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The China News Database was last updated at 07:24PM on June 7, 2023.
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243 articles matching the search query.
China’s global education strategy and the growing divide between East and West
Western critics of China have put a lot of scrutiny on Confucius Institutes, saying these schools of language and culture create CCP “echo chambers” that disseminate political ideology. But Beijing’s global education strategy is a lot more comprehensive than a network of CIs — and a lot less sinister.
A weekend of summits: G7 ramps up pressure on China while Xi unveils big plans for Central Asia
G7 leaders and their counterparts from guest nations took a stand to counter China during their summit in Hiroshima, Japan. Meanwhile, at a separate summit, Xi Jinping announced grand plans to build up China’s engagement in Central Asia.
Inside China’s lead and zinc mine in Balochistan, Pakistan
A Chinese state-owned company has controlled a lead and zinc mine in Duddar in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province since 2014. The mine gives steady work to some locals, paying around $100 a month, which is good for the impoverished area. Other residents just feel exploited.
Protest at Chinese-funded projects in Pakistan
The port of Gwadar is once again the scene of protests against Chinese-funded infrastructure. Locals say they are not seeing any benefits and have to endure too many security checkpoints to get around their own town.
Argentina joins China’s Belt and Road. What are the implications?
Why is the U.S. unhappy with this development? Could Argentina’s entry into the Belt and Road Initiative bring geopolitical tension to Latin America? What can we expect next? Let us explain.
Middle Eastern countries look to China for infrastructure funding, new technology
Countries in the Middle East, especially Iraq, are a new focus of investment under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a report out of Fudan University said today.
The China story behind Apple’s $3 trillion valuation with Doug Guthrie
From 2014 to 2019, Doug Guthrie led Apple University’s efforts on leadership and organizational development in China. He speaks to Chris about how Apple’s current success is due in large measure to the deep partnerships the company has in China.
Lethal Remedy – How the promotion of some traditional Chinese medicine in Africa poses a major threat to endangered wildlife - EIA
Leopards, pangolins, rhinos, and other endangered species are under threat in Africa as a result of rising local demand for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) finds in a new report. EIA Wildlife Campaigner Ceres Kam stated that “while the majority of TCM treatments are plant-based, some pharmaceutical companies continue to source ingredients from threatened animals, aggravating the pressure on the survival of these species…Our very real concern is that such a huge expansion of TCM in Africa, as is happening under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, will have the knock-on effect of drastically increasing demand for treatments containing wildlife and, in turn, cause more species to become threatened or extinct.” See also coverage of the report in Al Jazeera.
Biden Plans Global Infrastructure Financing to Challenge China's Belt and Road
The U.S. competitor to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the “Build Back Better World” (B3W) program, might launch in January 2022 with up to 10 flagship projects, an unnamed senior U.S. official told Bloomberg. B3W was first announced during a G7 meeting in June. For more on the possible implications and perceptions of the program in the Global South, see coverage on the China-Africa Project.
China to finance counter-terrorism base for Tajikistan
According to new reports, China is going to build a military base in Tajikistan, and take control of another one. There is no official confirmation yet, but the move shows how much Beijing is worrying about instability from Afghanistan.
Hidden debt and ‘major implementation challenges’ on China’s Belt and Road
A comprehensive report from AidData estimates that $385 billion in debt from Chinese loans have been hidden from official balance sheets, and 35% of China’s Belt and Road projects have “major implementation challenges.”
Xi Jinping says China ‘will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad’
At the UN General Assembly, China’s leader pledged to end support for coal projects overseas in favor of green and low-carbon energy. But while the single sentence effectively marked the end of coal financing abroad, China continues to build new coal power plants at home.
China’s overseas loans pose risks to ecology, indigenous lands: US study
Speedy approvals make Chinese loans attractive, but both policy banks and borrowing countries must step up due diligence, researchers behind study say.
Construction of Dar es Salaam regional logistics center to cost Sh264 billion
Noodle diplomacy: Linghang Group, an exporter of instant ramen, is building a $114 million commercial center in Tanzania to transport its products across East Africa, in the spirit of the Belt and Road Initiative.
EU challenges China’s Belt and Road Initiative with global infrastructure program
It sounds like the name of a frequent flyer program, but the new European initiative, “Global Gateway,” seeks to compete with the BRI by creating “links and not dependencies.” Can a Western “values-based” approach really hope to compete with the cold cash and hard infrastructure capacity from China?
As Angela Merkel’s exit looms, Germany’s ‘China city’ hopes for jobs boom
Duisburg, Germany’s ‘China city’, has long hoped that the surging export-import business would turn into larger investments bringing jobs to this town at the heart of Germany’s rust belt.
China ‘made example of’ Lithuania to prevent domino effect, observers say
Observers say there are deep concerns in Beijing that other European countries could follow the Baltic state’s lead.
Human rights abuses claimed in hundreds of China belt and road projects
A report has identified rights allegations involving Chinese companies in the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America and Africa.
Laos’ China-backed railway: hopes in Thailand, fears in Luang Prabang
Critics say Laos could struggle to repay Chinese debt and that overtourism could threaten Luang Prabang’s world heritage status.
Blinken promotes US infrastructure bill as vital to competition with China
‘Our domestic renewal and our strength in the world are completely intertwined,’ says US secretary of state.
As China ‘sets the agenda’, will US and allied pressure change?
Washington’s pressure on Beijing is not expected to let up as US President Joe Biden works jointly with Indo-Pacific partners.
Has China quit overseas coal financing?
China did not fund any overseas coal projects in the first half of 2021, the International Institute of Green Finance said. This marks a milestone in the greening of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which since its inception in 2013 had included generous funding of coal every year.
Chinese firms’ security in Pakistan must improve, say analysts
After bus blast killed 9 from China, companies urged to invest more in protection.
Syrian economy lies in ruins and China sniffs opportunity
Analysis: War may be winding down, but with Assad in charge for seven more years the country remains splintered
China and the Arab League publish joint statement that showcases Beijing’s growing geopolitical ambitions
China’s reach and influence in the Middle East and North Africa continue to grow.
China takes firm stand against regime change in Syria
Chinese foreign minister tells Syrian president that Beijing will support efforts to combat terrorism.
Afghanistan security casts a shadow over Wang Yi’s visit to Central Asia
China’s foreign minister addresses concerns among Afghanistan’s neighbours as Turkmenistan and Tajikistan move troops and weaponry closer to their borders.
What the COVID-19 Pandemic May Mean for China's Belt and Road Initiative
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spreads worldwide, the public health crisis and response will lay bare China’s leadership aspirat…
China’s Massive Belt and Road Initiative
China’s colossal infrastructure investments may usher in a new era of trade and growth for economies in Asia and beyond. But skeptics worry that China is laying a debt trap for borrowing governments.
Greece breaks EU ranks ahead of Beijing Winter Olympics boycott vote
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says he will attend the February Games in phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
China-Europe rail trade posts record traffic via Xinjiang, despite tensions
The China Railway Express saw a record number of freight train trips between Europe and China through Xinjiang in the first six months of the year, despite diplomatic tensions.
Trace China’s Growing Economic Influence
This tracker shows how the Belt and Road Initiative has changed countries’ bilateral economic relationships with China over time.
Chinese President to Visit Philippines, Talk Infrastructure
A state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Philippines this month heralds more development aid and progress on joint undersea fuel exploration for a host country that’s in the midst of economic change.The Chinese president will visit for the first time since the election of his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte, who surprised the West and much of his population after taking office in 2016 by improving ties with China.
China accuses G7 of slander and ‘Cold War thinking’ as Biden emphasizes values
The G7 world leaders concluded their first in-person summit since the beginning of the pandemic by criticizing China over several issues, including human rights. They also agreed to compete with China in infrastructure and vaccine distribution in developing countries.
‘Australia is responsible for all this’: China suspends economic dialogue with Canberra, blames ‘Cold War mentality’
Beijing, casting itself as the victim of “insane suppression” from Canberra, suspended its participation in one of the few remaining high-level diplomatic forums between Australia and China. Relations between the two countries still might not have hit bottom.
Car bombing in Pakistan hits hotel of Chinese ambassador just minutes before he arrived
Security risks remain high for Chinese interests in Pakistan: The Tehreek e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack on a hotel where the Chinese ambassador was due to stay. Five were killed as Chinese officials were minutes away from the location.
Washington and Beijing inch forward on climate talks, even as Biden pitches green investments to ‘out-compete’ China
The U.S. and China continue to express mutual distrust or even disdain on many issues today, but tackling climate change could be an area of healthy competition, or even policy coordination.
China is changing course in Africa
Are China’s activities in Africa focused on furthering domestic political objectives rather than on providing what the continent needs most right now, capital and infrastructure?
China’s Belt and Road lending dries up
New data compiled by researchers at Boston University show that China’s two largest policy banks have dramatically scaled down overseas lending.
Can China integrate Africa’s new free trade area with the Belt and Road?
Comments from a high-ranking official at China’s National Development and Reform Commission are the clearest signal so far that Beijing is serious about linking its own multinational trading regime with Africa’s.
