http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/china/ en-us Fri, 1 Jan 2010 10:36:30 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418874/posts Indonesia has been buying Chinese C802A anti-ship missiles. The C802A is a 6.8m (21 foot) long, 360mm, 682kg (1,500 pound) missile, with a 165kg (360 pound) warhead. The C802 has a max range of 120 kilometers, and moves along at about 250 meters a second. The French Exocet missile is the same size and performance, but costs twice as much (over a million dollars each, but the manufacturer is known to be flexible on pricing.) The Indonesians see the Chinese missiles as a much better deal, especially since Indonesia is not looking to start a war anytime soon. So why... The Strategy Page http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418874/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 10:36:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2418834/posts Bowing to Chinese law, Apple is reportedly blocking iPhone users in China from downloading applications about two figures Beijing considers "separatists": the Dalai Lama and exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer. IDG News Service said at least five iPhone software programs related to the Tibetan spiritual leader are unavailable in Apple's China App Store along with one related to Kadeer. IDG, publisher of Macworld, Computerworld, PC World and other magazines, said the move would make Apple the latest US technology giant to censor its services in China. Asked for comment on Thursday by AFP, Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman, repeated a... Nine News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2418834/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 06:17:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418671/posts Free-trade zone spanning more than 1.9 billion people will come into life on January 1 as China, and 10 South-East Asian countries join together to scrap tariffs. In another sign of Asia's ascendancy, and of its growing economic and political union, duties will be dropped on everything from steel to rubber and shoes to electronics. China hopes that the zone will quickly rival the European Economic Area and the North American Free Trade Area and provide new outlets for its goods in the face of Western protectionism. Duties will be scrapped on 90pc of goods traded across China, Indonesia, Malaysia,... The Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418671/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:42:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418326/posts China Hits Back at US Duties, Says It's Been Made A Scapegoat Published: Thursday, 31 Dec 2009 | 1:06 AM ET Text Size By: Reuters China on Thursday decried a U.S. decision to impose duties of 10 to 16 percent on Chinese-made steel pipe, the biggest U.S. trade case to date against China, and said it had been made a scapegoat of protectionist interests. The Ministry of Commerce said it was "strongly dissatisfied with and resolutely opposed" to the vote of the U.S. International Trade Commission for countervailing duties, which Washington said were needed to balance out unfair state subsidies... Reuters (via CNBC) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418326/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:46:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418321/posts Four foreigners face execution over China drugs: report (AFP) – 5 hours ago HONG KONG — Four foreigners could face the death penalty in China after their arrests in connection with a major heroin bust, a report said Thursday, days after the execution of a Briton convicted on drugs charges. The foreigners are among nine people arrested in September in southern China after police uncovered about 145 kilograms (320 pounds) of heroin stuffed inside cotton bales, the Hong Kong-based Ta Kung Pao newspaper reported. The paper did not specify the nationalities of the four foreigners. "Under Chinese law they may... AFP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418321/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:29:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418193/posts A senior Tibetan religious leader, known as a "Living Buddha", has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison after being arrested in the wake of protests last year. Phurbu Tsering Rinpoche, the 52-year-old head of the Pangri and Yatseg nunneries in Kardze county, was arrested in a dawn raid on May 18, 2008. Mr Phurbu was initially charged with the illegal possession of firearms. Four days earlier, nuns belonging to his nunneries staged protests against China's compulsory "patriotic education" campaign in the region. Tensions were high in Tibet at the time in the wake of the 50th anniversary of the... The Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418193/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:04:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418066/posts US to impose duties on imported Chinese steel pipes by P. Parameswaran Wed Dec 30, 3:49 pm ET WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States will slap penalty duties on imported Chinese steel pipes targeted for unfair subsidies, officials said Wednesday, heightening trade tensions between the two powers. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) said it had made a "final" decision Wednesday that the subsidized pipes adversely impacted the domestic steel industry, paving the way for the Commerce Department to impose countervailing duties of up to nearly 16 percent on the pipes. This is the largest countervailing duty case filed against... AFP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418066/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:45:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417846/posts China Leads The Way To Strong Global Economic Growth 2010 And Beyond Economics / China Economy Dec 30, 2009 - 01:41 AM By: Nadeem Walayat China is leading the way to the return of global growth with expectations for GDP growth for 2010 of as much as 10%, which further confirms expectations for the potential of a global growth story surprise to the upside for 2010. Whilst at the present time many analysts / commentators worry about China market bubbles, much as they worried about the "stocks bear market rally" that was always destined for an imminent demise during 2009... The Market Oracle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417846/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:56:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417828/posts WASHINGTON — The US International Trade Commission gave final approval Wednesday for imposition of penalty tariffs on imported Chinese steel pipes targted for unfair subsidies. The commission, an independent federal agency determining import injury to US industries, said it "has made an affirmative determination in its final-phase countervailing duty investigation concerning" the "oil country tubular goods" from China. The Commerce Department said last month it wanted to impose tariffs of between 10.36 percent and 15.78 percent, in addition to normal duties, following a probe on the imported steel pipes used to deliver oil and gas in the petroleum industry. The... Google News (AFP) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417828/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:33:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417728/posts HONG KONG (MarketWatch)-- The Canadian government approved Tuesday PetroChina Co.'s 1.9 billion Canadian dollar ($1.8 billion) bid to buy a majority stake in two Alberta oil-sands projects. Canada's Industry Minister Tony Clement said in a statement he was satisfied the investment is "likely to be of net benefit to Canada." Marketwatch http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417728/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:00:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417664/posts With much fanfare and celebration - by Chinese steelworkers and Caltrans officials alike - the first steel pieces of the new Bay Bridge suspension span were prepared to ship out of Shanghai on Tuesday - more than a year late but in time to meet a Dec. 31 deadline that officials hope will keep construction on schedule for a 2013 opening. "It's momentous," said Ken Terpstra, Caltrans' project manager for the Bay Bridge, from Shanghai where workers staged a ceremony complete with daytime fireworks. "It was a hard, challenging road, but they're ready to go." The first shipment, delayed by... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417664/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:43:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417488/posts China aspires to be a world power. It's understood that China cannot do this alone. Even the mighty United States has allies it depends on. Who can China depend on? Not a lot. In fact, China has a rather disturbing roster of friends. There's Pakistan, a corrupt nation, always on the verge of falling apart and one of the few remaining sanctuaries for Islamic terrorists. China is also cozy with North Korea, Iran and Myanmar, pariah nations all. So China has been forced to improvise. This has resulted in uniting the search for allies, with business opportunities, China embraces countries... Strategy Page http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417488/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:03:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2416976/posts Here is a video report on news that China has executed a British citizen for "Drug Smuggling," despite pleas from the British Government and his family to spare his life. Akmal Shaikh was arrested and charged with possessing heroin in 2007. Shaikh's family said he was mentally ill, and appealed to the Chinese to not execute him. The Chinese ambassador Fu Ying has been summoned to the Foreign Office amid a growing row between the UK and China over the execution of a British man. Akmal Shaikh, 53, a father-of-three from London, was executed in China after being convicted of... Freedom's Lighthouse http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2416976/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:52:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2416809/posts The rise of domestic Chinese consumer brands to challenge their famous foreign counterparts has become a defining trend in China’s industrial development. Anyone doubting this need only take a stroll down one of the main streets in Jinjiang, a small city in the southeastern province of Fujian.----The names may sound unfamiliar, even outlandish. But the reality is that in a reversal of the natural order of things, the little fish are starting to eat the big fish. The Chinese companies to which western brand holders outsourced their manufacturing a decade or more ago are now successfully rolling out their own... Financial Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2416809/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:28:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416797/posts Chinese archaeologists believe they have found a nearly 1800-year-old tomb belonging to the legendary ruler Cao Cao, who was known as a cruel tyrant but also a cunning military strategist and poet. PHOTOS: Cruel tyrant's tomb foundThe tomb is located in central Henan province, not far from the Yellow River and near the city of Anyang, where Cao Cao ruled the Kingdom of Wei from 208 to 220, when he died at age 65, the state China Daily reported Monday. "Excavation has been going on for nearly one year, and we'll come up with further evidence," the paper quoted Guan... Nine News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416797/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:07:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416762/posts British man Akmal Shaikh has been executed in China, the Foreign Office has confirmed. Mr Shaikh was due to be put to death at 2.30am UK time, and just after 4am his execution by firing squad was reported. He was said to have been buried immediately following his death and his body will not be returned to the UK. Prime Minister Gordon Brown immediately condemned the execution, while Sally Rowen from legal charity Reprieve described the killing as 'horrific, barbaric and outrageous'. Mr Brown said: 'I condemn the execution of Akmal Shaikh in the strongest terms. I am appalled and... DailyMail http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416762/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:01:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416575/posts Somali pirates holding a Chinese cargo ship and its crew of 25 said Sunday they would release the vessel after collecting a ransom of 3.5 million dollars (2.2 million euros) later in the day. The bulk carrier Dexinhai, owned by Qingdao Ocean Shipping, was seized on October 18 northeast of the Seychelles as it was sailing to India from South Africa with a cargo of coal. It was subsequently taken to the Somali coast, between the pirate lairs of Harardere and Hobyo, where it laid at anchor with other captured vessels and negotiations on its fate began. "We have been... Terra Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416575/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:15:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416744/posts Condemned Briton's 'Heartbroken' Family Beg For Compassion from China The family of Akmal Shaikh, the British man condemned to death in China, have made a last-minute appeal to the Chinese authorities to show mercy. By David Eimer in Beijing 28 Dec 2009 Akmal Shaikh, a British national who is facing the death penalty in China for possession of heroin Photo: AFP/GETTY Mr Shaikh is due to be executed in Urumqi at 10.30am Tuesday morning local time for heroin smuggling. "We're here to plead for clemency and we hope the Chinese government shows compassion. His life is in their hands now,"... Telegraph(UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416744/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:26:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416721/posts Everyone in Asia will be talking about Beijing's arrogance. In the last half year, Chinese officials, both in public pronouncements and in private conversations, have been displaying a new-found assertiveness--as if they own the century. They just dressed-down Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Even if he deserved it--he didn't--Beijing's officials would never have done that before. In 2010, they will become insufferable. Asians, especially, will begin complaining. The Unconventional Wisdom Protests will get out of hand in China. Everyone believes they don't matter, at least as far as the political system is concerned. Yet Beijing's leaders are becoming especially worried.... Forbes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416721/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:22:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416693/posts Is China's Economy Speeding Off the Rails? By MICHAEL FORSYTHE BEIJING — Train C2019 covers the 120 kilometers between Beijing and Tianjin in 30 minutes, passing peasants in fields burning corn stalks and warrens of shacks occupied by people who are not sharing in China’s economic boom. The line is part of China’s 2 trillion renminbi, or $292.9 billion, investment in a nationwide high-speed passenger-rail network that may be too much train, too fast. The time savings that the new system delivers may not justify the cost, creating a potential drag on long-term growth, said Michael Pettis, former head of... NYT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416693/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:42:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416690/posts Chinese Economy Overtakes JapanChina has almost certainly overtaken Japan to become the world's second-biggest economy after state officials dramatically upgraded their estimates for the country's growth last year. By Edmund Conway, Economics Editor Published: 9:29PM GMT 26 Dec 2009 The fast-growing emerging economy had been expected to surpass Japan next year, but the transition looks to have happened in 2009, based on China's new growth estimates. Its statistics bureau said that China grew by 9.6pc – rather than 9pc – in 2008, meaning its economic output was 31.405 trillion yuan, or $4.6 trillion (£2.9 trillion), last year. According to the... The Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416690/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:36:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2416673/posts A shopping centre in China's Hebei province has built a car park with wider spaces that it says is designed especially to suit women drivers. The women-only car park in Shijiazhuang city is also painted in pink and light purple to appeal to female tastes. Official Wang Zheng told AFP news agency the car park was meant to cater to women's "strong sense of colour and different sense of distance". BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2416673/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:09:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416557/posts China's banks are gearing up to extend their flow of credit into next year to keep the economy humming, analysts say, a trend that could add to the financial challenges already facing the industry in the aftermath of a historic lending spree in 2009. China's government hasn't announced a target for lending next year. But analysts who cover the industry expect new loans in 2010 to total seven trillion yuan to eight trillion yuan, or $1.03 trillion to $1.17 trillion. That is somewhat lower than the volume this year, when the state-owned banks responded to official economic-stimulus efforts with one... The Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416557/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:37:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416530/posts China Stocks May See ‘Full-Blown’ Bubble In 2010, BofA Says December 28, 2009, 02:12 AM EST By Chua Kong Ho Dec. 28 (Bloomberg) -- China’s stock and property markets may develop into a “full-blown” bubble next year as inflation accelerates, according to BofA Merrill Lynch Research. “Next year could be the year we see a full-blown asset bubble,” David Cui, the China strategist at Bank of America Corp.’s Merrill Lynch unit, said today in a phone interview from Sydney. “We’re likely to see massive savings migration as we head into real negative interest-rate territory,” where people “save less, spend more... Business Week http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416530/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:51:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416498/posts CNSNews.com) – Wind-power projects funded in part by the $787-billion Recovery Act (stimulus law) are coming under scrutiny at a time when President Obama and other Democrats have promoted alternative forms of energy production. Two New York Democrats – Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Eric Massa – are among the lawmakers criticizing specific wind-power projects that are getting hundreds of millions in taxpayer subsidies. A “definitive agreement” was reached on one of those projects two weeks ago, according to a Dec. 20 news release from the Austin, Texas-based Cielo Wind Power. The deal is between Cielo, U.S. Renewable Energy Group... CNS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2416498/posts#comment Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:44:59 GMT