31 March 2022 - China Special Weapons News

Shanghai battens down for further lockdowns as city government admits poor planning Radio Free Asia 31 Mar 2022 -- China looks set to stay with its controversial zero-COVID policy, as residents of the west bank of Shanghai's Huangpu river flocked to supermarkets ahead of Friday's scheduled lockdown, and patients said they were having trouble getting lifesaving medical treatment due to testing restrictions.
Shanghai in decisive battle against Omicron, admits being inadequately prepared for latest surge Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- Shanghai has been beefing up its COVID-19 prevention measures after a 3,000-official meeting on Wednesday night and vowed to adopt a strategy of what it termed "static management of the whole region," citywide nucleic acid testing as its officials admitted being ill prepared for the latest wave of fast-rising infections.
Shanghai apologizes for not fully preparing for surging COVID-19 infections; 6 special groups established to strengthen efforts Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- At a press conference on Thursday, Shanghai authorities said they failed to thoroughly prepare for the recent outbreak that's been battering the city. The authorities said previous epidemic prevention and control measures were not fully implemented, and the city has upgraded the directing mechanism and established six special working groups to focus on specific tasks to strengthen efforts.
Chinese mainland reports 1,803 new local COVID-19 cases People's Daily 31 Mar 2022 -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 1,803 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said on Thursday.
Shanghai enters static management as cases keep surging; life necessity supplies and medical services for residents stressed: officials Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- Shanghai municipal government officials announced on Wednesday night to resort to static management of the whole city, carry out city-wide nucleic acid testing, so to round up risk groups and staunch viral infections within community as soon as possible.
Shanghai to fully mobilize in fighting resurgence as top health authority urges dynamic zero-COVID to be upheld unswervingly Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- As Shanghai held a 3,000-official meeting on Wednesday night to fully mobilize the citywide resources to fight the highly contagious Omicron variant, China's top public health authority laid out new instructions and stressed why it's important to uphold the dynamic zero-COVID goal unswervingly and why China, unlike some Western countries, can achieve this goal.
China balancing COVID-19 control, economic growth People's Daily 31 Mar 2022 -- As the Omicron variant has caused COVID-19 resurgences in many parts of China, the country is meeting the challenge with swift and solid action.

U.S. counterproductive practices are making troubles for political settlement of Ukraine crisis People's Daily 31 Mar 2022 -- NATO recently convened a summit as the Ukraine crisis entered its second month. Promoting peace and talks for an early ceasefire should have been a priority for the U.S.-led alliance. However, the messages sent by the summit were disappointing.

11 Chinese warplanes seen near southern Taiwan amid U.S.-Philippines exercises CNA 31 Mar 2022 -- Eleven Chinese military aircraft flew into the southwestern part of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said, as the United States and the Philippines hold their largest-ever joint exercises in nearby waters.
China Uses Multiple Fronts to Block Taiwan at UN: Report VOA 31 Mar 2022 -- China is making efforts to block Taiwan from the United Nations that run deep into the organization's bureaucracy, systematically blocking Taiwanese from engaging with the international organization, according to a German Marshall Fund report.
Chinese mainland decries DPP's "two states" comments as provocation People's Daily 31 Mar 2022 -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday said the latest attempt by certain Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) politicians in China's Taiwan to describe ties between the mainland and Taiwan as one between "two states" was nothing short of a provocative and impetuous action.

15th round China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting positive and constructive: Defense Spokesperson PLA Daily 31 Mar 2022 -- China and India sides have agreed to properly handle the border issue through negotiation and consultation, firmly opposing interference from a third party, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) at a regular press conference in Beijing today.

Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft re-enters atmosphere, most parts burnt up: CMSA Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- With the precise control and close monitoring of ground controllers, China's Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft made its re-entry to Earth's atmosphere at 6:40 pm on Thursday after detaching from the Tianhe space station core module earlier this week, the Global Times learned from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
China launches three satellites People's Daily 31 Mar 2022 -- China has successfully sent three satellites into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Wednesday.

Thai-China Submarine Deal Runs Aground on EU Arms Embargo VOA 31 Mar 2022 -- China has paused construction of an attack submarine earmarked for Thailand's navy following Germany's refusal to export the top-end engines the plans call for, a Thai naval official confirmed.

Militarization of South China Sea should be blamed on US, not China: Defense Spokesperson PLA Daily 31 Mar 2022 -- "Militarization of the South China Sea" should not be blamed on China, but on the US, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday.
China Has Every Right to Deploy Equipment on South China Sea Islands, Defenсe Ministry Says Sputnik 31 Mar 2022 -- China's deployment of the necessary equipment for national defence on islands in the South China Sea is its legitimate right as a sovereign country, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said on Thursday.

China, Solomon Islands ink security cooperation, deriving from need to 'quell Honiara riots' in past year Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- China and the Solomon Islands signed a bilateral security cooperation framework agreement on Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed, which focuses on social security, safeguarding people's lives and properties, human rights aid and other fields.
Chinese Military Presence in Solomon Islands Will Affect Australia's Ops, Warns General Sputnik 31 Mar 2022 -- The Solomon Islands said on Thursday that its officials had "initialled" elements of the security cooperation agreement with China, despite reservations expressed by its regional partners such as Australia and New Zealand. It also said that the final agreement would be signed between the two foreign ministers in the coming days.
Businessman Sentenced to a Year and a Day for Illegally Brokering Sales of Embargoed Defense Articles from China and Filing False Income Tax Return US Dept. of Justice 31 Mar 2022 -- A southern California businessman was sentenced yesterday to one year and one day in prison for illegally brokering the sales of embargoed defense articles from the People's Republic of China (PRC) and filing a false corporate tax return.
China, Pakistan to further promote military cooperation in various fields: Defense Spokesperson PLA Daily 31 Mar 2022 -- The military-to-military relations, serving as the mainstay of the China-Pakistan friendship, have played an important role in the development of bilateral relations for a long time, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on March 31, 2022 PRC MofA 31 Mar 2022

China Announces Visa Restrictions on US Officials VOA 31 Mar 2022 -- China on Thursday said it would impose visa restrictions on U.S. officials in retaliation for the U.S. restriction of visas for Chinese officials.
China to impose visa restriction on US officials as reciprocal countermeasure: Chinese FM Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- China decided to take reciprocal countermeasures on US officials in response to the US' imposing of visa restrictions on Chinese officials over issues related to "human rights," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.
Foreign ministry: US uses human rights to concoct malicious lies against China, interfere in Beijing's affairs Press TV 31 Mar 2022 -- China has announced the imposition of sanctions against an unspecified number of American officials who "concocted lies" about human rights violations in the country's far-western region of Xinjiang.

EU, Chinese Leaders Meet Amid Backdrop of Ukraine Conflict VOA 31 Mar 2022 -- Plans for a European Union-China summit were already laid before Russia invaded Ukraine last month — although Beijing's formal announcement it would attend only came this week. On the agenda are issues like climate change, trade and what the EU describes as "universal values." But the Ukraine conflict tops it.

China-hosted Grouping Backs Afghanistan, Urges Taliban to Protect Rights of Afghans VOA 31 Mar 2022 -- Foreign ministers from Afghanistan's neighbors met in China on Thursday to reaffirm support for the war-torn country and stress how important it is for Taliban rulers to protect rights of all Afghans, including women's rights to an education.
President Xi Jinping Delivers Written Remarks at the Third Foreign Ministers' Meeting Among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan PRC MofA 31 Mar 2022 -- On March 31, President Xi Jinping delivered written remarks at the third Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan.
China hosts Russian, US officials at same table, urges Washington to return Afghan assets, lift sanctions Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- Two key meetings on the Afghan situation convened in China's Anhui Province on Thursday, with one, the Troika Plus meeting, the first occasion where representatives from Russia and the US sat together since the start of the Ukraine crisis. Observers said that while global attention has been diverted to Eastern Europe, China, with diplomatic efforts, pushed crucial parties to help solve the problems of Afghans and offered a platform for major powers to seek cooperation in certain fields despite frictions in others.
China, Afghanistan, Pakistan can jointly build BRI, extend China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan: Wang Yi Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- China, Afghanistan and Pakistan can jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative, extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan, and help Afghanistan participate in regional connectivity, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the foreign ministers' meeting between the three countries in Tunxi, East China's Anhui Province.
Chinese president stresses neighboring countries' role in supporting Afghanistan PLA Daily 31 Mar 2022 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on the neighboring countries of Afghanistan to do their best to support the Afghan people to create a brighter future.

Closed-door trial of Australian Cheng Lei legitimate, involves China's state secrets: FM Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- It is lawful for China's court to hold a closed-door trial over a case that involves state secrets, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, responding to a question over the court trial of Australian national Cheng Lei suspected of illegally providing China's state secrets to a foreign country.
'Spying' trial of Australian national, state TV anchor Cheng Lei held in secret Radio Free Asia 31 Mar 2022 -- Australian national and Chinese state TV anchor Cheng Lei stood trial behind closed doors at a Beijing court on Thursday for alleged breaches of the national security law.

Hong Kong's Diminishing Freedoms US Dept. of State 31 Mar 2022 -- Over the past year, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has continued to dismantle Hong Kong's democratic institutions, placed unprecedented pressure on the judiciary, and stifled academic, cultural, and press freedoms.
Resignation of 2 British judges won't affect HK's judicial independence Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- The resignation of two UK judges from Hong Kong's top court is a political decision and won't affect the city's judicial independence as the special administrative region (SAR) is ensured by the Basic Law, officials and legal experts said. Experts also refuted the groundless accusations made by some foreign politicians over the matter in an attempt to interfere in China's internal affairs.
HKSAR gov't vehemently opposes British parliament's allegations on national security law, legal system in Hong Kong People's Daily 31 Mar 2022 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Wednesday expressed vehement opposition to the British parliament making up unfounded allegations against the national security law and the legal system in Hong Kong.
HK govt refutes inaccurate statements on the independence and impartiality of judges after two UK magistrates resign Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) refuted on Wednesday the inaccurate statements that questioned the independence and impartiality of judges after the resignation of the President and the Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom who served as non-permanent judges (NPJs) of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (CFA), stressing that the judicial independence in the region is constitutionally guaranteed by the Basic Law.

Critics see 'scary reality' as China touts Xinjiang police high case clearance rates Radio Free Asia 31 Mar 2022 -- Police in China's far-western Xinjiang region ranked first in the country in 2021 for solving all homicide cases, while the region's High People's Court was hailed as a model for concluding the greatest number of cases last year, according to a Chinese state media report that prompted political and legal analysts outside the country to raise questions about the results.

Denmark commission finds Copenhagen illegally silenced anti-China demonstrators Radio Free Asia 31 Mar 2022 -- A commission appointed by the government of Denmark this week criticized the country's Foreign Ministry for giving into Chinese pressure and preventing anti-Beijing demonstrations during state visits in 2012 and 2013.

Former CPPCC official expelled from Party for serious violations of discipline Global Times 31 Mar 2022 -- Fu Zhenghua, a member of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and former deputy chairman of the social and legal affairs committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), was expelled from the CPC and dismissed from public office for serious violations of Party discipline and the law, China's top anti-corruption authorities announced on Thursday.

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31 March 2022 - China Special Weapons News