22 March 2021 - China Special Weapons News

China's Vaccine Sent to Developing Nations May Find Wary Reception VOA 22 Mar 2021 -- Experts say that skepticism about Chinese vaccines in developing nations may counter Beijing's goal of increasing its influence by distributing doses.
China looking to achieve herd immunity by beginning of 2022: China's CDC director Global Times 22 Mar 2021 -- It is hoped that China will reach 70 percent to 80 percent coverage of inoculation with the the COVID-19 vaccine, basically achieving herd immunity by the beginning of 2022, or even by the end of 2021, said China's CDC director.
HKSAR chief executive urges residents to actively receive COVID-19 vaccine People's Daily 22 Mar 2021 -- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam took the second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday and called on Hong Kong residents to actively get the jab so as to return to normal lives at an early date.
Chinese mainland reports no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 22 Mar 2021 -- The Chinese mainland reported no new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the National Health Commission said on Monday.
Nearly 75 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses administered across China People's Daily 22 Mar 2021 -- Nearly 75 million COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered across China by the end of Saturday, a spokesman for the National Health Commission said on Sunday.
China Reports 7 New COVID-19 Cases SPA 22 Mar 2021 -- The Chinese mainland reported 7 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours.
Hungary becomes first European country to approve China's CanSino COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use Global Times 22 Mar 2021 -- CanSino's recombinant novel coronavirus vaccine has been approved for emergency use by the Hungarian National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition (OGYEI), based on the interim results of the Phase III clinical trial, according to an official document CanSinoBIO sent to the Global Times on Monday.
New Chinese Vaccine Approved For Emergency Use In Hungary RFE/RL 22 Mar 2021 -- Hungary has become the first EU country to approve for emergency use China's CanSino Biologics coronavirus vaccine.

Why Biden Sends Warships to the South China Sea, Just as Trump Did VOA 22 Mar 2021 -- U.S. President Joe Biden is keeping pace with his predecessor in the frequency of American warships sent to Asia, analysts believe, a way to get a foothold in contested seas and routinize warnings aimed at the region's strongest maritime force, Beijing.
Manila Protests Presence of Hundreds of Chinese Ships in Contested Waters Radio Free Asia 22 Mar 2021 -- The Philippines has lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing after spotting what it says are 220 ships manned by Chinese militia in its maritime territory, but a spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry said the boats were fishing vessels sheltering from rough sea conditions.

China Extends, Expands Restrictions in Tibet Following March 10 'Uprising Day' Radio Free Asia 22 Mar 2021 -- Chinese authorities in Tibet have recently intensified their crackdown on the spread of politically sensitive information, monitoring online news-sharing and stopping Tibetans in the streets to check mobile phones for forbidden content, Tibetan sources say.

Taiwan mulls resumption of cross-strait travel ties: MAC CNA 22 Mar 2021 -- Taiwan's government is studying the possibility of gradually resuming travel between Taiwan and China, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Monday, urging Beijing to follow suit.
Palau president rejects Beijing, reaffirms ties with Taiwan CNA 22 Mar 2021 -- Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr., who is scheduled to visit Taiwan next week, told CNA on Monday that he has informed Beijing that Palau cherishes its relations with Taiwan and that no one should ask Palau to cut ties with Taipei.

Xi says China ready to work with DPRK to preserve peace on Korean Peninsula Global Times 22 Mar 2021 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has said that China is willing to work with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and other related parties to uphold the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue and preserve peace and stability on the peninsula, so as to make new contributions to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Joint Statement on Xinjiang US Dept. of State 22 Mar 2021 -- The text of the following statement was released by the foreign ministers of Canada, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State.
EU, US, Canada, UK Sanction Chinese Officials, Entities Over Rights Abuses in Xinjiang Radio Free Asia 22 Mar 2021 -- The European Union, U.S., Canada, and the U.K. on Monday leveled sanctions against Chinese officials and security entities as part of a multilateral approach to hold to account those responsible for human rights abuses in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
In Coordinated Effort, West Sanctions China For Rights Violations In Xinjiang RFE/RL 22 Mar 2021 -- The United States, Britain, and Canada have joined the European Union in announced sanctions against Chinese officials and companies over human rights violations against the mainly Muslim ethnic-Uyghur community in China's Xinjiang Province.
US, EU, Britain, Canada Impose Sanctions on Chinese Officials Over Uyghurs VOA 22 Mar 2021 -- The United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada have imposed sanctions on several Chinese officials for human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur minority in China's Xinjiang province, prompting retaliation from China.
Promoting Accountability for Human Rights Abuse with Our Partners US Dept. of State 22 Mar 2021 -- Today, the United States, in unity with our partners, is imposing sanctions against Wang Junzheng, the Secretary of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) and Chen Mingguo, Director of the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau (XPSB) under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program. We are doing so in response to serious human rights abuse against members of ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.
Treasury Sanctions Chinese Government Officials in Connection with Serious Human Rights Abuse in Xinjiang US Treasury 22 Mar 2021 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two current Chinese government officials in connection with serious human rights abuses against ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
UK sanctions perpetrators of gross human rights violations in Xinjiang, alongside EU, Canada and US UK FCDO 22 Mar 2021 -- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announces sanctions against Chinese government officials for gross human rights violations in Xinjiang.
Treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang: Foreign Secretary's statement, 22 March 2021 UK FCDO 22 Mar 2021 -- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab gave a statement to the House of Commons on the human rights situation in Xinjiang, China.
China (22 Mar. 2021) France Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs 22 Mar 2021 -- "Following the increase in unacceptable public comments by the Embassy of China in recent days, including in the form of insults and threats against parliamentarians and a French researcher, we reaffirm the basic rules enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations associated with the functioning of a foreign embassy, notably with respect to its public communications. The embassy is urged to strictly comply with these rules."
EU, China impose tit-for-tat sanctions on individuals, entities Press TV 22 Mar 2021 -- Beijing has slapped sanctions on 10 European individuals and four entities in retaliation for similar restrictions imposed by the European Union against China.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Announces Sanctions on Relevant EU Entities and Personnel PRC MofA 22 Mar 2021 -- "The European Union (EU) imposed unilateral sanctions on relevant Chinese individuals and entity on March 22, citing the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang. This move, based on nothing but lies and disinformation, disregards and distorts facts, grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, flagrantly breaches international law and basic norms governing international relations, and severely undermines China-EU relations."
China hits back at EU sanctions over Xinjiang affairs, sending strong signal urging foreign countries to stop meddling in its internal affairs Global Times 22 Mar 2021 -- Shortly after European Union foreign ministers signed off on a slate of punitive measures on Monday over alleged human rights abuses, including sanctions directed at China, China hit back with tit-for-tat countermeasures by sanctioning 10 individuals and four entities that have spread rumors and lies about Xinjiang.
China's sanctions over EU officials and entities are justified and timely: Global Times editorial Global Times 22 Mar 2021 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Monday to "sanction 10 individuals and four entities on the EU side that severely harm China's sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation."

Uyghur Children Face Legacy of Trauma Caused by Mass Incarceration Campaign Radio Free Asia 22 Mar 2021 -- Mass incarceration of Uyghurs in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) has scattered some 500,000 Uyghur children in boarding schools, orphanages, and other institutions run by the Chinese state—a state that experts say is committed to the long-term eradication of the ethnic group.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on March 22, 2021 PRC MofA 22 Mar 2021

White House Says US Evaluating 'Appropriate Next Steps' on China Sputnik 22 Mar 2021 -- The Biden administration is evaluating the next steps of the United States' policy toward China following a high-level bilateral meeting last week, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Monday.
China Lauds Alaska Talks With Washington as 'Useful', Urges Further Dialogue Amid Lingering Tensions Sputnik 22 Mar 2021 -- The comments follow tense exchanges between Washington and Beijing, with both countries launching accusations of violating diplomatic protocols, according to reports.

Interview: Russia, China set example on how to build relations, says Lavrov People's Daily 22 Mar 2021 -- China is a truly strategic partner of Russia and a like-minded country, and their mutually trusting and respectful dialogue should serve as an example to other countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.
Russia, China need to move away from dollar to reduce risks of US sanctions: Lavrov Press TV 22 Mar 2021 -- Russia and China need to work to further reduce their dependence on the dollar and switch to national currencies for trade in order to alleviate the risks of US sanctions, says Russia's top diplomat.
China-Russia partnership 'key to balance US hegemony' Global Times 22 Mar 2021 -- As Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in China for his two-day visit on Monday, just two days after the China-US meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, Chinese experts said it's pretty normal for the two like-minded partners to coordinate crucial information, but it doesn't mean the two major powers are forming an anti-US alliance because this would be unnecessary and outdated.
China will advance strategic partnership with Russia at deeper levels: Foreign Ministry Press TV 22 Mar 2021 -- China's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying says Beijing would further advance comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia at deeper levels amid heightened tensions with the United States.

China slams Canada forming 'clique' to interfere in judicial process as Beijing tries Canadian Michael Kovrig over espionage charge Global Times 22 Mar 2021 -- A court in Beijing on Monday opened the trial of a former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig over espionage charges, after Friday's trial against his key source Michael Spavor, who was suspected of stealing national secrets from China.
China begins trial of ex-Canadian diplomat on espionage charges Press TV 22 Mar 2021 -- A Chinese court has begun the trial of a former Canadian diplomat, who is charged with espionage after being arrested two years ago in Beijing.
Former Canadian Diplomat Tried Behind Closed Doors For 'Spying' in China Radio Free Asia 22 Mar 2021 -- A Canadian national detained by the Chinese authorities days after the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou stood trial in Beijing on Monday for "spying."
Closed-Door Hearing of Second Canadian Charged with Espionage Begins in China VOA 22 Mar 2021 -- The espionage trial of former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig began Monday behind closed doors in a Beijing courtroom.

Eight of Hong Kong 12 Handed Over to Hong Kong Police by China Radio Free Asia 22 Mar 2021 -- Police in Hong Kong on Monday detained eight democracy activists returned to the city by China, which jailed them after they tried to flee by speedboat.

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22 March 2021 - China Special Weapons News