The New York Times writes, "South Korea became on Thursday the latest American ally to announce its intention of joining the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank despite Washington's qualms about the Chinese-led regional development bank. The South Korean Ministry of Strategy and Finance said in a statement that Asia needed a new regional source of development money like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank because the existing multilateral lenders, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, could not meet the demand for infrastructure investment funds in the region. The United States has expressed misgivings about the proposed regional lender, which it sees as a threat to the Washington-led World Bank. American officials have also worried that the new bank would lack governance and transparency in enforcing lending, environmental and labor standards."
According to The New York Times, "Chinese security agents raided the offices of a leading human rights organization, according to its employees, the latest sign of the authorities' mounting hostility toward nongovernmental groups, especially those that receive foreign funding or promote civic activism. Employees say about two dozen police officers on Tuesday raided the Beijing Yirenping Center, which champions gender equality and employs litigation to fight discrimination against people with H.I.V., hepatitis and physical disabilities. Lu Jun, a founder of the group, said the raid was likely related to the group's efforts to publicize the recent detentions of five female activists that have prompted international criticism...Since President Xi Jinping came to power more than two years ago, scores of rights defenders have been jailed as part of a crackdown on social activism and political dissent."
"The United States is concerned about China's restrictions on the use of foreign information technology equipment by the banking sector, according to a filing published by the World Trade Organization on Thursday...Japan and the European Union have echoed U.S. concerns about the regulations, which China says aim to promote cybersecurity. By bringing up the issue at the WTO, where member countries can legally challenge foreign laws that affect trade, the United States has put pressure on China to explain how the regulations - which aim to promote 'secure and controllable' banking technology - comply with global trade rules," reports Reuters.
"China's public offer to mediate peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government marks a notable departure in Chinese foreign policy. It is the first time Beijing is taking a genuine leadership role, on its own initiative, on a geopolitical issue both sensitive and significant. If Beijing has alarmed its neighbors in East Asia with its assertiveness over contested territory, elsewhere it is its policy of noninterference that has been criticized, especially by Western governments, as a form of free-riding or obstructionism. But now its efforts in Afghanistan suggest it will no longer leave all the diplomatic heavy-lifting to other states. Beijing is finally easing into its role as a great power," writes an opinion article from The New York Times.