Does Hong Kong have a problem with claw machine addiction?
By Winnie Wong
Hongkonger Solo Young, 29 has spent about HK$50,000 (US$6,400) over the past six months on claw machines, fishing for plush toys of his favourite cartoon characters or those that he can resell for a higher price.
Young earns HK$21,000 a month as a logistics worker, and on a single day could spend up to HK$1,000 on the machines. In half a year, he accumulated more than 100 plush toys or figurines in his home, including those of his favourite characters from the manga series Chiikawa, and collectibles such as the Disney characters Duffy and Linabell.
“I got hooked on it. At first, I just wanted to have a try, then I found it enjoyable, and soon I was playing every day,” Young told the Post, saying it was especially fun when he spent a small amount on a game but landed a prize that could be resold for a few hundred dollars.
But more recently, Young said his obsession was starting to cause “disruptions” to his daily life.
“Things that I originally planned to do ended up getting postponed or left undone,” he said.
He was now trying to let go of some of his collectibles and had so far managed to sell 50 items, recouping around HK$3,000.
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By Winnie Wong
Hongkonger Solo Young, 29 has spent about HK$50,000 (US$6,400) over the past six months on claw machines, fishing for plush toys of his favourite cartoon characters or those that he can resell for a higher price.
Young earns HK$21,000 a month as a logistics worker, and on a single day could spend up to HK$1,000 on the machines. In half a year, he accumulated more than 100 plush toys or figurines in his home, including those of his favourite characters from the manga series Chiikawa, and collectibles such as the Disney characters Duffy and Linabell.
“I got hooked on it. At first, I just wanted to have a try, then I found it enjoyable, and soon I was playing every day,” Young told the Post, saying it was especially fun when he spent a small amount on a game but landed a prize that could be resold for a few hundred dollars.
But more recently, Young said his obsession was starting to cause “disruptions” to his daily life.
“Things that I originally planned to do ended up getting postponed or left undone,” he said.
He was now trying to let go of some of his collectibles and had so far managed to sell 50 items, recouping around HK$3,000.
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Russia says ‘terrorist attack’ behind cargo ship sinking in Mediterranean Sea
By Agence France-Presse
A “terrorist act” sank the cargo ship that went down in international waters in the Mediterranean this week, the Russian state-owned company that owns the vessel said on Wednesday.
The Oboronlogistika company said it “thinks a targeted terrorist attack was committed on December 23, 2024, against the Ursa Major,” it said in a statement cited by Russian news agencies, without indicating who may have been behind the act or why.
The ship sank in international waters off Spain in the early hours of Tuesday after having sent a distress call for help on Monday.
“Three consecutive explosions” took place on the ship before it began taking on water, added the company, which belongs to the Russian defence ministry.
Oboronlogistika did not say what evidence it had allowing it to conclude a terrorist attack sank the Ursa Major.
Russian foreign ministry’s crisis unit said on Telegram on Tuesday that the ship sank “after an explosion in the engine room”.
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By Agence France-Presse
A “terrorist act” sank the cargo ship that went down in international waters in the Mediterranean this week, the Russian state-owned company that owns the vessel said on Wednesday.
The Oboronlogistika company said it “thinks a targeted terrorist attack was committed on December 23, 2024, against the Ursa Major,” it said in a statement cited by Russian news agencies, without indicating who may have been behind the act or why.
The ship sank in international waters off Spain in the early hours of Tuesday after having sent a distress call for help on Monday.
“Three consecutive explosions” took place on the ship before it began taking on water, added the company, which belongs to the Russian defence ministry.
Oboronlogistika did not say what evidence it had allowing it to conclude a terrorist attack sank the Ursa Major.
Russian foreign ministry’s crisis unit said on Telegram on Tuesday that the ship sank “after an explosion in the engine room”.
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Hong Kong’s Community Chest feels the pinch as cracks in economy, markets hit donations
By Enoch Yiu
It is the season to give as the year-end festivities approach. But cracks in the economy in recent years have affected donations to The Community Chest of Hong Kong, which collects funds to support various social welfare causes in the city.
The non-profit corporation received HK$220.3 million (US$28 million) in contributions for the year to March 31, a 23 per cent drop from a year earlier, according to its annual report. That is also a 43 per cent slide from before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019. The Chest had to dip into its reserves to cover a deficit.
Fundraising work has been very challenging over the past two years, a spokesman said. The tough economic environment has had a big impact on charitable giving and donations from corporations have been particularly affected because of a cutback in corporate and social responsibility spending, he added.
HSBC, Cheung Kong Group, The Wharf Group, Bank of China (Hong Kong) and Sun Hung Kai Properties were the top donors during the year. Hang Seng Bank, Biel Crystal, Fuji Photo Products, Tencent Charity Foundation and Microware rounded out the top 10 list.
Founded in November 1968, the Chest raises funds on behalf of 167 member agencies involved in six major areas of services – children and youth, the elderly, family and child welfare, medical and health, rehabilitation and aftercare, and community development.
Economists said a slowdown in the economy and the Hang Seng Index’s struggle over the past two years have hurt companies and individuals alike. Some 44 per cent of businesses have a negative outlook on the city’s economy for the next 12 months, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said on December 12, the most pessimistic reading in five years.
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By Enoch Yiu
It is the season to give as the year-end festivities approach. But cracks in the economy in recent years have affected donations to The Community Chest of Hong Kong, which collects funds to support various social welfare causes in the city.
The non-profit corporation received HK$220.3 million (US$28 million) in contributions for the year to March 31, a 23 per cent drop from a year earlier, according to its annual report. That is also a 43 per cent slide from before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019. The Chest had to dip into its reserves to cover a deficit.
Fundraising work has been very challenging over the past two years, a spokesman said. The tough economic environment has had a big impact on charitable giving and donations from corporations have been particularly affected because of a cutback in corporate and social responsibility spending, he added.
HSBC, Cheung Kong Group, The Wharf Group, Bank of China (Hong Kong) and Sun Hung Kai Properties were the top donors during the year. Hang Seng Bank, Biel Crystal, Fuji Photo Products, Tencent Charity Foundation and Microware rounded out the top 10 list.
Founded in November 1968, the Chest raises funds on behalf of 167 member agencies involved in six major areas of services – children and youth, the elderly, family and child welfare, medical and health, rehabilitation and aftercare, and community development.
Economists said a slowdown in the economy and the Hang Seng Index’s struggle over the past two years have hurt companies and individuals alike. Some 44 per cent of businesses have a negative outlook on the city’s economy for the next 12 months, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said on December 12, the most pessimistic reading in five years.
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Thai sea nomads survived 2004 Indian Ocean disaster. Now they buckle under a ‘new tsunami’
By Naruemon Chaingam
It was the story of the “Laboon” – the seven-layered wave – that saved the sea nomads of Tap Tawan in Thailand’s Phang Nga province when the Indian Ocean tsunami struck two decades ago, Witawas Thepsong says.
The Laboon had hit the coast in earlier centuries and was remembered in the folklore of the Moklen and other nomadic fishing communities – a survival guide passed on through generations.
When the sea receded in the moments before the tsunami barrelled into Thailand’s Andaman Coast in the midmorning of December 26, 2004, many among the seafaring communities of Tap Tawan made choices that would save their lives.
“The village elders told them to climb to higher ground, while others who were out to sea, followed ancestral knowledge passed down through generations and rowed their boats further to avoid the waves,” Witawas, an activist for Thailand’s sea nomads, recalls.
In Tap Tawan, most villagers belong to the Moklen sea nomad group in Phang Nga, one of the most affected areas. Other linked sea communities such as Moken settled in the Mu Ko Surin Islands and in Phi Phi Krabi and Trang province.
Over the coming days, a picture of just how crucial their knowledge had been, began to emerge as the scale of devastation from the tsunami became apparent.
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By Naruemon Chaingam
It was the story of the “Laboon” – the seven-layered wave – that saved the sea nomads of Tap Tawan in Thailand’s Phang Nga province when the Indian Ocean tsunami struck two decades ago, Witawas Thepsong says.
The Laboon had hit the coast in earlier centuries and was remembered in the folklore of the Moklen and other nomadic fishing communities – a survival guide passed on through generations.
When the sea receded in the moments before the tsunami barrelled into Thailand’s Andaman Coast in the midmorning of December 26, 2004, many among the seafaring communities of Tap Tawan made choices that would save their lives.
“The village elders told them to climb to higher ground, while others who were out to sea, followed ancestral knowledge passed down through generations and rowed their boats further to avoid the waves,” Witawas, an activist for Thailand’s sea nomads, recalls.
In Tap Tawan, most villagers belong to the Moklen sea nomad group in Phang Nga, one of the most affected areas. Other linked sea communities such as Moken settled in the Mu Ko Surin Islands and in Phi Phi Krabi and Trang province.
Over the coming days, a picture of just how crucial their knowledge had been, began to emerge as the scale of devastation from the tsunami became apparent.
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Hong Kong’s Long Valley Nature Park opens to public after habitat restoration
By Johnny Wan
Visitors to a newly opened nature park created from abandoned farmlands in Hong Kong will be able to capture photos of birds in paddy fields and the shallow water habitat acting as a “mirror” of the sky during summertime.
The Long Valley Nature Park is part of the Long Valley freshwater wetlands, the largest man-made freshwater wetland remaining in the city, located between the Sheung Yue and Shek Sheung rivers in Sheung Shui.
After five years of work starting in 2019, the park opened its doors to the public in November, showcasing verdant paddy fields that conservation officials said would offer “seasonal exclusive scenery” at the park.
In an interview with the Post earlier this month, Alfred Wong, a senior nature park officer at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, said the paddy fields would be planted twice each year.
“The autumn-winter period around November and December is when the paddies become ripe and beautiful. Another batch will ripen from April to May, so please visit during those times if you want to observe a large golden-ripe paddy field,” he said.
“We also have many shallow ponds in the park, so you can snap a beautiful picture of a ‘mirror of the sky’ scenery when the sky is clear during summertime. The sunset view in Long Valley would be lovely too.”
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By Johnny Wan
Visitors to a newly opened nature park created from abandoned farmlands in Hong Kong will be able to capture photos of birds in paddy fields and the shallow water habitat acting as a “mirror” of the sky during summertime.
The Long Valley Nature Park is part of the Long Valley freshwater wetlands, the largest man-made freshwater wetland remaining in the city, located between the Sheung Yue and Shek Sheung rivers in Sheung Shui.
After five years of work starting in 2019, the park opened its doors to the public in November, showcasing verdant paddy fields that conservation officials said would offer “seasonal exclusive scenery” at the park.
In an interview with the Post earlier this month, Alfred Wong, a senior nature park officer at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, said the paddy fields would be planted twice each year.
“The autumn-winter period around November and December is when the paddies become ripe and beautiful. Another batch will ripen from April to May, so please visit during those times if you want to observe a large golden-ripe paddy field,” he said.
“We also have many shallow ponds in the park, so you can snap a beautiful picture of a ‘mirror of the sky’ scenery when the sky is clear during summertime. The sunset view in Long Valley would be lovely too.”
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China approves Tibet mega dam that could generate 3 times more power than Three Gorges
By Holly Chik
China has approved the construction of a colossal hydropower project on Tibet’s longest river that could generate three times more energy than the Three Gorges Dam, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.
The mega hydropower project, set to be built on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet autonomous region, presents unprecedented engineering challenges.
Total investment in the dam could exceed 1 trillion yuan (US$137 billion), which would dwarf any other single infrastructure project on the planet.
The Yarlung Tsangpo flows across the Tibetan Plateau, carving out the deepest canyon on Earth and covering a staggering vertical difference of 7,667 metres (25,154 feet), before reaching India, where it is known as the Brahmaputra River.
The dam will be built in one of the rainiest parts of mainland China.
The project is expected to generate nearly 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. By contrast, the Three Gorges Dam, which now has the world’s largest installed capacity, was designed to produce 88.2 billion kWh.
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By Holly Chik
China has approved the construction of a colossal hydropower project on Tibet’s longest river that could generate three times more energy than the Three Gorges Dam, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.
The mega hydropower project, set to be built on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet autonomous region, presents unprecedented engineering challenges.
Total investment in the dam could exceed 1 trillion yuan (US$137 billion), which would dwarf any other single infrastructure project on the planet.
The Yarlung Tsangpo flows across the Tibetan Plateau, carving out the deepest canyon on Earth and covering a staggering vertical difference of 7,667 metres (25,154 feet), before reaching India, where it is known as the Brahmaputra River.
The dam will be built in one of the rainiest parts of mainland China.
The project is expected to generate nearly 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. By contrast, the Three Gorges Dam, which now has the world’s largest installed capacity, was designed to produce 88.2 billion kWh.
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As regional actors rise, US-China story no longer defines global affairs
By Mohamed Zeeshan
For years, observers and policymakers in Washington assumed US-China tensions will be the defining factor in global affairs, as American power declines and is replaced by Chinese influence worldwide. In 2024, they were proved wrong.
When US President Joe Biden took office in 2021, his administration presented China as a critical strategic and economic competitor. Much of Biden’s foreign policy, especially on Asia, was based on a strategy of isolating Beijing and counterbalancing its influence through a network of alliances.
Biden continued the trade war he inherited from his predecessor, Donald Trump, and also encouraged American businesses to transfer their operations in China to countries more closely aligned with the United States.
These policies had a marked effect on US-China economic relations in recent years. According to official US government data, bilateral trade has fallen steadily, from nearly US$700 billion in 2022 to under US$500 billion for the first 10 months of 2024.
Yet, after tensions in the first half of Biden’s term over Taiwan and a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, US-China relations have largely become a side story in international affairs. While US-China tensions loom large, they have rarely driven or defined major developments in the last couple of years.
In 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, Washington expected China to be a major player in shaping Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions, for better or worse.
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By Mohamed Zeeshan
For years, observers and policymakers in Washington assumed US-China tensions will be the defining factor in global affairs, as American power declines and is replaced by Chinese influence worldwide. In 2024, they were proved wrong.
When US President Joe Biden took office in 2021, his administration presented China as a critical strategic and economic competitor. Much of Biden’s foreign policy, especially on Asia, was based on a strategy of isolating Beijing and counterbalancing its influence through a network of alliances.
Biden continued the trade war he inherited from his predecessor, Donald Trump, and also encouraged American businesses to transfer their operations in China to countries more closely aligned with the United States.
These policies had a marked effect on US-China economic relations in recent years. According to official US government data, bilateral trade has fallen steadily, from nearly US$700 billion in 2022 to under US$500 billion for the first 10 months of 2024.
Yet, after tensions in the first half of Biden’s term over Taiwan and a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon, US-China relations have largely become a side story in international affairs. While US-China tensions loom large, they have rarely driven or defined major developments in the last couple of years.
In 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, Washington expected China to be a major player in shaping Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions, for better or worse.
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1,500 prisoners escape, 33 inmates killed in Mozambique amid post-election unrest
By Agence France-Presse
More than 1,500 prisoners escaped from a Maputo prison on Wednesday, taking advantage of the third day of unrest triggered by the controversial confirmation of the long-ruling Frelimo party as the winner of recent elections.
A total of 1,534 detainees escaped the high-security prison located about 15km (nine miles) from the capital, national police chief Bernardino Rafael said at a press conference.
Among those attempting to escape, 33 were killed and 15 wounded in clashes with prison staff, he added.
A search operation, backed by the army, led to the arrest of about 150 fugitives, he said.
Around 30 of the prisoners were linked to armed groups that have been behind unrest and attacks in the northern province of Cabo Delgado for the past seven years.
“We are particularly concerned about this situation,” Rafael said.
The Portuguese-speaking African country’s highest court had confirmed on Monday that Frelimo, in power since 1975, won the October 9 presidential election that had already triggered weeks of unrest.
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By Agence France-Presse
More than 1,500 prisoners escaped from a Maputo prison on Wednesday, taking advantage of the third day of unrest triggered by the controversial confirmation of the long-ruling Frelimo party as the winner of recent elections.
A total of 1,534 detainees escaped the high-security prison located about 15km (nine miles) from the capital, national police chief Bernardino Rafael said at a press conference.
Among those attempting to escape, 33 were killed and 15 wounded in clashes with prison staff, he added.
A search operation, backed by the army, led to the arrest of about 150 fugitives, he said.
Around 30 of the prisoners were linked to armed groups that have been behind unrest and attacks in the northern province of Cabo Delgado for the past seven years.
“We are particularly concerned about this situation,” Rafael said.
The Portuguese-speaking African country’s highest court had confirmed on Monday that Frelimo, in power since 1975, won the October 9 presidential election that had already triggered weeks of unrest.
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Chinese national gets 8 months in prison for Yasukuni Shrine graffiti case
By Kyodo
A Tokyo court on Wednesday sentenced a Chinese national living in Japan to eight months in prison over his involvement in a May graffiti incident at the capital’s war-linked Yasukuni Shrine.
Jiang Zhuojun, 29, was on trial at the Tokyo District Court on charges of damaging property and disrespecting a place of worship.
According to the ruling, he and two other Chinese men vandalised a stone pillar at the controversial shrine by spray-painting the word “toilet” on it on May 31.
Prosecutors had sought a one-year sentence.
In handing down the ruling, Judge Yasushi Fuke said Jiang had played a crucial role by buying the spray paint and that it is “unforgivable to turn to illegal actions to express one’s views”.
The court deemed imprisonment appropriate, citing a lack of reparations for the damage.
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By Kyodo
A Tokyo court on Wednesday sentenced a Chinese national living in Japan to eight months in prison over his involvement in a May graffiti incident at the capital’s war-linked Yasukuni Shrine.
Jiang Zhuojun, 29, was on trial at the Tokyo District Court on charges of damaging property and disrespecting a place of worship.
According to the ruling, he and two other Chinese men vandalised a stone pillar at the controversial shrine by spray-painting the word “toilet” on it on May 31.
Prosecutors had sought a one-year sentence.
In handing down the ruling, Judge Yasushi Fuke said Jiang had played a crucial role by buying the spray paint and that it is “unforgivable to turn to illegal actions to express one’s views”.
The court deemed imprisonment appropriate, citing a lack of reparations for the damage.
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Suriname ex-dictator and fugitive Desi Bouterse dead at 79
By Agence France-Presse
Desi Bouterse, the former dictator and later elected president of Suriname, who became a fugitive from justice for the killing of political opponents, has died at 79, the government said on Wednesday.
Still popular with the poor and working class of the South American nation, Bouterse – who died on Tuesday – rose to power after a 1980 coup as a young sergeant major in the army. He stepped down in 1987 under international pressure in the wake of political violence he was accused of orchestrating.
He returned to power in 1990 after a second coup, this time without bloodshed. Bouterse left a year later, then was elected president of the former Dutch colony in 2010 and ruled for a decade.
Current President Chan Santokhi offered condolences to Bouterse’s loved ones and urged people to “maintain calm”. He said citizens were awaiting “more detailed and definitive information from official channels” on the late leader’s passing.
Rumours began to spread around midnight about the former strongman’s sudden death after a short illness at his hideout.
His body was transferred by unknown people to his residence in the capital Paramaribo, where his family and National Democratic Party (NDP) supporters gathered early on Christmas Day to bid farewell.
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By Agence France-Presse
Desi Bouterse, the former dictator and later elected president of Suriname, who became a fugitive from justice for the killing of political opponents, has died at 79, the government said on Wednesday.
Still popular with the poor and working class of the South American nation, Bouterse – who died on Tuesday – rose to power after a 1980 coup as a young sergeant major in the army. He stepped down in 1987 under international pressure in the wake of political violence he was accused of orchestrating.
He returned to power in 1990 after a second coup, this time without bloodshed. Bouterse left a year later, then was elected president of the former Dutch colony in 2010 and ruled for a decade.
Current President Chan Santokhi offered condolences to Bouterse’s loved ones and urged people to “maintain calm”. He said citizens were awaiting “more detailed and definitive information from official channels” on the late leader’s passing.
Rumours began to spread around midnight about the former strongman’s sudden death after a short illness at his hideout.
His body was transferred by unknown people to his residence in the capital Paramaribo, where his family and National Democratic Party (NDP) supporters gathered early on Christmas Day to bid farewell.
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Finland investigates outage of undersea power link to Estonia
By ReutersAgence France-Presse
Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Wednesday authorities in his country were investigating an undersea power cable outage on a line connecting Finland and Estonia.
An unplanned break in service on the Estlink 2 interconnector occurred at 1026 GMT, operator Fingrid said in a statement on the Nordpool regulatory website, reducing its available capacity to 358 megawatts (MW) from an installed capacity of 1,016MW.
“Even at Christmas the authorities are on standby to investigate the matter,” Orpo said in a post on X.
The interruption did not affect Finland’s electricity supply, he added.
Authorities in the region have been on high alert for potential acts of sabotage following a string of outages of power cables, gas pipelines and telecom links in the Baltic Sea in recent years, although subsea cables are also subject to technical malfunctions and outages caused by accidents.
“An investigation into the incident has been initiated,” Fingrid control room manager Arto Pahki said in a statement. Pahki also told public broadcaster Yle that “the possibility of sabotage cannot be ruled out”.
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By ReutersAgence France-Presse
Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Wednesday authorities in his country were investigating an undersea power cable outage on a line connecting Finland and Estonia.
An unplanned break in service on the Estlink 2 interconnector occurred at 1026 GMT, operator Fingrid said in a statement on the Nordpool regulatory website, reducing its available capacity to 358 megawatts (MW) from an installed capacity of 1,016MW.
“Even at Christmas the authorities are on standby to investigate the matter,” Orpo said in a post on X.
The interruption did not affect Finland’s electricity supply, he added.
Authorities in the region have been on high alert for potential acts of sabotage following a string of outages of power cables, gas pipelines and telecom links in the Baltic Sea in recent years, although subsea cables are also subject to technical malfunctions and outages caused by accidents.
“An investigation into the incident has been initiated,” Fingrid control room manager Arto Pahki said in a statement. Pahki also told public broadcaster Yle that “the possibility of sabotage cannot be ruled out”.
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Art adviser investigating after Hong Kong lawsuit says US$1 million painting is fake
By Fiona Chow
A Britain-based art adviser has said he is investigating claims by a South Korean woman that a painting she bought from him for US$920,000 was fake after she demanded compensation in a lawsuit filed in Hong Kong.
Plaintiff Choi Eun-ha said she bought Dialogue, a 2014 canvas painting by renowned Korean artist Lee Ufan, from exhibition curator Lawrence Van Hagen.
Van Hagen, founder of independent advisory service LVH Art, has been described by some art magazines as “highly knowledgeable” about fine arts. He previously launched his “What’s Up” exhibition in Hong Kong, London and New York.
He told the Post this month that he and his legal team had been investigating Choi’s allegations.
“Our position in respect of Ms Choi’s claim is that the painting is authentic,” he said.
According to the court document which emerged in September, Van Hagen was the director of Smart Fine Art Asia, an art trading business registered in Hong Kong.
Choi said she met the art collector at Hong Kong’s Art Basel in March 2023, where he held the “What’s Up” show. The two reconnected after Van Hagen brought the show to Seoul in September and showcased works from renowned artists.
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By Fiona Chow
A Britain-based art adviser has said he is investigating claims by a South Korean woman that a painting she bought from him for US$920,000 was fake after she demanded compensation in a lawsuit filed in Hong Kong.
Plaintiff Choi Eun-ha said she bought Dialogue, a 2014 canvas painting by renowned Korean artist Lee Ufan, from exhibition curator Lawrence Van Hagen.
Van Hagen, founder of independent advisory service LVH Art, has been described by some art magazines as “highly knowledgeable” about fine arts. He previously launched his “What’s Up” exhibition in Hong Kong, London and New York.
He told the Post this month that he and his legal team had been investigating Choi’s allegations.
“Our position in respect of Ms Choi’s claim is that the painting is authentic,” he said.
According to the court document which emerged in September, Van Hagen was the director of Smart Fine Art Asia, an art trading business registered in Hong Kong.
Choi said she met the art collector at Hong Kong’s Art Basel in March 2023, where he held the “What’s Up” show. The two reconnected after Van Hagen brought the show to Seoul in September and showcased works from renowned artists.
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Japan offers to ease visa rules for Chinese tourists as foreign minister visits Beijing
By Alyssa Chen
Japan has offered to ease visa rules for Chinese visitors as the two sides seek to step up engagements.
Japan will extend the maximum length of multiple-entry visas from five years to 10 years, while the maximum stay for groups of tourists will also be increased from 15 days to 30 days, Japanese media reported.
It follows China’s decision to add Japan to its visa-free entry scheme last month, allowing visitors to stay for up to 30 days.
The measure was announced by Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on a visit to Beijing on Wednesday, where he met Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and invited the latter to visit Japan when it is mutually convenient for economic talks.
The two sides also confirmed that dialogue mechanisms covering areas such as security and diplomacy would be restarted while talks on allowing Japanese beef and more milled rice imports into China would also resume.
Iwaya’s visit comes amid a drive to improve ties before Donald Trump returns to the White House next month.
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By Alyssa Chen
Japan has offered to ease visa rules for Chinese visitors as the two sides seek to step up engagements.
Japan will extend the maximum length of multiple-entry visas from five years to 10 years, while the maximum stay for groups of tourists will also be increased from 15 days to 30 days, Japanese media reported.
It follows China’s decision to add Japan to its visa-free entry scheme last month, allowing visitors to stay for up to 30 days.
The measure was announced by Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on a visit to Beijing on Wednesday, where he met Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and invited the latter to visit Japan when it is mutually convenient for economic talks.
The two sides also confirmed that dialogue mechanisms covering areas such as security and diplomacy would be restarted while talks on allowing Japanese beef and more milled rice imports into China would also resume.
Iwaya’s visit comes amid a drive to improve ties before Donald Trump returns to the White House next month.
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Pakistan stunned by US fears over its missiles, assesses impact on South Asia
By Tom Hussain
Pakistan has been blindsided by Washington’s designation of the entity overseeing the South Asian country’s ballistic missile development as a prospective threat to US national security, officials and analysts say.
The Pakistani foreign ministry said the US move to impose economic sanctions over the Rawalpindi-based National Development Complex on December 16 was an attempt by Washington to tilt the balance of power in South Asia in favour of India. The two South Asian countries have fought several wars since partition in 1947.
US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer said last Thursday that Pakistan’s missile capabilities were an “emerging threat … fundamentally focused on us”, triggering concerns in Islamabad about Washington’s intentions.
Noting that Pakistan’s Shaheen-3 ballistic missiles have the range to hit India’s most distant military facilities in the Bay of Bengal and Israel, veteran political commentator Nusrat Javed said Pakistan could only be considered a threat by the US “if it counts Israel as its 51st state”.
The US and its allies “think Muslim countries should not possess nuclear weapons technology because we Muslims are crazy”, Javed said in a television programme.
Other Pakistani analysts have drawn parallels between Washington’s surprise move and Israel’s recent attacks on the air defences of Syria and Iran and raised the possibility of twin air strikes by Israel and India against Pakistan.
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By Tom Hussain
Pakistan has been blindsided by Washington’s designation of the entity overseeing the South Asian country’s ballistic missile development as a prospective threat to US national security, officials and analysts say.
The Pakistani foreign ministry said the US move to impose economic sanctions over the Rawalpindi-based National Development Complex on December 16 was an attempt by Washington to tilt the balance of power in South Asia in favour of India. The two South Asian countries have fought several wars since partition in 1947.
US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer said last Thursday that Pakistan’s missile capabilities were an “emerging threat … fundamentally focused on us”, triggering concerns in Islamabad about Washington’s intentions.
Noting that Pakistan’s Shaheen-3 ballistic missiles have the range to hit India’s most distant military facilities in the Bay of Bengal and Israel, veteran political commentator Nusrat Javed said Pakistan could only be considered a threat by the US “if it counts Israel as its 51st state”.
The US and its allies “think Muslim countries should not possess nuclear weapons technology because we Muslims are crazy”, Javed said in a television programme.
Other Pakistani analysts have drawn parallels between Washington’s surprise move and Israel’s recent attacks on the air defences of Syria and Iran and raised the possibility of twin air strikes by Israel and India against Pakistan.
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