EU: Bloc Will Impose Tariffs on Chinese EV imports

[world politics news]

Big taxes will be imposed on imports of electric vehicles from China to the EU after the majority of member states have backed the plans.

The move to introduce tariffs aims to protect the European car industry from being undermined by what EU politicians believe are unfair Chinese-state subsidies on its own cars.

Charges of up to 45% are to be enforced on electric cars made in China for the next five years, but some fear the move could raise electric vehicle (EV) prices for buyers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: New US Military Command Center Announced

[world politics news]

The U.S. will establish a new military command in Japan to bolster security ties as Washington moves to strengthen its Asia allies in the face of China’s military buildup, top American and Japanese officials said Sunday.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CHINA: Gov't To Slowly Raise Retirement Age

[world politics news]

 

China will gradually raise its statutory retirement age in the next five years to try to cope with its ageing population and buckling pension system.

Life expectancy in the country is now 78. But China's retirement age is among the lowest in the world - at 60 for men, 55 for women in white-collar jobs and 50 for working-class women.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#HONGKONG: Court Finds 14 Freedom Campaigners "Guilty of Subversion"

[world politics news]

Hong Kong has found 14 pro-democracy activists guilty of subversion in the largest use yet of a China-imposed National Security Law.

They included former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung and Helena Wong, journalist-turned-campaigner Gwyneth Ho, and ordinary Hong Kongers who joined the mass protests of 2019 such as nurse Winnie Yu.

They were among the 47 activists charged with trying to "overthrow" the government by organising an unofficial primary in 2020 to pick candidates who can run for office.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ANTIGUAANDBARBUDA: China Building Caribbean Outpost

[world politics news]

On a natural paradise on the island of Antigua, a large swath of land that's about to be razed for a Chinese-run special economic zone. According to documents reviewed by Newsweek, it will have its own customs and immigration formalities, a shipping port and a dedicated airline and will be able to issue passports. 

China's growing regional presence is potentially the greatest external challenge to the United States in the Americas since the Soviet Union set up in Cuba in the 1960s—and the U.S. military is concerned.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#MALDIVES: Crucial Election Will Determine Relations With Chna, India, Votes In

[world politics news]

 
Polls have closed in the Maldives where voters have cast their ballots in a parliamentary election crucial for President Mohamed Muizzu, who has taken a pro-China stand and turned the archipelago nation away from longtime ally India since coming to power last September

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: Govt "Appalled" by Chinese Court Ruling

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Australian Government officials say they are appalled at China’s suspended death sentence for Chinese Australian writer and democracy blogger Yang Hengjun, who had moved to China in 2019 and was convicted of espionage in 2021. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#TAIWAN: Lai Ching-te Wins Presidential Election

[world politics news]

Lai Ching-te, the presidential candidate representing Taiwan's ruling party, secured victory in an election that China had characterised as a pivotal choice between 'war and peace'. The main opposition candidate, Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT), conceded defeat, marking a critical moment for Taiwan's political landscape.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

 

#JAPAN: Aggressive China Prompts Huge Military Buildup

[world politics news]

Japan has begun a once-unthinkable $320bn military build-up that will arm it with missiles capable of striking China after a newly nationalistic China aggressively expanded its military.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government worries that Russia has set a precedent that will encourage China to attack Taiwan, threatening nearby Japanese islands, disrupting supplies of advanced semiconductors, and putting a potential stranglehold on sea lanes that supply Middle East oil.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HONGKONG: Gov't Seeks Ban Of Pro-Democracy Song, Streaming Platforms Remove

[world politics news]

Hong Kong's Attorney General has applied for a Court order to ban a song used by protesters of the city's pro-Communist regime, saying it promotes "secession" of the region from China.

An injunction would prohibit, with the intent to incite others to commit the crime of secession, or with the intent to incite, in any manner, including on the Internet or any medium accessible online, or any Internet-based platform or medium, broadcast, perform, print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, circulate, display or reproduce the song.

The government seeks to ban the content of "Glory to Hong Kong", including its tune, lyrics or lyrics, and in addition, an adaptation of the song. Those whose tunes, lyrics and/or lyrics are substantially similar to the songs concerned, especially those advocating the separation of Hong Kong from the People's Republic of China, are also prohibited.

The injunction also prohibits the dissemination of the song in any manner intended to insult the national anthem so that it is "likely to be misunderstood as the national anthem of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or to suggest that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an independent country with its own national anthem.

At the same time, the restraining order will prohibit, aiding, causing, procuring, inciting, aiding and abetting others to commit or participate in the above-mentioned prohibited conduct. Knowingly authorizing, permitting or permitting others to commit or participate in any of the above acts is also prohibited.

The unofficial anthem of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests in 2019 has been removed from streaming platforms Spotify and iTunes ahead of a court order, but remains on YouTube. A court date is set for July 24. Critics say the anticipated ban is another sign of Beijing's crackdown and efforts to stamp out dissent in Hong Kong against the central Chinese government.

[FULL STORY HERE and HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CHINA: Health Officials Reject WHO Criticism Of COVID Investigation

[world politics news]

Chinese health officials have defended their search for the source of the COVID-19 virus and lashed out at the World Health Organization after its leader said Beijing should have shared genetic information earlier.

The director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention's, Shen Hongbing, said the WHO comments were "offensive and disrespectful."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: Government Considering TikTok Ban For Civil Servants

[world politics news]

The federal government is considering a ban on TikTok that would bring it in line with other nations including the US, UK, and New Zealand.

Ministers are reportedly using burner phones to run the app, which has sparked fears that data could be accessed by Chinese officials.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

China Seeks Free Trade Deal In "America's Backyard"

[world politics news]

A proposed free-trade agreement between China and a group of South American nations, which includes Argentina and Brazil, will benefit all sides economically, but will further increase competition between Washington and Beijing in the so-called backyard of the United States, according to analysts.

New leftist Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that the proposed deal between China and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), which also includes Uruguay and Paraguay as full members, will modernise and open up the South American trade bloc to other regions.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: Govt To Remove Hundreds Of China-Mad f Closed Circuit TV Cams

[world politics news]

Australia's Defence Department removed all Chinese manufactured surveillance cameras after an audit detailed the number of Hikvision and Dahua devices installed in various government facilities.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THENETHERLANDS: Dutch-made Microchips Found In Russian Weapons in Ukraine

[world politics news]

Dutch-made microchips have been found in captured Russian weapons, sold to them by the Chinese for use in it's invasion of Ukraine, an investigation by a Dutch newspaper has found.

Millions of microchips made by Dutch companies reportedly ended in Russia since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, despite heavy sanctions on technological goods, an investigation by Dutch newspaper Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) showed.

Hundreds of deliveries have gone to three Russian companies linked to the defense industry, meaning that Dutch chips have also been used in Russian weapons.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#THEPHILIPPINES: Marcos Visits China To Deepen Ties

[world politics news] 

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in Beijing yesterday for a 48-hour visit, during which he is expected to meet Chinese leader Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 and his No. 2 Lǐ Kèqiáng 李克强 in a bid to deepen ties with the world’s second-largest economy.

The visit will be Marcos’s first foreign trip for 2023 and his first bilateral visit to a non-ASEAN country, ever since the son of the former dictator won a sweeping election victory in May.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Citing Threats, Gov't Set To Expand Military

[world politics news]

The Japanese government has unveiled plans to drastically expand its defense capabilities. 

In what would be the biggest military build-up since World War II, Tokyo aims to double its defense spending over the next five years and install missiles capable of striking an enemy launch site. 

It's a controversial move, marking another major step away from the country's pacifist constitution that severely limits the use of military force. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CHINA: Massive Anti Lockdown Protests Erupt, Xi Vows Crackdown

[world politics news]

Protests against Xi Jinping and his zero-Covid policy are sweeping across China  
Hundreds took to streets in an unprecedented display of anger against his rule 

Experts warn crackdown is 'inevitable' with activists facing 'severe punishment' 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Rights Group Slams China-Like Digital ID Plans

[world politics news]

A constitutional rights group has blasted the federal government’s plan to create a Digital ID infrastructure as a threat to Charter rights and a step towards implementing a Communist China-style social credit system. 

In the report titled Canada’s Road to Beijing, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) outlines how China’s mass surveillance system operates and in what ways a national Digital ID system is a step towards authoritarianism. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#KENYA: Chinese Debt Paid Through Borrowing

[world politics news]

Kenya paid off a Chinese principal loan of Sh17.5 billion with another debt in the last financial year exposing the country’s limited reserves, a National Treasury document shows.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.