Commentary: China’s impressive record in climate change fuels questions of global leadership

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China’s moves to adopt clean energy and continued strong backing of the Paris Agreement are laudable but the country still has some way to go, says one observer.

 
Workers walk past solar panels in Jimo, Shandong Province, China, April 21, 2016. (Photo: REUTERS)

LONDON: Xi Jinping had a good year in 2017.

It began on the international stage at Davos, when the Chinese leader, in sober suit and tie, assured his nervous audience that China was a steady ally that stood by its treaty commitments, including the Paris Agreement, and was firm in its commitment to globalisation.

The contrast with the US president was too obvious to need stating.

As the year draws to a close, Xi, in his domestic capacity as chairman of everything, appears to have consolidated his leadership of party, army and state into an unassailable, long-term dominance.

It is worth asking then what Xi Jinping means by his commitment to globalisation and to tackling climate change, and, in what way China, the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, might fill the leadership vacuum created by the absence of the United States. Tiếp tục đọc “Commentary: China’s impressive record in climate change fuels questions of global leadership”

Trung Quốc xuất khẩu nợ, Việt Nam có ảnh hưởng?

TS. Phạm Sỹ Thành (*)Thứ Bảy,  2/12/2017, 09:06 
Để giải quyết gánh nặng dư thừa sản lượng và tỷ lệ nợ gia tăng của các doanh nghiệp trong nước, Trung Quốc đã đẩy mạnh các sáng kiến kinh tế đối ngoại, thúc giục các nước phối hợp với Trung Quốc để xây dựng các mô hình hợp tác kinh tế chưa từng có tiền lệ. Ảnh: Internet

(TBKTSG) – Theo một báo cáo của J.P. Morgan tháng 9-2017, tổng nợ của Trung Quốc tương đương 289% GDP, tức là khoảng 30.000 tỉ đô la Mỹ, tăng gần 30 điểm phần trăm so với năm 2015 (260% GDP). Điều đáng nói là sau các chính sách kích thích kinh tế để chống chọi với khủng hoảng tài chính toàn cầu, tỷ lệ này đã tăng gấp đôi chỉ trong vòng chín năm (năm 2008 là 141,3% GDP), bằng với mức tăng trưởng kinh tế. Ngân hàng đầu tư đa quốc gia Goldman Sachs cho rằng sẽ mất khoảng nửa thập kỷ để ổn định tỷ lệ này. Hãng S&P Global Ratings hôm 29-9-2017 cảnh báo tổng nợ Trung Quốc có thể tăng đến 46.000 tỉ đô la Mỹ vào năm 2021.

Tiếp tục đọc “Trung Quốc xuất khẩu nợ, Việt Nam có ảnh hưởng?”

Tại sao TQ vẫn phải dò mìn ở biên giới Việt-Trung?

by VN Youtuber on Friday, December 01, 2017 in tin-tuc

Ngày 27/11 vừa qua, Trung Quốc bắt đầu tiến hành một đợt rà phá bom mìn ở vùng biên giới Việt-Trung thuộc tỉnh Quảng Tây.

Chiến tranh kết thúc đã mấy chục năm, trong thời chiến, Việt Nam cũng không sử dụng không quân để tấn công Trung Quốc, vậy vì sao đến hôm nay Trung Quốc vẫn phải tiếp tục dò mìn. Câu trả lời là họ đang phải đi rà phá những bãi mìn do chính họ bố trí ngày trước. Tiếp tục đọc “Tại sao TQ vẫn phải dò mìn ở biên giới Việt-Trung?”

The ‘Chinazation’ of Cambodia

March 16, 2017 10:00 am JST

China’s deepening economic presence is bringing progress — but at what cost?

KENJI KAWASE, Nikkei deputy editor

A new Chinese-built bridge, on the right, spans the Tonle Sap River in Phnom Penh, running parallel to the bridge Japan helped construct in the 1960s. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

HONG KONG/PHNOM PENH Just a few blocks from the Royal Palace, in the traditional heart of downtown Phnom Penh, sits one of Cambodia’s most renowned Chinese schools. Over the past century, the Tuan Hoa School has witnessed the many ups and downs of the capital. Today, it has front-row seats to an unprecedented boom.

Run by a local ethnic Chinese organization, the school is one of the largest Mandarin-speaking elementary and junior high schools outside China and Taiwan. It currently has more than 11,000 students, including those at its branch campus. Tiếp tục đọc “The ‘Chinazation’ of Cambodia”

ADB Launches First Annual Report Monitoring Progress of PPP Environment in Member Countries

News Release | 23 November 2017
  • Thermal and renewable power generation are the dominant sectors for the majority of the countries surveyed in the PPP Monitor.

 

Chinese capital flows to Vietnam’s infrastructure projects

Last update 08:00 | 22/09/2017
VietNamNet Bridge – The proposed Long Thanh Airport as well as many other huge infrastructure projects are attracting many Chinese investors.


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Vietnam considers the upgrading of infrastructure as one of its top priorities. An ADB report shows that investment in infrastructure in Vietnam has been 5.7 percent of GDP in recent years, the highest level in SE Asia and second highest in Asia. Tiếp tục đọc “Chinese capital flows to Vietnam’s infrastructure projects”

First container block train connecting Vietnam with China arrives in Hanoi

Last update 17:17 | 27/11/2017

Vietnam Railway (VNR) has announced that the first container block train connecting Vietnam with China arrived at Yen Vien Station, Hanoi, on November 25.

First container block train connecting Vietnam with China arrives in Hanoi, social news, vietnamnet bridge, english news, Vietnam news, news Vietnam, vietnamnet news, Vietnam net news, Vietnam latest news, vn news, Vietnam breaking news

The first container block train connecting Vietnam with China  

Earlier on November 25, VNR and China Railway (CR) jointly held a ceremony to welcome the container block train at Dong Dang Station in Vietnam’s northern province of Lang Son. Tiếp tục đọc “First container block train connecting Vietnam with China arrives in Hanoi”

Chinese premier offers billions more to Europe

 
Premier Li Keqiang told eastern Europeans on Monday that China would continue to invest billions in the region. AFP/ATTILA KISBENEDEK

Li said that China’s Development Bank would make available the equivalent of two billion euros (US$2.4 billion) to a new interbank association between the region and China to be inaugurated later in the day. Tiếp tục đọc “Chinese premier offers billions more to Europe”

Commentary: Leadership in Asia, competition for a liberal world order

channelnewsasia
Beijing is determined to shape a global order in which its interests are respected because of its disproportionate power relative to its neighbours, says James R Keith.

 
What will a new global order look like, from China’s perspective? (Photo: AFP/Karim Jaafar)

WASHINGTON: The essential question of leadership in Asia comes into focus as we reflect on China’s ambitious aspirations enunciated at the 19th Communist Party Congress and on the heels of President Donald Trump’s long trek through Asia this month. Tiếp tục đọc “Commentary: Leadership in Asia, competition for a liberal world order”

China lays out three-point plan to ease Rohingya crisis

South China Morning Post

Beijing on more proactive tack in the region with offer to Bangladesh and Myanmar, observers say

PUBLISHED : Sunday, 19 November, 2017, 10:50pm
UPDATED : Sunday, 19 November, 2017, 11:26pm

China has offered to help Bangladesh and Myanmar resolve the Rohingya crisis, a move Chinese analysts said reflected Beijing’s more proactive and conciliatory tack on regional affairs.

Arriving in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw on Sunday after a stop in Bangladesh, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said the international community must help fight poverty and promote development in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

Tiếp tục đọc “China lays out three-point plan to ease Rohingya crisis”

PM: Việt Nam attaches importance to relations with China

Update: November, 12/2017 – 23:28

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (right) receives General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President Xi Jinping in the central city of Đà Nẵng on November 11. — VNA/VNS Photo
Viet Nam News ĐÀ NẴNG — The Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) and the Vietnamese Government treasure the comprehensive strategic partnership with China, considering it a consistent policy, a strategic choice and a top priority in Việt Nam’s foreign policy, said Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.

During a meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President Xi Jinping in Đà Nẵng on November 11, PM Phúc applauded the Chinese leader’s State visit to Việt Nam and his attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in the central city. Tiếp tục đọc “PM: Việt Nam attaches importance to relations with China”

Vài khái niệm căn bản trong liên hệ Việt Trung: “16 chữ vàng, 4 tốt” – “Hai hành lang, một vành đai” – “Một vành đai, một con đường”

Trong quan hệ Việt Trung, chúng ta thường nghe các “câu vè” và khẩu hiệu tóm tắt các chiến lược và dự án kinh tế chính trị. Hiểu các câu vè và khẩu hiệu này sẽ giúp ta hiểu hơn về liên hệ Việt Trung.

16 Chữ Vàng, 4 Tốt

16 Chữ Vàng

Phương châm 16 chữ (tiếng Trung: 十六字方针) (thập lục tự phương châm) là đoạn văn:

Sơn thủy tương liên
Lý tưởng tương thông
Văn hóa tương đồng
Vận mệnh tương quan
Tiếp tục đọc “Vài khái niệm căn bản trong liên hệ Việt Trung: “16 chữ vàng, 4 tốt” – “Hai hành lang, một vành đai” – “Một vành đai, một con đường””

VN-China Friendship Palace debuts in Hà Nội

vietnamnews Update: November, 12/2017 – 23:30

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping and Chairwoman of the Việt Nam National Assembly Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân perform the symbolic ’handing over of the key’ ceremony to inaugurate the Việt Nam – China Friendship Palace yesterday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping and Chairwoman of the Việt Nam National Assembly Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân attended an inaugural ceremony for the Việt Nam – China Friendship Palace in Hà Nội on  Sunday.

The ceremony formed part of the Chinese leader’s two-day State visit to Việt Nam from November 12. Tiếp tục đọc “VN-China Friendship Palace debuts in Hà Nội”

One Belt, One Trap? A debate over who benefits from China’s new silk road

channelnewsasia

Questions are being asked about how, and whether, China can deliver the benefits of its multi-trillion-dollar initiative to connect a region with 62 per cent of the world’s population. Between The Lines debates the issue.

 
The China-Pakistan Friendship Highway is a crown jewel of China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, a massive global infrastructure programme to revive the ancient Silk Road and connect Chinese companies to new markets around the world. AFP/Johannes EISELE

HONG KONG: In Myanmar, first a China-led dam project was suspended because of environmental and social problems. Then local protests about environmental damage have made the joint development of a copper mine a stop-start affair.

In Pakistan, there are internal differences over where the China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects should take place, with poorer provinces petitioning for more projects to be directed towards them instead of Punjab.

Such snags on the ground, among other things, are raising questions about how, and whether, Beijing can deliver on the grand vision of its Belt and Road initiative ushering in a new era of globalisation in Asia, Europe and Africa.

That was an issue debated in a recent Between the Lines episode looking at the implementation of China’s multi-trillion-dollar push to connect a region with 62 per cent of the world’s population. (Watch the episode here)

One thing is clear: Lessons have to be learnt. “The Chinese authorities as well as the business community have to go through a soul-searching process,” said commentator Professor Joseph Cheng, one of four discussants on the programme.

CULTIVATE PEOPLE, NOT JUST GOVERNMENTS

Their suggestions included taking care of local communities, doing good work, such as community projects to build good relations – and not only good public relations – as well as learning the local culture.

“Certainly, some Chinese corporations working in Myanmar were or have been perceived as looking down on the local people, not showing adequate respect for the local people,” said Prof Cheng. “It isn’t enough just to deal with the government.”

 
Myanmar activists protest against The Chinese Copper Mine Wanbao Company, in front of the Chinese

Other characteristics of Chinese investment and participation in infrastructure projects have also led to complaints.

“China has a lot of manpower, so when it takes part in projects, it not only brings along engineers, it also brings along skilful technicians, skilled labour and so on,” noted Prof Cheng.

So this means very little employment opportunities for local labour.

This contrasts with, say, the American viewpoint that bringing engineers to developing countries is costly, he added.

Some of the Chinese workers also start restaurants, small supermarkets and “even take over a segment, sometimes a very substantial segment, of the restaurant business and so on”. Tiếp tục đọc “One Belt, One Trap? A debate over who benefits from China’s new silk road”

Philippines to ask China to clarify its intentions in disputed sea

channelnewsasia

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in an apparent policy shift, said on Wednesday he planned to ask China to make clear its intentions in the disputed South China Sea during Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Vietnam.

 
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during Change of Command ceremonies of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, metro Manila, Philippines October 26, 2017. REUTERS/Dondi Tawatao

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MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in an apparent policy shift, said on Wednesday he planned to ask China to make clear its intentions in the disputed South China Sea during Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Vietnam. Tiếp tục đọc “Philippines to ask China to clarify its intentions in disputed sea”