03 March 2023 - China Special Weapons News

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan March 3, 2023 ROC MND 03 Mar 2023
China Demands US Stop All Military Contact With Taiwan: Defense Ministry Sputnik 03 Mar 2023 -- China demands that the United States stops all military contacts with Taiwan and stops arms sales to the island, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said on Friday.
US approval of arms sales to Taiwan island slammed for escalating tensions Global Times 03 Mar 2023 -- In the first US arms sale plan to the island of Taiwan in 2023, the administration of President Joe Biden has approved a possible deal for fighter jet missiles worth $619 million. The move was denounced by Chinese authorities on Thursday, with experts saying it will only escalate tensions between China and the US as well as between the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan.

China ushers in two sessions after decisive win in COVID response, heralds 'new development stage' Global Times 03 Mar 2023 -- As the curtain of China's annual two sessions, a key event in the country's political calendar, is about to unveil, China is also ushering in a "new and more vibrant" development period for years to come. This year's two sessions, convened after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and China's optimization of COVID response after three years of fight against the pandemic, offer a glimpse of the country's road forward, the policies the central government will unveil to guarantee rapid and healthy social and economic development, how the gist of report of the 20th CPC National Congress will be implemented, and how the country will strengthen itself in order to weather the impact of an international atmosphere that is "more complicated than ever."
China's Xi to battle rising debt, economic woes and political rivals at congress Radio Free Asia 03 Mar 2023 -- Ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping will be looking to eliminate high-profile rivals and other influential figures from the political scene, while taking a firmer grip of the country's purse-strings at the forthcoming National People's Congress annual session in Beijing, analysts told Radio Free Asia in recent interviews.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on March 3, 2023 PRC MofA 03 Mar 2023

US hypes 'China nuclear threat' as excuse for own expansion, military hegemony: Chinese FM Global Times 03 Mar 2023 -- The US has repeatedly hyped "China nuclear threat" as an excuse for its own expansion of nuclear arsenals to maintain military hegemony, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press conference on Friday.
US blacklists 28 more Chinese firms Radio Free Asia 03 Mar 2023 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce on Thursday added to its export blacklist 28 Chinese and three Burmese entities, accusing them of supplying security equipment to the militaries of Iran and Myanmar and helping to promote Beijing's "military modernization."

China, Australia should cherish positive momentum of steady growth in ties: Chinese Foreign Minister Global Times 03 Mar 2023 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on Thursday local time, during which Qin said the two sides should cherish the positive momentum of stabilizing and improving bilateral relations, and properly handle differences and address each other's legitimate concerns.

Chinese FM meets Russian counterpart after release of peace proposals Global Times 03 Mar 2023 -- China supports a political solution to the Ukraine crisis and opposes fanning the flames and sabotaging peace talks with double standards, sanctions and pressure, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Thursday.

Allegations Prompt Calls for Inquiry on Chinese Influence on Canadian Elections VOA 03 Mar 2023 -- More information is coming out regarding China's attempts to influence the past two Canadian elections. Pressure is building for the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to launch an independent investigation.

Chinese FM Qin Gang meets with Indian counterpart Jaishankar; two sides to inject stability, positive energy to world Global Times 03 Mar 2023 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday in New Delhi during the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The ministers agreed on viewing and improving relations between the two countries from a historical perspective and strategic height, and to inject stability and positive energy into the world, while Qin urged that the important consensus between the two countries' leaders should be implemented.

Hong Kongers Keep Wearing Masks Despite Lifting of Mandate VOA 03 Mar 2023 -- Days after the Hong Kong government lifted its mask mandate, most Hong Kongers continue to wear the protective anti-COVID-19 coverings, a decision that for some people shows a continued concern about health and for others indicates distrust of the government.
Chinese leaders to take a more active role in the running of Hong Kong: analysts Radio Free Asia 03 Mar 2023 -- Reports are emerging that the Chinese government department in charge of Hong Kong will likely be placed under the direct control of the ruling Communist Party leadership in Beijing, who will then take a more active role in the day-to-day running of the former British colony.

Survey: US Companies in China No Longer See It as Primary Investment Destination VOA 03 Mar 2023 -- U.S. companies no longer regard China as the primary investment destination it once was, according to an annual survey of American businesspeople operating there who, for the first time in 25 years, no longer see China as a top-three market.
Economists predict China to set 2023 GDP growth target of above 5% as two sessions to kick off Global Times 03 Mar 2023 -- As China shrugs off the impact brought by the epidemic after the country changed its COVID response in light of the evolving situation, China's official GDP growth target, which is closely watched by the world as an indicator of China's economic confidence, has come under the spotlight at the two sessions.
Chinese central bank to boost passing of financial stability law, strengthen mechanism to prevent, defuse risks Global Times 03 Mar 2023 -- Chinese officials are backing the passage of a financial stability law that will provide supervision mechanisms for all kinds of financial activities so as to protect the interests of retail and smaller investors, and those who are insured, Yi Gang, governor of the People's Bank of China (PBC), said at a press conference on Friday.

Ai Weiwei's lawyer among dissidents 'disappeared' ahead of parliament session Radio Free Asia 03 Mar 2023 -- A human rights lawyer who represented Ai Weiwei against the Chinese government has "disappeared" after trying to board a train to the southern province of Guangdong, according to rights activists.

Interview: Why Did Xi Invite Lukashenka To China? RFE/RL 03 Mar 2023 -- Many observers were caught off guard when Belarusian autocrat Alyaksandr Lukashenka was invited to China for a three-day state visit, but the motives for the visit are coming into focus.

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