11 April 2024 - China Special Weapons News

Omicron variant dominates COVID-19 cases in China in March, with JN.1 becoming main strain: China CDC Global Times 11 Apr 2024 -- Throughout the month of March 2024, the Chinese mainland reported that the new cases of COVID-19 were all caused by the Omicron variant, with the main prevalent strain becoming the JN.1 series variant. This variant encompasses 89 evolutionary branches, with the top three strains being JN.1, JN.1.4, and JN.1.1.

Biden: US will defend Philippines if vessels are attacked Radio Free Asia 11 Apr 2024 -- U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday that American military support for the Philippines was "ironclad," and any attacks against its vessels in the South China Sea would invoke a 1951 treaty that compels each country to come to the other's aid in the event of a conflict.
China firmly opposes latest groundless accusations in Philippine media reports Global Times 11 Apr 2024 -- In response to Philippine media claims that officials in the country are investigating Chinese companies suspected of "pretending to be American or European enterprises" in order to recruit Filipino soldiers as analysts online, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the Philippines refuted the claims on Wednesday, saying that it was just malicious speculation and groundless accusations against China with the purpose of inciting Sinophobic sentiments in the Philippines.

14 PLA aircraft detected in Taiwan's ADIZ: Defense ministry CNA 11 Apr 2024 -- A total of 14 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft were detected in Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the 24-hour period starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday, the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday.
Mainland spokesperson applauds Ma Ying-jeou's contribution to cross-Strait youth exchanges People's Daily 11 Apr 2024 -- A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday commended former Chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party Ma Ying-jeou, who is leading a delegation of young people from Taiwan on a visit to the mainland, for his important contribution to promoting exchanges between the youth across the Taiwan Strait.
Xi Jinping meets Ma Ying-jeou in Beijing People's Daily 11 Apr 2024 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Ma Ying-jeou in Beijing on Wednesday.
PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan Apr. 11, 2024 ROC MND 11 Apr 2024

Covering China brings surveillance, harassment, report finds VOA 11 Apr 2024 -- Reporting conditions in China have improved since the global pandemic but foreign journalists still face obstacles including visa problems, surveillance and harassment, according to a new survey.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on April 11, 2024 PRC MofA 11 Apr 2024

Biden, Marcos announce infrastructure plans to counter Chinese projects VOA 11 Apr 2024 -- Months after Manila withdrew from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, Washington announced a set of infrastructure projects in the Philippines, the first under an initiative to accelerate investments in partner countries in the Indo-Pacific.
Biden hosts Japanese, Philippine leaders to discuss China's aggression VOA 11 Apr 2024 -- U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on Thursday, aiming to send China a clear message that it must halt its aggressive behavior in the South China Sea.

Chinese embassy slams Canadian PM's accusation on Chinese interference in Canadian elections Global Times 11 Apr 2024 -- The Chinese Embassy in Canada slammed the latest remarks made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who accused China of trying to "meddle in Canadian elections," urging Canada to respect and face the facts, abandon ideological biases, stop hyping up the lie of "Chinese interference."

Cambodia's Hun Sen hits back at criticism about Funan Techo canal Radio Free Asia 11 Apr 2024 -- Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen has slammed what he calls attempts to "fabricate the story" about a proposed Chinese-built canal near Vietnam's border.

Press freedom in HK has always been fully protected, Chinese FM says on RSF's representative denied entry for Jimmy Lai's trial Global Times 11 Apr 2024 -- In response to media reports about a representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), claiming to monitor Jimmy Lai's national security trial, who has been denied entry to Hong Kong on Wednesday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday that she is not aware of the case, while emphasizing that freedom of the press in Hong Kong has always been fully protected under the Basic Law of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong denies entry to campaigner en route to Jimmy Lai trial Radio Free Asia 11 Apr 2024 -- An advocacy worker for the Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders has been denied entry to Hong Kong, en route to monitor the national security trial of pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai.

Kyrgyz officials optimistic about China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project VOA 11 Apr 2024 -- Kyrgyz officials remain upbeat about a much-anticipated China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, but skeptics say odds are stacked against this mega project.

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