US President Donald Trump on Friday held a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-hopes-it-can-reach-trade-agreement-with-us-as-soon-as-possible-267134">discussion on his "giant trade deal" </a>with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Taking Twitter to inform about the talk, Trump said, "China has already started large scale purchase of agricultural product and more."

"Formal signing is being arranged," he added.

However, he did not give a date for when the deal will actually be signed.

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Had a very good talk with President Xi of China concerning our giant Trade Deal. China has already started large scale purchaes of agricultural product &amp; more. Formal signing being arranged. Also talked about North Korea, where we are working with China, &amp; Hong Kong (progress!).
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1208045488156614659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Both leaders also talked about North Korea and Hong Kong, where Trump said he is working with China.

Beijing and Washington have been at loggerheads for more than a year, with US President Donald Trump emphasizing trade relations with China as a central tenet of his "America First" agenda.

Trump has demanded that China commit to specific minimum purchases of US agricultural products, among other concessions on intellectual property rights, currency and access to China's financial services markets.

In November, Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Feng had said, China is willing to work with the United States to resolve each other's core concerns on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and will try hard to reach a "phase one" deal.

Economists warn that the prolonged trade dispute between China and the United States is escalating risks to the global economy by disrupting supply chains, discouraging investment and dampening business confidence.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, US angered China as the House of Representatives passed legislation to back protesters in Hong Kong and send a warning about human rights.

(With inputs from agencies)

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US President Donald Trump on Friday held a discussion on his "giant trade deal" with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Taking Twitter to inform about the talk, Trump said, "China has already started large scale purchase of agricultural product and more.

US President Donald Trump on Friday held a discussion on his "giant trade deal" with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Taking Twitter to inform about the talk, Trump said, "China has already started large scale purchase of agricultural product and more." "Formal signing is being arranged," he added. However, he did not give a date for when the deal will actually be signed. Had a very good talk with President Xi of China concerning our giant Trade Deal. China has already started large scale purchaes of agricultural product & more. Formal signing being arranged. Also talked about North Korea, where we are working with China, & Hong Kong (progress!). — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2019 × Both leaders also talked about North Korea and Hong Kong, where Trump said he is working with China. Beijing and Washington have been at loggerheads for more than a year, with US President Donald Trump emphasizing trade relations with China as a central tenet of his "America First" agenda. Trump has demanded that China commit to specific minimum purchases of US agricultural products, among other concessions on intellectual property rights, currency and access to China's financial services markets. In November, Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Feng had said, China is willing to work with the United States to resolve each other's core concerns on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and will try hard to reach a "phase one" deal. Economists warn that the prolonged trade dispute between China and the United States is escalating risks to the global economy by disrupting supply chains, discouraging investment and dampening business confidence. Meanwhile, earlier this month, US angered China as the House of Representatives passed legislation to back protesters in Hong Kong and send a warning about human rights. (With inputs from agencies)

Had good talk with Chinese president Xi on trade deal, formal signing being arranged: Donald Trump

China’s President Xi Jinping arrived in Macau on December 18 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its handover to China and is expected to announce economic perks as a reward for its stability and loyalty as protests rock nearby Hong Kong. #China #HongKong #HongKongProtest

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits gambling hub Macau as nearby Hong Kong seethes

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to preside over a lavish ceremony in Macau on Friday marking the 20th anniversary of its hand-over to Chinese rule. #Macau #China #Xi-jinping #ChinesePresident

WION Dispatch: Xi-Jinping's 3-day visit to China's special region Macau

In a bid to enforce his stance on 'one-nation - two-systems', Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on his tour to the island-states of Hong Kong and Macau. 
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Xi has consistently maintained the national stance that the People's Republic of China will under no circumstances permit foreign powers and forces from interfering in the 'domestic affairs' of the Chinese state - specifically in matters regarding the 'autonomous' regions of Hong Kong and Macau. 
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Fresh after elections, the Beijing-backed candidate, Ho Iat Seng, was sworn in as only the third chief executive of the autonomous region at a colourful ceremony attended by President Jinping and his wife. 
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During the ceremony, the President toasted to the renewal of the Chinese nation and praised the region for choosing unity and negotiation over contention.&nbsp;

Xi's visit to the former Portuguese colony - where he announced a slew of supportive policies - is widely seen as a reward for Macau's stability and loyalty towards the mainland. 
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The former Portuguese colony - Macau has long been seen as a glimmering showcase for the virtues of obeying Beijing. The city's skyline and economy have changed beyond recognition since the Portuguese left in 1999. 
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Since then, in the decades gone by, the region has gone on to become the world’s largest gambling hub, surpassing the more rebellious Hong Kong along the way. 
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Chief executive of Hong Kong - Carrie Lam - is also currently in Macau, leading a delegation to meet with President Xi and to inform him that her administration is working toward restoring public order on her island, only 50 km away. 
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The jubilation being celebrated in Macau is in stark contrast to the mood in Hong Kong. It is believed that in his speech, Xi sent a firm message to the protestors in Hong Kong, suggesting that the autonomous regions should adhere to the administrative system along with the chief executive to promote democracy and reject all sorts of disturbances and interferences from outside. 
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Protests are very rare in Macau with more than half of the population immigrating from mainland China in recent decades. On the other hand - Hong Kong has been held up with mass protests for seven months now, with no clear end in sight. Thousands of protestors continue to demonstrate in the streets against the Chinese governments alleged 'clamping down' on their freedoms.

In a bid to enforce his stance on 'one-nation - two-systems', Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on his tour to the island-states of Hong Kong and Macau. Xi has consistently maintained the national stance that the People's Republic of China will under no circumstances permit foreign powers and forces from interfering in the 'domestic affairs' of the Chinese state - specifically in matters regarding the 'autonomous' regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

In a bid to enforce his stance on 'one-nation - two-systems', Chinese President Xi Jinping embarked on his tour to the island-states of Hong Kong and Macau. Xi has consistently maintained the national stance that the People's Republic of China will under no circumstances permit foreign powers and forces from interfering in the 'domestic affairs' of the Chinese state - specifically in matters regarding the 'autonomous' regions of Hong Kong and Macau. Fresh after elections, the Beijing-backed candidate, Ho Iat Seng, was sworn in as only the third chief executive of the autonomous region at a colourful ceremony attended by President Jinping and his wife. During the ceremony, the President toasted to the renewal of the Chinese nation and praised the region for choosing unity and negotiation over contention. Xi's visit to the former Portuguese colony - where he announced a slew of supportive policies - is widely seen as a reward for Macau's stability and loyalty towards the mainland. The former Portuguese colony - Macau has long been seen as a glimmering showcase for the virtues of obeying Beijing. The city's skyline and economy have changed beyond recognition since the Portuguese left in 1999. Since then, in the decades gone by, the region has gone on to become the world’s largest gambling hub, surpassing the more rebellious Hong Kong along the way. Chief executive of Hong Kong - Carrie Lam - is also currently in Macau, leading a delegation to meet with President Xi and to inform him that her administration is working toward restoring public order on her island, only 50 km away. The jubilation being celebrated in Macau is in stark contrast to the mood in Hong Kong. It is believed that in his speech, Xi sent a firm message to the protestors in Hong Kong, suggesting that the autonomous regions should adhere to the administrative system along with the chief executive to promote democracy and reject all sorts of disturbances and interferences from outside. Protests are very rare in Macau with more than half of the population immigrating from mainland China in recent decades. On the other hand - Hong Kong has been held up with mass protests for seven months now, with no clear end in sight. Thousands of protestors continue to demonstrate in the streets against the Chinese governments alleged 'clamping down' on their freedoms.

Chinese President Xi Jinping praises Macau for choosing unity and negotiation over contention

Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a three-day visit to the gambling hub Macau. Speaking at a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of Macau’s handover to Chinese rule heaped praise on the former Portuguese colony for its patriotism and loyalty but did not refer directly to six months of anti-government protests in the nearby former British colony of Hong Kong. #China #HongKong

China President Xi Jinping visit Macau on its 20th anniversary

China's President&nbsp;Xi&nbsp;Jinping begins a three-day visit to the&nbsp;gambling&nbsp;hub&nbsp;of&nbsp;Macau&nbsp;on Wednesday to mark the 20th anniversary of its handover to China, with security tight and some media barred entry as protests rock&nbsp;nearby&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong.

Xi's visit to the former Portuguese colony, where he is expected to announce a slew of supportive policies, is widely seen as a reward for&nbsp;Macau's stability and loyalty, unlike the former British colony of&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong, which has been rocked by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-needs-to-do-more-to-stop-violence-resolve-problems-government-268621">anti-government protests</a> for six months.

Xi, due to arrive by plane later in the afternoon, is expected to announce measures for&nbsp;Macau&nbsp;aimed at diversifying its casino-dependent economy into a financial centre, including a new yuan-denominated stock exchange.

Several&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;journalists, including a reporter for broadcaster RTHK, were barred entry to&nbsp;Macau&nbsp;this week due to security concerns, RTHK said on its website.

Many other media people faced lengthy questioning and had their identification cards photographed as they arrived in the city.

Macau's government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Xi's visit, his longest official trip to&nbsp;Macau, will include meetings with government officials and business representatives, as well as the swearing-in of&nbsp;Macau's newly chosen Beijing-backed&nbsp;leader, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-police-briefly-turn-water-cannon-on-protesters-fire-tear-gas-245531">Ho Iat-seng</a>, on Friday.

Macau&nbsp;returned to&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;rule on December&nbsp;20, 1999 with the same "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-can-celebrate-later-hong-kongers-pen-christmas-cards-to-protesters-268663">one country, two systems</a>" formula aimed at preserving autonomy under which&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;is governed.

While protesters in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong, across the mouth of the Pearl River, are infuriated by what they see as Beijing encroaching on their freedoms,&nbsp;Macau&nbsp;has seen little dissent.

Protests are very rare in the territory with more than half of&nbsp;Macau's 620,000 population immigrating from China in recent decades.

Flags and red congratulatory banners fluttered along roads and over buildings around the city in preparation for the anniversary celebrations on Friday.

"Macau&nbsp;is the best, better than&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong.&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;has been taken over by those rioters and we are all affected," said a 73-year-old woman surnamed Cheung.

Transport Restrictions&nbsp;

Still, authorities appeared to be taking no chances.

A&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;resident was arrested by mainland police last week while crossing into&nbsp;Macau&nbsp;on a newly built bridge linking it to&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;and the mainland city of Zhuhai.

Chinese&nbsp;authorities said the man was suspected of involvement in a phone-smuggling syndicate.

The heads of the American Chamber of Commerce in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;have also been barred from entering the city in the run-up to&nbsp;Xi's visit, the chamber heads reported, adding that authorities did not give a reason.

Macau&nbsp;ferry operator Turbo Jet said it was reducing the number of ferry sailings to and from&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;by about half due to security checks. Ferries this week are only operating every 30 minutes compared with every 15 minutes normally.

The changes were made because of "instructions by&nbsp;Macau&nbsp;authorities", the company said on its website.

The city's light rail transit system which opened to the public on December&nbsp;10, will be suspended for three days from Wednesday due to security measures, the operator said.

Beijing has also clamped down on visas since November for mainland residents going to&nbsp;Macau&nbsp;until after the December&nbsp;20 anniversary, as part of the security restrictions, according to Vitaly Umansky, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong.

The restrictions would put additional pressure on sliding&nbsp;gambling&nbsp;revenues, he said.

Macau&nbsp;is heavily dependent on the&nbsp;gambling&nbsp;industry with its casinos contributing about 80 percent of government income.

China's President Xi Jinping begins a three-day visit to the gambling hub of Macau on Wednesday to mark the 20th anniversary of its handover to China, with security tight and some media barred entry as protests rock nearby Hong Kong.

China's President Xi Jinping begins a three-day visit to the gambling hub of Macau on Wednesday to mark the 20th anniversary of its handover to China, with security tight and some media barred entry as protests rock nearby Hong Kong. Xi's visit to the former Portuguese colony, where he is expected to announce a slew of supportive policies, is widely seen as a reward for Macau's stability and loyalty, unlike the former British colony of Hong Kong, which has been rocked by anti-government protests for six months. Xi, due to arrive by plane later in the afternoon, is expected to announce measures for Macau aimed at diversifying its casino-dependent economy into a financial centre, including a new yuan-denominated stock exchange. Several Hong Kong journalists, including a reporter for broadcaster RTHK, were barred entry to Macau this week due to security concerns, RTHK said on its website. Many other media people faced lengthy questioning and had their identification cards photographed as they arrived in the city. Macau's government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Xi's visit, his longest official trip to Macau, will include meetings with government officials and business representatives, as well as the swearing-in of Macau's newly chosen Beijing-backed leader, Ho Iat-seng, on Friday. Macau returned to Chinese rule on December 20, 1999 with the same "one country, two systems" formula aimed at preserving autonomy under which Hong Kong is governed. While protesters in Hong Kong, across the mouth of the Pearl River, are infuriated by what they see as Beijing encroaching on their freedoms, Macau has seen little dissent. Protests are very rare in the territory with more than half of Macau's 620,000 population immigrating from China in recent decades. Flags and red congratulatory banners fluttered along roads and over buildings around the city in preparation for the anniversary celebrations on Friday. "Macau is the best, better than Hong Kong. Hong Kong has been taken over by those rioters and we are all affected," said a 73-year-old woman surnamed Cheung. Transport Restrictions Still, authorities appeared to be taking no chances. A Hong Kong resident was arrested by mainland police last week while crossing into Macau on a newly built bridge linking it to Hong Kong and the mainland city of Zhuhai. Chinese authorities said the man was suspected of involvement in a phone-smuggling syndicate. The heads of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong have also been barred from entering the city in the run-up to Xi's visit, the chamber heads reported, adding that authorities did not give a reason. Macau ferry operator Turbo Jet said it was reducing the number of ferry sailings to and from Hong Kong by about half due to security checks. Ferries this week are only operating every 30 minutes compared with every 15 minutes normally. The changes were made because of "instructions by Macau authorities", the company said on its website. The city's light rail transit system which opened to the public on December 10, will be suspended for three days from Wednesday due to security measures, the operator said. Beijing has also clamped down on visas since November for mainland residents going to Macau until after the December 20 anniversary, as part of the security restrictions, according to Vitaly Umansky, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein in Hong Kong. The restrictions would put additional pressure on sliding gambling revenues, he said. Macau is heavily dependent on the gambling industry with its casinos contributing about 80 percent of government income.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits gambling hub Macau as nearby Hong Kong seethes

Hong&nbsp;Kong's chief secretary, Matthew Cheung, said on Tuesday he was disappointed with recent protest&nbsp;violence&nbsp;after a period of relative calm, as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/hong-kong-falls-into-first-recession-in-10-years-as-protests-trade-war-weigh-259138">Asian financial hub</a> geared up for&nbsp;more&nbsp;anti-government&nbsp;demonstrations in the coming days.

Cheung, speaking at a weekly press briefing, was referring to a protest on Sunday when police fired tear gas in late-night street clashes the first time tear gas had been used in nearly two weeks.

"The work of&nbsp;stopping the&nbsp;violence&nbsp;has not yet been completed, we need to keep working on it. At the same time, we need to put effort into resolving deep-rooted&nbsp;problems," Cheung said.

His comments came after the city's leader, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, met Chinese President<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/chinas-failed-quest-for-soft-power-268344"> Xi Jinping</a> on Monday.

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&nbsp;

Xi offered Lam his support and praised her courage in governing the city during the "most difficult times" of often violent anti-government&nbsp;protests.

Lam, who is due back in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;on Tuesday, also met Premier <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-premier-says-hong-kong-not-yet-out-of-protest-dilemma-268458">Li Keqiang</a> during her regular duty visit to Beijing.

"Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;right now has not stepped out of its dilemma," Li said, according to remarks broadcast by Cable TV, as he urged Lam's administration to end the&nbsp;violence.

"The government&nbsp;should make continuous efforts to bring the&nbsp;violence&nbsp;and chaos to an end in accordance with the law and restore order".

He also urged the&nbsp;government&nbsp;to address "deep-rooted issues in the economic and social development of&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong" to ensure stability and prosperity in the region.

The financial hub has been embroiled in&nbsp;more&nbsp;than six months of anti-government&nbsp;protests which show no sign of abating.

Protests are scheduled across the city on Tuesday as well as through the rest of the week and into<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/migrants-gather-at-us-mexico-border-for-christmas-party-268529"> Christmas</a>.

Protesters are angry about what they see as an encroachment by China on wide-ranging autonomy&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;was guaranteed under a "one country, two systems" framework which governs the former British colony and the neighbouring casino hub of Macau.

China has rejected the complaints and blamed other countries, including the United States, for inciting the protests.

Xi is due to begin a three-day visit to Macau on Wednesday and security has been tightened. There have been no protests in the former Portuguese colony.

While the number of protests and the&nbsp;violence&nbsp;has eased in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;in recent weeks, the pro-democracy movement retains broad public backing, with families and older people coming out to recent demonstrations.

They are calling on the&nbsp;government&nbsp;to listen to their demands which include an independent investigation into police behaviour and the implementation of full universal suffrage.

The trigger for the protests was a proposed extradition law, that would have allowed&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;citizens to be prosecuted in mainland courts. The bill, which the city later dropped, raised concern about what many&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;people see as the undermining by Beijing of their freedoms.

The recent arrest by mainland security officials of a&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;resident at a checkpoint on a newly-opened bridge linking&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wall-street-slips-as-us-law-on-hong-kong-brings-back-trade-fears-265311">Macau</a> and the mainland city of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/timeline-chinas-military-drones-make-it-a-mobile-warfare-specialist-260842">Zhuhai </a>has stirred new concerns.

The media reported the 53-year-old suspect was detained on Friday while travelling to Macau on a bus.

Cheung, asked about the arrest, said the matter was beyond the city's control and related to security matters on the mainland.

"It's perfectly justified for them to exercise jurisdiction within their own territory, it's entirely legal and justified," he said.

Mainland police said the person detained was part of a mobile phone smuggling syndicate.

Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;residents have been on heightened alert to citizens disappearing over the border into mainland China since five city booksellers went missing in 2015. All later appeared in detention in China, with some showing up in video footage making what appeared to be forced confessions.

A former British consulate employee in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;said in November that Chinese secret police beat him in an attempt to force him to give information about activists leading pro-democracy protests.

Hong Kong's chief secretary, Matthew Cheung, said on Tuesday he was disappointed with recent protest violence after a period of relative calm, as the Asian financial hub geared up for more anti-government demonstrations in the coming days.

Hong Kong's chief secretary, Matthew Cheung, said on Tuesday he was disappointed with recent protest violence after a period of relative calm, as the Asian financial hub geared up for more anti-government demonstrations in the coming days. Cheung, speaking at a weekly press briefing, was referring to a protest on Sunday when police fired tear gas in late-night street clashes the first time tear gas had been used in nearly two weeks. "The work of stopping the violence has not yet been completed, we need to keep working on it. At the same time, we need to put effort into resolving deep-rooted problems," Cheung said. His comments came after the city's leader, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. Xi offered Lam his support and praised her courage in governing the city during the "most difficult times" of often violent anti-government protests. Lam, who is due back in Hong Kong on Tuesday, also met Premier Li Keqiang during her regular duty visit to Beijing. "Hong Kong right now has not stepped out of its dilemma," Li said, according to remarks broadcast by Cable TV, as he urged Lam's administration to end the violence. "The government should make continuous efforts to bring the violence and chaos to an end in accordance with the law and restore order". He also urged the government to address "deep-rooted issues in the economic and social development of Hong Kong" to ensure stability and prosperity in the region. The financial hub has been embroiled in more than six months of anti-government protests which show no sign of abating. Protests are scheduled across the city on Tuesday as well as through the rest of the week and into Christmas. Protesters are angry about what they see as an encroachment by China on wide-ranging autonomy Hong Kong was guaranteed under a "one country, two systems" framework which governs the former British colony and the neighbouring casino hub of Macau. China has rejected the complaints and blamed other countries, including the United States, for inciting the protests. Xi is due to begin a three-day visit to Macau on Wednesday and security has been tightened. There have been no protests in the former Portuguese colony. While the number of protests and the violence has eased in Hong Kong in recent weeks, the pro-democracy movement retains broad public backing, with families and older people coming out to recent demonstrations. They are calling on the government to listen to their demands which include an independent investigation into police behaviour and the implementation of full universal suffrage. The trigger for the protests was a proposed extradition law, that would have allowed Hong Kong citizens to be prosecuted in mainland courts. The bill, which the city later dropped, raised concern about what many Hong Kong people see as the undermining by Beijing of their freedoms. The recent arrest by mainland security officials of a Hong Kong resident at a checkpoint on a newly-opened bridge linking Hong Kong with Macau and the mainland city of Zhuhai has stirred new concerns. The media reported the 53-year-old suspect was detained on Friday while travelling to Macau on a bus. Cheung, asked about the arrest, said the matter was beyond the city's control and related to security matters on the mainland. "It's perfectly justified for them to exercise jurisdiction within their own territory, it's entirely legal and justified," he said. Mainland police said the person detained was part of a mobile phone smuggling syndicate. Hong Kong residents have been on heightened alert to citizens disappearing over the border into mainland China since five city booksellers went missing in 2015. All later appeared in detention in China, with some showing up in video footage making what appeared to be forced confessions. A former British consulate employee in Hong Kong said in November that Chinese secret police beat him in an attempt to force him to give information about activists leading pro-democracy protests.

Hong Kong needs to do more to stop violence, resolve problems: Government

The year was 2017. China had rolled out the red carpet for leaders from 29 countries. The occasion was the Belt and Road Forum – a mega event designed to showcase China’s flagship global infrastructure project to the world.

The year was 2017. China had rolled out the red carpet for leaders from 29 countries. The occasion was the Belt and Road Forum – a mega event designed to showcase China’s flagship global infrastructure project to the world. In just one statement, the Chinese President declared that he wants to break not just physical boundaries but digital borders as well. “We should pursue innovation-driven development and intensify cooperation in frontier areas such as digital economy, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, quantum computing, and advance the development of big data, cloud computing and smart cities to turn them into a Digital Silk Road of the 21st century,“ Xi had said. That was one of the many times when the Chinese President had talked about a Digital Silk Road. Another mega plan – that is now a key pillar in China’s ambitious strategy - is to emerge as an internet superpower by 2050. Two years later, the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing has made tangible progress in its mission. Just like the big-ticket infrastructure projects, China's cash is driving these digital initiatives. One of the prominent projects is to connect Pakistan and Djibouti with a 6,200 km-long underwater cable. This project is financed by the China Construction Bank – one of the 'Big 4' banks of China. Once completed – this digital link will connect the Gwadar port to the country where Beijing opened its first naval base in 2017. In 2018, China completed the Brazil-Cameroon link - an underwater cable that connects Kribi in Cameroon to Fortaleza in Brazil. Another digital infrastructure project financed partly by the Export and Import Bank of China. One name that unites these two undersea cable projects is Huawei Marine Networks – a joint venture between China’s Huawei Technologies and Global Marine Systems of Britain. This company build the Brazil-Cameroon link and is now connecting Pakistan to Djibouti. A white paper issued by the Chinese government in the year 2015 is serving as a playbook for Beijing’s digital expansion. It was the first indicator of China’s plans to participate in the planning and construction of cable networks around the world. It also facilitated the expansion of Chinese technology companies. Huawei has been the chief beneficiary of this. The company today is the leading player in 5G technology. According to a report, Huawei owned 1,529 5G patents by February 2019. Despite the US government’s attempts to pull the company down, Huawei has scored a sizable number of contracts outside China. Back in June this year, Huawei claimed that its equipment is driving two-thirds of the commercially launched 5G networks around the world. The company says it has signed 50 commercial contracts – several of them with players in Europe and Africa. The Chinese government is believed to be helping Huawei gain a stronghold in the developing world. Reportedly, Huawei has built around 70 per cent of Africa’s 4G network. A study by the China-Africa Research Initiative (CARI) says that China’s Eximbank financed 45 out of 47 Huawei projects across Africa. CARI is a think-tank at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, United States. The loans allowed Huawei to undercut rival companies. CARI’s research says that Huawei has worked in 23 African countries. The promise of better technology at cheaper rates is enabling China to lay the foundation of the future of the internet. A web of cables and digital infrastructure, along an ancient trade route, could play a decisive role in its resurrection. But, the Digital Silk Road could represent a new web of control – one that could extend Xi Jinping’s censorship powers beyond Chinese borders.

Going beyond infrastructure: China is now building digital highways

"Phase one" trade deal with the United States has been reached, China announced on Friday as reported by news agency AFP.

Beijing added that Washington will be removing tariffs 'phase by phase,' AFP reported.&nbsp;

China's vice commerce minister Wang Shouwen said that part of the "phase one" trade deal with the US includes a progressive rollback of tariffs that have threatened to roil the global economy.

"The two countries have agreed on the text of a phase one trade and economic deal," Shouwen said at a news conference, adding that the two sides now have to sign the agreement.

On Wednesday, the Bloomberg had reported the US and China are moving closer to "agreeing on the amount of tariffs to be rolled back in a phase-one trade deal," news agency Reuters reported.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

"Phase one" trade deal with the United States has been reached, China announced on Friday as reported by news agency AFP. Beijing added that Washington will be removing tariffs 'phase by phase,' AFP reported.

"Phase one" trade deal with the United States has been reached, China announced on Friday as reported by news agency AFP. Beijing added that Washington will be removing tariffs 'phase by phase,' AFP reported. China's vice commerce minister Wang Shouwen said that part of the "phase one" trade deal with the US includes a progressive rollback of tariffs that have threatened to roil the global economy. "The two countries have agreed on the text of a phase one trade and economic deal," Shouwen said at a news conference, adding that the two sides now have to sign the agreement. On Wednesday, the Bloomberg had reported the US and China are moving closer to "agreeing on the amount of tariffs to be rolled back in a phase-one trade deal," news agency Reuters reported. (With inputs from agencies)

'Phase one' trade deal reached with US: China 

The United States was poised Thursday to announce a historic trade deal with China, days before new tariffs are due to kick in between the world's two largest economies, easing a commercial dispute that has roiled markets for almost two years.

The United States was poised Thursday to announce a historic trade deal with China, days before new tariffs are due to kick in between the world's two largest economies, easing a commercial dispute that has roiled markets for almost two years. Reports that Washington and Beijing had struck a bargain at last -- subject to approval by US President Donald Trump -- sent US stocks sailing to their first record closes of December. "Getting VERY close to a BIG DEAL with China. They want it, and so do we!" Trump tweeted in a markedly optimistic tone, although it was unclear if he would officially confirm the agreement on Thursday. Trump's flagging of an imminent breakthrough comes ahead of new tariffs planned to take effect Sunday and also just as he is almost sure to become only the third US president to be impeached. With his 2020 re-election battle heating up Trump is keen to seize the political initiative and show voters his punishing struggle with China has brought results. The US ultimately wants China to open its vast economy to more goods and to conduct sweeping reforms of what Washington has long called systemic abuse against foreign investors. Recently, though, White House officials have indicated they would settle for less in a so-called "phase one" deal. The Washington Post reported that Trump had signed off on a swap of tariff reductions in return for China spending $50 billion on US farm goods, tightening its intellectual property protections and opening its financial services markets. The paper cited Michael Pillsbury, a China expert at the Washington-based Hudson Institute it said had been briefed by Trump, and an unnamed senior administration official. The paper reported that plans for an official announcement had not been nailed down, adding that the administration does not intend to seek congressional approval. China's commerce ministry said Thursday the two sides were in "close" contact ahead of Sunday's deadline. Dodging new tariffs bullet In addition to existing tariffs, Trump had threatened to impose a 15 per cent levy Sunday on around $160 billion of Chinese exports, including popular US consumer goods like electronics and clothing. China had previously said it would respond with a 25 per cent tariff on US autos and a five per cent tariff on auto parts -- levies that were suspended earlier this year as a goodwill gesture. According to The Wall Street Journal, the US side is offering to scrap the threatened Sunday tariffs and also cut existing duties imposed on about $360 billion in Chinese goods. Trump's overall goal with China, a keystone of his presidency, is to uproot what Washington says are Beijing's predatory trade practices, including forced technology transfers and massive intellectual property theft. Trump himself has blown hot and cold, repeatedly insisting that China needs a deal more than the United States does. At the end of November, he said he was in the "final throes" of negotiations, but days later he spooked world financial markets when he said "I have no deadline" for a resolution. The intense talks, involving multiple trips by teams from both sides to and from Washington and Beijing, were further complicated by tensions over the pro-democracy uprising in Hong Kong. Trump, somewhat reluctantly, signed a law passed with overwhelming congressional support in November that backs the Hong Kong demonstrators. Beijing responded that the law was "abominable" and "sinister," but ultimately appeared to have little in the way of counter-measures.

US on verge of landmark China trade deal: Trump

China and the United States are in close communication on trade, its commerce ministry said on Thursday, declining to comment on possible retaliatory steps if Washington imposes more tariffs on Chinese goods this weekend.

The United States is due to impose tariffs on almost $160 billion of Chinese imports such as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nintendo-to-officially-launch-its-switch-gaming-console-in-china-266103">video game consoles</a>, computer monitors and toys on Sunday.

US&nbsp;President<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-criticism-trump-signs-order-targeting-anti-semitism-at-universities-267765"> Donald Trump</a> is expected to meet top trade advisers on Thursday to discuss the move, sources told Reuters previously.

A decision to proceed with the levies could roil financial markets and scuttle <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-china-trade-talks-free-trade-must-not-be-derailed-198923">US-China talks</a> to end the 17-month-long trade war between the world's two largest economies.

"The two sides' economic and trade teams are maintaining close communication," Gao Feng, a spokesman at the Chinese commerce ministry, told reporters at a regular briefing.

The countries agreed in October to conclude a preliminary trade agreement, but talks have failed to produce deals on agricultural purchases by China and rollbacks of existing tariffs imposed by the United States. Many analysts had expected a deal ahead of December&nbsp;15.

Beijing has said it would retaliate if the United States escalates the trade dispute.

In August, China said it would impose 5 per cent&nbsp;and 10&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;in additional tariffs on $75 billion of US&nbsp;goods in two batches. Tariffs on the first batch kicked in on September&nbsp;1, hitting US&nbsp;goods including soybeans, pork, beef, chemicals, and crude oil.

The tariffs on the second batch of products are due to be activated on December&nbsp;15, affecting goods ranging from corn and wheat to small aircraft and rare earth magnets.

China also said at the time that it will reinstitute on December&nbsp;15 an additional 25&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;tariff on US-made vehicles and 5&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;tariffs on auto parts that had been suspended at the beginning of 2019.

China and the United States are in close communication on trade, its commerce ministry said on Thursday, declining to comment on possible retaliatory steps if Washington imposes more tariffs on Chinese goods this weekend.

China and the United States are in close communication on trade, its commerce ministry said on Thursday, declining to comment on possible retaliatory steps if Washington imposes more tariffs on Chinese goods this weekend. The United States is due to impose tariffs on almost $160 billion of Chinese imports such as video game consoles, computer monitors and toys on Sunday. US President Donald Trump is expected to meet top trade advisers on Thursday to discuss the move, sources told Reuters previously. A decision to proceed with the levies could roil financial markets and scuttle US-China talks to end the 17-month-long trade war between the world's two largest economies. "The two sides' economic and trade teams are maintaining close communication," Gao Feng, a spokesman at the Chinese commerce ministry, told reporters at a regular briefing. The countries agreed in October to conclude a preliminary trade agreement, but talks have failed to produce deals on agricultural purchases by China and rollbacks of existing tariffs imposed by the United States. Many analysts had expected a deal ahead of December 15. Beijing has said it would retaliate if the United States escalates the trade dispute. In August, China said it would impose 5 per cent and 10 per cent in additional tariffs on $75 billion of US goods in two batches. Tariffs on the first batch kicked in on September 1, hitting US goods including soybeans, pork, beef, chemicals, and crude oil. The tariffs on the second batch of products are due to be activated on December 15, affecting goods ranging from corn and wheat to small aircraft and rare earth magnets. China also said at the time that it will reinstitute on December 15 an additional 25 per cent tariff on US-made vehicles and 5 per cent tariffs on auto parts that had been suspended at the beginning of 2019.

China says in close communication with US on trade as fresh tariffs loom

Giant panda cubs born at Berlin zoo last September had their first public appearance during a naming ceremony on Monday, 100 days after they were born.

Berlin panda cubs make long awaited first public appearance

China has spent billions of dollars to project soft power in Asia but it has struggled to win the hearts and minds of ordinary citizens in parts of the region, a study said Tuesday.

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/americas/donald-trump-xi-jinping-and-trade-a-high-stakes-game-of-chicken-216697">Xi Jinping</a> doubled China's foreign affairs budget in six years from 30 billion to 60 billion yuan ($8.5 billion) to bolster its global diplomacy, according to the AidData research lab at the College of William &amp; Mary in Virginia.

"Public diplomacy is a critical ingredient in Beijing's toolkit to neutralise potential threats, overcome internal disadvantages, and outmaneuver regional competitors," said the report, carried out with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-misread-indias-action-to-nullify-article-370-jaishankar-251943">Asia Society Policy Institute</a> and the China Power Project of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The "toolkit to influence South and Central Asia" includes huge infrastructure investments, state-backed media operations, twin cities, military diplomacy, and Confucius Institutes, which teach students about Chinese language and culture.

The report found that 95 percent of China's financial diplomacy goes to infrastructure and only five percent goes to other areas such as humanitarian assistance or debt relief.

Two nations captured half of Beijing's investment in the region: Pakistan and Kazakhstan, both key countries in Xi's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure programme.

Beijing has also ramped up cultural events, scholarships, and student exchanges, and almost every country in South and Central Asia now has at least one form of Chinese state-owned media, including television, radio and print media.

China has organised 61 exchange trips for South and Central Asian journalists between 2004 and 2017.

The report said Beijing aimed to both expand China's broadcasting operations and cultivate relationships with journalists, promote pro-China coverage and "suppress negative criticism."

But none of the public diplomacy tools had led to a closer voting alignment with Beijing at the United Nations, according to the report.

Across South Asia, Beijing's "inroads with ordinary citizens" were "superficial at best" and largely shaped by potential economic prospects "as opposed to deeper appreciation for Chinese culture and language."

In neighbouring Kazakhstan the "buckle" in China's Belt and Road project there is "strong Sinophobia" among Kazakh elites.

Political leaders have tolerated Uighur organisations in Kazakhstan despite having signed agreements with Beijing to help it contain separatist movements, according to the report.

Upwards of one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities, including ethnic Kazakhs, are believed to be held in re-education camps in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang.

Kazakhstan is home to 75 percent of the Uighurs living in the region, and local activists have encouraged former detainees and citizens with relatives in Xinjiang to speak out.

"If Beijing is to maintain stability at home it will likely need to not only convince political elites but the Kazakh public, who may be predisposed to support the interests of their Uighur brothers in Xinjiang," the report said.

China has spent billions of dollars to project soft power in Asia but it has struggled to win the hearts and minds of ordinary citizens in parts of the region, a study said Tuesday.

China has spent billions of dollars to project soft power in Asia but it has struggled to win the hearts and minds of ordinary citizens in parts of the region, a study said Tuesday. President Xi Jinping doubled China's foreign affairs budget in six years from 30 billion to 60 billion yuan ($8.5 billion) to bolster its global diplomacy, according to the AidData research lab at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. "Public diplomacy is a critical ingredient in Beijing's toolkit to neutralise potential threats, overcome internal disadvantages, and outmaneuver regional competitors," said the report, carried out with the Asia Society Policy Institute and the China Power Project of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The "toolkit to influence South and Central Asia" includes huge infrastructure investments, state-backed media operations, twin cities, military diplomacy, and Confucius Institutes, which teach students about Chinese language and culture. The report found that 95 percent of China's financial diplomacy goes to infrastructure and only five percent goes to other areas such as humanitarian assistance or debt relief. Two nations captured half of Beijing's investment in the region: Pakistan and Kazakhstan, both key countries in Xi's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure programme. Beijing has also ramped up cultural events, scholarships, and student exchanges, and almost every country in South and Central Asia now has at least one form of Chinese state-owned media, including television, radio and print media. China has organised 61 exchange trips for South and Central Asian journalists between 2004 and 2017. The report said Beijing aimed to both expand China's broadcasting operations and cultivate relationships with journalists, promote pro-China coverage and "suppress negative criticism." But none of the public diplomacy tools had led to a closer voting alignment with Beijing at the United Nations, according to the report. Across South Asia, Beijing's "inroads with ordinary citizens" were "superficial at best" and largely shaped by potential economic prospects "as opposed to deeper appreciation for Chinese culture and language." In neighbouring Kazakhstan the "buckle" in China's Belt and Road project there is "strong Sinophobia" among Kazakh elites. Political leaders have tolerated Uighur organisations in Kazakhstan despite having signed agreements with Beijing to help it contain separatist movements, according to the report. Upwards of one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities, including ethnic Kazakhs, are believed to be held in re-education camps in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang. Kazakhstan is home to 75 percent of the Uighurs living in the region, and local activists have encouraged former detainees and citizens with relatives in Xinjiang to speak out. "If Beijing is to maintain stability at home it will likely need to not only convince political elites but the Kazakh public, who may be predisposed to support the interests of their Uighur brothers in Xinjiang," the report said.

China's diplomatic push in Asia sees mixed results: Study

China said on Monday that it hoped to make a trade deal with the United States as soon as possible, amid intense discussions before fresh US tariffs on Chinese imports are due to kick in at the end of the week.

Beijing hopes it can reach a trade agreement with the United States that satisfies both sides, Assistant Commerce Minister Ren Hongbin told reporters on Monday.

"On the question of China-US trade talks and negotiations, we wish that both sides can, on the foundation of equality and mutual respect, push forward negotiations, and in consideration of each others' core interests, reach an agreement that satisfies all sides as soon as possible," Ren said.

China and the United States are negotiating a so-called "phase one" deal aimed at de-escalating their prolonged trade dispute, but it is unclear whether such an agreement can be reached in the near term.

Washington's next round of tariffs against Chinese goods are scheduled to take effect on December&nbsp;15.

China has demanded that some of the existing US tariffs imposed on about $375 billion worth of its exports be removed, in addition to cancellation of the Dec. 15 tariffs on some $156 billion of its remaining exports to the United States.

US President Donald Trump has demanded that China commit to specific minimum purchases of US agricultural products, among other concessions on intellectual property rights, currency and access to China's financial services markets.

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Friday that the two sides had talked almost daily, but there were currently no plans for face-to-face talks or a signing ceremony between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

With less than a week to go before the deadline amid "intense" negotiations, Kudlow said Trump would make the final decision on the tariffs, which would hit Chinese-made cellphones, laptop computers, toys and clothing.

"We'll have to see, but right now we're moving along," Trump said last week. "On December 15th, something could happen, but we are not discussing that yet. We are having very good discussions with China, however."

China said on Monday that it hoped to make a trade deal with the United States as soon as possible, amid intense discussions before fresh US tariffs on Chinese imports are due to kick in at the end of the week.

China said on Monday that it hoped to make a trade deal with the United States as soon as possible, amid intense discussions before fresh US tariffs on Chinese imports are due to kick in at the end of the week. Beijing hopes it can reach a trade agreement with the United States that satisfies both sides, Assistant Commerce Minister Ren Hongbin told reporters on Monday. "On the question of China-US trade talks and negotiations, we wish that both sides can, on the foundation of equality and mutual respect, push forward negotiations, and in consideration of each others' core interests, reach an agreement that satisfies all sides as soon as possible," Ren said. China and the United States are negotiating a so-called "phase one" deal aimed at de-escalating their prolonged trade dispute, but it is unclear whether such an agreement can be reached in the near term. Washington's next round of tariffs against Chinese goods are scheduled to take effect on December 15. China has demanded that some of the existing US tariffs imposed on about $375 billion worth of its exports be removed, in addition to cancellation of the Dec. 15 tariffs on some $156 billion of its remaining exports to the United States. US President Donald Trump has demanded that China commit to specific minimum purchases of US agricultural products, among other concessions on intellectual property rights, currency and access to China's financial services markets. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Friday that the two sides had talked almost daily, but there were currently no plans for face-to-face talks or a signing ceremony between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. With less than a week to go before the deadline amid "intense" negotiations, Kudlow said Trump would make the final decision on the tariffs, which would hit Chinese-made cellphones, laptop computers, toys and clothing. "We'll have to see, but right now we're moving along," Trump said last week. "On December 15th, something could happen, but we are not discussing that yet. We are having very good discussions with China, however."

Hope to reach trade agreement with US as soon as possible: China

Can Xi Jinping Survive The Political Storm In Hong Kong & Xinjiang?

WION Edit: Is Xi Jinping's Iron Grip On China Loosening?

By: Saurabh Bose

A popular mobile application has been used by Chinese authorities to carry out surveillance against minority Uighur population. A leak of highly classified documents, China Cables exposes the horrors of AI-usage by China to put a million people In detention without judicial recourse.&nbsp;

The documents reveal that the minority Muslim population have been held in detention camp even if they have not committed a crime, but have downloaded&nbsp;apps to download religious material.&nbsp;

WION caught up with Fergus Shiel, the Project manager of 'China Cables', an ICIJ investigation report to discuss the horrors of Xinjiang.

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WION: How is China Cables different from other exposes, including the latest NYT expose?

Fergus Shiel: Two things differentiate China Cables from previous investigations, that an operation manual has revealed the camps in which more than a million Uighurs and other ethnic minorities are understood to be detained. The NYT had policy settings of these camps, anecdotal reports, satellite images, but this is the very first time that a document outlining the camps have been leaked we understand that it is the first document of it's kind to come out of China for the last thirty years because of it's classification level.

The second thing that we can say about it is, that the first time the surveillance platform and it's a vast sweep has been revealed in such details. We have one document which is the operational manual for the camps where more than a million Uighurs are believed to be detained We also have four(bulletins) directives from the Chief security person in Xinjiang outlining the kind of data which is used as the basis for detaining the person without charge, without judicial process. And the smallest thing can get you detained, in 2017 one week alone 15,000 people were detained according to the bulletins and many of those people were detained because of an app on the phone, visa to travel outside the country or returned to the country or mere suspicion of the behaviour which the govt considers unacceptable.

WION: What do the classified intelligence briefings reveal about the scope and ambition of Chines govt's AI-based policing platform?

Fergus Shiel: Do you think the AI platform is trying arrests as pre-crime prevention efforts and does the Xinjiang police take these orders directly from IJOP or cybernetic?

The cybernetic tools pull out the most intimate details of the people's lives into a huge database and that becomes the basis for local authorities to believe that they can predict who may commit a crime in the future.&nbsp;

The final document illustrates a court case of a Uighur man who is incredibly jailed for 10 years, for telling his work colleagues that they should be good Muslims, they should not swear, they should not watch pornography for that he was jailed for 10 years. And this gives you an idea of the repressive nature of the data collection.

WION: Is there evidence that can link him to Xi?

Fergus Shiel: What we know is that Xi Jinping authorised in speeches and directions after some horrific terror attacks in Xinjiang and the response from Chinese authorities have been extraordinarily sweeping.&nbsp;

Xinjiang authorities with the approval and encouragement of Beijing have detained more than a million people. There are 11 million Uighurs in Xinjian. Every family has someone who has disappeared into camps. Documents that we have shown that once they are in the camps they have to learn Mandarin, forced to learn Chinese law we are not sure what that means. Essentially it is targetting of ethnic minorities to socially re-engineer them. China says the reason to do this is to prevent terrorism and to re-educate impoverished community, but what our documents show is that people who are never suspected of terrorism, people who have never committed a crime, more than a million people who have never committed a crime have been detained nevertheless.

Once they are in the camps the regiment that they suffer under is rigorous, they are guarded by police stations, cameras.&nbsp;

The detainees must use the same seat every day and must line up in the same way.

WION: What are the differences between the 3 categories of security zones?

Fergus Shiel: According to the Chinese govt, the camps are entirely designed to re-train, re-skill impoverished people to improve themselves but in reality, the documents show they are prisons, where you are put right off the street without going through a judicial process.

We also know that there are three levels of security inside the camps. The detainees/trainees find themselves either in minimum, medium or maximum-security jails.

And in order to be freed from the camps, you have to be in minimum security, so if you are in maximum security you will spend longer time in the camp and we also know from the documents that they should stay for a year in the camps and after that, they should be retrained but in effect we have spoken to 40 Uighurs who had stayed in the camps we know that is not accurate and some have spent less time and some more time there. The manual states they have to stay for one year but in reality, it could be more or less than one year.

WION: What do you infer from the creepy section on manners, change of clothes?

Fergus Shiel: We understand from experts that many of Han Chinese view Uighurs as less cosmopolitan, less modern than they are.&nbsp;

Consequently, we see in the documents is this bizarre, chilling, horrific effort to retrain, reengineer a huge community of more than a million people in basic hygiene.

We learned from former detainees that conditions are so awful that some of the dormitories are crowded, there are one or two commodes so that people who want to go to the toilet in the night are forced to use very few facilities. One of the oddest and most chilling aspects is that people have two to three minutes in the toilet, so even the toilet time is regulated. The way you sleep is regulated, they are told that they can sleep only on one side, so camp guards tell them where to sit, where to line up, where to sleep, how long can they can go to the toilet. They monitor them with facial recognition, they take away their phones. They are not allowed to contact friends or families. And this is called by Chines govt as free and voluntary camps but everything in the manual and what we have learned from talking to former inmates that this is not the case.

WION: How local authorities are targeting Uighurs?

Fergus Shiel: IJOR has 4 bulletins (directives) essentially to collect data. It is mass surveillance Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, what they say amongst other things that people who have a certain app on their phones can be targetted, detained, people who leave the country , the people who come back into the country , people who apply for visa , connections with people overseas or if you try to bypass the firewall to contact people overseas so essentially anyone who has connection to the outside world from Xinjiang is immediately suspect and can be targetted for detention. and we know the huge number of people detained something like more than 15,000 people in one week of June 2017 were detained, that is not fanciful not exaggerated but real, they are targeting everyone and viewing everyone with suspicion. &nbsp;

WION: What is the evidence against the role of Chinese embassies in tracking Uighurs?

Fergus Shiel: All we can tell the Uighurs that we have spoken with abroad in Ireland, Turkey, Netherland, Germany, and Canada.&nbsp;

What they all say is that only their friends and family being monitored in Xinjiang but also have their local embassy monitoring them, that they are frightened whether it is Melbourne, Berlin or it's Dublin or Toronto they worry that their Chinese embassy is monitoring them&nbsp;

WION: What is the number of non-Chinese or foreign citizens in these prisons?

Fergus Shiel: Oh Yes we think so, I think the figure is like forty-eight Australian Uighurs in detention camps and it makes sense as that documents say that people who are under target are people who have visas for other countries so it makes sense, these are people with dual nationalities who are in the camps. Nobody knows the exact number of people in the camps, what we do know is that human rights groups, overseas govt have said that it is one million but some people expect it to be more than two million. To give an example in India it will be the city with a size of the equivalent to Varanasi, so it is what you are to talk about. You have to go back in history to World War two to find anything similar. You see almost one-tenth of the community disappears in detention camps.

By: Saurabh Bose A popular mobile application has been used by Chinese authorities to carry out surveillance against minority Uighur population. A leak of highly classified documents, China Cables exposes the horrors of AI-usage by China to put a million people In detention without judicial recourse.

By: Saurabh Bose A popular mobile application has been used by Chinese authorities to carry out surveillance against minority Uighur population. A leak of highly classified documents, China Cables exposes the horrors of AI-usage by China to put a million people In detention without judicial recourse. The documents reveal that the minority Muslim population have been held in detention camp even if they have not committed a crime, but have downloaded apps to download religious material. WION caught up with Fergus Shiel, the Project manager of 'China Cables', an ICIJ investigation report to discuss the horrors of Xinjiang. WION: How is China Cables different from other exposes, including the latest NYT expose? Fergus Shiel: Two things differentiate China Cables from previous investigations, that an operation manual has revealed the camps in which more than a million Uighurs and other ethnic minorities are understood to be detained. The NYT had policy settings of these camps, anecdotal reports, satellite images, but this is the very first time that a document outlining the camps have been leaked we understand that it is the first document of it's kind to come out of China for the last thirty years because of it's classification level. The second thing that we can say about it is, that the first time the surveillance platform and it's a vast sweep has been revealed in such details. We have one document which is the operational manual for the camps where more than a million Uighurs are believed to be detained We also have four(bulletins) directives from the Chief security person in Xinjiang outlining the kind of data which is used as the basis for detaining the person without charge, without judicial process. And the smallest thing can get you detained, in 2017 one week alone 15,000 people were detained according to the bulletins and many of those people were detained because of an app on the phone, visa to travel outside the country or returned to the country or mere suspicion of the behaviour which the govt considers unacceptable. WION: What do the classified intelligence briefings reveal about the scope and ambition of Chines govt's AI-based policing platform? Fergus Shiel: Do you think the AI platform is trying arrests as pre-crime prevention efforts and does the Xinjiang police take these orders directly from IJOP or cybernetic? The cybernetic tools pull out the most intimate details of the people's lives into a huge database and that becomes the basis for local authorities to believe that they can predict who may commit a crime in the future. The final document illustrates a court case of a Uighur man who is incredibly jailed for 10 years, for telling his work colleagues that they should be good Muslims, they should not swear, they should not watch pornography for that he was jailed for 10 years. And this gives you an idea of the repressive nature of the data collection. WION: Is there evidence that can link him to Xi? Fergus Shiel: What we know is that Xi Jinping authorised in speeches and directions after some horrific terror attacks in Xinjiang and the response from Chinese authorities have been extraordinarily sweeping. Xinjiang authorities with the approval and encouragement of Beijing have detained more than a million people. There are 11 million Uighurs in Xinjian. Every family has someone who has disappeared into camps. Documents that we have shown that once they are in the camps they have to learn Mandarin, forced to learn Chinese law we are not sure what that means. Essentially it is targetting of ethnic minorities to socially re-engineer them. China says the reason to do this is to prevent terrorism and to re-educate impoverished community, but what our documents show is that people who are never suspected of terrorism, people who have never committed a crime, more than a million people who have never committed a crime have been detained nevertheless. Once they are in the camps the regiment that they suffer under is rigorous, they are guarded by police stations, cameras. The detainees must use the same seat every day and must line up in the same way. WION: What are the differences between the 3 categories of security zones? Fergus Shiel: According to the Chinese govt, the camps are entirely designed to re-train, re-skill impoverished people to improve themselves but in reality, the documents show they are prisons, where you are put right off the street without going through a judicial process. We also know that there are three levels of security inside the camps. The detainees/trainees find themselves either in minimum, medium or maximum-security jails. And in order to be freed from the camps, you have to be in minimum security, so if you are in maximum security you will spend longer time in the camp and we also know from the documents that they should stay for a year in the camps and after that, they should be retrained but in effect we have spoken to 40 Uighurs who had stayed in the camps we know that is not accurate and some have spent less time and some more time there. The manual states they have to stay for one year but in reality, it could be more or less than one year. WION: What do you infer from the creepy section on manners, change of clothes? Fergus Shiel: We understand from experts that many of Han Chinese view Uighurs as less cosmopolitan, less modern than they are. Consequently, we see in the documents is this bizarre, chilling, horrific effort to retrain, reengineer a huge community of more than a million people in basic hygiene. We learned from former detainees that conditions are so awful that some of the dormitories are crowded, there are one or two commodes so that people who want to go to the toilet in the night are forced to use very few facilities. One of the oddest and most chilling aspects is that people have two to three minutes in the toilet, so even the toilet time is regulated. The way you sleep is regulated, they are told that they can sleep only on one side, so camp guards tell them where to sit, where to line up, where to sleep, how long can they can go to the toilet. They monitor them with facial recognition, they take away their phones. They are not allowed to contact friends or families. And this is called by Chines govt as free and voluntary camps but everything in the manual and what we have learned from talking to former inmates that this is not the case. WION: How local authorities are targeting Uighurs? Fergus Shiel: IJOR has 4 bulletins (directives) essentially to collect data. It is mass surveillance Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, what they say amongst other things that people who have a certain app on their phones can be targetted, detained, people who leave the country , the people who come back into the country , people who apply for visa , connections with people overseas or if you try to bypass the firewall to contact people overseas so essentially anyone who has connection to the outside world from Xinjiang is immediately suspect and can be targetted for detention. and we know the huge number of people detained something like more than 15,000 people in one week of June 2017 were detained, that is not fanciful not exaggerated but real, they are targeting everyone and viewing everyone with suspicion. WION: What is the evidence against the role of Chinese embassies in tracking Uighurs? Fergus Shiel: All we can tell the Uighurs that we have spoken with abroad in Ireland, Turkey, Netherland, Germany, and Canada. What they all say is that only their friends and family being monitored in Xinjiang but also have their local embassy monitoring them, that they are frightened whether it is Melbourne, Berlin or it's Dublin or Toronto they worry that their Chinese embassy is monitoring them WION: What is the number of non-Chinese or foreign citizens in these prisons? Fergus Shiel: Oh Yes we think so, I think the figure is like forty-eight Australian Uighurs in detention camps and it makes sense as that documents say that people who are under target are people who have visas for other countries so it makes sense, these are people with dual nationalities who are in the camps. Nobody knows the exact number of people in the camps, what we do know is that human rights groups, overseas govt have said that it is one million but some people expect it to be more than two million. To give an example in India it will be the city with a size of the equivalent to Varanasi, so it is what you are to talk about. You have to go back in history to World War two to find anything similar. You see almost one-tenth of the community disappears in detention camps.

Xi Jinping authorised mass detention through speeches after terror attacks in Xinjiang: Project manager 'China Cables'

From the systematic purge of dissenters within the communist party to targetting students in Hong Kong to the sickening reality of millions of Uighurs in detention camps in Xinjiang province, Xi Jinping's China is veering towards dangerous majoritarianism and dictatorship.

On WION Edit, we will look at whether the Chinese president can survive the current political crisis.

The story of Uighur Muslims is revealing - this is the largest mass incarceration of an ethnic minority since the second world war. And so far, Xi Jinping's administration is getting away with it.

But the leaks, first in the New York Times and now by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICJ) reveal that all is not well within the Communist Party of China.

Yes, there is no open opposition to Xi Jinping but the cracks are widening.

Xi Jinping's stance to 'show no mercy' and 'allow no escapes' show hints of a leader who will do anything to prevent dissent. Also targetting partymen who oppose this 'dictatorial' and 'genocidal' mindset may have simmered dissent within the party.

The case of Hong Kong is much worse. The city-state has seen protests since the chief executive Carrie Lam brought the extradition bill.

The protests have grown in size and intent since then and now, the victory of pro-democracy candidates in local elections show that Hong Kongers will not sit idle and watch Xi Jinping's-dictatorship unfold.

Besides, the representatives are asking for democratic rights, something which will not sit pretty with the communist dictatorship in China.

Beijing can keep blaming the western world but the reality is this - the people of Hong Kong are fed up of authoritarianism. And police brutality will not save the day for Xi Jinping, it will only galvanise protests as the last six months have shown.&nbsp;

Look at it &nbsp;Xi Jinping has tried every trick at his disposal. Apps to teach the Xi Jinping thought have been forced on over 100 million people of China and Hong Kong. There is 'thought control' in the campuses of China's universities.&nbsp;

China's media has been forced to work under one maxim - 'love the party, protect the party'. Yet, one leak after another keeps emerging and that shows the rise in dissent.&nbsp;

For years, Xi Jinping has systematically promoted himself, but that image is getting eroded by the minute.

So can Xi survive this? The Chinese state has the military might, brutality and mind-numbing aggression to target its own people - if needed. This is a regime that will do anything to protect itself.

But, also bear in mind that the protesters are not giving up in Hong Kong and Xinjiang is a ticking time bomb. China's economy which served as a hedge against social unrest is unravelling under the pressure of the trade war. This is perhaps the biggest test to Xi Jinping's leadership.

International pressure is mounting too. There are 21 Australians, 5 of them - children - who have been detained in Xinjiang.

The global community has been tepid on the opposition to china's brutality so far, but that's changing too.

At some point in time, Xi Jinping's administration must come with a justification for what is doing in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

At present, it seems as if Xi Jinping's situation is secure, but if the dissent grows in the party further, that may become untenable. 
 
(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

From the systematic purge of dissenters within the communist party to targetting students in Hong Kong to the sickening reality of millions of Uighurs in detention camps in Xinjiang province, Xi Jinping's China is veering towards dangerous majoritarianism and dictatorship.

From the systematic purge of dissenters within the communist party to targetting students in Hong Kong to the sickening reality of millions of Uighurs in detention camps in Xinjiang province, Xi Jinping's China is veering towards dangerous majoritarianism and dictatorship. On WION Edit, we will look at whether the Chinese president can survive the current political crisis. The story of Uighur Muslims is revealing - this is the largest mass incarceration of an ethnic minority since the second world war. And so far, Xi Jinping's administration is getting away with it. But the leaks, first in the New York Times and now by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICJ) reveal that all is not well within the Communist Party of China. Yes, there is no open opposition to Xi Jinping but the cracks are widening. Xi Jinping's stance to 'show no mercy' and 'allow no escapes' show hints of a leader who will do anything to prevent dissent. Also targetting partymen who oppose this 'dictatorial' and 'genocidal' mindset may have simmered dissent within the party. The case of Hong Kong is much worse. The city-state has seen protests since the chief executive Carrie Lam brought the extradition bill. The protests have grown in size and intent since then and now, the victory of pro-democracy candidates in local elections show that Hong Kongers will not sit idle and watch Xi Jinping's-dictatorship unfold. Besides, the representatives are asking for democratic rights, something which will not sit pretty with the communist dictatorship in China. Beijing can keep blaming the western world but the reality is this - the people of Hong Kong are fed up of authoritarianism. And police brutality will not save the day for Xi Jinping, it will only galvanise protests as the last six months have shown. Look at it Xi Jinping has tried every trick at his disposal. Apps to teach the Xi Jinping thought have been forced on over 100 million people of China and Hong Kong. There is 'thought control' in the campuses of China's universities. China's media has been forced to work under one maxim - 'love the party, protect the party'. Yet, one leak after another keeps emerging and that shows the rise in dissent. For years, Xi Jinping has systematically promoted himself, but that image is getting eroded by the minute. So can Xi survive this? The Chinese state has the military might, brutality and mind-numbing aggression to target its own people - if needed. This is a regime that will do anything to protect itself. But, also bear in mind that the protesters are not giving up in Hong Kong and Xinjiang is a ticking time bomb. China's economy which served as a hedge against social unrest is unravelling under the pressure of the trade war. This is perhaps the biggest test to Xi Jinping's leadership. International pressure is mounting too. There are 21 Australians, 5 of them - children - who have been detained in Xinjiang. The global community has been tepid on the opposition to china's brutality so far, but that's changing too. At some point in time, Xi Jinping's administration must come with a justification for what is doing in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. At present, it seems as if Xi Jinping's situation is secure, but if the dissent grows in the party further, that may become untenable. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: Is Xi Jinping facing rebellion from within?

China will strive to reach an initial <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-china-trade-deal-may-not-be-signed-this-year-263497">trade agreement </a>with the United States as both sides keep communication channels open, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, in an attempt to allay fears talks might be unraveling.

China is willing to work with the United States to resolve each other's core concerns on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and will try hard to reach a "phase one" deal, Gao Feng, spokesman at the ministry, told reporters.

"This is in line with the interests of both China and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/donald-trump-says-us-is-still-talking-to-china-on-trade-263477">United States</a>, and of the world," Gao said.

Economists warn that the prolonged trade dispute between China and the United States is escalating risks to the global economy by disrupting supply chains, discouraging investment and dampening business confidence.

Completion of a phase one deal could slide into next year, trade experts and people close to the White House told Reuters previously, as Beijing presses for more extensive tariff rollbacks and the US&nbsp;administration counters with heightened demands of its own.

Officials from Beijing had suggested that Chinese President Xi Jinping and US&nbsp;counterpart Donald Trump might sign a deal in early December.

Some experts said the next date to watch was Dec&nbsp;15, when US&nbsp;tariffs on about $156 billion in Chinese goods are set to take effect, including holiday gift items such as electronics and Christmas decorations.

In a dinner speech in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said he was "cautiously optimistic" on a phase one deal, Bloomberg News said, citing people who attended the event ahead of a forum organised by Bloomberg LP.

Liu, China's chief negotiator at the trade talks, separately told one of the attendees that he was "confused" about the US&nbsp;demands, but was confident the first phase of a deal could be completed nevertheless, Bloomberg added.

Gao, when asked about sticking points and whether they were related to Washington's demand for China to buy more US&nbsp;farm goods and the tariff rollbacks, said he did not have more information to disclose beyond the fact that both parties would continue to communicate, and "outside rumours are not accurate."

A former Chinese commerce minister told Reuters that both sides should return to the time when the trade war first started.

"We should return to the point of origin and cancel all tariffs," Wei Jianguo said on the sidelines of the Bloomberg forum.

Wei said he was hopeful for a phase one pact, in light of the pressure on both the US&nbsp;and Chinese economies as the trade war dragged on.

"Now, Trump himself is cognizant about the needs of the (upcoming US) elections, and the US&nbsp;economy has also suffered great losses," he said.

"Under such circumstances, it is entirely possible to reach a phased agreement."

Hong Kong issue

A fresh row between Washington and Beijing over US&nbsp;legislation on Hong Kong has also threatened to undermine their trade talks and delay a phase one deal that investors had initially hoped to be signed by now.

The US&nbsp;House of Representatives on Wednesday passed two bills to back protesters in Hong Kong and send a warning to China about human rights, with Trump expected to sign them into law.

The measure, which has angered Beijing, would require the State Department to certify at least once a year that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy to qualify for the special US&nbsp;trading consideration that helped it become a world financial centre.

It also would provide for sanctions against officials responsible for human rights violations in the Chinese-ruled city.

"We urge the US&nbsp;side to cease this activity, stop before it's too late and take measures to prevent these measures from becoming law, stop meddling in Hong Kong's affairs and China's affairs," said Geng Shuang, spokesman at the Chinese foreign ministry.

"If they must insist on going down this wrong path China will take strong counter-measures," Geng told reporters at a regular briefing on Thursday.

Demonstrators have protested for months in the streets of Hong Kong, amid increasing violence and fears that Beijing will ramp up its response to stop the civil disobedience.

Trump has 10 days, excluding Sundays, to sign a bill passed by Congress, unless he opts to use his veto.

On Thursday, the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s main newspaper, the People's Daily, urged the United States to "rein in the horse at the edge of the precipice" and stop interfering in Hong Kong matters and China’s internal affairs.

"If the US&nbsp;side obstinately clings to its course, the Chinese side will inevitably adopt forceful measures to take resolute revenge, and all consequences will be borne by the United States," it said in a front-page editorial.

China will strive to reach an initial trade agreement with the United States as both sides keep communication channels open, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, in an attempt to allay fears talks might be unraveling.

China will strive to reach an initial trade agreement with the United States as both sides keep communication channels open, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, in an attempt to allay fears talks might be unraveling. China is willing to work with the United States to resolve each other's core concerns on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and will try hard to reach a "phase one" deal, Gao Feng, spokesman at the ministry, told reporters. "This is in line with the interests of both China and the United States, and of the world," Gao said. Economists warn that the prolonged trade dispute between China and the United States is escalating risks to the global economy by disrupting supply chains, discouraging investment and dampening business confidence. Completion of a phase one deal could slide into next year, trade experts and people close to the White House told Reuters previously, as Beijing presses for more extensive tariff rollbacks and the US administration counters with heightened demands of its own. Officials from Beijing had suggested that Chinese President Xi Jinping and US counterpart Donald Trump might sign a deal in early December. Some experts said the next date to watch was Dec 15, when US tariffs on about $156 billion in Chinese goods are set to take effect, including holiday gift items such as electronics and Christmas decorations. In a dinner speech in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said he was "cautiously optimistic" on a phase one deal, Bloomberg News said, citing people who attended the event ahead of a forum organised by Bloomberg LP. Liu, China's chief negotiator at the trade talks, separately told one of the attendees that he was "confused" about the US demands, but was confident the first phase of a deal could be completed nevertheless, Bloomberg added. Gao, when asked about sticking points and whether they were related to Washington's demand for China to buy more US farm goods and the tariff rollbacks, said he did not have more information to disclose beyond the fact that both parties would continue to communicate, and "outside rumours are not accurate." A former Chinese commerce minister told Reuters that both sides should return to the time when the trade war first started. "We should return to the point of origin and cancel all tariffs," Wei Jianguo said on the sidelines of the Bloomberg forum. Wei said he was hopeful for a phase one pact, in light of the pressure on both the US and Chinese economies as the trade war dragged on. "Now, Trump himself is cognizant about the needs of the (upcoming US) elections, and the US economy has also suffered great losses," he said. "Under such circumstances, it is entirely possible to reach a phased agreement." Hong Kong issue A fresh row between Washington and Beijing over US legislation on Hong Kong has also threatened to undermine their trade talks and delay a phase one deal that investors had initially hoped to be signed by now. The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed two bills to back protesters in Hong Kong and send a warning to China about human rights, with Trump expected to sign them into law. The measure, which has angered Beijing, would require the State Department to certify at least once a year that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy to qualify for the special US trading consideration that helped it become a world financial centre. It also would provide for sanctions against officials responsible for human rights violations in the Chinese-ruled city. "We urge the US side to cease this activity, stop before it's too late and take measures to prevent these measures from becoming law, stop meddling in Hong Kong's affairs and China's affairs," said Geng Shuang, spokesman at the Chinese foreign ministry. "If they must insist on going down this wrong path China will take strong counter-measures," Geng told reporters at a regular briefing on Thursday. Demonstrators have protested for months in the streets of Hong Kong, amid increasing violence and fears that Beijing will ramp up its response to stop the civil disobedience. Trump has 10 days, excluding Sundays, to sign a bill passed by Congress, unless he opts to use his veto. On Thursday, the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s main newspaper, the People's Daily, urged the United States to "rein in the horse at the edge of the precipice" and stop interfering in Hong Kong matters and China’s internal affairs. "If the US side obstinately clings to its course, the Chinese side will inevitably adopt forceful measures to take resolute revenge, and all consequences will be borne by the United States," it said in a front-page editorial.

Will strive to reach 'phase one' trade deal with US: China

US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-china-tariffs-will-go-even-higher-without-deal-263234">Donald Trump </a>said on Wednesday the United States is continuing to talk to China but gave no other details, as both sides tried to hammer out a phase one trade deal ahead of looming US tariffs due next month.

"We continue to talk to China. China wants to make a deal. The question is: Do I want to make a deal? Because I like what's happening now," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump last month announced an agreement for an initial trade deal with Beijing but no formal agreement has been released. The pact had initially been expected to be signed by mid-November, but experts now say it could be pushed into next year.

Two people briefed on the talks have said Trump wants deeper concessions from China in order to roll back existing tariffs and cancel additional tariffs on some $156 billion in Chinese consumer goods scheduled to take effect Dec&nbsp;15.

On Tuesday, Trump also threatened to raise tariffs if no deal is reached with Beijing.

The ongoing trade dispute between the world's two largest economies have roiled financial markets and threatened global economic growth.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States is continuing to talk to China but gave no other details, as both sides tried to hammer out a phase one trade deal ahead of looming US tariffs due next month.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States is continuing to talk to China but gave no other details, as both sides tried to hammer out a phase one trade deal ahead of looming US tariffs due next month. "We continue to talk to China. China wants to make a deal. The question is: Do I want to make a deal? Because I like what's happening now," Trump told reporters at the White House. Trump last month announced an agreement for an initial trade deal with Beijing but no formal agreement has been released. The pact had initially been expected to be signed by mid-November, but experts now say it could be pushed into next year. Two people briefed on the talks have said Trump wants deeper concessions from China in order to roll back existing tariffs and cancel additional tariffs on some $156 billion in Chinese consumer goods scheduled to take effect Dec 15. On Tuesday, Trump also threatened to raise tariffs if no deal is reached with Beijing. The ongoing trade dispute between the world's two largest economies have roiled financial markets and threatened global economic growth.

Donald Trump says US is still talking to China on trade

Some anti-government protesters trapped inside a Hong Kong university on Wednesday tried to flee through the sewers, where one student said she saw snakes, but fireman prevented further escape bids by blocking a metal manhole into the system.

Reuters witnesses said fewer than 100 protesters remained inside the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-university-protest-fizzling-out-as-over-1000-arrested-by-authorities-263246">Polytechnic University</a>, ring-fenced 24 hours a day by riot police and barricades after more than 1,000 were arrested from late on Monday.

Some surrendered while others were grabbed in escape attempts that included trying to clamber down ropes to waiting motorbikes.

Some protesters, wearing waterproof boots and carrying torches, resurfaced inside the campus after unsuccessfully probing the sewers - where fast-rising water levels are also a hazard - for a way out during the night.

It was unclear if any had managed to escape that way.

Firefighters, whom the students let on to the campus, were in place to stop any further such attempts to flee, blocking the only feasible entrance into the sewer system in an underground car park.

"The sewer was very smelly, with many cockroaches, many snakes. Every step was very, very painful," said Bowie, 21, a student at Hong Kong University who was forced to turn back.

"I’d never thought that one day I would need to hide in a sewer or escape through sewers to survive. The most unforgettable feeling is fear when I was inside."

She said she and friends were in the dirty water for about an hour, only to find they were no closer to escape.

"When we reached the end, we found we were still in the poly," she said.

Police searched for any escapees during the night with spotlights, without resorting to the tear gas and rubber bullets that marked clashes in recent days.

Police said nearly 800 people had left the campus peacefully by late on Tuesday and they would be investigated, including nearly 300 under the age of 18.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has called for a humane end to a siege that saw the most intense clashes since the protests escalated more than five months ago.

"We are hopeful that this incident will come to a peaceful end in the near future," university president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-police-fire-rubber-bullets-at-university-protesters-262848">Teng Jin-Guang</a> told reporters.

"If any protesters are still worried about the process of coming out, I can assure you, because I have the assurance from the police force, if you come out, myself or one of my team members will meet you outside. We will accompany you to the police station to make sure that the whole case is going to be processed peacefully, fairly and humanely."

Police tightened security in the streets around the university, making them safe enough for a late Tuesday visit by the force's new commissioner, Chris Tang, at the end of his first day on the job.

Tang earlier urged the support of all citizens to end the unrest triggered by fears that Beijing is stifling the former British colony's freedoms and extensive autonomy guaranteed in its handover to Chinese rule in 1997.

Tang is under pressure to restore police morale as well as public confidence in a force that has come in for widespread criticism for increasingly violent tactics. Police deny accusations of using excessive force.

Police have made more than 5,000 arrests in connection with the protests since June.

The number of criminal damage cases reported between June and September was up 29.6 per cent&nbsp;on the same period last year, Commerce Secretary Edward Yau said in a written statement. Arson cases were up 57.4 per cent.

Chinese leaders say they are committed to the "one country, two systems" formula put in place in 1997 and have accused foreign countries, including Britain and the United States, of stirring up trouble.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned China’s treatment of Simon Cheng, a former employee of Britain’s Hong Kong consulate, who said secret police beat him seeking information about the protest movement.

"We were shocked and appalled by the mistreatment he suffered while in Chinese detention, which amounts to torture," Raab said, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Cheng had been detained for 15 days and had admitted fully to his offences. All of his legal rights were safeguarded, the spokesman said.

The US&nbsp;Senate unanimously passed the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act", which would require the secretary of state to certify at least once a year that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy to qualify for special US&nbsp;trading consideration and would impose sanctions against officials responsible for rights violations.

The bill must be reconciled with similar legislation approved by the House of Representatives.&nbsp;

China summoned a representative of the US&nbsp;embassy in Beijing over the legislation and demanded that the United States stop meddling, the foreign ministry said.

The Hong Kong government expressed "deep regret" at the bill.

The unrest marks the most serious popular challenge to Chinese President<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/chinas-relationships-with-greece-and-italy-are-deepening-eu-is-reaping-exactly-what-it-sowed-263124"> Xi Jinping</a> since he came to power in 2012.

Protesters still have vast stocks of petrol bombs, bows and arrows and other makeshift weapons after a weekend of fiery crashes.

The university on the Kowloon peninsula is the last of five that protesters had occupied to use as bases from which to disrupt the city over the past 10 days, blocking the central Cross-Harbour Tunnel outside and other arteries.

Some anti-government protesters trapped inside a Hong Kong university on Wednesday tried to flee through the sewers, where one student said she saw snakes, but fireman prevented further escape bids by blocking a metal manhole into the system.

Some anti-government protesters trapped inside a Hong Kong university on Wednesday tried to flee through the sewers, where one student said she saw snakes, but fireman prevented further escape bids by blocking a metal manhole into the system. Reuters witnesses said fewer than 100 protesters remained inside the Polytechnic University, ring-fenced 24 hours a day by riot police and barricades after more than 1,000 were arrested from late on Monday. Some surrendered while others were grabbed in escape attempts that included trying to clamber down ropes to waiting motorbikes. Some protesters, wearing waterproof boots and carrying torches, resurfaced inside the campus after unsuccessfully probing the sewers - where fast-rising water levels are also a hazard - for a way out during the night. It was unclear if any had managed to escape that way. Firefighters, whom the students let on to the campus, were in place to stop any further such attempts to flee, blocking the only feasible entrance into the sewer system in an underground car park. "The sewer was very smelly, with many cockroaches, many snakes. Every step was very, very painful," said Bowie, 21, a student at Hong Kong University who was forced to turn back. "I’d never thought that one day I would need to hide in a sewer or escape through sewers to survive. The most unforgettable feeling is fear when I was inside." She said she and friends were in the dirty water for about an hour, only to find they were no closer to escape. "When we reached the end, we found we were still in the poly," she said. Police searched for any escapees during the night with spotlights, without resorting to the tear gas and rubber bullets that marked clashes in recent days. Police said nearly 800 people had left the campus peacefully by late on Tuesday and they would be investigated, including nearly 300 under the age of 18. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has called for a humane end to a siege that saw the most intense clashes since the protests escalated more than five months ago. "We are hopeful that this incident will come to a peaceful end in the near future," university president Teng Jin-Guang told reporters. "If any protesters are still worried about the process of coming out, I can assure you, because I have the assurance from the police force, if you come out, myself or one of my team members will meet you outside. We will accompany you to the police station to make sure that the whole case is going to be processed peacefully, fairly and humanely." Police tightened security in the streets around the university, making them safe enough for a late Tuesday visit by the force's new commissioner, Chris Tang, at the end of his first day on the job. Tang earlier urged the support of all citizens to end the unrest triggered by fears that Beijing is stifling the former British colony's freedoms and extensive autonomy guaranteed in its handover to Chinese rule in 1997. Tang is under pressure to restore police morale as well as public confidence in a force that has come in for widespread criticism for increasingly violent tactics. Police deny accusations of using excessive force. Police have made more than 5,000 arrests in connection with the protests since June. The number of criminal damage cases reported between June and September was up 29.6 per cent on the same period last year, Commerce Secretary Edward Yau said in a written statement. Arson cases were up 57.4 per cent. Chinese leaders say they are committed to the "one country, two systems" formula put in place in 1997 and have accused foreign countries, including Britain and the United States, of stirring up trouble. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned China’s treatment of Simon Cheng, a former employee of Britain’s Hong Kong consulate, who said secret police beat him seeking information about the protest movement. "We were shocked and appalled by the mistreatment he suffered while in Chinese detention, which amounts to torture," Raab said, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Cheng had been detained for 15 days and had admitted fully to his offences. All of his legal rights were safeguarded, the spokesman said. The US Senate unanimously passed the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act", which would require the secretary of state to certify at least once a year that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy to qualify for special US trading consideration and would impose sanctions against officials responsible for rights violations. The bill must be reconciled with similar legislation approved by the House of Representatives. China summoned a representative of the US embassy in Beijing over the legislation and demanded that the United States stop meddling, the foreign ministry said. The Hong Kong government expressed "deep regret" at the bill. The unrest marks the most serious popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012. Protesters still have vast stocks of petrol bombs, bows and arrows and other makeshift weapons after a weekend of fiery crashes. The university on the Kowloon peninsula is the last of five that protesters had occupied to use as bases from which to disrupt the city over the past 10 days, blocking the central Cross-Harbour Tunnel outside and other arteries.

Hong Kong students' sewer escape thwarted as rows with UK, US grow

A trove of leaked Chinese government documents reveals details of its clampdown on Uighurs and other Muslims in the country's western Xinjiang region under President Xi Jinping, the New York Times reported on Saturday. WION speaks to Dr. Halmurat Uyghur, President of Uyghuraid for more clarity on this.

China's Uighur 400+ documents leaked, leak reveals details of Xinjiang clampdown

A police officer was struck by an arrow fired by a Hong Kong protester on Sunday and an armoured vehicle set ablaze, as fierce clashes raged into the night around a campus which has turned into a base for a pro-democracy movement whose protests have plunged the city into turmoil.

Protests have tremored through the global financial hub since June with many in the city of 7.5 million people venting fury at eroding freedoms under Chinese rule.

China has repeatedly warned that it will not tolerate the dissent, and there have been concerns that Beijing could send in troops to put an end to the unrest.

Chinese President Xi Jinping this week issued his most strident comments on the crisis, saying it threatened the "one country, two systems" model under which Hong Kong has been ruled since the 1997 handover from Britain.

On Sunday activists dug in at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) vowing to defend it from police and to maintain a blockade on the nearby Cross Harbour Tunnel, which has been closed for several days.

As dusk fell, police tried to retake a footbridge over the tunnel but were met by a barrage of petrol bombs that caused a huge fire.

Later an armoured vehicle edged towards protesters encamped on a flyover near the university, who met it with a flurry of petrol bombs setting the vehicle alight, according to a live-streamed video of the incident shown by several local media.

The driver was forced to retreat and the fire was extinguished as protesters appeared resolute in their desire to turn the campus into a hub -- a twist in tactics by a leaderless movement so far defined by its fluid, unpredictable nature.

"We need a base to keep our gear and have some rest at night before another fight in the morning," said a 23-year-old PolyU student called Kason.

Earlier, activists parried attempts by police to break through into the PolyU campus, firing rocks from a homemade catapult from the university roof.

An AFP reporter saw a team of masked archers -- several carrying sports bows -- patrolling the campus.

Police shared images of an arrow embedded in the calf of an officer outside the campus and decried the use of "lethal weapons," declaring the campus a "riot scene" -- a rioting conviction carries up to 10 years in jail.

Activists have vowed to wreak further havoc on Monday, in a follow-up to a week of chaos which left city streets strewn with debris and saw white-collar workers take to the streets in support of the frontline protesters.

'Squeeze the economy'

Demonstrators last week engineered a "Blossom Everywhere" campaign of blockades and vandalism, which forced the police to draft in prison officers, shut down large chunks of Hong Kong's train network and closed schools and shopping malls.

The movement, characterised by its fluidity and unpredictability, has started to coagulate in fixed locations, showing their ability to switch tactics.

The protests started against a now shelved bill to allow extradition to China but have billowed to encompass wider issues such as perceived police brutality and calls for universal suffrage in the former British colony.

Two people have died this month as the violence worsened, while the financial hub has been pushed into a recession by the turmoil.

Hong Kong's airport authority on Sunday said October traffic figures were down 13 per cent on last year with 5.4 million passengers as the economy takes a battering.

A poster circulating on social media called for the "dawn action" to continue on Monday.&nbsp;

"Get up early, directly target the regime, squeeze the economy to increase pressure," it said.

The education bureau said schools will remain closed again on Monday.

Divided city

Earlier on Sunday, dozens of pro-government supporters gathered to clear barricades near the university campus -- a sign of the divisions slicing through the city.

Many residents are wearied by the sapping protests. Others support the Chinese-backed city government.

Some applauded a Saturday cameo in a clean-up by Chinese troops from a garrison of the People's Liberation Army in Kowloon, who burst from the barracks in a rare and highly symbolic appearance on Hong Kong's streets.

The garrison is usually confined to the barracks under Hong Kong's mini-constitution, although it can be deployed under the request of the city's government to help with public order breakdown or natural disasters.

Hong Kong government, which presides over a city that enjoys greater freedoms than the mainland, said it did not ask the PLA for help on Saturday.

The choreographed troop movement "has only compounded the impression that Beijing has simply ignored" Hong Kong's unique political system, said analyst Dixon Sing. 
&nbsp;

A police officer was struck by an arrow fired by a Hong Kong protester on Sunday and an armoured vehicle set ablaze, as fierce clashes raged into the night around a campus which has turned into a base for a pro-democracy movement whose protests have plunged the city into turmoil.

A police officer was struck by an arrow fired by a Hong Kong protester on Sunday and an armoured vehicle set ablaze, as fierce clashes raged into the night around a campus which has turned into a base for a pro-democracy movement whose protests have plunged the city into turmoil. Protests have tremored through the global financial hub since June with many in the city of 7.5 million people venting fury at eroding freedoms under Chinese rule. China has repeatedly warned that it will not tolerate the dissent, and there have been concerns that Beijing could send in troops to put an end to the unrest. Chinese President Xi Jinping this week issued his most strident comments on the crisis, saying it threatened the "one country, two systems" model under which Hong Kong has been ruled since the 1997 handover from Britain. On Sunday activists dug in at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) vowing to defend it from police and to maintain a blockade on the nearby Cross Harbour Tunnel, which has been closed for several days. As dusk fell, police tried to retake a footbridge over the tunnel but were met by a barrage of petrol bombs that caused a huge fire. Later an armoured vehicle edged towards protesters encamped on a flyover near the university, who met it with a flurry of petrol bombs setting the vehicle alight, according to a live-streamed video of the incident shown by several local media. The driver was forced to retreat and the fire was extinguished as protesters appeared resolute in their desire to turn the campus into a hub -- a twist in tactics by a leaderless movement so far defined by its fluid, unpredictable nature. "We need a base to keep our gear and have some rest at night before another fight in the morning," said a 23-year-old PolyU student called Kason. Earlier, activists parried attempts by police to break through into the PolyU campus, firing rocks from a homemade catapult from the university roof. An AFP reporter saw a team of masked archers -- several carrying sports bows -- patrolling the campus. Police shared images of an arrow embedded in the calf of an officer outside the campus and decried the use of "lethal weapons," declaring the campus a "riot scene" -- a rioting conviction carries up to 10 years in jail. Activists have vowed to wreak further havoc on Monday, in a follow-up to a week of chaos which left city streets strewn with debris and saw white-collar workers take to the streets in support of the frontline protesters. 'Squeeze the economy' Demonstrators last week engineered a "Blossom Everywhere" campaign of blockades and vandalism, which forced the police to draft in prison officers, shut down large chunks of Hong Kong's train network and closed schools and shopping malls. The movement, characterised by its fluidity and unpredictability, has started to coagulate in fixed locations, showing their ability to switch tactics. The protests started against a now shelved bill to allow extradition to China but have billowed to encompass wider issues such as perceived police brutality and calls for universal suffrage in the former British colony. Two people have died this month as the violence worsened, while the financial hub has been pushed into a recession by the turmoil. Hong Kong's airport authority on Sunday said October traffic figures were down 13 per cent on last year with 5.4 million passengers as the economy takes a battering. A poster circulating on social media called for the "dawn action" to continue on Monday. "Get up early, directly target the regime, squeeze the economy to increase pressure," it said. The education bureau said schools will remain closed again on Monday. Divided city Earlier on Sunday, dozens of pro-government supporters gathered to clear barricades near the university campus -- a sign of the divisions slicing through the city. Many residents are wearied by the sapping protests. Others support the Chinese-backed city government. Some applauded a Saturday cameo in a clean-up by Chinese troops from a garrison of the People's Liberation Army in Kowloon, who burst from the barracks in a rare and highly symbolic appearance on Hong Kong's streets. The garrison is usually confined to the barracks under Hong Kong's mini-constitution, although it can be deployed under the request of the city's government to help with public order breakdown or natural disasters. Hong Kong government, which presides over a city that enjoys greater freedoms than the mainland, said it did not ask the PLA for help on Saturday. The choreographed troop movement "has only compounded the impression that Beijing has simply ignored" Hong Kong's unique political system, said analyst Dixon Sing.

Hong Kong protest: Armoured vehicle set ablaze as fierce clashes continue

A police officer was struck in the leg by an arrow shot by a Hong Kong protester on Sunday, an AFP report said quoting city's force. Graphic images showed the arrow embedded in the calf of the police officer, who was working at the scene of fierce clashes at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on the force's media liaison team.

A police officer was struck in the leg by an arrow shot by a Hong Kong protester on Sunday, an AFP report said quoting city's force. Graphic images showed the arrow embedded in the calf of the police officer, who was working at the scene of fierce clashes at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on the force's media liaison team. The incident took place during a standoff between anti-government protesters and Hong Kong police around a barricaded university. Activists hurled petrol bombs, some by catapult, and shot arrows with bows at police who fired tear gas and water cannon in response in the standoff at the Polytechnic University in Kowloon. Clashes between protesters and police have become increasingly violent in the Chinese-ruled city, which is grappling with its biggest political crisis in decades. The demonstrations pose the gravest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012. Xi has said he is confident the Hong Kong government can resolve the crisis. Until Saturday, Chinese troops in the city had remained inside their base during the protests. (With inputs from agencies)

Arrow fired by Hong Kong protester hits police officer: Report 

The BRICS nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, on Thursday, reaffirmed their fundamental commitment to mutual respect and share the goal of building a peaceful, stable and a prosperous world.

The document presents a shared vision of the BRICS nations on such issues as a reform of the system of international relations, strengthening of international financial and economic architecture, future cooperation between the five countries.

"Building on the work of successive summits in the pillars of economy, peace and security and people-to-people exchanges, we will continue to strengthen BRICS cooperation for the benefit and welfare of our peoples and enhance the traditional ties of friendship amongst our countries," the document said.

It also emphasised the need for a constructive dialogue and cooperation on conserving biodiversity, prohibiting the use of chemical weapons, anti-money laundering and terror financing, infrastructure, including the G20 infrastructure agenda, the New Development Bank`s Project Preparation Facility, counter-terrorism, security in the use of ICTs, major international and regional hot spots, peacekeeping and transnational organised crime.

Heads of BRICS member states also stood "unanimous" in resolving the long-standing conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa as well as Israel and Palestine."We are unanimous in our resolve that the conflicts elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa should not be used as a pretext to delay resolution of the long-standing Palestinian-Israeli conflict," the leaders stressed.

"Guided by the international framework in places, such as the relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative, we reiterate that the two-state solution will enable Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side, in peace and security," they said in the document. "In this context, we express, furthermore, the need for new and creative diplomatic efforts to achieving a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in order to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East," the leaders noted.

The leaders also expressed serious concern about the ongoing crisis in the Gulf region and reiterated continuous support to the people of Afghanistan in their effort to build a stable, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous country.

"We firmly believe that there is no military solution to the situation in Afghanistan. We reaffirm our support for a process of peace and reconciliation that is Afghan-owned and Afghan-led. We express concern over the persistence of terrorist-related attacks," the document read.

The theme of the BRICS summit this year was `Economic Growth for an Innovative Future` and therefore, keeping in tandem with it, the countries highlighted the importance of science, technology and innovation (STI) as one of the main drivers of economic growth as well as a key element to shape the future of societies.

The member countries also led to the foundation of the BRICS Network of Human Milk Banks and emphasised the importance of our collective action in promoting research and development of medicines and diagnostic tools to end epidemics, to combat communicable diseases and to facilitate access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines, as well as activities to strengthen non-communicable diseases prevention.

Terrorism was another important point of focus at the summit. The leaders once again vowed their commitment to fighting terror and agreed to maintain efforts on anti-corruption law enforcement cooperation and returning of assets, including on civil and administrative proceedings.&nbsp;

The BRICS nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, on Thursday, reaffirmed their fundamental commitment to mutual respect and share the goal of building a peaceful, stable and a prosperous world.

The BRICS nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, on Thursday, reaffirmed their fundamental commitment to mutual respect and share the goal of building a peaceful, stable and a prosperous world. The document presents a shared vision of the BRICS nations on such issues as a reform of the system of international relations, strengthening of international financial and economic architecture, future cooperation between the five countries. "Building on the work of successive summits in the pillars of economy, peace and security and people-to-people exchanges, we will continue to strengthen BRICS cooperation for the benefit and welfare of our peoples and enhance the traditional ties of friendship amongst our countries," the document said. It also emphasised the need for a constructive dialogue and cooperation on conserving biodiversity, prohibiting the use of chemical weapons, anti-money laundering and terror financing, infrastructure, including the G20 infrastructure agenda, the New Development Bank`s Project Preparation Facility, counter-terrorism, security in the use of ICTs, major international and regional hot spots, peacekeeping and transnational organised crime. Heads of BRICS member states also stood "unanimous" in resolving the long-standing conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa as well as Israel and Palestine."We are unanimous in our resolve that the conflicts elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa should not be used as a pretext to delay resolution of the long-standing Palestinian-Israeli conflict," the leaders stressed. "Guided by the international framework in places, such as the relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative, we reiterate that the two-state solution will enable Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side, in peace and security," they said in the document. "In this context, we express, furthermore, the need for new and creative diplomatic efforts to achieving a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in order to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East," the leaders noted. The leaders also expressed serious concern about the ongoing crisis in the Gulf region and reiterated continuous support to the people of Afghanistan in their effort to build a stable, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous country. "We firmly believe that there is no military solution to the situation in Afghanistan. We reaffirm our support for a process of peace and reconciliation that is Afghan-owned and Afghan-led. We express concern over the persistence of terrorist-related attacks," the document read. The theme of the BRICS summit this year was `Economic Growth for an Innovative Future` and therefore, keeping in tandem with it, the countries highlighted the importance of science, technology and innovation (STI) as one of the main drivers of economic growth as well as a key element to shape the future of societies. The member countries also led to the foundation of the BRICS Network of Human Milk Banks and emphasised the importance of our collective action in promoting research and development of medicines and diagnostic tools to end epidemics, to combat communicable diseases and to facilitate access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines, as well as activities to strengthen non-communicable diseases prevention. Terrorism was another important point of focus at the summit. The leaders once again vowed their commitment to fighting terror and agreed to maintain efforts on anti-corruption law enforcement cooperation and returning of assets, including on civil and administrative proceedings.

BRICS stands united in resolving Israel-Palestine, Middle East conflict

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