The local government is asking the Legislative Council (which it controls) to approve a new regulation that would hand over jurisdiction to mainland China in "complex cases" involving foreign countries. The measure appears tailored to the case of Jimmy Lai. The "geopolitical situation" is cited as justification. It was opposition to extradition that sparked the pro-democracy protests in 2019.
During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day visit to Moscow, the "Power of Siberia-2" gas pipeline—vital to Russia’s economy—was once again a topic of discussion. Beijing is already supporting Russia’s expanding military production by supplying microelectronic components blocked by Western sanctions. The presence of Chinese soldiers in the parade before Lenin’s mausoleum also reflects internal political considerations within China.
As with the death of Pope Francis, the Catholic entities controlled by the Communist Party of China kept publicly within diplomatic boundaries, unlike Catholic communities who were joyful for their new pastor. The issue of the two bishops elected in recent weeks will be the first test for the new pontiff. In a statement, Taiwanese President Lai expressed hope that his country and the holy See can promote peace and justice together.
In the era of tariffs, stimulating domestic demand is vital for Beijing. But consumption is growing slowly—and it is no longer the megacities driving it, but smaller cities, where wages and confidence in the economy are rising. These shifts may also bring about broader social changes.
A 65-year-old Jesuit, he has led the Catholic community of the great metropolis for more than three years, putting the challenge of unity and education of young people first in a difficult social context after the events of 2019. He knows the dioceses of the People's Republic of China well, having already made three official trips to Beijing, Guangdong and Shanghai.
Sources told AsiaNews that local priests were summoned yesterday to ratify the choice of Fr Wu Jianlin, vicar general. Another election was held in the Diocese of Xinxiang, in Henan, whose underground bishop has been arrested several times. During the sede vacante period, Beijing is reiterating the autonomy of the Church in China to test Francis’s successor over the agreement.
A source talked to AsiaNews about how Chinese Catholics are coping with Francis’s death. Remarks and pictures abound on local social media. “Amid the sorrow and mourning, the joy of announcing love prevailed,” as “a spontaneous explosion, not very cautious, but conscious that death and fear are not the last word.” An elderly lady and the Pope shared an “impossible dream”: she wanted to visit the Vatican, while he wanted to visit China.
On a visit to the archbishop’s residence, the president bowed three times before the pope’s picture. A Taiwanese delegation will travel to Vatican City led by former Vice President Chen Chien-jen, a Catholic. Meanwhile, three days after the pontiff’s death, the Patriotic Association posts a statement on his death, calling for prayers.
Answering a journalist's question, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson praised “constructive contacts and engaged in useful exchanges” between China and the Holy See. But, in the name of sinicisation, the reference is to state-to-state relations, not the local Catholic community. The presence of Chinese bishops at Francis’s funeral is an open question.
The Xinde Catholic website has widely reported Francis’s death. So far, no word has come from President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government, nor the Patriotic Association. The Diocese of Hong Kong remembers the pontiff’s trip to Mongolia and his attention for relations between the Vatican and China.
The funeral of the PIME missionary, a pioneer of dialogue with the Church in China after Mao’s persecution, was held today. In his last book, he told the story of one of his first trips to the Chinese capital where he met with some elderly people forced to quit the religious life. They understood that he was a priest, and asked him to bless some sacred images. He was moved when he bid them goodbye.
The incident took place on 23 March in the Diocese of Lüliang, but the authorities tried to hush it up. The intervention of special forces attracted other Catholics from the nearby village of Xinli, home to an old Catholic community. An officer was also wounded in the incident. The parish priest and some parishioners were arrested. The community was forced to engage in "self-criticism", but the increasingly inflexible rules on religions are the real problem.
The PIME missionary died just before his 100th birthday. He was a pioneer in establishing contact with Catholics in China after the Cultural Revolution and founder of the Holy Spirit Study Centre in Hong Kong, for decades the most documented study centre on the Catholic Church in China. Like Matteo Ricci, he followed the path of friendship and dialogue to share the Gospel of peace with the Chinese people.
Again this year the bishop who refuses to join the Patriotic Association was taken away on the eve of Holy Week. Already at Christmas he was subjected to serious retaliation for having celebrated the opening of the Jubilee in the diocese of Zhejiang, where the Beijing authorities have put a priest ‘loyal’ to the Party in leadership.
The strategic infrastructure in the south-west had a makeover thanks to Chinese support. For Prime Minister Hun Manet, the country will not allow foreign military bases on its territory, but is open to Chinese aid. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the country to promote China as the only reliable partner for the region, taking advantage of US disengagement and Trump's tariffs.
The authorities have announced “Detailed Rules” coming into effect on 1 May. Non-Chinese are asked to "respect independence and self-government" and obey the Party's instructions. Foreigners and Chinese are not allowed to take part in the same celebrations, while the number of books foreigners can bring in from abroad "for personal use" has been restricted. Extra tight control is the true face of sinicisation.
As the tariffs imposed by US President Trump heat up the trade war, the three countries are looking for new ways of working together. The summit got underway today until tomorrow in Seoul. The South Koreans and Japanese are concerned about tariffs on cars. Meanwhile, Beijing announces countermeasures if Washington continues the trade war.
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders issued an appeal on behalf of the activist, who was jailed again a few months ago after serving four years in prison for her reports on the pandemic. Last November, she was indicted for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.”
The Hong Kong government has announced the date of the vote for the renewal of the Legislative Council, the local ‘parliament’ now inaccessible to pro-democracy members, most of whom are still in prison. Four years ago, barely 30% of voters turned out. And a survey conducted in recent weeks revealed the discontent towards an institution ‘where they only make speeches to flatter Beijing’.
A Catholic voice from Shanghai reminds AsiaNews of the case of the auxiliary bishop who resigned from the Patriotic Association when he was ordained and has been living in seclusion ever since. It was hoped that the tormented appointment of Mgr Shen Bin as ordinary bishop would unblock the situation, but two years later nothing has happened. Ma Daqin remains the icon of the “suffering righteous”.
Trump's latest wave of executive orders has reached Radio Free Asia and other related news outlets such as Voice of America. Funded by the US government, the latter have been an essential source of information in at-risk regions like Tibet and Xinjiang, against Chinese censorship. For a former US ambassador, this is a giant gift to China.
The US retail giant has reportedly asked Chinese companies to cut prices to compensate for the Trump tariffs. Chinese suppliers complain that they are already working with very narrow profit margins to compete. China’s Ministry of Commerce warns the US company that its interests in the Chinese domestic market are also at stake.
Two Chinese universities are experimenting with a new device that replaces silicon wafers by adopting a revolutionary ternary system. Tests show a significant reduction in energy consumption for the calculations required by artificial intelligence. The stated goal is to make it the reference technology within 10-15 years.
Beijing has updated the Law on the Protection of Cultural Artefacts, in force since March 1st. It imposes archaeological evaluations before construction and has removed the statute of limitations for the recovery of stolen artefacts. It also cracks down on tourism, to limit commercialisation. Increased responsibility for local governments.
The Public Security Bureau this morning arrested the underground bishop of Wenzhou (Zhejiang) after he refused to pay a 200,000 fine for celebrating Mass on 27 December before 200 people. Last week he wrote to the faithful asking them to attend Mass more often and pray the rosary for Pope Francis’s health.
To keep growth at 5 per cent, Premier Li Qiang told the National People's Congress that the government would issue new treasury bonds to support consumer goods trade-in programmes. The deficit-to-GDP ratio rises to 4 per cent. In 2025, spending in education and scientific research will rise while defence spending is set to grow by 7.2 per cent. China’s response to Trump's new tariffs is for now limited to US agricultural products.
Just one month after the launch of the new ‘made in China’ artificial intelligence prototype, municipalities and government officials are competing to adopt it in their offices. It is considered an important step forward in the realisation of so-called ‘smart cities’.
The gesture took place a few days ago during a visit to Shanghai by a delegation from the diocese of Hong Kong. Card. Chow said: ‘The shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan is of immense importance for the Church in China and it was significant to pray alongside Bishop Shen for the Holy Father’. The hope for closer pastoral collaboration between the ecclesial communities of the two cosmopolitan metropolises.
Chinese military researchers tested a new satellite system capable of monitoring global supply chains using the Internet of Things. Based on a constellation of 66 small satellites, it aims to strengthen the Belt and Road Initiative and “enforce our own rules”. This is raising concerns in Washington, resulting in the exclusion of Chinese-made cranes from US ports.
In June Beijing allocated over 5 million dollars in aid, equipment and assistance. India had previously invested billions of rupees in development projects. The accusation against Indian fishermen who use trawl nets: ‘If this practice continues, there will be no more fish left in our areas in the future’.
