15 countries have joined hands to create the Regional Comprehensive Economic Bloc (RCEP). But India will not be a part of it. WION's Molly Gambhir tells you why.

Gravitas: Why India won't join RCEP?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday take part in the 12th BRICS or Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa summit that will take place virtually.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend virtual summit of BRICS

Corruption, terrorism, and violence have derailed China's belt and road initiative in Pakistan. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why China's projects in Pakistan are now stalled under the Imran Khan government.

Gravitas: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is going nowhere

India's Prime Minister sent a clear message to China & Pakistan in the presence of Xi Jinping and Imran Khan. He asked China to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity and slammed Pakistan's efforts to raise bilateral issues at global forums. WION's Palki Sharma gets you a full report.

Gravitas: At the SCO summit, PM Modi takes aim at China & Pakistan

The United States is embroiled in a bitter presidential race and a surge in coronavirus infections. Europe is locking down again. In Beijing, by contrast, Xi Jinping is exuding confidence that he and China can emerge from the pandemic stronger and unbowed.

A Communist Party conclave concluded Thursday with a rousing statement lauding Xi as the party’s helmsman, affirming his broad mandate as the leader who will steer China through perilous waters for years to come. The meeting of the Central Committee, a council of senior officials, laid out ambitions for China to mature as an economic, military and cultural power despite rising uncertainty abroad.

With Xi as “the core navigator and helmsman,” an official summary from the meeting read, “we will certainly be able to conquer the range of hardships and dangers that lie on the path forward.”

Xi has used the meeting to show that he remains unchallenged and resurgent nine months after the coronavirus plunged China into its worst crisis in decades. Without mentioning the missteps that marred China’s initial response to the virus outbreak, the committee’s 200 or so voting members praised the country’s “major strategic achievement” in largely stifling the outbreak.

The party elite’s show of unity behind Xi shored up his political dominance and will help him as he pushes for technological, social and economic advances to make China and its ruling party more resilient in a post-pandemic world. China, the party officials said, faces “new tensions and challenges engendered by intricately complicated international conditions.”

“He is trying to convince the party that only he, Xi Jinping, has the political resources, the experience and the determination to pull China through,” said Willy Wo-Lap Lam, an adjunct professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong who has long studied Chinese politics.

As other leaders and nations turn inward, consumed by crises, Xi appears keen to press the message that the party’s grip on power is secure and the country can play a greater role internationally. Party propaganda has asserted that China’s success in extinguishing COVID-19 infections shows its overall “institutional superiority,” and Beijing has promised to share a potential vaccine for the coronavirus.

Even so, Xi must tackle some of the most serious economic and geopolitical challenges China has faced in many years.

The coronavirus crisis has slowed China’s economic growth, increased unemployment and hurt the country’s global standing. Relations with the United States have reached a new low, brought down by disputes over trade, technology and human rights. Western governments have turned against Beijing over crackdowns on protest in the semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong and on Muslim minorities in China’s west. Chinese military moves have rattled neighbors.

“China has done a pretty good job by itself in putting together a loose, global anti-China coalition,” said Bilahari Kausikan, a former diplomat from Singapore who is now chair of the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore. “I cannot think of any serious country — with a big economy or even some with small economies — that does not have some concerns about China and Chinese behavior.”

With Xi’s position secure, a dramatic shift in Chinese policy seems unlikely. He is expected to push for another five-year term as the Communist Party’s leader, beginning in 2022, meaning his highly personalized rule could last another decade or more.

By then, he would have ruled longer than any other Chinese leader except Mao Zedong. Mao was also praised as the “great helmsman,” though in referring to Xi on Thursday, the committee used different characters for the term helmsman.

“This is a big show for Xi Jinping to try to convince the senior cadres that he deserves support to remain supreme leader well beyond 10 years,” Lam, the analyst, said.

Xi’s vision for China’s rise rests on strengthening the Communist Party’s reach into society and making technological advances to expand domestic consumption, upgrade industry, clean up the environment and protect the country from security threats. These goals formed the thrust of the party’s plans for the next five years, a draft of which the Central Committee endorsed Thursday.

“The dominant tone is that China has major opportunities for growth, for managing the process of decoupling in its own favor, and for setting the terms for the next stage of globalization,” said Julian B. Gewirtz, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. “This is really an extraordinary tone to hear at a moment where it is not just the United States that is continuing to struggle with the pandemic.”

For Xi, the party meeting highlighted how China’s success in dealing with the coronavirus revived his political fortunes after setbacks early this year. Chinese officials initially played down the threat of the virus, and as infections multiplied, Xi faced a sharp surge of public anger.

Coming less than a week before the United States votes, the Chinese party meeting offered a stark contrast to the raucous wrangling of democratic politics. The Central Committee met behind closed doors, and if there was any internal dissension, propaganda overseers ensured that it did not leak.

After the meeting ended, Chinese television news showed Xi entering the meeting hall to sustained applause. The officials listening earnestly to his speech did not wear masks, a sign of China’s confidence that it has controlled the virus.

“The contrast between the current state of the United States and China, especially about COVID and the economy, has got to be a huge resource for Xi in terms of domestic support,” said Susan L. Shirk, chair of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California San Diego, who was a deputy assistant secretary of state in the Clinton administration.

“We’re in the campaign period for the 20th Party Congress” in 2022, she said. “There is no successor in sight, and every indication is that he’ll want to stay on for a third term.”

Xi’s move to end the two-term limit on the presidency has held off contention over a potential successor that would otherwise have been in full swing by now, eight years into his tenure. That 2018 decision ignited criticism about the danger of concentrating power in one supreme leader, but now seems to be accepted as reality. Few insiders believe that Xi will retire in two years.

Xi, 67, has not publicly said how long he wants to stay in office. For now, though, he has made no move to nurture, or at least identify publicly, a successor. He still must build support in the elite for staying on. Xi’s recent rhetoric, suffused with warnings of risks to China’s rise, appeared to form part of that effort, said Joseph Fewsmith, a professor at Boston University who studies Chinese politics.

“The case for remaining on can be built around a sense of impending crisis when the experienced hand has to stay,” Fewsmith said by telephone.

More pointedly, faced with escalating pressure from the U.S., Xi used a speech this month marking 70 years since China’s entry into the Korean War to warn that “the Chinese people don’t go looking for trouble, but nor do they fear it.”

The Central Committee said that China would make “major strides” in modernizing its military and would strengthen the training of troops for war readiness. China’s national security apparatus — already formidable — would also be fortified, the committee said.

The United States is embroiled in a bitter presidential race and a surge in coronavirus infections. Europe is locking down again. In Beijing, by contrast, Xi Jinping is exuding confidence that he and China can emerge from the pandemic stronger and unbowed.

The United States is embroiled in a bitter presidential race and a surge in coronavirus infections. Europe is locking down again. In Beijing, by contrast, Xi Jinping is exuding confidence that he and China can emerge from the pandemic stronger and unbowed. A Communist Party conclave concluded Thursday with a rousing statement lauding Xi as the party’s helmsman, affirming his broad mandate as the leader who will steer China through perilous waters for years to come. The meeting of the Central Committee, a council of senior officials, laid out ambitions for China to mature as an economic, military and cultural power despite rising uncertainty abroad. With Xi as “the core navigator and helmsman,” an official summary from the meeting read, “we will certainly be able to conquer the range of hardships and dangers that lie on the path forward.” Xi has used the meeting to show that he remains unchallenged and resurgent nine months after the coronavirus plunged China into its worst crisis in decades. Without mentioning the missteps that marred China’s initial response to the virus outbreak, the committee’s 200 or so voting members praised the country’s “major strategic achievement” in largely stifling the outbreak. The party elite’s show of unity behind Xi shored up his political dominance and will help him as he pushes for technological, social and economic advances to make China and its ruling party more resilient in a post-pandemic world. China, the party officials said, faces “new tensions and challenges engendered by intricately complicated international conditions.” “He is trying to convince the party that only he, Xi Jinping, has the political resources, the experience and the determination to pull China through,” said Willy Wo-Lap Lam, an adjunct professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong who has long studied Chinese politics. As other leaders and nations turn inward, consumed by crises, Xi appears keen to press the message that the party’s grip on power is secure and the country can play a greater role internationally. Party propaganda has asserted that China’s success in extinguishing COVID-19 infections shows its overall “institutional superiority,” and Beijing has promised to share a potential vaccine for the coronavirus. Even so, Xi must tackle some of the most serious economic and geopolitical challenges China has faced in many years. The coronavirus crisis has slowed China’s economic growth, increased unemployment and hurt the country’s global standing. Relations with the United States have reached a new low, brought down by disputes over trade, technology and human rights. Western governments have turned against Beijing over crackdowns on protest in the semi-autonomous city of Hong Kong and on Muslim minorities in China’s west. Chinese military moves have rattled neighbors. “China has done a pretty good job by itself in putting together a loose, global anti-China coalition,” said Bilahari Kausikan, a former diplomat from Singapore who is now chair of the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore. “I cannot think of any serious country — with a big economy or even some with small economies — that does not have some concerns about China and Chinese behavior.” With Xi’s position secure, a dramatic shift in Chinese policy seems unlikely. He is expected to push for another five-year term as the Communist Party’s leader, beginning in 2022, meaning his highly personalized rule could last another decade or more. By then, he would have ruled longer than any other Chinese leader except Mao Zedong. Mao was also praised as the “great helmsman,” though in referring to Xi on Thursday, the committee used different characters for the term helmsman. “This is a big show for Xi Jinping to try to convince the senior cadres that he deserves support to remain supreme leader well beyond 10 years,” Lam, the analyst, said. Xi’s vision for China’s rise rests on strengthening the Communist Party’s reach into society and making technological advances to expand domestic consumption, upgrade industry, clean up the environment and protect the country from security threats. These goals formed the thrust of the party’s plans for the next five years, a draft of which the Central Committee endorsed Thursday. “The dominant tone is that China has major opportunities for growth, for managing the process of decoupling in its own favor, and for setting the terms for the next stage of globalization,” said Julian B. Gewirtz, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. “This is really an extraordinary tone to hear at a moment where it is not just the United States that is continuing to struggle with the pandemic.” For Xi, the party meeting highlighted how China’s success in dealing with the coronavirus revived his political fortunes after setbacks early this year. Chinese officials initially played down the threat of the virus, and as infections multiplied, Xi faced a sharp surge of public anger. Coming less than a week before the United States votes, the Chinese party meeting offered a stark contrast to the raucous wrangling of democratic politics. The Central Committee met behind closed doors, and if there was any internal dissension, propaganda overseers ensured that it did not leak. After the meeting ended, Chinese television news showed Xi entering the meeting hall to sustained applause. The officials listening earnestly to his speech did not wear masks, a sign of China’s confidence that it has controlled the virus. “The contrast between the current state of the United States and China, especially about COVID and the economy, has got to be a huge resource for Xi in terms of domestic support,” said Susan L. Shirk, chair of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California San Diego, who was a deputy assistant secretary of state in the Clinton administration. “We’re in the campaign period for the 20th Party Congress” in 2022, she said. “There is no successor in sight, and every indication is that he’ll want to stay on for a third term.” Xi’s move to end the two-term limit on the presidency has held off contention over a potential successor that would otherwise have been in full swing by now, eight years into his tenure. That 2018 decision ignited criticism about the danger of concentrating power in one supreme leader, but now seems to be accepted as reality. Few insiders believe that Xi will retire in two years. Xi, 67, has not publicly said how long he wants to stay in office. For now, though, he has made no move to nurture, or at least identify publicly, a successor. He still must build support in the elite for staying on. Xi’s recent rhetoric, suffused with warnings of risks to China’s rise, appeared to form part of that effort, said Joseph Fewsmith, a professor at Boston University who studies Chinese politics. “The case for remaining on can be built around a sense of impending crisis when the experienced hand has to stay,” Fewsmith said by telephone. More pointedly, faced with escalating pressure from the U.S., Xi used a speech this month marking 70 years since China’s entry into the Korean War to warn that “the Chinese people don’t go looking for trouble, but nor do they fear it.” The Central Committee said that China would make “major strides” in modernizing its military and would strengthen the training of troops for war readiness. China’s national security apparatus — already formidable — would also be fortified, the committee said.

As the west stumbles, ‘helmsman’ Xi pushes an ambitious plan for China

Asian countries are joining hands and building alliances to counter an assertive China. A furious Beijing is responding with threats and propaganda. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how China has been rattled by the emerging 'anti-China' alliances.

Gravitas: How emerging 'anti-China' alliances have rattled China

Economists noticed an interesting trend of China inking back-to-back deals on food grains and food products with multiple nations across the world. Most of the deals involve a massive transaction of food items. It has also signed deals with its adversaries, reflecting that the country is going probably going through a major food crisis.

China's food inflation rose by 13.2% in July 2020. Prices of most of the food products consumed by a common Chinese on a day-to-day basis have shot up, from cereals to meat products. The National Bureau of Statistics has revealed that the prices of most commonly consumed meat, pork has increased by 86%.

China is resorting to the aggressive import of food products from all over the world. The critical condition can be understood from the fact that the country is procuring almost all the major food items.

According to the China General Administration Customs, the country has also increased its grain imports during the first half of this year by 22.7%, leading to a food grain import measuring 74.51 million tons. Though China has been the largest producer of soybean for the past few years, yet it plans to import 40 million tons this year from its arch-rival USA.

Import data suggests that China's wheat import went to a seven-year high during June this year. It imported 910,000 tons of wheat during June 2020, which meant an increase of 197% on a year-on-year basis. Besides, it also imported 880,000 tons of corn, 680,000 tons of sorghum and 140,000 tons of sugar.

The harvest has been so low that China’s state grain reserve system could purchase only 45 million tons of wheat in June-July, reflecting a 17.2% decline from the past year. Observers believe that besides the low harvest, farmers are storing the food item with them and not storing with the government under apprehension regarding the ongoing food crisis.It is believed that the Chinese government is pressurizing the citizens to store their food grains with the government for enabling the country to project that the food crisis is not too severe.

The low production is also coupled with the intense floods in the Three Gorges and the Yangtze Basin, which washed away thousands of acres of fertile lands with standing crops. Floods have impacted the lives of 54.8 million people and have inflicted an economic loss of US$ 20.8 billion.

The locust swarm attack and the African Swine Flu Fever have also proved to be lethal for the country’s agriculture sector. The latter one is said to have killed a majority share of the pig population in the country, leading to a crisis in meat production.

The calamity has come at a time when the proportion of cultivable land in the country has been declining at a rapid rate. According to China's Ministry of Natural Resources, its cultivable land kept declining for four consecutive years in 2017, measuring 60,900 hectares as compared to the previous year.

In order to meet the deficit between food consumption and food production, China has started to purchase and lease out fertile lands and fields in many African, South American and ASEAN countries including Djibouti, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Chile, Argentina, Cambodia, Laos, etc. China spent around US$ 94 billion to purchase agricultural lands abroad. The number seems to have increased in the past few years.

However, experts believe that China is also eyeing the fertile areas of its all-weather ally Pakistan. Besides exploiting the natural resources of Balochistan, now China plans to use Sindh as its hub for growing food crops. Though it has already established a certain amount of control over territories like GB, PoJK, Balochistan and given the less fertile terrains of these areas, China cannot utilize them to grow crops. Hence, Sindh is a new alternative. Another major advantage of controlling farm grains and growing crops in Sindh is the economical transportation cost of the agriculture products to China. Transportation from African or South American countries is expensive and is time taking.

For institutional sanction on using Pakistani land by China, the country recently went into an agreement on agriculture cooperation with Pakistan. China has now got ownership of several thousand acres of Pakistani land for the purpose of ‘demonstration projects’ in the field of agriculture.

The Chinese President seems to be increasingly concerned about the looming food crisis in the country. After running the campaign to stop food wastages, media censorship of food-related videos, and urging the Chinese not to waste the food, Xi Jinping is also seeking ideas from experts to handle the crisis. In a recent seminar with top scientists and businessmen, Jinping discussed the possible ways and sought ideas to reduce dependency on foreign countries, especially on food grains. The Chinese President is counting the importance of agriculture in his speeches in the past few visits of agriculture dominating Chinese provinces.

Declining consumption over insecurities due to the pandemic has also compelled the citizens to limit their consumption, leading to the recession of the economy. The markets are empty and people are not willing to spend. China’s Ministry of Commerce came up with a campaign titled ‘China Consumption Promotion Month’ to encourage Chinese citizens to accelerate consumption, organised between 8th September and 8th October. To further boost consumption, the Chinese government has started to issue coupons since March 2020 to prompt consumers to spend. According to the data of Alipay, local governments of more than 100 cities have issued digital coupons to enhance consumption.

From aggressive imports and foreign land deals to massive campaigns against food wastage and content censorship, China is making every possible effort to tackle the looming crisis. Even if it miserably fails, it plans to cover-up the news from the rest of the world. Several reports in the global media suggest that the world has apparently begun to know about China’s failure to entitle food security to its citizens that it has pledged to its citizens under the ‘six guarantees’ by the Chinese state.

China’s aggressive behaviour towards India, Taiwan, and Japan and ASEAN countries is only to divert the attention of the Chinese public over the economic crisis.

Interestingly, China has been in contradiction to its own data on agriculture, claiming that its economy is reviving despite the pandemic. However, experts feel that China has been manipulating the economic data for propaganda purpose. It is too early to conclude that the Chinese economy is on the recovery phase.

Economists noticed an interesting trend of China inking back-to-back deals on food grains and food products with multiple nations across the world. Most of the deals involve a massive transaction of food items.

Economists noticed an interesting trend of China inking back-to-back deals on food grains and food products with multiple nations across the world. Most of the deals involve a massive transaction of food items. It has also signed deals with its adversaries, reflecting that the country is going probably going through a major food crisis. China's food inflation rose by 13.2% in July 2020. Prices of most of the food products consumed by a common Chinese on a day-to-day basis have shot up, from cereals to meat products. The National Bureau of Statistics has revealed that the prices of most commonly consumed meat, pork has increased by 86%. China is resorting to the aggressive import of food products from all over the world. The critical condition can be understood from the fact that the country is procuring almost all the major food items. According to the China General Administration Customs, the country has also increased its grain imports during the first half of this year by 22.7%, leading to a food grain import measuring 74.51 million tons. Though China has been the largest producer of soybean for the past few years, yet it plans to import 40 million tons this year from its arch-rival USA. Import data suggests that China's wheat import went to a seven-year high during June this year. It imported 910,000 tons of wheat during June 2020, which meant an increase of 197% on a year-on-year basis. Besides, it also imported 880,000 tons of corn, 680,000 tons of sorghum and 140,000 tons of sugar. The harvest has been so low that China’s state grain reserve system could purchase only 45 million tons of wheat in June-July, reflecting a 17.2% decline from the past year. Observers believe that besides the low harvest, farmers are storing the food item with them and not storing with the government under apprehension regarding the ongoing food crisis.It is believed that the Chinese government is pressurizing the citizens to store their food grains with the government for enabling the country to project that the food crisis is not too severe. The low production is also coupled with the intense floods in the Three Gorges and the Yangtze Basin, which washed away thousands of acres of fertile lands with standing crops. Floods have impacted the lives of 54.8 million people and have inflicted an economic loss of US$ 20.8 billion. The locust swarm attack and the African Swine Flu Fever have also proved to be lethal for the country’s agriculture sector. The latter one is said to have killed a majority share of the pig population in the country, leading to a crisis in meat production. The calamity has come at a time when the proportion of cultivable land in the country has been declining at a rapid rate. According to China's Ministry of Natural Resources, its cultivable land kept declining for four consecutive years in 2017, measuring 60,900 hectares as compared to the previous year. In order to meet the deficit between food consumption and food production, China has started to purchase and lease out fertile lands and fields in many African, South American and ASEAN countries including Djibouti, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Chile, Argentina, Cambodia, Laos, etc. China spent around US$ 94 billion to purchase agricultural lands abroad. The number seems to have increased in the past few years. However, experts believe that China is also eyeing the fertile areas of its all-weather ally Pakistan. Besides exploiting the natural resources of Balochistan, now China plans to use Sindh as its hub for growing food crops. Though it has already established a certain amount of control over territories like GB, PoJK, Balochistan and given the less fertile terrains of these areas, China cannot utilize them to grow crops. Hence, Sindh is a new alternative. Another major advantage of controlling farm grains and growing crops in Sindh is the economical transportation cost of the agriculture products to China. Transportation from African or South American countries is expensive and is time taking. For institutional sanction on using Pakistani land by China, the country recently went into an agreement on agriculture cooperation with Pakistan. China has now got ownership of several thousand acres of Pakistani land for the purpose of ‘demonstration projects’ in the field of agriculture. The Chinese President seems to be increasingly concerned about the looming food crisis in the country. After running the campaign to stop food wastages, media censorship of food-related videos, and urging the Chinese not to waste the food, Xi Jinping is also seeking ideas from experts to handle the crisis. In a recent seminar with top scientists and businessmen, Jinping discussed the possible ways and sought ideas to reduce dependency on foreign countries, especially on food grains. The Chinese President is counting the importance of agriculture in his speeches in the past few visits of agriculture dominating Chinese provinces. Declining consumption over insecurities due to the pandemic has also compelled the citizens to limit their consumption, leading to the recession of the economy. The markets are empty and people are not willing to spend. China’s Ministry of Commerce came up with a campaign titled ‘China Consumption Promotion Month’ to encourage Chinese citizens to accelerate consumption, organised between 8th September and 8th October. To further boost consumption, the Chinese government has started to issue coupons since March 2020 to prompt consumers to spend. According to the data of Alipay, local governments of more than 100 cities have issued digital coupons to enhance consumption. From aggressive imports and foreign land deals to massive campaigns against food wastage and content censorship, China is making every possible effort to tackle the looming crisis. Even if it miserably fails, it plans to cover-up the news from the rest of the world. Several reports in the global media suggest that the world has apparently begun to know about China’s failure to entitle food security to its citizens that it has pledged to its citizens under the ‘six guarantees’ by the Chinese state. China’s aggressive behaviour towards India, Taiwan, and Japan and ASEAN countries is only to divert the attention of the Chinese public over the economic crisis. Interestingly, China has been in contradiction to its own data on agriculture, claiming that its economy is reviving despite the pandemic. However, experts feel that China has been manipulating the economic data for propaganda purpose. It is too early to conclude that the Chinese economy is on the recovery phase.

Xi Jinping escalates border crisis to divert attention from China's economic woes

As the much-awaited Durga Puja festivities begin from Thursday, a picture of Chinese President Xi Jinping replacing the demon has gone viral on social media.

Chinese President Xi Jinping Replaces ‘Asur’ in Bengal’s Durga Idol

Rattled by an interview with Taiwan's Foreign Minister, China shot off a protest letter to WION. The Chinese Embassy accused WION of 'seriously violating' the One-China principle. WION's Palki Sharma brings you WION's response.

Gravitas: Why WION's interview with Taiwan's Foreign Minister has rattled China

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday took a thinly-veiled swipe at the United States after he invoked the People's Liberation Army saying they should be ''determined to defeat invaders''.

Speaking on the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, Jinping told the Chinese troops that ''without a strong army there can be no motherland.''

Xi did not directly refer to the United States, with which relations have sunk to their lowest in decades over disputes ranging from trade and technology to human rights and the coronavirus. Taiwan has become a growing point of contention and military tension.

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"Let the world know that 'the people of China are now organised, and are not to be trifled with'," Xi said at the Great Hall of the People, quoting Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People's Republic of China.

Beijing frequently uses war anniversaries to fire thinly covered warnings to the US of the military strength of the "new China".

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-us-china-relationship-took-a-turn-for-the-worse-314882">How US-China relationship took a turn for the worse</a>

The Korean War is a key foundation story for the ruling Communist Party.

Friday's anniversary comes as the party is called out by US President Donald&nbsp;Trump, in a bitter row spanning trade, tech, human rights, and the status of Taiwan, which China says is an inviolable part of the mainland.

Without explicitly naming the US, Xi loaded up with the historical precedent of the Korean war and took swings at modern-day "unilateralism, protectionism and extreme egoism".

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"Chinese people don't create troubles, nor are we afraid of them," Xi said to applause.

"We will never sit back and watch any damage to our national sovereignty... and we will never allow any force to invade or divide the sacred territory of the motherland."

On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced it had agreed to sell over one billion dollars' worth of missiles to self-governing Taiwan, the sharpest potential flashpoint with US forces.

'Sacrifice'

The Korean War was the first and so far only time Chinese and US forces have engaged in large-scale direct combat.

According to the Chinese government, more than 197,000 Chinese&nbsp;soldiers died during the&nbsp;three-year war, which saw the US-led United Nations coalition pushed back to the 38th parallel bisecting the Korean Peninsula after China weighed in on the side of North Korea's communist army.

The war essentially fought to a bloody stalemate, is hailed in China as a victory and an example of resilience and spirit against a more advanced foe.

"When China was very poor, it didn't surrender to US pressure," an editorial in the nationalist Global Times said this week.&nbsp;

"Today, China has grown to be a strong country, so there is no reason for China to fear US threats and suppression."

With tensions at their highest in decades between Beijing and Washington, China is making much of the 70th anniversary of its forces entering the fight, intended as much for domestic consumption as it is a warning to its superpower rivals.

Chinese state media have unleashed a wave of propaganda with daily interviews with Chinese veterans who survived the war during prime-time news over the past week.

An action-thriller "Sacrifice", directed by three of the biggest names in Chinese cinema and depicting a small band of Chinese troops holding off US forces in the final days of the war-hit cinemas across the country on Friday.

"This should be seen as a message directly addressed to the United States, there is no ambiguity here", Alice Ekman, an analyst specialising in China at the European Union Institute for Security Studies said before the speech.

"Xi is invoking the spirit of war in a broad sense."

China and North Korea have worked to improve relations in the past two years after they deteriorated as Beijing backed a series of UN sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear activities.

Xi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have met five times since March 2018, even as nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have hit a standstill.

By commemorating the anniversary "China is declaring to the US that it was not afraid of the US in the past, and is still not afraid of the US now", said Shi Yinhong, professor of international politics at Renmin University.

"It's to prepare for a possible limited military conflict with the US", Shi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday took a thinly-veiled swipe at the United States after he invoked the People's Liberation Army saying they should be ''determined to defeat invaders''.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday took a thinly-veiled swipe at the United States after he invoked the People's Liberation Army saying they should be ''determined to defeat invaders''. Speaking on the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, Jinping told the Chinese troops that ''without a strong army there can be no motherland.'' Xi did not directly refer to the United States, with which relations have sunk to their lowest in decades over disputes ranging from trade and technology to human rights and the coronavirus. Taiwan has become a growing point of contention and military tension. × "Let the world know that 'the people of China are now organised, and are not to be trifled with'," Xi said at the Great Hall of the People, quoting Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People's Republic of China. Beijing frequently uses war anniversaries to fire thinly covered warnings to the US of the military strength of the "new China". Also see: How US-China relationship took a turn for the worse The Korean War is a key foundation story for the ruling Communist Party. Friday's anniversary comes as the party is called out by US President Donald Trump, in a bitter row spanning trade, tech, human rights, and the status of Taiwan, which China says is an inviolable part of the mainland. Without explicitly naming the US, Xi loaded up with the historical precedent of the Korean war and took swings at modern-day "unilateralism, protectionism and extreme egoism". "Chinese people don't create troubles, nor are we afraid of them," Xi said to applause. "We will never sit back and watch any damage to our national sovereignty... and we will never allow any force to invade or divide the sacred territory of the motherland." On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced it had agreed to sell over one billion dollars' worth of missiles to self-governing Taiwan, the sharpest potential flashpoint with US forces. 'Sacrifice' The Korean War was the first and so far only time Chinese and US forces have engaged in large-scale direct combat. According to the Chinese government, more than 197,000 Chinese soldiers died during the three-year war, which saw the US-led United Nations coalition pushed back to the 38th parallel bisecting the Korean Peninsula after China weighed in on the side of North Korea's communist army. The war essentially fought to a bloody stalemate, is hailed in China as a victory and an example of resilience and spirit against a more advanced foe. "When China was very poor, it didn't surrender to US pressure," an editorial in the nationalist Global Times said this week. "Today, China has grown to be a strong country, so there is no reason for China to fear US threats and suppression." With tensions at their highest in decades between Beijing and Washington, China is making much of the 70th anniversary of its forces entering the fight, intended as much for domestic consumption as it is a warning to its superpower rivals. Chinese state media have unleashed a wave of propaganda with daily interviews with Chinese veterans who survived the war during prime-time news over the past week. An action-thriller "Sacrifice", directed by three of the biggest names in Chinese cinema and depicting a small band of Chinese troops holding off US forces in the final days of the war-hit cinemas across the country on Friday. "This should be seen as a message directly addressed to the United States, there is no ambiguity here", Alice Ekman, an analyst specialising in China at the European Union Institute for Security Studies said before the speech. "Xi is invoking the spirit of war in a broad sense." China and North Korea have worked to improve relations in the past two years after they deteriorated as Beijing backed a series of UN sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear activities. Xi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have met five times since March 2018, even as nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have hit a standstill. By commemorating the anniversary "China is declaring to the US that it was not afraid of the US in the past, and is still not afraid of the US now", said Shi Yinhong, professor of international politics at Renmin University. "It's to prepare for a possible limited military conflict with the US", Shi said.

Xi Jinping invokes Chinese military; takes thinly-veiled swipe at US

In a thinly-veiled attack on the US, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China is not afraid of war. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has hinted at a possible Russia-China military alliance in the future. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Xi Jinping says China is not afraid of war

Chinese President Xi Jinping in a threat to Washington said that China is not intimidated by America and it's ready to fight anyone creating trouble.

Your Story: China's veiled threat to Washington | "Chinese people not afraid of troubles'

After casting doubts about Joe Biden's standing with China & cornering Hunter Biden, is now hit by another bombshell report. From trade war to constant barbs over the origin of Pandemic, was everything a cover up? WION reports on Trump's link with CHINA.

Donald Trump: China crusader or covert ally?

Chinese President Xi Jinping was delivering a speech in Shenzhen- and he coughed. A lot. Critics are speculating: Has the virus reached Xi Jinping? Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you how a coughing fit has raised multiple questions for the Chinese regime to answer.

Gravitas: Xi Jinping struggles through speech, coughs multiple times

As the US tries to build an alliance to counter China, Beijing has dispatched its Foreign Minister on a tour of Southeast Asia. Palki Sharma Upadhyay how China is losing friends due to its aggressive moves in the South China Sea.

Gravitas: Why China's Foreign Minister is on a tour of Southeast Asia

China’s President Xi Jinping violently coughs throughout a speech to Communist party faithful in Shenzhen, prompting speculation on his health, as state media cuts away each time he is forced to stop speaking.

Cameras cut away from the President but he was heard spluttering on audio. Episode promoted his critics to speculate whether he has coronavirus. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Xi Jinping struggles through speech, coughs multiple times

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Hong Kong's Apple Daily, which ran the headline "Xi Jinping coughs and coughs at Shenzhen event as Carrie Lam stays away from VIPs," noted that the Chinese president "was seen coughing away and drinking water."

Beijing should come clean even if the president has a condition. Speaking out might improve their image and he won't be the only one to have tested positive, if he has.

Leaders are not immune to coughs or to the Wuhan virus.US president Donald Trump tested positive. So did Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom and Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil.

The presidents of Bolivia, Guatemala and Honduras - were infected too. As were the prime ministers of Armenia and Russia. Xi Jinping would be just another name on the list.

But he won't be, China isn't famous for being transparent. Xi had also mysteriously disappeared when the virus first spread. He went missing from public view not once, but twice.

Then he appeared without a mask. In a bid to prove that China has defeated the virus. He lifted lockdowns and allowed pool parties. The stunt may have backfired. He sat coughing with China's top leaders in close proximity.

He may have compromised all of them. Trump would have been hauled over the coals for something like this. But in China, nobody questions the president. Everyone says the virus has been defeated.

Worldwide there's a looming second wave another round of lockdowns.

But China is immune from its own virus. China will also keep injecting its citizens with dubious vaccines and keep lifting restrictions as if the virus has vanished.&nbsp; 
 
Govt backed state media has issued so many propaganda videos to show that China has bounced back. But&nbsp;one man's cough can undo a lot.

(With inputs from agencies)

China’s President Xi Jinping violently coughs throughout a speech to Communist party faithful in Shenzhen, prompting speculation on his health, as state media cuts away each time he is forced to stop speaking.

China’s President Xi Jinping violently coughs throughout a speech to Communist party faithful in Shenzhen, prompting speculation on his health, as state media cuts away each time he is forced to stop speaking. Cameras cut away from the President but he was heard spluttering on audio. Episode promoted his critics to speculate whether he has coronavirus. Watch | Gravitas: Xi Jinping struggles through speech, coughs multiple times Hong Kong's Apple Daily, which ran the headline "Xi Jinping coughs and coughs at Shenzhen event as Carrie Lam stays away from VIPs," noted that the Chinese president "was seen coughing away and drinking water." Beijing should come clean even if the president has a condition. Speaking out might improve their image and he won't be the only one to have tested positive, if he has. Leaders are not immune to coughs or to the Wuhan virus.US president Donald Trump tested positive. So did Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom and Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil. The presidents of Bolivia, Guatemala and Honduras - were infected too. As were the prime ministers of Armenia and Russia. Xi Jinping would be just another name on the list. But he won't be, China isn't famous for being transparent. Xi had also mysteriously disappeared when the virus first spread. He went missing from public view not once, but twice. Then he appeared without a mask. In a bid to prove that China has defeated the virus. He lifted lockdowns and allowed pool parties. The stunt may have backfired. He sat coughing with China's top leaders in close proximity. He may have compromised all of them. Trump would have been hauled over the coals for something like this. But in China, nobody questions the president. Everyone says the virus has been defeated. Worldwide there's a looming second wave another round of lockdowns. But China is immune from its own virus. China will also keep injecting its citizens with dubious vaccines and keep lifting restrictions as if the virus has vanished. Govt backed state media has issued so many propaganda videos to show that China has bounced back. But one man's cough can undo a lot. (With inputs from agencies)

Xi Jinping coughs 'violently' during key speech, sparking health fears

When China first opened to overseas investors, the country was desperate for foreign technology to revive its growth. Now, as China faces rising global barriers, its leader, Xi Jinping, is urging greater domestic innovation.

Xi delivered this message Wednesday while making an anniversary pilgrimage to the southern city of Shenzhen, which in 1980 was established as a “special economic zone” next to the global financial hub of Hong Kong. Shenzhen quickly became an incubator for “reform and opening up,” the strategy championed by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping that paved the way for the country’s decadeslong economic takeoff.

Forty years later, Xi said China still welcomed foreign investors, but he also said it must prepare for a less welcoming world. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the rise of barriers to the free flow of goods and technology, Xi said, a theme that he has stressed recently.

“The world economy is at low ebb, and international trade and investment have drastically shrunk,” Xi said to a conference hall packed with officials and guests wearing protective masks, in a speech that was promoted heavily by the Chinese news media.

Xi did not refer directly to the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict Chinese companies’ access to U.S. technology amid escalating tensions between the two countries. Instead, Xi broadly warned that “the world has entered a period of turbulence and transformation.” Shenzhen’s experience, he said, showed that China must “gain the initiative in the global technological revolution.”

China is striving to revive its economy and repair its international standing amid the coronavirus pandemic, which began late last year in the central city of Wuhan. The pandemic has driven negative views of China to new heights in the United States and other wealthy democracies, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center that was published last week.

Xi is also trying to quell jitters about Hong Kong, the semi-autonomous Chinese territory where a sweeping security law was recently imposed in response to tumultuous anti-government protests last year.

Xi’s speech in Shenzhen gave a likely preview of a Communist Party leaders’ meeting late this month, when he will lay out China’s economic strategy for the next five years, including harnessing more domestic innovation and consumer spending.

Xi pledged to make Shenzhen a proving ground for upgrading China’s economy and strengthening innovation, citing plans to step up spending on technology research. He stressed Shenzhen’s importance in a regional economic initiative that also encompasses Hong Kong, a strategy that could enhance Chinese influence over the former British colony and underscore its reduced importance for Beijing.

Xi’s speech and other comments during his trip this week to Guangdong province, which includes Shenzhen, have also underscored his effort to redefine China’s decades-old strategy of “opening up.”

Past leaders stressed drawing in foreign capital and technology to help China catch up; Xi wants to shift the balance by taking Chinese technology, investment and power to the world.

“We’re experiencing a transformation the likes of which hasn’t happened for a century,” Xi said Monday while visiting a factory in Chaozhou, another coastal city in Guangdong. “We must take the road toward a higher level of self-reliance.”

Officials have already spent years trying to shift Shenzhen from low-end industry to high-tech design and manufacturing. Xi wants to wean China off foreign suppliers for crucial components, such as silicon chips, and the city is a part of those plans. Shenzhen is home to the headquarters of big Chinese tech firms such as Huawei, one of the world’s biggest smartphone sellers. The United States has imposed several restrictions against Huawei in the past year, deeming the company a security threat, a claim that the company denies.

“This is a new spin using Shenzhen to say, ‘We can be economically strong, we can be technologically innovative, we can be socially progressive — on Chinese terms,’” said Juan Du, an associate professor of architecture at the University of Hong Kong and author of a recent study, “The Shenzhen Experiment.”

“A lot is riding on this for Shenzhen to be able to set an example for other cities in China,” she said. “Shenzhen’s importance to the national psyche is far greater than just its economic importance.”

But China remains greatly dependent on imported technologies, especially semiconductors, the brains of all electronic devices. Despite billions of dollars in state support, Chinese chipmakers are still far behind rivals in Taiwan, South Korea and the United States.

The Trump administration is threatening to block Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, China’s most advanced chip manufacturer, from using U.S. software and equipment out of fear that its products are used by the Chinese military, which the company denies. The technology involved in chip production is fiendishly complex to master, making it difficult for Chinese companies to easily catch up with foreign makers.

“The Chinese government is pretty much aware that technology, by and large, comes from the private sector,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor of Chinese politics at Hong Kong Baptist University. Shenzhen and its tech companies, he said, are “very much part of this effort to leapfrog and catch up with Western countries in high-tech.”

Xi’s vision of Shenzhen as a base for China’s rising technological prowess carries extra resonance because his father, Xi Zhongxun, was an official who helped to establish the region as a scrappy boomtown.

After former Communist Chairman Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, a surge of people fled to Hong Kong, and Xi Zhongxun, then the party secretary of Guangdong, hoped zones like Shenzhen would help revive the economy and stanch the departures, said Joseph Torigian, an assistant professor at American University in Washington who is writing a biography of the elder Xi. The younger Xi mentioned his father indirectly in his speech, citing him only as an unnamed provincial leader.

Hong Kong investment and expertise were crucial to Shenzhen’s rise in the 1980s, but Xi’s speech Wednesday showed the financial hub’s reduced role in China’s ambitions.

The officials applauding Xi in Shenzhen included Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, who is charged with enforcing the draconian new national security law. Earlier this week, Lam abruptly postponed her annual policy speech to avoid it coinciding with Xi’s visit to Shenzhen.

“It shows again that Hong Kong is a kind of appendage to mainland China,” Cabestan said.

Xi also used his speech in Shenzhen to vow a bigger role for markets, but Chinese entrepreneurs and economists have expressed skepticism about his commitment. Since coming to power in 2012, he has stressed that the party must keep a tight grip on the economy and that state companies must dominate key sectors of industry. Last month, the Chinese party announced plans to extend its role in private businesses.

Xi’s visit to Shenzhen did not signal any shift from his established economic course, said Deng Yuwen, a former editor for a party newspaper who now lives in the United States.

“I think the propaganda pitch has been set this high this time to try to shift the outside world’s view saying that China is not reforming and is closing itself off,” Deng said by telephone. “Oftentimes, what action you take is not the same thing as in the propaganda.”

When China first opened to overseas investors, the country was desperate for foreign technology to revive its growth. Now, as China faces rising global barriers, its leader, Xi Jinping, is urging greater domestic innovation.

When China first opened to overseas investors, the country was desperate for foreign technology to revive its growth. Now, as China faces rising global barriers, its leader, Xi Jinping, is urging greater domestic innovation. Xi delivered this message Wednesday while making an anniversary pilgrimage to the southern city of Shenzhen, which in 1980 was established as a “special economic zone” next to the global financial hub of Hong Kong. Shenzhen quickly became an incubator for “reform and opening up,” the strategy championed by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping that paved the way for the country’s decadeslong economic takeoff. Forty years later, Xi said China still welcomed foreign investors, but he also said it must prepare for a less welcoming world. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the rise of barriers to the free flow of goods and technology, Xi said, a theme that he has stressed recently. “The world economy is at low ebb, and international trade and investment have drastically shrunk,” Xi said to a conference hall packed with officials and guests wearing protective masks, in a speech that was promoted heavily by the Chinese news media. Xi did not refer directly to the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict Chinese companies’ access to U.S. technology amid escalating tensions between the two countries. Instead, Xi broadly warned that “the world has entered a period of turbulence and transformation.” Shenzhen’s experience, he said, showed that China must “gain the initiative in the global technological revolution.” China is striving to revive its economy and repair its international standing amid the coronavirus pandemic, which began late last year in the central city of Wuhan. The pandemic has driven negative views of China to new heights in the United States and other wealthy democracies, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center that was published last week. Xi is also trying to quell jitters about Hong Kong, the semi-autonomous Chinese territory where a sweeping security law was recently imposed in response to tumultuous anti-government protests last year. Xi’s speech in Shenzhen gave a likely preview of a Communist Party leaders’ meeting late this month, when he will lay out China’s economic strategy for the next five years, including harnessing more domestic innovation and consumer spending. Xi pledged to make Shenzhen a proving ground for upgrading China’s economy and strengthening innovation, citing plans to step up spending on technology research. He stressed Shenzhen’s importance in a regional economic initiative that also encompasses Hong Kong, a strategy that could enhance Chinese influence over the former British colony and underscore its reduced importance for Beijing. Xi’s speech and other comments during his trip this week to Guangdong province, which includes Shenzhen, have also underscored his effort to redefine China’s decades-old strategy of “opening up.” Past leaders stressed drawing in foreign capital and technology to help China catch up; Xi wants to shift the balance by taking Chinese technology, investment and power to the world. “We’re experiencing a transformation the likes of which hasn’t happened for a century,” Xi said Monday while visiting a factory in Chaozhou, another coastal city in Guangdong. “We must take the road toward a higher level of self-reliance.” Officials have already spent years trying to shift Shenzhen from low-end industry to high-tech design and manufacturing. Xi wants to wean China off foreign suppliers for crucial components, such as silicon chips, and the city is a part of those plans. Shenzhen is home to the headquarters of big Chinese tech firms such as Huawei, one of the world’s biggest smartphone sellers. The United States has imposed several restrictions against Huawei in the past year, deeming the company a security threat, a claim that the company denies. “This is a new spin using Shenzhen to say, ‘We can be economically strong, we can be technologically innovative, we can be socially progressive — on Chinese terms,’” said Juan Du, an associate professor of architecture at the University of Hong Kong and author of a recent study, “The Shenzhen Experiment.” “A lot is riding on this for Shenzhen to be able to set an example for other cities in China,” she said. “Shenzhen’s importance to the national psyche is far greater than just its economic importance.” But China remains greatly dependent on imported technologies, especially semiconductors, the brains of all electronic devices. Despite billions of dollars in state support, Chinese chipmakers are still far behind rivals in Taiwan, South Korea and the United States. The Trump administration is threatening to block Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, China’s most advanced chip manufacturer, from using U.S. software and equipment out of fear that its products are used by the Chinese military, which the company denies. The technology involved in chip production is fiendishly complex to master, making it difficult for Chinese companies to easily catch up with foreign makers. “The Chinese government is pretty much aware that technology, by and large, comes from the private sector,” said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor of Chinese politics at Hong Kong Baptist University. Shenzhen and its tech companies, he said, are “very much part of this effort to leapfrog and catch up with Western countries in high-tech.” Xi’s vision of Shenzhen as a base for China’s rising technological prowess carries extra resonance because his father, Xi Zhongxun, was an official who helped to establish the region as a scrappy boomtown. After former Communist Chairman Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, a surge of people fled to Hong Kong, and Xi Zhongxun, then the party secretary of Guangdong, hoped zones like Shenzhen would help revive the economy and stanch the departures, said Joseph Torigian, an assistant professor at American University in Washington who is writing a biography of the elder Xi. The younger Xi mentioned his father indirectly in his speech, citing him only as an unnamed provincial leader. Hong Kong investment and expertise were crucial to Shenzhen’s rise in the 1980s, but Xi’s speech Wednesday showed the financial hub’s reduced role in China’s ambitions. The officials applauding Xi in Shenzhen included Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, who is charged with enforcing the draconian new national security law. Earlier this week, Lam abruptly postponed her annual policy speech to avoid it coinciding with Xi’s visit to Shenzhen. “It shows again that Hong Kong is a kind of appendage to mainland China,” Cabestan said. Xi also used his speech in Shenzhen to vow a bigger role for markets, but Chinese entrepreneurs and economists have expressed skepticism about his commitment. Since coming to power in 2012, he has stressed that the party must keep a tight grip on the economy and that state companies must dominate key sectors of industry. Last month, the Chinese party announced plans to extend its role in private businesses. Xi’s visit to Shenzhen did not signal any shift from his established economic course, said Deng Yuwen, a former editor for a party newspaper who now lives in the United States. “I think the propaganda pitch has been set this high this time to try to shift the outside world’s view saying that China is not reforming and is closing itself off,” Deng said by telephone. “Oftentimes, what action you take is not the same thing as in the propaganda.”

In city where China welcomed the world, Xi prepares for a colder one

A French museum won backing from scholars on Tuesday for its decision to halt an exhibition about Mongol leader&nbsp;Genghis&nbsp;Khan because of a censorship attempt by the Chinese government.

The history museum in the western French city of Nantes announced Monday that it was delaying the opening of the exhibition about the legendary founder of the 13th-Century Mongol Empire by more than three years.

Preparations for the show, planned in collaboration with the Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot, China, ran into trouble after the Chinese Bureau of Cultural Heritage pushed for changes to the original project plan, "including notably elements of biased rewriting of Mongol culture in favour of a new national narrative", the Nantes museum said.

The Chinese authorities demanded that certain words, including "Genghis&nbsp;Khan," "Empire" and "Mongol" be removed from the exhibition, and later asked for control over exhibition texts, maps, brochures and communication, the museum said.

The dispute coincides with a tougher Chinese line against ethnic Mongols, who account for about 6.5 million of China's 1.4 billion inhabitants and mostly live in the northern province of Inner Mongolia.

The province has seen weeks of protests and school boycotts over a policy requiring schools to teach politics, history, and literature in Mandarin rather than the local language.

"The Chinese regime bans historical narratives that don't match its official narratives. And tries to do the same abroad," tweeted Valerie Niquet, an Asia specialist at France's Foundation for Strategic Research.

Antoine Bondaz, a research fellow at the foundation, also backed the museum's decision on Twitter, calling the reported Chinese demands "crazy".

"The Nantes museum and Hohhot museum had good working relations until Beijing changed its policies and tried to impose its narrative abroad," he added.

The "hardening this summer of the Chinese government's position towards the Mongol minority" prompted the halt of the exhibition, the museum said.

"We decided to stop this production in the name of the human, scientific and ethical values that we defend," museum director Bertrand Guillet said in a statement.

The show, which was to open next week, had already been pushed back to the first half of 2021 because of the coronavirus crisis.

But the museum said it was now "forced to delay this exhibition until October 2024".

This would give it time to build a new exhibition, featuring works from European and American collections.

A French museum won backing from scholars on Tuesday for its decision to halt an exhibition about Mongol leader Genghis Khan because of a censorship attempt by the Chinese government.

A French museum won backing from scholars on Tuesday for its decision to halt an exhibition about Mongol leader Genghis Khan because of a censorship attempt by the Chinese government. The history museum in the western French city of Nantes announced Monday that it was delaying the opening of the exhibition about the legendary founder of the 13th-Century Mongol Empire by more than three years. Preparations for the show, planned in collaboration with the Inner Mongolia Museum in Hohhot, China, ran into trouble after the Chinese Bureau of Cultural Heritage pushed for changes to the original project plan, "including notably elements of biased rewriting of Mongol culture in favour of a new national narrative", the Nantes museum said. The Chinese authorities demanded that certain words, including "Genghis Khan," "Empire" and "Mongol" be removed from the exhibition, and later asked for control over exhibition texts, maps, brochures and communication, the museum said. The dispute coincides with a tougher Chinese line against ethnic Mongols, who account for about 6.5 million of China's 1.4 billion inhabitants and mostly live in the northern province of Inner Mongolia. The province has seen weeks of protests and school boycotts over a policy requiring schools to teach politics, history, and literature in Mandarin rather than the local language. "The Chinese regime bans historical narratives that don't match its official narratives. And tries to do the same abroad," tweeted Valerie Niquet, an Asia specialist at France's Foundation for Strategic Research. Antoine Bondaz, a research fellow at the foundation, also backed the museum's decision on Twitter, calling the reported Chinese demands "crazy". "The Nantes museum and Hohhot museum had good working relations until Beijing changed its policies and tried to impose its narrative abroad," he added. The "hardening this summer of the Chinese government's position towards the Mongol minority" prompted the halt of the exhibition, the museum said. "We decided to stop this production in the name of the human, scientific and ethical values that we defend," museum director Bertrand Guillet said in a statement. The show, which was to open next week, had already been pushed back to the first half of 2021 because of the coronavirus crisis. But the museum said it was now "forced to delay this exhibition until October 2024". This would give it time to build a new exhibition, featuring works from European and American collections.

French museum postpones Genghis Khan exhibit after Chinese interference

How does Beijing expect the world to respect the One-China policy when the dragon is breaching every possible international code? In the last 2 days, China has threatened the U.S and intruded into Japanese waters. Palki Sharma Upadhyay has the details.

Gravitas: China's neighbourhood battle

China on Tuesday announced new rules for Muslims embarking upon the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Stipulating that the pilgrimage should be organised only by the country's Islamic Association, Bejing has ordered Chinese Muslims not to oppose the regulations.

China announces new regulations for Muslims visiting Saudi Arabia for Hajj

China's policies of expansionism and aggression seem to be backfiring. In an effort to exude power, Beijing has painted itself in a corner and is now without any allies.

China is running a multimillion dollar misinformation campaign. Chinese propaganda is an organised and orchestrated effort.

Reports say, China has hired a company for its disinformation efforts it is called Onesight. This is a Beijing-based internet marketing company.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-how-china-is-trying-to-manipulate-social-media-platforms-334839/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It got a contract to "boost" the twitter following of China news service. The second largest state-owned news agency of China. China news service - operates under the united front work department. The arm of the Chinese state — that handles influence operations outside China.

Onesight was reportedly given a contract of around 175 thousand dollars for a special project.

It was asked to "increase the following" of China news Service. An influence network was boosting not just China news service — but other top Chinese state media accounts too.&nbsp;

Names like Xinhua and People's Daily.

Specific instances of fake accounts promoting a positive image of the Chinese state.&nbsp; 
 
Now social media companies are taking down scores of propaganda accounts but their response falls far short of China's aggressive campaigns and spending.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

China's policies of expansionism and aggression seem to be backfiring. In an effort to exude power, Beijing has painted itself in a corner and is now without any allies.

China's policies of expansionism and aggression seem to be backfiring. In an effort to exude power, Beijing has painted itself in a corner and is now without any allies. China is running a multimillion dollar misinformation campaign. Chinese propaganda is an organised and orchestrated effort. Reports say, China has hired a company for its disinformation efforts it is called Onesight. This is a Beijing-based internet marketing company. It got a contract to "boost" the twitter following of China news service. The second largest state-owned news agency of China. China news service - operates under the united front work department. The arm of the Chinese state — that handles influence operations outside China. Onesight was reportedly given a contract of around 175 thousand dollars for a special project. It was asked to "increase the following" of China news Service. An influence network was boosting not just China news service — but other top Chinese state media accounts too. Names like Xinhua and People's Daily. Specific instances of fake accounts promoting a positive image of the Chinese state. Now social media companies are taking down scores of propaganda accounts but their response falls far short of China's aggressive campaigns and spending. (With inputs from agencies)

China’s propaganda war: An effort to regain its loss of credibility

From fake news to fake accounts to 'boost' following of state media - China is trying to build a propaganda network to influence conversations on social media. Palki Sharma Upadhyay tells you more about China's social media propaganda machine.

Gravitas: How China is trying to manipulate social media platforms

Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech in Shenzhen on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the establishment of China's first special economic zone in the southern city 40 years ago.

One of the testing grounds for reforms that spurred China's high-paced growth over the last four decades, the Chinese Communist Party touts Shenzhen as a gleaming symbol of China's emergence as a global economic power.

The leader of neighbouring Hong Kong, Carrie Lam, said she would postpone her annual policy address scheduled for Wednesday and travel to Shenzhen instead. She, however, said no meeting with Xi was scheduled.

Lam said she would go to Beijing later this month and aimed to hold her policy address by the end of November.

On Sunday, the central government announced measures to give Shenzhen greater control over land use, intended to encourage foreign investment in the technology sector, while reducing red tape in energy and telecoms.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech in Shenzhen on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the establishment of China's first special economic zone in the southern city 40 years ago.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech in Shenzhen on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the establishment of China's first special economic zone in the southern city 40 years ago. One of the testing grounds for reforms that spurred China's high-paced growth over the last four decades, the Chinese Communist Party touts Shenzhen as a gleaming symbol of China's emergence as a global economic power. The leader of neighbouring Hong Kong, Carrie Lam, said she would postpone her annual policy address scheduled for Wednesday and travel to Shenzhen instead. She, however, said no meeting with Xi was scheduled. Lam said she would go to Beijing later this month and aimed to hold her policy address by the end of November. On Sunday, the central government announced measures to give Shenzhen greater control over land use, intended to encourage foreign investment in the technology sector, while reducing red tape in energy and telecoms.

China's Xi Jinping to deliver speech in Shenzhen marking its 40th anniversary

Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Kim Jong-un on the founding anniversary of North Korea's ruling party, and said he intended to deepen relations with Pyongyang.

"We have an intent to successfully defend, consolidate and develop the China-Korea relations together with Korean comrades and propel the long-lasting and stable development of the socialist cause of the two countries," North Korean state news agency KCNA quoted Xi as saying.

Saturday marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers` Party of Korea, and events are expected to include a large military parade that may feature some of North Korea`s long-range ballistic missiles for the first time since 2018.

Xi said he was "greatly pleased" with the achievements that North Korea had made in recent years by engaging with foreign countries in the face of hardships and challenges.

After years of cold&nbsp;relations during which China joined the United States and other nations in imposing sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, Xi and Kim met five times in 2018 and 2019. The North Korean diplomatic offensive included Kim meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

While North Korea says it has had no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, strict border closures and other measures it imposed to prevent an outbreak have further strained its economy, which is heavily reliant on trade with China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Kim Jong-un on the founding anniversary of North Korea's ruling party, and said he intended to deepen relations with Pyongyang.

Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Kim Jong-un on the founding anniversary of North Korea's ruling party, and said he intended to deepen relations with Pyongyang. "We have an intent to successfully defend, consolidate and develop the China-Korea relations together with Korean comrades and propel the long-lasting and stable development of the socialist cause of the two countries," North Korean state news agency KCNA quoted Xi as saying. Saturday marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers` Party of Korea, and events are expected to include a large military parade that may feature some of North Korea`s long-range ballistic missiles for the first time since 2018. Xi said he was "greatly pleased" with the achievements that North Korea had made in recent years by engaging with foreign countries in the face of hardships and challenges. After years of cold relations during which China joined the United States and other nations in imposing sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, Xi and Kim met five times in 2018 and 2019. The North Korean diplomatic offensive included Kim meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. While North Korea says it has had no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, strict border closures and other measures it imposed to prevent an outbreak have further strained its economy, which is heavily reliant on trade with China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping intends to deepen relations with North Korea

Xi Jinping celebrates China’s battle against the coronavirus as a success. But in the United States and other wealthy democracies, the pandemic has driven negative views of China to new heights, a survey published Tuesday showed.

Growing negative sentiment against China

China's trustworthiness plummets to new lows ever since the origin of COVID-19. Japan has most negative sentiment towards China.

China's trustworthiness plummets to new lows, Japan has most negative sentiment

How does a man responsible for millions of deaths of his own countrymen still commands his country? What can the world expect from the leader who has respect for Mao Zedong's ideology. Watch the report to know more.

Mao Zedong-communist revolutionary ; Known for failed socio-political experiments

India-Maldives ties have seen a comeback with New Delhi reaching out to the Indian Ocean island country and the latter in turn reaffirming India first policy. But jog back to two years, and the situation was of major concern.

On February 05, 2018, the then President of Maldives Abdulla Yameen, whose closeness with China was well known had declared a state of nation-wide emergency after the Supreme Court overturned criminal convictions against nine major opposition figures. Then the purge started, with rounding up of opposition figures. Those put behind bars included Yameen’s own half-brother former illustrious President of the country, Maumoon Gayoom.

Next 10 months were all about reversing the freedoms in the country and, in terms of foreign policy, demolishing the Maldives-India relationship. Tearing the ‘India First’ policy, Yameen attempted to de-couple India from the Maldives, in all spheres.&nbsp;

Recalling Yameen’s tenure, it was undoubtedly the lowest point in the Maldives-India bilateral relationship. China had made inroads into almost all aspects of Maldivian government, tourism and economy, both private and public sectors.&nbsp;

The Maldives China Free Trade Agreement was rammed through the Parliament or People's Majlis became the symbol of the larger ties between Yameen administration and China. Interestingly, Yameen’s government left no records of the plethora of illegal deals undertaken with shady front companies of Beijing.&nbsp;

Yameen had also broken Maldives’ ties with the Commonwealth, distanced the country from its major donors USA, Australia, Japan and the EU. &nbsp;What is perhaps unknown is the increase in drug flow through the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on Pakistani dhows spiking during this period. His administration had also suspended established joint protocols for keeping the EEZ secure from illicit activities.

Yameen era from 2013 to 2018 witnessed the rise of radicalised elements within Maldivian society as street gangs and ultra-religious elements held sway over society, a cause of worry given the geo-strategic location of the country.&nbsp;

The elections saw new dispensation led by President Ibu Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party taking charge in November 2018. Indian Prime minister was present at his oath-taking ceremony, taking a six-hour flight to capital Malé. Solih in his first overseas visit paid a state visit to India in December of 2018 during which India announced $1.4 billion financial assistance package.&nbsp;

Last year Indian prime minister Narendra Modi visited the country, the first country he visited during his 2nd terms as PM. During the visit, he addressed the Parliament of the country and talked about a number of things including connectivity. He announced a ferry service that will connect India with the Maldives, and the project was implemented just last month.&nbsp;

The cargo ferry from Kochi to Kulhudhufushi/ Malé will increase economic activity in Northern Maldives. The vessel which is used for ferry service can carry 380 TEUs and 3000 MT on bulk cargo and has refrigerated containers. The Cargo service will open the large India market for Tuna exporters of Maldives and will further provide a springboard to Europe through Cochin and Tuticorin ports. Cochin Port has weekly connectivity to Europe through a 6500 TEU vessel.

New Delhi is currently engaged in a number of projects in the country with "no strings attached". This encompasses sectors like Tourism, community development, education, airport development, and in fact heritage---renovation of the ancient coral mosque. The Indian model of international developmental assistance is unique and based on ‘need-based, high impact’ projects for the local community.

India has engaged in 7 major infrastructure projects in the country under $ 800 million Line of Credit--and these include Water and Sewerage network for 34 islands, Addu Roads and Reclamation project, Gulhifalhu Port, expansion of facilities of Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company, Cricket Stadium in Hulhumale, Hanimaadhoo International Airport expansion and Cancer Hospital in Hulhumale.

Another Line of Credit of $ 400 million and a grant of $ 100 million has been extended for the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) – the bridge and causeway network that will link Male to Vilingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi which is the largest infrastructure project in the country.

The Maldivian economy, highly dependent on tourism from EU, Russia and India, has been hugely impacted by the COVID Crisis. For this India announced $250 million budgetary support last month, which was lauded by Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid during his United Nations General Assembly speech on Tuesday.

He said,"I thank all our partners who have generously extended financial, material and technical support during this crisis, even when they themselves are going through challenging times."

Adding, "One such example is India. The recent budget support of 250 million US dollars, was the single largest financial assistance from a donor during this pandemic."

India has been the first responder to all emergencies in the Maldives, be it the 1988 attempted coup d’état, 2004 tsunami, 2014 water crisis, or 2020 covid crisis.

Amidst the COVID crisis, India has reached out to the Maldives in a number of ways including by sending a rapid response team of doctors and specialists, a consignment of 5.5 tons of essential medicines, followed by more consignments &amp; 580 tons of food aid including foodgrains, onions, etc in May. Also, approximately 500 Maldivians in 8 batches of Maldivian patients have travelled to India in the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, new Solih administration was quick to reach out to the world. Maldives re-joined the Commonwealth in 2020 with India’s support, bilateral relations with Japan, Australia and the EU were restored and the ‘India First’ policy was reinstated. &nbsp;The country also finalized a long-pending defence cooperation agreement with the USA.

But there seems to be anxiousness about it in Beijing, given the commentary by Chinese government mouthpiece Global Times. From labelling Indian assistance to the Maldives as ‘politically motivated’, to terming the Maldives-US defence agreement as a ‘threat to India’, China's angst is clearly reflected in the malicious columns of the Global Times.&nbsp;

India-Maldives ties have seen a comeback with New Delhi reaching out to the Indian Ocean island country and the latter in turn reaffirming India first policy. But jog back to two years, and the situation was of major concern.

India-Maldives ties have seen a comeback with New Delhi reaching out to the Indian Ocean island country and the latter in turn reaffirming India first policy. But jog back to two years, and the situation was of major concern. On February 05, 2018, the then President of Maldives Abdulla Yameen, whose closeness with China was well known had declared a state of nation-wide emergency after the Supreme Court overturned criminal convictions against nine major opposition figures. Then the purge started, with rounding up of opposition figures. Those put behind bars included Yameen’s own half-brother former illustrious President of the country, Maumoon Gayoom. Next 10 months were all about reversing the freedoms in the country and, in terms of foreign policy, demolishing the Maldives-India relationship. Tearing the ‘India First’ policy, Yameen attempted to de-couple India from the Maldives, in all spheres. Recalling Yameen’s tenure, it was undoubtedly the lowest point in the Maldives-India bilateral relationship. China had made inroads into almost all aspects of Maldivian government, tourism and economy, both private and public sectors. The Maldives China Free Trade Agreement was rammed through the Parliament or People's Majlis became the symbol of the larger ties between Yameen administration and China. Interestingly, Yameen’s government left no records of the plethora of illegal deals undertaken with shady front companies of Beijing. Yameen had also broken Maldives’ ties with the Commonwealth, distanced the country from its major donors USA, Australia, Japan and the EU. What is perhaps unknown is the increase in drug flow through the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on Pakistani dhows spiking during this period. His administration had also suspended established joint protocols for keeping the EEZ secure from illicit activities. Yameen era from 2013 to 2018 witnessed the rise of radicalised elements within Maldivian society as street gangs and ultra-religious elements held sway over society, a cause of worry given the geo-strategic location of the country. The elections saw new dispensation led by President Ibu Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party taking charge in November 2018. Indian Prime minister was present at his oath-taking ceremony, taking a six-hour flight to capital Malé. Solih in his first overseas visit paid a state visit to India in December of 2018 during which India announced $1.4 billion financial assistance package. Last year Indian prime minister Narendra Modi visited the country, the first country he visited during his 2nd terms as PM. During the visit, he addressed the Parliament of the country and talked about a number of things including connectivity. He announced a ferry service that will connect India with the Maldives, and the project was implemented just last month. The cargo ferry from Kochi to Kulhudhufushi/ Malé will increase economic activity in Northern Maldives. The vessel which is used for ferry service can carry 380 TEUs and 3000 MT on bulk cargo and has refrigerated containers. The Cargo service will open the large India market for Tuna exporters of Maldives and will further provide a springboard to Europe through Cochin and Tuticorin ports. Cochin Port has weekly connectivity to Europe through a 6500 TEU vessel. New Delhi is currently engaged in a number of projects in the country with "no strings attached". This encompasses sectors like Tourism, community development, education, airport development, and in fact heritage---renovation of the ancient coral mosque. The Indian model of international developmental assistance is unique and based on ‘need-based, high impact’ projects for the local community. India has engaged in 7 major infrastructure projects in the country under $ 800 million Line of Credit--and these include Water and Sewerage network for 34 islands, Addu Roads and Reclamation project, Gulhifalhu Port, expansion of facilities of Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company, Cricket Stadium in Hulhumale, Hanimaadhoo International Airport expansion and Cancer Hospital in Hulhumale. Another Line of Credit of $ 400 million and a grant of $ 100 million has been extended for the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) – the bridge and causeway network that will link Male to Vilingili, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi which is the largest infrastructure project in the country. The Maldivian economy, highly dependent on tourism from EU, Russia and India, has been hugely impacted by the COVID Crisis. For this India announced $250 million budgetary support last month, which was lauded by Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid during his United Nations General Assembly speech on Tuesday. He said,"I thank all our partners who have generously extended financial, material and technical support during this crisis, even when they themselves are going through challenging times." Adding, "One such example is India. The recent budget support of 250 million US dollars, was the single largest financial assistance from a donor during this pandemic." India has been the first responder to all emergencies in the Maldives, be it the 1988 attempted coup d’état, 2004 tsunami, 2014 water crisis, or 2020 covid crisis. Amidst the COVID crisis, India has reached out to the Maldives in a number of ways including by sending a rapid response team of doctors and specialists, a consignment of 5.5 tons of essential medicines, followed by more consignments & 580 tons of food aid including foodgrains, onions, etc in May. Also, approximately 500 Maldivians in 8 batches of Maldivian patients have travelled to India in the past few weeks. Meanwhile, new Solih administration was quick to reach out to the world. Maldives re-joined the Commonwealth in 2020 with India’s support, bilateral relations with Japan, Australia and the EU were restored and the ‘India First’ policy was reinstated. The country also finalized a long-pending defence cooperation agreement with the USA. But there seems to be anxiousness about it in Beijing, given the commentary by Chinese government mouthpiece Global Times. From labelling Indian assistance to the Maldives as ‘politically motivated’, to terming the Maldives-US defence agreement as a ‘threat to India’, China's angst is clearly reflected in the malicious columns of the Global Times.

Long shadow of China recede over Maldives as Yameen's legacy becomes distant past

After calling China 'peace-loving', Xi Jinping has now said that 'happiness is on the rise' in Xinjiang. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how this may just the most outrageous justification for state-sponsored persecution of the Uighurs.

Gravitas: Xi Jinping justifies crimes against Uighurs

The Wuhan virus has killed over 1 million people. It has pushed numerous countries into recession and snatched the livelihoods of people across the world. Who will compensate for all of this? WION's Palki Sharma argues it's time to #MakeChinaPay.

Gravitas: Wuhan Virus Pandemic, Why China must pay for damages

Chinese President Xi Jinping has claimed that levels of happiness among all ethnic groups in the western region of Xinjiang are on the rise.&nbsp;

China plans to keep teaching its residents a “correct” outlook on China, Xinhua news agency quoted him saying on Saturday.

The statement has come in the wake of the international scrutiny China has come under over its treatment of Uighur Muslims and claims of alleged forced-labour abuses in Xinjiang.&nbsp;

The United Nations had, in the General Assembly, even cited credible reports as saying one million Muslims held in camps have been put to work.

But China has repeatedly denied mistreating Uighurs and has been saying the camps are vocational training centres that are needed to tackle extremism.

“The sense of gain, happiness, and security among the people of all ethnic groups (in Xinjiang) has continued to increase,” Xi told a ruling Communist Party conference on Xinjiang held on Friday and Saturday, Xinhua said.

Xi said it was necessary to educate Xinjiang’s population on an understanding of the Chinese nation and guide “all ethnic groups on establishing a correct perspective on the country, history and nationality”.

“Practice has shown that the party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the new era is completely correct” and it should be a long-term approach, he added.

In July, Washington imposed sanctions on Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses against Uighurs under the Global Magnitsky Act.

The said act allows the United States government to target human rights violators by freezing any US assets, and prohibiting Americans from doing business with them.

(with inputs)

Chinese President Xi Jinping has claimed that levels of happiness among all ethnic groups in the western region of Xinjiang are on the rise. China plans to keep teaching its residents a “correct” outlook on China, Xinhua news agency quoted him saying on Saturday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has claimed that levels of happiness among all ethnic groups in the western region of Xinjiang are on the rise. China plans to keep teaching its residents a “correct” outlook on China, Xinhua news agency quoted him saying on Saturday. The statement has come in the wake of the international scrutiny China has come under over its treatment of Uighur Muslims and claims of alleged forced-labour abuses in Xinjiang. The United Nations had, in the General Assembly, even cited credible reports as saying one million Muslims held in camps have been put to work. But China has repeatedly denied mistreating Uighurs and has been saying the camps are vocational training centres that are needed to tackle extremism. “The sense of gain, happiness, and security among the people of all ethnic groups (in Xinjiang) has continued to increase,” Xi told a ruling Communist Party conference on Xinjiang held on Friday and Saturday, Xinhua said. Xi said it was necessary to educate Xinjiang’s population on an understanding of the Chinese nation and guide “all ethnic groups on establishing a correct perspective on the country, history and nationality”. “Practice has shown that the party’s strategy for governing Xinjiang in the new era is completely correct” and it should be a long-term approach, he added. In July, Washington imposed sanctions on Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses against Uighurs under the Global Magnitsky Act. The said act allows the United States government to target human rights violators by freezing any US assets, and prohibiting Americans from doing business with them. (with inputs)

'Happiness' in Xinjiang on the rise, China's Xi Jinping claims

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