Latest news with #NationalPeople'sCongress
South China Morning Post
8 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Former PLA ideology chief Miao Hua removed from China's Central Military Commission
Miao Hua, a top general who once oversaw the People's Liberation Army's ideology work, has been removed from the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC). State news agency Xinhua said the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress 'voted to remove Miao Hua from his position as a member of the Central Military Commission' at its closing meeting on Friday in Beijing. The announcement about the high-profile military corruption investigation came two months after Miao, 69, was stripped of his membership in the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature. Also at the meeting, lawmakers voted to adopt a revised Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security and a revised Law Against Unfair Competition, according to Xinhua. Miao, the former political ideology chief of the world's second-largest military, was put under investigation and suspended from his post in November. Miao's photo was removed from the senior leadership page of the Chinese defence ministry's website at the end of May.
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Chinese navy chief of staff and nuclear scientist expelled from top legislature
The Chinese navy's chief of staff and a top nuclear scientist have been stripped of their membership of the country's legislature. Vice Admiral Li Hanjun, chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army Navy, and Liu Shipeng, deputy chief engineer of China National Nuclear Corporation, have been expelled from the National People's Congress. Li is the latest of a string of PLA generals and a handful of defence industry executives to have implicated in a sweeping crackdown in the military. More to follow ... Advertisement
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Blocking strategic rivals from tech, resources may not work, says PM Wong on US-China ties
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong speaking to the Singapore media at the China World Summit Wing Hotel in Beijing on June 25. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG Blocking strategic rivals from tech, resources may not work, says PM Wong on US-China ties BEIJING – There are limits to cutting strategic rivals off from access to critical technologies and materials, as such leverage does not last, said Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Speaking to the Singapore media on June 25 as he wrapped up a five-day official visit to China, he pointed out how, sometimes, the more a country tries to leverage on the elements for which other countries rely on it, the more it incentivises the other parties to find alternative solutions and sources. 'There will always be alternatives – be it high-end semiconductor chips or rare earth materials,' he said. In its bid to prevail in a strategic rivalry with China, the United States has restricted exports of advanced chips and chip technology to China. In return, China has restricted exports of rare earth and critical minerals to the US, which are vital for the manufacturing of cars and military equipment. Both parties have cited security considerations as their rationale. PM Wong expressed confidence that China can find its way to get around the restrictions placed on it. 'China will double its efforts as it is already doing to develop its own indigenous technology, strengthen its R&D base, and emerge more resilient from this process. We see that happening,' he said. After Chinese and American negotiators met in London in June, China has loosened its restriction of rare earth exports to the US in some ways, while still banning them for military use. 'I think it's good that China and America had good conversations recently,' PM Wong said, noting that this helped to lower the temperature around the trade dispute. 'We hope that there will continue to be dialogue, constructive engagements, and both sides can find a way forward,' he said. Dialogue and constructive engagement is what Singapore wants to have with China as well. During this visit, his first as prime minister, Mr Wong had met China's top three leaders to build trust and rapport with them. When asked for an assessment of how the meetings with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang as well as National People's Congress Chairman Zhao Leji went, Mr Wong said: 'They were very good!' 'We were able to discuss not only our bilateral issues and bilateral areas of cooperation, which is to be expected, but also wider regional and global developments and exchange views on these matters quite candidly and openly,' he said. He hopes to continue these conversations with Mr Li and Mr Xi. 'I've also invited them to visit Singapore at some point of their convenience,' Mr Wong added. Earlier on June 25, Mr Wong spoke at a World Economic Forum (WEF) event, during which he called for like-minded countries to cooperate on specific issues, while leaving the door open for others to join in future even as the multilateral system is showing signs of erosion. Yew Lun Tian is a senior foreign correspondent who covers China for The Straits Times. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
From blacklist to backchannels: inside the European Parliament's unlikely China reset
No EU institution has clashed more often – or more loudly – with China than the European Parliament. While others tiptoe around thorny issues, its members have for years engaged in running battles with Beijing, taking aim at everything from human rights and trade to Taiwan and foreign meddling, sometimes sending the broader EU-China relationship spiralling. In recent months, however, a remarkable reset has been under way, led by President Roberta Metsola, who has sought to normalise relations with Beijing after four years of estrangement. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the recent history, not everyone is pleased. The extent of the detente is revealed in previously unseen correspondence obtained by the South China Morning Post and conversations with parliament insiders, which helps piece together an improbable thaw that virtually nobody expected six months ago. 'I believe this is an opportune moment to reset relations between the European Parliament and the National People's Congress ,' Metsola wrote to Chinese ambassador to the EU Cai Run, in a letter dated March 12. 'Our discussion marked a significant step toward re-establishing constructive parliamentary relations and revitalising our legislative dialogue,' she said, referring to a meeting held with Cai in the parliament on March 3 – the first of two face-to-face encounters between the pair.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
From blacklist to backchannels: inside the European Parliament's unlikely China reset
No EU institution has clashed more often – or more loudly – with China than the European Parliament. While others tiptoe around thorny issues, its members have for years engaged in running battles with Beijing, taking aim at everything from human rights and trade to Taiwan and foreign meddling, sometimes sending the broader EU-China relationship spiralling. In recent months, however, a remarkable reset has been under way, led by President Roberta Metsola, who has sought to normalise relations with Beijing after four years of estrangement. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the recent history, not everyone is pleased. The extent of the detente is revealed in previously unseen correspondence obtained by the South China Morning Post and conversations with parliament insiders, which helps piece together an improbable thaw that virtually nobody expected six months ago. 'I believe this is an opportune moment to reset relations between the European Parliament and the National People's Congress ,' Metsola wrote to Chinese ambassador to the EU Cai Run, in a letter dated March 12. 'Our discussion marked a significant step toward re-establishing constructive parliamentary relations and revitalising our legislative dialogue,' she said, referring to a meeting held with Cai in the parliament on March 3 – the first of two face-to-face encounters between the pair.
