#CHINA: Second In Leadership Li Keqiang To Step Down

[world politics news]

China's Premier Li Keqiang will step down, according to an announcement made Friday during an important annual CCP news conference.

It has been suggested that Li is to be the "Fall Guy"of sorts to blame for a sluggish economy and an economy still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Leader Xi Threatens "Reunification" With Taiwan, Warns West, In CCP Birthday Speech

[world politics news]

China's President Xi Jinping issued a blistering "warning" to the West in a Thursday speech marking the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. 

The most provocative part of the roughly hour-long address given from Tiananmen Square focused on Taiwan and thwarting foreign forces' efforts at "meddling" in China's affairs and in the region.

The gray Mao suit clad Chinese leader said the nation is committed to the "reunification" of Taiwan and ensuring continued "stability" in Hong Kong, vowing that any outside "bullying" powers will inevitably "get their heads bashed."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Top Ranking General Threatens To Take Back Taiwan By Force

[world politics news]

Taking Taiwan by force is an option for Beijing and it will take steps to “resolutely smash” any separatist moves made by the island, a top PLA general said on Friday.

At the same event, Li Zhanshu, the third most senior leader of the ruling Communist Party, said using force was a last resort and Beijing had not given up on peaceful reunification with the island, which it considers a part of China.

Taiwan denounced the comments, saying that threats of war were a violation of international law, while the 23 million people on the self-ruled island all strongly opposed the “one country, two systems” model. 

“Taiwan’s people will never choose dictatorship nor bow to violence,” Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said. “Force and unilateral decisions are not the way to resolve problems.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Parliament Approves Restrictive Hong Kong Security Law

[world politics news] 

China's parliament has backed security legislation for Hong Kong which would make it a crime to undermine Beijing's authority in the territory.

The resolution - which now passes to China's senior leadership - has caused deep concern among those who say it could end Hong Kong's unique status and political freedoms. 

It could also see China installing its own security agencies in the region for the first time.

The move has already sparked a new wave of anti-mainland protest.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Gov't Cutting Value-Added Taxes In April; Tax Cuts Seek To Spur Economic Growth

[world politics news]

Starting next month, China's massive reduction of value-added tax will take effect, with manufacturing sector VAT dropping by 3% from the current 16%, to lower burdens on enterprises and boost the economy.

The move was first announced by Premier Li Keqiang in his Government Work Report to National People's Congress deputies when the annual session of the top legislature kicked off on March 5. It is expected to cut 2 trillion yuan (US$297 billion) in taxes for more than 30 million enterprises in China.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#HONGKONG: Banned Pro-Independence Party Leaders To Appeal To Three-Member Panel In January

[world politics news]

The leaders of the outlawed Hong Kong National Party will get to appeal against the ban before a three-member committee of Executive Council members next month. Andy Chan Ho-tin and Jason Chow Ho-fai will appeal to the panel, comprised of attorney Martin Liao Cheung-kong, former stock exchange chairman Chow Chung-kong and former Monetary Authority chief Joseph Yam Chi-kwong. Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu banned the party under the Societies Ordinance on September 24, saying it was a "threat to national security and public order."

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#TAIWAN: Former Pres. Chen Calls For Independence Referendum On Remaining Separate From Mainland China

[world politics news]

Taiwan's former president, Chen Shui-bian, has called for a referendum on whether the self-ruled island wants to be a part of Communist China. Chen said that the current president, Tsai Ing-wen, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, should push for a referendum to let the world know that, "Taiwanese people do not want to be a part of China." Chen noted that mainland, Communist-led China has stepped up its military and diplomatic pressure on the island, targeting it in various ways, ranging from peeling away its remaining diplomatic allies to demanding private businesses like airlines and international organisations refer to Taiwan as part of China in an effort to make it accept that Taiwan is simply a rogue province of China.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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

#CHINA: Police Break Down Door Of Professor During Radio Interview Criticizing Chinese Foreign Aid Spending

[world politics news]

A retired professor had his door broken down by police and was forced to abandon a live radio interview in which he was criticizing the government's foreign aid spending. Wenguang Sun, a retired Shandong University professor, was speaking on a Voice Of America program Wednesday, when police stormed his home. He has recently written an article criticizing China's foreign aid policies, was reportedly discussing Beijing's relationship with African countries, when six officers entered his home and took him away. He is reportedly now under house arrest.


[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: Pres. Xi Jinping To Hike Military Budget By 8.1% Due To "Profound Changes" In The World

[world politics news]

China has announced it will boost its military spending by 8.1 percent this year to counter “profound changes” to the international geopolitical landscape. The budget increase, which comes days after Vladimir Putin boasted about Russia’s upgraded nuclear arsenal, brings China’s annual defense spending to 1.11 trillion yuan ($175 billion).

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: Pres. Xi's Plans To Extend Term Indefinitely Spark Fears Of Dictatorship

[world politics news]

Xi Jinping, China’s most powerful leader for decades, could stay in office indefinitely after the Communist Party called for the removal of presidential term limits, raising fears that he could be elevated to the level of a modern-day emperor, and sparking protests on social media. Xi, who is also party chief and seen as the country’s most formidable ruler since Mao Zedong, has been president since 2013 and the 64-year-old leader would have to step down in 2023 under the current system.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: Communist Party Congress Unveils New Leaders, Tightly Controlled By Xi Jinping

[world politics news]

China's Communist government has unveiled a new generation of leaders, following the end of its Communist Party congress. The seven members of China’s most powerful body - the Politburo Standing Committee - have been confirmed, Xi Jinping remains the dominant force, however, in China's government, and none of the members are young enough to succeed him.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: Gov't May Set Timetable To End Production Of Internal Combustion Engines By 2040s

[world politics news]

China will set a deadline for automakers to end sales of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, becoming the biggest market to do so in a move that may accelerate the push into the electric car market. Xin Guobin, the vice minister of industry and information technology, said the government is working with other regulators on a timetable to end production and sales, mostly likely in the 2040s. The move will have a profound impact on the environment and growth of China’s auto industry, said Xin.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: Leaders Seek To Stave Off Economic Slowdown, Financial Risks

[world politics news]

Top leaders in China have called for greater efforts to ensure financial security, recognizing that stability plays a key role in maintaining healthy economic growth. Safeguarding financial security is a strategic and fundamental task in the economic and social development of China, Pres. Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said at a group study for members of the Political Bureau. He stressed the need to be aware of "hidden peril."

[FULL STORY HERE]

#HONGKONG: No Room For Independence Talk, Says Incoming Beijing-Backed Leader

[world politics news]

Hong Kong leader-elect Carrie Lam says there is no room for moves toward independence for the former British colony, which she says needs the support of the central government in Beijing to boost economic development over the next five years. Lam was in Beijing this week after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presented her with the official letter of appointment as chief executive, paving the way for her to take office on July 1.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#CHINA: Former High Court Judge Faces Prosecution For Bribery

[world politics news]

Xi Xiaoming, a former judge of the Supreme People's Court, has been indicted for taking bribes. According to the indictments, Xi and another official took advantage of their posts to seek benefits for others and accepted a huge amount in bribes.

#CHINA: Eastern Mayor Stripped Of Power For Violating "Party Rules" And Corruption

[world politics news]

Yang Luyu, former mayor of Jinan City in east China's Shandong Province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China and removed from public office for multiple violations. Yang, also former vice head of the CPC Jinan municipal committee, was allegedly found to have been involved in corruption and other violations of the Party's rules. The probe found Yang violated the Party's political code of conduct and resisted the Party's investigation.

#CHINA: Pres. Xi Defends Marxism, Says It's Still Relevant

[world politics news]

The Communist Party of China should adapt Marxist principles to the current realities of China, with innovation in both theory and practice, said Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee during a rally marking the 95th anniversary of the founding of the party. Socialism has been practiced in China for only a few decades and is still in its primary stage, Xi said, adding that China should not waver in its Marxist and socialist ideals.  In the 1990s, China largely embraced capitalism but is still a centrally-run one-party state.

#HONGKONG: Chief Executive Writes Stern Letter To Beijing After Book Publishers' Abductions

[world politics news]

The leader of Hong Kong has written a letter expressing concerns to Mainland China over the treatment of book publishers in the city who were allegedly taken to the Mainland to be interrogated for eight months, possibly violating the "one country, two systems" plan. Leung Chun-ying's letter raised the issue of legal jurisdiction and civil liberties in the largely self-governing city.

#CHINA: Nearly 600 County And Regional Officials Demoted Or Transferred By Nation's Comm. Pty

[world politics news]

Five hundred and eighty-four officials at the county government level or above have been demoted or moved to different positions since the Communist Party of China introduced a regulation on official ranking management in July 2015. The CPC Central Committee's Organizational Department issued a notice that detailed these top-down, centralized reshuffles and demotions.

#CHINA: Lawyer Denounces Frmr. Chinese Ldr In Court, Wins Case For His Falun Gong Client

[world politics news]

Few Chinese citizens are able to openly accuse former leaders of the Chinese Communist Party of committing a felony and escape official retribution. A Chinese lawyer, however, accused former leader Jiang Zemin of running an "extra-constitutional" group to persecute Falun Gong religion practitioners like his client, who was acquitted by the judge.

Pictured: Zhang Zanning, a Chinese lawyer and law faculty lecturer at Nanjing’s Southeast University.