(2021-02-01). NYT's China syndrome. mronline.org 
Imagine a parallel world where the U.S. brought Covid under control in two months, while China still struggled with it, a year and hundreds of thousands of deaths later.
(2021-02-01). China slams Canadian Embassy after staff member ordered customized shirts featuring Wuhan and bat patterns. rt.com 
Beijing has lodged an official complaint with the Canadian Embassy in China after reports emerged that a staff member ordered customized shirts featuring Wuhan and bat patterns in July 2020. | Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin urged the Canadian authorities to investigate the reports on Monday and take immediate action. Wang stressed that diplomatic and consular personnel stationed abroad in any country in the world should strictly abide by the Vienna Convention and local laws. | The Chinese side was shocked by this and has lodged solemn representations with the Canadian Embassy in China, reque…
(2021-02-01). Vaccine crime ring: Chinese police make 80 arrests & seize 3,000 saline-filled syringes. rt.com 
Dozens of people have been detained after Chinese police launched a crackdown on the manufacturing and selling of fake Covid-19 vaccinations. Authorities say the illicit trade has been going on for months. | Read more | | Law enforcement targeted crime rings in Beijing, as well as the eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Shandong, resulting in more than 80 arrests and the seizure of some 3,000 syringes filled with saline, state news agency Xin…
(2021-02-01). China rolls out carbon trading scheme in a bid to meet its ambitious 2060 neutrality goal. rt.com 
Beijing has officially rolled out its repeatedly delayed Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), aimed at reducing its greenhouse gas output. Beijing is expecting its emissions to peak before 2030 and become "carbon neutral" by 2060. | The scheme officially entered into force on Monday, covering some 2,260 power plants across the nation. Said plants contributed to around 40 percent of all the carbon dioxide emissions China produced last year. | At later stages, the ETS will also include other enterprises that produce a minimum of 24,000 tons of carbon equivalent a year. | The ETS scheme is founded on a market-based app…
(2021-02-01). As EU falls behind on supplies of Covid-19 vaccines, German health minister entertains possibility of using Russia's Sputnik V. rt.com 
German Health Minister Jens Spahn has revealed that Berlin would be open to importing Covid-19 vaccines from Russia and China as the government looks to find ways to overcome the country's shortage of doses. | "Regardless of the country in which a vaccine is manufactured, if they are safe and effective, they can help cope with the pandemic," Spahn told Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. | The German minister's comments came before Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's permanent representative to the EU, revealed that Moscow is not only open to selling its Sputnik V vaccine but will also share information about how…
(2021-02-01). China: Peacefully Forward into the Great Change. dissidentvoice.org 
On 25 January, during the first session of the virtual World Economic Forum (WEF), President Xi Jinping, in his address, stated clearly that China's agenda was to move forward in the World of Great Change, with its renewed policy of multilateralism, aiming for a multi-polar world, where nations would be treated as equals. China will …
(2021-02-01). Chinese investment in Haifa port could compromise US-Israel intelligence sharing: Report. middleeasteye.net 
Chinese investment in Haifa port could compromise US-Israel intelligence sharing: Report | A pro-Israel think tank expressed concern over Chinese investment in Israel, including proximity of Chinese company to US Sixth Fleet in Haifa | Mon, 02/01/2021 – 14: 15 | A general view of the city of Haifa and an Israeli military ship sailing in the Mediterranean Sea on 17 July 2019 (AFP)…
(2021-02-01). NY Times' Pseudo-Expert Worked For Far-Right Cult Falun Gong's Publicity Arm. popularresistance.org The New York Times published a factually challenged op-ed accusing China of committing "genocide" against its Uighur minority. The article sourced its spurious accusations to a right-wing operative who insists his research is part of a divine "mission" against Beijing that is "led by God." | The author of the New York Times op-ed, Amelia Pang, happens to be a former employee of the Epoch Times, a far-right propaganda arm of a fanatical anti-China cult called Falun Gong. The extremist group preaches that race-mixing, homosexuality, feminism, and science are Satanic plots, and reveres Donald Trump as a God-like fig…
(2021-02-01). Beijing criticizes US sanctions against Syrian nation. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 01 (MNA) — Chinese Foreign Minister criticized US sanctions against Damascus in a telephone conversation with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Faisal Mekdad.
(2021-02-01). WHO investigators visit disease control centers in Wuhan. laprensalatina.com Beijing, Feb 1 (efe-epa).- A team of global investigators on Monday visited two disease control centers in Hubei as part of a World Health Organization (WHO) probe to trace the potential source of origin of the coronavirus in the central Chinese province where the virus was detected first last year. The state-run CGTN broadcaster said …
(2021-02-01). NYT Scrutinizes Coronavirus Response in China Where Less Than 5,000 People Have Died in One Year While US Loses 3,250 People Per Day. commondreams.org Eighty-seven times as many people have now died from Covid-19 in the U.S. as in China, but in a puzzling attempt to undermine the notion that China's pandemic response has been better, the Times has recently highlighted that country's "efforts to hide its missteps"—and criticized it for sending excess vaccines to other nations. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/wuhan_2021.jpg …
(2021-02-01). Russia ramps up natural gas supplies to China via Power of Siberia mega-pipeline. rt.com 
Russian energy major Gazprom pumped more gas to China in January via the Power of Siberia pipeline than it had initially planned, boosting daily supplies by as much as 2.5 percent. | "The export of gas to China through the Power of Siberia gas pipeline continues to grow. Supplies regularly exceed Gazprom's daily contractual obligations," the company said in a statement, adding that the volume of gas delivery last month "was 2.9 times higher than in January 2020." | The 3,000km (1864 mile) cross-border pipeline started official deliveries of Russian natural gas to China in 2019. The so-called eastern route's ca…
(2021-01-31). Why the UAE adopted China's Covid-19 vaccine. middleeasteye.net 
Why the UAE adopted China's Covid-19 vaccine | Despite the absence of reliable trial data, the wealthy Gulf monarchy is set to become a regional hub for producing and distributing Sinopharm's BBIBP-CorV vaccine | Sun, 01/31/2021 – 14: 10 | Dubai's ruler and UAE vice president Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum receiving an injection of a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine on 3 November 2020 (AFP) | When Dubai relaxed…
(2021-01-31). Democrats, You PROMISED Survival Checks NOW! realprogressives.org 
On January 5 there was a special election held in Georgia where the two running Democrats ultimately won. How were they able to pull it off? No, the election was not stolen by Russia, China, Venezuela, or little green men. It was won because the Democrats promised the American people relief in the form of immediate distribution of $2000 survival checks! | These words were verbatim, by then Senate candidate Jon Ossoff, during an interview just days before the election,"We will be able to pass $2,000 dollar stimulus checks for the people next week when we win these races in Georgia and get economic relief direct…
(2021-01-30). Brazilian Workers Party, pseudo-lefts use COVID-19 vaccination disputes to cover up herd immunity policy. wsws.org Brazil's vaccination debacle has fueled ruling class divisions regarding the attitude towards US imperialism and China as all factions rally behind a herd immunity policy.
(2021-01-30). The COVID-19 Pandemic Can't Be Managed—It Has to Be Eradicated. zcomm.org Americans are unlikely to return to the pre-pandemic normal that Chinese residents now enjoy simply because we are not trying to eliminate the virus like China did…
(2021-01-30). US Navy berates 'destabilizing' Chinese activity as pro-NATO Atlantic Council publishes blueprint for Cold War with Beijing. rt.com 
The US accused China of ramping up tensions in the South China Sea amid new drills. The statement came shortly after a notorious pro-NATO lobby group published an anonymously-authored proposal for long-term conflict with Beijing. | PACOM (United States Indo-Pacific Command) announced on Friday evening that the Chinese military flights over the past week "at no time" posed any threat to US Navy ships, sailors, or aircraft, according to a statement cited by Reuters. | An official speaking on condition of anonymity said the Chinese warplanes never came within 250 nautical miles (463 km) of the USS Theodore Roosev…
(2021-01-30). By Giving Citizenship to BNO Passport Holders the UK Wants to Be in Sync With the US, Analyst Says. sputniknews.com Earlier this week, China announced that starting 31 January it will no longer recognise the passports of British national overseas citizens. This came shortly after the UK launched its scheme to grant citizenship to up to 3 million of Hong Kong's residents, citing concerns over Beijing's introduction of a National Security Law.
(2021-01-30). A year of coronavirus in India, the second worst affected country. laprensalatina.com By Mikaela Viqueira New Delhi, Jan 30 (efe-epa).- Exactly a year ago from Saturday, India confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus after a student of the University of Wuhan tested positive. Now, more than 10.7 million cases later, the country has finally received a glimmer of hope of putting behind a pandemic which …
(2021-01-30). [Comment] Offline: The case for No-COVID. thelancet.com As many countries continue to struggle with a third wave of COVID-19—Hong Kong is suffering its fourth wave and is contemplating a fifth and sixth—all governments and public health authorities will need to remain open to new ideas for controlling the pandemic. This past week, Ilona Kickbusch, founding director of the Global Health Centre at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, shared a proposal being widely discussed in Germany. The approach devised by a group of clinicians and academics, which in addition to Kickbusch includes Melanie Brinkmann, Michael Hallek, M…
(2021-01-30). Taiwan's economy grows 3% in 2020 thanks to virus response. laprensalatina.com Shanghai, China, Jan 30 (efe-epa).- The economy of Taiwan was one of the few in the world to end the first year of the coronavirus pandemic in positive numbers, growing by 2.98 percent over 2020. This official estimate, published Friday night by the General Directorate of Budget, Accounting and Statistics of the Taiwanese government, marks …
(2021-01-30). Despite new Biden administration, US-China friction could remain high. yenisafak.com Chinese-US relations during the Donald Trump years went from bad to worse, but experts believe friction could climb even higher under new President Joe Biden.Besides an ongoing trade war, conflict of interests continue over a range of issues including human rights abuses against China's minority Uighurs, the status of Taiwan, national security legislation in Hong Kong, and military expansion in the South China Sea.Mushahid Hussain Sayed, a Pakistani senator for the capital Islamabad, said there would be no drastic change in the US perception of China as a competitor, but that the new president would like to engag…
(2021-01-30). China launches new warship for Pakistan. yenisafak.com China launched a second advanced warship built for Pakistan on Saturday.A launch ceremony for the Type-054 Class Frigate was held at Hudong Zhonghua (HZ) Shipyard in Shanghai with senior Chinese and Pakistani naval officials in attendance, said a statement from Pakistan Navy.Fitted with latest "surface, subsurface, and anti-air weapons," the Type-054 frigates will be one of the most technologically advanced surface platforms in Pakistan's naval fleet, it said.The ships have a "range of electronic warfare, air and surface surveillance, and acoustic sensors integrated through a state-of-the-art Combat Management Sy…
(2021-01-30). Chinese bombers simulates attack on US Navy aircraft carrier. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jan. 30 (MNA) — Following Washington's move to send a navy fleet to the South China Sea, the Chinese bombers simulated an attack on the US Navy aircraft carrier.
(2021-01-30). Xiaomi sues US government over blacklist inclusion. laprensalatina.com Shanghai, China, Jan 30 (efe-epa).- Chinese technology firm Xiaomi has filed a lawsuit against the United States' defense and treasury departments over its inclusion on a blacklist of companies with alleged links to the Chinese military. In the move confirmed by Chinese state media Saturday, Xiaomi joins other Chinese technology companies such as ByteDance and …
(2021-01-30). China's first Hualong-1 nuclear reactor begins commercial operation. laprensalatina.com Shanghai, China, Jan 30 (efe-epa).- China's first nuclear power unit using a third-generation reactor named Hualong-1 began commercial operations Saturday at the Fuqing power plant, state media reported. Fuqing's No. 5 unit in Fujian province is now generating electricity for commercial use after a week's trial, and will pave "the way for mass production and …
(2021-01-29). 'No prejudice': French vaccination strategy chief says EU should 'consider' using Russian, Chinese jabs. rt.com 
There is no reason for Brussels not to consider using the Covid-19 vaccines developed by Russia or by China if their safety and efficacy has been demonstrated, France's vaccination program coordinator, Alain Fischer, has said. | The EU should consider every Covid-19 vaccine available, Fischer told France's BFM TV on Friday, adding that "there should be no prejudices regarding the origins of vaccines." The immunology professor and pediatrician said that the only criteria one should use in assessing a jab are its efficacy and safety, and the ease with which it can be delivered to European countries. | "If they s…
(2021-01-29). Biden administration shifts focus from Middle East to confronting China: Report. middleeasteye.net 
Biden administration shifts focus from Middle East to confronting China: Report | National Security Council has reorganised with more resources and staff dedicated to Asia, Politico reports | Fri, 01/29/2021 – 18: 12 | Biden, then vice president, toasts Chinese President Xi Jinping during a state luncheon in 2015 (AFP/File photo) | The Biden administration has reoriented its foreign policy priorities with a ne…
(2021-01-29). Pakistan denies role in India farmers' protest. yenisafak.com Pakistan on Thursday rejected New Delhi's claim that Islamabad and Beijing are backing the ongoing protests by farmers in India.In a weekly news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said the "baseless and irresponsible" accusations are a continuation of India's tactic of blaming others for its "internal failings.""It may be recalled that Indian Union Minister Raosaheb Danve had alleged that China and Pakistan were behind the ongoing protests by farmers," Chaudhri said in response to a question."Such a baseless and irresponsible statement from Indian Minister reflects the true mindset of t…
(2021-01-29). Being denied care for wife, Chinese activist starts hunger strike. laprensalatina.com Beijing, Jan 29 (efe-epa).- A Chinese activist started a hunger strike Friday to protest the country's authorities for barring him from travel to the United States, where his wife is receiving chemotherapy. The China Human Rights Lawyers Support Group (CHRLCG) told EFE that security agents prevented Yang Maodong, or Guo Feixiong, from boarding a Thursday …
(2021-01-29). UK launches settlement scheme for Hong Kong citizens. yenisafak.com The new scheme, introduced after China imposed a new national security law in Hong Kong in June 2020, will give Hong Kong citizens the right to live and work in the UK."I am immensely proud that we have brought in this new route for Hong Kong BN(O)s to live, work, and make their home in our country," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement on Friday."In doing so we have honored our profound ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and we have stood up for freedom and autonomy — values both the UK and Hong Kong hold dear."With the new visa scheme, around 3 million people from Hon…
(2021-01-29). China won't recognize British overseas passports issued to Hong Kongers. laprensalatina.com Shanghai, China, Jan 29 (efe-epa).- China will not recognize British overseas passports from Sunday, when the United Kingdom will begin to accept applications from Hong Kongers, who are offered residence and residence permits to work for five years. At his daily press conference, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said "China will stop recognizing the British …
(2021-01-29). Joshua Wong pleads guilty to Hong Kong anti-mask protest charges. laprensalatina.com By Shirley Lau Hong Kong, Jan 29 (efe-epa).- Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong, currently in jail, appeared in a court Friday and pleaded guilty to charges related to a street protest held during the height of the city's pro-democracy movement in 2019. The 24-year-old, and renowned activist Koo Sze-yiu, 74, were accused of taking …