Chuyên mục: China

Home away from home: The untold story of Canada’s ‘Little Tibet’

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Al Jazeera English – 27 thg 10, 2022

Tucked away within Toronto’s inner city is a small enclave known as “Little Tibet”.

Located in the Parkdale neighbourhood, the restaurants here are famous for delicious Tibetan dumplings known as momos.

Parkdale is also home to one of the largest concentrations of Tibetans outside Asia, stemming from the 1970s when Tibetan refugees flocked to Canada. The community has thrived here, establishing Little Tibet’s reputation as a food mecca and setting up a cultural centre.

But today, rapid gentrification and Toronto’s sky-high rents threaten the area’s unique social fabric. Amid China’s increasing global influence, the Tibetan community is striving to hold on to its past and maintain its traditions in an adopted land.

Explore Little Tibet and meet an immigrant community working to preserve its identity in this episode of A Sense of Community, a four-part series about unique neighbourhoods around the world and the challenges they face.

Vietnam’s wood trade under pressure from logging, Ukraine war

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nikkei – Murky origins plague furniture sector coming down from COVID-fueled buying spree

A company displays lumber in Vietnam, whose wood products industry is grappling with risks ranging from the Ukraine war to fake forest certificates and U.S. trade probes. (Photo by Lien Hoang)

LIEN HOANG, Nikkei staff writerOctober 28, 2022 16:08 JST

HO CHI MINH CITY — Reputational risks are piling up for a Vietnamese lumber industry already beset by a falloff in demand from the heights of the pandemic.

One of the world’s biggest wood and furniture exporters, Vietnam enjoyed a surge in orders when overseas buyers spent COVID lockdowns renovating their home offices and kitchens.

But the Southeast Asian country faces accusations of importing Chinese goods for re-export with “Made in Vietnam” labels since the onset of the China-U.S. tariff war in 2018. Now an actual war in Ukraine is stoking concern that sanctioned products from Russia may be routed through Vietnam, which maintains a neutral stance on the conflict between Kyiv and Moscow, as it does with Beijing and Washington. A third concern, about logging of fuel wood, has added to the pressure.

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Vietnam won’t be pressured into joining U.S.-led Cold War against China

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peoplesworld – October 28, 2022 11:24 AM CDT  BY AMIAD HOROWITZ

Vietnam won’t be pressured into joining U.S.-led Cold War against China

Communist Party of Vietnam leader Nguyen Phu Trong, left, meets with China’s Communist Party leader Xi Jinping in Beijing in 2015. | Xinhua

HANOI—The Socialist Republic of Vietnam will not be coerced into joining the United States-led effort aimed at isolating China and provoking conflict as part of its Cold War 2.0 foreign policy.

That’s a major message expected to come out of the upcoming visit to China by Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Trong will travel to China to pay an official visit to the newly re-elected Communist Party of China leader Xi Jinping. Trong will be one of the first world leaders to visit China since the closing the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, earlier this month.

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China’s corporate debts

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See more: STATE-OWNED FIRMS BEHIND CHINA’S CORPORATE DEBT

qz.com

Published October 28, 2021Last updated July 21, 2022

China has a massive amount of corporate debt. At $27 trillion, it boasts a debt-to-GDP ratio of 159%, almost 60% higher than the global rate and nearly twice that of the US, according to research published this month by S&P Global Ratings.

“China’s growth has been largely driven by two contours: One is credit, and the other is carbon,” says Eunice Tan, one of the report’s lead authors and head of credit research for S&P Global Ratings’ Asia-Pacific region.

Beijing now wants to tame both those economic engines—credit and carbon—while maintaining stability and control, and while continuing to hit GDP growth targets. On the carbon front, it has released a high-level policy framework outlining a path to peaking carbon emissions by 2030. On the credit front, the central bank has sought to tame debt in the property sector and shield banks from exposure to troubled developers.

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China-indebted Laos way more broke than advertised

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asiatimes.com

World Bank predicts public debt will swell to 95% of GDP by year’s end while ‘hidden debts’ to China likely take the figure north of 120%

By DAVID HUTTOCTOBER 14, 2022

Laos will be hard-pressed to meet its external debt obligations. Photo: Faceboo

Laos’ public debt could climb to nearly 95% of GDP by the end of 2022, making it one of the most heavily indebted and mostly likely to default nations in Asia, according to World Bank estimates published this month

Significantly, the World Bank’s already dire debt figures do not encompass all of the small Southeast Asian nation’s liabilities.

Asia Times’ reporting and analysis show that Laos’ total debt, including other publicly guaranteed liabilities not included in headline figures, could take the state’s total financial obligations well over 100% of GDP for the first time ever this year. And that’s only the debt officially recognized by the Lao government.

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Hồ Tây: một cái tên, hai số phận

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NĐT –  15:33 | Thứ năm, 08/09/2022 0

Hồ Tây ở Hà Nội và Hồ Tây ở Hằng Châu (Trung Quốc) tương đồng về quy mô, hình thế, công năng văn hóa. Nhưng Hồ Tây ở Hằng Châu đã trở thành Di sản văn hóa thế giới, đại chúng cùng được thụ hưởng, trong khi Hồ Tây ở Hà Nội có nguy cơ thành “vùng bất động sản khủng của các doanh nghiệp”.

Trong khu vực các nước đồng văn, có rất nhiều hồ mang tên Hồ Tây. Trung Quốc có 36 Hồ Tây, Nhật Bản có một Hồ Tây (ở huyện Yamanashi) và Việt Nam có một Hồ Tây tại thủ đô Hà Nội. Không chỉ cùng tên, tất cả các Hồ Tây kể trên còn mang một đặc điểm chung rất quan trọng: đều là nơi hội tụ, ghi dấu của thơ ca, truyền thuyết và tín ngưỡng dân gian.

Nổi tiếng nhất trong số đó, phải kể đến Hồ Tây ở Hằng Châu (Trung Quốc) và Hồ Tây tại Hà Nội với nhiều điểm tương đồng mà chúng tôi sẽ lần lượt nêu ra.

Hồ Tây và thành phố Hằng Châu nhìn từ trên cao. Ảnh tư liệu Đinh Thế Anh

Cảnh Hồ Tây, bán đảo Quảng An (Hà Nội). Ảnh: Võ Thanh Tùng

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Chinese energy companies lobby junta to import Russian gas

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frontiermyanmar.net

A leaked junta memo shows three Chinese firms appealing to Nay Pyi Taw to arrange liquified natural gas imports from Russia amid economic turmoil in Myanmar.

By FRONTIER

A leaked document from the junta’s Ministry of Electric Power reveals that three Chinese energy companies appealed to the junta for help importing liquified natural gas from the Russian government, as the regime’s economic policies wreak havoc on the energy sector.

The document, in the form of a memo, indicates a meeting took place on July 25 in Nay Pyi Taw with representatives from MoEP, Hong Kong-listed VPower and Chinese state-owned firms CNTIC and Genertec. (VPower is also part-owned by CITIC, another Chinese state-owned investment firm).

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The Roots of Cambodia’s Actions against Illegal Vietnamese Immigrants

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ISEAS – 1-8-2022- Jing Jing Luo and Kheang Un

Since 2015, the Cambodian government has been addressing the politically and diplomatically sensitive issue of illegal Vietnamese immigrants through methods such as documentation, deportation, eviction, relocation and registration. In this picture, Cambodia’s Prime minister Hun Sen (R) and his then Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) inspect the guard of honour during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on 4 October 2019. Photo: Nhac NGUYEN/AFP.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  • Since 2015, the Cambodian government has been addressing the politically and diplomatically sensitive issue of illegal Vietnamese immigrants through methods such as documentation, deportation, eviction, relocation and registration.
  • These actions are the ruling Cambodian People’s Party’s response to the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party’s successful politicisation of anti-Vietnamese sentiments among Cambodian voters.
  • The Cambodian government’s Vietnamese immigrant policies also serve the ecological development goal of improving Cambodian water systems, as well as beautifying and developing its urban areas.
  • Given Cambodia’s asymmetrical power relationship with Vietnam and the sensitive issue of illegal Vietnamese immigrants, the closer bond between Cambodia and China serves as an enabling factor for the Cambodian government in adopting tougher policies.
  • The Cambodian government’s measures will however neither reduce the fear held by many Cambodians of Vietnamese domination nor will they alleviate the potential diplomatic fallout.

*Jing Jing Luo is Post-Doctoral Researcher at the School of Public Affairs, Xiamen University, China. Kheang Un is Professor of Political Science at Northern Illinois University, USA.

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Professor accused of selling secrets to China sues the U.S. government

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USnews.com

Temple Prof Seeks Reinstatement of Damage Claims Against FBI

A Temple University physicist who was charged with sharing scientific technology with China only for the case to collapse before trial and be dismissed by the Justice Department is asking a federal appeals court to reinstate his claims for damages against the FBI agent who investigated him.

By Associated Press

The Associated Press

FILE – An American flag flies outside the Department of Justice in Washington, March 22, 2019. A Temple University physicist who was charged with sharing scientific technology with China only for the case to collapse before trial and be dismissed by the Justice Department is asking a federal appeals court to reinstate his lawsuit against the FBI agent who investigated him. Lawyers for Xiaoxing Xi and his wife say in a brief filed Monday with a Philadelphia-based appeals court that a judge erred last year when he dismissed their claims for damages. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Temple University physics professor who was charged with sharing scientific technology with China only for the case to collapse before trial and be dismissed by the Justice Department asked a federal appeals court on Monday to reinstate his clams for damages against the U.S. government.

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US inspectors arrive in PwC, KPMG offices in Hong Kong to review Chinese companies’ audit records, sources say

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scmp.com

Teams of inspectors arrived this morning at the Central offices of PwC and KPMG to start reviewing the audit records of US-listed, China-based companies
The PCAOB has high standards and will perform a ‘very detailed’ inspection, which will take ‘as long as needed’, former SFC chairman says
The Hong Kong island skyline, showing the Central business district, pictured on June 6, 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE

The Hong Kong island skyline, showing the Central business district, pictured on June 6, 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE

Teams of US audit inspectors arrived at the Central offices of accounting firms PwC and KPMG this morning to begin a historic review of the audit records of US-listed, China-based companies, two sources told the South China Morning Post.

The inspectors from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) arrived in Central on Monday morning to work at the Hong Kong offices of PwC in the Prince’s Building and Edinburgh Tower as well as KPMG’s office in the Prince’s Building, the sources said.

Both accounting firms have reserved rooms for the inspectors to perform their review. The two firms have also already prepared the paper and electronic audit materials of the selected clients named by the PCAOB.

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Tự do học thuật và an ninh quốc gia

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HOA KIM 27/11/2021 18:10 GMT+7

TTCT – Đào tạo sinh viên nước ngoài là hoạt động giao lưu nhân dân có ý nghĩa nhưng cũng là mối lo của nhiều cường quốc trước nguy cơ gián điệp kiểu mới.

 Ảnh: CNN

Nhật Bản là quốc gia mới nhất yêu cầu các trường đại học phải xin giấy phép trước khi chuyển giao công nghệ liên quan đến an ninh quốc phòng cho sinh viên quốc tế. Theo tạp chí Nikkei, quy định này áp dụng cho các sinh viên nước ngoài học tập tại Nhật từ 6 tháng trở lên và “chịu ảnh hưởng” từ nước khác, ví dụ như có hơn 25% thu nhập đến từ tài trợ của một chính phủ nước ngoài. Các trường hợp này phải được báo cáo về Bộ Kinh tế, thương mại và công nghiệp (METI) để được cấp phép.

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China on campus

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China on campus | 101 East

Al Jazeera English – 13-2-2020

Australia’s universities are embroiled in a growing geopolitical storm.

In recent months, pro and anti-Beijing groups have clashed on campuses amid rising concerns over the Chinese government’s expanding power abroad.

Universities earn billions of dollars a year from student fees and research collaborations with China, but there are growing fears these lucrative arrangements may be putting academic institutions, and even national security, at risk.

As government ministers warn that the country faces an “unprecedented level of threat” from foreign interference, 101 East investigates the infiltration of Australia’s universities by Beijing.

Indonesia: Thế trung lập của nước mạnh

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DANH ĐỨC 22/08/2022 06:45 GMT+7

TTCT – Muốn trung lập thật sự phải ở vị thế của kẻ mạnh. Indonesia là ví dụ điển hình ở khu vực Đông Nam Á.

Indonesia: Thế trung lập của nước mạnh - Ảnh 1.

Cho tới nay, có thể nói là ông Jokowi đã lèo lái thành công con thuyền Indonesia trong một thế giới đầy bất trắc. Ảnh: Nikkei Asia Review

Tờ Kompass của Indonesia hôm 12-8 đăng tin: “Binh sĩ Indonesia và Hoa Kỳ diễn tập bắn đạn thật khi căng thẳng Trung Quốc lên cao”. Còn hôm 1-8, Hãng tin News 18 (Ấn Độ) chạy tít: “Tập Cận Bình gặp Widodo của Indonesia: Trung Quốc cần đồng minh giữa cuộc chiến Ukraine và cuộc khủng hoảng Đài Loan”. Vậy thì Indonesia đang đứng về phe nào trong cuộc cạnh tranh toàn cầu mới?

Việc hàng ngàn binh sĩ Indonesia, Mỹ và các đồng minh khác diễn tập bắn đạn thật vào hôm 12-8 được tư lệnh Bộ tư lệnh Ấn Độ Dương – Thái Bình Dương của Mỹ, đô đốc John Aquilino, gọi là nỗ lực của Washington nhằm ngăn chặn một cuộc xung đột khu vực sau “các hành động gây bất ổn” của Trung Quốc xung quanh Đài Loan. 

Kèm theo bản tin là tấm hình chụp ông Aquilino và Tổng tư lệnh Lực lượng vũ trang Indonesia Andika Perkasa thị sát cuộc tập trận mang tên Siêu lá chắn Garuda 2022, diễn ra ở Baturaja, nam Sumatra.

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Laos economic crisis intensifies amid massive Chinese debt

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DW – 09.08.2022 – Enno Hinz

Laos is facing one of its worst economic crises in decades, with the country experiencing galloping inflation and staring at a debt default.   

Inflation in Laos has hit a 22-year high, causing a scarcity of essential commodities like fuel

Laos’ economy has been on the brink of collapse due to a spiraling debt crisis that is crippling the country’s finances and bringing it perilously close to default.

In June, the Southeast Asian nation’s Statistics Bureau announced that inflation hit a 22-year high of 23.6%, causing staple goods to become scarce and eroding the population’s purchasing power.

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China forgets who was the real aggressor in Korean War

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China forgets who was the real aggressor in Korean War

Voice of America – 9-8-2022

July 27 marked the 69th anniversary of the signing the Korean War armistice between military commanders from the U.S.-led United Nations forces, North Korea and China.

During the 1950-1953 war on the peninsula, the People’s Republic of China backed North Korea with help from the Soviet Union, while U.S.-led U.N. forces defended South Korea.

The armistice, which South Korea refused to sign, brought a cease-fire in lieu of a peace deal ending the war. Tensions have remained high between the two Koreas ever since. Tiếp tục đọc “China forgets who was the real aggressor in Korean War” →