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Xinhua: HK Government Announced Phase One Sanction against the Philippines

On January 29, Xinhua reported that the Hong Kong government announced a phase one sanction against the Philippines. The sanction is in response to the refusal from the Philippines to apologize for the Manila Hostage Incident which occurred on August 23, 2010. It caused the death of eight Hong Kong residents during the rescue mission. The latest sanction will remove the 14-day visa waiver for Philippine’ official passport holders. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately announced its official support of the Hong Kong government’s position. The Philippines Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on January 30 that the Philippine’ government regretted seeing the outcome of the Incident, but did not intend to issue an official apology. 
Source: 
Xinhua, January 29, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/gangao/2014-01/29/c_126080168.htm
China Radio International (CRI), January 31, 2014
http://gb.cri.cn/42071/2014/01/31/6071s4410562.htm

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BBC Chinese: Most Illegal Miners Ghana Expelled Were Chinese

BBC Chinese recently reported that Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Information announced that the government expelled 4,700 illegal gold miners last year. The majority of these illegal miners were Chinese citizens. Ghana’s Special Forces had arrested all these people. In Ghana, small scale gold mining is legal. However, this rule does not apply to foreigners. Over the past several years, with the increase in the international price of gold, a large number of foreign miners have gone to Ghana to mine for gold. The Chinese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, visited Ghana last month. Wang promised that the Chinese government will assist in resolving the issue of the large number of Chinese gold miners. In addition to the Chinese, those expelled also included people from Nigeria, Russia, and South Africa.
Source:  BBC Chinese, January 23, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/world/2014/01/140123_brief_ghana_china_workers.shtml
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Huanqiu: The Possibility that Sino-Vietnamese Relations Will “Derail” Has Increased

Huanqiu (Global Times), which is under People’s Daily, published a commentary that discussed recent developments in Sino-Vietnamese relations. The following is a summary of the commentary. 　　 

Starting on January 18, Vietnam organized a series of activities to commemorate "the 40th anniversary of the Paracel Islands maritime war" including photo exhibits of how the "Paracel Islands belong to Vietnam," "naval martyrs of the Paracel Islands maritime war," a candlelight vigil," and an international forum on the subject of how the "Paracel Islands belong to Vietnam." In addition to a handful of media directly under the central government, most domestic media reported on related activities. It is said that the Vietnamese side will host activities to commemorate "the 35th anniversary of the northern border Battle [against China]." The above facts show that the possibility that Sino-Vietnamese relations will "derail" has increased. 
It is worth noting that nationalist sentiment in Vietnam is increasing. Sino-Vietnam relations are facing more and more severe challenges. In recent years, the differences between China and Vietnam have been increasingly focused on the South China Sea issue. On the South China Sea, Vietnam’s officials and the public’s views have been consistent: that it is "a matter of national survival." According to its maritime strategy planning, Vietnam expects to raise its maritime economic output to 53 to 55 percent of GDP by 2020. Therefore, advancing into the South China Sea is its inevitable choice. On the other hand, many Vietnamese worry that China will become an obstacle for Vietnam to achieve its goal. They believe a more powerful China will eventually endanger "the survival of the Vietnamese nation." 
As long as China continues to defend its rights in the South China Sea and as long as the Vietnamese need to maintain their "national unity," it will be difficult for its [hostile] domestic sentiments towards China to subside. 

Source: Huanqiu, January 21, 2014　 
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/opinion_world/2014-01/4773631.html

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Japan and India Agree to Cooperate in Forming an Anti-China Great Wall

The following is an excerpt from an article in Xinhua, China’s State-run media, entitled, "Eye on China: Japan and India Expand Their Cooperation on Defense." The article reported on Japan and India’s military cooperation:

Recently in New Delhi, Japan’s defense minister Itsunori Onodera reached an agreement with India to cooperate on defense. On the 7th, media from both countries invariably made this same interpretation. Both sides confirmed that they will hold regular joint exercises and strengthen anti-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, and other aspects of cooperation. As an "epic signal" of strengthening the relations between Japan and India, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be present on the 26th of this month as the main guest at the India National Day military parade. Media from the two countries stressed that the common "China threat" is the "catalyst" for both sides to come together. 
The website of the Indian Digest magazine summarized the defense cooperation agreement that the two countries reached on the 6th. The title of the article was, "India and Japan Use Military Relations to Build an Anti-China Great Wall." 
Japan’s Daily News commented on the 7th that cooperation with India is a measure taken against the military rise of China. 

Source: Xinhua, January 8, 2014 
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2014-01/08/c_125971534.htm http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2014-01/4732758.html

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People’s Daily Opens Special Column to Expose Japan’s Militarism, Invasiveness, and Destruction

In its January 5 edition, People’s Daily initiated a special column on its third page to “expose Japan’s militarism, its invasiveness, and its destructive nature.” The column consists of articles on the history of Japan’s war of aggression and expansion during the Second World War. In the opening remarks, the column stated that Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s recent visit to the shrine that honors soldiers including war criminals during the Second World War is a clear signal that he intends to revoke the historic facts. It identifies that action as a part of the Abe administration’s political moves and observes that Japan has no intention of improving its relationship with its neighboring countries.

Source: People’s Daily, January 5, 2014
http://world.people.com.cn/n/2014/0105/c1002-24024362.html

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Global Times: Japan Insisted on Adding Content to ASEAN Summit Announcement

Global Times recently reported that Japan insisted on adding language regarding the newly established Chinese Air Defense Identification Zone to the joint announcement of the Special Summit between Japan and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Japan wanted to mention the importance of “safety and the freedom of flight over the high seas.” Japan firmly insisted on the addition despite the unwillingness of some ASEAN countries. The final draft also included the agreement that the nations involved would coordinate on the Chinese Identification Zone issue under ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that China “noticed the related reports” and would like to suggest that countries should not go against a third party when developing relationships.
Source: Global Times, December 13, 2013
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2013-12/4660856.html
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People’s Daily BBS Article: Get Ready to Bomb Japan with Missiles

On December 8, 2013, People’s Daily published an article on what China should do immediately now that it has established the East Sea Air Defense Identification Zone.

  1. The Chinese navy and air force should sink any ships, shoot down any aircraft, and arrest any people from other countries who enter the Diaoyu Islands’ waters and airspace without having received permission from the Chinese government.
  2. Encourage the Chinese people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to go to Diaoyu Islands, the waters and the land, under the protection of China or Taiwan’s Navies and Air Force. 
  3. Have a missile drill in the Diaoyu Islands waters soon.
  4. Stop any negotiations with Japan over the Diaoyu Islands.
  5. Submit a proposal on how the "Ryukyu Islands’ international status is undetermined" to the UN General Assembly for discussion and deliberation. Meanwhile, get ready to bomb Japan’s mainland with missiles.

Source: People’s Daily, December 8, 2013
http://bbs1.people.com.cn/post/7/1/2/135843673_1.html

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BBC Chinese: China Investing Heavily in Ukraine Port

BBC Chinese reported that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich visited China on December 4. At the same time in Beijing, well-known Chinese investor Wang Jing announced a planned joint-venture to build a deep water port in Ukraine. Wang’s planned investment totals US$3 billion. Ukrainian domestic media have reported that the President conducted the planned visit to China in order to seek a Chinese loan of US$10 billion for the country’s immediate debt crisis. The first phase of the planned deep water port project costs US$3 billion. The second phase, which has an estimated cost of US$7 billion, will be funded by building an oil refinery, a liquid natural gas plant, an airport and a shipyard. Ukraine currently has a “strategic partnership” relationship with China. President Yanukovich is currently facing heavy political challenges in Ukraine. A senior U.S. official has reported that the United States supports Yanukovich’s opposition.
Source: BBC Chinese, December 5, 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2013/12/131205_ukraine_china_wangjing.shtml
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