Asia

CanSino’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate approved for military use in China

Editorial Bureau June 29, 2020

BEIJING (CHINA) – China’s military has received the approval to use a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by its research unit and CanSino Biologics. The vaccine candidate’s use was permitted after clinical trials proved it was safe and showed some efficacy, the company said

Asia

Indian and Chinese military agree to disengage on disputed Himalayan border

Ren Leen June 23, 2020

NEW DELHI/BEIJING (Asia) – Indian and Chinese military commanders have agreed to step back from a confrontation over a disputed stretch of border where a clash last week left 20 Indian soldiers dead, government officials in New Delhi and Beijing said on Tuesday. “There was a mutual consensus to disengage,” an Indian government source said, […]

Europe

EU presses China over trade, warns on Hong Kong security law

Ren Leen June 23, 2020

BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) – The European Union told China on Monday to make good on a promise to open up its economy. It also warned of “very negative consequences” if Beijing imposes a new security law on Hong Kong. After video calls with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping, the EU’s chief executive and […]

Asia

China places final satellite for Beidou network into orbit

Ren Leen June 23, 2020

BEIJING (CHINA) – China on Tuesday put into orbit the final satellite of its Beidou navigation network, which is a rival to the US-owned GPS. Originally set for June 16, the mission was cancelled due to technical issues found during pre-launch tests of the Long March-3B carrier rocket. The Beidou-3 satellite is the 35th and […]

Asia

Chinese company gets nod to start human testing for coronavirus vaccine

Ren Leen June 23, 2020

BEIJING (CHINA) – China has allowed a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by Chongqing Zhifei Biological Products to begin human testing, the company said on Tuesday. Co-developed by Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical and the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the potential vaccine has received a certificate from the National

Asia

China’s dog-meat festival begins defying government campaign

Ren Leen June 22, 2020

SHANGHAI (CHINA) – Defying a government campaign to improve animal welfare and reduce health risks in the wake of the coronavirus spread, China’s notorious dog-meat festival got under way. However, activists are hopeful its days are numbered. The annual 10-day festival in the southwestern city of Yulin attracts thousands of visitors, many of whom buy […]

Asia

India, China commanders conduct parley on border

Ren Leen June 22, 2020

NEW DELHI (INDIA) – Indian and Chinese military commanders held a second round of discussions to ease tensions on their contested border on Monday as the public mood hardened in India for a military and economic riposte to China following the worst clash in over five decades. According to an Indian government source, corps commanders […]

Tech

China relaxes green rules for petrol-electric hybrids

Ren Leen June 22, 2020

BEIJING (CHINA) – China re-classified petrol-electric hybrid vehicles on Monday to enable them to get more favourable treatment than all-petrol or diesel counterparts. This makes it easier for automakers to meet environment quotas and offer more choice. The nation has some of the world’s strictest regulations with regard to the production of fossil-fuel

Business

Lacunae in China’s steel sector boom points to bumpier economic recovery

Ren Leen June 22, 2020

MANILA/BEIJING (PHILIPPINES/CHINA) – The boom in China’s steel production since March reveals the tale of two diverging sectors: strong construction demand for infrastructure projects while manufacturing has been slower to bounce back. That highlights the challenge before policymakers as Beijing and local governments can control the pace of spending on projects

Asia

India, China accuse each other of violating de facto border

Ren Leen June 20, 2020

NEW DELHI/BEIJING (Asia) – India and China on Saturday each traded accusations that the other had violated their shared de facto border, an area that this week became the site of the deadliest clash in half a century between the two nuclear-armed giants. A day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to downplay Monday’s […]