China is using a new form of colonialism to scheme its way into countries as a part of its expansionist policy.

To fulfil its aim of becoming&nbsp;a true global power, China is&nbsp;utilising investment, influence, and interference&nbsp;as its secret weapons.

This&nbsp;chequebook diplomacy&nbsp;continues today, such as through&nbsp;China's&nbsp;substantial support for Pacific nations tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

China has been using the financial tool of debt to gain influence across the world and grab considerable power in India’s neighbouring countries, thereby increasing the amount of political and security threats the nation is exposed to.

In 2013 Chinese President Xi Jinping launched an international investment program that became known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Under a new mantra to connect the global economy, China began investing heavily in foreign infrastructure projects in over 60 countries that account for 60 percent of the world population and 30 percent of global gross domestic product.

From 2013 to 2018 China made an estimated nearly $614 billion worth of investments in countries participating in BRI. Morgan Stanley predicts China’s overall expense from BRI could reach $1.3 trillion over the next decade.

President Xi considers BRI an opportunity to share China’s model for economic growth with the developing world. Geopolitical rivals are concerned BRI investment programs will deepen China’s political influence and military expansion.

China's debt-trap diplomacy

In a push to gain rapid political and economic ascendency across the globe, China is dispensing billions of dollars in the form of concessional loans to developing countries, mostly for its large-scale infrastructure projects.

Often, developing nations are lured by China’s offer of cheap loans for transformative infra projects, which involve a substantial investment. These developing nations, which are primarily low- or middle-income countries, are unable to keep up with the repayments, and Beijing then gets a chance to demand concessions or advantages in exchange for debt relief.

Manipulates narratives

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the state-owned media&nbsp;outlets should ''tell stories about China well and spread China's voice well; enable the world to see a multidimensional and colorful China; present China as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and an upholder of international order.''

In the last 4 years, Beijing has signed media cooperation agreements with BRI&nbsp;countries In Thailand, for example, over a dozen media outlets have inked deals with Xinhua.

2019 was named the 'ASEAN-China year of media exchanges'.

China uses systematic strategies&nbsp;to embed itself in the global news landscape and build its discourse power beyond borders.&nbsp;

At this year's UNGA, Jinping said ''We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence. We have no intention to fight either a cold war or a hot war with any country.”

However, China is continuously increasing the number of&nbsp;Confucius Institutes, which &nbsp;are public educational partnerships between colleges and universities in China and colleges and universities in other countries; the partnerships are funded and arranged in part by Hanban which is itself affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education.&nbsp;

Last year, the Human Rights Watch said that these institutes consider political loyalty while hiring people. Their job, of course, is to sell the Chinese narrative.

China is using a new form of colonialism to scheme its way into countries as a part of its expansionist policy. To fulfil its aim of becoming a true global power, China is utilising investment, influence, and interference as its secret weapons.

China is using a new form of colonialism to scheme its way into countries as a part of its expansionist policy. To fulfil its aim of becoming a true global power, China is utilising investment, influence, and interference as its secret weapons. This chequebook diplomacy continues today, such as through China's substantial support for Pacific nations tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. China has been using the financial tool of debt to gain influence across the world and grab considerable power in India’s neighbouring countries, thereby increasing the amount of political and security threats the nation is exposed to. In 2013 Chinese President Xi Jinping launched an international investment program that became known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Under a new mantra to connect the global economy, China began investing heavily in foreign infrastructure projects in over 60 countries that account for 60 percent of the world population and 30 percent of global gross domestic product. From 2013 to 2018 China made an estimated nearly $614 billion worth of investments in countries participating in BRI. Morgan Stanley predicts China’s overall expense from BRI could reach $1.3 trillion over the next decade. President Xi considers BRI an opportunity to share China’s model for economic growth with the developing world. Geopolitical rivals are concerned BRI investment programs will deepen China’s political influence and military expansion. China's debt-trap diplomacy In a push to gain rapid political and economic ascendency across the globe, China is dispensing billions of dollars in the form of concessional loans to developing countries, mostly for its large-scale infrastructure projects. Often, developing nations are lured by China’s offer of cheap loans for transformative infra projects, which involve a substantial investment. These developing nations, which are primarily low- or middle-income countries, are unable to keep up with the repayments, and Beijing then gets a chance to demand concessions or advantages in exchange for debt relief. Manipulates narratives Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged the state-owned media outlets should ''tell stories about China well and spread China's voice well; enable the world to see a multidimensional and colorful China; present China as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and an upholder of international order.'' In the last 4 years, Beijing has signed media cooperation agreements with BRI countries In Thailand, for example, over a dozen media outlets have inked deals with Xinhua. 2019 was named the 'ASEAN-China year of media exchanges'. China uses systematic strategies to embed itself in the global news landscape and build its discourse power beyond borders. At this year's UNGA, Jinping said ''We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence. We have no intention to fight either a cold war or a hot war with any country.” However, China is continuously increasing the number of Confucius Institutes, which are public educational partnerships between colleges and universities in China and colleges and universities in other countries; the partnerships are funded and arranged in part by Hanban which is itself affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education. Last year, the Human Rights Watch said that these institutes consider political loyalty while hiring people. Their job, of course, is to sell the Chinese narrative.

Why is Chinese colonisation a severe threat for foreign countries

China's market regulator said on Monday it will fine Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings-backed&nbsp;China&nbsp;Literature, and Shenzhen Hive Box 500,000 yuan ($76,464.29) each for not reporting deals properly for anti-trust reviews.

The State Administration of Market Regulation said in a statement that it had taken the decision after reviewing deals the firms were involved in, including Alibaba's past deal with Intime Retail (Group) Co Ltd and&nbsp;China&nbsp;Literature's acquisition of New Classics Media.

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The punishments come after controllers a month ago announced their goal to expand examination of China's biggest tech companies with the new enemy of syndication rules.

Beijing in November revealed draft guidelines that set up a structure for controlling hostile to serious conduct, for example, intriguing on sharing delicate customer information, collusions that crush out more modest opponents, and sponsoring administrations at beneath cost to dispose of contenders. Offers in Alibaba and Tencent expanded misfortunes and shut down over 2.5 per cent.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/china-unveils-guidelines-on-mobile-apps-collection-of-personal-data-347206" hreflang="en">China unveils guidelines on mobile apps' collection of personal data</a>

"Venture and takeovers are significant methods for improvement and development of web organizations," the controller said in the proclamation. "The previously mentioned organizations have a huge impact in the business, do numerous ventures and takeovers, have particular lawful groups and should be acquainted with the guidelines overseeing M&amp;A. Their inability to effectively pronounce has a moderately serious effect."&nbsp;

Beijing's uplifted examination is prodding fears of a more extensive crackdown on the nation's biggest firms. On Monday, shares in number&nbsp;3 web organisation Meituan plunged 3.8 per cent&nbsp;after the People's Daily composed a publication pummeling the business' distraction with developing traffic and volumes in regions, for example, staple conveyance, to the detriment of genuine logical advancement.&nbsp;

China's two biggest companies are likewise generally avaricious, utilising scores of arrangements to venture into neighboring fields and husband to be a portion of the nation's most encouraging startups. Alibaba had driven a $2.6 billion buyout of Intime as a feature of endeavors to grow new plans of action that join the web-based business with physical retailing. China Literature concurred in 2018 to purchase New Classics Media for as much as 15.5 billion yuan to extend in recorded substance.&nbsp;

The organisations had neglected to look for endorsement for the arrangements, which aren't considered the enemy of serious, the antitrust controller said Monday. China Literature said in a proclamation that it has been effectively working with controllers on consistency, while Alibaba agents didn't quickly react to demands for input.

China's market regulator said on Monday it will fine Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings-backed China Literature, and Shenzhen Hive Box 500,000 yuan ($76,464.29) each for not reporting deals properly for anti-trust reviews.

China's market regulator said on Monday it will fine Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings-backed China Literature, and Shenzhen Hive Box 500,000 yuan ($76,464.29) each for not reporting deals properly for anti-trust reviews. The State Administration of Market Regulation said in a statement that it had taken the decision after reviewing deals the firms were involved in, including Alibaba's past deal with Intime Retail (Group) Co Ltd and China Literature's acquisition of New Classics Media. The punishments come after controllers a month ago announced their goal to expand examination of China's biggest tech companies with the new enemy of syndication rules. Beijing in November revealed draft guidelines that set up a structure for controlling hostile to serious conduct, for example, intriguing on sharing delicate customer information, collusions that crush out more modest opponents, and sponsoring administrations at beneath cost to dispose of contenders. Offers in Alibaba and Tencent expanded misfortunes and shut down over 2.5 per cent. Also read: China unveils guidelines on mobile apps' collection of personal data "Venture and takeovers are significant methods for improvement and development of web organizations," the controller said in the proclamation. "The previously mentioned organizations have a huge impact in the business, do numerous ventures and takeovers, have particular lawful groups and should be acquainted with the guidelines overseeing M&A. Their inability to effectively pronounce has a moderately serious effect." Beijing's uplifted examination is prodding fears of a more extensive crackdown on the nation's biggest firms. On Monday, shares in number 3 web organisation Meituan plunged 3.8 per cent after the People's Daily composed a publication pummeling the business' distraction with developing traffic and volumes in regions, for example, staple conveyance, to the detriment of genuine logical advancement. China's two biggest companies are likewise generally avaricious, utilising scores of arrangements to venture into neighboring fields and husband to be a portion of the nation's most encouraging startups. Alibaba had driven a $2.6 billion buyout of Intime as a feature of endeavors to grow new plans of action that join the web-based business with physical retailing. China Literature concurred in 2018 to purchase New Classics Media for as much as 15.5 billion yuan to extend in recorded substance. The organisations had neglected to look for endorsement for the arrangements, which aren't considered the enemy of serious, the antitrust controller said Monday. China Literature said in a proclamation that it has been effectively working with controllers on consistency, while Alibaba agents didn't quickly react to demands for input.

China fines Alibaba, Tencent under anti-monopoly law

Chinese state-possessed organizations are beginning to default on their obligations. It's a difficulty that could swell through the nation's monetary framework, taking steps to pummel the brakes on the country's economy and stumble the worldwide recuperation from the pandemic.&nbsp;

China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) defaulted on a record 40 billion yuan ($6.1 billion) worth of connections between January and October, as per Fitch Ratings. That is probably as much as the most recent two years joined.&nbsp;

The issue has just deteriorated lately. A huge number of significant organizations — including BMW's (BMWYY) Chinese accomplice Brilliance Auto Group, top cell phone chip producer Tsinghua Unigroup, and Yongcheng Coal and Electricity — looked into going chapter 11 or defaulted on their credits a month ago, sending stun waves through the country's obligation market. Security costs have plunged and loan fees have spiked, and the disturbance has even poured out over into the financial exchange, where portions of state-possessed firms have been sinking.&nbsp;

It's disturbing on several fronts. Above all else, the cozy connections between these organizations and neighborhood Chinese governments commonly make them sure things in a difficult situation. In the event that financial specialists are stressed that the state is done ready to help them, they unexpectedly become a lot more hazardous recommendations.&nbsp;

Second, the accomplishment of the state area is basic to China's monetary framework. While such firms offer not exactly 33% of GDP, they represent the greater part of the bank credits offered in China and some 90 per cent&nbsp;of the nation's corporate securities, as indicated by information from the People's Bank of China and Chinese financier firm Huachuang Securities.&nbsp;

"The believability of government ensures has been the main defense against [financial] emergency up until now. Presently we are seeing signs that this validity is disintegrating," as per Logan Wright, overseer of China markets research at Rhodium Group.&nbsp;

Verifiably, Beijing has been hesitant to allow these organizations to fall flat. The Chinese Communist Party appreciates tight power over wide areas of the economy, including business, and it accepts that the ties between these organizations and the public authority are significant for keeping up that.&nbsp;

Presently, they seem, by all accounts, to permit probably some to fall. Yet, such a large number of defaults on advances and corporate securities would leave the monetary framework inconceivably powerless, making that approach full of danger.&nbsp;

"In spite of the fact that specialists need market discipline for less secure firms, they can't realize how much credit danger may make more extensive disease," Wright wrote in an ongoing exploration note. "Nobody can know this line unmistakably, given that there is no point of reference for this danger in China's monetary framework."&nbsp;

In the event that Beijing's capacity to deal with the obligation is raised doubt, Wright cautioned that the aftermath could strain the monetary market, diminishing accessible credit, and liquidity. As of now, there have been a few results: Bond financing dropped forcefully in November, as indicated by insights delivered Wednesday by the People's Bank of China.&nbsp;

These issues could eventually delay what has been a delicate recuperation for the world's second-biggest economy. While the International Monetary Fund anticipates that China's economy should develop 1.9% this year, better than its huge worldwide friends, that would be the most vulnerable yearly pace of extension in over forty years.&nbsp;

The endeavors to reign in hazardous obtaining "will burden the movement of non-bank credit," composed Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China financial specialist for Capital Economics, in a Wednesday research note.&nbsp;

"While it won't wreck China's financial recuperation short-term, it will bit by bit debilitate the ongoing tailwinds from strategy boost," he stated, alluding to moves by the Chinese government this year to cut loan costs and free billions of dollars worth of expenditure to prop up development.&nbsp;

'Inescapable' defaults&nbsp;

While the record measure of bond defaults this year probably has a great deal to do with the Covid pandemic, China's state-possessed organizations have been collecting obligations for quite a long time.&nbsp;

"We saw these defaults as inescapable," composed experts at Nomura in an ongoing exploration report. They noticed that the Chinese government has been propping up the area with trillions of dollars in upgrades since the 2008 worldwide monetary emergency.&nbsp;

Yet, those ventures didn't create as great returns true to form.&nbsp;

The weaknesses of state-possessed organizations have been broadly recognised. Such firms are frequently less serious than their private friends and produce lower quantifiable profits, said Ning Gaoning, the administrator of the state-claimed synthetic aggregate Sinochem Group, at a significant political social affair in Beijing in May.&nbsp;

Simultaneously, China has been verifiably one-sided toward its valued state firms and offered them undeniably more admittance to financing than their private partners. That pattern has quickened lately as President Xi Jinping has required a more grounded and more prevailing state area.&nbsp;

Those variables presently give off an impression of being meeting up this year to make an ideal tempest. To assist organizations with recuperating aftermath identified with Covid-19, China drastically relaxed limitations on financing — a choice specialists recognized before this year would bring about an uptick in terrible advances.&nbsp;

Obviously, state-claimed organizations represented a lot of credit bond issuance through the initial nine months of the year. Such firms raised some 8.5 trillion yuan ($1.3 trillion), contrasted with the private area's 857 billion yuan ($131.2 billion), as indicated by Pengyuan International, a Chinese rating organization.&nbsp;

Defaults, in the interim, have risen significantly. The Nomura experts assessed that by mid-November, organizations had defaulted on nearly 178 billion yuan ($27 billion) worth of securities in the terrain Chinese market. About 43 per cent&nbsp;of that came from state-possessed firms, over 30% over the ongoing yearly normal.&nbsp;

"Undoubtedly we will see a lot more such defaults in coming years," the Nomura investigators composed.&nbsp;

Finding some kind of harmony&nbsp;

Beijing has been finding a way to help quiet the market. A month ago, the People's Bank of China infused one trillion yuan ($153 billion) worth of medium-term credits into business sectors to facilitate the weight on liquidity and relieve the nerves of speculators.&nbsp;

Bad habit Premier Liu He, who seats China's monetary soundness council, has been attempting to help certainty, as well. During an ongoing gathering with monetary and financial authorities, he asked neighborhood governments in China to forestall most pessimistic scenario situations by reinforcing the notice frameworks they use to recognize foundational dangers and keeping adequate liquidity.&nbsp;

All things being equal, Liu and others have clarified that not every person should be spared. In that equivalent gathering, he cautioned state-claimed firms that Beijing has "zero resistance" for "key defaults" — comments that have been deciphered to imply that the public authority thinks a few organizations are intentionally avoiding obligation commitments that they ought to have had the option to meet.&nbsp;

Investigators have likewise noticed that saving some state-claimed firms from breakdown is presumably an impasse, given how monetarily unwieldy the area can be. Alongside their different failures, such organizations likewise utilize only 10% of the labor force.&nbsp;

In any case, taking into consideration an excessive number of defaults could imperil the monetary strength and close term recuperation. Experts at Goldman Sachs as of late brought up that far and wide disappointments in the area could pour out over into the financial framework, making banks cut back on loaning all the more comprehensively, or increment loan fees — the last of which is now beginning to occur.&nbsp;

"In spite of the fact that the focal government has been attempting to decrease certain certifications on the lookout," they are meaning to do as such in an "organized way," those experts wrote in an ongoing examination note.&nbsp;

"Given China's post-Covid financial recuperation is as yet continuous, the reality is the public authority will attempt to contain" those dangers, they added.

Chinese state-possessed organizations are beginning to default on their obligations. It's a difficulty that could swell through the nation's monetary framework, taking steps to pummel the brakes on the country's economy and stumble the worldwide recuperation from the pandemic.

Chinese state-possessed organizations are beginning to default on their obligations. It's a difficulty that could swell through the nation's monetary framework, taking steps to pummel the brakes on the country's economy and stumble the worldwide recuperation from the pandemic. China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) defaulted on a record 40 billion yuan ($6.1 billion) worth of connections between January and October, as per Fitch Ratings. That is probably as much as the most recent two years joined. The issue has just deteriorated lately. A huge number of significant organizations — including BMW's (BMWYY) Chinese accomplice Brilliance Auto Group, top cell phone chip producer Tsinghua Unigroup, and Yongcheng Coal and Electricity — looked into going chapter 11 or defaulted on their credits a month ago, sending stun waves through the country's obligation market. Security costs have plunged and loan fees have spiked, and the disturbance has even poured out over into the financial exchange, where portions of state-possessed firms have been sinking. It's disturbing on several fronts. Above all else, the cozy connections between these organizations and neighborhood Chinese governments commonly make them sure things in a difficult situation. In the event that financial specialists are stressed that the state is done ready to help them, they unexpectedly become a lot more hazardous recommendations. Second, the accomplishment of the state area is basic to China's monetary framework. While such firms offer not exactly 33% of GDP, they represent the greater part of the bank credits offered in China and some 90 per cent of the nation's corporate securities, as indicated by information from the People's Bank of China and Chinese financier firm Huachuang Securities. "The believability of government ensures has been the main defense against [financial] emergency up until now. Presently we are seeing signs that this validity is disintegrating," as per Logan Wright, overseer of China markets research at Rhodium Group. Verifiably, Beijing has been hesitant to allow these organizations to fall flat. The Chinese Communist Party appreciates tight power over wide areas of the economy, including business, and it accepts that the ties between these organizations and the public authority are significant for keeping up that. Presently, they seem, by all accounts, to permit probably some to fall. Yet, such a large number of defaults on advances and corporate securities would leave the monetary framework inconceivably powerless, making that approach full of danger. "In spite of the fact that specialists need market discipline for less secure firms, they can't realize how much credit danger may make more extensive disease," Wright wrote in an ongoing exploration note. "Nobody can know this line unmistakably, given that there is no point of reference for this danger in China's monetary framework." In the event that Beijing's capacity to deal with the obligation is raised doubt, Wright cautioned that the aftermath could strain the monetary market, diminishing accessible credit, and liquidity. As of now, there have been a few results: Bond financing dropped forcefully in November, as indicated by insights delivered Wednesday by the People's Bank of China. These issues could eventually delay what has been a delicate recuperation for the world's second-biggest economy. While the International Monetary Fund anticipates that China's economy should develop 1.9% this year, better than its huge worldwide friends, that would be the most vulnerable yearly pace of extension in over forty years. The endeavors to reign in hazardous obtaining "will burden the movement of non-bank credit," composed Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China financial specialist for Capital Economics, in a Wednesday research note. "While it won't wreck China's financial recuperation short-term, it will bit by bit debilitate the ongoing tailwinds from strategy boost," he stated, alluding to moves by the Chinese government this year to cut loan costs and free billions of dollars worth of expenditure to prop up development. 'Inescapable' defaults While the record measure of bond defaults this year probably has a great deal to do with the Covid pandemic, China's state-possessed organizations have been collecting obligations for quite a long time. "We saw these defaults as inescapable," composed experts at Nomura in an ongoing exploration report. They noticed that the Chinese government has been propping up the area with trillions of dollars in upgrades since the 2008 worldwide monetary emergency. Yet, those ventures didn't create as great returns true to form. The weaknesses of state-possessed organizations have been broadly recognised. Such firms are frequently less serious than their private friends and produce lower quantifiable profits, said Ning Gaoning, the administrator of the state-claimed synthetic aggregate Sinochem Group, at a significant political social affair in Beijing in May. Simultaneously, China has been verifiably one-sided toward its valued state firms and offered them undeniably more admittance to financing than their private partners. That pattern has quickened lately as President Xi Jinping has required a more grounded and more prevailing state area. Those variables presently give off an impression of being meeting up this year to make an ideal tempest. To assist organizations with recuperating aftermath identified with Covid-19, China drastically relaxed limitations on financing — a choice specialists recognized before this year would bring about an uptick in terrible advances. Obviously, state-claimed organizations represented a lot of credit bond issuance through the initial nine months of the year. Such firms raised some 8.5 trillion yuan ($1.3 trillion), contrasted with the private area's 857 billion yuan ($131.2 billion), as indicated by Pengyuan International, a Chinese rating organization. Defaults, in the interim, have risen significantly. The Nomura experts assessed that by mid-November, organizations had defaulted on nearly 178 billion yuan ($27 billion) worth of securities in the terrain Chinese market. About 43 per cent of that came from state-possessed firms, over 30% over the ongoing yearly normal. "Undoubtedly we will see a lot more such defaults in coming years," the Nomura investigators composed. Finding some kind of harmony Beijing has been finding a way to help quiet the market. A month ago, the People's Bank of China infused one trillion yuan ($153 billion) worth of medium-term credits into business sectors to facilitate the weight on liquidity and relieve the nerves of speculators. Bad habit Premier Liu He, who seats China's monetary soundness council, has been attempting to help certainty, as well. During an ongoing gathering with monetary and financial authorities, he asked neighborhood governments in China to forestall most pessimistic scenario situations by reinforcing the notice frameworks they use to recognize foundational dangers and keeping adequate liquidity. All things being equal, Liu and others have clarified that not every person should be spared. In that equivalent gathering, he cautioned state-claimed firms that Beijing has "zero resistance" for "key defaults" — comments that have been deciphered to imply that the public authority thinks a few organizations are intentionally avoiding obligation commitments that they ought to have had the option to meet. Investigators have likewise noticed that saving some state-claimed firms from breakdown is presumably an impasse, given how monetarily unwieldy the area can be. Alongside their different failures, such organizations likewise utilize only 10% of the labor force. In any case, taking into consideration an excessive number of defaults could imperil the monetary strength and close term recuperation. Experts at Goldman Sachs as of late brought up that far and wide disappointments in the area could pour out over into the financial framework, making banks cut back on loaning all the more comprehensively, or increment loan fees — the last of which is now beginning to occur. "In spite of the fact that the focal government has been attempting to decrease certain certifications on the lookout," they are meaning to do as such in an "organized way," those experts wrote in an ongoing examination note. "Given China's post-Covid financial recuperation is as yet continuous, the reality is the public authority will attempt to contain" those dangers, they added.

How China's staggering debt crisis, SOE shocks can hurt global recovery

Second Chinese diplomat Wang Xining in Australia blamed on Friday Prime Minister Scott Morrison for "overreacting" on a tweet by a Beijing official.

Earlier, Morrison described a tweet by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian as "repugnant", "outrageous" and "appalling" which showed a digitally altered image of an Australian soldier holding a knife to the throat of an Afghan child.&nbsp;

Watch&nbsp;|

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"People wondered why a national leader would have such a strong opinion to an artwork by a normal young artist in China," said Wang, as reported by SCMP.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australias-global-allies-vow-to-drink-wine-to-choke-impact-of-chinese-sanctions-346941">Australia's global allies vow to drink wine to choke impact of Chinese sanctions</a>

He also accused Australian media of "randomly giving a name" to the Chinese embassy's listing of 14 issues that it said had "poisoned" ties between both the countries.&nbsp;

The issues included Canberra's proposal for an inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic and "antagonistic" media reports about China.

It has been widely seen in Australia that the 14 points of the lists are the demands made by China for removing restrictions on over a dozen Australian exports, including wine, beef and barley.&nbsp;

The senior Chinese diplomat said Australia needs to take "concrete steps" for a "better atmosphere on which we can build our relations".

"We would like to see concrete actions from the Australian side that would help to build a good atmosphere for the two countries’ governments to work together for the same aim," said Wang.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Second Chinese diplomat Wang Xining in Australia blamed on Friday Prime Minister Scott Morrison for "overreacting" on a tweet by a Beijing official. Earlier, Morrison described a tweet by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian as "repugnant", "outrageous" and "appalling" which showed a digitally altered image of an Australian soldier holding a knife to the throat of an Afghan child.

Second Chinese diplomat Wang Xining in Australia blamed on Friday Prime Minister Scott Morrison for "overreacting" on a tweet by a Beijing official. Earlier, Morrison described a tweet by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian as "repugnant", "outrageous" and "appalling" which showed a digitally altered image of an Australian soldier holding a knife to the throat of an Afghan child. Watch | "People wondered why a national leader would have such a strong opinion to an artwork by a normal young artist in China," said Wang, as reported by SCMP. Also read | Australia's global allies vow to drink wine to choke impact of Chinese sanctions He also accused Australian media of "randomly giving a name" to the Chinese embassy's listing of 14 issues that it said had "poisoned" ties between both the countries. The issues included Canberra's proposal for an inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic and "antagonistic" media reports about China. It has been widely seen in Australia that the 14 points of the lists are the demands made by China for removing restrictions on over a dozen Australian exports, including wine, beef and barley. The senior Chinese diplomat said Australia needs to take "concrete steps" for a "better atmosphere on which we can build our relations". "We would like to see concrete actions from the Australian side that would help to build a good atmosphere for the two countries’ governments to work together for the same aim," said Wang.

Senior Chinese diplomat blames Australian PM Morrison for 'overreacting' on Afghan tweet

Dong’s video has since been deleted from her account. Twitter is banned in China but can sometimes be accessed through a VPN.

China's Ink activist who defaced Xi Jinping's poster reappears

China unveiled draft guidelines on Thursday seeking to limit the scope of mobile apps' collection of personal data in the latest attempt to curb the sprawling technology sector.

The set of draft rules published by the Cyberspace Administration of China covers 38 types of apps from online shopping and instant messaging to ride-hailing and bike-sharing.

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China has increased scrutiny of its technology sector in recent weeks, last month drafting anti-monopoly rules for tech firms.

It has also expressed concerns about data protection and consumer rights, while authorities have on a number of occasions ordered apps to be suspended for mishandling user information.

"In recent years, mobile internet applications have been widely used and have played an important role in promoting economic and social development and serving people's livelihoods," the cyber administration said in a statement.

"At the same time, it is common for apps to collect ... personal information beyond their scope, and users cannot install and use them if they refuse to agree."

For ride-hailing apps, the draft rules regard a user's phone number, or other personal identity information, as well as their location and destination, as falling within the scope of the required information.

Online payment apps, meanwhile, need the registered user's phone number or other ID information, as well as the bank card numbers of both payer and payee, according to the draft rules, which are open to public feedback until December&nbsp;16.

China unveiled draft guidelines on Thursday seeking to limit the scope of mobile apps' collection of personal data in the latest attempt to curb the sprawling technology sector.

China unveiled draft guidelines on Thursday seeking to limit the scope of mobile apps' collection of personal data in the latest attempt to curb the sprawling technology sector. The set of draft rules published by the Cyberspace Administration of China covers 38 types of apps from online shopping and instant messaging to ride-hailing and bike-sharing. China has increased scrutiny of its technology sector in recent weeks, last month drafting anti-monopoly rules for tech firms. It has also expressed concerns about data protection and consumer rights, while authorities have on a number of occasions ordered apps to be suspended for mishandling user information. "In recent years, mobile internet applications have been widely used and have played an important role in promoting economic and social development and serving people's livelihoods," the cyber administration said in a statement. "At the same time, it is common for apps to collect ... personal information beyond their scope, and users cannot install and use them if they refuse to agree." For ride-hailing apps, the draft rules regard a user's phone number, or other personal identity information, as well as their location and destination, as falling within the scope of the required information. Online payment apps, meanwhile, need the registered user's phone number or other ID information, as well as the bank card numbers of both payer and payee, according to the draft rules, which are open to public feedback until December 16.

China unveils guidelines on mobile apps' collection of personal data

China is provoking India, fighting the U.S, and Australia, but can Beijing afford to be so aggressive? Does it have the money? Reports say China is under severe financial stress.

Gravitas: Can China afford to be so aggressive?

The United States&nbsp;on Tuesday accused&nbsp;China&nbsp;of "flagrant violation" of its obligation to enforce international sanctions on North Korea and said Washington would offer rewards of up to $5 million for information about sanctions evasions.

Speaking to Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, Deputy Assistant Secretary for North Korea State Alex Wong accused&nbsp;China&nbsp;of "seeking to undo" the U.N. sanctions regime aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

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The State Department launched a new website, DPRKrewards.com, that will offer payouts of up to $5 million for tips to boost sanctions on North Korea, including on businesses in China.

"I want to tell you more are forthcoming," Alex Wong, the US deputy special representative on North Korea, said of sanctions.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-gave-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-to-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-us-analyst-346652" hreflang="en">China gave Covid-19 vaccine candidate to North Korea's Kim Jong Un: US analyst</a>

In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Wong acknowledged that Pyongyang has not yet taken "any concrete steps toward denuclearization" and voiced alarm over its unveiling of a massive long-range missile at a parade in October.

His hard-nosed assessment stands in contrast to the rosy statements over the past four years by Trump, who has boasted that he prevented a catastrophic war and said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

But Wong mostly took aim at China, a frequent target of the Trump administration, as he accused Beijing of ignoring UN sanctions that it itself voted for over its ally's missile and nuclear programs.

"The premature sanctions relief that Beijing can't achieve through the diplomatic front door, it is instead trying to achieve through the backdoor -- by choosing not to rigorously implement its UN Security Council resolution obligations," Wong said.

"The examples of this chronic failure are numerous, growing, and worrying."

He said that US vessels provided information to Beijing 46 times since 2019 about North Korean fuel-smuggling in Chinese waters, and in the past year observed 555 cases of North Korean shipments of coal of other sanctioned exports to China.

"On none of these occasions did the Chinese authorities act to stop these illicit imports. Not once," Wong said.

Wong said that 20,000 North Korean workers still worked in China, going against UN-backed efforts to stop what is widely seen as slave labor that the regime exports for revenue.

China has been pushing to ease sanctions on North Korea, believing the regime should see incentives for denuclearisation, and is widely seen as fearing an economic implosion of its impoverished neighbour.

Trump resisted calls for sanctions relief in his February 2019 meeting with Kim in Hanoi, and Wong insisted Tuesday that such pressure provided "key impetus" for North Korea to take "serious denuclearization steps."

The United States on Tuesday accused China of "flagrant violation" of its obligation to enforce international sanctions on North Korea and said Washington would offer rewards of up to $5 million for information about sanctions evasions.

The United States on Tuesday accused China of "flagrant violation" of its obligation to enforce international sanctions on North Korea and said Washington would offer rewards of up to $5 million for information about sanctions evasions. Speaking to Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, Deputy Assistant Secretary for North Korea State Alex Wong accused China of "seeking to undo" the U.N. sanctions regime aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The State Department launched a new website, DPRKrewards.com, that will offer payouts of up to $5 million for tips to boost sanctions on North Korea, including on businesses in China. "I want to tell you more are forthcoming," Alex Wong, the US deputy special representative on North Korea, said of sanctions. Also read: China gave Covid-19 vaccine candidate to North Korea's Kim Jong Un: US analyst In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Wong acknowledged that Pyongyang has not yet taken "any concrete steps toward denuclearization" and voiced alarm over its unveiling of a massive long-range missile at a parade in October. His hard-nosed assessment stands in contrast to the rosy statements over the past four years by Trump, who has boasted that he prevented a catastrophic war and said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. But Wong mostly took aim at China, a frequent target of the Trump administration, as he accused Beijing of ignoring UN sanctions that it itself voted for over its ally's missile and nuclear programs. "The premature sanctions relief that Beijing can't achieve through the diplomatic front door, it is instead trying to achieve through the backdoor -- by choosing not to rigorously implement its UN Security Council resolution obligations," Wong said. "The examples of this chronic failure are numerous, growing, and worrying." He said that US vessels provided information to Beijing 46 times since 2019 about North Korean fuel-smuggling in Chinese waters, and in the past year observed 555 cases of North Korean shipments of coal of other sanctioned exports to China. "On none of these occasions did the Chinese authorities act to stop these illicit imports. Not once," Wong said. Wong said that 20,000 North Korean workers still worked in China, going against UN-backed efforts to stop what is widely seen as slave labor that the regime exports for revenue. China has been pushing to ease sanctions on North Korea, believing the regime should see incentives for denuclearisation, and is widely seen as fearing an economic implosion of its impoverished neighbour. Trump resisted calls for sanctions relief in his February 2019 meeting with Kim in Hanoi, and Wong insisted Tuesday that such pressure provided "key impetus" for North Korea to take "serious denuclearization steps."

US accuses China of 'flagrant violation' of North Korea sanctions

Foreign religious groups & worshippers could be the latest targets of a growing crackdown on organised religion in China. WION's Molly Gambhir gets you the story.

Gravitas: China targets foreign religious groups

Chinese President Xi&nbsp;Jinping is mulling to introduce new rules to prohibit ''religious extremism'' in the latest crackdown on foreign religious groups and worshipers.

Draft rules distributed for the current week by the Ministry of Justice call for new limitations on how unfamiliar admirers work to forestall the spreading of "strict fanaticism," or utilisation of religion "to subvert China's public or ethnic solidarity."&nbsp;

The guidelines, currently open to public feedback however improbable to change essentially from their present structure, are only the most recent move to control strict practice under Xi Jinping, who has over and again required the "sinicization" of religion.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-refers-to-uighur-muslims-as-a-persecuted-group-for-the-first-time-345000" hreflang="en">Pope Francis refers to Uighur Muslims as a 'persecuted' group for the first time</a>

Xi Jinping has directed a significant clampdown on Uyghurs and other Muslim minority bunches in the western region of Xinjiang, where around 2 million Uyghurs and different minorities have gone through "re-teaching camps" as per rights gatherings, just as missions focusing on Christian gatherings and Tibetan Buddhists.&nbsp;

Religion has consistently involved a curious situation in the People's Republic of China. Authoritatively an agnostic express, the Communist government regardless licenses five authority beliefs, and adequately settles on issues, for example, the appointment of clerics and resurrection.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/pompeo-says-china-treatment-of-uighurs-gravest-threat-to-religious-freedom-338812" hreflang="en">Pompeo says China treatment of Uighurs 'gravest threat' to religious freedom</a>

Those beliefs - Chinese Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism - are managed by authentic associations, for example, the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement or the Buddhist Association of China, which are thusly administered by the decision Communist Party's incredible United Front Work Department. Practice beyond these gatherings is carefully controlled, and underground chapels, orders, and even private strict investigation bunches are occasionally broken downward on.&nbsp;

For outsiders, there is commonly more opportunity, if they dodge whatever bears a resemblance to proselytisation. Numerous religions not formally perceived by the public authority - Mormonism, Judaism, Quakers - can work in China, given the main admirers are unfamiliar residents.&nbsp;

Affectability over unfamiliar strict gatherings stays solid, in any case. In a 2018 white paper on religion, the Chinese government noticed that specific beliefs had "for quite some time been controlled and used by colonialists and settlers."&nbsp;

Despite the fact that the draft rules avow China's promise to regarding "the opportunity of strict conviction of outsiders," the rundown of likely new limitations and prerequisites could make rehearsing that conviction undeniably more troublesome.&nbsp;

Specifically, the draft rules incorporate top-notch of exercises that outsiders ought not direct inside China, for example, "meddling with or overwhelming the issues of Chinese strict gatherings," supporting "radical strict contemplations," utilizing religion to lead fear based oppressor exercises, or "meddling with the arrangement or the executives of Chinese pastorate individuals."&nbsp;

The last point shows up focused on the Vatican, with whom China has a longstanding disagreement regarding the arrangement of religious administrators by the official Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Beijing demands having the last say on all diocesan arrangements in territory China, while the Holy See keeps up that lone the Pope has such power.&nbsp;

The different sides struck a clandestine and massively questionable arrangement in 2018, which was stretched out for an additional two years this October, yet chats on a more perpetual game plan seem to have slowed down. In a book distributed for the current week, Pope Francis alluded to Uyghurs as "oppressed individuals" unexpectedly, an expression that incensed Beijing.&nbsp;

"The thing Pope Francis said about the Uyghurs is absolutely unfounded," Chinese unfamiliar service representative Zhao Lijian said in a standard preparation Tuesday. "There are 56 ethnic gatherings in China, and the Uyghur ethnic gathering is an equivalent individual from the enormous group of the Chinese country."&nbsp;

"The Chinese government has consistently treated the minority bunches similarly and secured their authentic rights and interests," Zhao added.&nbsp;

Different pieces of the draft rules appear to target Islamic gatherings, which have gone under enormous weight lately, both in Xinjiang and across China, where there are an expected 23 million known Muslims, as per the latest registration information.&nbsp;

In an article that expressly connected the new principles with ongoing demonstrations of Islamic radicalism in Europe, the state-supported Global Times cited a previous top strict official as saying the proposed guidelines show "China's quick reaction to the developing worldwide test - the danger of strict fanaticism to political strength, and the social frenzy and turmoil brought about by strict fanaticism."&nbsp;

Chinese President Xi Jinping is mulling to introduce new rules to prohibit ''religious extremism'' in the latest crackdown on foreign religious groups and worshipers.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is mulling to introduce new rules to prohibit ''religious extremism'' in the latest crackdown on foreign religious groups and worshipers. Draft rules distributed for the current week by the Ministry of Justice call for new limitations on how unfamiliar admirers work to forestall the spreading of "strict fanaticism," or utilisation of religion "to subvert China's public or ethnic solidarity." The guidelines, currently open to public feedback however improbable to change essentially from their present structure, are only the most recent move to control strict practice under Xi Jinping, who has over and again required the "sinicization" of religion. Also read: Pope Francis refers to Uighur Muslims as a 'persecuted' group for the first time Xi Jinping has directed a significant clampdown on Uyghurs and other Muslim minority bunches in the western region of Xinjiang, where around 2 million Uyghurs and different minorities have gone through "re-teaching camps" as per rights gatherings, just as missions focusing on Christian gatherings and Tibetan Buddhists. Religion has consistently involved a curious situation in the People's Republic of China. Authoritatively an agnostic express, the Communist government regardless licenses five authority beliefs, and adequately settles on issues, for example, the appointment of clerics and resurrection. Also read: Pompeo says China treatment of Uighurs 'gravest threat' to religious freedom Those beliefs - Chinese Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism - are managed by authentic associations, for example, the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement or the Buddhist Association of China, which are thusly administered by the decision Communist Party's incredible United Front Work Department. Practice beyond these gatherings is carefully controlled, and underground chapels, orders, and even private strict investigation bunches are occasionally broken downward on. For outsiders, there is commonly more opportunity, if they dodge whatever bears a resemblance to proselytisation. Numerous religions not formally perceived by the public authority - Mormonism, Judaism, Quakers - can work in China, given the main admirers are unfamiliar residents. Affectability over unfamiliar strict gatherings stays solid, in any case. In a 2018 white paper on religion, the Chinese government noticed that specific beliefs had "for quite some time been controlled and used by colonialists and settlers." Despite the fact that the draft rules avow China's promise to regarding "the opportunity of strict conviction of outsiders," the rundown of likely new limitations and prerequisites could make rehearsing that conviction undeniably more troublesome. Specifically, the draft rules incorporate top-notch of exercises that outsiders ought not direct inside China, for example, "meddling with or overwhelming the issues of Chinese strict gatherings," supporting "radical strict contemplations," utilizing religion to lead fear based oppressor exercises, or "meddling with the arrangement or the executives of Chinese pastorate individuals." The last point shows up focused on the Vatican, with whom China has a longstanding disagreement regarding the arrangement of religious administrators by the official Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Beijing demands having the last say on all diocesan arrangements in territory China, while the Holy See keeps up that lone the Pope has such power. The different sides struck a clandestine and massively questionable arrangement in 2018, which was stretched out for an additional two years this October, yet chats on a more perpetual game plan seem to have slowed down. In a book distributed for the current week, Pope Francis alluded to Uyghurs as "oppressed individuals" unexpectedly, an expression that incensed Beijing. "The thing Pope Francis said about the Uyghurs is absolutely unfounded," Chinese unfamiliar service representative Zhao Lijian said in a standard preparation Tuesday. "There are 56 ethnic gatherings in China, and the Uyghur ethnic gathering is an equivalent individual from the enormous group of the Chinese country." "The Chinese government has consistently treated the minority bunches similarly and secured their authentic rights and interests," Zhao added. Different pieces of the draft rules appear to target Islamic gatherings, which have gone under enormous weight lately, both in Xinjiang and across China, where there are an expected 23 million known Muslims, as per the latest registration information. In an article that expressly connected the new principles with ongoing demonstrations of Islamic radicalism in Europe, the state-supported Global Times cited a previous top strict official as saying the proposed guidelines show "China's quick reaction to the developing worldwide test - the danger of strict fanaticism to political strength, and the social frenzy and turmoil brought about by strict fanaticism."

China's Xi Jinping planning to prohibit 'religious extremism'

China's President Xi Jinping has called for a ''global mechanism'' to use quick response (QR) codes for travelling internationally.

As per Jinping,&nbsp;"We need to further harmonise policies and standards and establish 'fast tracks' to facilitate the orderly flow of people.''

Jinping believes the QR&nbsp;codes will be utilised to help build up an explorer's health status.&nbsp;

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In picture: A Chinese man scanning a QR code to get his ticket outside an airport in China

However, Human Rights advocates caution that the codes could be utilised for "more extensive political checking and prohibition".&nbsp;

Xi offered the remarks at the G20 highest point, a web-based gathering of heads of state from the world's 20 biggest economies, which was facilitated by Saudi Arabia throughout the end of the week.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-crown-prince-proposes-two-g-20-summits-in-a-year-344734">Saudi Arabia Crown Prince proposes two G-20 summits in a year</a>

He said the codes could be utilized to perceive "health certificates based on nucleic acid test results", as indicated by a record distributed by the Chinese state news office Xinhua.&nbsp;

Xi didn't really expound on how the movement plan may function, or how intently it would be demonstrated on China's QR code applications, which have been utilized to help contain the infection on the territory.&nbsp;

"We trust more nations will join this component," he added.&nbsp;

QR codes are standardised identifications that can be perused by cell phones. Under the plan China has utilised since February, clients are given a traffic-signal style health status code, with a green code permitting somebody to travel uninhibitedly, and an orange or red code showing that they have to isolate for as long as about fourteen days.&nbsp;

The codes depend on a mix of enormous information and data presented by the clients themselves.&nbsp;

The innovation was created by monetary innovation goliath Ant Financial and is accessible through its principle application Alipay yet in addition on WeChat, which has a place with Alipay's rival Tencent.&nbsp;

Xi additionally required the re-opening of the worldwide economy, including reestablishing "worldwide and mechanical gracefully chains" and the "advancement of exchange of key clinical supplies".&nbsp;

Resuming travel paths stays a test for most nations, with spikes in the illness making it hard for specialists to lift travel limitations.&nbsp;

A movement bubble among Singapore and Hong Kong, for instance, was delayed right away before it was because of the start this end of the week because of an abrupt spike in cases in Hong Kong.&nbsp;

'Trojan Horse'&nbsp;

In a tweet, the leader head of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth communicated an alert over&nbsp;Xi's proposition.&nbsp;

"An underlying spotlight on wellbeing could without much of a stretch become a Trojan Horse for more extensive political observing and avoidance," he said.&nbsp;

The city of Hangzhou has said it intends to make a perpetual rendition of the QR code-based programming, which would be utilized to allot residents an individual score dependent on their clinical history, wellbeing registration, and way of life propensities.&nbsp;

QR codes have been utilised diversely in Singapore and Australia, for contract following, with occupants utilizing them to look into and out of spots, they visit, including shopping centers, eateries, and their work environments.

China's President Xi Jinping has called for a ''global mechanism'' to use quick response (QR) codes for travelling internationally. As per Jinping, "We need to further harmonise policies and standards and establish 'fast tracks' to facilitate the orderly flow of people.

China's President Xi Jinping has called for a ''global mechanism'' to use quick response (QR) codes for travelling internationally. As per Jinping, "We need to further harmonise policies and standards and establish 'fast tracks' to facilitate the orderly flow of people.'' Jinping believes the QR codes will be utilised to help build up an explorer's health status. In picture: A Chinese man scanning a QR code to get his ticket outside an airport in China However, Human Rights advocates caution that the codes could be utilised for "more extensive political checking and prohibition". Xi offered the remarks at the G20 highest point, a web-based gathering of heads of state from the world's 20 biggest economies, which was facilitated by Saudi Arabia throughout the end of the week. Also read: Saudi Arabia Crown Prince proposes two G-20 summits in a year He said the codes could be utilized to perceive "health certificates based on nucleic acid test results", as indicated by a record distributed by the Chinese state news office Xinhua. Xi didn't really expound on how the movement plan may function, or how intently it would be demonstrated on China's QR code applications, which have been utilized to help contain the infection on the territory. "We trust more nations will join this component," he added. QR codes are standardised identifications that can be perused by cell phones. Under the plan China has utilised since February, clients are given a traffic-signal style health status code, with a green code permitting somebody to travel uninhibitedly, and an orange or red code showing that they have to isolate for as long as about fourteen days. The codes depend on a mix of enormous information and data presented by the clients themselves. The innovation was created by monetary innovation goliath Ant Financial and is accessible through its principle application Alipay yet in addition on WeChat, which has a place with Alipay's rival Tencent. Xi additionally required the re-opening of the worldwide economy, including reestablishing "worldwide and mechanical gracefully chains" and the "advancement of exchange of key clinical supplies". Resuming travel paths stays a test for most nations, with spikes in the illness making it hard for specialists to lift travel limitations. A movement bubble among Singapore and Hong Kong, for instance, was delayed right away before it was because of the start this end of the week because of an abrupt spike in cases in Hong Kong. 'Trojan Horse' In a tweet, the leader head of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth communicated an alert over Xi's proposition. "An underlying spotlight on wellbeing could without much of a stretch become a Trojan Horse for more extensive political observing and avoidance," he said. The city of Hangzhou has said it intends to make a perpetual rendition of the QR code-based programming, which would be utilized to allot residents an individual score dependent on their clinical history, wellbeing registration, and way of life propensities. QR codes have been utilised diversely in Singapore and Australia, for contract following, with occupants utilizing them to look into and out of spots, they visit, including shopping centers, eateries, and their work environments.

Chinese President Xi Jinping pushes for QR code based global travel system

China will consider joining a free trade pact once championed by the US but abandoned by Donald Trump, President Xi Jinping has declared.

Xi made the announcement on Friday while addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, as Beijing increasingly seeks to influence the global rules of commerce.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is an updated version of a giant deal originally backed by former US president Barack Obama as an effort to counter China's rising might in Asia.&nbsp;

Trump pulled out of it after winning the presidency in 2016 as he turned away from what he viewed as unfavourable multilateral deals, but 11 countries eventually agreed to sign the new version.&nbsp;

To this end, Xi said the grouping&nbsp;"must continue to promote regional economic integration and establish an Asia-Pacific free trade zone at an early date".

China "will actively consider joining" the CPTPP, he said.

Trump attended this year's virtual summit, the first time he has participated since 2017, as he continues to challenge his election defeat to Joe Biden.

Xi's comments came just days after Beijing and 14 other countries signed what will be the world's biggest trade deal, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The deal, which comprises 30 per cent of the world's total economic output and excludes the United States, was viewed as a major coup for China at a time Washington is retreating.

China will consider joining a free trade pact once championed by the US but abandoned by Donald Trump, President Xi Jinping has declared. Xi made the announcement on Friday while addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, as Beijing increasingly seeks to influence the global rules of commerce.

China will consider joining a free trade pact once championed by the US but abandoned by Donald Trump, President Xi Jinping has declared. Xi made the announcement on Friday while addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, as Beijing increasingly seeks to influence the global rules of commerce. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is an updated version of a giant deal originally backed by former US president Barack Obama as an effort to counter China's rising might in Asia. Trump pulled out of it after winning the presidency in 2016 as he turned away from what he viewed as unfavourable multilateral deals, but 11 countries eventually agreed to sign the new version. To this end, Xi said the grouping "must continue to promote regional economic integration and establish an Asia-Pacific free trade zone at an early date". China "will actively consider joining" the CPTPP, he said. Trump attended this year's virtual summit, the first time he has participated since 2017, as he continues to challenge his election defeat to Joe Biden. Xi's comments came just days after Beijing and 14 other countries signed what will be the world's biggest trade deal, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. The deal, which comprises 30 per cent of the world's total economic output and excludes the United States, was viewed as a major coup for China at a time Washington is retreating.

China is mulling joining trade pact dumped by Trump

A day after these Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the&nbsp;Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering, the US President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;will now be taking over the stage.

Trump, who recently lost the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/us-election">US elections</a>&nbsp;to his Democratic opponent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, will be addressing the virtual gathering on Friday evening, as per reports.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-touts-chinas-huge-economy-as-base-of-free-trade-in-apec-speech-344021">Xi touts China's huge economy as base of free trade in APEC speech</a>

APEC is a group that brings together&nbsp;21 Pacific Rim countries, accounting for about 60 per cent of global GDP, to discuss key issues from around the world. This year, the focus of the gathering will be the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The outgoing President is expected to deliver a speech for his fellow world leaders at the event, which is mostly out of bounds for the media, as per officials. Trump will be, assumably, talking about how the novel coronavirus spread across the world — for which he has been blaming and accusing China for the past few months.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/subtly-china-pressures-gulf-states-to-reduce-regional-tensions-343832">Subtly, China pressures Gulf states to reduce regional tensions</a>

Before this, Trump has only once participated in the APEC gathering, which was back in 2017. This year, he will also be fighting to show his authority as the President of the US, as he has refused to concede his defeat against Biden, and has been accusing the Democrats of manipulating election results and of voter fraud — an accusation that has not been proved right.

A day ago, Xi Jinping had addressed the world leaders' gathering and had used the platform to boast about the recently signed deal of&nbsp;world's biggest trade pact between China and 14 other Asia-Pacific countries signed the called Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). He also took pride in claiming China as a&nbsp;pivot point for global commerce and vowed to keep its "super-sized" economy open.

A day after these Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering, the US President Donald Trump will now be taking over the stage.

A day after these Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering, the US President Donald Trump will now be taking over the stage. Trump, who recently lost the US elections to his Democratic opponent Joe Biden, will be addressing the virtual gathering on Friday evening, as per reports. Also read| Xi touts China's huge economy as base of free trade in APEC speech APEC is a group that brings together 21 Pacific Rim countries, accounting for about 60 per cent of global GDP, to discuss key issues from around the world. This year, the focus of the gathering will be the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The outgoing President is expected to deliver a speech for his fellow world leaders at the event, which is mostly out of bounds for the media, as per officials. Trump will be, assumably, talking about how the novel coronavirus spread across the world — for which he has been blaming and accusing China for the past few months. Also read| Subtly, China pressures Gulf states to reduce regional tensions Before this, Trump has only once participated in the APEC gathering, which was back in 2017. This year, he will also be fighting to show his authority as the President of the US, as he has refused to concede his defeat against Biden, and has been accusing the Democrats of manipulating election results and of voter fraud — an accusation that has not been proved right. A day ago, Xi Jinping had addressed the world leaders' gathering and had used the platform to boast about the recently signed deal of world's biggest trade pact between China and 14 other Asia-Pacific countries signed the called Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). He also took pride in claiming China as a pivot point for global commerce and vowed to keep its "super-sized" economy open.

Donald Trump to address APEC summit a day after China's Xi Jinping

China must stop building new coal power plants and ramp up its wind and solar capacity if it wants to become carbon neutral by 2060, researchers said Friday.

A new report published by the Helsinki-based Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air warned that overcapacity of existing plants and new ones being built mean it will be hard for Beijing to meet the much-lauded climate goal promised by President Xi Jinping earlier this year.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/burning-fossil-fuels-helped-drive-earths-most-massive-extinction-344082" hreflang="en">Burning fossil fuels helped drive Earth’s most massive extinction</a>

The research organisation called for the Chinese government to shut down all new coal-fired power plants built from 2020 and double the growth of wind and solar power in the next decade.

The country should aim to whittle its coal fleet down to about 680 gigawatts by 2030 — instead of current plans to expand it to about 1,300 gigawatts, it said.

Without proper policy intervention to retire these surplus plants early and halt the construction of new ones, the researchers claimed the level of carbon dioxide emitted by China would show almost no reduction compared to this year's level.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/greenlands-largest-glaciers-likely-to-melt-faster-than-feared-study-343852" hreflang="en">Greenland's largest glaciers likely to melt faster than feared: Study</a>

"The power section needs to achieve zero emissions as soon as possible," the report said.

"Coal power should be phased out rapidly in a cost-effective manner."

As part of the plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, China also pledged to reach its peak carbon emissions by 2030, which researchers claim needs coal-fired power to start reducing almost immediately.

"As long as coal consumption continues to drop significantly, peaking carbon emissions before 2030 will be a relatively achievable goal," Yuan Jiahai, Professor at North China Electric Power University, said in the report.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/reducing-greenhouse-gas-emission-even-to-zero-wont-stop-global-warming-study-342988" hreflang="en">Reducing greenhouse gas emission even to zero won't stop global warming: Study</a>

One way to reach this target, the report says, is to set a high carbon price in the carbon trading market, in turn incentivising the carbon-emitters to reduce coal-fired power generation.

The report also called for coordination among the Chinese government, think tanks and other NGOs to ensure the visibility and transparency of the process.

China's carbon promise, announced in September in a speech by Xi to the United Nations, came as a surprise as Beijing has relied heavily on coal to spur its economic emergence from poverty to superpower status over the last few decades.

China must stop building new coal power plants and ramp up its wind and solar capacity if it wants to become carbon neutral by 2060, researchers said Friday. A new report published by the Helsinki-based Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air warned that overcapacity of existing plants and new ones being built mean it will be hard for Beijing to meet the much-lauded climate goal promised by President Xi Jinping earlier this year.

China must stop building new coal power plants and ramp up its wind and solar capacity if it wants to become carbon neutral by 2060, researchers said Friday. A new report published by the Helsinki-based Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air warned that overcapacity of existing plants and new ones being built mean it will be hard for Beijing to meet the much-lauded climate goal promised by President Xi Jinping earlier this year. Also read| Burning fossil fuels helped drive Earth’s most massive extinction The research organisation called for the Chinese government to shut down all new coal-fired power plants built from 2020 and double the growth of wind and solar power in the next decade. The country should aim to whittle its coal fleet down to about 680 gigawatts by 2030 — instead of current plans to expand it to about 1,300 gigawatts, it said. Without proper policy intervention to retire these surplus plants early and halt the construction of new ones, the researchers claimed the level of carbon dioxide emitted by China would show almost no reduction compared to this year's level. Also read| Greenland's largest glaciers likely to melt faster than feared: Study "The power section needs to achieve zero emissions as soon as possible," the report said. "Coal power should be phased out rapidly in a cost-effective manner." As part of the plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, China also pledged to reach its peak carbon emissions by 2030, which researchers claim needs coal-fired power to start reducing almost immediately. "As long as coal consumption continues to drop significantly, peaking carbon emissions before 2030 will be a relatively achievable goal," Yuan Jiahai, Professor at North China Electric Power University, said in the report. Also read| Reducing greenhouse gas emission even to zero won't stop global warming: Study One way to reach this target, the report says, is to set a high carbon price in the carbon trading market, in turn incentivising the carbon-emitters to reduce coal-fired power generation. The report also called for coordination among the Chinese government, think tanks and other NGOs to ensure the visibility and transparency of the process. China's carbon promise, announced in September in a speech by Xi to the United Nations, came as a surprise as Beijing has relied heavily on coal to spur its economic emergence from poverty to superpower status over the last few decades.

China's new coal plants risk 2060 climate target: Researchers

President Xi Jinping pegged China as the pivot point for global free trade Thursday, vowing to keep his "super-sized" economy open and warning against protectionism in a global economy eviscerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Buoyed by the signing of the world's largest trade pact over the weekend, Xi said the Asia-Pacific is the "forerunner driving global growth" in a world hit by "multiple challenges" including the coronavirus.

He vowed "openness" to trade and refuted any possibility of the "decoupling" of China's economy — in his only comments nodding to the hostile trade policy of Donald Trump's US administration, which has battered China with tariffs and tech restrictions.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/subtly-china-pressures-gulf-states-to-reduce-regional-tensions-343832">Subtly, China pressures Gulf states to reduce regional tensions</a>

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, held online this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, brings together 21 Pacific Rim countries including the world's two biggest economies, accounting for about 60 per cent of global GDP.

It was not immediately clear if Trump, wounded by his election loss to Joe Biden, would take part in the summit or send a high level delegate in his place.

In a speech that veered into triumphalism over China's economic "resilience and vitality" in coming back from the virus, which first emerged in the central city of Wuhan, Xi warned countries who insist on trade barriers will suffer self-inflicted wounds.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-china-is-stonewalling-reforms-at-united-nations-security-council-343771">How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council</a>

"Openness enables a country to move forward while seclusion holds it back," he said.

"China will actively cooperate with all countries, regions and enterprises that want to do so. We will continue to hold high the banner of openness and co-operation."

Trade agenda

The high rhetoric may raise eyebrows in capitals where China has either restricted trade, imposed sudden blocks or used its giant economy as a bargaining chip in wider geopolitical plays.

In the APEC region, Australian exports including beef, wine and barley have been disrupted to their largest market, as diplomatic rumble over the origins of the pandemic as well as alleged antics by each other's spies hammer relations.&nbsp;

The APEC gathering comes a week after China and 14 other Asia-Pacific countries signed the world's largest free-trade deal.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-refuses-to-renew-the-licence-of-china-friendly-news-channel-343923">Taiwan refuses to renew the licence of China-friendly news channel</a>

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which excludes the US, is viewed as a major coup for China and further evidence that Beijing is setting the agenda for global commerce as Washington retreats.&nbsp;

RCEP's rival was the Trans-Pacific Partnership — championed by former Barack Obama — but Trump pulled out of it and the pact has been replaced by a watered-down alternative that the United States has not joined.

Xi had no direct words for President-elect Biden, whose ascension to office next year — while still clouded by Trump's refusal to concede defeat - is seen as likely to see a more naunced extension of Washington's current China policy.&nbsp;

Biden has been strident on China's human rights record, from the Uighur Muslims in its Xinjiang region to Hong Kong's democracy movement.

While he will he cast a more moderate presence on the global stage, analysts say he will seek deeper alliances to hem in Chinese tech — which the US says provides a back door to Beijing — and trade imbalances.

President Xi Jinping pegged China as the pivot point for global free trade Thursday, vowing to keep his "super-sized" economy open and warning against protectionism in a global economy eviscerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Xi Jinping pegged China as the pivot point for global free trade Thursday, vowing to keep his "super-sized" economy open and warning against protectionism in a global economy eviscerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Buoyed by the signing of the world's largest trade pact over the weekend, Xi said the Asia-Pacific is the "forerunner driving global growth" in a world hit by "multiple challenges" including the coronavirus. He vowed "openness" to trade and refuted any possibility of the "decoupling" of China's economy — in his only comments nodding to the hostile trade policy of Donald Trump's US administration, which has battered China with tariffs and tech restrictions. Also read| Subtly, China pressures Gulf states to reduce regional tensions The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, held online this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, brings together 21 Pacific Rim countries including the world's two biggest economies, accounting for about 60 per cent of global GDP. It was not immediately clear if Trump, wounded by his election loss to Joe Biden, would take part in the summit or send a high level delegate in his place. In a speech that veered into triumphalism over China's economic "resilience and vitality" in coming back from the virus, which first emerged in the central city of Wuhan, Xi warned countries who insist on trade barriers will suffer self-inflicted wounds. Also read| How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council "Openness enables a country to move forward while seclusion holds it back," he said. "China will actively cooperate with all countries, regions and enterprises that want to do so. We will continue to hold high the banner of openness and co-operation." Trade agenda The high rhetoric may raise eyebrows in capitals where China has either restricted trade, imposed sudden blocks or used its giant economy as a bargaining chip in wider geopolitical plays. In the APEC region, Australian exports including beef, wine and barley have been disrupted to their largest market, as diplomatic rumble over the origins of the pandemic as well as alleged antics by each other's spies hammer relations. The APEC gathering comes a week after China and 14 other Asia-Pacific countries signed the world's largest free-trade deal. Also read| Taiwan refuses to renew the licence of China-friendly news channel The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which excludes the US, is viewed as a major coup for China and further evidence that Beijing is setting the agenda for global commerce as Washington retreats. RCEP's rival was the Trans-Pacific Partnership — championed by former Barack Obama — but Trump pulled out of it and the pact has been replaced by a watered-down alternative that the United States has not joined. Xi had no direct words for President-elect Biden, whose ascension to office next year — while still clouded by Trump's refusal to concede defeat - is seen as likely to see a more naunced extension of Washington's current China policy. Biden has been strident on China's human rights record, from the Uighur Muslims in its Xinjiang region to Hong Kong's democracy movement. While he will he cast a more moderate presence on the global stage, analysts say he will seek deeper alliances to hem in Chinese tech — which the US says provides a back door to Beijing — and trade imbalances.

Xi touts China's huge economy as base of free trade in APEC speech

The United Nations celebrated its&nbsp;75th-anniversary this year with the&nbsp;mantra that "multilateralism is not an option but a necessity''.

However, there has been growing criticism of the body, which has not been reformed in decades.

UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir on Tuesday criticised the Security Council, saying it was failing to respond to the world's biggest challenges due to "competing interests."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-un-general-assembly-president-volkan-bozkir-assails-security-council-343756" hreflang="en">Now, UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir assails Security Council</a>

India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador T S Tirumurti, speaking in the UN General Assembly, said ''Today's Security Council is an impaired organ. It has been unable to act with credibility essentially due to its unrepresentative nature. But then, what is happening inside the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN)&nbsp;process, which we seem to be wedded to?''

Earlier,&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron&nbsp;on&nbsp;Monday called&nbsp;for an overhaul of international cooperation mechanisms adding that the&nbsp;United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is out of ''useful solutions''.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-security-council-out-of-useful-solutions-says-emmanuel-macron-343498" hreflang="en">United Nations Security Council out of 'useful solutions', says Emmanuel Macron</a>

For years, India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil have been trying to get a permanent seat to the UN security council but the UN charter is such that it gives permanent members the veto power to any resolution, including the expansion of membership.

The members of the&nbsp;United Nations Security Council include the United States, China, Britain, France, and Russia.

While the first four have backed India's permanent membership, China has time and again stalled it.&nbsp;China has also stonewalled the IGN&nbsp;or the inter-governmental negotiations by laying out impossible conditions.

China is&nbsp;using the IGN as a smoke-screen to prevent&nbsp;identification by paying lip-service to Security Council reform.

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During the debate on reform, the 193 UN members discussed the right to veto, the privilege of the five permanent members of the Security Council (United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom), enlarging the forum and its regional balance.

The Security Council, which can decide on international sanctions and the use of force, has 15 members. In addition to the five permanent nations, it has 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

The United Nations celebrated its 75th-anniversary this year with the mantra that "multilateralism is not an option but a necessity''. However, there has been growing criticism of the body, which has not been reformed in decades.

The United Nations celebrated its 75th-anniversary this year with the mantra that "multilateralism is not an option but a necessity''. However, there has been growing criticism of the body, which has not been reformed in decades. UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir on Tuesday criticised the Security Council, saying it was failing to respond to the world's biggest challenges due to "competing interests." Also read: Now, UN General Assembly president Volkan Bozkir assails Security Council India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador T S Tirumurti, speaking in the UN General Assembly, said ''Today's Security Council is an impaired organ. It has been unable to act with credibility essentially due to its unrepresentative nature. But then, what is happening inside the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) process, which we seem to be wedded to?'' Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for an overhaul of international cooperation mechanisms adding that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is out of ''useful solutions''. Also read: United Nations Security Council out of 'useful solutions', says Emmanuel Macron For years, India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil have been trying to get a permanent seat to the UN security council but the UN charter is such that it gives permanent members the veto power to any resolution, including the expansion of membership. The members of the United Nations Security Council include the United States, China, Britain, France, and Russia. While the first four have backed India's permanent membership, China has time and again stalled it. China has also stonewalled the IGN or the inter-governmental negotiations by laying out impossible conditions. China is using the IGN as a smoke-screen to prevent identification by paying lip-service to Security Council reform. × During the debate on reform, the 193 UN members discussed the right to veto, the privilege of the five permanent members of the Security Council (United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom), enlarging the forum and its regional balance. The Security Council, which can decide on international sanctions and the use of force, has 15 members. In addition to the five permanent nations, it has 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council

Without naming anyone, External affairs minister S Jaishankar has said "one or two countries" are obstructing reforms at the United Nations and want to "freeze one moment of history for perpetual gain to continue".

Comments come even as India has urged the international community for urgent reforms at the world body to reflect current geopolitical realities.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-china-is-stonewalling-reforms-at-united-nations-security-council-343771" hreflang="en">How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council</a>

Jaishankar, speaking at an event said, "The fact that different people in different parts of the world are pointing out to the shortcoming and relevance of the UN, is something that UN should take seriously. It's common sense."

Explaining," In our life, what is it, which is 75 years old and you are still using. Everything requires refreshing, updating...The longer we let this stalemate, gridlock continue, it's harming the UN."

The UN this year marks the 75th anniversary of its coming into being in the aftermath of World War 2.

On reforms at the UN and United Nations Security Council (UNSC), intergovernmental negotiations&nbsp;are underway but these are informal, and even United Nations general assembly rules don't apply. China, while calling for reforms, has been scuttling any application of UNGA rules.

Beijing is also blocking any move to a single text-based negotiation. When it comes to any support for India's candidature for UNSC, it is the only permanent member of the body that has not to voice any support.

Indian PM Modi has spoken at the United Nations General assembly, SCO, BRICS meeting for urgent reforms, and India's candidature at the United Nations Security Council.

Without naming anyone, External affairs minister S Jaishankar has said "one or two countries" are obstructing reforms at the United Nations and want to "freeze one moment of history for perpetual gain to continue".

Without naming anyone, External affairs minister S Jaishankar has said "one or two countries" are obstructing reforms at the United Nations and want to "freeze one moment of history for perpetual gain to continue". Comments come even as India has urged the international community for urgent reforms at the world body to reflect current geopolitical realities. Also read: How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council Jaishankar, speaking at an event said, "The fact that different people in different parts of the world are pointing out to the shortcoming and relevance of the UN, is something that UN should take seriously. It's common sense." Explaining," In our life, what is it, which is 75 years old and you are still using. Everything requires refreshing, updating...The longer we let this stalemate, gridlock continue, it's harming the UN." The UN this year marks the 75th anniversary of its coming into being in the aftermath of World War 2. On reforms at the UN and United Nations Security Council (UNSC), intergovernmental negotiations are underway but these are informal, and even United Nations general assembly rules don't apply. China, while calling for reforms, has been scuttling any application of UNGA rules. Beijing is also blocking any move to a single text-based negotiation. When it comes to any support for India's candidature for UNSC, it is the only permanent member of the body that has not to voice any support. Indian PM Modi has spoken at the United Nations General assembly, SCO, BRICS meeting for urgent reforms, and India's candidature at the United Nations Security Council.

EAM on UN reforms: One or two countries want to freeze one moment of history

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

Gravitas: Why India won't join RCEP?

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

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

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

Gravitas: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is going nowhere

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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