Live-fire drill in Djibouti – China’s latest political and current affairs news
A summary of the top news in Chinese politics and current affairs for September 25, 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.
Troops from China’s People’s Liberation Army were in June for the first time deployed at the country’s only overseas military base in Djibouti, the tiny African country bordering Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, and just on the opposite side of the Red Sea from Yemen.
Last week, troops completed China’s first live-fire drill organized at an overseas base, with the aim of training the troops and testing equipment in high temperature and high humidity environments, according to Sina (in Chinese). The South China Morning Post quotes a Beijing-based military commentator who says that “the high-profile drills were a message to local militants ‘not to harass’ the PLA troops.”
- U.S.-China relations
China urges restraint amid war of words between Trump and North Korea / Reuters
U.S. hopes for ‘good deliverables’ during Trump’s China visit / Reuters - Propaganda
China steps up ideology drive on college campuses / WSJ (paywall)
Hip hop with Chinese characteristics: The Communist Party plan to hook millennials / Reuters - North Korea
China imposes limit on oil supply to North Korea / AP
Top Chinese bank vows to strictly apply UN North Korea bans / SCMP
Too late, China and America see North Korea the same way / The Economist (paywall)
Japan needs to also push for dialogue with North Korea, not just sanctions: China’s top diplomat / CNBC
North Korea asserts a right to shoot down U.S. bombers / Washington Post (paywall) - 19th Party Congress
Wang Qishan’s Bannon ties fuel talk of second term / FT (paywall) - Japan
Japan claims Chinese ships again sail close to disputed islands / SCMP
Japanese citizen arrested in northern China on suspicion of spying / Reuters - Middle East
China says supports Iraq’s unity as Kurds vote in referendum / Reuters - Corruption
China jails former Tianjin mayor for 12 years over graft / Reuters
Chinese graft suspect returns from U.S. to surrender / Reuters
China’s ruling party expels anti-graft, ex-insurance officials citing graft / Reuters
