12 January 2024 - China Special Weapons News

Millions of Voters Head to Polls as Taiwan Election Gets Under Way VOA 12 Jan 2024 -- Following weeks of intense campaigning and numerous rallies, more than 19 million voters across Taiwan headed to the polls on Saturday to determine who will be the next president to lead the democratic island amid heightened tension across the Taiwan Strait.
Stable U.S. relations key to opening communications with China: TPP's Ko CNA 12 Jan 2024 -- Taiwan People's Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said Friday that if elected, he would first ensure that Taiwan's relationship with the United States remains solid before attempting to open communications with China.
The basic fact that Taiwan is part of China will not change regardless of the elections result of the region: FM Global Times 12 Jan 2024 -- The elections of the Taiwan region are China's internal affairs and regardless of the result, it will not change the basic fact that Taiwan is part of China and there is only one China in the world, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference on Friday.
China urges U.S. to stop interfering in elections in Taiwan region People's Daily 12 Jan 2024 -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Thursday said that the elections in the Taiwan region are purely China's internal affairs, which brook no external interference, and China urges the U.S. side to stop interfering in elections in the Taiwan region in any form.

China eyes launching low-cost cargo spacecraft for space station through commercial rocket Global Times 12 Jan 2024 -- Commercial aerospace company CAS Space and the Chinese Academy of Sciences Microsatellite Innovation Research Institute have confirmed a plan that the low-cost cargo spacecraft product developed by the Microsatellite Innovation Institute will be launched by the company's Kinetica 2 liquid carrier rocket and will undergo the first flight mission in 2025 for comprehensive on-orbit assessment and verification, the Global Times learned from the company on Friday.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on January 12, 2024 PRC MofA 12 Jan 2024

Secretary Blinken's Meeting with PRC Minister of the International Liaison Department of the CCP Central Committee Liu US Dept. of State 12 Jan 2024
Blinken Meets Top China Foreign Minister Candidate Before Taiwan Elections VOA 12 Jan 2024 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with veteran Chinese diplomat Liu Jianchao on Friday morning, a day before Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections — a test for efforts to stabilize tensions between the United States and China.
China blasts US report on Beijing's Indian Ocean research, says it bolsters 'China threat narrative' Press TV 12 Jan 2024 -- China has blasted a report by a prominent United States think tank on the military uses of Chinese scientific research across the Indian Ocean, warning that the report gave "ammunition" to countries bent on constructing a "China threat narrative", state media said.
US urged to 'do more on peace' as Pentagon's first industrial strategy hypes 'China threat' Global Times 12 Jan 2024 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday urged the US to do more to contribute to peace and stability and not to introduce bloc confrontation, conflicts and wars into the Asia-Pacific, in response to the China-related content in the US' first-ever National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS), which highlighted the need to reform its defense industry and team up with "Indo-Pacific" allies to counter China.

China, Russia trade soars 32.7% y-o-y in 2023, hits record high Global Times 12 Jan 2024 -- Trade between China and Russia hit a record high in 2023, reaching 1.69 trillion yuan ($235.9 billion), an increase of 32.7 percent from a yearly basis, Chinese customs data showed on Friday.

Xi urges more 'bridges' to be built between China, Europe in meeting with Belgian PM Global Times 12 Jan 2024 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with visiting Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, agreeing to enhance ties and voicing against "decoupling."

Decline in China-Canada relations caused by Canada's perception deviation; Canada should interpret China's policies rationally: Chinese top diplomat Global Times 12 Jan 2024 -- The root reason behind the decline in China-Canada relations in recent years is the serious deviation of Canada's perception of China. It is hoped that Canada can objectively, rationally, and correctly interpret China's domestic and foreign policies, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday in a phone call with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, at the latter's request.
Chinese, Canadian FMs hold phone talks on ties People's Daily 12 Jan 2024 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday held a phone conversation with his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly at the latter's request.

Russia, China 'concerned' after US, UK attack on Yemen Press TV 12 Jan 2024 -- Russia and China have expressed their concerns over the situation in West Asia after the United States and Britain conducted an attack on Yemen in support of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza.

China mediates formal ceasefire deal between Myanmar military and armed groups Global Times 12 Jan 2024 -- Under China's meditation and facilitation efforts, a formal ceasefire agreement has been reached between the Myanmar military and three ethnic armed groups in northern Myanmar, namely the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, and the Arakan Army, after the two sides held peace talks in the city of Kunming in Southwest China's Yunnan Province from Wednesday to Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.
Laos concerned over scam ring influx amid China's Myanmar crackdown Radio Free Asia 12 Jan 2024 -- There has been growing concern in Laos over the potential influx and increase of scam operations pushed away from Myanmar amid the Chinese crackdown, according to a Vientiane-based diplomatic source on Friday.

Hong Kong tables new security bill amid fears of widening crackdown Radio Free Asia 12 Jan 2024 -- Hong Kong's government on Friday tabled homegrown national security legislation it claims is needed to eradicate "undercurrents of dissent" in the city and extend an ongoing crackdown on public speech and political activism under a draconian law imposed in 2020 by Beijing.

Experts denounce trips to Xinjiang as 'genocide tourism' Radio Free Asia 12 Jan 2024 -- The Chinese government has thrown open the door for tourists to Xinjiang. Or at least those it deems worthy of an invite.

China's 2023 rare earth exports up 7.3%, showing Western smears to be groundless: experts Global Times 12 Jan 2024 -- China's rare earth exports in 2023 increased 7.3 percent year-on-year to 52,306.5 tons, with the export value narrowing by 28.3 percent, data from China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed on Friday.

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