China’s top official in charge of relations with self-ruled Taiwan said on Friday that he understood and respected the choices of its people, as he was met by noisy protests in the traditionally anti-China far south of the island. Zhang… Read More ›
Month: June 2014
Prelude to Conflict: Asia, June 30
A Chinese “big wig” visited Taiwan this week, sent from the TAO (Taiwan Affairs Office). The visit met strong opposition. Police were accused of warrantless searches of the protestors. More professors, scholars, political delegates with experience, and former Sunflower leaders… Read More ›
China’s police given guns; irresponsible shootings result
A string of shooting incidents involving Chinese police — leaving at least four people dead — has the public wondering if its rank-and-file police force is really ready to carry guns, as mandated by new regulations. Last month, two policemen… Read More ›
Shanghai women’s liberal views on sex during the Mao Era; beginnings of the illicit sex industry
The following stories are first-hand recollections of life in China during the years immediately after the Communists took power (1949-1951). They are written by Chan Kai Yee, author of Tiananmen‘s Tremendous Achievements (see link in right sidebar). We would recommend… Read More ›
Could this map of China start a war?
Chinese authorities unveiled this week a new map showing the totality of Beijing’s territorial claims. It supplants an earlier map, which had a cutaway box displaying China’s declared claims over the South China Sea. Now, Chinese citizens can “fully, directly… Read More ›
Chinese media says Chinese ships rammed Vietnamese ship in South China Sea; 121 ships “protecting” oil rig
The following is translated from Chinese media. The opinions expressed are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of China Daily Mail: A Vietnamese fishery surveillance ship was surrounded by five Chinese official ships and attacked by water canon…. Read More ›
Japan and Philippines move to stengthen military ties in maritime disputes with China
The Philippines and Japan are moving ahead with strengthening their security and economic cooperation, with Japan giving defence equipment to the Philippines and invoking the right of collective self-defence in the maritime dispute with China. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III… Read More ›
Dating and marriage in China soon after the Communist takeover (part 1)
The following stories are first-hand recollections of life in China during the years immediately after the Communists took power (1949-1951). They are written by Chan Kai Yee, author of Tiananmen‘s Tremendous Achievements (see link in right sidebar). We would recommend… Read More ›
Hong Kong has nothing to learn from China, but China has much to learn from Hong Kong
Perhaps the 1995 rumours of the death of Hong Kong weren’t exaggerated after all. Nineteen years ago this month, Fortune ran its infamous “Death of Hong Kong” cover. By 2007, the magazine had changed its tune, deciding, in the Mark… Read More ›
China urges peaceful development of seas by all countries, while not following its own advice
China, involved in a growing dispute with its neighbours over the energy-rich South China Sea, wants to promote peaceful development of the oceans, Premier Li Keqiang said, warning conflicts in the past had only brought “disaster for humanity”. China claims… Read More ›
Prelude to Conflict: Asia, June 23
In lieu of Beijing’s diplomatic envoy to Vietnam last week over “oil tensions”, it seems that Beijing may be secretly planning to send many more envoys to many more places over many more “tensions”. According to one wired blogger, “tension”… Read More ›
Hong Kong: 600,000 defy China in ‘vote’ for democracy
Nearly 600,000 votes have been cast in three days of an unofficial referendum on democratic reforms in Hong Kong, part of a civil campaign that has been branded illegal by the former British colony and by Communist Party authorities in… Read More ›
Huge discounts on Kindle version of Tiananmen’s Tremendous Achievements is extended internationally
China Daily Mail contributor Chan Kai Yee has announced that 70% discounts on the Kindle version of his book are now in place until the end of June 2014. The discounts are now available in the countries listed below, using… Read More ›
A showdown is looming in Hong Kong, with China threatening to send in its army
For years after the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, China’s leaders surprised the world by adhering scrupulously to Hong Kong’s unusual political set-up of “one country, two systems”. Under the terms of the handover, Hong Kong… Read More ›
China sends four oil rigs to South China Sea amid regional tensions
China has sent four more oil rigs into the South China Sea in a sign that Beijing is stepping up its exploration for oil and gas in the tense region, less than two months after it positioned a giant drilling… Read More ›
The Cham: Vietnam’s descendants of ancient rulers of South China Sea
In Vietnam, roughly 160,000 members of the Cham ethnic minority, whose forebears dominated the South China Sea for more than a millennium, are quietly watching on the sidelines of the escalating conflict in the waters they may have a historical… Read More ›
Top China diplomat to visit Vietnam in possible thaw over oil rig
China’s top diplomat will visit Vietnam on Wednesday in a sign the two countries want to ease tensions over China’s deployment of an oil rig in the disputed South China Sea, but experts said there were many obstacles to healing… Read More ›
China seeks to boost military numbers amid war threats; relaxes restrictions on physical standards and allows mental illness
China’s military has relaxed its height, eyesight and weight requirements for soldiers in an effort to attract more educated personnel, the state-owned China Daily newspaper said today. Male recruits can now be 1.6 meters tall (5 foot 2 inches), down… Read More ›
Chinese media: China will challenge the US in South China Sea
The following is a summary of translations from Chinese media: China’s large-scale reclamation of land on five reefs to set up military, fishing, fish farming and tourism bases in the South China Sea and construction of a school on Woody… Read More ›
Prelude to Conflict: Asia, June 16
More “Pacific Mussolini;” China finally makes the first move by appealing to the UN. No one can say there isn’t a Pacific problem any more, and most of the world will blame China. Chinese media: China will challenge the US… Read More ›
Taipei’s strong message to Beijing: China has no place in making decisions affecting Taiwan
A strong statement by the government rebutting China’s position on Taiwan’s future represents an effort to shore up public support for President Ma Ying-jeou‘s China policy, an expert on cross-Taiwan Strait relations said Saturday. The administration’s strong assertion that Taiwan’s… Read More ›
China’s aggression could see formation of a powerful anti-China alliance
The China–Vietnam confrontation in the South China Sea continues to roil Asia. Gun battles have yet to erupt in the disputed Paracel Island maritime zone where, in early May, China deployed a very large oil exploration and drilling ship. In… Read More ›
China says it does not want war with Vietnam; that really means that they will start one
Reuters says in its report “China says will never send military to oil rig spat with Vietnam” today: A Chinese official said on Friday that China will never send military forces to the scene of an increasingly ugly spat with… Read More ›
Does China care about its international image?
China values its national interests, including sovereignty, over its international image. China’s global image faces challenges — but if asked to choose between its national interests and preserving its national image, China would choose the former A recent poll conducted by… Read More ›
China denounces Japan’s protest over military jets close brush
China said on Thursday that Japan‘s accusations of Chinese fighter jets flying “abnormally close” to Japanese military aircraft over the East China Sea were aimed at deceiving the international community. Japan protested after Chinese warplanes flew “abnormally close” to Japanese… Read More ›
China threatens to remove Hong Kong’s autonomy
Macquarie Group has cautioned against investing in Hong Kong companies which are exposed to the political winds of mainland China, following an official warning that the city’s administrative “autonomy” is a privilege that can be removed at any time. Hong… Read More ›
China’s plans to control South China Sea; Philippines and Vietnam are just the beginning
The following is a translation from Chinese media: China believes that it’s reclamation of land on Johnson South Reef can monitor and control three countries – Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. China also believes that the construction of an artificial island… Read More ›
Vietnam says China moving oil rig, but sending in warships
Vietnam said on Wednesday a Chinese oil rig at the centre of an increasingly bitter territorial dispute appeared to be on the move again, as China denied Vietnamese accusations that it had sent warships to the scene. The rig’s deployment… Read More ›
India’s Modi calls for greater cooperation with China, as India aims to rival China economically
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged greater cooperation with China on Monday and said he planned to visit Beijing soon, underlining his administration’s promise to make a new beginning with the country’s giant neighbor. India and China have rapidly expanded… Read More ›
Indonesia and Philippines reach agreement in South China Sea dispute; lessons for other claimants
Indonesia and Philippines have rejected historical records, and accepted UNCLOS (1982) as the current prevailing law to settle maritime boundaries in the South China Sea. This should be a precedent to other claimant nations in the territorial disputes. The recent… Read More ›
Book Review: “Tiananmen’s Tremendous Achievements” by Chan Kai Yee
Acclaimed author Chan Kai Yee has released an expanded second edition of his book “Tiananmen’s Tremendous Achievements,” released June 4 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre. Throughout the month of June, the price of the printed version… Read More ›
China takes dispute with Vietnam to UN
China took its dispute with Vietnam over its deployment of an oil rig in contested waters to the United Nations on Monday, accusing Hanoi of infringing on its sovereignty and illegally disrupting a Chinese company’s drilling operation. China’s deputy ambassador… Read More ›
China’s exports gain steam but imports fall, signalling weaker domestic demand
China‘s exports gained steam in May thanks to firmer global demand, data showed on Sunday, but an unexpected fall in imports signaled weaker domestic demand that could continue to weigh on the world’s second-largest economy. Exports rose 7 percent in… Read More ›
Prelude to Conflict: Asia, June 9
China and the West want China and the West to know that they are in a prelude to war. Here are a few reasons why from recently… Chinese pressure forces minister to change plans …China now controlling flight connections for… Read More ›
Acts of war? China escalates attacks against Vietnam
On Tuesday, tensions between China and Vietnam escalated to near acts of war when a Chinese coast guard vessel apparently rammed into a Vietnamese coast guard vessel. The Vietnamese ship allegedly sustained some major damage, but did not sink. The… Read More ›
China blocks Google services for Tiananmen 25th anniversary
In preparation for the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre (aka. the June 4th Incident), Chinese authorities decided to begin blocking Google. It’s believed that the blockade is tied to this week’s 25th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square… Read More ›
China uses D-Day anniversary to praise Germany, slam Japan
China used the 70th anniversary of World War Two‘s D-Day landings on Friday to praise Germany for its contrition over its wartime past and slam Japan for what Beijing views as Tokyo‘s continued denial of its brutal history. China has… Read More ›
Hong Kong Legislative Council Stormed
Unarmed protesters overran security and occupied another legislature, this time over construction projects and what is reported to be something like “crony capitalism”. Here is a link to a video from Apple Daily and another link to an article from… Read More ›
India’s government to promote civilian settlements along border areas claimed by China
The Narendra Modi government may not only strengthen ITBP deployment and infrastructure along the India–China border, but also promote civilian settlements in border areas. Unlike the UPA regime that was reluctant to undertake aggressive deployment of troops in stretches close… Read More ›
Hong Kong recalls Tiananmen killings, China muffles dissent
Tens of thousands of people held a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong on Wednesday to mark the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters 25 years ago in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, while mainland China authorities sought to whitewash the 1989 event. In… Read More ›
China: The world remembers Tiananmen massacre 25 years later
Here’s an uncomfortable truth confronting Chinese President Xi Jinping: It’s 2014, but the pro-democracy, pro-rights sentiments that manifested across China as demonstrations in 1989 are still alive and well. For 25 years, the Chinese government has tried to expunge the… Read More ›
China: Can 20 plus years of prosperity after suppression at Tiananmen justify the massacre?
On every anniversary of the Tiananmen Protests, one of the most infamous events in Chinese history, a government spokesman is asked by reporters about the Tiananmen Massacre, despite that they clearly know the forever repeated answer. No exception this year…. Read More ›
The homophobia of China’s Communist Party; vilifies eChinacities owner on his own website
Disappointingly, homophobia is alive and thriving in China, and actively incited by China’s ruling Communist Party. It seems that even loyal party members are not exempt. George Xu, founder and owner of the expat website eChinacities, seems to be the… Read More ›
An open letter to Chinese Communist Party regarding universal suffrage in Hong Kong (part I)
Dear Chinese Communist Party, Since it seems clear that you intend to deny the will of the Hong Kong People, as well as international standards for universal suffrage, in the name of maintaining control over the nominating process for Chief Executive in… Read More ›
US interference in sea disputes strengthens power of China’s reformists
In my book “Tiananmen’s Tremendous Achievements” (its expanded second edition will soon be released with heavy discount for two weeks in memory of the Tiananmen Protests), I said that when the major reformist Zhao Ziyang fell into disgrace due to… Read More ›
Prelude to Conflict: Asia, June 2
China and the West want China and the West to know that they are in a prelude to war. Here are a few reasons why from recently… An international case seems to be developing, not only against China, but also… Read More ›
US warns China that Washington will not remain passive if aggression continues
The United States has warned China to stop using “destabilising” tactics in its bid to claim parts of the South China Sea. US defence secretary Chuck Hagel made the comments at an Asia-Pacific security forum in Singapore, also attended by… Read More ›
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