08 March 2024 - China Special Weapons News

China discovers oil field of proven reserve of 102 million tons in South China Sea: CNOOC Global Times 08 Mar 2024 -- China has discovered its first deep-water, deep-reservoir oil find in the South China Sea, state-owned oil giant CNOOC announced on Friday.

Defense ministry reiterates Taiwan's right to self-defense CNA 08 Mar 2024 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) reiterated the right to self-defense in its statement released Friday, in response to media reports that the MND has adjusted its modus operandi for a self-defensive counterstrike.
PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Mar. 8, 2024 ROC MND 08 Mar 2024

Military urged to strengthen innovation People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China's military should improve its strategic capabilities in emerging spheres, during a meeting with lawmakers from the nation's armed forces.

China's top legislature vows rule of law to defend national sovereignty, security Global Times 08 Mar 2024 -- China's top legislature vowed on Friday to use rule of law to solve disputes involving foreign-related affairs, and will resolutely defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests. Experts believe that defending national safety and sovereignty has increasingly become an important part in pushing for rule of law in China, and the country will continue improving legislature process in relative areas.
Xi stresses deepening reform to comprehensively enhance strategic capabilities in emerging areas People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on the armed forces to forge a stronger sense of mission, deepen reform and promote innovation, so as to comprehensively enhance strategic capabilities in emerging areas.
Chinese leaders attend deliberations at annual legislative session People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- Senior Chinese leaders Wang Huning and Ding Xuexiang, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Thursday attended deliberations at the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature.
China's top political advisory body holds 2nd plenary meeting of annual session People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- China's top political advisory body on Thursday held its second plenary meeting of the annual session.

US Army analyst arrested for selling military secrets Radio Free Asia 08 Mar 2024 -- A U.S. Army intelligence analyst with "top secret" clearance was arrested on Thursday for allegedly sending troves of sensitive military planning documents related to China - including plans to defend Taiwan in case of an invasion - to a person in Hong Kong.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on March 8, 2024 PRC MofA 08 Mar 2024

Biden Targets China During State of Union Speech VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday criticized China's "unfair economic practices" and insisted he has done a better job standing up to Beijing than did former President Donald Trump, his rival in this year's presidential election.

China easing tensions for Ukraine vs US pursuing bloc politics Global Times 08 Mar 2024 -- Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui concluded his visit to Ukraine on Thursday as part of the second round of shuttle diplomacy on the Ukraine crisis contributing to China's mediation efforts to cool down regional tensions. On the same day, the US provoked tensions by welcoming Sweden's official entry into NATO.

Safeguarding National Security Bill introduced into HKSAR LegCo for 1st, 2nd reading People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Legislative Council (LegCo) on Friday convened a meeting for the first and second reading of the Safeguarding National Security Bill.
Hong Kong reveals new security law with harsher penalties Radio Free Asia 08 Mar 2024 -- Hong Kong's government on Friday tabled a draft national security bill that proposes life sentences for anyone who "endangers national security," with sentences of up to 10 years' imprisonment for "illegally disclosing state secrets."
Hong Kong fast-tracks the Article 23 legislation, lists offences and penalties in draft bill Global Times 08 Mar 2024 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) fast-tracked the Basic Law Article 23 legislation by gazetting the draft bill on Friday and tabling it to the Legislative Council for the first reading and second reading on the same day. The draft bill listed a series of offences and penalties including new offences like treason, insurrection, acts with seditious intention, foreign interference and theft of state secrets and espionage.

US lawmakers call for release of Uyghur prisoners Radio Free Asia 08 Mar 2024 -- A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has called on the Biden administration to press China harder over the jailing of Uyghur activists and to focus on securing the release of four high-profile prisoners.
So-called forced labor in Xinjiang is "sheer nonsense": NPC deputies People's Daily 08 Mar 2024 -- The so-called forced labor in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was debunked by deputies of the Xinjiang delegation during an open panel discussion at the ongoing second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC).

China starts drafting law to boost confidence of private sector, vitality for high-quality growth Global Times 08 Mar 2024 -- The work report of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Friday pledged to accelerate the formation of a law aimed at promoting the development of the private sector, sending a strong, fresh signal on policymakers' commitment to making continuous improvements in the business environment and boosting the high-quality development of the private sector for Chinese modernization.
Prominent economist Justin Lin debunks 'peak China' claims, highlights China's potential to surpass US Global Times 08 Mar 2024 -- A prominent Chinese economist and a national political advisor has debunked various negative claims about the Chinese economy, including suggestions about "peak China" and "Japanification," while highlighting China's unique advantages and its potential to surpass the US to become the world's biggest economy.

Chinese women largely excluded from highest echelons of power Radio Free Asia 08 Mar 2024 -- Addressing an annual parliamentary session in Beijing, ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping extended "festive" greetings in honor of International Women's Day, which falls Friday, to women delegates to the world's biggest legislature earlier this week.

Q&A: Former MI6 Official Talks of Turmoil at the Top in China and 'Partyfication' of Foreign Ministry VOA 08 Mar 2024 -- Nigel Inkster is the senior adviser for China at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and boasts a three-decade career at the British Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6. VOA's Natalie Liu recently spoke with him about the turmoil among China's political elite over the past year, most notably the removal of both Defense Minister Li Shangfu and Foreign Minister Qin Gang.

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)