China and Vatican to Extend Agreement on Bishop Appointment for Two Years, Bloomberg Reports

Source: Stand News #Sep09

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

China and Vatican to Extend Agreement on Bishop Appointment for Two Years, Bloomberg Reports

Bloomberg quoted two sources on 9 September as saying that the Vatican will renew its agreement with China on the appointment of bishops in the next few weeks. It is believed that the agreement will be extended for two years. The Vatican has declined to comment.

The Holy See and Beijing signed a provisional agreement on bishop appointment in September 2018. The Pope immediately recognized eight Chinese bishops chosen and consecrated by the communist authorities themselves. Pope Francis later stated that under the agreement, candidates for bishoprics will be recommended by the Chinese Catholic community and the authorities and submitted to the Vatican for the Pope’s appointment. Bloomberg quoted sources as saying that this secret agreement stipulates that candidates will be selected through elections and by a synod of bishops in China and submitted to the Pope, who has a veto, for final decisions.

This February, the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi met with his Vatican counterpart Paul Gallagher in Germany. Wang said at the time that China is willing to deepen mutual understanding with the Vatican. Francesco Sisci, a senior researcher at Renmin University of China, told Bloomberg that China hopes to engage in exchanges with the Vatican, which China recognizes as a ‘soft superpower’ with the Pope being a voice to which everyone would listen.

Source: Stand News #Sep09

#China #Vatican #Catholic #Bishop #Diplomacy

https://bit.ly/2FuNnMp

Beijing Fumes as Australian Intelligence Searches Residences of Four Chinese Correspondents, Cries “Gross Violation of Right to Report”

Source: Stand News #Sep09

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Beijing Fumes as Australian Intelligence Searches Residences of Four Chinese Correspondents, Cries “Gross Violation of Right to Report”

China’s relations with Australia have become tense as two Australian correspondents in China, now evacuated, had a knock on the door from state security agents and was subjected to rounds of questioning. Chines state official media reported that the Australian authorities had recently searched the residences of four Chinese journalists stationed in Australia. The Chinese foreign ministry blasted the Australian government for “seriously interfering with the normal journalistic activities of Chinese media organizations” and “grossly violating the legitimate right to report of Chinese correspondents in Australia”.

Chinese foreign ministry: four reporters working for organizations including Xinhua News Agency under investigation

The Global Times reported on 9 September that Australian intelligence officers had recently raided the residences of Chinese correspondents in Australia. The report said that the authorities interrogated the reporters for an extended period of time, seized their computers and mobile phones, and asked them not to report on the state of the investigation.

Spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry Zhao Lijan said at the press conference that to China’s understanding, the Australian intelligence agency placed under investigation four reporters working for Xinhua News Agency, CCTV, and the Australian bureau of China News Agency on suspicion of breaking the Foreign Intervention Act.

Zhao insisted that Chinese reporters in Australia abide strictly by local laws and regulations while conducting interviews and reporting objectively and fairly. These reporters, Zhao said, have done a large amount of work to promote mutual understanding and friendly exchanges between the two countries. What the Australian government did, he said, has “seriously interfered with the normal journalistic activities of Chinese media organizations” and “grossly violating the legitimate right to report of Chinese correspondents in Australia” while seriously harming the physical and mental health of the journalists and their families. Zhao said further that it has fully exposed the hypocrisy with the ‘press freedom’ and the so-called ‘respect and protection for human rights’ Australia champions.

Source: Stand News #Sep09

#Australia #China #Journalist #Intelligence #PressFreedom #Diplomacy

https://bit.ly/3ks6dT3

Tycoon Shoulders Multimillion-Koruna Czech Piano Purchase Cancelled by Chinese Buyer over Senate President’s Visit to Taiwan

Source: Stand News #Sep09

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Tycoon Shoulders Multimillion-Koruna Czech Piano Purchase Cancelled by Chinese Buyer over Senate President’s Visit to Taiwan

A Chinese buyer cancelled a 5.3 million-koruna (approximately 1.83 million-Hong Kong dollar) order with the Czech piano maker Petrof as Beijing fumed over a recent visit to Taiwan led by the Czech senate president Miloš Vystrčil. The Czech News Agency and Forbes reported that Czech tycoon Karel Komárek had took on the purchase and donated all 11 handmade pianos involved to local schools.

Petrof’s CEO Zuzana Ceralová Petrofová said earlier that a Chinese customer from Beijing had cancelled a close order because of Vystrčil’s visit to Taiwan. Petrof is a renowned musical instrument brand with the Chinese market contributing to about 35% of its revenue. The company is worried that further deterioration of the Czech Republic’s relations with China will have an impact on its business.

In a surprising turn of event, Czech tycoon Karel Komárek and his wife were reported on 9 September to have taken on the rejected purchase. Having learnt that a Chinese customer had cancelled an order with Petrof, said Komárek, the billionaire decided to buy the 11 pianos involved in the name of the foundation KKCG and donate them to schools in the Czech Republic. These pianos, he hopes, can become a symbol of Czech pride and unity.

Source: Stand News #Sep09

#Czech #Taiwan #China #Vystrčil #Piano #Petrof #Komárek #Diplomacy

https://bit.ly/35NWEd0

India Blames Latest Conflict on China’s First Shot, PLA Soldiers Show up with Medieval Glaives in Standoff

Source: Stand News #Sep09

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

India Blames Latest Conflict on China’s First Shot, PLA Soldiers Show up with Medieval Glaives in Standoff

Developments have taken place in the skirmish on the Indo-Chinese border near Pangon Lake in eastern Ladakh. India stated on 8 September that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China fired the first shot in the air in an attempt to menace frontline Indian troops on the Mukhpari peak. The Times of India quoted government sources as saying that the Indians also fired several shots in the air in response.

The latest confrontation started at around 6 pm on 7 September when Chinese soldiers tried to approach the Indian camp. Using loudspeakers and floodlights, the Indian troops asked them to fall back, only to meet with a shot in the air by the Chinese in an attempt to intimidate the Indians. The Indian military stressed in a statement that its soldiers had shown great restraint facing gross provocation and had acted maturely and responsibly.

The Times of India noted that the incident was still far from being a gunfight, adding that the PLA had not taken further actions after the initial shot. About 40 Chinese soldiers remained in a standoff with the Indians on the Mukhpari peak, which is over 18,000 feet above the sea level. Besides rifles, the the Chinese troops were also armed with such medieval weapons as rods, clubs, spears and even homemade glaives.

Source: Stand News #Sep09

#India #China #Ladakh #Pangon #Military #Border #Conflict

https://bit.ly/3kwbM2C

Global Times Chief Editor: China to Sanction US Officials and Affiliated Companies for Visiting Taiwan

Source: Stand News #Sep09

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Global Times Chief Editor: China to Sanction US Officials and Affiliated Companies for Visiting Taiwan

Speaking of senior US officials visiting Taiwan, chief editor of the state-owned Chinese tabloid Global Times Hu Xijin said Beijing authorities have sanctions in store for them and American companies with which they have ties.

The US health and human services secretary Alex Azar visited Taiwan last month. He became the first US cabinet member to do so in six years. According to the Global Times, Taiwan media have recently reported that the Taiwan authorities are actively bringing about a visit by the US commerce secretary John Ross and may even invite the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach.

“Based on what I know, China will sanction senior US officials who visit Taiwan, and American companies which they have ties with,” said Hu on Twitter. “They will never be allowed to enter Chinese mainland and US companies they have ties with will also lose Chinese mainland market.”

Source: Stand News #Sep09

#China #US #GlobalTimes #HuXijin #Sanction #Taiwan #AlexAzar #JohnRoss #KeithKrach

https://bit.ly/3bKEfii