China is freeing up tens of billions of dollars for its tech industry to borrow. It is cataloging the sectors where the United States or others could cut off access to crucial technologies. And when its leaders released their most important economic plans last week, they laid out their ambitions to become an innovation superpower beholden to none.

Anticipating efforts by the Biden administration to continue to challenge China’s technological rise, the country’s leaders are accelerating plans to go it alone, seeking to address vulnerabilities in the country’s economy that could thwart its ambitions in a wide range of industries, from smartphones to jet engines.

China has made audacious and ambitious plans before — in 2015 — but is falling short of its goals. With more countries becoming wary of China’s behaviour and its growing economic might, Beijing’s drive for technological independence has taken on a new urgency. The country’s new five-year plan, made public Friday, called tech development a matter of national security, not just economic development, a break from the previous plan.

The plan pledged to increase spending on research and development by 7% annually, including the public and private sectors. That figure was higher than budget increases for China’s military, which is slated to grow 6.8% next year, raising the prospect of an era of looming Cold War-like competition with the United States.

The spending pledges follow four tumultuous years during which former President Donald Trump rattled — and angered — the Communist Party leadership under Xi Jinping by restricting access to U.S. technology for some of its corporate giants, including Huawei.

The experience has hardened a view that the United States, even under a new administration, is determined to undercut the country’s advancement and that China can no longer rely on the West for a stable supply of the technologies that help drive its economic growth.

“The United States, which has already climbed to the summit, wants to kick away the ladder,” Zhang Xiaojing, an economist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, wrote on the eve of the legislative meetings now underway in Beijing.

The road to the “global peaks of technology,” as Xi has described China’s aspirations, is decidedly uphill. The government had previously set out to spend 2.5% of the gross domestic product on research and development in the past five years, but actual expenditures failed to reach that target.

One sector that China has struggled with microchips, which much of its electronics production relies on. Bewilderingly complex production has stymied Chinese businesses, which instead import the majority of the semiconductors they require. Despite tens of billions of dollars invested, China’s domestic chip production met only 15.9% of its chip demand in 2020, barely higher than the 15.1% share it accounted for in 2014, according to IC Insights, a U.S. semiconductor research firm.

China’s premier, Li Keqiang, last week detailed proposals to accelerate the development of high-end semiconductors, operating systems, computer processors, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

“I think they’re really worried,” said Rebecca Arcesati, a tech analyst with the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin. “They know that without access to those technologies, they won’t be able to reach their targets.”

The new strategy, to a degree, rebrands the country’s previous Made in China 2025 campaign, which sought to propel it to the lead in a range of cutting-edge technologies. It broadly set out to produce 70% of the core components that Chinese manufacturers needed by 2025. The plan scared trade partners and contributed to a punishing trade war with the United States.

“China wants to reduce its dependency on the world — not to reduce its trade and interaction but to ensure that it is not vulnerable to the kind of strategic blackmail against China that it has historically used against others,” said Daniel Russel, a former U.S. diplomat who is now a vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

A confrontation has been brewing for more than a decade. Long-held Chinese policies to winnow reliance on foreign tech got a boost in 2013, after disclosures by Edward Snowden about National Security Agency hacks that relied on U.S. firms.

U.S. companies have long complained about policies mandating tech transfer. Chinese government-backed hacks aimed at American intellectual property have further raised tensions. China has in the past used corporate espionage to support economic interests, including in the high-tech fields that the government is now making a priority.

The latest intrusion against business and government agencies used Microsoft email systems and was discovered last weekend. Tentatively linked to Chinese hackers, it is likely to sharpen a divide that could split the tech world.

In recent weeks, Chinese officials have repeatedly emphasized the danger of “choke points” where the United States controls key foundational technologies. At a news conference in Beijing, Xiao Yaqing, who leads the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, announced a review of 41 sectors for “empty spots” that could cause the tech supply chain to break “during crucial times.”

Beijing is backing this effort with money and rhetoric.

China Development Bank, the country’s policy lender, said last week that it was preparing over $60 billion in loans for more than 1,000 firms key to strategic innovation and had raised $30 billion for a new government-backed microchip investment fund.

A Chinese Academy of Engineering official, Ni Guangnan, wrote recently that the country should create a “Chinese system” that could supplant the combined systems of Intel, Microsoft, Oracle and others that have historically dominated computing. China should also increase the world’s reliance on its telecom infrastructure technology to “form a powerful deterrent” against future embargoes, he added.

The tech supply chain remains hugely complex and resolutely global, and too much meddling in the markets can have unforeseen consequences, experts have warned. Top-down jockeying by the United States and China over microchips has in part triggered a chip shortage that recently hit the auto industry.

Neither country can imminently attain true self-reliance in the myriad cutting-edge technologies required to run a modern economy and military. In place of overarching policies, a proxy fight is emerging, with both sides working to secure missing pieces that come from other countries.

Many U.S. allies have been happy to see their companies take advantage of a Chinese market increasingly emptied of U.S. companies.

Earlier this month, ASML, a Dutch company that makes the tools required to mass-produce microchips, said it had extended a contract to provide equipment to China’s largest semiconductor maker, even though Washington put the firm, known as SMIC, on a blacklist last year. The extension did not break any restrictions but showed how there are limits to the United States’ ability to cut off supplies.

Decisions like that could continue to frustrate President Joe Biden, who has cast China as the country’s most significant foreign policy challenge. China hopes to undercut U.S. efforts to isolate it by entwining itself with major economies, including those politically allied with the United States.

“They’re certainly speaking and acting with a view of discouraging third countries from joining any posse the United States might organize against China,” Russel of the Asia Society Policy Institute said. The goal is to buy “time needed by China to seal up the remaining vulnerabilities in its armour.”

Whatever hopes Chinese leaders had about a diplomatic reset after the Trump years appear to have already waned.

Biden’s first conversation with Xi lasted about two hours and, according to the White House, included discussions about “Beijing’s coercive and unfair economic practices.”

At home, Biden has warned that the United States needs to keep up with China on investments in infrastructure, some in support of tech industries, including electric vehicles.

“If we don’t get moving, they’re going to eat our lunch,” he said while making the case for the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus plan.

The phrase echoed one he had made as a candidate only two years before — to dismiss the challenge posed by China.

“China’s going to eat our lunch?” he said while stumping in Iowa in 2019. “C’mon, man!”

China is freeing up tens of billions of dollars for its tech industry to borrow. It is cataloging the sectors where the United States or others could cut off access to crucial technologies.

China is freeing up tens of billions of dollars for its tech industry to borrow. It is cataloging the sectors where the United States or others could cut off access to crucial technologies. And when its leaders released their most important economic plans last week, they laid out their ambitions to become an innovation superpower beholden to none. Anticipating efforts by the Biden administration to continue to challenge China’s technological rise, the country’s leaders are accelerating plans to go it alone, seeking to address vulnerabilities in the country’s economy that could thwart its ambitions in a wide range of industries, from smartphones to jet engines. China has made audacious and ambitious plans before — in 2015 — but is falling short of its goals. With more countries becoming wary of China’s behaviour and its growing economic might, Beijing’s drive for technological independence has taken on a new urgency. The country’s new five-year plan, made public Friday, called tech development a matter of national security, not just economic development, a break from the previous plan. The plan pledged to increase spending on research and development by 7% annually, including the public and private sectors. That figure was higher than budget increases for China’s military, which is slated to grow 6.8% next year, raising the prospect of an era of looming Cold War-like competition with the United States. The spending pledges follow four tumultuous years during which former President Donald Trump rattled — and angered — the Communist Party leadership under Xi Jinping by restricting access to U.S. technology for some of its corporate giants, including Huawei. The experience has hardened a view that the United States, even under a new administration, is determined to undercut the country’s advancement and that China can no longer rely on the West for a stable supply of the technologies that help drive its economic growth. “The United States, which has already climbed to the summit, wants to kick away the ladder,” Zhang Xiaojing, an economist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, wrote on the eve of the legislative meetings now underway in Beijing. The road to the “global peaks of technology,” as Xi has described China’s aspirations, is decidedly uphill. The government had previously set out to spend 2.5% of the gross domestic product on research and development in the past five years, but actual expenditures failed to reach that target. One sector that China has struggled with microchips, which much of its electronics production relies on. Bewilderingly complex production has stymied Chinese businesses, which instead import the majority of the semiconductors they require. Despite tens of billions of dollars invested, China’s domestic chip production met only 15.9% of its chip demand in 2020, barely higher than the 15.1% share it accounted for in 2014, according to IC Insights, a U.S. semiconductor research firm. China’s premier, Li Keqiang, last week detailed proposals to accelerate the development of high-end semiconductors, operating systems, computer processors, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. “I think they’re really worried,” said Rebecca Arcesati, a tech analyst with the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin. “They know that without access to those technologies, they won’t be able to reach their targets.” The new strategy, to a degree, rebrands the country’s previous Made in China 2025 campaign, which sought to propel it to the lead in a range of cutting-edge technologies. It broadly set out to produce 70% of the core components that Chinese manufacturers needed by 2025. The plan scared trade partners and contributed to a punishing trade war with the United States. “China wants to reduce its dependency on the world — not to reduce its trade and interaction but to ensure that it is not vulnerable to the kind of strategic blackmail against China that it has historically used against others,” said Daniel Russel, a former U.S. diplomat who is now a vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute. A confrontation has been brewing for more than a decade. Long-held Chinese policies to winnow reliance on foreign tech got a boost in 2013, after disclosures by Edward Snowden about National Security Agency hacks that relied on U.S. firms. U.S. companies have long complained about policies mandating tech transfer. Chinese government-backed hacks aimed at American intellectual property have further raised tensions. China has in the past used corporate espionage to support economic interests, including in the high-tech fields that the government is now making a priority. The latest intrusion against business and government agencies used Microsoft email systems and was discovered last weekend. Tentatively linked to Chinese hackers, it is likely to sharpen a divide that could split the tech world. In recent weeks, Chinese officials have repeatedly emphasized the danger of “choke points” where the United States controls key foundational technologies. At a news conference in Beijing, Xiao Yaqing, who leads the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, announced a review of 41 sectors for “empty spots” that could cause the tech supply chain to break “during crucial times.” Beijing is backing this effort with money and rhetoric. China Development Bank, the country’s policy lender, said last week that it was preparing over $60 billion in loans for more than 1,000 firms key to strategic innovation and had raised $30 billion for a new government-backed microchip investment fund. A Chinese Academy of Engineering official, Ni Guangnan, wrote recently that the country should create a “Chinese system” that could supplant the combined systems of Intel, Microsoft, Oracle and others that have historically dominated computing. China should also increase the world’s reliance on its telecom infrastructure technology to “form a powerful deterrent” against future embargoes, he added. The tech supply chain remains hugely complex and resolutely global, and too much meddling in the markets can have unforeseen consequences, experts have warned. Top-down jockeying by the United States and China over microchips has in part triggered a chip shortage that recently hit the auto industry. Neither country can imminently attain true self-reliance in the myriad cutting-edge technologies required to run a modern economy and military. In place of overarching policies, a proxy fight is emerging, with both sides working to secure missing pieces that come from other countries. Many U.S. allies have been happy to see their companies take advantage of a Chinese market increasingly emptied of U.S. companies. Earlier this month, ASML, a Dutch company that makes the tools required to mass-produce microchips, said it had extended a contract to provide equipment to China’s largest semiconductor maker, even though Washington put the firm, known as SMIC, on a blacklist last year. The extension did not break any restrictions but showed how there are limits to the United States’ ability to cut off supplies. Decisions like that could continue to frustrate President Joe Biden, who has cast China as the country’s most significant foreign policy challenge. China hopes to undercut U.S. efforts to isolate it by entwining itself with major economies, including those politically allied with the United States. “They’re certainly speaking and acting with a view of discouraging third countries from joining any posse the United States might organize against China,” Russel of the Asia Society Policy Institute said. The goal is to buy “time needed by China to seal up the remaining vulnerabilities in its armour.” Whatever hopes Chinese leaders had about a diplomatic reset after the Trump years appear to have already waned. Biden’s first conversation with Xi lasted about two hours and, according to the White House, included discussions about “Beijing’s coercive and unfair economic practices.” At home, Biden has warned that the United States needs to keep up with China on investments in infrastructure, some in support of tech industries, including electric vehicles. “If we don’t get moving, they’re going to eat our lunch,” he said while making the case for the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus plan. The phrase echoed one he had made as a candidate only two years before — to dismiss the challenge posed by China. “China’s going to eat our lunch?” he said while stumping in Iowa in 2019. “C’mon, man!”

Xi’s Gambit: China plans for a world without U.S. technology

China used the annual meeting of its parliament to send a message to the world. From tightening its grip on Hong Kong to trade deals with sparring partners - Beijing wants the world to believe the global momentum is on its side.

Gravitas: Xi Jinping has an ambitious agenda for 2021

After the coronavirus outbreak, face masks have become potent symbols in how leaders have responded to a public health crisis that often collides with politics and economic concerns.

But despite being one of the first countries in the world to authorize vaccines for use, China has said nothing about the vaccination status of its top leaders, who all including President Xi Jinping.

Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared without face masks in Beijing at the gathering of the National People’s Congress and its advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Not only Xi but Chinese Premier Li Keqiang moved around the Great Hall of the People mask-free.

Meanwhile, China has been stepping up coronavirus vaccine production as it looks to vaccinate its 1.4 billion population and boost its vaccine diplomacy to make strategic gains.&nbsp;

Last Friday, China welcomed India supplying more COVID-19 vaccines to a number of countries, playing down reports that New Delhi has beaten Beijing in its vaccine diplomacy around the world.

Responding to a question on a report that India has beaten China at its own game of vaccine diplomacy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin during a media briefing said, "We welcome that and hope to see more countries taking actions to provide vaccines to the world, especially developing countries, to help with the global response".

"China has been overcoming domestic difficulties to provide vaccines to other countries in concrete measure," he said, flagging China's own vaccine requirement to inoculate its 1.4 billion population.

He reiterated that China has been providing vaccines to 53 countries and exporting vaccines to 27 countries, amid reports that many of those countries are yet to receive Chinese vaccines or the promised quantities.&nbsp;

The coronavirus has mostly been brought under control inside China's borders, while the country's economy has rapidly rebounded from the damage dealt by the pandemic.

(With inputs from agencies)

After the coronavirus outbreak, face masks have become potent symbols in how leaders have responded to a public health crisis that often collides with politics and economic concerns.

After the coronavirus outbreak, face masks have become potent symbols in how leaders have responded to a public health crisis that often collides with politics and economic concerns. But despite being one of the first countries in the world to authorize vaccines for use, China has said nothing about the vaccination status of its top leaders, who all including President Xi Jinping. Chinese President Xi Jinping appeared without face masks in Beijing at the gathering of the National People’s Congress and its advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Not only Xi but Chinese Premier Li Keqiang moved around the Great Hall of the People mask-free. Meanwhile, China has been stepping up coronavirus vaccine production as it looks to vaccinate its 1.4 billion population and boost its vaccine diplomacy to make strategic gains. Last Friday, China welcomed India supplying more COVID-19 vaccines to a number of countries, playing down reports that New Delhi has beaten Beijing in its vaccine diplomacy around the world. Responding to a question on a report that India has beaten China at its own game of vaccine diplomacy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin during a media briefing said, "We welcome that and hope to see more countries taking actions to provide vaccines to the world, especially developing countries, to help with the global response". "China has been overcoming domestic difficulties to provide vaccines to other countries in concrete measure," he said, flagging China's own vaccine requirement to inoculate its 1.4 billion population. He reiterated that China has been providing vaccines to 53 countries and exporting vaccines to 27 countries, amid reports that many of those countries are yet to receive Chinese vaccines or the promised quantities. The coronavirus has mostly been brought under control inside China's borders, while the country's economy has rapidly rebounded from the damage dealt by the pandemic. (With inputs from agencies)

Xi Jinping appears without face mask at National People’s Congress

China's parliamentary meeting known as "two sessions" is set to take place from&nbsp;March 4 in Beijing at the Great Hall of the people with Hong Kong and self-sufficiency during COVID-19 times likely to dominate the agenda.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-chinas-makeover-from-copier-to-creator-367788/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The annual meeting of parliament will release China's 14th five-year plan setting out the country's agenda in various sectors. The National People's Congress (NPC) is expected to last about a week.

Reports say the NPC is expected to consider changes to Hong Kong's electoral system amid anti-government agitation which swept the country in the aftermath of the national security law passed by China.

Chinese lawmakers are also likely to focus on self-sufficiency in the domestic economy and strengthing of the tech sector as the US and China continue to fight over several trade issues including&nbsp;Huawei which has found itself on the US blacklist due to national security concerns even as the former Trump administration had banned US firms from selling Huawei technology such as semiconductors.&nbsp;

The US Trade Representative's office has said President Joe Biden will use "all available tools" to take on "unfair <a href="Is China really leading in the global war for patents?">trade</a> practices" by China. The US also intends to retain tariffs as a "fair trade remedies toolbox" as both countries compete with each other in the global marketplace.

The current parliamentary session is being held as China begins to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic which has ravaged several economies worldwide.

China has been quick to unveil its vaccine with President Milos Zeman being the latest head of state to request&nbsp;Xi Jinping for a supply of the Sinopharm vaccine as the country battles the virus.

China's parliamentary meeting known as "two sessions" is set to take place from March 4 in Beijing at the Great Hall of the people with Hong Kong and self-sufficiency during COVID-19 times likely to dominate the agenda.

China's parliamentary meeting known as "two sessions" is set to take place from March 4 in Beijing at the Great Hall of the people with Hong Kong and self-sufficiency during COVID-19 times likely to dominate the agenda. Watch: The annual meeting of parliament will release China's 14th five-year plan setting out the country's agenda in various sectors. The National People's Congress (NPC) is expected to last about a week. Reports say the NPC is expected to consider changes to Hong Kong's electoral system amid anti-government agitation which swept the country in the aftermath of the national security law passed by China. Chinese lawmakers are also likely to focus on self-sufficiency in the domestic economy and strengthing of the tech sector as the US and China continue to fight over several trade issues including Huawei which has found itself on the US blacklist due to national security concerns even as the former Trump administration had banned US firms from selling Huawei technology such as semiconductors. The US Trade Representative's office has said President Joe Biden will use "all available tools" to take on "unfair trade practices" by China. The US also intends to retain tariffs as a "fair trade remedies toolbox" as both countries compete with each other in the global marketplace. The current parliamentary session is being held as China begins to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic which has ravaged several economies worldwide. China has been quick to unveil its vaccine with President Milos Zeman being the latest head of state to request Xi Jinping for a supply of the Sinopharm vaccine as the country battles the virus.

China's 'two session' agenda: Hong Kong, global trade in post-COVID era

President Xi Jinping has raised concerns about&nbsp;China's lack of legal talents needed to protect its growing interests, calling it a ''security risk'' for the nation.

“A large amount of foreign-related affairs of Chinese companies are in the hands of European and US-based law firms, and there’s a very big security risk in this,'' Jinping said in a statement.

“The relevant departments must come up with a solution and resolve to tackle the problem'' Xi added.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-is-using-coronavirus-to-block-journalists-freedom-media-group-367121">China is using coronavirus to block journalists' freedom: Media group</a>

Jinping&nbsp;said that there were fewer than 600 Chinese lawyers who could independently handle the most trade disputes such as anti-dumping and anti-subsidies cases and only about half of them were qualified enough on World Trade Organization's appeal body.

With Chinese companies facing increased scrutiny and bruising overseas legal battles, defending the country's interests has become a pressing issue for the Communist Party.

China’s Ministry of Commerce on Saturday published new rules for countering “unjustified” laws and restrictions imposed by foreign countries on Chinese companies and citizens, as economic relations between Beijing and Washington deteriorate.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-business-watch-china-factory-activity-expands-at-a-slower-pace-in-feb-367047/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The rules on “unjustified extra-territorial application of foreign legislation” were posted on department’s website and established a “working mechanism” to assess the legal implications of such incidents.

According to the notice, a Chinese person or organisation that is restricted by foreign legislation from “engaging in normal economic, trade and related activity with a third State or its citizens,” may report it to the commerce department within 30 days.

The commerce department will then assess a case for its potential violation of international law, impact on China’s sovereignty and national security, and impact on Chinese citizens.

When a citizen or other organisation “suffers significant losses” from non-compliance with foreign legislation, “relevant government departments may provide necessary support”, the notice says.

The Chinese government might also enact “necessary counter-measures” in response.

The new rules come amid an ongoing backlash against various Chinese companies from foreign governments, especially the United States.

Last year Washington, citing national security concerns, imposed restrictions on Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, a telecom and consumer hardware giant, that deprive it of critical components and threaten to cripple its smartphone business.

Social media giants ByteDance has also been caught in Washington’s crosshairs, when last autumn the Trump Administration attempted to force it to sell the U.S. division of its popular app TikTok.

The New York Stock Exchange this week said it will delist three Chinese telecom companies following an order from U.S. President Donald Trump in November barring U.S. persons from investing in publicly traded companies Washington deems to be tied to the Chinese military.

The Trump administration is considering adding tech giants Alibaba and Tencent to a blacklist of firms allegedly owned or controlled by the Chinese military, two people familiar with the matter said.

President Xi Jinping has raised concerns about China's lack of legal talents needed to protect its growing interests, calling it a ''security risk'' for the nation.

President Xi Jinping has raised concerns about China's lack of legal talents needed to protect its growing interests, calling it a ''security risk'' for the nation. “A large amount of foreign-related affairs of Chinese companies are in the hands of European and US-based law firms, and there’s a very big security risk in this,'' Jinping said in a statement. “The relevant departments must come up with a solution and resolve to tackle the problem'' Xi added. Also read: China is using coronavirus to block journalists' freedom: Media group Jinping said that there were fewer than 600 Chinese lawyers who could independently handle the most trade disputes such as anti-dumping and anti-subsidies cases and only about half of them were qualified enough on World Trade Organization's appeal body. With Chinese companies facing increased scrutiny and bruising overseas legal battles, defending the country's interests has become a pressing issue for the Communist Party. China’s Ministry of Commerce on Saturday published new rules for countering “unjustified” laws and restrictions imposed by foreign countries on Chinese companies and citizens, as economic relations between Beijing and Washington deteriorate. The rules on “unjustified extra-territorial application of foreign legislation” were posted on department’s website and established a “working mechanism” to assess the legal implications of such incidents. According to the notice, a Chinese person or organisation that is restricted by foreign legislation from “engaging in normal economic, trade and related activity with a third State or its citizens,” may report it to the commerce department within 30 days. The commerce department will then assess a case for its potential violation of international law, impact on China’s sovereignty and national security, and impact on Chinese citizens. When a citizen or other organisation “suffers significant losses” from non-compliance with foreign legislation, “relevant government departments may provide necessary support”, the notice says. The Chinese government might also enact “necessary counter-measures” in response. The new rules come amid an ongoing backlash against various Chinese companies from foreign governments, especially the United States. Last year Washington, citing national security concerns, imposed restrictions on Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, a telecom and consumer hardware giant, that deprive it of critical components and threaten to cripple its smartphone business. Social media giants ByteDance has also been caught in Washington’s crosshairs, when last autumn the Trump Administration attempted to force it to sell the U.S. division of its popular app TikTok. The New York Stock Exchange this week said it will delist three Chinese telecom companies following an order from U.S. President Donald Trump in November barring U.S. persons from investing in publicly traded companies Washington deems to be tied to the Chinese military. The Trump administration is considering adding tech giants Alibaba and Tencent to a blacklist of firms allegedly owned or controlled by the Chinese military, two people familiar with the matter said.

China facing legal talent crisis for protecting growing interests, says Xi Jinping

From Lyndon B. Johnson to Indira Gandhi to Xi Jinping, defeating poverty has been the ultimate dream of every politician. Many leaders have waged a war on poverty but has it been a mere war of rhetoric? Watch this report by WION's Palki Sharma to find out.

Gravitas: Why politicians love anti-poverty rhetoric

Did China lie about eradicating extreme poverty? Did it change the criteria and definition of poverty in order to claim victory? WION's Palki Sharma brings you the details.

Gravitas: Did China lie about eradicating poverty?

(The New New World)

In China, don’t question the heroes.

At least seven people over the past week have been threatened, detained or arrested after casting doubt over the government’s account of the deaths of Chinese soldiers during a clash last year with Indian troops. Three of them are being detained for between seven and 15 days. The other four face criminal charges, including one man who lives outside China.

Watch |&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

“The internet is not a lawless place,” said the police notices issued in their cases. “Blasphemies of heroes and martyrs will not be tolerated.”

Their punishment might have gone unnoticed if it wasn’t for an online database of speech crimes in China. A simple Google spreadsheet open for all to see, it lists nearly 2,000 times when people were punished by the government for what they said online and offline.

The list — which links directly to publicly issued verdicts, police notices and official news reports over the past eight years — is far from complete. Most punishment takes place behind closed doors.

Still, the list paints a bleak picture of a government that punishes its citizens for the slightest hint of criticism. It shows how random and merciless China’s legal system can be when it punishes its citizens for what they say, even though freedom of speech is written into China’s Constitution.

The list describes dissidents sentenced to long prison terms for attacking the government. It tells of petitioners, those who appeal directly to the government to right the wrongs against them, locked up for making too loud a clamor. It covers nearly 600 people punished for what they said about COVID-19, and too many others who cursed out police, often after receiving parking tickets.

The person behind the list is a bit of a mystery. In an interview, he described himself as a young man surnamed Wang. Of course, if the government found out more about him, he could end up in prison.

Wang said he decided to compile the list after reading about people who were punished for supposedly insulting the country during celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, in October 2019. Although he is young, he told me, he remembers more freedom of expression before Xi Jinping became the Communist Party’s leader in late 2012.

“I knew that there were speech crimes in China, but I’ve never thought it’s so bad,” Wang posted in August on his Twitter account, where he writes in both English and Chinese. He wrote that he had become depressed after reading more than 1,000 verdicts.

“Big Brother is watching you,” he wrote. “I tried to look for the eyes of Big Brother and ended up finding them everywhere.”

The list, bluntly titled “An Inventory of Speech Crimes in China in Recent Years,” detailed what happened to those who questioned Beijing’s official account of the June clash between Chinese and Indian forces at their disputed border in the Himalayas. The Indian government said then that 20 of its soldiers had died. Last week, the Chinese government finally said four of its troops had died.

State-run media in China called them heroes, but some people had questions. One, a former journalist, asked whether more had died, a question of intense interest both in and out of the country. According to the notice the spreadsheet linked to, the former journalist was charged with picking quarrels and provoking trouble — a common accusation by the authorities against those who speak up — and faces up to five years imprisonment.

Reading the list, it becomes clear how well Xi and his government have tamed the Chinese internet. People once thought the internet was uncontrollable, even in China. But Xi has long seen the internet as both a threat to be contained and a tool for guiding public opinion.

“The internet is the biggest variant we’re facing,” he said in a 2018 speech. “Whether we can win the war over the internet will have a direct impact on national political security.”

Liberal-leaning voices and media were among the first to be silenced. Then internet platforms themselves — the Chinese versions of Twitter and YouTube, among many others — were punished for what they allowed.

Now, Chinese internet companies brag about their ability to control content. Nationalistic online users report speech they deem offensive. Out of the seven people who were accused of insulting the heroes and martyrs, six were reported by other users, according to the police notices. In some ways, the Chinese internet polices itself.

China’s police, who are widely disliked for their broad powers to lock people up indefinitely, are big beneficiaries. According to the spreadsheet, people have been detained for calling the police “dogs,” “bandits” and “bastards.” Most are locked up for only a few days, but one man in Liaoning province was sentenced to 10 months in jail for writing five offensive posts on his WeChat timeline.

Petitioners are among those who suffer the most. In one case on the spreadsheet, a woman in Sichuan province whose son died suddenly at school and whose husband committed suicide was sentenced to three years in prison for charges that included spreading false information. The verdict listed the headlines of 10 articles she posted and the page views they garnered. The most got 1,615 views, while the least got only 18.

Perhaps the most depressing items are those about people who were punished for what they said about the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of the list is Dr. Li Wenliang, who was reprimanded Jan. 1, 2020, along with seven others for trying to warn the country about the coronavirus. He died in early February last year of the virus and is remembered as the whistleblower who tried to warn the world about the coronavirus outbreak. But the spreadsheet lists 587 other cases.

Even cheesy skits by aspiring online influencers can be deemed offensive. Two men in northwestern Shaanxi province livestreamed a funeral they held for a sheep. In the video, one man cried over a photo of the sheep while the other dug the grave. They were detained 10 days for violating social customs.

The spreadsheet also highlights inspiring cases in which people spoke out to challenge authority.

In 2018, a 19-year-old man in the northwestern city of Yinchuan decided to test the newly passed law that prohibits questioning and criticizing heroes and martyrs. He posted on Weibo that two famous martyrs died meaningless deaths and that he wanted to see if he would be arrested, showing a lack of free speech in China. He was detained for 10 days and fined $70.

One man, Feng Zhouguan, criticized Xi and was charged with picking quarrels by the local police in the city of Xiamen. He was detained for five days but appealed after his release, arguing that the police had improperly interfered in a potential libel case between two individuals. The local police, he argued, are “not the military bodyguards or family militia of the national leader.” The court upheld the sentence.

Many people pay a steeper price.

Huang Genbao, 45, was a senior engineer at a state-owned company in the eastern city of Xuzhou. Two years ago he was arrested and sentenced to 16 months in jail for insulting the national leader and harming the national image on platforms like Twitter. He shared a cell with a large group and had to follow a strict routine, including toilet breaks. He and his wife lost their jobs, and he delivers meals to support his family.

“My life in the detention center reminded me of the book ‘1984,’” he said in an interview. “Many of the experiences are probably worse than the plots in the book.” 
&nbsp;

(The New New World) In China, don’t question the heroes. At least seven people over the past week have been threatened, detained or arrested after casting doubt over the government’s account of the deaths of Chinese soldiers during a clash last year with Indian troops.

(The New New World) In China, don’t question the heroes. At least seven people over the past week have been threatened, detained or arrested after casting doubt over the government’s account of the deaths of Chinese soldiers during a clash last year with Indian troops. Three of them are being detained for between seven and 15 days. The other four face criminal charges, including one man who lives outside China. Watch | “The internet is not a lawless place,” said the police notices issued in their cases. “Blasphemies of heroes and martyrs will not be tolerated.” Their punishment might have gone unnoticed if it wasn’t for an online database of speech crimes in China. A simple Google spreadsheet open for all to see, it lists nearly 2,000 times when people were punished by the government for what they said online and offline. The list — which links directly to publicly issued verdicts, police notices and official news reports over the past eight years — is far from complete. Most punishment takes place behind closed doors. Still, the list paints a bleak picture of a government that punishes its citizens for the slightest hint of criticism. It shows how random and merciless China’s legal system can be when it punishes its citizens for what they say, even though freedom of speech is written into China’s Constitution. The list describes dissidents sentenced to long prison terms for attacking the government. It tells of petitioners, those who appeal directly to the government to right the wrongs against them, locked up for making too loud a clamor. It covers nearly 600 people punished for what they said about COVID-19, and too many others who cursed out police, often after receiving parking tickets. The person behind the list is a bit of a mystery. In an interview, he described himself as a young man surnamed Wang. Of course, if the government found out more about him, he could end up in prison. Wang said he decided to compile the list after reading about people who were punished for supposedly insulting the country during celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, in October 2019. Although he is young, he told me, he remembers more freedom of expression before Xi Jinping became the Communist Party’s leader in late 2012. “I knew that there were speech crimes in China, but I’ve never thought it’s so bad,” Wang posted in August on his Twitter account, where he writes in both English and Chinese. He wrote that he had become depressed after reading more than 1,000 verdicts. “Big Brother is watching you,” he wrote. “I tried to look for the eyes of Big Brother and ended up finding them everywhere.” The list, bluntly titled “An Inventory of Speech Crimes in China in Recent Years,” detailed what happened to those who questioned Beijing’s official account of the June clash between Chinese and Indian forces at their disputed border in the Himalayas. The Indian government said then that 20 of its soldiers had died. Last week, the Chinese government finally said four of its troops had died. State-run media in China called them heroes, but some people had questions. One, a former journalist, asked whether more had died, a question of intense interest both in and out of the country. According to the notice the spreadsheet linked to, the former journalist was charged with picking quarrels and provoking trouble — a common accusation by the authorities against those who speak up — and faces up to five years imprisonment. Reading the list, it becomes clear how well Xi and his government have tamed the Chinese internet. People once thought the internet was uncontrollable, even in China. But Xi has long seen the internet as both a threat to be contained and a tool for guiding public opinion. “The internet is the biggest variant we’re facing,” he said in a 2018 speech. “Whether we can win the war over the internet will have a direct impact on national political security.” Liberal-leaning voices and media were among the first to be silenced. Then internet platforms themselves — the Chinese versions of Twitter and YouTube, among many others — were punished for what they allowed. Now, Chinese internet companies brag about their ability to control content. Nationalistic online users report speech they deem offensive. Out of the seven people who were accused of insulting the heroes and martyrs, six were reported by other users, according to the police notices. In some ways, the Chinese internet polices itself. China’s police, who are widely disliked for their broad powers to lock people up indefinitely, are big beneficiaries. According to the spreadsheet, people have been detained for calling the police “dogs,” “bandits” and “bastards.” Most are locked up for only a few days, but one man in Liaoning province was sentenced to 10 months in jail for writing five offensive posts on his WeChat timeline. Petitioners are among those who suffer the most. In one case on the spreadsheet, a woman in Sichuan province whose son died suddenly at school and whose husband committed suicide was sentenced to three years in prison for charges that included spreading false information. The verdict listed the headlines of 10 articles she posted and the page views they garnered. The most got 1,615 views, while the least got only 18. Perhaps the most depressing items are those about people who were punished for what they said about the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of the list is Dr. Li Wenliang, who was reprimanded Jan. 1, 2020, along with seven others for trying to warn the country about the coronavirus. He died in early February last year of the virus and is remembered as the whistleblower who tried to warn the world about the coronavirus outbreak. But the spreadsheet lists 587 other cases. Even cheesy skits by aspiring online influencers can be deemed offensive. Two men in northwestern Shaanxi province livestreamed a funeral they held for a sheep. In the video, one man cried over a photo of the sheep while the other dug the grave. They were detained 10 days for violating social customs. The spreadsheet also highlights inspiring cases in which people spoke out to challenge authority. In 2018, a 19-year-old man in the northwestern city of Yinchuan decided to test the newly passed law that prohibits questioning and criticizing heroes and martyrs. He posted on Weibo that two famous martyrs died meaningless deaths and that he wanted to see if he would be arrested, showing a lack of free speech in China. He was detained for 10 days and fined $70. One man, Feng Zhouguan, criticized Xi and was charged with picking quarrels by the local police in the city of Xiamen. He was detained for five days but appealed after his release, arguing that the police had improperly interfered in a potential libel case between two individuals. The local police, he argued, are “not the military bodyguards or family militia of the national leader.” The court upheld the sentence. Many people pay a steeper price. Huang Genbao, 45, was a senior engineer at a state-owned company in the eastern city of Xuzhou. Two years ago he was arrested and sentenced to 16 months in jail for insulting the national leader and harming the national image on platforms like Twitter. He shared a cell with a large group and had to follow a strict routine, including toilet breaks. He and his wife lost their jobs, and he delivers meals to support his family. “My life in the detention center reminded me of the book ‘1984,’” he said in an interview. “Many of the experiences are probably worse than the plots in the book.”

China punishes those who question 'martyrs.’ A sleuth keeps track.

Chinese President Xi Jinping celebrated "complete victory" in the effort to eradicate rural poverty at a ceremony in Beijing on Thursday to mark a signature initiative of his eight-year tenure.

State media credit Xi`s leadership with lifting nearly 100 million people from poverty, a milestone he declared in December and framed as a birthday gift for this year`s 100th anniversary of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

In an hour-long speech, Xi hailed what he called a testament to the party`s leadership and the advantages of China`s political system.

"The CCP`s leadership and China`s socialist system are the fundamental guarantees against risks, challenges and difficulties," Xi said in Beijing`s Great Hall of the People, where he presented medals to key figures in the poverty fight.

Some global policy experts have said China sets a low bar in its definition of poverty, with sustained investment required to fund continued development in its poorest areas.

China defines extreme rural poverty as annual per capita income of less than 4,000 yuan ($620), or about $1.69 a day at current exchange rates. That compares with the World Bank`s global threshold of $1.90 a day.

Xi said China had invested 1.6 trillion yuan in fighting poverty over the past eight years, but did not give figures for spending planned over the next five years.

In a "No. 1 policy document" released on Sunday, China vowed to stick with its poverty alleviation policies, while making some adjustments for a five-year transition towards what Beijing calls "rural revitalisation".

A new National Rural Revitalisation Bureau was set up in Beijing on Thursday, replacing an office for poverty alleviation and development that had been operating since 1993.

State media highlighted Xi`s role in its publicity of the poverty alleviation milestone. The People`s Daily, the Communist Party`s main newspaper, mentioned Xi`s name 139 times in a commentary of more than two pages lauding the "historic leap".

Chinese President Xi Jinping celebrated "complete victory" in the effort to eradicate rural poverty at a ceremony in Beijing on Thursday to mark a signature initiative of his eight-year tenure.

Chinese President Xi Jinping celebrated "complete victory" in the effort to eradicate rural poverty at a ceremony in Beijing on Thursday to mark a signature initiative of his eight-year tenure. State media credit Xi`s leadership with lifting nearly 100 million people from poverty, a milestone he declared in December and framed as a birthday gift for this year`s 100th anniversary of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In an hour-long speech, Xi hailed what he called a testament to the party`s leadership and the advantages of China`s political system. "The CCP`s leadership and China`s socialist system are the fundamental guarantees against risks, challenges and difficulties," Xi said in Beijing`s Great Hall of the People, where he presented medals to key figures in the poverty fight. Some global policy experts have said China sets a low bar in its definition of poverty, with sustained investment required to fund continued development in its poorest areas. China defines extreme rural poverty as annual per capita income of less than 4,000 yuan ($620), or about $1.69 a day at current exchange rates. That compares with the World Bank`s global threshold of $1.90 a day. Xi said China had invested 1.6 trillion yuan in fighting poverty over the past eight years, but did not give figures for spending planned over the next five years. In a "No. 1 policy document" released on Sunday, China vowed to stick with its poverty alleviation policies, while making some adjustments for a five-year transition towards what Beijing calls "rural revitalisation". A new National Rural Revitalisation Bureau was set up in Beijing on Thursday, replacing an office for poverty alleviation and development that had been operating since 1993. State media highlighted Xi`s role in its publicity of the poverty alleviation milestone. The People`s Daily, the Communist Party`s main newspaper, mentioned Xi`s name 139 times in a commentary of more than two pages lauding the "historic leap".

China's Xi Jinping trumpets 'victory' in campaign to end rural poverty

For Beijing, alliance with Pakistan is a geopolitical game-changer - a success of Chinese expansionism, and for Islamabad, it is a life-time opportunity and its last chance for economic modernisation.

CPEC was sold as the ultimate solution to Pakistan's economic troubles. But, it was China that has squeezed all the benefits.

Foreign direct investment in Pakistan has seen a 27 per cent decline in the first seven months of the current fiscal, owing mainly to the fall in investment from its close ally China, a media report said on Tuesday.

The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pakistan during the first seven years fell by 27 per cent compared to the same period last fiscal year, Dawn newspaper reported, quoting the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) as saying.

The SBP, the central bank, on Monday said that the FDI during July-January FY-21 was USD 1.145 billion against an inflow of USD 1.577bn in the same period last fiscal year.

The inflow during January was USD 192.7 million compared to USD 219 million in the same month of the previous fiscal year, registering a 12 per cent decline.

However, the seven-month decline was mainly due to a decline in net FDI from China and an increase in net outflow to Norway, the report said.

The country-wise details showed that net inflow of FDI from China was USD 402.8 million against USD 502.6 million in the same period of last fiscal year.

So far, the net FDI from China is the highest in the list of inflows from other countries.

The inflows from China were USD 707.2 million during the seven months but the outflow of USD 304.4 million in the same period reduced the net FDI to USD 402.8 million.

Others from where over USD 100 million net FDIs were received were the Netherlands and Hong Kong, as they invested USD 122 million and USD 105 million, respectively, during the first seven months of FY21.

The inflows of FDI from the UK (USD 83.8m), the US (USD 73.5m) and Malta (USD 60.6m) were also significant during the seven months.

However, a drastic change in the inflows from Norway affected the overall inflow of FDI this year.

The SBP data shows that during the seven months of the previous fiscal year, the inflow from Norway was USD 288.5 million, while in the seven months of the current financial year a net outflow of USD 25.8 million was noted instead of any inflow from the Scandinavian country.

The power sector attracted the highest investment of USD 475.8 m against USD 373 m in the same period of last financial year; an increase of 27.6 per cent.

(With inputs from agencies)

For Beijing, alliance with Pakistan is a geopolitical game-changer - a success of Chinese expansionism, and for Islamabad, it is a life-time opportunity and its last chance for economic modernisation.

For Beijing, alliance with Pakistan is a geopolitical game-changer - a success of Chinese expansionism, and for Islamabad, it is a life-time opportunity and its last chance for economic modernisation. CPEC was sold as the ultimate solution to Pakistan's economic troubles. But, it was China that has squeezed all the benefits. Foreign direct investment in Pakistan has seen a 27 per cent decline in the first seven months of the current fiscal, owing mainly to the fall in investment from its close ally China, a media report said on Tuesday. The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pakistan during the first seven years fell by 27 per cent compared to the same period last fiscal year, Dawn newspaper reported, quoting the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) as saying. The SBP, the central bank, on Monday said that the FDI during July-January FY-21 was USD 1.145 billion against an inflow of USD 1.577bn in the same period last fiscal year. The inflow during January was USD 192.7 million compared to USD 219 million in the same month of the previous fiscal year, registering a 12 per cent decline. However, the seven-month decline was mainly due to a decline in net FDI from China and an increase in net outflow to Norway, the report said. The country-wise details showed that net inflow of FDI from China was USD 402.8 million against USD 502.6 million in the same period of last fiscal year. So far, the net FDI from China is the highest in the list of inflows from other countries. The inflows from China were USD 707.2 million during the seven months but the outflow of USD 304.4 million in the same period reduced the net FDI to USD 402.8 million. Others from where over USD 100 million net FDIs were received were the Netherlands and Hong Kong, as they invested USD 122 million and USD 105 million, respectively, during the first seven months of FY21. The inflows of FDI from the UK (USD 83.8m), the US (USD 73.5m) and Malta (USD 60.6m) were also significant during the seven months. However, a drastic change in the inflows from Norway affected the overall inflow of FDI this year. The SBP data shows that during the seven months of the previous fiscal year, the inflow from Norway was USD 288.5 million, while in the seven months of the current financial year a net outflow of USD 25.8 million was noted instead of any inflow from the Scandinavian country. The power sector attracted the highest investment of USD 475.8 m against USD 373 m in the same period of last financial year; an increase of 27.6 per cent. (With inputs from agencies)

FDI in Pakistan down by 27 per cent in the first seven months; investment from China dwindles: Report

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> used his first public encounter with America’s European allies to describe a new struggle between the West and the forces of autocracy, declaring that “America is back” while acknowledging that the past four years had taken a toll on its power and influence.

His message stressing the importance of reinvigorating alliances and recommitting to defending Europe was predictably well received at a session of the Munich Security Conference that Biden addressed from the White House.

But there was also pushback, notably from the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who in his address made an impassioned defense of his concept of “strategic autonomy” from the United States, making the case that Europe can no longer be overly dependent on the United States as it focuses more of its attention on Asia, especially China.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-urges-allies-to-work-towards-addressing-irans-destabilising-activities-364953" hreflang="en">Biden urges allies to work towards addressing Iran's 'destabilising' activities</a>

And even Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who is leaving office within the year, tempered her praise for Biden’s decision to cancel plans for a withdrawal of 12,000 U.S. troops from the country with a warning that “our interests will not always converge.” It appeared to be a reference to Germany’s ambivalence about confronting China — a major market for its automobiles and other high-end German products — and to the continuing battle with the United States over the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Russia.

But all three leaders seemed to recognize that their first virtual encounter was a moment to celebrate the end of the era of “America First,” and for Macron and Merkel to welcome back Biden, a politician whom they knew well from his years as a senator and vice president.

And Biden used the moment to warn about the need for a common strategy in pushing back at an Internet-fueled narrative, promoted by both Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China, that the chaos surrounding the American election was another sign of democratic weakness and decline.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-his-first-major-global-appearance-biden-draws-sharp-contrast-with-trumps-policies-364920" hreflang="en">At his first major global appearance, Biden draws sharp contrast with Trump's policies</a>

“We must demonstrate that democracies can still deliver for our people in this changed world,” Biden said, adding, “We have to prove that our model isn’t a relic of history.”

For the president, a regular visitor to the conference even as a private citizen after serving as vice president, the address was something of a homecoming. The session was crunched down to a video meeting by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, this year’s host, and the European leaders decided to do the same for a brief, closed meeting of the Group of 7 allies that Biden also participated in.

The next in-person summit meeting is still planned for Britain this summer, pandemic permitting.

Biden never named his predecessor, Donald Trump, in his remarks, but framed them around wiping out the traces of Trumpism in the United States’ approach to the world. He celebrated its return to the Paris climate agreement, which took effect just before the meeting, and a new initiative, announced Thursday night, to join Britain, France and Germany in engaging Iran diplomatically in an effort to restore the 2015 nuclear agreement that Trump exited.

But rather than detail an agenda, Biden tried to recall the first principles that led to the Atlantic alliance and the creation of NATO in 1949, near the beginning of the Cold War.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/biden-administrations-immigration-policy-and-recent-attacks-on-the-asian-american-communities-364900">WATCH|</a>

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“Democracy doesn’t happen by accident,” the president said. “We have to defend it. Strengthen it. Renew it.”

In a deliberate contrast to Trump, who talked about withdrawing from NATO and famously declined on several occasions to acknowledge the United States’ responsibilities under Article V of the alliance’s charter to come to the aid of members under attack, Biden cast the United States as ready to assume its responsibilities as the linchpin of the alliance.

“We will keep the faith” with the obligation, he said, adding that “an attack on one is an attack on all.”

But he also pressed Europe to think about challenges in a new way — different from the Cold War, even if the two biggest geostrategic adversaries seem familiar.

“We must prepare together for long-term strategic competition with China,” he said, naming “cyberspace, artificial intelligence and biotechnology” as the new territory for competition. And he argued for pushing back against Russia — he called Putin by his last name, with no title attached — mentioning in particular the need to respond to the SolarWinds attack that was aimed at federal and corporate computer networks.

“Addressing Russian recklessness and hacking into computer networks in the United States and across Europe and the world has become critical to protect collective security,” Biden said.

The president avoided delving in to the difficult question of how to make Russia pay a price without escalating the confrontation. A senior White House cyberofficial told reporters this week that the scope and depth of the Russian intrusion was still under study, and officials are clearly struggling to come up with options to fulfill Biden’s commitment to make Putin pay a price for the attack.

But it was the dynamic with Macron, who has made a habit of criticizing the NATO alliance as nearing “brain death” and no longer “pertinent” since the disappearance of the Warsaw Pact, that captured attention.

Macron wants NATO to act as more of a political body, a place where European members have equivalent status to the United States and are less subject to the American tendency to dominate decision-making.

A Europe better able to defend itself, and more autonomous, would make NATO “even stronger than before,” Macron insisted. He said Europe should be “much more in charge of its own security,” increasing its commitments to spending on defense to “rebalance” the trans-Atlantic relationship.

That is not a widely shared view among the many European states that do not want to spend the money required, and the nations of Central and Eastern Europe are unwilling to trust their security to anyone but the United States.

Macron also urged that the renovation of NATO’s security abilities should involve “a dialogue with Russia.” NATO has always claimed that it is open to better relations with Moscow, but that Russia is not interested, especially as long as international sanctions remain after its seizure of Crimea from Ukraine about seven years ago.

But Macron, speaking in English to answer a question, also argued that Europe could not count on the United States as much as it had in past decades. “We must take more of the burden of our own protection,” he said.

In practice, it will take many years for Europe to build up a defense arm that would make it more self-reliant. But Macron is determined to start now, just as he is determined to increase the European Union’s technological capacities so that it can become less dependent on American and Chinese supply chains.

Biden, in contrast, wants to deepen those supply chains — of both hardware and software — among like-minded Western allies in an effort to lessen Chinese influence. He is preparing to propose a new joint project for European and American technology companies in areas like semiconductors and the kinds of software that Russia exploited in the SolarWinds hacking.

It was Merkel who dwelled on the complexities of dealing with China, given its dual role as competitor and necessary partner for the West.

“In recent years, China has gained global clout, and as trans-Atlantic partners and democracies, we must do something to counter this,” Merkel said.

“Russia continually entangles European Union members in hybrid conflicts,” she said. “Consequently, it is important that we come up with a trans-Atlantic agenda toward Russia that makes cooperative offers on the one hand, but on the other very clearly names the differences.”

While Biden announced he would make good on an American promise to donate $4 billion to the campaign to expedite the manufacturing and distribution of coronavirus vaccines around the world — a move approved last year by a Democratic-led House and a Republican led-Senate — there were clear differences in approach during the meeting.

Underscoring the importance that the European Union accords to Africa, Macron called on Western nations to supply 13 million vaccine doses to African governments “as soon as possible” to protect health workers.

He warned that if the alliance failed to do this, “our African friends will be pressured by their populations, and rightly so, to buy doses from the Chinese, the Russians or directly from laboratories.”

Vaccine donations would reflect “a common will to advance and share the same values,” Macron said. Otherwise, “the power of the West, of Europeans and Americans, will be only a concept, and not a reality.”

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, on Friday also urged countries and drugmakers to help speed up the manufacturing and distribution of vaccines across the globe, warning that the world could be “back at Square 1” if some countries went ahead with their vaccination campaigns and left others behind.

“Vaccine equity is not just the right thing to do, it’s also the smartest to do,” Tedros said to the Munich conference. He argued that the longer it would take to vaccinate populations in every country, the longer the pandemic would remain out of control.

President Joe Biden used his first public encounter with America’s European allies to describe a new struggle between the West and the forces of autocracy, declaring that “America is back” while acknowledging that the past four years had taken a toll on its power and influence.

President Joe Biden used his first public encounter with America’s European allies to describe a new struggle between the West and the forces of autocracy, declaring that “America is back” while acknowledging that the past four years had taken a toll on its power and influence. His message stressing the importance of reinvigorating alliances and recommitting to defending Europe was predictably well received at a session of the Munich Security Conference that Biden addressed from the White House. But there was also pushback, notably from the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who in his address made an impassioned defense of his concept of “strategic autonomy” from the United States, making the case that Europe can no longer be overly dependent on the United States as it focuses more of its attention on Asia, especially China. Also read| Biden urges allies to work towards addressing Iran's 'destabilising' activities And even Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who is leaving office within the year, tempered her praise for Biden’s decision to cancel plans for a withdrawal of 12,000 U.S. troops from the country with a warning that “our interests will not always converge.” It appeared to be a reference to Germany’s ambivalence about confronting China — a major market for its automobiles and other high-end German products — and to the continuing battle with the United States over the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Russia. But all three leaders seemed to recognize that their first virtual encounter was a moment to celebrate the end of the era of “America First,” and for Macron and Merkel to welcome back Biden, a politician whom they knew well from his years as a senator and vice president. And Biden used the moment to warn about the need for a common strategy in pushing back at an Internet-fueled narrative, promoted by both Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China, that the chaos surrounding the American election was another sign of democratic weakness and decline. Also read| At his first major global appearance, Biden draws sharp contrast with Trump's policies “We must demonstrate that democracies can still deliver for our people in this changed world,” Biden said, adding, “We have to prove that our model isn’t a relic of history.” For the president, a regular visitor to the conference even as a private citizen after serving as vice president, the address was something of a homecoming. The session was crunched down to a video meeting by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, this year’s host, and the European leaders decided to do the same for a brief, closed meeting of the Group of 7 allies that Biden also participated in. The next in-person summit meeting is still planned for Britain this summer, pandemic permitting. Biden never named his predecessor, Donald Trump, in his remarks, but framed them around wiping out the traces of Trumpism in the United States’ approach to the world. He celebrated its return to the Paris climate agreement, which took effect just before the meeting, and a new initiative, announced Thursday night, to join Britain, France and Germany in engaging Iran diplomatically in an effort to restore the 2015 nuclear agreement that Trump exited. But rather than detail an agenda, Biden tried to recall the first principles that led to the Atlantic alliance and the creation of NATO in 1949, near the beginning of the Cold War. WATCH| × “Democracy doesn’t happen by accident,” the president said. “We have to defend it. Strengthen it. Renew it.” In a deliberate contrast to Trump, who talked about withdrawing from NATO and famously declined on several occasions to acknowledge the United States’ responsibilities under Article V of the alliance’s charter to come to the aid of members under attack, Biden cast the United States as ready to assume its responsibilities as the linchpin of the alliance. “We will keep the faith” with the obligation, he said, adding that “an attack on one is an attack on all.” But he also pressed Europe to think about challenges in a new way — different from the Cold War, even if the two biggest geostrategic adversaries seem familiar. “We must prepare together for long-term strategic competition with China,” he said, naming “cyberspace, artificial intelligence and biotechnology” as the new territory for competition. And he argued for pushing back against Russia — he called Putin by his last name, with no title attached — mentioning in particular the need to respond to the SolarWinds attack that was aimed at federal and corporate computer networks. “Addressing Russian recklessness and hacking into computer networks in the United States and across Europe and the world has become critical to protect collective security,” Biden said. The president avoided delving in to the difficult question of how to make Russia pay a price without escalating the confrontation. A senior White House cyberofficial told reporters this week that the scope and depth of the Russian intrusion was still under study, and officials are clearly struggling to come up with options to fulfill Biden’s commitment to make Putin pay a price for the attack. But it was the dynamic with Macron, who has made a habit of criticizing the NATO alliance as nearing “brain death” and no longer “pertinent” since the disappearance of the Warsaw Pact, that captured attention. Macron wants NATO to act as more of a political body, a place where European members have equivalent status to the United States and are less subject to the American tendency to dominate decision-making. A Europe better able to defend itself, and more autonomous, would make NATO “even stronger than before,” Macron insisted. He said Europe should be “much more in charge of its own security,” increasing its commitments to spending on defense to “rebalance” the trans-Atlantic relationship. That is not a widely shared view among the many European states that do not want to spend the money required, and the nations of Central and Eastern Europe are unwilling to trust their security to anyone but the United States. Macron also urged that the renovation of NATO’s security abilities should involve “a dialogue with Russia.” NATO has always claimed that it is open to better relations with Moscow, but that Russia is not interested, especially as long as international sanctions remain after its seizure of Crimea from Ukraine about seven years ago. But Macron, speaking in English to answer a question, also argued that Europe could not count on the United States as much as it had in past decades. “We must take more of the burden of our own protection,” he said. In practice, it will take many years for Europe to build up a defense arm that would make it more self-reliant. But Macron is determined to start now, just as he is determined to increase the European Union’s technological capacities so that it can become less dependent on American and Chinese supply chains. Biden, in contrast, wants to deepen those supply chains — of both hardware and software — among like-minded Western allies in an effort to lessen Chinese influence. He is preparing to propose a new joint project for European and American technology companies in areas like semiconductors and the kinds of software that Russia exploited in the SolarWinds hacking. It was Merkel who dwelled on the complexities of dealing with China, given its dual role as competitor and necessary partner for the West. “In recent years, China has gained global clout, and as trans-Atlantic partners and democracies, we must do something to counter this,” Merkel said. “Russia continually entangles European Union members in hybrid conflicts,” she said. “Consequently, it is important that we come up with a trans-Atlantic agenda toward Russia that makes cooperative offers on the one hand, but on the other very clearly names the differences.” While Biden announced he would make good on an American promise to donate $4 billion to the campaign to expedite the manufacturing and distribution of coronavirus vaccines around the world — a move approved last year by a Democratic-led House and a Republican led-Senate — there were clear differences in approach during the meeting. Underscoring the importance that the European Union accords to Africa, Macron called on Western nations to supply 13 million vaccine doses to African governments “as soon as possible” to protect health workers. He warned that if the alliance failed to do this, “our African friends will be pressured by their populations, and rightly so, to buy doses from the Chinese, the Russians or directly from laboratories.” Vaccine donations would reflect “a common will to advance and share the same values,” Macron said. Otherwise, “the power of the West, of Europeans and Americans, will be only a concept, and not a reality.” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, on Friday also urged countries and drugmakers to help speed up the manufacturing and distribution of vaccines across the globe, warning that the world could be “back at Square 1” if some countries went ahead with their vaccination campaigns and left others behind. “Vaccine equity is not just the right thing to do, it’s also the smartest to do,” Tedros said to the Munich conference. He argued that the longer it would take to vaccinate populations in every country, the longer the pandemic would remain out of control.

Biden tells allies ‘America is back,’ but Macron and Merkel push back

A report has revealed that Jack Ma's Ant Group IPO was blocked after it emerged that 'well connected Chinese Power players' could earn billions from it. This allegedly includes political families that represent a potential challenge to Xi Jinping. WION's Palki Sharma has more.

Gravitas: What killed Jack Ma's IPO? Political threats

China has officially admitted that its 4 soldiers from PLA had died during the Galwan clash with the Indian Army in June 2020. This is the first time that China has unveiled casualties and details of its soldiers who died while dealing with Indian troops.

China acknowledges casualties in Galwan clash

China Expands Control over the digital space. The new rules will only allow bloggers to post using the chinese credidentials and it also put curbs on health, economics, education and judiciary matters. China has also taken Cyber Space administration seriously. New rules for bloggers have also been specified which will come effect starting next week. New sensor worries under Xi Jinping is heavily censored across digital space.

Restrictive webspace regulations under Xi-Xinping

Two Chinese online video producers known for poking fun at Chinese President Xi Jinping have disappeared on the eve of Lunar New Year, Asia News reported. &nbsp;

The two have reported missing by the head of the Qiang Guo Wa Ha, one of several YouTube channels specialised in Ru Bao, a Mandarin term used to describe mocking the Chinese president.&nbsp;

According to the Apple Daily newspaper and Radio Free Asia, the chairperson and a manager of the Ru Mo Xin Lian She YouTube channel disappeared on last Tuesday.&nbsp;

Online, several channels have been referring to Xi as Bao Zi, a steamed bun in Mandarin, ever since he visited a chain restaurant in Beijing and ordered buns in December 2013. Ru Bao channels also depict the Chinese leader as Winnie the Pooh, the animated bear made famous by Disney.&nbsp;

YouTube has removed several videos posted from channels mocking Xi, ostensibly for violating the copyrights of Shanghai Hode Information Technology Co Ltd.&nbsp;

The Chinese Communist Party has long been accused to suppress the idea that could undermine the sweeping authority.&nbsp;

In just the past few years, the government has attempted to muzzle critics by making them disappear without a trace, ordering people to physically barge into their houses, or locking up those close to critics as a kind of blackmail.&nbsp;

In late December, a Chinese activist, who retweeted a video of 'ink girl' Dong Yaoqiang, has been charged with 'inciting subversion of state power', an offence punishable by life imprisonment. Ou Biaofeng was detained by police on December 3 after he voiced his support on Twitter for Dong.&nbsp;

In 2018, Dong had live-streamed a video of herself splashing ink on a poster of President Xi Jinping, while accusing the Communist Party of 'thought control'.&nbsp;

Dong was forcibly admitted to a psychiatric unit twice since the 2018 incident.

Two Chinese online video producers known for poking fun at Chinese President Xi Jinping have disappeared on the eve of Lunar New Year, Asia News reported. The two have reported missing by the head of the Qiang Guo Wa Ha, one of several YouTube channels specialised in Ru Bao, a Mandarin term used to describe mocking the Chinese president.

Two Chinese online video producers known for poking fun at Chinese President Xi Jinping have disappeared on the eve of Lunar New Year, Asia News reported. The two have reported missing by the head of the Qiang Guo Wa Ha, one of several YouTube channels specialised in Ru Bao, a Mandarin term used to describe mocking the Chinese president. According to the Apple Daily newspaper and Radio Free Asia, the chairperson and a manager of the Ru Mo Xin Lian She YouTube channel disappeared on last Tuesday. Online, several channels have been referring to Xi as Bao Zi, a steamed bun in Mandarin, ever since he visited a chain restaurant in Beijing and ordered buns in December 2013. Ru Bao channels also depict the Chinese leader as Winnie the Pooh, the animated bear made famous by Disney. YouTube has removed several videos posted from channels mocking Xi, ostensibly for violating the copyrights of Shanghai Hode Information Technology Co Ltd. The Chinese Communist Party has long been accused to suppress the idea that could undermine the sweeping authority. In just the past few years, the government has attempted to muzzle critics by making them disappear without a trace, ordering people to physically barge into their houses, or locking up those close to critics as a kind of blackmail. In late December, a Chinese activist, who retweeted a video of 'ink girl' Dong Yaoqiang, has been charged with 'inciting subversion of state power', an offence punishable by life imprisonment. Ou Biaofeng was detained by police on December 3 after he voiced his support on Twitter for Dong. In 2018, Dong had live-streamed a video of herself splashing ink on a poster of President Xi Jinping, while accusing the Communist Party of 'thought control'. Dong was forcibly admitted to a psychiatric unit twice since the 2018 incident.

Two Chinese online producers disappear after mocking Xi Jinping

As US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden </a>makes his intentions clear to China in a phone call to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, the message from commander-in-chief is; "get moving," else China will eat their "lunch".&nbsp;

"They're going to, if we don't get moving, they are going to eat our lunch," the US president told reporters, as quoted by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-announces-formation-of-a-pentagon-task-force-to-review-china-strategy-362774/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In his first phone call to Jinping on Wednesday, Biden pressed him on Xinjiang, Hong Kong human rights issues and other trade-related matters.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-says-phone-call-with-china-president-xi-jinping-lasted-two-hours-363001">Biden says phone call with China President Xi Jinping lasted two hours</a>

He "underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan," the White House said after the talks.

The two leaders also talked about the coronavirus pandemic, weapons proliferation and climate change, according to the WH.&nbsp;

Biden in the call said that his priorities are to protect the security, prosperity, health and the way of life of American people and to preserve "a free and open Indo-Pacific."&nbsp;

The remarks on Indo-Pacific came as several countries have raised objections on China's expansionist approach in the region.&nbsp;

"President Biden committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies," the WH added.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

As US President Joe Biden makes his intentions clear to China in a phone call to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, the message from commander-in-chief is; "get moving," else China will eat their "lunch".

As US President Joe Biden makes his intentions clear to China in a phone call to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, the message from commander-in-chief is; "get moving," else China will eat their "lunch". "They're going to, if we don't get moving, they are going to eat our lunch," the US president told reporters, as quoted by news agency Reuters. Watch | In his first phone call to Jinping on Wednesday, Biden pressed him on Xinjiang, Hong Kong human rights issues and other trade-related matters. Also read | Biden says phone call with China President Xi Jinping lasted two hours He "underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan," the White House said after the talks. The two leaders also talked about the coronavirus pandemic, weapons proliferation and climate change, according to the WH. Biden in the call said that his priorities are to protect the security, prosperity, health and the way of life of American people and to preserve "a free and open Indo-Pacific." The remarks on Indo-Pacific came as several countries have raised objections on China's expansionist approach in the region. "President Biden committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies," the WH added.

If US won't 'get moving,' China will 'eat our lunch': Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden has said his first phone call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping since taking office lasted two hours.

"Last night, I was in the phone for two straight hours with Xi Jinping," Biden told reporters on Thursday.

This is being seen as an unusually long interaction for a US president with his Chinese counterparts, with whom even face-to-face meetings rarely stretch beyond an hour.

Biden warned afterwards that if the United States doesn't&nbsp;"get moving" on China policy, "they're going to eat our lunch."

The new American president said he challenged Xi on human rights, trade and regional muscle-flexing during the call, which aimed at setting the tone for the US-China relationship.

Beijing has tested US ties since Xi came to power, and under former president Donald Trump found itself on the receiving end of trade tariffs as relations frayed. Biden -- who met Xi during his time as vice president under Barack Obama -- hence, is under pressure&nbsp;to maintain Trump's stance.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-first-phone-call-to-president-xi-biden-asserts-importance-of-indo-pacific-xinjiang-human-rights-abuses-362769">Also read |&nbsp;In first phone call to President Xi, Biden asserts importance of Indo-Pacific; Xinjiang human rights abuses</a>

Earlier on Wednesday, the White House said Biden "underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan," during the call.&nbsp;

The two leaders also spoke about the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and weapons proliferation, the White House added.

"I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people," Biden tweeted after the call.

China's state broadcaster CCTV said that the two "had an in-depth exchange of views on the bilateral relationship and major international and regional issues", the BBC reported.

Xi also warned Biden that bad relations would be a disaster for both countries, Chinese media reported.

US President Joe Biden has said his first phone call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping since taking office lasted two hours. "Last night, I was in the phone for two straight hours with Xi Jinping," Biden told reporters on Thursday.

US President Joe Biden has said his first phone call with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping since taking office lasted two hours. "Last night, I was in the phone for two straight hours with Xi Jinping," Biden told reporters on Thursday. This is being seen as an unusually long interaction for a US president with his Chinese counterparts, with whom even face-to-face meetings rarely stretch beyond an hour. Biden warned afterwards that if the United States doesn't "get moving" on China policy, "they're going to eat our lunch." The new American president said he challenged Xi on human rights, trade and regional muscle-flexing during the call, which aimed at setting the tone for the US-China relationship. Beijing has tested US ties since Xi came to power, and under former president Donald Trump found itself on the receiving end of trade tariffs as relations frayed. Biden -- who met Xi during his time as vice president under Barack Obama -- hence, is under pressure to maintain Trump's stance. Also read | In first phone call to President Xi, Biden asserts importance of Indo-Pacific; Xinjiang human rights abuses Earlier on Wednesday, the White House said Biden "underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan," during the call. The two leaders also spoke about the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and weapons proliferation, the White House added. "I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people," Biden tweeted after the call. China's state broadcaster CCTV said that the two "had an in-depth exchange of views on the bilateral relationship and major international and regional issues", the BBC reported. Xi also warned Biden that bad relations would be a disaster for both countries, Chinese media reported.

Biden says phone call with China President Xi Jinping lasted two hours

Amid growing pressure domestically and internationally pressure against the military coup in Myanmar and the detention of country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, US President Joe Biden announced sanctions against Myanmar's military rulers. In a big development, the US president also spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a phone call for the first time since coming to power.&nbsp;

Click on headlines to read more

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-biden-announces-sanctions-against-myanmar-amid-anti-military-protests-362756">President Biden announces sanctions against Myanmar amid anti-military protests</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/02/11/182208-suu.jpg?itok=QFm1uofm" />

As demonstrators continued their demand to free Aung San Suu Kyi, US President Joe Biden announced sanctions against Myanmar's military rulers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-first-phone-call-to-president-xi-biden-asserts-importance-of-indo-pacific-xinjiang-human-rights-abuses-362769">In first phone call to President Xi, Biden asserts importance of Indo-Pacific, Xinjiang human rights abuses</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/02/11/182220-xi111.jpg?itok=3eZzQe5O" />

US President Joe Biden spoke with &nbsp;President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, the White House said on the occasion of Lunar New Year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-assures-canadas-trudeau-of-covid-vaccine-supplies-362760">PM Modi assures Canada's Trudeau of COVID vaccine supplies</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/02/11/182217-modi-trudeau.JPG?itok=T_HSEoD7" />

During a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, PM Narendra Modi assured him of coronavirus vaccine supplies. India has already sent vaccines to around 20 countries. It has got requests from developing as well as developed nations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-announces-pentagon-task-force-to-tackle-china-362758">Biden announces Pentagon task force to tackle China</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/02/07/181686-joe-biden.jpg?itok=eDy93kl6" />

US President Joe Biden has announced the formation of a Pentagon task force to review the country's China strategy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/chinas-army-claims-both-sides-start-withdrawal-along-pangong-lake-no-comment-from-india-362709">China’s army claims both sides start withdrawal along Pangong Lake; no comment from India</a>

<img src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2021/02/10/182169-untitled-design-9.jpg?itok=GGMfLPEA" />

The Chinese Defence spokesman on Wednesday said that frontline troops of India and China at the southern and northern banks of the Pangong Lake at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh have started disengagement.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-in-senate-democrats-show-unseen-videos-of-attack-on-the-capitol-hill-362757/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

 
&nbsp;

Amid growing pressure domestically and internationally pressure against the military coup in Myanmar and the detention of country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, US President Joe Biden announced sanctions against Myanmar's military rulers.

Amid growing pressure domestically and internationally pressure against the military coup in Myanmar and the detention of country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, US President Joe Biden announced sanctions against Myanmar's military rulers. In a big development, the US president also spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a phone call for the first time since coming to power. Click on headlines to read more President Biden announces sanctions against Myanmar amid anti-military protests As demonstrators continued their demand to free Aung San Suu Kyi, US President Joe Biden announced sanctions against Myanmar's military rulers. In first phone call to President Xi, Biden asserts importance of Indo-Pacific, Xinjiang human rights abuses US President Joe Biden spoke with President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, the White House said on the occasion of Lunar New Year. PM Modi assures Canada's Trudeau of COVID vaccine supplies During a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, PM Narendra Modi assured him of coronavirus vaccine supplies. India has already sent vaccines to around 20 countries. It has got requests from developing as well as developed nations. Biden announces Pentagon task force to tackle China US President Joe Biden has announced the formation of a Pentagon task force to review the country's China strategy. China’s army claims both sides start withdrawal along Pangong Lake; no comment from India The Chinese Defence spokesman on Wednesday said that frontline troops of India and China at the southern and northern banks of the Pangong Lake at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh have started disengagement. Watch |

Morning news brief: Sanctions against Myanmar, Biden-Xinping talks, and more

US President Joe <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-announces-pentagon-task-force-to-tackle-china-362758">Biden </a>spoke with &nbsp;President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, the White House said on the occasion of Lunar New Year.

Watch:

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Biden asserted the importance of free and open Indo-Pacific during his phone call with the Chinese president while underscoring his concerns about "Beijing’s coercive and unfair economic practices" including the "crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan."&nbsp;

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I spoke today with President Xi to offer good wishes to the Chinese people for Lunar New Year. I also shared concerns about Beijing’s economic practices, human rights abuses, and coercion of Taiwan. I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people.
— President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1359692096693817347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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During the phone call, the US president affirmed his priorities towards protecting the American people’s security, prosperity, health, and way of life, the White House said.

It is Biden's first phone call to President Xi since he took office on January 20.

The two leaders also exchanged views on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change and preventing weapons proliferation.

Biden told the Chinese president that his country is "committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies."

Earlier on Wednesday, President Biden had announced setting up of a Pentagon task force to review US strategy on China. The US president called for an immediate review of the military-strategic approach to challenges posed by China while visiting the Pentagon for the first time since becoming the president.

"I will never dishonour you, I will never disrespect you," the Biden told the US servicemen, adding, "I will never politicize the work you do."&nbsp;

"So often, our armed forces and the Department of Defense staff are how the rest of the world encounters America," Biden said. "But our country is safer and stronger when we lead not just with the example of our power, but with the power of our example."

US President Joe Biden spoke with President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, the White House said on the occasion of Lunar New Year. Watch: Biden asserted the importance of free and open Indo-Pacific during his phone call with the Chinese president while underscoring his concerns about "Beijing’s coercive and unfair economic practices" including the "crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan.

US President Joe Biden spoke with President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, the White House said on the occasion of Lunar New Year. Watch: Biden asserted the importance of free and open Indo-Pacific during his phone call with the Chinese president while underscoring his concerns about "Beijing’s coercive and unfair economic practices" including the "crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan." I spoke today with President Xi to offer good wishes to the Chinese people for Lunar New Year. I also shared concerns about Beijing’s economic practices, human rights abuses, and coercion of Taiwan. I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people. — President Biden (@POTUS) February 11, 2021 × During the phone call, the US president affirmed his priorities towards protecting the American people’s security, prosperity, health, and way of life, the White House said. It is Biden's first phone call to President Xi since he took office on January 20. The two leaders also exchanged views on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change and preventing weapons proliferation. Biden told the Chinese president that his country is "committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies." Earlier on Wednesday, President Biden had announced setting up of a Pentagon task force to review US strategy on China. The US president called for an immediate review of the military-strategic approach to challenges posed by China while visiting the Pentagon for the first time since becoming the president. "I will never dishonour you, I will never disrespect you," the Biden told the US servicemen, adding, "I will never politicize the work you do." "So often, our armed forces and the Department of Defense staff are how the rest of the world encounters America," Biden said. "But our country is safer and stronger when we lead not just with the example of our power, but with the power of our example."

In first phone call to President Xi, Biden asserts importance of Indo-Pacific; Xinjiang human rights abuses

Mainland China users of the US&nbsp;audio app&nbsp;Clubhouse&nbsp;said they were experiencing internet access disruptions, stoking concerns it had been blocked by China's so-called Great Firewall.

The repression of Muslim Uighurs, the Tiananmen Square crackdown, and S&amp;M hook-ups, nothing was off-limits in the rambunctious, unfiltered chatrooms of Clubhouse before China's censors silenced the conversation.

The&nbsp;Clubhouse&nbsp;app is only available on iOS devices and is unavailable in the local Apple app store in China, but mainland Chinese users had been able to access the app by modifying the location of their app store.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/chinese-users-flocking-to-us-chat-app-clubhouse-to-evade-censors-361942">Chinese users flocking to US chat app Clubhouse to evade censors</a>

For around a week, robust, open discussion on China pinballed across the American audio app, recently lent an air of exclusivity after an endorsement from Elon Musk.

It offered mainland and Chinese-speaking users a rare space to dissect taboos across politics and society, a plurality of voices normally muted inside China by the Communist Party.

Then late on Monday, an error message appeared to Chinese users logging on without a VPN to establish a secure connection, a telltale sign that state censors had got hold of the debate.

Users of China's Twitter-like social media app Weibo began posting&nbsp;screenshots of a message the app displayed when they tried to open it which said a secure connection to the server could not be made.

"Under Xi, the ban was a matter of time," said Lokman Tsui, a communications professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, of the reflex to scrub unregulated social media sharpened under China's President Xi Jinping.

Users took to Clubhouse chatrooms and other social media platforms to lament the block, which closed a brief window for freewheeling exchanges in a country where overseas networks such as Twitter and Facebook have been banned.

Many Western social media apps including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are banned in China, where the local internet is tightly regulated and often censored of content that could undermine the country's ruling Communist Party.

Although Chinese versions of the global platforms have emerged and become part of daily life, Chinese users are aware that content posted on them is monitored and censored.

It is common for social media companies to wipe content considered politically sensitive, including protests and criticism of the government, with users devising measures like screenshots and deliberate typos to skirt censors.

'Living a lie'

On Clubhouse last Saturday, however, more than 1,000 users flocked to a chatroom on the mass incarceration of Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims in China's western Xinjiang region.

Rights groups believe at least one million people are incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang, but Beijing has said they are vocational training centres aimed at reducing the appeal of Islamic extremism.

At least three people identifying as Uighurs shared personal stories in the Clubhouse chat and several others said they were Han Chinese who had lived in Xinjiang.

A woman said her views changed after living abroad exposed her to more information on Xinjiang.

"I had only been living in a huge lie," she said.

But some struck a more defensive note, with a man countering that "re-education camps" were necessary.

Moderators allowed time for people to talk in the Chinese-language chatroom without interruption, in a conversation that only ended the following afternoon.

On Monday, more than 2,000 users gathered in another chatroom discussing the bloody crackdown on Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, a taboo topic in China.

One said the environment was "dangerous for both sides", referring to civilians and authorities, while another called it outdated to claim that students,&nbsp;who participated in the movement -- were easily "brainwashed".

People from Hong Kong and Taiwan also pitched in on, or moderated, China-related topics.

But the frank exchanges were not limited to big politics.

The night after the Xinjiang chat, in another room, gay men swapped explicit stories of booty calls.

Some talked about engaging in unexpected S&amp;M hook-ups, and others shared anecdotes about taking dates home only to be found out by their parents.

But the door soon slammed shut on the unfettered discussion.

The space for free online discussion has "been drastically reduced" since 2013, the year Xi became president, added Emilie Frenkiel, associate professor at Université Paris Est Créteil, who researches political participation and representation in China.

But she added that the chance for open discourse on sensitive topics with other Chinese-speakers like Taiwanese counterparts "even though very risky, is so rare that... many are still willing to seize it".

A search for "Clubhouse invites", previously for sale on a Chinese online marketplace, no longer turns up results.

Since the ban, Chinese speakers returning to the app discussed ways to circumvent the "Great Firewall", and a chatroom ironically praising a pro-Communist Party editor continues defiantly.

But the wider lament was for the end of a precious space for debate which flickered but was never allowed to flare.

"I came here because it did not have speech censorship," one user said.

Mainland China users of the US audio app Clubhouse said they were experiencing internet access disruptions, stoking concerns it had been blocked by China's so-called Great Firewall.

Mainland China users of the US audio app Clubhouse said they were experiencing internet access disruptions, stoking concerns it had been blocked by China's so-called Great Firewall. The repression of Muslim Uighurs, the Tiananmen Square crackdown, and S&M hook-ups, nothing was off-limits in the rambunctious, unfiltered chatrooms of Clubhouse before China's censors silenced the conversation. The Clubhouse app is only available on iOS devices and is unavailable in the local Apple app store in China, but mainland Chinese users had been able to access the app by modifying the location of their app store. Also read: Chinese users flocking to US chat app Clubhouse to evade censors For around a week, robust, open discussion on China pinballed across the American audio app, recently lent an air of exclusivity after an endorsement from Elon Musk. It offered mainland and Chinese-speaking users a rare space to dissect taboos across politics and society, a plurality of voices normally muted inside China by the Communist Party. Then late on Monday, an error message appeared to Chinese users logging on without a VPN to establish a secure connection, a telltale sign that state censors had got hold of the debate. Users of China's Twitter-like social media app Weibo began posting screenshots of a message the app displayed when they tried to open it which said a secure connection to the server could not be made. "Under Xi, the ban was a matter of time," said Lokman Tsui, a communications professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, of the reflex to scrub unregulated social media sharpened under China's President Xi Jinping. Users took to Clubhouse chatrooms and other social media platforms to lament the block, which closed a brief window for freewheeling exchanges in a country where overseas networks such as Twitter and Facebook have been banned. Many Western social media apps including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are banned in China, where the local internet is tightly regulated and often censored of content that could undermine the country's ruling Communist Party. Although Chinese versions of the global platforms have emerged and become part of daily life, Chinese users are aware that content posted on them is monitored and censored. It is common for social media companies to wipe content considered politically sensitive, including protests and criticism of the government, with users devising measures like screenshots and deliberate typos to skirt censors. 'Living a lie' On Clubhouse last Saturday, however, more than 1,000 users flocked to a chatroom on the mass incarceration of Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims in China's western Xinjiang region. Rights groups believe at least one million people are incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang, but Beijing has said they are vocational training centres aimed at reducing the appeal of Islamic extremism. At least three people identifying as Uighurs shared personal stories in the Clubhouse chat and several others said they were Han Chinese who had lived in Xinjiang. A woman said her views changed after living abroad exposed her to more information on Xinjiang. "I had only been living in a huge lie," she said. But some struck a more defensive note, with a man countering that "re-education camps" were necessary. Moderators allowed time for people to talk in the Chinese-language chatroom without interruption, in a conversation that only ended the following afternoon. On Monday, more than 2,000 users gathered in another chatroom discussing the bloody crackdown on Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, a taboo topic in China. One said the environment was "dangerous for both sides", referring to civilians and authorities, while another called it outdated to claim that students, who participated in the movement -- were easily "brainwashed". People from Hong Kong and Taiwan also pitched in on, or moderated, China-related topics. But the frank exchanges were not limited to big politics. The night after the Xinjiang chat, in another room, gay men swapped explicit stories of booty calls. Some talked about engaging in unexpected S&M hook-ups, and others shared anecdotes about taking dates home only to be found out by their parents. But the door soon slammed shut on the unfettered discussion. The space for free online discussion has "been drastically reduced" since 2013, the year Xi became president, added Emilie Frenkiel, associate professor at Université Paris Est Créteil, who researches political participation and representation in China. But she added that the chance for open discourse on sensitive topics with other Chinese-speakers like Taiwanese counterparts "even though very risky, is so rare that... many are still willing to seize it". A search for "Clubhouse invites", previously for sale on a Chinese online marketplace, no longer turns up results. Since the ban, Chinese speakers returning to the app discussed ways to circumvent the "Great Firewall", and a chatroom ironically praising a pro-Communist Party editor continues defiantly. But the wider lament was for the end of a precious space for debate which flickered but was never allowed to flare. "I came here because it did not have speech censorship," one user said.

'Party over': Chinese users of Clubhouse app say experiencing internet access disruptions

Ever since Joe Biden came to power, it has become fashionable for some to claim that the Indian government will face some pushback on its internal affairs. However, America is not in a position to do any such thing.

Being a seasoned politician, Joe Biden knows better than offending India. The Indian diaspora in the US has become quite affluent and influential. Indian-Americans funded Biden's campaign and now at least 20 Indian-Americans are part of the White House team.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-bidens-america-is-back-falls-short-of-real-action-362271" hreflang="en">Joe Biden's 'America is back' falls short of real action</a>

Also, the geopolitical realities have changed since the Obama era. Today, India is a leading global force and enjoys strong bipartisan support across the world. India sits at the high table of the United Nations Security Council. In fact, just three days back, India played a key role in shaping the UNSC statement on Myanmar.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-can-america-dictate-terms-to-india-362286/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In addition to this, India's vaccine diplomacy spreads as far as Latin America as New Delhi is supplying vaccines to countries such as Brazil and Mexico.&nbsp;

There's a congruence of interests on the diplomatic front as India and America are on the same page when it comes to Taiwan and China. India is America's strategic counter to Chinese aggression. The quad countries are already arranging a meeting of their leaders with an eye on China. India is the only quad member that shares a land border with China and operates outside of the US Security-led alliances.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-joe-biden-takes-over-the-us-does-the-world-trust-him-362269">As Joe Biden takes over the US, does the world trust him?</a>

America would think twice before interfering in India's internal affairs just as India has steered clear of interfering in America's. However, there's no guarantee that Joe Biden will be as tough on China as Donald Trump. It could be mere political compulsion, given the kind of narrative Trump had built in the last four years.

Considering, Biden is a seasoned politician, he is likely to seek more avenues of cooperation than actively stoke more conflicts with China — something Biden suggested in his first diplomatic address.

"We'll confront China's economic abuses, counter its aggressive course of action to push back on China's attack on human rights, intellectual property and global governance. But we are ready to work with Beijing when it's in America's interest to do so," Biden said. "We are ready to work with Beijing when it's in America's interest to do so."

this shows that Biden won't deal with China as Trump did. In his back pocket, he has a longstanding relationship with Xi Jinping. In a recent interview, he noted that he had spent more time with Xi than most world leaders. He said, "I had 24 to 25 hours of private meetings with him when I was Vice President. Traveled 17,000 miles with him. I know him pretty well".

India's relationship with America hinges strongly on how Joe Biden deals with China.&nbsp;

Russia

Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is a law aimed at pushing back Russian influence. Under this act, the US has sanctioned Turkey for buying the S-400 missile defence system from Russia. Remember, India too has ordered the S-400 systems from Russia. In fact, India is Russia's largest defence customer.

The Trump administration limited itself to 'expressing displeasure', but the question is whether Joe Biden will do the same or will he use CAATSA against India — a major potential defence buyer and a clear strategic partner. There's no guarantee, although he cannot really afford to irk India with sanctions.

So the bottom line is that the current geopolitical chessboard is complex and India has strategically positioned itself in this game. The Biden administration will have to find a way to work with India, the odd statements to appease Biden's domestic vote bank, notwithstanding.

Ever since Joe Biden came to power, it has become fashionable for some to claim that the Indian government will face some pushback on its internal affairs. However, America is not in a position to do any such thing.

Ever since Joe Biden came to power, it has become fashionable for some to claim that the Indian government will face some pushback on its internal affairs. However, America is not in a position to do any such thing. Being a seasoned politician, Joe Biden knows better than offending India. The Indian diaspora in the US has become quite affluent and influential. Indian-Americans funded Biden's campaign and now at least 20 Indian-Americans are part of the White House team. Also read| Joe Biden's 'America is back' falls short of real action Also, the geopolitical realities have changed since the Obama era. Today, India is a leading global force and enjoys strong bipartisan support across the world. India sits at the high table of the United Nations Security Council. In fact, just three days back, India played a key role in shaping the UNSC statement on Myanmar. In addition to this, India's vaccine diplomacy spreads as far as Latin America as New Delhi is supplying vaccines to countries such as Brazil and Mexico. There's a congruence of interests on the diplomatic front as India and America are on the same page when it comes to Taiwan and China. India is America's strategic counter to Chinese aggression. The quad countries are already arranging a meeting of their leaders with an eye on China. India is the only quad member that shares a land border with China and operates outside of the US Security-led alliances. Also read| As Joe Biden takes over the US, does the world trust him? America would think twice before interfering in India's internal affairs just as India has steered clear of interfering in America's. However, there's no guarantee that Joe Biden will be as tough on China as Donald Trump. It could be mere political compulsion, given the kind of narrative Trump had built in the last four years. Considering, Biden is a seasoned politician, he is likely to seek more avenues of cooperation than actively stoke more conflicts with China — something Biden suggested in his first diplomatic address. "We'll confront China's economic abuses, counter its aggressive course of action to push back on China's attack on human rights, intellectual property and global governance. But we are ready to work with Beijing when it's in America's interest to do so," Biden said. "We are ready to work with Beijing when it's in America's interest to do so." this shows that Biden won't deal with China as Trump did. In his back pocket, he has a longstanding relationship with Xi Jinping. In a recent interview, he noted that he had spent more time with Xi than most world leaders. He said, "I had 24 to 25 hours of private meetings with him when I was Vice President. Traveled 17,000 miles with him. I know him pretty well". India's relationship with America hinges strongly on how Joe Biden deals with China. Russia Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is a law aimed at pushing back Russian influence. Under this act, the US has sanctioned Turkey for buying the S-400 missile defence system from Russia. Remember, India too has ordered the S-400 systems from Russia. In fact, India is Russia's largest defence customer. The Trump administration limited itself to 'expressing displeasure', but the question is whether Joe Biden will do the same or will he use CAATSA against India — a major potential defence buyer and a clear strategic partner. There's no guarantee, although he cannot really afford to irk India with sanctions. So the bottom line is that the current geopolitical chessboard is complex and India has strategically positioned itself in this game. The Biden administration will have to find a way to work with India, the odd statements to appease Biden's domestic vote bank, notwithstanding.

With Biden's dreams for America, will the US-India ties change?

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden </a>on Thursday confronted China and Russia over authoritarianism and human rights abuses among other issues as he voiced out his foreign policy approach.&nbsp;

"American leadership must meet this new moment of advancing authoritarianism, including the growing ambitions of China to rival the United States and the determination of Russia to damage and disrupt our democracy. We must meet the new moment ... accelerating global challenges from the pandemic to the climate crisis to nuclear proliferation," the US president said.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/joe-biden-touts-muscular-foreign-policy-in-first-diplomatic-speech-361444/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

After four years that saw comparatively a softer approach by Washington towards Kremlin, Biden also said days of US to Russia "rolling over" are gone.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/humanitarian-catastrophe-biden-pulls-us-out-of-yemen-war-stops-saudi-support-361436">'Humanitarian catastrophe': Biden pulls US out of Yemen war, stops Saudi support</a>

"I made it clear to President Putin, in a manner very different from my predecessor, that the days of the United States rolling over in the face of Russia's aggressive actions, interfering with our elections, cyberattacks, poisoning its citizens, are over," Biden said.&nbsp;

China whose aggressive actions are ringing an alarm and has emerged as one of biggest challenges across the world was also mentioned by Biden in his speech where he said that the Asian giant will be "confronted".&nbsp;

"We'll confront China's economic abuses, counter its aggressive, coercive action to push back on China's attack on human rights, intellectual property and global governance. But we're ready to work with Beijing when it's in America's interest to do so," the US president said. &nbsp;

US President Joe Biden on Thursday confronted China and Russia over authoritarianism and human rights abuses among other issues as he voiced out his foreign policy approach.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday confronted China and Russia over authoritarianism and human rights abuses among other issues as he voiced out his foreign policy approach. "American leadership must meet this new moment of advancing authoritarianism, including the growing ambitions of China to rival the United States and the determination of Russia to damage and disrupt our democracy. We must meet the new moment ... accelerating global challenges from the pandemic to the climate crisis to nuclear proliferation," the US president said. Watch | After four years that saw comparatively a softer approach by Washington towards Kremlin, Biden also said days of US to Russia "rolling over" are gone. Also read | 'Humanitarian catastrophe': Biden pulls US out of Yemen war, stops Saudi support "I made it clear to President Putin, in a manner very different from my predecessor, that the days of the United States rolling over in the face of Russia's aggressive actions, interfering with our elections, cyberattacks, poisoning its citizens, are over," Biden said. China whose aggressive actions are ringing an alarm and has emerged as one of biggest challenges across the world was also mentioned by Biden in his speech where he said that the Asian giant will be "confronted". "We'll confront China's economic abuses, counter its aggressive, coercive action to push back on China's attack on human rights, intellectual property and global governance. But we're ready to work with Beijing when it's in America's interest to do so," the US president said.

Days of US 'rolling over' gone: Biden warns China, Russia in first diplomatic speech

If reports are to be believed, women in China's 're-education' camps for Uighurs have been subjected to systematic rape, sexually abuse, and torture. &nbsp;

According to new detailed accounts obtained by the BBC, detainees share horrifying stories from inside China's vast and secretive system of internment camps in the Xinjiang region.&nbsp;

According to independent estimates, more than a million men and women have been detained in these camps. China says these camps have been created for the 're-education' of the Uighurs and other minorities.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-wants-to-boost-masculinity-of-boys-through-sports-361078">Also read | China wants to boost 'masculinity' of boys through sports</a> 
 
Human rights groups allege the Chinese government has gradually stripped away Uighurs' all kinds of freedoms. It has turned out to become an oppressive system of mass surveillance, indoctrination, detention, and even forced sterilisation. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The policy of the camps came in after China's President Xi Jinping visited Xinjiang in 2014 in the wake of a terror attack by Uighur separatists and directed local officials to respond with 'absolutely no mercy', according to documents leaked to the New York Times.&nbsp;

Last month, the US government said that China's actions since then amounted to a genocide. However, China has rubbished the reports of mass detention and forced sterilisation and said these are 'lies and absurd allegations'.&nbsp;

Although first-hand accounts from inside the internment camps are rare, several former detainees have confirmed the organised system of mass rape, sexual abuse and torture at the camps. &nbsp;

“Women were removed from the cells 'every night' and raped by one or more masked Chinese men,” said Tursunay Ziawudun, who fled Xinjiang after her release and is now in the US. She said on three occasions, she was tortured and later gang-raped each time by two or three men.&nbsp;

Although it seems to be impossible to verify Ziawudun's account as there are severe restrictions on reporters in China, but travel documents and immigration records provided to the BBC by her, corroborate story.&nbsp;

Uighurs are muslim Turkic minority group, who are about 11 million in Xinjiang in north-western China.&nbsp;

If reports are to be believed, women in China's 're-education' camps for Uighurs have been subjected to systematic rape, sexually abuse, and torture. According to new detailed accounts obtained by the BBC, detainees share horrifying stories from inside China's vast and secretive system of internment camps in the Xinjiang region.

If reports are to be believed, women in China's 're-education' camps for Uighurs have been subjected to systematic rape, sexually abuse, and torture. According to new detailed accounts obtained by the BBC, detainees share horrifying stories from inside China's vast and secretive system of internment camps in the Xinjiang region. According to independent estimates, more than a million men and women have been detained in these camps. China says these camps have been created for the 're-education' of the Uighurs and other minorities. Also read | China wants to boost 'masculinity' of boys through sports Human rights groups allege the Chinese government has gradually stripped away Uighurs' all kinds of freedoms. It has turned out to become an oppressive system of mass surveillance, indoctrination, detention, and even forced sterilisation. The policy of the camps came in after China's President Xi Jinping visited Xinjiang in 2014 in the wake of a terror attack by Uighur separatists and directed local officials to respond with 'absolutely no mercy', according to documents leaked to the New York Times. Last month, the US government said that China's actions since then amounted to a genocide. However, China has rubbished the reports of mass detention and forced sterilisation and said these are 'lies and absurd allegations'. Although first-hand accounts from inside the internment camps are rare, several former detainees have confirmed the organised system of mass rape, sexual abuse and torture at the camps. “Women were removed from the cells 'every night' and raped by one or more masked Chinese men,” said Tursunay Ziawudun, who fled Xinjiang after her release and is now in the US. She said on three occasions, she was tortured and later gang-raped each time by two or three men. Although it seems to be impossible to verify Ziawudun's account as there are severe restrictions on reporters in China, but travel documents and immigration records provided to the BBC by her, corroborate story. Uighurs are muslim Turkic minority group, who are about 11 million in Xinjiang in north-western China.

Rape, abuse, torture reported in China's 're-education' camps

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group, has finally reappeared nearly three months after he went missing from the public eye.&nbsp;

He was recorded speaking to teachers from rural China and told them, "we will meet again after the epidemic is over".&nbsp;

Someone posted this 50-second video on Twitter and it went viral instantly.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alibabas-jack-ma-makes-first-public-appearance-after-months-via-video-link-357945">Alibaba's Jack Ma makes first public appearance after months via video link</a>

Many people questioned its authenticity and some expressed doubts over its date.

But most people chose celebration over speculation and among them was the Hong Kong stock market.&nbsp;

Alibaba's shares were up 8.5 per cent and the company's valuation rose by $58 billion.&nbsp;

His reappearance is being viewed as a big relief for Alibaba and its investors.

<h2>Are the Alibaba founder and Alibaba safe now?</h2>

The answer lies in history and politics.

The Alibaba founder's previous appearance was at the second Bund Summit in Shanghai on October 24, 2020.

It was on this day that Jack criticised China's regulatory system and state-run banks.

He called them out for behaving like "pawn shops", prompting Chinese authorities to go after him and his empire.

Alibaba's affiliate, the Ant Group was forced to suspend its $37 billion IPO plan.

China had also launched an anti-trust investigation against Alibaba and the company was probed for suspected monopoly practices.

Alibaba's reputation was hit and it lost $140 billion.

Jack net worth too began fluctuating and following this incident, he did not appear in a TV show he was supposed to judge.&nbsp;

He also missed other scheduled appearances, which led to speculation that Chinese authorities had gone after him.&nbsp;

It was also seen that the rise of Jack had put him at odds with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

<h2>China's poster boy</h2>

Jack is the poster boy of China and at home, he is being called 'Daddy Ma'.&nbsp;

Some Chinese youth call him 'Teacher Ma' and he is seen as the 'godfather of entrepreneurship'.

His status is nothing less than a legend in China.

Jack sings, dances, acts, paints, fights and his cult had begun threatening Xi's party-state, a system where only one person can be celebrated.

And the dictator is not happy with him and one headline tells this story: 'There is no Jack Ma era, but a Jack Ma in the era'.&nbsp;

China is also running an anti-Jack Ma campaign online with reports claiming he is being portrayed as a wolf in sheep's attire and his venture, the ant group being painted as a loan shark.

Chinese consumers are concerned and some investors say they have no clarity as to what is going on in Alibaba.

Jack may not have been jailed like real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang or billionaire entrepreneur Sun Dawu, but his company Alibaba is not out of danger.

<h2>Hints</h2>

Jack's recent video hints at the entrepreneur buckling under Chinese pressure.&nbsp;

Take a look at what he told the teachers.

"During this period of time, my colleagues and I have been learning and thinking, and we have become more determined to devote ourselves to education and public welfare. This is not only because I am a teacher myself, but more importantly, education, especially rural education, is of great importance. Today, our country has achieved complete poverty alleviation, comprehensively promoted the rural revitalization strategy, entered a new stage of development, and is moving towards common prosperity."

These comments were published in a Chinese outlet and if they are authentic, then Jack's tone has evidently taken a 180-degree turn since his Shanghai speech.

Analysts say the Chinese govt may takeover Alibaba.

Reports suggest there are four possibilities employees in Alibaba are preparing for: nationalisation, splitting of the business, more restrictions and fines.

Does any of this sound like the end of trouble for Alibaba?

You know the answer.

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group, has finally reappeared nearly three months after he went missing from the public eye. He was recorded speaking to teachers from rural China and told them, "we will meet again after the epidemic is over".

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group, has finally reappeared nearly three months after he went missing from the public eye. He was recorded speaking to teachers from rural China and told them, "we will meet again after the epidemic is over". Someone posted this 50-second video on Twitter and it went viral instantly. Also read | Alibaba's Jack Ma makes first public appearance after months via video link Many people questioned its authenticity and some expressed doubts over its date. But most people chose celebration over speculation and among them was the Hong Kong stock market. Alibaba's shares were up 8.5 per cent and the company's valuation rose by $58 billion. His reappearance is being viewed as a big relief for Alibaba and its investors. Are the Alibaba founder and Alibaba safe now? The answer lies in history and politics. The Alibaba founder's previous appearance was at the second Bund Summit in Shanghai on October 24, 2020. It was on this day that Jack criticised China's regulatory system and state-run banks. He called them out for behaving like "pawn shops", prompting Chinese authorities to go after him and his empire. Alibaba's affiliate, the Ant Group was forced to suspend its $37 billion IPO plan. China had also launched an anti-trust investigation against Alibaba and the company was probed for suspected monopoly practices. Alibaba's reputation was hit and it lost $140 billion. Jack net worth too began fluctuating and following this incident, he did not appear in a TV show he was supposed to judge. He also missed other scheduled appearances, which led to speculation that Chinese authorities had gone after him. It was also seen that the rise of Jack had put him at odds with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China's poster boy Jack is the poster boy of China and at home, he is being called 'Daddy Ma'. Some Chinese youth call him 'Teacher Ma' and he is seen as the 'godfather of entrepreneurship'. His status is nothing less than a legend in China. Jack sings, dances, acts, paints, fights and his cult had begun threatening Xi's party-state, a system where only one person can be celebrated. And the dictator is not happy with him and one headline tells this story: 'There is no Jack Ma era, but a Jack Ma in the era'. China is also running an anti-Jack Ma campaign online with reports claiming he is being portrayed as a wolf in sheep's attire and his venture, the ant group being painted as a loan shark. Chinese consumers are concerned and some investors say they have no clarity as to what is going on in Alibaba. Jack may not have been jailed like real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang or billionaire entrepreneur Sun Dawu, but his company Alibaba is not out of danger. Hints Jack's recent video hints at the entrepreneur buckling under Chinese pressure. Take a look at what he told the teachers. "During this period of time, my colleagues and I have been learning and thinking, and we have become more determined to devote ourselves to education and public welfare. This is not only because I am a teacher myself, but more importantly, education, especially rural education, is of great importance. Today, our country has achieved complete poverty alleviation, comprehensively promoted the rural revitalization strategy, entered a new stage of development, and is moving towards common prosperity." These comments were published in a Chinese outlet and if they are authentic, then Jack's tone has evidently taken a 180-degree turn since his Shanghai speech. Analysts say the Chinese govt may takeover Alibaba. Reports suggest there are four possibilities employees in Alibaba are preparing for: nationalisation, splitting of the business, more restrictions and fines. Does any of this sound like the end of trouble for Alibaba? You know the answer.

As Jack Ma reappears, is there status quo in China?

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