China-Vietnam military meeting canceled – South China Sea tensions? – China’s latest political and current affairs news
A summary of the top news in Chinese politics and current affairs for June 21, 2017. Part of the daily The China Project newsletter, a convenient package of China’s business, political, and cultural news delivered to your inbox for free. Subscribe here.
The New York Times reports (paywall) that on June 20, a Chinese delegation unexpectedly canceled a scheduled gathering with senior military officials from Vietnam. The cancellation, according to a later statement by the Chinese Defense Ministry, was “for some reasons related to working arrangements.”
Analysts said that the Chinese delegation cut short the trip to Vietnam after disputes surfaced during a closed-door discussion on the South China Sea this week. Though it still remains unclear what precisely roiled the meeting between Chinese General Fan Changlong and Chinese and Vietnamese officials, analysts said that it appeared to stem from Vietnam’s recent efforts to promote strategic cooperation with the United States and Japan.
- EU discussing role as broker on North Korea / WSJ (paywall)
- In unusual move, Xi appoints top party leader to lead daily affairs of key committee / SCMP
- Postcard from Beidaihe: Beach politics for China’s elite / Financial Times (paywall)
- Draft law on detention centers won’t help reduce police torture, critics say / Caixin
