges ‘restraint’ on North Korea as US carrier nears
Beijing, China | AFP | Chinese President Xi Jinping urged “restraint” on North Korea in a phone call with Donald Trump Monday, as Japan joined drills with an American supercarrier heading to the Korean peninsula. The US leader has repeatedly called on China, the North’s sole major ally, to do …
Read More »US Defense Secretary Mattis visits strategic Djibouti
Djibouti, Djibouti | AFP | US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived Sunday for a short visit to Djibouti, a strategic Horn of Africa nation which hosts Washington’s only permanent military base on the continent. Camp Lemonnier, home to some 4,000 US soldiers and contractors, is vital to US military operations …
Read More »China’s Q1 growth stabilises at 6.8%: AFP poll
Beijing, China | AFP | China’s growth stabilised in the first quarter thanks to rising investments and a recovery in exports, experts said, though they warned the reprieve may be temporary. According to an AFP survey of 16 economic analysts, the gross domestic product expanded 6.8 percent in the first …
Read More »China seeks Russia’s help to ‘cool’ North Korea situation
Beijing, China | AFP | China is seeking Russia’s help to cool surging tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions, the country’s foreign minister has told his Moscow counterpart, after Beijing warned of possible conflict over North Korea. Fears over the North’s rogue weapons programme have soared in recent days, with a …
Read More »Spotlight on China as North Korea prepares for war
China warns of war as North Korea vows ‘merciless’ response to US Beijing, China | AFP | China issued a stern warning Friday that a conflict over North Korea could break out “at any moment”, as Pyongyang vowed a “merciless” response to any US military action. Tensions in the region …
Read More »China warns there will be no winner in North Korea war
North Korea army vows ‘merciless’ response to US provocation Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea’s army on Friday vowed a ‘merciless’ response to any US provocation, as tensions soar over Pyongyang’s nuclear programme and speculation mounts that it is preparing a fresh weapons test. Pyongyang’s rogue atomic ambitions …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Unpredictable Trump unsettles China as N. Korea policy wobbles
Beijing, China | AFP | From Twitter threats to Tomahawk missiles, US president Donald Trump’s unorthodox and seemingly impulsive approach to foreign policy has unsettled China, piling new pressure on its hands-off North Korea policy. As tensions rise on the Korean peninsula, Beijing appears alarmed by Trump’s strident pronouncements as …
Read More »BREXIT: First ‘Silk Road’ train from Britain leaves for China with whiskey
Stanford-le-Hope, United Kingdom | AFP | The first-ever freight train from Britain to China started its mammoth journey on Monday along a modern-day “Silk Road” trade route as Britain eyes new opportunities after it leaves the European Union. The 32-container train, around 600 metres (656 yards) long, left the vast …
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