Pakistan gave China access to the downed US helicopter

Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence gave China access to the downed helicopter in Abbottabad. Chinese engineers were allowed to survey the wreckage, take photographs and take samples of the stealth technology that allowed the U.S. team to enter Pakistan undetected by radar. Both Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, head of the Pakistani military, and another unnamed senior Pakistani official denied that the Chinese were given access.

Romanian PM visits China

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabo and Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc met in Beijing on August 15 and agreed to expand bilateral investment in infrastructure construction. The Romanian PM is accompanied by several ministers of his cabinet on a 5-day tour of China.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden tours Asia

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will embark on a tour of Asia. He will visit China from Aug. 17-22 and then travel to Mongolia and Japan.

Taiwan-USA-China affairs

The United States has refused Taiwan's request for 66 new F-16C/D fighter jets that China warned Washington would risk inflaming tensions between the two big powers. The USA seems to have started making concessions and favours China amid financial problems and increased dependence on Chinese economy.

China worried by economic evolutions in the EU and USA

China is worried about challenges that the European Union faces in the next two months and urged the bloc as well as the United States to hold down government debt, its trade minister said on Friday.

Syria triggers further reactions worldwide

The15 civilians killed in the city of Homs by Syrian forces on Wednesday in defiance of international calls for President Bashar al-Assad to end violence against protesters.
The U.S. Treasury Department has enforced new sanctions on Syria, in a drive to weaken the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian leader eventually recognized that several errors have been done by hil loyal forces, but gave no signs of policy change. European members of the Security Council on Wednesday threatened Syria with tougher U.N. action if the bloody crackdown on protesters continued. Russia has also urged Damascus to implement promised reforms as soon as possible. But veto powers Russia and China, backed by India, South Africa and Brazil, have strongly opposed the idea of slapping U.N. sanctions on Damascus, which Western diplomats say would be the logical next step for Syria.

First aircraft carrier of China

The first aircraft carrier built by China is expected to start its sea trials on August 10. The ship was refitted from a former Soviet craft and encountered long delays before going to sea. The launching of the carrier marked a step forward in China's long-term plan to build a carrier force that can project power into the Asian region, where seas are spanned by busy shipping lanes and thorny territorial disputes.

South Sudan - China relations

China will support South Sudan to develop its oil sector and other industries, its foreign minister said on Sunday, after the highest-level talks between the two allies since South Sudan became independent. Yang Jiechi met north Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti in Khartoum and said Beijing would continue its economic and political support. Beijing has also called on countries to normalise relations with Khartoum.

China party leader to visit Nepal

Communist Party of China (CPC) standing committee member Zhou Yongkang will lead four dozen Chinese officials to Nepal on Aug. 16-18, Nepal's Republica reported Aug. 8. Zhou is scheduled to meet with Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala as well as other officials. As head of the Chinese Central Political and Legislative Committee, Zhou will discuss the feasibility of Chinese investments in Nepal. Zhou will also discuss the peace process, constitution drafting and security issues in Tibet as well as various development projects, including the holy site Lumbini with Nepalese officials, a Chinese official in South Asian affairs said.

Crack down on religious extremists in China

Zhang Chunxian, Communist Party of China Secretary for the Xinjiang regional committee, said he would work to curb illegal religious activities and those individuals who use religion to incite violence or organize militant attacks. Speaking at a regional government meeting, Zhang said the management of religious affairs should follow Beijing's policy of protecting the legitimate, banning the illegal, battling infiltrations and punishing crimes. He said the regional meeting should focus on maintaining stability in Xinjiang in adherence with the latest instructions from Chinese President Hu Jintao and other top leaders

Economic developments in the USA and EU worries China

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said during his visit to Poland that international cooperation is needed to address the increasing risks of debt problems in the United States and Europe.Yang said the escalating debt risks in the United States requires Washington to adopt responsible monetary policies that protect the dollar investments of foreign nations, maintain the global economic recovery and ensure the stable development of the world economy. He added that Europe's sovereign debt problems are also still developing, but China will continue to support the eurozone and the euro. All countries must work to increase communication, coordination and reforms to the global financial system to improve its governance, he said.
China's finance ministry drafted a preliminary plan to allow some provincial and city governments to sell bonds to investors on a trial basis. The drafted plan hopes to boost the repayment ability of local authorities after local government liabilities fell to 7.1 trillion yuan ($1.1 trillion) on June 30 after banks reclassified 2.1 trillion yuan as normal corporate credit with sufficient cash flow to meet obligations.

China - North Korea relations

Vice Admiral Tian Zhong, commander of the Chinese navy's northern fleet traveled to North Korea's Wonsan port on Aug. 4, where two Chinese warships - Luoyang and Zheng He - docked. The Chinese official met with North Korean Rear Adm. Kim Myong Sik.

North Korean hackers

A South Korean crime ring hired more than 30 North Korean hackers to work in China. Their aim was to steal personal data of South Korean gamers. Hacked data was used to steal $5 million from their bank accounts.

Evolutions in China

Violent attacks in Xinjiang
Two attacks in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, added 12 people dead and 43 injured to the 18 deaths after the July 18 riot in Hotan, Xinjiang, where on going violent incidents suggest that a group is coordinating attacks in the region.
Uighurs are frustrated over their socio-economic situation and are known for their separatist views.

Restrictions on Wi-Fi
A new regulation is requiring businesses that offer free Wi-Fi in Beijing’s Dongcheng district to install monitoring software. The software saves the identities and locations of Internet users as well as their Internet history and user names for up to 60 days for police use. Dongcheng is seen as a test case for the new law, which citizens and business owners worry could threaten online anonymity.
The regulation also brings up concerns for China’s Internet users, who use Wi-Fi locations to try to gain anonymity, something the authorities are trying to limit.

Criminality
-A court in Dongguan, Guangdong province, on July 26 sentenced the leader of a money counterfeiting operation to death and 15 others to prison terms ranging from 10 months to a year.
-Shatoujiao customs seized a van smuggling 311 kilograms (686 pounds) of silver bricks valued at 2.5 million yuan in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
-The Beijing Public Security Bureau announced that security cameras with face-identification technology have been installed in medium- and large-sized supermarkets as well as in other shops across the city. They said the technology aimed to prevent theft, damage or food poisoning. The public security bureau is requiring shops to install the security cameras themselves and will be carrying out inspections.

US rating reduced at Aaa with a negative outlook

Following the decision to raise the USA debt limit, Moody's Investors Service confirmed, on 02.08.2011, the Aaa rating of the United States,  but assigned a negative outlook that could pressure lawmakers to further cut the US budget deficit. China central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan welcomed US progress in dealing with its debt problems but urged Washington to take more concrete and responsible measures to bolster confidence in US treasuries. China will continue to diversify its foreign currency investments and strengthen risk management to minimize the impact of the global financial market's fluctuations on China. China considers that efforts to raise the US debt ceiling had failed to defuse Washington's "debt bomb", and that it would further diversify its currency holdings away from the dollar. China's Dagong Global Credit Rating Co., unknown outside its country, but striving to compete with Moody's, Fitch and Standard & Poor's has downgraded the USA from A+ to A, showing the gloomy perspective of the US borrowing rates in Asia and world-wide. The emergency legislation signed by President Barack Obama boosting the debt ceiling and avoiding country default does not change the fact that US debt growth outpaced its economy and fiscal revenue.

Suspected China hackers attack major networks

Security company McAfee has discovered the biggest series of cyber attacks to date. Hackers, supposedly backed by a state entity,  infiltrated  networks of 72 organizations including the United Nations, governments and companies around the world. Many are pointing to China as a main suspect.