Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 134

China ‘made wrong bet’ on Assad regime in Syria, say analysts

The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria on Dec. 8 will likely hamper Beijing’s diplomatic ambitions in the Middle East and prompt a reevaluation of its support for Iran and Russia in the region, experts told Radio Free Asia in recent interviews. Back in September 2023, President Xi Jinping rolled out the red carpet for former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma, who made a six-day

Uyghurs renew demands for justice on Genocide Recognition Day

Three years ago, an independent tribunal in London determined that China had committed crimes amounting to genocide against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in its far-western Xinjiang region. Though the tribunal’s Dec. 9, 2021, ruling was non-binding, it served as a clarion call to hold the Chinese government accountable for rights violations in Xinjiang, which Beijing has repeatedly

Taiwan warns internet celebrities on collusion after video uproar

Taiwan said some online influencers have become propaganda tools of Beijing and warned that they will be punished if they break the law after revelations of pay-offs for pro-China messages sparked an uproar on the island. YouTuber Ba Jiong, whose channel, “Fun TV,” boasts more than a million subscribers, posted a video on Dec. 6 detailing what he said was collusion between some Taiwan influencers

China’s maritime movements around Taiwan are largest in decades, Taipei says

China has fielded its largest regional maritime deployment in decades, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday, as it monitors what it says is a surge of Chinese military activities in the Taiwan Strait and Western Pacific. Taiwan has been on high alert since Monday as it braced for expected military drills after President Lai Ching-te sparked Beijing’s ire by making unofficial stops in Hawaii and

South Korea bans president from traveling overseas as insurrection probe widens

South Korean authorities have imposed an overseas travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol as prosecutors weigh possible insurrection charges over his botched attempt to impose martial law last week.While Yoon survived an impeachment vote in an opposition-led parliament on Saturday, his political survival now hangs in tatters. The travel ban on the country’s embattled leader was confirmed by the

China begins military movements around Taiwan as the island braces for potential drills

Multiple formations of Chinese naval and coast guard vessels are moving in waters around the Taiwan Strait and the Western Pacific, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said Monday, as the island braces for potential military drills by Beijing. Taiwan’s armed forces had identified Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) vessels from the Eastern, Northern, and Southern Theater commands, as well as coast guard

More China trade ‘hawks’ among Trump’s top State Department picks

Two leading proponents of reduced U.S. trade with China are among President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for three of the top roles at the State Department, Trump announced. However, one of choices -– Michael Anton, who Trump selected to serve as director of policy planning –- has previously argued it is not in U.S. interests to defend Taiwan from an invasion by China.In a series of three posts on

Truong My Lan: Vietnamese tycoon in a race to repay $9 billion to avoid execution

Property tycoon Truong My Lan was one of Vietnam’s richest businesswomen. She amassed an eye-wateringly valuable portfolio of luxury homes, hotels and commercial properties all over the country and abroad – allegedly by effectively turning a major bank into her own personal ATM.On Tuesday, the 68-year-old lost her appeal against the death sentence for masterminding one of the biggest frauds in

Torbjørn Færøvik: Ayutthaya - Thailands glemte skjønnhet

Guiden min påstår det er lett å reise til Ayutthaya, men vanskelig å dra herfra. Jeg er så enig, for nå ønsker jeg bare å bli. «Du kan om du vil», sier hun og ler. «Vi har plass til flere.»Ayutthaya? Du seiler inn Thailandbukta og smyger båten inn på Chao Phraya, landets lengste elv. Timer senere får du øye på Bangkoks forgylte spir og det uforliknelige Wat Arun. Fortsetter du i enda noen timer -

White House official: 8 US telecom providers hacked by Chinese

US officials believe Chinese hackers breached at least eight US telecommunications providers in their quest to spy on top US political figures as part of a hacking campaign that has affected dozens of countries worldwide, a White House official said Wednesday. “Right now, we do not believe any have fully removed the Chinese actors from these networks … so there is a risk of ongoing compromises to