Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 294

Solomon Islands leader defends possible China security deal, calls backlash 'very insulting'

The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands on Tuesday defended the country's possible security deal with China, hitting back at critics and calling their protests "very insulting." The Pacific Island nation confirmed last week it would expand its security relationship with China -- prompting alarm from regional leaders wary of Beijing's growing reach."We find it very insulting to be branded as

A Onetime Confucian Academy Balances Past, Present, and Future

Situated at the foot of Mount Yuelu on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, is one of China’s oldest cultural and educational institutions: the Yuelu Academy. One of the “four famous academies” of imperial China, its modern-day incarnation consists of school buildings, a Confucius Temple, and a newly built museum.My own office is located in the Hall of

‘We have waited so long’: a cautious Tokyo celebrates cherry blossoms in shadow of Covid

After two years of pandemic-related cancellations and restrictions, Japan is again observing the time-honoured ritual of hanami – cherry blossom viewing. As the delicate pink flowers reached their peak, people who had previously avoided the crowds – or had their local viewing festivals called off – have turned out in large numbers to view Tokyo’s sakura petals.But a rise in Covid-19 cases in the

In Trade, China Has a Sharp Edge Over India, and Sharp Things Can Be Weaponized

If there were to be an India-China conflict, would we see them engage in economic warfare, as now seen between the West and Russia? As I am writing this, in the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we can see how easily trade can be used as a political weapon in case of war. In areas where the West could block exports of significant goods to Russia, such as semiconductors, as a stern reply to

‘No Limits’? Understanding China’s Engagement With Russia on Ukraine

Vladimir Putin’s last visit to China took less than half a day. The Russian president landed in Beijing on the afternoon of February 4 and left for Moscow the same day, shortly after the evening Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics. Putin didn’t even attend the next day’s banquet, at which Chinese President Xi Jinping toasted foreign dignitaries. To fit in with the Russian leader’s tight

US, Filipino forces start war drills in region facing Taiwan

Thousands of American and Filipino forces began on Monday one of their largest combat exercises in years that will include live-fire maneuvers, aircraft assaults, urban warfare and beach landings in a showcase of U.S. firepower in the northern Philippines near its sea border with Taiwan.The annual exercises, called Balikatan — Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder — will run up to April 8 with nearly

Report criticizes Danish authorities for giving in to China

A government-appointed commission on Monday criticized the Foreign Ministry and Denmark’s intelligence and security service for putting pressure on the Copenhagen police to violate the Danish Constitution by giving in to Chinese pressure and barring anti-China demonstrations during official visits from Beijing. The Tibet Commission looked into the roles of Danish authorities in connection with

Solomon Islands leader defends possible China security deal, calls backlash 'very insulting'

The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands on Tuesday defended the country's possible security deal with China, hitting back at critics and calling their protests "very insulting." The Pacific Island nation confirmed last week it would expand its security relationship with China -- prompting alarm from regional leaders wary of Beijing's growing reach. "We find it very insulting to be branded as

Shanghai Covid: Oil prices fall after city starts lockdown

Global oil prices have fallen as China starts to implement a city-wide lockdown in Shanghai, an important financial and manufacturing hub. Brent crude lost more than $4.50 a barrel on concerns that the move would mean that demand for oil will fall. The Shanghai Composite stock index fell in early trade before regaining most of the losses later in the day.The lockdown, which began on Monday, is

China: How is its zero-Covid strategy changing?

China's zero-Covid policy has been among the strictest approaches to tackling the pandemic anywhere in the world. But a recent surge in infections is forcing it to reconsider how it deals with the pandemic. The latest jump in daily cases, widely spread across the country, has been driven largely by the Omicron variant. Tens of millions of people in China, including the entire north-eastern