Book review: Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s book ‘The Wuhan Cover-Up’ traces Covid origins in China
The US-initiated gain-of-function studies continued in partnership with the Chinese military and the Chinese Communist Party.
Puzzle of China’s mysterious wave of Covid-like childhood pneumonia as lockdown looms
The Chinese wave of illness differs from that seen in other countries. Some nations grappled with flu and RSV infections during their post-Covid winter surges, but in China, M. pneumoniae infections have been common. This is surprising because bacterial infections are often opportunistic and take hold after viral infections, says Cowling.
Fears of an outbreak of deadly respiratory illness as WHO asks China for details of new infection
The WHO said it had asked for additional epidemiologic and clinical information as well as laboratory results from the reported outbreaks among children, through the International Health Regulations mechanism.
Biden’s reference to China’s present Xi as ‘dictator’ draws strong response from Beijing
Xi is considered the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, after a decade of consolidating power in policy-making and the military, and stifling media freedoms.
China’s Xi Jinping meets US’ Biden to restore communication, reduce military tension
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, who with Blinken opened the APEC ministerial session, said the San Francisco meeting came at a time of “great uncertainty and challenges” for the region. She noted increasing geopolitical tensions, fragile supply chains and a worsening climate crisis.
President Biden plans to push China to resume military ties, White House official says
Sullivan said restored military ties could take place at every level from senior leadership to the tactical operational level, as well “on the water and in the air in the Indo-Pacific.”
Known to shoot corrupt state officials, missing China’s defence minister stokes fears of execution
In the Chinese system, the Minister for National Defence is seen as significantly less powerful than the US defence secretary and many international equivalents. The position is essentially a diplomatic and ceremonial role without a direct command function.
India plays down Chinese President Xi Jinping missing G20 summit, says it won’t affect consensus
G20 groups the 20 major economies of the world but it has been divided due to differences over the war in Ukraine. The absence of Putin and Xi as well as divisions over the war mean it would be difficult to arrive at a consensus Leaders Declaration at the summit, analysts and officials have said.
Reality check: Economic experts doubt China’s 60-point plan, call the miracle boom a mirage
The 60-point agenda was meant to fix an obsolete growth model better suited to less developed countries – however, most of those reforms have gone nowhere leaving the economy largely reliant on older policies that have only added to China’s massive debt pile and industrial overcapacity.
China’s economy is headed in the red, economists fear the crunch will destabilise rest of the world
China’s economic growth is slowing down as policymakers try to fix a property market downturn, with troubles at major developer Country Garden in focus. Concerns are mounting over whether the world’s second-largest economy is coming closer to a crunch point: What is causing China’s economy to slow down? Unlike consumers...
