Dec 31 Xi declares China will be ‘surely be reunified’ with Taiwan in New Year’s address By Associated Press Chinese President Xi Jinping said China would “surely be reunified” with Taiwan during his televised New Year’s address, renewing Beijing’s threats to take over the self-ruled island, which it considers its own. Continue reading
Dec 29 Hong Kong activist flees country, seeks political asylum in Britain By Kanis Leung, Associated Press Tony Chung was among the first people convicted under the Beijing-imposed law introduced after the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Continue reading
Dec 29 China appoints new defense minister following unexplained firing of predecessor By Associated Press The uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the world’s largest standing military comes as Washington and its Asian allies are offering stronger resistance to China’s bid to assert itself as the dominant military power in the region. Continue reading
Dec 27 China sanctions U.S. research firm, 2 individuals over reports on Xinjiang human rights abuses By Associated Press China says it is banning a United States research company and two analysts who have reported extensively on claims of human rights abuses committed against Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups native to the country’s far northwestern region of Xinjiang. Continue reading
Dec 25 Beijing sees most hours of sub-freezing temperatures in December in more than 70 years By Associated Press A weather observatory in the Chinese capital as of Sunday had recorded more than 300 hours of sub-freezing temperatures since Dec. 11 – the most since records began, in 1951, according to the official newspaper Beijing Daily. Continue reading
Dec 23 Deadly northwestern China earthquake estimated to have cost millions in economic losses By Associated Press The strong earthquake that hit northwest China this week, and killed at least 148 people, has caused economic losses estimated to be worth tens of millions in the agricultural and fisheries industries, state media reported Saturday. Continue reading
Dec 21 WATCH: Pentagon holds news briefing as top military official meets with Beijing By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder held a news briefing on Thursday as top military officials meet with their Chinese counterparts. Continue reading
Dec 20 China’s earthquake survivors endure frigid overnight temperatures in temporary shelters By Ng Han Guan, Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press Chinese media reports said at least 134 people died and more than 900 were injured. Continue reading
Dec 19 An earthquake in northwestern China kills at least 127 people and is the deadliest in 9 years By Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press A strong overnight earthquake rattled a mountainous region of northwestern China, authorities said Tuesday, killing 127 people in the nation’s deadliest quake in nine years. Continue reading
Dec 18 In Hong Kong, national security trial opens for prominent publisher Jimmy Lai By Kanis Leung, Associated Press The 76-year-old Lai was arrested in August 2020 during a crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy movement under the sweeping national security law enacted following huge protests four years ago. Continue reading