New construction in the South China Sea begins as China’s defense chief meets a Vietnam navy commander
Politics & Current Affairs
Top politics and current affairs news for March 15, 2017. Part of the daily The China Project news roundup "The case of the missing Politburo member."
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China begins new work on disputed South China Sea island / Reuters
New satellite images appear to show that China has started new construction work on islands in the Paracel archipelago (西沙群岛 xishā qúndǎo), which are also claimed by Vietnam. The work includes “land clearing and possible preparation for a harbor to support what experts believe may be eventual military installations.” Meanwhile, Xinhua reports that Chinese defense minister Chang Wanquan 常万全 met today with Pham Hoai Nam, commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy, “with the two sides vowing development of military-to-military relations.”
- China’s Xinjiang offers leniency for ‘terrorists’ who turn themselves in / Reuters
- How serious is the Islamic State threat to China? / The Diplomat
- Tillerson to press China on North Korea in tough first Asia trip / Reuters
- China could prevent 3 million deaths a year if air quality standards tightened, study suggests / SCMP
