Asia

China’s Xi strongly backs Afghanistan at regional conference

Editorial Bureau March 31, 2022

BEIJING — Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday issued strong backing for Afghanistan at a regional conference, while making no mention of human rights abuses by the country’s Taliban leaders. Xi pledged China’s support in a message to a gathering of representatives from Afghanistan, China,

Asia

China’s Xi: Control of Hong Kong surge is ‘overriding task’

Editorial Bureau February 16, 2022

HONG KONG — China’s leader Xi Jinping took a personal interest in Hong Kong’s outbreak, saying it was the local government’s “overriding task” to control the situation, a Hong Kong newspaper said on Wednesday. Xi personally issued instructions and directed Vice Premier Han Zheng to express to the city’s chief executive Carrie Lam the high […]

Sport

Xi meets Poland, Pakistan leaders in Olympic diplomacy

Editorial Bureau February 7, 2022

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping met Sunday with leaders from Poland and Pakistan in a flurry of diplomacy on the sidelines of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Xi told President Andrzej Duda that China seeks to further improve ties with Poland, whose warm relationship with Beijing has not sat well with main rival the […]

Sport

How China’s Xi Jinping Is Staging the Beijing Olympics on His Terms

Editorial Bureau January 23, 2022

When the International Olympic Committee met seven years ago to choose a host for the 2022 Winter Games, China’s leader, Xi Jinping, sent a short video message that helped tip the scale in a close, controversial vote. China had limited experience with winter sports. Little snow falls in the distant hills where outdoor events would […]

World

Putin, Xi hail Russia-China ties during virtual summit

Editorial Bureau December 16, 2021

MOSCOW — Chinese President Xi Jinping supported Russian President Vladimir Putin in his push to get Western security guarantees precluding NATO’s eastward expansion, the Kremlin said Wednesday after the two leaders held a virtual summit. Putin and Xi spoke as Moscow faces heightened tensions with the West over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine’s border. […]

UK

UK independent body: China committed genocide in Xinjiang

Editorial Bureau December 10, 2021

LONDON — An independent, unofficial body set up by a prominent British barrister to assess evidence on China’s alleged rights abuses against the Uyghur people concluded Thursday that the Chinese government committed genocide and crimes against humanity. The Uyghur Tribunal, made up of lawyers, academics and businesspeople, doesn’t have any government backing or powers to

Asia

China calls on citizens to leave eastern Congo after attacks

Editorial Bureau December 1, 2021

BEIJING — China on Wednesday urged its citizens to leave three provinces in eastern Congo as violence intensifies in the mineral-rich region. A posting from the Chinese Embassy in Kinshasa on the WeChat online messaging said a number of Chinese citizens had been attacked and kidnapped over the past month in the provinces of South […]

Finance

Asian shares slip despite Wall St gains after Biden-Xi talks

Editorial Bureau November 17, 2021

TOKYO — Asian shares were mostly lower Wednesday despite a rally on Wall Street after virtual talks between President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.4% to 29,688.33. South Korea’s Kospi fell 1.2% to 2,962.42. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.7% to 7,369.90. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.4% to 25,621.91, […]

USA

White House insists Biden, China’s Xi aren’t ‘old friends’ following Monday meeting

Editorial Bureau November 17, 2021

White House officials insisted Tuesday that President Joe Biden does not consider China’s President Xi Jinping a “friend” after Xi, speaking through an interpreter in a virtual meeting with Biden Monday night, referred to his American counterpart as “my old friend.” “Thank you,” Biden responded at the time. Asked what Xi was getting at — […]

Asia

Biden and China’s Xi Will Hold Virtual Summit on Monday

Editorial Bureau November 13, 2021

WASHINGTON — President Biden will hold a virtual summit with President Xi Jinping of China on Monday as the leaders of the world’s two largest economies confront tensions over trade, cyberthreats, the climate, Taiwan and human rights. The summit, which was announced by the White House on Friday, has been in the works since early […]