Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 315

CBS News Host Confronts China's Ambassador Over Refusal to Condemn Russia

On Sunday, CBS News' Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan confronted Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Qin Gang for his refusal to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Gang said during the interview that China has "good, friendly, neighborly relations with Russia." However, Brennan interrupted the ambassador before he could continue and said: "But you would recognize that it's not good, friendly,

China Has Weapons on at Least 3 Islands in South China Sea: U.S Official

China has weapons stationed on at least three of the islands it built in the South China Sea, Admiral John Aquilino told the Associated Press Sunday. Aquilino, the U.S. Indo-Pacific commander, said the artificial islands have been armed with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, fighter jets and laser and jamming equipment in a display of Chinese military might. "I think over the past 20

China Again Sanctioned by U.S. Over Human Rights Abuses, Harassment

The U.S. State Department announced Monday a round of sanctions against Chinese officials involved in the repression of religious and ethnic minority groups. The measures target those "believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, policies or actions aimed at repressing ethnic and religious minority groups, including those who seek safety abroad, and U.S. citizens, who speak out on behalf of

China Doubles Down on Zero-COVID as Incredible Year Without Deaths Ends

Chinese authorities are doubling down on the country's zero-COVID policy even as a recent surge in cases adds pressure to the stringent approach and China's economy. The Omicron-fueled increase in the country's COVID case numbers is testing China's zero-COVID policy, which aims to quickly squash any outbreak through strict safety measures and immediate lockdowns.China has pointed to the measures

The Unintended Consequences of China’s Stance on Ukraine

Within hours of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s social media platforms saw many pro-Russian comments treating the war as a joke or an opportunity to “chigua” (吃瓜, a slang term for rubbernecking or watching a disaster from afar). Such comments have once again led the world to believe that the Chinese people are inseparable from their government and contributed to negative perceptions of

With All Eyes on Russia, Serbia Nourishes Ties With China

As the Ukraine war rages on, Serbia is feeling the heat because of its ties with Russia. While in the U.N. General Assembly, Serbia voted in favor of the resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supporting Ukrainian territorial integrity, Belgrade avoided imposing economic sanctions against Russia.With its partnership with Russia under duress, Serbian ties with Beijing appear

China has fully militarized three islands in South China Sea, US admiral says

China has fully militarized at least three of several islands it built in the disputed South China Sea, arming them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment and fighter jets in an increasingly aggressive move that threatens all nations operating nearby, a top US military commander said Sunday.US Indo-Pacific commander Admiral John C Aquilino said the hostile

Omicron vs Zero-Covid: How long can China hold on?

China and Hong Kong are seeing their largest spike in Covid cases in more than two years, despite determinedly pursuing one of the world's strictest virus elimination policies. Most countries are now trying to live with coronavirus - so how long can China hold on to its "zero-Covid" goal? For the last two years, China's strict measures to contain Covid, enforced by swift lockdowns and aggressive

Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparks concern in Taiwan over readiness for conflict with China

On a regular day, they're lawyers, software engineers and blacksmiths. But this week, they donned military fatigues, fired assault rifles at numbered targets, and marched long distances in full military gear -- all to prepare for a possible attack by China's military.The 400-odd men were some of Taiwan's reservists, the first to face a new, stringent 14-day training schedule -- up from the

Hu Wei: Possible Outcomes of the Russo-Ukrainian War and China’s Choice

The Russo-Ukrainian War is the most severe geopolitical conflict since World War II and will result in far greater global consequences than September 11 attacks. At this critical moment, China needs to accurately analyze and assess the direction of the war and its potential impact on the international landscape. At the same time, in order to strive for a relatively favorable external environment,