Geo-Strategic Trend - 56. page

Taiwanese news site NewTalk recently reported that the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi,  met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bali, Indonesia. Wang Yi urged Australia to comply with a list of four actions to bring bilateral relations back on track. Australia’s new prime minister Anthony Albanese said he will “ignore” China’s demands. China asked for these four changes on the Australian side: One is to adhere to seeing China as a partner rather than an adversary. Two is to adhere to seeking common ground while reserving differences. Three is insisting on not targeting or being subject to third parties (without naming the U.S.), and four is to adhere to building a positive and pragmatic social foundation of public opinion. Albanese said in an interview that, although the meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries was a “constructive step,” Australia has not changed its position on any issue and will not respond to China’s demands. He emphasized that, “We only follow our own national interest.” Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said he was concerned about the four claims made by Beijing and called for not accepting any Chinese demands to repair bilateral relations. Tehan said bluntly, “Australia has not changed. The Chinese government has changed.”

Source: NewTalk, July 11, 2022
https://newtalk.tw/news/view/2022-07-11/783803

Though China’s coal demand is decreasing and domestic supply is increasing, since May Russia, has been  offering a big discount on coal. Therefore, Beijing has increased its purchase of Russian coal significantly.

China’s National Bureau of Statistics reported that, in the period of January to May, China’s domestic coal production has increased by 10 percent over the same period last year. It has risen to 1.81 billion tons. At the same time, Russia’s coal delivery to China in May increased by 20 percent, to 5.5 million tons; and from June 1 to June 28, the delivery increased by 55 percent, to 6.2 million tons.

Source: Epoch Times, June 30, 2022
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/22/6/30/n13770387.htm

Well-known Chinese news site Tencent News recently reported that Ukraine’s Eighth Court of Administrative Appeals completed the hearing of the administrative case on the banning of the Communist Party of Ukraine. The Court issued its final ruling to completely ban the activities of the Communist Party of Ukraine. Property, funds and all other assets of the party and its regional, municipal, district organizations, grassroots organizations and other structural entities will be handed over to the state. Earlier, Ukrainian President Zelensky signed a law to ban pro-Russian political parties in Ukraine. As early as April 9, 2015, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (the “Supreme Council”) passed a bill. The flag, the national anthem, the monument and the image of the leader of the Soviet Union, and the phrase “Great Patriotic War” were all banned in Ukraine. The names and activities of communist leaders and other associated entities are not allowed in trademarks. After this bill was passed, the Ukrainian government immediately instructed the relevant departments to sue the Ukrainian Communist Party in court.

Source: Tencent News, July 6, 2022
https://page.om.qq.com/page/O-BR0_LnmidFWq4c3_0vlGPA0

Global Times recently reported that the South Korean Ministry of Defense said six fifth-generation F-35A fighter jets from Elson Air Force Base in Alaska have been deployed to South Korea and are scheduled to conduct joint exercises with the South Korean Air Force. According to the report, this is the first time in five years that the U.S. Air Force F-35A stealth fighter has been deployed to the Korean peninsula . The South Korean Ministry of Defense claimed that the joint exercise was aimed at demonstrating the strong deterrence and joint defense posture of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, while improving the interoperability between the South Korean and the U.S. air forces. In December 2017, the U.S. military first publicly deployed F-35As to South Korea. In addition to the F-35A, the U.S. military also invested in the F-22 “Raptor” stealth fighter and B-1B strategic bomber at that time, and launched the “Vigilant ACE” Korea-US joint air exercise.

Source: Global Times, July 5, 2022
https://world.huanqiu.com/article/48hYWNSqhOi

Xinhua recently reported that a Turkish presidential spokesman reiterated not long ago that Turkey will not follow the West to sanction Russia, and Turkey needs to consider its own economic interests. Turkey has publicly informed Western countries about its position, but, from time to time, it is still under pressure from Western countries to sanction Russia. Turkey emphasized that the Turkish position is “very firm” that they “will not do that.” Since Russia launched a special military operation against Ukraine on February 24, the United States and the European Union have imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Russia. However, as Russia is the EU’s main supplier of natural gas and crude oil, the backlash caused by the sanctions has made the EU even more embarrassed. Turkey’s disagreement with Europe revolves not only over whether to sanction Russia, but also over whether to support Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO. On March 29, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators started a new round of negotiations at the Presidential Palace in the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkish President Erdogan met with representatives of both sides before the start of the peace talks and expressed his willingness to facilitate the Russian-Ukrainian Presidential Meeting in Turkey.

Source: Xinhua, June 27, 2022
http://www.news.cn/world/2022-06/27/c_1211661204.htm