Chinese officials say the death toll from heavy rains in central and southern provinces has risen to at least 94 and that 78 people are missing. The state flood control and drought relief agency said Sunday that torrential rains in the past week have triggered floods and landslides in 13 provinces, affecting more than 8 […]
Vietnamese Stage Anti-China Protest
Posted June 12th, 2011 at 4:40 pm (UTC-5)
Vietnamese authorities have permitted a new protest against China in Hanoi as a maritime dispute between the two countries escalates. About 100 people gathered Sunday in Hanoi, waving Vietnamese flags and shouting anti-China slogans. The protesters were surrounded by riot police and security personnel and dispersed peacefully after about half an hour. The demonstrators were […]
China to Allow Individuals to Travel to Taiwan
Posted June 12th, 2011 at 6:25 am (UTC-5)
China says it will allow tourists from selected cities on the mainland to visit Taiwan as individuals, rather than requiring them to travel in tightly-supervised groups. In a speech at a cross-strait forum in Xiamen, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s State Council Wang Yi said Sunday that the trial of the new […]
Vietnamese Stage Anti-China Protest
Posted June 12th, 2011 at 2:35 am (UTC-5)
Around 100 Vietnamese protested outside the Chinese embassy in Hanoi for the second consecutive Sunday, demanding that China stay out of waters claimed by Vietnam. The protesters were surrounded by riot police and security personnel and dispersed peacefully after about half an hour. The demonstrators were also allowed to march through the streets of the […]
Israeli Defense Minister Heads to China
Posted June 11th, 2011 at 1:50 pm (UTC-5)
Israel’s defense minister is headed to China for talks with senior Chinese officials. A statement from Ehud Barak’s office said the minister would leave for China late Saturday. It said Mr. Barak would meet with his Chinese counterpart, Liang Guanglie, as well as with other top officials. Mr. Barak’s office says the trip is the […]
Chinese Lawmaker’s Death in Police Custody Sparks Riot
Posted June 11th, 2011 at 9:30 am (UTC-5)
A local Chinese legislator’s death while in police custody sparked a riot in Hubei province, and authorities say they are investigating other officials’ role in the incident. Councilman Ran Jianxin had been arrested last month for allegedly taking bribes, and it was learned this week that he died while in custody in Lichuan city. Unconfirmed […]
Vietnam Plans Military Exercise Near Disputed Waters
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 10:05 am (UTC-5)
Vietnam plans to hold live-fire naval exercises in the South China Sea, as the dispute over control of the region and its potentially rich mineral deposits continues to heat up. Hanoi said the exercise would be held Monday and warned civilian ships to stay out of the area near its Quang Nam province. The training […]
China Rejects Vietnamese Report of Maritime Incident
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 6:35 am (UTC-5)
Chinese officials also rejected that allegation and complaints from the Philippines about what Manila considers illegal Chinese intrusions into its waters. China’s ambassador to the Philippines said the South China Sea is Beijing’s territory and has been for centuries, but Liu Jianchao said Thursday in Manila that China will adhere to a 2002 agreement on […]
China Quake Activist Freed from Prison
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 6:10 am (UTC-5)
A Chinese activist who was imprisoned for criticizing Beijing’s response after a deadly earthquake has been released. Huang Qi, who is in his late 40s, was released Friday from a prison in Dazhu city in China’s southwestern province of Sichuan. Huang, who had criticized the government’s response to a 2008 earthquake that killed nearly 90,000 […]
Floods Kill 35 in Central China
Posted June 10th, 2011 at 3:35 am (UTC-5)
China’s state-run media said Friday that torrential rains have caused flooding across the central part of China, killing at least 35 people in Hubei and Hunan provinces. The Xinhua news agency said floods and landslides toppled homes and destroyed river embankments in Hubei’s city of Xianning, killing 20 people and leaving five others missing. In […]
