German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong "must be guaranteed" after meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday the rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong "must be guaranteed" after meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing. Hong Kong has been plunged into months of pro-democracy protests, and ahead of her three-day visit to China, this week demonstrators in the semi-autonomous city appealed to the German chancellor to support them in her meetings with China's leadership. Merkel said she had discussed tensions in the former British colony, and civil rights there, with her hosts and had "pointed out that these rights and freedoms must, of course, be guaranteed". "In the current situation everything must be done to avoid violence," Merkel said at a joint press conference with Li, as seen in video footage published by German media. "And the solutions can only be found in a political process meaning through dialogue." Watch Video: Merkel arrived in China on Thursday with a large business delegation in tow. The companies travelling with Merkel include Volkswagen, Allianz, and Deutsche Bank according to the German daily Bild, which carried a headline Friday that read: "Do our companies not care about Hong Kong's freedom?" Chinese officials blamed a lack of space due to a large contingent of journalists accompanying Merkel. In a statement, the German Federation of Journalists criticised the limited access as a "diplomatic farce". "What image do the organisers have of the travelling German press? Did they think that the chancellor of Germany is coming with her courtiers, who politely listen, ask no questions and report meekly?" it said. Merkel also met Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday evening, according to state news agency Xinhua, and the two leaders were scheduled to have dinner together. The German leader is also due to give a speech to university students in the central city of Wuhan on Saturday. Ahead of her trip, prominent Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong and others had recalled in an open letter published by Bild on Wednesday that Merkel grew up in the communist police state of East Germany. "You have the first-hand experience of the terrors of a dictatorial government," the letter read. "We hope that you will express your concern about our catastrophic situation and that you will convey our demands to the Chinese government during your stay in China." Hong Kong has endured dozens of sometimes violent pro-democracy protests triggered by opposition to a now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed extradition to mainland China. In their open letter, the protesters also warned that "Germany should be on its guard before doing business with China, as China does not comply with international law and has repeatedly broken its promises". Many Chinese dissidents have been given refuge in Germany, including artist Ai Weiwei. In May, two former Hong kong independence activists were granted refugee status in Germany in what is one of the first cases of dissenters from the semi-autonomous Chinese city receiving such protection. On a visit to China last year, Merkel met with the wife of a Chinese human rights lawyer charged with state subversion, an extremely rare meeting between a dissident and a visiting head of state. The trip marks her 12th visit to China as chancellor. Xinhua said in a commentary on Friday that Merkel's visit came as "productive cooperation between the world's two major economies is much needed against the backdrop of global uncertainties". The agency said China accounted for the largest share of imports into Germany in 2018 with goods worth 106.2 billion euros ($117.4 billion). In a statement, the German Federation of Journalists criticised the limited access as a "diplomatic farce". "What image do the organisers have of the travelling German press? Did they think that the chancellor of Germany is coming with her courtiers, who politely listen, ask no questions and report meekly?" it said. Merkel also met Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday evening, according to state news agency Xinhua, and the two leaders were scheduled to have dinner together. The German leader is also due to give a speech to university students in the central city of Wuhan on Saturday. Ahead of her trip, prominent Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong and others had recalled in an open letter published by Bild on Wednesday that Merkel grew up in the communist police state of East Germany. "You have the first-hand experience of the terrors of a dictatorial government," the letter read. "We hope that you will express your concern about our catastrophic situation and that you will convey our demands to the Chinese government during your stay in China." Hong Kong has endured dozens of sometimes violent pro-democracy protests triggered by opposition to a now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed extradition to mainland China. In their open letter, the protesters also warned that "Germany should be on its guard before doing business with China, as China does not comply with international law and has repeatedly broken its promises". Many Chinese dissidents have been given refuge in Germany, including artist Ai Weiwei. In May, two former Hong Kong independence activists were granted refugee status in Germany in what is one of the first cases of dissenters from the semi-autonomous Chinese city receiving such protection. On a visit to China last year, Merkel met with the wife of a Chinese human rights lawyer charged with state subversion, an extremely rare meeting between a dissident and a visiting head of state. The trip marks her 12th visit to China as chancellor. Xinhua said in a commentary on Friday that Merkel's visit came as "productive cooperation between the world's two major economies is much needed against the backdrop of global uncertainties". The agency said China accounted for the largest share of imports into Germany in 2018 with goods worth $117.4 billion.

Everything must be done in Hong Kong to avoid violence: Merkel to Chinese premier

Canada nominated a key economic advisor on Wednesday as its new ambassador to China, hoping to kickstart dialogue and ease a diplomatic standoff with the world's second-largest economy.

Ugandan-born, Oxford-educated Dominic Barton, 56, helped shape the economic policies of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government and is said to be well-known in Beijing, which must still formally accept his appointment.

China is also expected to soon nominate its own ambassador to Canada, Cong Peiwu, who served until recently as head of its Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs.

Both nations have been without representation for months after Ottawa sacked its envoy for contradicting its official position on a Chinese tech executive's arrest, and China's ambassador moved on to a new post in Paris.&nbsp;

Relations nosedived after Canada detained Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou during a stopover in Vancouver last December. The United States wants to put her on trial for allegedly violating Iran sanctions and lying about it to US banks.

Nine days after her arrest, Beijing detained two Canadians&nbsp;former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor and accused them of espionage, in a move widely viewed as retaliation.

Barton was based in Shanghai from 2004 to 2009 as the Asia chairman for consulting firm McKinsey. He then served nine years as a global managing partner for the company.

"An expert in the region, he is exceptionally well-suited to represent Canada and advance Canadian interests at this critical time," Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement.

At a news conference, she added that Barton would have a direct line to Trudeau's office, saying he "has that level of trust with the prime minister, and also with me."

"I think this is also an important message to China of the importance that Canada places, that the prime minister places, on this difficult and critical relationship."

Canada nominated a key economic advisor on Wednesday as its new ambassador to China, hoping to kickstart dialogue and ease a diplomatic standoff with the world's second-largest economy.

Canada nominated a key economic advisor on Wednesday as its new ambassador to China, hoping to kickstart dialogue and ease a diplomatic standoff with the world's second-largest economy. Ugandan-born, Oxford-educated Dominic Barton, 56, helped shape the economic policies of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government and is said to be well-known in Beijing, which must still formally accept his appointment. China is also expected to soon nominate its own ambassador to Canada, Cong Peiwu, who served until recently as head of its Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs. Both nations have been without representation for months after Ottawa sacked its envoy for contradicting its official position on a Chinese tech executive's arrest, and China's ambassador moved on to a new post in Paris. Relations nosedived after Canada detained Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou during a stopover in Vancouver last December. The United States wants to put her on trial for allegedly violating Iran sanctions and lying about it to US banks. Nine days after her arrest, Beijing detained two Canadians former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor and accused them of espionage, in a move widely viewed as retaliation. Barton was based in Shanghai from 2004 to 2009 as the Asia chairman for consulting firm McKinsey. He then served nine years as a global managing partner for the company. "An expert in the region, he is exceptionally well-suited to represent Canada and advance Canadian interests at this critical time," Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. At a news conference, she added that Barton would have a direct line to Trudeau's office, saying he "has that level of trust with the prime minister, and also with me." "I think this is also an important message to China of the importance that Canada places, that the prime minister places, on this difficult and critical relationship."

Canada taps ambassador, looking to restart China talks

China and the United States on Thursday agreed to hold high-level trade talks in early October in Washington, amid fears that an escalating trade war could trigger a global economic recession.

 
The talks were agreed to in a phone call between Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and US&nbsp;Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, China's commerce ministry said in a statement on its website.

China's central bank governor Yi Gang was also on the call. "Both sides agreed that they should work together and take practical actions to create good conditions for consultations," the ministry said.

 
"Lead negotiators from both sides had a really good phone call this morning," ministry spokesman Gao Feng said in a weekly briefing. "We'll strive to achieve substantial progress during the 13th Sino-US&nbsp;high-level negotiations in early October."

 
Gao also said Beijing opposes any escalation in the trade war. Trade teams from the two countries will hold talks in mid-September before the high-level talks next month, the ministry said.

 
A spokesman for the US&nbsp;Trade Representative's office confirmed that Lighthizer and Mnuchin spoke with Liu and said they agreed to hold ministerial-level trade talks in Washington "in the coming weeks".

 
News of the early October talks lifted most Asian share markets on Thursday, raising hopes these can de-escalate the US-China trade war before it inflicts further damage on the global economy.

 
On Sunday, Washington began imposing 15 per cent&nbsp;tariffs on an array of Chinese imports, while China began placing duties on US&nbsp;crude oil. China said on Monday it had lodged a complaint against the United States at the World Trade Organization.

 
The United States plans to increase the tariff rate to 30 per cent&nbsp;from the 25 per cent&nbsp;duty already in place on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports from October 1.

US President Donald Trump had warned on Tuesday he would be tougher on Beijing in a second term if trade talks dragged on, compounding market fears that disputes between the United States and China could trigger a US&nbsp;recession.

 
Chinese leaders will have a packed schedule next month, gearing up for National Day celebrations scheduled for October 1.

 
They will also hold a key meeting in October to discuss improving governance and "perfecting" the country's socialist system, state media has said.

China and the United States on Thursday agreed to hold high-level trade talks in early October in Washington, amid fears that an escalating trade war could trigger a global economic recession.

China and the United States on Thursday agreed to hold high-level trade talks in early October in Washington, amid fears that an escalating trade war could trigger a global economic recession. The talks were agreed to in a phone call between Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, China's commerce ministry said in a statement on its website. China's central bank governor Yi Gang was also on the call. "Both sides agreed that they should work together and take practical actions to create good conditions for consultations," the ministry said. "Lead negotiators from both sides had a really good phone call this morning," ministry spokesman Gao Feng said in a weekly briefing. "We'll strive to achieve substantial progress during the 13th Sino-US high-level negotiations in early October." Gao also said Beijing opposes any escalation in the trade war. Trade teams from the two countries will hold talks in mid-September before the high-level talks next month, the ministry said. A spokesman for the US Trade Representative's office confirmed that Lighthizer and Mnuchin spoke with Liu and said they agreed to hold ministerial-level trade talks in Washington "in the coming weeks". News of the early October talks lifted most Asian share markets on Thursday, raising hopes these can de-escalate the US-China trade war before it inflicts further damage on the global economy. On Sunday, Washington began imposing 15 per cent tariffs on an array of Chinese imports, while China began placing duties on US crude oil. China said on Monday it had lodged a complaint against the United States at the World Trade Organization. The United States plans to increase the tariff rate to 30 per cent from the 25 per cent duty already in place on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports from October 1. US President Donald Trump had warned on Tuesday he would be tougher on Beijing in a second term if trade talks dragged on, compounding market fears that disputes between the United States and China could trigger a US recession. Chinese leaders will have a packed schedule next month, gearing up for National Day celebrations scheduled for October 1. They will also hold a key meeting in October to discuss improving governance and "perfecting" the country's socialist system, state media has said.

China, US to hold trade talks in October; Beijing says phone call went well

How important is Hong Kong to the rest of China?

Cathay Pacific announced Wednesday its chairman John Slosar is stepping down to retire, the latest high-profile executive to leave the troubled airline after it drew Beijing's ire over pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

The flagship carrier has had a torrid few weeks after Chinese state media and authorities blasted the company because some of its 27,000 employees had taken part in -- or were sympathetic to -- anti-government protests currently rocking Hong Kong.

In a statement posted on the Hong Kong stock exchange, Cathay said Slosar, 63, had stepped down and will be replaced as chairman by Patrick Healy, a veteran from the Swire Group conglomerate, the airline's majority shareholder.&nbsp;

"His resignation is due to his retirement," the statement said, adding that the changes would take effect from November 6 at the conclusion of the company's board meeting.

Slosar's departure ends a nearly four-decade career with Swire and Cathay and caps a tumultuous month of sudden management changes at the airline as it tries to claw its way out of Beijing's bad books.

In August, CEO Rupert Hogg and another senior executive stepped down after China's aviation regulator banned airline staff who had supported the demonstrations from working on flights through its airspace and after state media encouraged a boycott in the crucial mainland market.

Cathay's sin was to be perceived as being sympathetic to protesters, especially after some flight attendants and pilots joined a city-wide strike and protests.

In July, Slosar had said he would not want to tell his tens of thousands of employees what to think or which political views to hold.

But China's public castigation and the threat of being blacklisted from the vital mainland market led to a sudden u-turn by the airline.

Executives issued a series of statements supporting Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leaders, fired at least four staff and ordered employees not to take part in any strikes or illegal protests.&nbsp;

A flight attendant who was a union organiser also said she was dismissed without explanation.

The staff inside Cathay have since told AFP they believe a witchhunt is underway, with employees frantically deleting social media posts and gutting their friend's lists fearing disciplinary action if they are found to have any links with the protests.

Cathay's statement on Wednesday included a short quote from Slosar thanking his colleagues and expressing confidence in his successor&nbsp;but there was no reference to the recent political woes faced by the airline.

That contrasted with Hogg's resignation last month where he said he was stepping down "to take responsibility as a leader of the Company in view of recent events".

Analysts say the political purge inside Cathay may halt further sanctioning by China.&nbsp;

But by toeing Beijing's line, critics say Cathay has trashed its reputation as a totemic Hong Kong company, which has grown over 72 years in parallel with the city's status as a gateway to Asia.

Since Cathay's woes with Beijing, major businesses with interests in the mainland have swiftly moved to issue statements condemning protesters and supporting the crackdown by Hong Kong's police.

Cathay Pacific announced Wednesday its chairman John Slosar is stepping down to retire, the latest high-profile executive to leave the troubled airline after it drew Beijing's ire over pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific announced Wednesday its chairman John Slosar is stepping down to retire, the latest high-profile executive to leave the troubled airline after it drew Beijing's ire over pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. The flagship carrier has had a torrid few weeks after Chinese state media and authorities blasted the company because some of its 27,000 employees had taken part in -- or were sympathetic to -- anti-government protests currently rocking Hong Kong. In a statement posted on the Hong Kong stock exchange, Cathay said Slosar, 63, had stepped down and will be replaced as chairman by Patrick Healy, a veteran from the Swire Group conglomerate, the airline's majority shareholder. "His resignation is due to his retirement," the statement said, adding that the changes would take effect from November 6 at the conclusion of the company's board meeting. Slosar's departure ends a nearly four-decade career with Swire and Cathay and caps a tumultuous month of sudden management changes at the airline as it tries to claw its way out of Beijing's bad books. In August, CEO Rupert Hogg and another senior executive stepped down after China's aviation regulator banned airline staff who had supported the demonstrations from working on flights through its airspace and after state media encouraged a boycott in the crucial mainland market. Cathay's sin was to be perceived as being sympathetic to protesters, especially after some flight attendants and pilots joined a city-wide strike and protests. In July, Slosar had said he would not want to tell his tens of thousands of employees what to think or which political views to hold. But China's public castigation and the threat of being blacklisted from the vital mainland market led to a sudden u-turn by the airline. Executives issued a series of statements supporting Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leaders, fired at least four staff and ordered employees not to take part in any strikes or illegal protests. A flight attendant who was a union organiser also said she was dismissed without explanation. The staff inside Cathay have since told AFP they believe a witchhunt is underway, with employees frantically deleting social media posts and gutting their friend's lists fearing disciplinary action if they are found to have any links with the protests. Cathay's statement on Wednesday included a short quote from Slosar thanking his colleagues and expressing confidence in his successor but there was no reference to the recent political woes faced by the airline. That contrasted with Hogg's resignation last month where he said he was stepping down "to take responsibility as a leader of the Company in view of recent events". Analysts say the political purge inside Cathay may halt further sanctioning by China. But by toeing Beijing's line, critics say Cathay has trashed its reputation as a totemic Hong Kong company, which has grown over 72 years in parallel with the city's status as a gateway to Asia. Since Cathay's woes with Beijing, major businesses with interests in the mainland have swiftly moved to issue statements condemning protesters and supporting the crackdown by Hong Kong's police.

Cathay Pacific chairman John Slosar to step down

Beijing on Tuesday threw its backing behind <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-even-contemplated-hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-insists-she-will-stay-on-247240">Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam</a> after an audio recording emerged of her saying she wanted to quit over three months of unrest in the semi-autonomous city.

"We firmly support Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam in leading the SAR (Special Administrative Region) government," Yang Guang, spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's central government, said at a press conference.

Hong Kong has endured dozens of sometimes violent pro-democracy protests triggered by opposition to Lam's bid to push through a law allowing extraditions to mainland China.

Watch: Carrie Lam - never tendered a resignation to Beijing

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/carrie-lam-never-tendered-a-resignation-to-beijing-247250/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The demonstrations have evolved into a wider democracy campaign involving clashes between protesters and police, in the biggest challenge to China's rule over Hong Kong since the city's 1997 handover from the British.

The Chinese government expressed its support for Lam after Reuters news agency released an audio recording of her telling business leaders last week that she wanted to step down and take responsibility for the unrest.

Lam herself insisted earlier on Tuesday she had no intention of stepping down.

"I told myself repeatedly in the last three months that I and my team should stay on to help Hong Kong," Lam told a press conference in the city.

Lam said she had "not even contemplated" discussing her resignation with the Chinese government, which gives Hong Kong a restricted form of autonomy.

Beijing on Tuesday threw its backing behind Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam after an audio recording emerged of her saying she wanted to quit over three months of unrest in the semi-autonomous city.

Beijing on Tuesday threw its backing behind Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam after an audio recording emerged of her saying she wanted to quit over three months of unrest in the semi-autonomous city. "We firmly support Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam in leading the SAR (Special Administrative Region) government," Yang Guang, spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's central government, said at a press conference. Hong Kong has endured dozens of sometimes violent pro-democracy protests triggered by opposition to Lam's bid to push through a law allowing extraditions to mainland China. Watch: Carrie Lam - never tendered a resignation to Beijing × The demonstrations have evolved into a wider democracy campaign involving clashes between protesters and police, in the biggest challenge to China's rule over Hong Kong since the city's 1997 handover from the British. The Chinese government expressed its support for Lam after Reuters news agency released an audio recording of her telling business leaders last week that she wanted to step down and take responsibility for the unrest. Lam herself insisted earlier on Tuesday she had no intention of stepping down. "I told myself repeatedly in the last three months that I and my team should stay on to help Hong Kong," Lam told a press conference in the city. Lam said she had "not even contemplated" discussing her resignation with the Chinese government, which gives Hong Kong a restricted form of autonomy.

We firmly support Carrie Lam in leading Hong Kong: China

World stocks rose to a one-week high on cautious hopes for a rapprochement on trade between Beijing and Washington on Friday, though a perky dollar capped gains with China's yuan softening again, on track for its weakest month in 2-1/2 decades.

World stocks rose to a one-week high on cautious hopes for a rapprochement on trade between Beijing and Washington on Friday, though a perky dollar capped gains with China's yuan softening again, on track for its weakest month in 2-1/2 decades. For most of August global stocks have reeled and fixed income shone as deepening concerns over global trade and clear signs of a slowdown, possibly even a recession, in the global economy loomed large over financial markets. But the mood lifted after US President Donald Trump said some trade discussions were taking place with China on Thursday, with more talks scheduled. China's commerce ministry also said a September round of meetings was being discussed by the two sides, but added it was important for Washington to cancel a tariff increase. The MSCI All-Country World Index climbed 0.3 per cent but is on track for a near 3 per cent decline in August - only the second month the benchmark has spent in the red this year. It is the weakest of August for the index since 2015. European stocks on Friday extended the previous session's gains, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index up 0.3 per cent to trade at a fresh one-month high. "The trade war seesaw has certainly moved back in favour of riskier assets for now, with Trump and China supposedly holding a call yesterday," said Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid. Gains were helped by a surge in German real estate firms which saw the country's DAX index add 0.7 per cent. The picture was more mixed in Asia, where Chinese and Hong Kong stock markets dipped in and out of the red. Arrests or detentions of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong added to investor jitters, with the Chinese-ruled territory facing its first recession in a decade. Japan's Nikkei added 1.2 per cent, while South Korea's KOSPI jumped 1.8 per cent. US futures pointed to a firmer start to the day's trade, with E-Minis for the S&P500 up 0.3 per cent after more than 1 per cent gain on Wall Street overnight. Fixed income markets took a breather on Friday, at the end of a stellar month that has seen prices rally and borrowing costs push deeper and deeper into negative territory. US Treasury yields nudged higher overnight, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury climbing to 1.5349 per cent from a three-year low of 1.443 per cent touched earlier this week. It was still below two-year yields at 1.5419 per cent. Such an inversion was last seen in 2007 and correctly foretold the great recession that followed a year later. Eurozone government bond yields were steady near record lows as data showed the bloc's inflation remained low at 1.0 per cent in August, well below the European Central Bank's target and bolstering expectations for European Central Bank stimulus in September. Germany is considering lowering its corporate tax rate, while the US government is thinking about issuing 50- and 100-year bonds in a bid to steepen the yield curve. Recent economic data has also pointed to a global growth slowdown with business investment, manufacturing activity, and exports all going south across major economies. Investors were focused on a string of economic releases due over the weekend including China's official manufacturing survey, which would provide a good gauge of the real impact from the Sino-US trade war. Glum yuan In currency markets, the dollar nudged to a one month high of 98.609 against a basket of six major currencies. Yet the trade optimism failed to inspire China's yuan, which resumed its decline with spot yuan at 7.1462 against the dollar. The currency is on track for its weakest month since Beijing's currency reform in 1994 after it broke through the key 7 to the dollar level earlier in August. "The yuan move back to 7 and beyond has been a distinct possibility for months. It is clearly down due to the tariffs," said Neil Mellor, senior FX strategist at BNY Mellon in London. "It does help them to some extent to absorb the tariff costs - it is one of the few options they have. The fiscal option is limited after years of excess, and the monetary stimulus has already been unprecedented this year." The Australian dollar, often seen as a proxy bet on the Chinese economy, slipped towards a 10-year trough. Elsewhere, the euro plunged to a one-month low against the dollar, as investors looked for aggressive easing by the European Central Bank and ignored doubts by some policymakers about the need for more stimulus. The Japanese yen stood at 106.40 to the dollar, while the euro was 0.2 per cent down at $1.10395. Sterling was steady at $1.2182 against the dollar ahead of a crucial few days for parliament next week which could even result in a no-confidence motion and a new election. In commodities, spot gold came off recent highs to trade at $1,526 an ounce. Silver was at $18.37 an ounce after hitting its highest level in more than two years. US crude slipped 57 cents to $56.14 a barrel while Brent fell 30 cents to $60.78 a barrel.

Global stocks scale one-week high on trade hopes, yuan softens

The United States and China gave signs on Thursday that they will resume trade talks as the two economic superpowers discussed the next round of in-person negotiations in September ahead of a looming deadline for additional US tariffs.

The United States and China gave signs on Thursday that they will resume trade talks as the two economic superpowers discussed the next round of in-person negotiations in September ahead of a looming deadline for additional US tariffs. A new round of US tariffs on some Chinese goods is scheduled to take effect on Sunday, threatening to escalate an already bitter trade war. President Donald Trump said some discussions were taking place on Thursday, with more talks scheduled. China's commerce ministry also said a September round of meetings was being discussed by the two sides but said it was important for Washington to cancel a tariff increase. "There is a talk scheduled for today at a different level," Trump said in an interview with Fox News Radio, without giving details. A spokesman for the United States trade representative could not immediately be reached for comment on the planned call. "China wants to make a deal," Trump said in the interview, adding that China was losing millions of jobs under pressure from US tariffs. "I think they want to make a deal, I sort of think they have to make a deal. We’ll see what happens." The Trump administration on Sunday is scheduled to begin collecting 15 per cent tariffs on more than $125 billion in Chinese imports, including smart speakers, Bluetooth headphones and many types of footwear. Trump last Friday said he was increasing existing and planned tariffs by 5 per cent on about $550 billion worth of Chinese imports after Beijing announced its retaliatory tariffs on US goods. Tariffs of 15 per cent on cellphones, laptop computers, toys, and clothing are to take effect on December 15. The US Trade Representative's Office said on Thursday it will collect public comments through September 20 on a planned tariff increase to 30 per cent on a $250 billion list of goods already hit with a 25 per cent tariff. US stocks rallied more than 1 per cent on Thursday on positive sentiment about the trade talks, although some analysts noted that Trump's comments were light on substance. Cancel the tariffs In Beijing, the Chinese commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng told reporters that China hopes Washington can cancel the planned tariff increase to avoid an escalation in the trade war. "The most important thing at the moment is to create necessary conditions for both sides to continue negotiations," he said during a weekly briefing, adding that China was lodging "solemn representation" with the United States. Gao said China had "ample" countermeasures to retaliate against the planned US tariffs, but talks in the current circumstances should focus on whether the tariffs could be cancelled. He did not answer directly when asked if his remarks suggested China would not retaliate against the latest US tariff threat. For two years, the Trump administration has sought to pressure China to make sweeping changes to its policies on intellectual property protection, forced transfers of technology to Chinese firms, industrial subsidies and market access. China has consistently denied Washington's accusations that it engages in unfair trade practices, vowing to fight back in kind and criticizing US measures as protectionist. A survey of US companies doing business in China found that they are largely still making profits in China, but 81 per cent said escalating US-China trade tensions have affected their business operations. That marks an 8 percentage-point increase from 2018, said the US-China Business Council, which represents more than 220 US companies ranging from Boeing Co to Archer Daniels Midland and Hewlett Packard. The council's president, Craig Allen, a former senior US government official and expert on China, urged the United States and China to return to the negotiating table to end damaging tariffs and avert lasting damage to bilateral business ties. The survey showed US companies are losing sales because their Chinese customers increasingly view US companies as unreliable business partners given the volatility of the bilateral commercial relationship. Nearly 40 per cent of those surveyed said they lost sales because of Chinese partners' concerns about doing business with US companies, a seven-fold increase over 2018. In July 2018, the US-China trade dispute boiled over in tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of each other's goods and threatens to engulf all trade between the countries, putting global growth at risk.

Signs of new US - China trade discussions emerge as increased tariffs loom

Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi told a Hong Kong business delegation that more support should be given to the city's government to end the violence that has evolved into the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-slams-g7-for-carping-remarks-on-hong-kongs-internal-affairs-246022">biggest crisis</a> it has faced since the return to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hong Kong has been engulfed in angry and sometimes <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-violence-becoming-more-serious-but-government-in-control-carrie-lam-245949">violent protests against the government</a> for three months, sparked by a now-suspended extradition bill and concerns that Beijing was trying to bring the territory under greater mainland control.

Police fired water cannon and tear gas at anti-government demonstrators on Sunday, and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam later warned that authorities would be forced to stamp down on the escalating violence.

The China Daily warned in an editorial that the gap between the government and protesters appeared to be "unbridgeable", with the administration not able to "swallow the pills the demonstrators prescribe".

Watch: China denounces G7 Statement on Hong Kong

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-denounces-g7-statement-on-hong-kong-246041/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, Wang said in Beijing on Tuesday that, while Hong Kong was facing its most serious challenge since the handover, it was capable of overcoming its problems with the support of the government and the unity of Hong Kong residents.

According to a notice on China's official government website, Wang said business groups should also play a positive role by helping young people take part in the city's economic development.

Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi told a Hong Kong business delegation that more support should be given to the city's government to end the violence that has evolved into the biggest crisis it has faced since the return to Chinese rule in 1997.

Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi told a Hong Kong business delegation that more support should be given to the city's government to end the violence that has evolved into the biggest crisis it has faced since the return to Chinese rule in 1997. Hong Kong has been engulfed in angry and sometimes violent protests against the government for three months, sparked by a now-suspended extradition bill and concerns that Beijing was trying to bring the territory under greater mainland control. Police fired water cannon and tear gas at anti-government demonstrators on Sunday, and Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam later warned that authorities would be forced to stamp down on the escalating violence. The China Daily warned in an editorial that the gap between the government and protesters appeared to be "unbridgeable", with the administration not able to "swallow the pills the demonstrators prescribe". Watch: China denounces G7 Statement on Hong Kong However, Wang said in Beijing on Tuesday that, while Hong Kong was facing its most serious challenge since the handover, it was capable of overcoming its problems with the support of the government and the unity of Hong Kong residents. According to a notice on China's official government website, Wang said business groups should also play a positive role by helping young people take part in the city's economic development.

Hong Kong facing worst crisis since 1997 handover: Chinese diplomat

Oil prices rose on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump predicted a trade deal with China after positive comments by Beijing, calming nerves after a round of tit-for-tat tariff hikes had sent markets reeling.

Brent crude was up by 25 cents, or 0.4%, at $58.95 a barrel by 0214 GMT, after falling 1% in the previous session, dropping for the third day in a row.

US crude was up by 30 cents or 0.6% at $53.94 a barrel, having also dropped 1% on Monday for the fourth day of declines.

Trump on Monday said he believed China was sincere about wanting to reach a deal, while Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said China was willing to resolve the dispute through "calm" negotiations, settling global markets.

"For now, the street is in thrall to the President's comments, with financial markets doing abrupt changes of direction on his words that wouldn't look out of place in Fast and the Furious film," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA.

Oil prices have fallen around 20% from 2019 high reached in April, in part because of worries that the US-China trade conflict is hurting the global economy, which could dent demand for oil.

China's Commerce Ministry said last week it would impose additional tariffs of 5% or 10% on a total of 5,078 products originating from the United States, including crude oil, agricultural products and small aircraft.

In retaliation, Trump said he was ordering US companies to look at ways to close operations in China and make products in the United States.

"Unless you believe a trade deal will happen the slowdown in the global economy continues ... and earnings all over the globe will be under pressure," said Greg McKenna, strategist at McKenna Macro.

The measures are prompting reactions from Chinese companies, with Sinopec seeking a tariff exemption for importing US oil in the coming months, sources told Reuters.

Meanwhile, US crude oil and gasoline inventories likely fell last week, while distillate stockpiles rose, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday.

Five analysts polled by Reuters estimated, on average, that crude inventories fell 2.1 million barrels in the week to August 23.

Oil prices rose on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump predicted a trade deal with China after positive comments by Beijing, calming nerves after a round of tit-for-tat tariff hikes had sent markets reeling.

Oil prices rose on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump predicted a trade deal with China after positive comments by Beijing, calming nerves after a round of tit-for-tat tariff hikes had sent markets reeling. Brent crude was up by 25 cents, or 0.4%, at $58.95 a barrel by 0214 GMT, after falling 1% in the previous session, dropping for the third day in a row. US crude was up by 30 cents or 0.6% at $53.94 a barrel, having also dropped 1% on Monday for the fourth day of declines. Trump on Monday said he believed China was sincere about wanting to reach a deal, while Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said China was willing to resolve the dispute through "calm" negotiations, settling global markets. "For now, the street is in thrall to the President's comments, with financial markets doing abrupt changes of direction on his words that wouldn't look out of place in Fast and the Furious film," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA. Oil prices have fallen around 20% from 2019 high reached in April, in part because of worries that the US-China trade conflict is hurting the global economy, which could dent demand for oil. China's Commerce Ministry said last week it would impose additional tariffs of 5% or 10% on a total of 5,078 products originating from the United States, including crude oil, agricultural products and small aircraft. In retaliation, Trump said he was ordering US companies to look at ways to close operations in China and make products in the United States. "Unless you believe a trade deal will happen the slowdown in the global economy continues ... and earnings all over the globe will be under pressure," said Greg McKenna, strategist at McKenna Macro. The measures are prompting reactions from Chinese companies, with Sinopec seeking a tariff exemption for importing US oil in the coming months, sources told Reuters. Meanwhile, US crude oil and gasoline inventories likely fell last week, while distillate stockpiles rose, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday. Five analysts polled by Reuters estimated, on average, that crude inventories fell 2.1 million barrels in the week to August 23.

Oil rises as US-China trade comments calm markets

An Australian academic has been arrested in China on suspicion&nbsp;of "espionage", foreign minister Marise Payne said Tuesday, in a development sure to deepen tensions between the two countries.

Yang Hengjun had been held in Beijing for several months without charge, but Payne said the author and scholar had been formally arrested on 23 August.

Yang, an outspoken pro-democracy activist, was detained in January shortly after making a rare return to China from the United States.

"If Dr Yang is being held for his political beliefs, he should be released," Payne said, expressing concern about "harsh conditions". "We expect, that basic standards of justice and procedural fairness are met."

China's near-silence about Yang's fate and the refusal to grant consular access has been a point of friction in relations that have markedly deteriorated in recent months.

There is a growing concern in Australia about Beijing's influence on domestic politics and growing military clout in the Pacific.

On Monday, an official corruption inquiry heard that a well-connected Chinese property developer delivered Aus $100,000 in cash to the opposition Labor Party's headquarters before a 2015 election.

The man, Huang Xiangmo, was effectively banned from returning to Australia in February.

Australia has traditionally been keen to avoid friction with its biggest trading partner, but Payne's statement was unusually strongly worded.

"Dr Yang has been held in Beijing in harsh conditions without charge for more than seven months," she said.

"Since that time, China has not explained the reasons for Dr Yang's detention, nor has it allowed him access to his lawyers or family visits."

Payne said she had raised the case five times with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, in person and via letters.

Yang had initially been held in "residential surveillance at a designated location" before being moved to "criminal detention", his lawyer told AFP.

An Australian academic has been arrested in China on suspicion of "espionage", foreign minister Marise Payne said Tuesday, in a development sure to deepen tensions between the two countries.

An Australian academic has been arrested in China on suspicion of "espionage", foreign minister Marise Payne said Tuesday, in a development sure to deepen tensions between the two countries. Yang Hengjun had been held in Beijing for several months without charge, but Payne said the author and scholar had been formally arrested on 23 August. Yang, an outspoken pro-democracy activist, was detained in January shortly after making a rare return to China from the United States. "If Dr Yang is being held for his political beliefs, he should be released," Payne said, expressing concern about "harsh conditions". "We expect, that basic standards of justice and procedural fairness are met." China's near-silence about Yang's fate and the refusal to grant consular access has been a point of friction in relations that have markedly deteriorated in recent months. There is a growing concern in Australia about Beijing's influence on domestic politics and growing military clout in the Pacific. On Monday, an official corruption inquiry heard that a well-connected Chinese property developer delivered Aus $100,000 in cash to the opposition Labor Party's headquarters before a 2015 election. The man, Huang Xiangmo, was effectively banned from returning to Australia in February. Australia has traditionally been keen to avoid friction with its biggest trading partner, but Payne's statement was unusually strongly worded. "Dr Yang has been held in Beijing in harsh conditions without charge for more than seven months," she said. "Since that time, China has not explained the reasons for Dr Yang's detention, nor has it allowed him access to his lawyers or family visits." Payne said she had raised the case five times with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, in person and via letters. Yang had initially been held in "residential surveillance at a designated location" before being moved to "criminal detention", his lawyer told AFP.

Australian academic Yang Hengjun arrested in China over spying charges

China's fifth annual World Robot Conference opened to the public in Beijing on Thursday (August 22), with bionic flying birds, robo-superheroes, and Taiji-playing robots all on show. A robotic flying bird, inspired by a herring gull and created by German automation firm Festo, wowed as it soared over crowds of people.

Bionic flying bird soars at China robot show

China's fifth annual World Robot Conference opened to the public in Beijing on Thursday, with bionic flying birds, robo-superheroes, and Taiji-playing robots all on show. A robotic flying bird, inspired by a herring gull and created by German automation firm Festo, wowed as it soared over crowds of people. The robot uses lightweight material weighing around 400 grams, and it is able to take off, fly and land using its own power. It also uses GPS navigation and a remote camera to achieve a semi-autonomous flight.

Washington's attempt to politicize the China-U.S. trade issue by interfering in China's domestic affairs is not helping to resolve the dispute, as Beijing has said time and again that it won't budge on an issue of principle, according to a China Media Group (CMG) commentary published on Tuesday.

Politicizing China-U.S. trade issue won't help resolve dispute

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence urged China on Monday to respect the integrity of Hong Kong's laws and repeated President Donald Trump's warning that it will be harder for the United States to make a trade deal with Beijing if there was violence in the Chinese-ruled city.

Pence urges China to respect Hong Kong laws amid protest

Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday said she hoped "calm" will prevail after a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-facebook-dismantle-social-media-campaign-in-china-that-tried-to-undermine-hong-kong-protests-244261">massive weekend march</a> passed without clashes between police and demonstrators, but again refused to give ground to protester demands.&nbsp;

Hundreds of thousands of people marched through the heart of the city on Sunday in a show of peaceful protest after escalating street battles with police drew stark warnings from Beijing and threatened to undermine public support.

"On Sunday, many Hong Kong residents participated in a rally at Victoria Park that was largely peaceful," Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at a televised press conference.&nbsp;

"I wholeheartedly hope that this is the beginning of society returning to calm and staying away from violence."&nbsp;

The protests began against a proposed extradition law to China but morphed into a pro-democracy movement sparking the city's biggest political crisis in decades.

They have been fuelled by anger over alleged police brutality, with tear gas and rubber bullets deployed against protesters.&nbsp;

Lam reported 174 complaints have been made against police since protests began.

She said they would be "robustly" investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Council, whose head is appointed by the chief executive.

However, the probe is unlikely to satisfy protesters who have called for an independent inquiry by an external body.&nbsp;

In addition to universal suffrage and cancelling the extradition bill, protesters also demand the release of those detained during clashes.

Lam, pilloried by press and protesters for failing to step down while the city plunges into crisis, said her government would continue a "fact-finding mission" on how to move forward from the demonstrations.&nbsp;

She took a softer tone than in recent weeks, but again refused to formally withdraw the contentious extradition bill, repeating only that: "The bill is dead. There's no plan to revive this bill."

The chaos has caused mounting concerns for business and investment in Hong Kong, with the effects of the trouble particularly impacting the tourism industry.&nbsp;

"One of its most important strengths is the rule of law," Lam said of the financial hub.&nbsp;

"That's why we have been doing so much to ensure that the rule of law is being upheld and respected in Hong Kong."

Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday said she hoped "calm" will prevail after a massive weekend march passed without clashes between police and demonstrators, but again refused to give ground to protester demands.

Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday said she hoped "calm" will prevail after a massive weekend march passed without clashes between police and demonstrators, but again refused to give ground to protester demands. Hundreds of thousands of people marched through the heart of the city on Sunday in a show of peaceful protest after escalating street battles with police drew stark warnings from Beijing and threatened to undermine public support. "On Sunday, many Hong Kong residents participated in a rally at Victoria Park that was largely peaceful," Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at a televised press conference. "I wholeheartedly hope that this is the beginning of society returning to calm and staying away from violence." The protests began against a proposed extradition law to China but morphed into a pro-democracy movement sparking the city's biggest political crisis in decades. They have been fuelled by anger over alleged police brutality, with tear gas and rubber bullets deployed against protesters. Lam reported 174 complaints have been made against police since protests began. She said they would be "robustly" investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Council, whose head is appointed by the chief executive. However, the probe is unlikely to satisfy protesters who have called for an independent inquiry by an external body. In addition to universal suffrage and cancelling the extradition bill, protesters also demand the release of those detained during clashes. Lam, pilloried by press and protesters for failing to step down while the city plunges into crisis, said her government would continue a "fact-finding mission" on how to move forward from the demonstrations. She took a softer tone than in recent weeks, but again refused to formally withdraw the contentious extradition bill, repeating only that: "The bill is dead. There's no plan to revive this bill." The chaos has caused mounting concerns for business and investment in Hong Kong, with the effects of the trouble particularly impacting the tourism industry. "One of its most important strengths is the rule of law," Lam said of the financial hub. "That's why we have been doing so much to ensure that the rule of law is being upheld and respected in Hong Kong."

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam hopes peaceful rally presages 'return to calm'

Washington's recent test of a ground-launched cruise missile will result in a new round of arms race and will jeopardise international security, the Chinese foreign ministry's spokesman, Geng Shuang, said on Tuesday.

Washington's recent test of a ground-launched cruise missile will result in a new round of arms race and will jeopardise international security, the Chinese foreign ministry's spokesman, Geng Shuang, said on Tuesday. On August 2, the Russian-US Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), which banned ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometres (310 to 3,417 miles), was terminated. The US Department of Defense conducted on Sunday a flight test of a conventional ground-launched cruise missile, which hit its target after flying more than 500 kilometres. "These actions by the United States will result in a new arms race and an escalation of military tensions, and will also seriously damage the structure of regional and international security," Geng said at a briefing. "This amply confirms that the United States indeed aimed at getting rid of restrictions, at developing advanced missiles and at securing unilateral military supremacy when it withdrew from the [INF] treaty," Geng stressed.

US missile test will result in arms race, seriously damage international security, warns China

Britain's Foreign Office said Tuesday it was "extremely concerned" by reports that a Hong Kong consulate employee had been detained by mainland Chinese authorities on his way back to the city.

Britain's Foreign Office said Tuesday it was "extremely concerned" by reports that a Hong Kong consulate employee had been detained by mainland Chinese authorities on his way back to the city. The Hong Kong consulate refused to confirm the man's name or further details of the apparent incident and a Chinese official said he was "not aware" of the situation. But a report in local news outlet HK01 said the consulate employee had failed to return after travelling to Shenzhen in Guangdong province, an hour outside Hong Kong, for a one-day business meeting on August 8. "We are extremely concerned by reports that a member of our team has been detained returning to Hong Kong from Shenzhen," a Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesperson said in a statement. "We are providing support to his family and seeking further information from authorities in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong," it added. Hong Kong police confirmed they had opened a missing person's case on August 9. "So far we have not received any notification from mainland authorities," of his possible detention in China, spokesman senior superintendent Kong Wing-Cheung told reporters. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said: "I am not aware of the relevant situation." Weeks of rallies The incident comes as the financial hub faces its worst political crisis in decades. Pro-democracy protesters have staged weeks of rallies that have often descended into violent clashes with police. Beijing has taken an increasingly hard line against the protests, which it sees as a direct challenge to its rule. It has also repeatedly warned Britain the former colonial ruler of Hong Kong against "interference" in the protests, and relations between the two countries have been increasingly strained over the issue. The demonstrations were triggered by a controversial extradition law but have broadened into a call for wider democratic reforms. China had promised to respect the freedoms in the semi-autonomous territory after its handover from Britain in 1997. Hong Kong enjoys liberties unseen on the mainland, including freedom of speech, unfettered access to the internet and an independent judiciary. But the ongoing protests have raised fears of a Chinese crackdown. Known for its high-tech market, the metropolis of Shenzhen sits behind China's "Great Firewall", which restricts access to news and information. With Beijing attempting to shape the narrative of the unrest in Hong Kong, Chinese authorities have increased their inspections at the border, including checking the phones and devices of some passengers for photos of the protests.

Britain 'concerned' by reports Hong Kong consulate employee detained in China

China slammed Taiwan Monday for offering asylum to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-facing-biggest-crisis-since-handover-senior-china-official-241270">Hong Kong people facing prosecution</a> for involvement in anti-government protests, telling the island's leaders to "stop meddling" in the territory's affairs.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fights-break-out-as-taiwans-president-tsai-visits-new-york-235282">Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen</a> voiced support last month for granting asylum to some Hong Kong protesters, with the semi-autonomous financial hub during an unprecedented political crisis.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Chinese cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, warned Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party to "stop undermining the rule of law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs, and stop indulging criminals in any way".

Taiwanese authorities "ignore the facts and reverse black and white, not only masking the crimes of a small number of Hong Kong militants but also fuelling their arrogance for destroying Hong Kong", said Ma.

Last month after dozens of Hong Kong activists reportedly involved in an unprecedented storming of the city's parliament fled to Taiwan, the Taipei said it would assist those seeking sanctuary.

"They openly claim to provide (protesters) asylum, making Taiwan into a 'haven sheltering criminals', where does this put the safety and welfare of the Taiwan people?" asked Ma.&nbsp;

Beijing regards Taiwan as a part of China awaiting reunification, but the island is a self-ruled democracy.

The protest movement in Hong Kong was sparked by widespread opposition to a plan for allowing extraditions to the Chinese mainland but has since morphed into a broader call for democratic rights.

Taiwan's history of providing sanctuary to Chinese dissidents has been mixed.&nbsp;

The island still does not recognise the legal concept of asylum but has, on occasions, allowed dissidents to stay on long-term visas.

Ties with Beijing have soured since Tsai came to power in 2016 because her party refuses to recognise the idea that Taiwan is part of "one China".

China slammed Taiwan Monday for offering asylum to Hong Kong people facing prosecution for involvement in anti-government protests, telling the island's leaders to "stop meddling" in the territory's affairs.

China slammed Taiwan Monday for offering asylum to Hong Kong people facing prosecution for involvement in anti-government protests, telling the island's leaders to "stop meddling" in the territory's affairs. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen voiced support last month for granting asylum to some Hong Kong protesters, with the semi-autonomous financial hub during an unprecedented political crisis. Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the Chinese cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, warned Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party to "stop undermining the rule of law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs, and stop indulging criminals in any way". Taiwanese authorities "ignore the facts and reverse black and white, not only masking the crimes of a small number of Hong Kong militants but also fuelling their arrogance for destroying Hong Kong", said Ma. Last month after dozens of Hong Kong activists reportedly involved in an unprecedented storming of the city's parliament fled to Taiwan, the Taipei said it would assist those seeking sanctuary. "They openly claim to provide (protesters) asylum, making Taiwan into a 'haven sheltering criminals', where does this put the safety and welfare of the Taiwan people?" asked Ma. Beijing regards Taiwan as a part of China awaiting reunification, but the island is a self-ruled democracy. The protest movement in Hong Kong was sparked by widespread opposition to a plan for allowing extraditions to the Chinese mainland but has since morphed into a broader call for democratic rights. Taiwan's history of providing sanctuary to Chinese dissidents has been mixed. The island still does not recognise the legal concept of asylum but has, on occasions, allowed dissidents to stay on long-term visas. Ties with Beijing have soured since Tsai came to power in 2016 because her party refuses to recognise the idea that Taiwan is part of "one China".

China lashes out at Taiwan over offer to Hong Kong protesters

Hong Kong democracy activists are hoping to get out a huge crowd later Sunday in a bid to show the city's leaders that their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-believes-urgent-steps-needed-to-de-escalate-hong-kong-crisis-foreign-policy-chief-243721">protest movement remains defiant</a> despite increasingly stark warnings from Beijing.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rival-rallies-as-hong-kongs-divisions-deepen-243616">Ten weeks of demonstrations</a> have plunged the international finance hub into crisis and communist-ruled mainland China has taken an increasingly hardline tone, including labelling the more violent protester actions "terrorist-like".

Clashes have broken out between police and hardcore protesters but the movement has won few concessions from Beijing or the city's unelected leadership.

On Tuesday, protesters blocked passengers from boarding flights at the city's airport and later assaulted two men they accused of being Chinese spies.

The images damaged a campaign that until then had largely only targeted the police or government institutions, and prompted some soul-searching among protesters.

China's propaganda apparatus seized on the violence, with state media churning out a deluge of damning articles, pictures and videos.

State media also ran images of military personnel and armoured personnel carriers across the border in Shenzhen, prompting the United States to warn Beijing against sending in troops, which analysts say would be a reputational and economic disaster for China.

In the aftermath of Tuesday's airport chaos, some protester groups apologised and vowed to hold a huge rally on Sunday.

Billed as a "rational, non-violent" protest, it is being organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, a group that eschews confrontations with police and was the driving force behind record-breaking rallies in June and July that saw hundreds of thousands of people hit the streets.

March banned

During smaller protest marches on Saturday -- which ended without the kind of largescale clashes that have become so commonplace each weekend -- many protesters chanted "See you in Victoria Park!" as they left the streets.

Watch:&nbsp;Hundreds take part in teachers' rally braving downpour in Hong Kong

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-hundreds-take-part-in-teachers-rally-braving-downpour-243717/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The park has long been used as the staging point for the city's years of democracy protests and will host Sunday's demonstration.

Police have given permission for the rally to go ahead but banned a proposed march.&nbsp;

Previous bans in recent weeks have simply been ignored by protesters and have soon led to clashes with riot police.

The protests were sparked by opposition to a plan to allow extraditions to the mainland, but have since morphed into a wider call for democratic rights in the semi-autonomous city.

Under a deal signed with Britain, authoritarian China agreed to allow Hong Kong to keep its unique freedoms when it was handed back in 1997.

But many Hong Kongers feel those freedoms are being eroded, especially since China's hardline president Xi Jinping came to power.

In the last two months, millions of people have hit the streets while clashes have broken out between police and small groups of hardcore protesters.

Battles between police firing tear gas and rubber bullets -- and hardcore protesters using rocks, Molotov cocktails and slingshots -- have since become routine in a city once renowned for its stability.

Beyond suspending the extradition bill, Beijing and city leader Carrie Lam have shown no desire to meet key demands such as an inquiry into police violence, the complete withdrawal of the bill and an amnesty.

But protesters remain unbowed, despite the arrests of more than 700 people and 11 consecutive weekends of rallies that have won few concessions.

Beijing has turned the screws on Hong Kong's businesses, pressuring them to toe the line and condemn the protesters.

On Friday, Cathay Pacific announced the shock resignation of CEO Rupert Hogg after the carrier was excoriated by Beijing because some staff supported the pro-democracy protests.

A day later the "Big Four" accountancy firms scrambled to distance themselves from an advert placed in a newspaper purportedly by employees saying they supported the protests.

Hong Kong democracy activists are hoping to get out a huge crowd later Sunday in a bid to show the city's leaders that their protest movement remains defiant despite increasingly stark warnings from Beijing.

Hong Kong democracy activists are hoping to get out a huge crowd later Sunday in a bid to show the city's leaders that their protest movement remains defiant despite increasingly stark warnings from Beijing. Ten weeks of demonstrations have plunged the international finance hub into crisis and communist-ruled mainland China has taken an increasingly hardline tone, including labelling the more violent protester actions "terrorist-like". Clashes have broken out between police and hardcore protesters but the movement has won few concessions from Beijing or the city's unelected leadership. On Tuesday, protesters blocked passengers from boarding flights at the city's airport and later assaulted two men they accused of being Chinese spies. The images damaged a campaign that until then had largely only targeted the police or government institutions, and prompted some soul-searching among protesters. China's propaganda apparatus seized on the violence, with state media churning out a deluge of damning articles, pictures and videos. State media also ran images of military personnel and armoured personnel carriers across the border in Shenzhen, prompting the United States to warn Beijing against sending in troops, which analysts say would be a reputational and economic disaster for China. In the aftermath of Tuesday's airport chaos, some protester groups apologised and vowed to hold a huge rally on Sunday. Billed as a "rational, non-violent" protest, it is being organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, a group that eschews confrontations with police and was the driving force behind record-breaking rallies in June and July that saw hundreds of thousands of people hit the streets. March banned During smaller protest marches on Saturday -- which ended without the kind of largescale clashes that have become so commonplace each weekend -- many protesters chanted "See you in Victoria Park!" as they left the streets. Watch: Hundreds take part in teachers' rally braving downpour in Hong Kong The park has long been used as the staging point for the city's years of democracy protests and will host Sunday's demonstration. Police have given permission for the rally to go ahead but banned a proposed march. Previous bans in recent weeks have simply been ignored by protesters and have soon led to clashes with riot police. The protests were sparked by opposition to a plan to allow extraditions to the mainland, but have since morphed into a wider call for democratic rights in the semi-autonomous city. Under a deal signed with Britain, authoritarian China agreed to allow Hong Kong to keep its unique freedoms when it was handed back in 1997. But many Hong Kongers feel those freedoms are being eroded, especially since China's hardline president Xi Jinping came to power. In the last two months, millions of people have hit the streets while clashes have broken out between police and small groups of hardcore protesters. Battles between police firing tear gas and rubber bullets -- and hardcore protesters using rocks, Molotov cocktails and slingshots -- have since become routine in a city once renowned for its stability. Beyond suspending the extradition bill, Beijing and city leader Carrie Lam have shown no desire to meet key demands such as an inquiry into police violence, the complete withdrawal of the bill and an amnesty. But protesters remain unbowed, despite the arrests of more than 700 people and 11 consecutive weekends of rallies that have won few concessions. Beijing has turned the screws on Hong Kong's businesses, pressuring them to toe the line and condemn the protesters. On Friday, Cathay Pacific announced the shock resignation of CEO Rupert Hogg after the carrier was excoriated by Beijing because some staff supported the pro-democracy protests. A day later the "Big Four" accountancy firms scrambled to distance themselves from an advert placed in a newspaper purportedly by employees saying they supported the protests.

Defiant Hong Kong protesters vow huge rally despite Beijing threats

A bad year for Xi Jinping clouds Communist China's 70th birthday celebrations

Hong Kong democracy activists kicked off a weekend of fresh rallies on Saturday in a major test for the movement following criticism over an airport protest earlier this week and as concerns mount over Beijing's next move.

Hong Kong democracy activists kicked off a weekend of fresh rallies on Saturday in a major test for the movement following criticism over an airport protest earlier this week and as concerns mount over Beijing's next move. The new marches came as thousands of pro-government supporters many waving Chinese flags gathered in a park to condemn their opponents and support the police, a stark illustration of the polarisation now coursing through the city. Ten weeks of demonstrations have plunged the international finance hub into crisis, with communist-ruled mainland China taking an increasingly hardline tone, including labelling the more violent protester actions "terrorist-like". Democracy activists are billing the weekend rallies as a way to show Beijing and the city's unelected leaders that their movement still enjoys broad public support, despite increasingly violent tactics deployed by a minority of hardcore protesters that have cast a shadow. On Tuesday, protesters blocked passengers from boarding flights at the city's airport and later assaulted two men they accused of being Chinese spies. The images damaged a movement that until then had largely only targeted the police or government institutions, and prompted some soul-searching among protesters. China's propaganda apparatus seized on the violence, with state media churning out a deluge of damning articles, pictures, and videos. State media also ran images of military personnel and armoured personnel carriers across the border in Shenzhen, prompting the United States to warn Beijing against sending in troops, which analysts say would be a reputational and economic disaster for China. Rival rallies Saturday's rallies began with thousands of teachers marching through torrential rain in support of the largely youth-led protests. In the afternoon thousands also marched through Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan, two harbourside districts popular with mainland tourists. Some protesters targeted the local offices of the staunchly pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Unions, pelting it with eggs and spraying graffiti. "The government has yet to respond to a single demand and has escalated force through the police to suppress the people's voices," a 25-year-old protester, who gave his first name Mars, told AFP. "If we don't come out, our future, our next generation will face even more suppression," he added. But across the harbour at the pro-Beijing rally, where a giant screen showed recent clashes with police, 60-year-old retiree Irene Man had a very different take as she rounded on democracy protesters. "Their acts are not human, they have all become monsters. They are rioters, with no reason, no thinking," she said. The biggest pro-democracy rally is expected to take place on Sunday on the main island. Billed as a "rational, non-violent" protest, it is being organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, a group that eschews confrontations with police and was the driving force behind record-breaking rallies in June and July that saw hundreds of thousands of people hit the streets. Businesses under pressure The protests were sparked by opposition to a plan to allow extraditions to the mainland, but have since morphed into a wider call for democratic rights in the semi-autonomous city. Millions of people have hit the streets while clashes have broken out between police and small groups of hardcore protesters. Battles between police firing tear gas and rubber bullets and hardcore protesters using rocks, Molotov cocktails and slingshots have since become routine in an international finance hub once renowned for stability. Beyond suspending the extradition bill, Beijing and city leader Carrie Lam have shown no desire to meet key demands such as an inquiry into police violence, the complete withdrawal of the bill and an amnesty. But protesters remain unbowed, despite the arrests of more than 700 people and 11 consecutive weekends of rallies that have won few concessions. Beijing has turned the screws on Hong Kong's businesses, pressuring them to toe the line and condemn the protesters. On Friday, Cathay Pacific announced the shock resignation of CEO Rupert Hogg after the carrier was excoriated by Beijing because some staff supported the pro-democracy protests. On Saturday, the "Big Four" accountancy firms scrambled to distance themselves from an advert placed in a newspaper purportedly by employees saying they supported the protests. Deloitte and PwC posted statements on their websites saying the ad does not represent their positions and expressing opposition to violent or illegal behaviour. In statements quoted by Chinese state news agency Xinhua, KPMG and EY also expressed opposition to violence and illegal acts.

Thousands take to streets with rival rallies as Hong Kong's divisions deepen

When Beijing said this week that it saw the "first signs of terrorism" among Hong Kong's young pro-democracy protesters, it marked an ominous step in a progression of escalating rhetoric.

When Beijing said this week that it saw the "first signs of terrorism" among Hong Kong's young pro-democracy protesters, it marked an ominous step in a progression of escalating rhetoric. Weeks of rallies, demonstrations, and occupations have seen millions of people take to Hong Kong's streets in the biggest challenge to China's rule of the semi-autonomous city since its 1997 handover from Britain. And as tensions between demonstrators and Hong Kong authorities intensify so has the messaging from the central Chinese government, as it seeks to shape how the protests are perceived both overseas and on the mainland, where social media and news outlets are tightly controlled. Here's how Beijing's framing of the protests has evolved: Pro-extradition crowds On June 9, crowds bring central Hong Kong to a standstill to protest a controversial extradition law that critics say would erode freedoms in the city. Organisers say more than a million people marched through the streets in opposition to the bill. State-run news agency Xinhua downplays it as a "public procession." That evening's main news broadcast by state-run CCTV does not mention the protests and censored searches for the demonstration on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform yield no results. But in the following days, state media changes tactics: they de-emphasise the opposition marches and focus on support for the bill instead. "800,000 say 'yes' to rendition bill," reads one-China Daily piece, which describes the opposition rally as a much smaller counter-protest of "about 240,000" people. A Chinese-language People's Daily article echoes the same line, claiming "all walks of life have expressed their support for the amendment." External forces Soon after that rally, China begins blaming the protests on what it says is a small group of organisers colluding with Western governments. In mid-June, the People's Daily accuses "external forces" of interfering in China's internal affairs, a common refrain from China's foreign ministry whenever the country faces international criticism. This rhetoric amplifies as Western politicians throw their support behind Hong Kong protesters, whose demands to shelve the extradition bill had evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms. When Britain's foreign minister calls Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam to voice concern about the protests, China says Britain is "stirring up trouble" in the semi-autonomous city. At a press briefing in Beijing, Yang Guang, spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, links foreign interference with separatism. One of their goals is to "turn Hong Kong into a base for opposing the central government and a pawn to pin down China," he tells reporters. Violent radicals Violence in Hong Kong escalates throughout the summer and police use tear gas, rubber bullets, and batons to disperse projectile-throwing crowds. At the end of July, anger boils over after masked men, suspected of being triad gangsters attack protesters inside a train station. Demonstrators, frustrated by the government's intransigence, overrun the city's legislature and vandalise the walls of Beijing's office in Hong Kong. Chinese authorities blame a "few radicals" among protesters, while coverage of alleged police brutality is censored on the mainland. Official state news agency Xinhua warns "violent radicals" are pushing Hong Kong into an "abyss" and says there should be no compromise to their demands. Terrorism August sees a sharp increase in rhetoric and propaganda. On August 1, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison in Hong Kong releases a slick video showing armed troops practising to quell a protest. "The primary goal would be to intimidate Hong Kong protesters by suggesting they might move in and restore 'stability' by force," said Andrew Chubb, a Chinese politics and foreign policy researcher at Lancaster University. State-run outlets like the Global Times and People's Daily circulate footage of police drills and military vehicles near the Shenzhen border in southern China. On Monday, the day protesters cripple Hong Kong's busy airport, Beijing's language stiffens and it says the demonstrations show "the first signs of terrorism emerging". It repeats the charge on Wednesday, saying airport protesters are guilty of "terrorist-like actions". "The Communist Party uses its words very carefully," said Ben Bland, a research fellow at Lowy Institute. "The choice of words, in this case, is designed to signal to the Hong Kong authorities that they can use a higher degree of violence and repression," he told AFP. "It’s designed to scare off the protesters by saying, 'We view this very seriously.'"

From silence to 'terrorism': Beijing's evolving rhetoric on Hong Kong

After China expressed disapproval of the Indian government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, at a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing said,” Any bilateral differences should not become disputes.” Also, India and China on Monday signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)

Watch: India-China sign four MoUs

A monster storm that smashed its way up the eastern China coast and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-lekima-affects-more-than-6-million-people-in-china-242310">forced more than a million residents to flee</a> has killed 44 people, state media said Monday.

Footage on state broadcaster CCTV showed fields and streets flooded by muddy water, submerged vehicles, scattered debris and trees blown over as strong winds and rain from Typhoon Lekima pounded cities along the seaboard.

At least 16 people were still missing as the storm moved further up the coast near Beijing.

Official Xinhua news agency said the toll had risen to 39 in Zhejiang province, where Lekima made landfall on Saturday, packing winds of nearly 190 kilometres per hour (120 miles per hour) and pounding the coast with waves several metres in height.

At least 18 of those were killed in a landslide triggered by torrential downpours in Wenzhou, state media said.

More than a million people were evacuated from their homes ahead of the typhoon, Xinhua reported.

Lekima hit Shandong province later on Sunday, where the local emergency management department reported five dead and seven missing, as well as the relocation of more than 180,000 people and damage to 600 homes.

The natural disaster has inflicted economic losses of more than 24.22 billion yuan (US$3.4 billion) in Zhejiang alone, authorities said.

Rescue workers were shown on CCTV using boats and rope pulleys to carry out stranded residents over the weekend.

More than 3,200 flights have been cancelled due to the typhoon, the state broadcaster reported, as Beijing, Shanghai and other cities grounded planes.&nbsp;

In Shanghai, more than 90 tourist sites including Disneyland have closed ahead of the storm, with most set to re-open Monday or Tuesday.

A monster storm that smashed its way up the eastern China coast and forced more than a million residents to flee has killed 44 people, state media said Monday. Footage on state broadcaster CCTV showed fields and streets flooded by muddy water, submerged vehicles, scattered debris and trees blown over as strong winds and rain from Typhoon Lekima pounded cities along the seaboard.

A monster storm that smashed its way up the eastern China coast and forced more than a million residents to flee has killed 44 people, state media said Monday. Footage on state broadcaster CCTV showed fields and streets flooded by muddy water, submerged vehicles, scattered debris and trees blown over as strong winds and rain from Typhoon Lekima pounded cities along the seaboard. At least 16 people were still missing as the storm moved further up the coast near Beijing. Official Xinhua news agency said the toll had risen to 39 in Zhejiang province, where Lekima made landfall on Saturday, packing winds of nearly 190 kilometres per hour (120 miles per hour) and pounding the coast with waves several metres in height. At least 18 of those were killed in a landslide triggered by torrential downpours in Wenzhou, state media said. More than a million people were evacuated from their homes ahead of the typhoon, Xinhua reported. Lekima hit Shandong province later on Sunday, where the local emergency management department reported five dead and seven missing, as well as the relocation of more than 180,000 people and damage to 600 homes. The natural disaster has inflicted economic losses of more than 24.22 billion yuan (US$3.4 billion) in Zhejiang alone, authorities said. Rescue workers were shown on CCTV using boats and rope pulleys to carry out stranded residents over the weekend. More than 3,200 flights have been cancelled due to the typhoon, the state broadcaster reported, as Beijing, Shanghai and other cities grounded planes. In Shanghai, more than 90 tourist sites including Disneyland have closed ahead of the storm, with most set to re-open Monday or Tuesday.

China: Typhoon Lekima death toll rises to 44 as it moves up coast near Beijing

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Bejing. The meeting took place at Diaoyutai guest house, which was once the residence of Chairman Mao Zedong but now used to receive foreign dignitaries.&nbsp;

Jaishankar is on a pre-scheduled visit to Beijing from August 11 to 13 and left for China on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;focus during the visit is on the second informal summit between&nbsp;PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year.&nbsp;

Post lunch, both the foreign ministers will later inaugurate the India China Media forum and make press statements as well.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
External Affairs Minister will co-chair the second meeting of the India-China High-Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges (HLM) along with his counterpart. The HLM aims to increase people-to-people ties and enhance engagement in areas such&nbsp;as tourism, art, films, media, culture, sports.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
China: External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar meets Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi in Beijing. <a href="https://t.co/6RHgad285b">pic.twitter.com/6RHgad285b</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1160766401101144065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"The second HLM meeting will provide an opportunity to follow up on the outcomes of the first HLM meeting and discuss new initiatives for enhancing people-to-people exchanges between our two countries", MEA in a statement said. 
&nbsp; 
The HLC was one of the key outcomes of the Wuhan informal meet and the first meet happened in Delhi in&nbsp;2018&nbsp;between Wang Yi and former external affairs minister S Jaishankar. 
&nbsp; 
Earlier in the day,&nbsp;External Affairs Minister called on Vice President of China&nbsp;Wang&nbsp;Qishan.

Ahead of the visit, India called China an important partner. Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs said,&nbsp;"China is a very important partner. There are many channels available to us to discuss all bilateral&nbsp;issues"

Adding, "it is expected bilateral issues will come up for discussion. We will discuss the informal summit. We will also discuss how to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties."

India's prime minister met the Chinese President in Kyrgyzstan earlier this year on the sidelines of Shanghai cooperation summit and last year both met each other four times starting with the famous informal summit in Wuhan in April.

&nbsp;The visit of Indian foreign minister comes even as Pakistani foreign minister SM Qureshi went on an emergency visit to China to meet the Chinese FM in the backdrop of India's internal decision to change the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and&nbsp;Kashmir.&nbsp;

Pakistani FM met Chinese FM on Friday and in a release, the Chinese foreign ministry said, "Pakistan and India are both China’s friendly neighbours and major developing countries that are in a crucial stage of development", and called on the "two sides to proceed&nbsp;from their national development and peace in South Asia".

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Bejing. The meeting took place at Diaoyutai guest house, which was once the residence of Chairman Mao Zedong but now used to receive foreign dignitaries.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Bejing. The meeting took place at Diaoyutai guest house, which was once the residence of Chairman Mao Zedong but now used to receive foreign dignitaries. Jaishankar is on a pre-scheduled visit to Beijing from August 11 to 13 and left for China on Sunday. The focus during the visit is on the second informal summit between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year. Post lunch, both the foreign ministers will later inaugurate the India China Media forum and make press statements as well. External Affairs Minister will co-chair the second meeting of the India-China High-Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges (HLM) along with his counterpart. The HLM aims to increase people-to-people ties and enhance engagement in areas such as tourism, art, films, media, culture, sports. China: External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar meets Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi in Beijing. pic.twitter.com/6RHgad285b — ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2019 × "The second HLM meeting will provide an opportunity to follow up on the outcomes of the first HLM meeting and discuss new initiatives for enhancing people-to-people exchanges between our two countries", MEA in a statement said. The HLC was one of the key outcomes of the Wuhan informal meet and the first meet happened in Delhi in 2018 between Wang Yi and former external affairs minister S Jaishankar. Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister called on Vice President of China Wang Qishan. Ahead of the visit, India called China an important partner. Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs said, "China is a very important partner. There are many channels available to us to discuss all bilateral issues" Adding, "it is expected bilateral issues will come up for discussion. We will discuss the informal summit. We will also discuss how to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties." India's prime minister met the Chinese President in Kyrgyzstan earlier this year on the sidelines of Shanghai cooperation summit and last year both met each other four times starting with the famous informal summit in Wuhan in April. The visit of Indian foreign minister comes even as Pakistani foreign minister SM Qureshi went on an emergency visit to China to meet the Chinese FM in the backdrop of India's internal decision to change the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani FM met Chinese FM on Friday and in a release, the Chinese foreign ministry said, "Pakistan and India are both China’s friendly neighbours and major developing countries that are in a crucial stage of development", and called on the "two sides to proceed from their national development and peace in South Asia".

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Beijing amid Article 370 row

With focus on the second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will meet Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Monday.&nbsp;

Jaishankar is on a pre-scheduled visit to Beijing from August 11-13 and left for China on Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ahead of the visit, India called China an important partner. Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs said,&nbsp;"China is a very important partner. There are many channels available to us to discuss all bilateral issues."

Further adding Raveesh Kumar said, "It is expected that bilateral issues will come up for discussion. We will discuss the informal summit. We will also discuss how to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties."

PM Modi met the Chinese President in Kyrgyzstan earlier this year on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Summit and last year both met each other four times starting with the famous informal summit in Wuhan in April.

External Affairs Minister will co-chair the second meeting of the India-China High-Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges (HLM) along with his counterpart.&nbsp;

The HLM aims to increase&nbsp;people-to-people ties and enhance engagement in areas such as tourism, art, films, media, culture, sports.

"The second HLM meeting will provide an opportunity to follow up on the outcomes of the first HLM meeting and discuss new initiatives for enhancing people-to-people exchanges between our two countries", MEA said in a statement.

The HLC was one of the key outcomes of the Wuhan informal meet and the first meet happened in Delhi in 2018 between Wang Yi and former external affairs minister S Jaishankar.

The visit of Indian foreign minister comes even as Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi went on an emergency visit to China to meet Wang Yi in the backdrop of India's internal decision to change the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

Qureshi met Wang Yi on Friday and in a release, the Chinese foreign ministry said, "Pakistan and India are both China’s friendly neighbours and major developing countries that are in a crucial stage of development", and called on the "two sides to proceed from their national development and peace in South Asia."

China has reacted negatively to New Delhi's decision on Jammu and Kashmir evoking a strong reaction New Delhi and said, "India&nbsp;does not comment on the internal affairs of other countries and similarly expects other countries to do likewise."

With focus on the second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will meet Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Monday.

With focus on the second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will meet Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Monday. Jaishankar is on a pre-scheduled visit to Beijing from August 11-13 and left for China on Sunday. Ahead of the visit, India called China an important partner. Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs said, "China is a very important partner. There are many channels available to us to discuss all bilateral issues." Further adding Raveesh Kumar said, "It is expected that bilateral issues will come up for discussion. We will discuss the informal summit. We will also discuss how to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties." PM Modi met the Chinese President in Kyrgyzstan earlier this year on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Summit and last year both met each other four times starting with the famous informal summit in Wuhan in April. External Affairs Minister will co-chair the second meeting of the India-China High-Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges (HLM) along with his counterpart. The HLM aims to increase people-to-people ties and enhance engagement in areas such as tourism, art, films, media, culture, sports. "The second HLM meeting will provide an opportunity to follow up on the outcomes of the first HLM meeting and discuss new initiatives for enhancing people-to-people exchanges between our two countries", MEA said in a statement. The HLC was one of the key outcomes of the Wuhan informal meet and the first meet happened in Delhi in 2018 between Wang Yi and former external affairs minister S Jaishankar. The visit of Indian foreign minister comes even as Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi went on an emergency visit to China to meet Wang Yi in the backdrop of India's internal decision to change the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Qureshi met Wang Yi on Friday and in a release, the Chinese foreign ministry said, "Pakistan and India are both China’s friendly neighbours and major developing countries that are in a crucial stage of development", and called on the "two sides to proceed from their national development and peace in South Asia." China has reacted negatively to New Delhi's decision on Jammu and Kashmir evoking a strong reaction New Delhi and said, "India does not comment on the internal affairs of other countries and similarly expects other countries to do likewise."

India's foreign minister Jaishankar leaves for China ahead of second informal summit

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/expect-craziness-as-china-readies-debut-of-nasdaq-style-board-236617">&nbsp;Hong Kong was bracing for another volatile weekend</a>, with anti-government protests planned across the city on Saturday, including one at the international airport for a second day.

Increasingly violent protests have plunged Hong Kong into its most serious political crisis for decades, posing a serious challenge to the central government in Beijing.

Protests planned for Saturday include one in Tai Po, a town in the north of the territory, and gatherings of elderly Hong Kongers and families.

Hong Kong's airport was also expecting a protest that is set to continue on Sunday. A group of 1,000 activists occupied the airport's arrivals hall on Friday but did not disrupt flights.

Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam on Friday said the economy was being undermined by the protests, which began in June and have become increasingly violent.

China, meanwhile, demanded that the city's<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-orders-cathay-pacific-to-suspend-staff-backing-hong-kong-protests-241882"> flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways suspend staff involved in the demonstrations</a>. One of its pilots was arrested last week.

Huarong International, the investment arm in Hong Kong of China Huarong Asset Management Company, has instructed staff not to fly Cathay Pacific if there are other options, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters and confirmed by a source at the company.

Lam's warning about the economy and China's targeting of a key Hong Kong business mark a toughening stance by authorities as they grapple with Hong Kong's deepest crisis in decades.

Young people have been at the forefront of the protests, worried about the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong by China but also concerned with issues such as the wealth disparities in the financial center.

However, older people have also been appearing at the protests.

"There are clashes in the recent protests and many parents are worried," said Fion Yim, 35, representative of the organizing committee for what was billed as a family protest on Saturday.

"The freedom to protect our children is very important. We hope to provide a safer place for parents and their kids to participate in rallies, and to voice their concerns."

The protests began after Hong Kong's government tried introducing an extradition bill that would have allowed defendants to be sent to the mainland for trial.

The bill has been suspended, but protesters have stepped up their demands and are now calling for greater democracy and Lam's resignation.

The protests have been condemned by the central government in Beijing. China has also accused foreign powers of fuelling the unrest.

On Friday, the US State Department said that Chinese media reports about a US diplomat who met with Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders "have gone from irresponsible to dangerous" and must stop.

"Chinese authorities know full well, our accredited consular personnel are just doing their jobs, just like diplomats from every other country," US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a tweet.

On Thursday, Ortagus called China a "thuggish regime" for disclosing photographs and personal details of the diplomat.

Hong Kong was bracing for another volatile weekend, with anti-government protests planned across the city on Saturday, including one at the international airport for a second day.

Hong Kong was bracing for another volatile weekend, with anti-government protests planned across the city on Saturday, including one at the international airport for a second day. Increasingly violent protests have plunged Hong Kong into its most serious political crisis for decades, posing a serious challenge to the central government in Beijing. Protests planned for Saturday include one in Tai Po, a town in the north of the territory, and gatherings of elderly Hong Kongers and families. Hong Kong's airport was also expecting a protest that is set to continue on Sunday. A group of 1,000 activists occupied the airport's arrivals hall on Friday but did not disrupt flights. Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam on Friday said the economy was being undermined by the protests, which began in June and have become increasingly violent. China, meanwhile, demanded that the city's flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways suspend staff involved in the demonstrations. One of its pilots was arrested last week. Huarong International, the investment arm in Hong Kong of China Huarong Asset Management Company, has instructed staff not to fly Cathay Pacific if there are other options, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters and confirmed by a source at the company. Lam's warning about the economy and China's targeting of a key Hong Kong business mark a toughening stance by authorities as they grapple with Hong Kong's deepest crisis in decades. Young people have been at the forefront of the protests, worried about the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong by China but also concerned with issues such as the wealth disparities in the financial center. However, older people have also been appearing at the protests. "There are clashes in the recent protests and many parents are worried," said Fion Yim, 35, representative of the organizing committee for what was billed as a family protest on Saturday. "The freedom to protect our children is very important. We hope to provide a safer place for parents and their kids to participate in rallies, and to voice their concerns." The protests began after Hong Kong's government tried introducing an extradition bill that would have allowed defendants to be sent to the mainland for trial. The bill has been suspended, but protesters have stepped up their demands and are now calling for greater democracy and Lam's resignation. The protests have been condemned by the central government in Beijing. China has also accused foreign powers of fuelling the unrest. On Friday, the US State Department said that Chinese media reports about a US diplomat who met with Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders "have gone from irresponsible to dangerous" and must stop. "Chinese authorities know full well, our accredited consular personnel are just doing their jobs, just like diplomats from every other country," US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a tweet. On Thursday, Ortagus called China a "thuggish regime" for disclosing photographs and personal details of the diplomat.

With young people at forefront Hong Kong braces for another weekend of protests

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-and-chinese-ministers-meet-amid-tensions-pledge-to-continue-talks-240324">Canada's foreign ministe</a>r on Friday praised two Canadian men detained in China for their "grit" and "tenacity," as the countries' diplomatic feud entered its eighth month.

Canadian consular officials meet Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig monthly and saw them both earlier this week, but the ministry does not offer any information about their condition for privacy reasons.

"They are two brave Canadians who are facing a difficult situation through no fault of their own and they are conducting themselves with incredible grace and tenacity," Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters in Calgary.

"They're showing real Canadian grit, as are their families for whom this is also an ordeal," she said.

Canada and China have been locked in a diplomatic dispute since Dec. 1 when Canadian authorities arrested Huawei Technologies Co-Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on a US warrant. Meng is the daughter of the company's founder.

Shortly after her arrest, Beijing detained Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Spavor, a businessman, and later charged them with espionage. Canada says their arrests were 'arbitrary'.

Freeland has said Canada will continue to negotiate an end to the dispute and the return of the two men outside of the public eye.

Canada's dispute with China has been a nagging issue for Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the feud shows little sign of resolution, just months before a national vote set for Oct. 21.

Freeland met her Chinese counterpart a week ago for the first time since the dispute began. She reiterated on Friday that both countries are committed to future discussions.

Canada's foreign minister on Friday praised two Canadian men detained in China for their "grit" and "tenacity," as the countries' diplomatic feud entered its eighth month.

Canada's foreign minister on Friday praised two Canadian men detained in China for their "grit" and "tenacity," as the countries' diplomatic feud entered its eighth month. Canadian consular officials meet Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig monthly and saw them both earlier this week, but the ministry does not offer any information about their condition for privacy reasons. "They are two brave Canadians who are facing a difficult situation through no fault of their own and they are conducting themselves with incredible grace and tenacity," Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters in Calgary. "They're showing real Canadian grit, as are their families for whom this is also an ordeal," she said. Canada and China have been locked in a diplomatic dispute since Dec. 1 when Canadian authorities arrested Huawei Technologies Co-Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on a US warrant. Meng is the daughter of the company's founder. Shortly after her arrest, Beijing detained Kovrig, a former diplomat, and Spavor, a businessman, and later charged them with espionage. Canada says their arrests were 'arbitrary'. Freeland has said Canada will continue to negotiate an end to the dispute and the return of the two men outside of the public eye. Canada's dispute with China has been a nagging issue for Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the feud shows little sign of resolution, just months before a national vote set for Oct. 21. Freeland met her Chinese counterpart a week ago for the first time since the dispute began. She reiterated on Friday that both countries are committed to future discussions.

Canada's foreign minister praises 'grit' of two Canadians detained in China

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-decries-destabilising-behaviour-by-china-in-indo-pacific-pentagon-chief-240544">The United States and China </a>have stepped up an increasingly harsh war of words over pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, as Beijing seeks to push its accusations that the mass demonstrations are being fueled by foreign powers.&nbsp;

In the latest exchange, Washington on Friday called out Beijing-backed news outlets for sharing 'dangerous' reports after a newspaper revealed personal information about an American diplomat in Hong Kong who met with pro-democracy activists.

'Official Chinese media reports on our diplomat in Hong Kong have gone from irresponsible to dangerous. This must stop,' State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus posted on Twitter.

Beijing has increasingly pitched the anti-government protests in the semi-autonomous city as funded by the West, at one point describing violent unrest in the city as 'the work of the US.'

But China has provided little evidence for the claim beyond supportive statements from some Western politicians.

The Hong Kong-based, pro-Beijing Ta Kung Pao reported that the political unit chief of the US Consulate General in Hong Kong, Julie Eadeh, had met with members of the political party Demosisto including prominent democracy activist Joshua Wong.

It shared details on Eadeh's career as well as her family member's names.

The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong denounced Ortagus remarks as 'blatant slander against China' that had 'again exposed US gangster logic.'

Ortagus, however, said that 'Chinese authorities know full well, our accredited consular personnel are just doing their jobs, just like diplomats from every other country.'

"Foreign diplomats in the United States, including Chinese ones, enjoy open access to all elements of American politics, civil society, academia, and business," she added.

On Thursday, China demanded that US diplomats based in Hong Kong 'stop interfering' in the city's affairs.

In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry urged the US diplomatic office in Hong Kong to 'immediately make a clean break with various anti-China rioters" and "stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs immediately.'

Ortagus responded at the time: 'I don't think that that's a formal protest, that is what a thuggish regime would do. That is not how a responsible nation would behave.'

A State Department official told AFP that representatives of the US government 'meet regularly with a wide cross-section of people across Hong Kong and Macau.'

Tensions are high in the Asian financial hub after two months of protests and clashes triggered by opposition to a planned extradition law that quickly evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms.

Demosisto says it campaigns for more self-determination for Hong Kong but not independence.

Last year, the Hong Kong National Party was outlawed on the grounds it posed a security threat, the first such ban since the city was handed over from Britain to China in 1997.

The United States and China have stepped up an increasingly harsh war of words over pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, as Beijing seeks to push its accusations that the mass demonstrations are being fueled by foreign powers.

The United States and China have stepped up an increasingly harsh war of words over pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, as Beijing seeks to push its accusations that the mass demonstrations are being fueled by foreign powers. In the latest exchange, Washington on Friday called out Beijing-backed news outlets for sharing 'dangerous' reports after a newspaper revealed personal information about an American diplomat in Hong Kong who met with pro-democracy activists. 'Official Chinese media reports on our diplomat in Hong Kong have gone from irresponsible to dangerous. This must stop,' State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus posted on Twitter. Beijing has increasingly pitched the anti-government protests in the semi-autonomous city as funded by the West, at one point describing violent unrest in the city as 'the work of the US.' But China has provided little evidence for the claim beyond supportive statements from some Western politicians. The Hong Kong-based, pro-Beijing Ta Kung Pao reported that the political unit chief of the US Consulate General in Hong Kong, Julie Eadeh, had met with members of the political party Demosisto including prominent democracy activist Joshua Wong. It shared details on Eadeh's career as well as her family member's names. The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Hong Kong denounced Ortagus remarks as 'blatant slander against China' that had 'again exposed US gangster logic.' Ortagus, however, said that 'Chinese authorities know full well, our accredited consular personnel are just doing their jobs, just like diplomats from every other country.' "Foreign diplomats in the United States, including Chinese ones, enjoy open access to all elements of American politics, civil society, academia, and business," she added. On Thursday, China demanded that US diplomats based in Hong Kong 'stop interfering' in the city's affairs. In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry urged the US diplomatic office in Hong Kong to 'immediately make a clean break with various anti-China rioters" and "stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs immediately.' Ortagus responded at the time: 'I don't think that that's a formal protest, that is what a thuggish regime would do. That is not how a responsible nation would behave.' A State Department official told AFP that representatives of the US government 'meet regularly with a wide cross-section of people across Hong Kong and Macau.' Tensions are high in the Asian financial hub after two months of protests and clashes triggered by opposition to a planned extradition law that quickly evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms. Demosisto says it campaigns for more self-determination for Hong Kong but not independence. Last year, the Hong Kong National Party was outlawed on the grounds it posed a security threat, the first such ban since the city was handed over from Britain to China in 1997.

US, China step up war of words over Hong Kong

The anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong are now eight weeks old and still going strong, but the level of violence is rising.

Nobody expects a replay of 1989’s Tiananmen Square massacre, but the weekend after weekend, the confrontation grows more tense. Last week, China’s defence ministry even warned that it might use troops to quell the unrest, saying the protests were “intolerable” and that the army would mobilise troops to restore public order if requested by the Hong Kong government.

Yang Guang, spokesman for Beijing’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, followed the paranoid official line on Monday, blaming “irresponsible people” in the West for stirring up trouble in a bid to “contain China’s development”. But when asked if Beijing would send in troops to stop the protests, he only repeated that the Hong Kong government could ask for help if it needed it.

This is a major crisis in the only part of mainland China that is not ruled directly by the Communist Party, but Beijing clearly does not want to go nuclear if it can avoid it. Which it probably can, because at this point, the whole confrontation has become purely symbolic.

It started out in early June as a real struggle over an important issue. The Hong Kong government introduced a bill that would allow criminal suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to China and face trial in Communist Party-controlled mainland courts (which have a 99% conviction rate).

Everybody assumed that it was acting on orders from Beijing. The protesters were out in the streets at once. The rule of law still exists in Hong Kong, but nobody would be safe if they could be extradited to the People’s Republic at Beijing’s whim.

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, backed down very quickly. She “suspended” the draft extradition bill, and various people close to her reminded the media that it would automatically die when the current session of the legislature ends next July.&nbsp;

But, she did not formally withdraw the bill, presumably because that would involve too grave a loss of face for the regime in Beijing.

Since then, the demonstrations have been purely symbolic. The extradition bill is not going to happen, but the protesters want Lam to kill it officially and publicly. Even if she complied, she could always bring it back in the next session of the legislature (whose members have to be approved by Beijing). So even if they win, they have no guarantees for the future. Why bother?

Hong Kong was not a democracy under British rule before 1997, and it is not one now. But it was, and still is, a place where the rule of law prevails, the media is free, and individual rights are respected. However, this special status within China, which was supposed to last for 50 years after the hand-over, has been under growing pressure from Beijing since the rise of President Xi Jinping.

Xi, who has abolished term limits on the presidency, is relentlessly centralising power in China, presumably in the belief that this is the only way to preserve Communist rule in the long run.

He has turned the heavily Muslim province of Xinjiang into an enormous open-air prison, and he is building an online system of ‘social credit’ that will score citizens on their degree of compliance with the regime’s goals and norms. People with low scores will have a hard time in life. And he is nibbling away at Hong Kong’s civil rights, because they set a bad example for other Chinese.

The demonstrators in Hong Kong have carried on because they are trying to make a point: that interfering with Hong Kong’s freedoms is more trouble than it’s worth. So long as Hong Kong remains economically important to the People’s Republic, they have a chance of succeeding, but they can never expect a decisive victory.

Seven-and-a-half million people in Hong Kong are never going to force the Beijing regime to do anything. With the right tactics, however, they can probably preserve their own freedoms, and continue to serve as living proof that an ethnic Chinese society does not have to be a tyranny.&nbsp;

 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-hong-kong-protestors-have-made-their-point-to-china-2779218">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

The anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong are now eight weeks old and still going strong, but the level of violence is rising. Nobody expects a replay of 1989’s Tiananmen Square massacre, but the weekend after weekend, the confrontation grows more tense.

The anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong are now eight weeks old and still going strong, but the level of violence is rising. Nobody expects a replay of 1989’s Tiananmen Square massacre, but the weekend after weekend, the confrontation grows more tense. Last week, China’s defence ministry even warned that it might use troops to quell the unrest, saying the protests were “intolerable” and that the army would mobilise troops to restore public order if requested by the Hong Kong government. Yang Guang, spokesman for Beijing’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, followed the paranoid official line on Monday, blaming “irresponsible people” in the West for stirring up trouble in a bid to “contain China’s development”. But when asked if Beijing would send in troops to stop the protests, he only repeated that the Hong Kong government could ask for help if it needed it. This is a major crisis in the only part of mainland China that is not ruled directly by the Communist Party, but Beijing clearly does not want to go nuclear if it can avoid it. Which it probably can, because at this point, the whole confrontation has become purely symbolic. It started out in early June as a real struggle over an important issue. The Hong Kong government introduced a bill that would allow criminal suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to China and face trial in Communist Party-controlled mainland courts (which have a 99% conviction rate). Everybody assumed that it was acting on orders from Beijing. The protesters were out in the streets at once. The rule of law still exists in Hong Kong, but nobody would be safe if they could be extradited to the People’s Republic at Beijing’s whim. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, backed down very quickly. She “suspended” the draft extradition bill, and various people close to her reminded the media that it would automatically die when the current session of the legislature ends next July. But, she did not formally withdraw the bill, presumably because that would involve too grave a loss of face for the regime in Beijing. Since then, the demonstrations have been purely symbolic. The extradition bill is not going to happen, but the protesters want Lam to kill it officially and publicly. Even if she complied, she could always bring it back in the next session of the legislature (whose members have to be approved by Beijing). So even if they win, they have no guarantees for the future. Why bother? Hong Kong was not a democracy under British rule before 1997, and it is not one now. But it was, and still is, a place where the rule of law prevails, the media is free, and individual rights are respected. However, this special status within China, which was supposed to last for 50 years after the hand-over, has been under growing pressure from Beijing since the rise of President Xi Jinping. Xi, who has abolished term limits on the presidency, is relentlessly centralising power in China, presumably in the belief that this is the only way to preserve Communist rule in the long run. He has turned the heavily Muslim province of Xinjiang into an enormous open-air prison, and he is building an online system of ‘social credit’ that will score citizens on their degree of compliance with the regime’s goals and norms. People with low scores will have a hard time in life. And he is nibbling away at Hong Kong’s civil rights, because they set a bad example for other Chinese. The demonstrators in Hong Kong have carried on because they are trying to make a point: that interfering with Hong Kong’s freedoms is more trouble than it’s worth. So long as Hong Kong remains economically important to the People’s Republic, they have a chance of succeeding, but they can never expect a decisive victory. Seven-and-a-half million people in Hong Kong are never going to force the Beijing regime to do anything. With the right tactics, however, they can probably preserve their own freedoms, and continue to serve as living proof that an ethnic Chinese society does not have to be a tyranny. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Hong Kong protesters have made their point to China

beijing

Beijing, News on Beijing, stories on Beijing, articles on Beijing, Beijing stories at Wion, Beijing news, Beijing latest news