China a tougher sell for West on trouble-spots
Chris Buckley, Reuters, November 6, 2009
President Obama’s upcoming visit to China will touch on various political, economic and security issues plaguing the two countries. According to analysts, China has become more assertive in recent months, about Western pressure. Despite its reluctant backing of the U.N. sanctions on Iran and North Korea, China is consistent in its policy to protect the bilateral ties between itself and these countries. China may be less willing to yield ground, as its success despite the economic crisis has emboldened the country. ---posted by Ying Jia Huang
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China paper, phosphate harm U.S. producers, ITC says
Mark Drajem, Bloomberg, November 6, 2009
Trade tensions between China and the United States escalated further after a U.S. trade commission ruled that Chinese glossy paper and phosphates are hurting U.S. domestic producers. The rulings could lead to possible tariffs on the imports. Today’s rulings came a day after the U.S. imposed preliminary duties of as much as 99 percent on certain Chinese steel-pipe imports. China said it would start its own anti-dumping probe of American cars and said the tariffs were “discriminatory.” The recent trade spats between the two countries would be a central issue during President Obama’s visit to China in November. ---posted by Ying Jia Huang
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Remote Indian state readies for Dalai Lama visit
Associated Press, November 6, 2009
In the Indian town of Tawang, located in the contested Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, Buddhist monks and nuns are preparing for the Dalai Lama’s visit this Sunday. The Dalai Lama is scheduled to lead a three-day prayer session for 20,000 followers from Tawang and the neighboring Himalayan countries of Bhutan and Nepal. Foreign journalists were prohibited from covering the trip by the Indian government in an effort to assuage the tensions with China which has protested the Dalai Lama’s visit. ---posted by Ying Jia Huang
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China in the shadow of swine flu
Vivian Wai-yin Kwok, Forbes, November 6, 2009
Swine flu cases are tripling every month in China and the latest deaths have brought the fatality toll to at least 12 people in the country. As of the end of October, there were more than 46,000 confirmed H1N1 flu cases in China, up from 18,285 cases in September and 4,000 in August. As Chinese officials warn of the potential rise of the swine flu cases in the winter, share prices of Chinese vaccine makers are rising. ---posted by Ying Jia Huang
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More than 1 million people short of drinking water in thirsty E China
Anne Tang ed., Xinhua, November 6, 2009
Water shortage is plaguing the residents of China’s Jiangxi and Fujian provinces. The prolonged drought in the region has affected 1,279,000 people and more than 990,000 people in Jiangxi are short on drinking water. The water levels of four of the province’s five main rivers hit record lows and are still dropping. The provincial governments have increase water quality monitoring and other measures in response to the water shortage crisis. ---posted by Ying Jia Huang
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