Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 310

China Warns West as Report Promises to Resolve 'Taiwan Question'

The Chinese government warned Saturday against foreign interference in its relations with Taiwan as it released a new report pledging to resolve the issue of Taiwanese independence "in the modern era." The issue of Taiwanese independence has long put China at odds with many Western nations, as China considers Taiwan to be part of its nation—staunchly opposing any independence movements. Taiwanese

'Suicide Mission': China Doubts U.S. Ability to Defend Europe, Taiwan

The Global Times, a Chinese state-run media outlet, ramped up its criticism of the United States on Wednesday, calling the U.S. "frail" and unable to defend Europe, let alone Europe and Taiwan at the same time. Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine threw Europe into disarray and raised concerns that China could capitalize on the disruption to wage a war on Taiwan. The United

China’s legislature to meet with economy, Ukraine backdrop

China’s 3,000-member ceremonial parliament will open its annual session Saturday with the government facing a slowing economy and international pressure over its refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While domestic issues typically dominate the National People’s Congress, the war in Ukraine is highlighting the ideological confrontation between the American-led West and the competing

As war rages, Paralympics open in Beijing without Russia

The Winter Paralympics opened Friday in Beijing with the Russian athletes sent home, the Ukrainian team escaping a war zone to get to China and an impassioned call for peace. Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee, declared his horror at the fighting in Ukraine and called on world authorities to promote peace.“Tonight, I want, I must begin with a message of peace,

Ukraine crisis: How much trade does Russia do with China?

Russia is under sanctions by its major trading partners such as the EU and the UK after the invasion of Ukraine. But could China help out Russia economically?China says it will "continue to have normal trade co-operation" with Russia. But some Russian banks have now been banned from the Swift international payment system. This is used around the world for financial As a result, China has recently

Premier League: China's rights holder will not show games over Ukraine support

Chinese rights holders have told the Premier League they will not broadcast English top-flight matches this weekend because of the league's planned shows of support for Ukraine, the BBC has learnt.China is a close political ally of Russia, which has invaded Ukraine. The Premier League has said it "wholeheartedly rejects Russia's actions" and is set to show solidarity with Ukraine. "We call for

Analysis: China can't do much to help Russia's sanction-hit economy

Will China help Russia cope with the fallout from economic sanctions? That has been the big question since Russia invaded Ukraine last week. The two nations have forged close ties in recent years, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping calling Russian President Vladimir Putin his "best and bosom friend" in 2019. During Putin's visit to Beijing last month, the two states proclaimed that their friendship

China denies it asked Russia not to invade Ukraine during Winter Olympics

China has vehemently denied a report that it asked Moscow to delay its invasion of Ukraine until after the Winter Olympics, denouncing it as “fake news”. “This kind of rhetoric is to divert attention and shift blame, which is utterly despicable,” Wang Wenbin, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, said on Thursday when asked by journalists about the New York Times report published on

How Russia's invasion of Ukraine could hurt travel's recovery

This was supposed to be a year of recovery for a travel industry hit hard by the global coronavirus pandemic. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine may have just changed that. After two years of disrupted travel due to ever-changing Covid-19 restrictions, airlines and tour operators are once again bracing for closed skies, cancellations and a cloud of uncertainty over international travel. More than

Why Are There So Many Indian Students in Ukraine?

The tragic death of an Indian medical student, Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, in war-torn Ukraine, due to Russian shelling, has roiled India while spotlighting the desperation of thousands of Indians to rush to study in this east European nation every year.Naveen, who hailed from the southern Indian state of Karnataka, was one among nearly 20,000 students currently enrolled at some 30-odd