Media Report
- Bloomberg reports, "Chinese President Xi Jinping's grand Belt and Road Initiative is getting a makeover to tone down government rhetoric and tighten oversight, after allegations of corruption and a lack of sustainability dogged some of its highest-profile projects. Beijing is taking a range of steps to exert more control over the program, officials and participants said, including a more muted publicity drive, clearer rules for state-owned-enterprises, restricting use of the BRI brand, and building overseas auditing and anti-corruption mechanisms. It's also stepping up efforts to get developed nations to join in to spread the risk of building projects in poorer nations and to counter allegations that BRI is just an attempt to build China's political influence. China's Foreign Ministry referred questions for comment to the National Development and Reform Commission. The State Council Information Office and NDRC didn't reply to faxes seeking for comment about the Belt and Road Initiative."
The New York Times reports, "In tightening sanctions on Iran, the Trump administration moved on Monday to isolate Tehran economically and undercut its power across the Middle East. But the clampdown has complicated relations with China at a particularly sensitive moment. The decision to stop five of Iran's biggest customers from buying its oil was an audacious strike at Tehran's lifeline — one million barrels of oil exports daily, fully half of which go to China. The order was also aimed at India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey, all countries that trade robustly with the United States. All are also partners with the United States on major security and diplomatic issues that do not involve Iran. 'We will no longer grant exemptions,' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in announcing that current sanctions waivers to the five nations would expire on May 2, clearing the way for American economic penalties against all companies or financial institutions that continue to take part in transactions linked to buying Iranian oil."
- Reuters reports, "China showed off the first of its new generation of guided missile destroyers on Tuesday as President Xi Jinping reviewed a major naval parade through mist and rain to mark 70 years since the founding of China's navy. Xi is overseeing a sweeping plan to refurbish the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by developing everything from stealth jets to aircraft carriers as China ramps up its presence in the disputed South China Sea and around self-ruled Taiwan, which has rattled nerves around the region and in Washington. The navy has been a major beneficiary of the modernization, with China looking to project power far from its shores and protect its trading routes and citizens overseas. After boarding the destroyer the Xining, which was only commissioned two years ago, Xi watched as a flotilla of Chinese and foreign ships sailed past, in waters off the eastern port city of Qingdao."
Calendar
- 2019-04-22 Western AI researchers partnered with Chinese surveillance firm
- 2019-04-18 U.S. wins WTO ruling against China grain import quotas
- 2019-04-17 China says its first-quarter GDP grew by 6.4 percent, topping expectations
- 2019-04-16 State Department approves renewal of $500 million Taiwan military training program
- 2019-04-15 U.S. waters down demand China ax subsidies in push for trade deal
- 2019-04-14 A trade deal might help China's needed reforms
- 2019-04-12 As U.S. and China Near Trade Deal, Enforcement Is Key
- 2019-04-11 China Sweetens Its Cloud Offer in U.S. Trade Talks
- 2019-04-10 Trump Has a Message for the World: My Trade Wars Aren't Over Yet
- 2019-04-09 The EU and China Rescue a Plan to Present United Front to Trump
News
- Bloomberg China's Belt and Road Cracks Down on Corruption in Image Revamp
- The New York Times U.S. Moves to Stop All Nations From Buying Iranian Oil, but China Is Defiant
- Reuters China shows off new destroyer as Xi views naval parade
- CNN Huawei claims more 5G firsts as sales jump 39%
- Reuters How China is replacing America as Asia's military titan
- CNBC It would be a 'mistake' for the US to start a trade war with the EU, says former ambassador
- The Washington Post Trial set for woman accused of lying to get into Trump club
- CNBC China, US warn their citizens about traveling to Sri Lanka after bombings
- The Wall Street Journal Xi's Unsteady Steps Revive Worries Over Lack of Succession Plan in China
- The Wall Street Journal China Exploits Fleet of U.S. Satellites to Strengthen Police and Military Power
- CNBC Here's why China and India will remain defiant amid threat of US sanctions for Iranian oil imports
- The New York Times A Vicious, Untreatable Killer Leaves China Guessing
- CNBC Some international banks are finally seeing their China investments pay off
- CNN Starbucks' big rival in China plans to list in New York
Commentary
- Foreign Policy Can China Deliver a Better Belt and Road?
- The Diplomat Assessing Taiwan's New Southbound Policy
- Bloomberg China's Scariest Assets Are Hiding Under Your Bed
- The Diplomat Malaysia's Evolving Approach to China's Belt and Road Initiative
- Foreign Policy This Banking Fraud Shows How Shady China's Economy Remains
- The National Interest America and China: Fighter Jet Allies?