14 January 2021 - China Special Weapons News

WHO Experts Arrive in China to Probe Pandemic's Origins VOA 14 Jan 2021 -- A team of experts from the World Health Organization arrived in the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Thursday to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As WHO Begins COVID-19 Probe, Speculation, Tensions Abound VOA 14 Jan 2021 -- After months of negotiations and accusations that China was obstructing an independent investigation, a team of World Health Organization experts has landed in Wuhan, China, where they will try to uncover the origin of the coronavirus that has killed nearly 2 million people globally.
WHO expert team for origin-tracing of novel coronavirus arrives in China People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- An international expert team of the World Health Organization (WHO) arrived in China's Wuhan on Thursday.
China Reports First COVID Death in 8 Months VOA 14 Jan 2021 -- China has reported its first COVID-19 death in eight months amid a surge in the northeast as a World Health Organization team arrived in Wuhan to investigate the beginning of the pandemic.
Gene sequence of two COVID-19 cases in NE China's Heilongjiang similar to those in Dalian last Dec Global Times 14 Jan 2021 -- According to virus gene sequencing, the two COVID-19 cases amid the fresh outbreak in Wangkui county of Suihua city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province had 12 genomic variants, which were highly homologous to the cases in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province last December, the local anti-epidemic authority announced at Thursday's press conference.
COVID-19 death in Hebei exposes anti-virus loopholes in villages Global Times 14 Jan 2021 -- North China's Hebei Province reported a death from COVID-19 on Thursday, becoming the country's first coronavirus fatality in about eight months. The case might not be a direct indication that the virus has become more pathogenic but sounds an alarm regarding loopholes in epidemic control in rural areas as most patients in the outbreaks this winter are elderly people from villages with many suffering from chronic diseases.
Hospital environment in N China's Inner Mongolia tests positive for COVID-19 Global Times 14 Jan 2021 -- A hospital in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region reported on Thursday that its environment tested positive for COVID-19. The hospital immediately conducted closed management and started nucleic acid testing for the personnel on site and an epidemiological investigation.
Hebei builds 3,000 makeshift facilities for quarantine amid surging COVID-19 infections Global Times 14 Jan 2021 -- Shijiazhuang, North China's Hebei Province, the epicenter of the most recent COVID-19 outbreak, began building 3,000 makeshift housing units to be used as quarantine venues for COVID-19 patients on Wednesday amid surging infections.
China's first COVID-19 death in eight months had underlying disease and was previously critically ill Global Times 14 Jan 2021 -- China on Thursday reported its first local COVID-19 fatality in about eight months since May 17, a female patient from North China's Hebei Province who had an underlying disease and had been extremely ill before she died on Wednesday afternoon.
Jilin reports 3 asymptomatic COVID-19 cases who travels on a train bound for Beijing, prompting emergency search of all passengers Global Times 14 Jan 2021 -- Northeast China's Jilin Province reported seven new asymptomatic COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, among whom three traveled on a train that runs from Jiamusi, a city in Heilongjiang Province to Beijing on January 5. An urgent search and testing of all passengers on that train has been prompted.
At least 17 countries have purchased China-produced COVID-19 vaccines Global Times 14 Jan 2021 -- More countries announced they would purchase China's COVID-19 vaccines or start mass inoculations using them, as senior officials of various countries stressed the safety of the Chinese vaccines despite some Western media questioning their efficacy and safety.
Big virus resurgence highly unlikely People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- It is highly unlikely that China will experience a major resurgence of the novel coronavirus during the upcoming Spring Festival, given that the nation has created containment measures to quickly identify, isolate and control any possible outbreaks, a health official said on Wednesday.
China's sharing on fighting COVID-19 helps Africa better prepare for pandemic, says expert People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- Working closely with China in terms of sharing information on combating COVID-19 has enabled the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to prepare better for the pandemic, a senior African official said Wednesday.
China's Hebei reports 47 new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- North China's Hebei Province reported 47 new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases between midnight Wednesday and 10 a.m. Thursday, Vice Governor Xu Jianpei said on Thursday.
Coronavirus found in Inner Mongolia hospital People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- Authorities in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region said they have discovered the novel coronavirus in environmental samples from a local hospital.
Chinese mainland reports 124 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 138 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, of whom 124 were locally transmitted and the rest arrived from outside the mainland, the National Health Commission said Thursday.
China's Hebei reports 81 confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- North China's Hebei Province reported 81 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and four locally transmitted asymptomatic cases on Wednesday, the provincial health commission said on Thursday.
COVID-19 patients in recent Hebei outbreak average 50 yrs of age: official People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- The COVID-19 patients infected during the recent outbreak in north China's Hebei Province have an average age of 50, a health official said Wednesday.
China to expand COVID-19 vaccination to include people aged over 60 People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- China will expand the target population for COVID-19 vaccination to include elderly people aged over 60 years old, a health official said Wednesday.
China tightens passenger traffic control in medium, high-risk areas People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- China's Ministry of Transport has called on local authorities to strengthen control over passenger traffic plying in and out of areas designated medium- and high-risk for COVID-19 to curb the latest resurgence in cases.
China's Hebei reports 90 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- North China's Hebei Province reported 90 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and 15 local asymptomatic cases on Tuesday, the provincial health commission said on Wednesday.
China's Heilongjiang reports 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province reported 40 confirmed domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases and 50 new asymptomatic infections between 12:00 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, local health authorities said on Wednesday evening.
Isolation center under construction in Hebei after COVID-19 outbreak People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- Construction workers on Wednesday started building a centralized medical observation center in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, where clustered COVID-19 cases occurred.
China's Shijiazhuang tests over 10 million residents in three days after COVID-19 resurgence People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- Capital of north China's Hebei province Shijiazhuang kicked off mass nucleic acid tests for its residents on Jan. 6, after locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases were recently reported.
Lockdowns Imposed as Northeastern Chinese Provinces Report Spike in Coronavirus Cases Radio Free Asia 14 Jan 2021 -- The COVID-19 pandemic produced spikes cases in northeastern China's Heilongjiang province this week, prompting an order for its 37.5 million residents to stay home, while Hebei, the province that surrounds Beijing, reported scores of new cases and its first coronavirus death in nearly eight months, authorities said.
Turkish health minister gets jab of Chinese vaccine ahead of national rollout People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Wednesday received the Chinese COVID-19 Sinovac vaccine along with Turkey's advisory science council members, one day before the nationwide vaccination begins.
China Promises Myanmar 300,000 Vaccine Doses VOA 14 Jan 2021 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has promised to provide Myanmar with 300,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine, according to the website of State Counselor and de facto head of state Aung San Suu Kyi.
Philippines prefers Chinese COVID-19 vaccines, calling them "safe, sure and secure" People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has defended the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccines developed by the Chinese makers, saying the Chinese vaccines are "safe, sure, and secure."

News of Tibetan Self-Immolation Protest Surfaces After Five-Year Delay Radio Free Asia 14 Jan 2021 -- News of a Tibetan self-immolation protest in 2015 has surfaced after going unreported for five years, the Dharamsala, India-based Tibetan exile government the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) said this week, citing unnamed sources in Tibet.

Indonesian Coast Guard Intercepts, Escorts Chinese Survey Ship From EEZ Radio Free Asia 14 Jan 2021 -- Indonesia intercepted a Chinese survey ship that had been sailing near its islands with an on-board tracking system turned off, prompting the coast guard to escort the boat out of the country's exclusive economic zone, officials said Thursday.

MIT Professor Arrested for Not Disclosing China Ties VOA 14 Jan 2021 -- U.S. authorities have arrested and charged an MIT professor with accepting foreign money, much of it from China, and not disclosing it.

Indonesian President Widodo receives Chinese COVID-19 vaccine People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday received the COVID-19 vaccine shot developed by China's biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech.

China to commission first 10,000 ton-class maritime patrol ship in mid-2021 Global Times 14 Jan 2021 -- China will commission its first maritime patrol ship with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons in mid-2021, and the vessel is expected to be used in the South China Sea for missions including patrol and emergency support, an official announced on Tuesday.
China's WJ-700 UAV makes maiden flight People's Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- China's WJ-700, a high-altitude, high-speed and long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of conducting reconnaissance and strike, has performed its maiden flight, its developer announced Wednesday.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on January 14, 2021 PRC MofA 14 Jan 2021

CECC Commissioners Release 2020 Annual Report Congressional-Executive Commission on China 14 Jan 2021 -- U.S. Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA) and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chair and Cochair of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), issued today the Commission's 2020 Annual Report on human rights and the rule of law in China.
Commerce Adds China National Offshore Oil Corporation to the Entity List and Skyrizon to the Military End-User List US Dept. of Commerce 14 Jan 2021 -- Today, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in the Department of Commerce (Commerce) added Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to the Entity List and Chinese company Skyrizon to the Military End-User (MEU) List. Both companies threaten U.S. national security, CNOOC by helping China intimidate neighbors in the South China Sea and Skyrizon for its capability to develop, produce, or maintain military items, such as military aircraft engines.
Commerce Tightens Controls to Prevent Support of Foreign Military-Intelligence and WMD Activities US Dept. of Commerce 14 Jan 2021 -- Today, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in the Department of Commerce (Commerce) imposed new controls on any U.S. technologies and specific activities of U.S. persons who may be supporting foreign military-intelligence end uses and end users in China, Cuba, Russia, and Venezuela, as well as in terrorist-supporting countries.
US sanctions two more Chinese firms in 'final frenzy' Global Times 14 Jan 2021 -- The US Department of Commerce (DOC) said on Thursday that it has added two Chinese companies - Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and aviation firm Skyrizon to two separate blacklists, in what Chinese analysts are calling a "final frenzy" of the outgoing Trump administration's crackdown on Chinese businesses.
Trump strengthens ban on US investments in China Press TV 14 Jan 2021 -- President Donald Trump has bolstered a ban on US investments in alleged Chinese military companies, says the White House.
Pompeo Announces Visa Restrictions Against Chinese Businessmen, CCP Officials Over S China Sea Spat Sputnik 14 Jan 2021 -- The outgoing Trump administration has sought to step up pressure against the People's Republic in recent weeks, with new restrictions coming in the wake of a long-running trade war, back-and-forth claims about the origins of the coronavirus, and US concerns about Beijing's internal affairs in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea.
Trump Signs Executive Order Strengthening Ban on US Investments in China Sputnik 14 Jan 2021 -- US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order strengthening a ban on US investments in companies with alleged ties to the Chinese military, according to the White House.
US Slaps Sanctions on China Oil Giant Over South China Sea Activity Radio Free Asia 14 Jan 2021 -- The United States on Thursday blacklisted Chinese oil giant CNOOC and slapped visa restrictions on officials of the Chinese navy, ruling party and state-owned enterprises over land reclamation and "coercion" of Southeast Asian claimants in the disputed South China Sea.
US Treasury Under New Mandate to Probe Chinese Money Laundering VOA 14 Jan 2021 -- The U.S. Treasury Department will investigate the risks posed by China's money laundering and develop a strategy to defend against them, according to language in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 requiring specific inquiry into what experts have long called a serious threat.

Hong Kong Police Arrest 11 Over Activists' Failed Speedboat Escape Bid Radio Free Asia 14 Jan 2021 -- Hong Kong's national security police on Thursday arrested 11 people in connection with the attempt by 12 activists to flee the city by speedboat in August 2019, including a prominent human rights lawyer and pro-democracy politician.
Hong Kong Makes More Arrests Over Attempted Flight of 12 Youths VOA 14 Jan 2021 -- Police in Hong Kong have arrested 11 people, among them lawyer and District Councilor Daniel Wong Kwok-tung, for allegedly helping a dozen Hong Kong residents who sought to flee the city for Taiwan via speedboat last year.

'Force labor' accusation against Xinjinag is 'lie of the century': Chinese FM Global Times 14 Jan 2021 -- The accusation of "forced labor" against Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is the "lie of the century" made by the US and some Western countries, while the US itself is the country that has problems of forced labor, with people's health and security going unprotected, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press conference on Thursday.
China rebukes US Xinjiang ban, calling 'forced labor' accusations 'lie of the century' Global Times 14 Jan 2021 -- China vowed to take all necessary measures to protect its companies' interests after the US announced a ban on imports of cotton and tomato products from Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, citing "forced labor" concerns.
Withhold Order on Xinjiang Cotton Products Warning to US Importers Over Supply Chains: CBP Radio Free Asia 14 Jan 2021 -- A top customs official said Thursday that Washington is not seeking a total ban on cotton products from northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) but sounding a warning to American firms to review their supply chains amid concerns of forced labor.

Leading efforts to forge good Party conduct PLA Daily 14 Jan 2021 -- A few days before the New Year, senior leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) sat down in the Zhongnanhai leadership compound for an annual criticism and self-criticism session.

China Jails Two Journalists Over Tweets, Comments to US Official Radio Free Asia 14 Jan 2021 -- Authorities in China's Guizhou and Jiangsu provinces have jailed two journalists and one family member after they were critical of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

China on Track to Supplant US as Top Nuclear Energy Purveyor VOA 14 Jan 2021 -- Experts say China is on a course to displace the United States as the global leader in the production and sale of nuclear power generation, providing yet another avenue for Beijing's drive to become the world's leading economic and diplomatic power.

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14 January 2021 - China Special Weapons News