Top EU economic officials said on Tuesday that a diplomatic spat between #China and the EU has jeopardized the highly expected investment deal between the two sides. dw.com/en/eu-china-in…
EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told AFP news agency that efforts to win approval for the deal were effectively on ice. "We now in a sense have suspended ... political outreach activities from the European Commission side," Dombrovskis said in an interview.
"It's clear in the current situation with the EU sanctions in place against China and Chinese counter sanctions in place, including against members of European Parliament (that) the environment is not conducive for ratification of the agreement," Dombrovskis said.
A spokesperson for the European Commission told @dwnews that the ratification process had not begun, and was subject to a legal review.
The spokesperson said the ratification process was now effectively paused as it "cannot be separated from the evolving dynamics of the wider EU-China relationship."
Chinese sanctions were "unacceptable and regrettable," the spokesperson added.
"The pact would offer European companies access to Chinese markets and facilitate Chinese investment in Europe. It also sets level playing field rules that prevent state assistance from undercutting competition, and sustainable development provisions."
"In March, the EU imposed sanctions against China for its treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region. These were the first human rights sanctions against China since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre."
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Latest for @dwnews: On Thursday's "Arts and Culture" program, I talked about #China's recent attempt to extend its #Xinjiang propaganda effort to the realm of cinema, with the release of a musical and several documentaries by @CGTNOfficiale. dw.com/en/arts-and-cu…
The musical, called the Wings of Songs, featured three main characters from three different ethnic community, is a clear attempt by #Beijing to present its version of "ethnic unity" in a very forceful way.
I cited the prominent phrase used in Chinese official documents and state media, describing the ethnic unity as "the seeds of a pomegranate," to highlight #Beijing's insistence to claim that all ethnic groups in #China live harmoniously together.
Local reports said three of those detained were scooped up on Thursday morning during raids looking for members of a group called "Returning Valiant".
"Their comments left on social media could constitute the offences of secession and subversion under the national security law," a police source told the South China Morning Post daily.
Latest: Following the further sentencing of @joshuawongcf and three other activists and the postponement of Jimmy Lai's case, I talked to @ayhcheung, Emily Lau and Kenneth Chan about what the recent wave of sentencing mean for #HongKong: dw.com/en/hong-kong-c…
If convicted, Lai could be sentenced to up to seven years in jail. However, it won't be the first jail term that Lai will have received. Last month, he was handed 14 months in prison for participating in an unauthorized assembly in August 2019.
Wong, who is already imprisoned, was handed an additional 10 months for unauthorized assembly and participating in the Tiananmen Square vigil, held on June 4, 2020. Three others were sentenced to four to six months in the same case.
Latest on @radionz: In my latest appearance on the Overseas Correspondent's segment, I talked to the host about #Taiwan's recent wave of local #COVID19 cases extended from a suspected quarantine hotel mismanagement, #Taiwan's challenge to ... rnz.co.nz/national/progr…
... increase vaccination rates with the lack of #COVID19 vaccine options. The new #COVID19 case and the low vaccination rate have increased the anxiety here in #Taiwan, as both the government and the public becoming more vigilant about pandemic prevention.
Then I touched on the motion that the NZ parliament passed yesterday, which they unanimously declared #China's persecution of #Uyghurs in #Xinjiang as a serious human rights violation and concern.
As Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan, those in #China are forced to follow strict government guidelines as they try to maintain their religious tradition. That's especially true for #Uyghurs in #Xinjiang. By @dakekang and @kmorit: apnews.com/article/china-…
" Tursunjan Mamat, a practicing Muslim in western China’s Xinjiang region, said he’s fasting for Ramadan but his daughters, ages 8 and 10, are not. Religious activity including fasting is not permitted for minors, he explained."
“My children know who our holy creator is, but I don’t give them detailed religious knowledge,” he said, speaking through a translator. “After they reach 18, they can receive religious education according to their own will.”
Just in: #China's Xinhua News agency reported that #Beijing announced that it will indefinitely suspend all activities under the #China - Australia strategic and economic dialogue.
More from @XinhuaBrisMUN: "Recently, some Australian Commonwealth Government officials launched a series of measures to disrupt the normal exchanges and coopertaion between China and Australia out of Cold War mindset and ideological discrimiation."
"Based on the current attitude of the Australian Commonwealth Government toward China-Australia cooperation, the National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China decides to indefinitely suspend ...