Xi signs Egypt deals as China looks to boost Mideast clout

Xi signs Egypt deals as China looks to boost Mideast clout

Special to WorldTribune.com Chinese President Xi Jinping on Jan. 21 pledged billions of dollars in aid to Egypt as Beijing moved to boost its influence in the Middle East. “China supports Egypt’s efforts to maintain stability, develop the economy and improve livelihoods, and … play an even greater role in international and regional affairs,” Xi […]

Saudi media reports point to national anxieties over lifting of Iran sanctions

Saudi media reports point to national anxieties over lifting of Iran sanctions

Special to WorldTribune.com As trade and investment are set to pour into Iran, and oil pours out, Saudi media are reporting on widespread unease within the Kingdom over the lifting of international sanctions on Teheran. The al-Jazirah daily’s cartoonist drew an incarnation of American capitalism in striped trousers and top hat carrying a bottle marked “sanctions,” from […]

Obama’s no-show felt by longstanding U.S. allies in emerging ‘Chinese theme park’

Obama’s no-show felt by longstanding U.S. allies in emerging ‘Chinese theme park’

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — People’s Republic of China president Xi Jinping went on a charm offensive in Southeast Asia, preening and posturing about the widening role Beijing plans to play in the business of this vital region. United States President Barack Obama was stuck back in Washington pouting and posturing over the partial […]

Beijing slaps U.S. diplomat’s ‘irresponsible’ comments as Party vets Hong Kong candidates

Beijing slaps U.S. diplomat’s ‘irresponsible’ comments as Party vets Hong Kong candidates

Special to WorldTribune.com By Willy Lam, East-Asia-Intel.com Beijing has ratcheted up its rhetoric against alleged efforts by the United States to “interfere” in the political development of Hong Kong. The special administrative region (SAR) of Hong Kong is scheduled to hold general elections in 2017 to pick its chief executive (CE), whose status is equivalent […]

Harsh punishment not likely for Bo Xilai and ‘red aristocracy’ members targeted by anti-graft campaign

Harsh punishment not likely for Bo Xilai and ‘red aristocracy’ members targeted by anti-graft campaign

Special to WorldTribune.com By Willy Lam, East-Asia-Intel.com While the official Chinese media have claimed that the trial of former Politburo member Bo Xilai testifies to the Xi Jinping leadership’s commitment to fighting graft, it is unlikely that “tigers” among venal cadres will be nabbed any time soon. There is a well-known “mutual protection clause” within […]

Israel need not follow Obama’s lead and ignore China’s massive cyber-theft

Israel need not follow Obama’s lead and ignore China’s massive cyber-theft

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey The dysfunctional U.S. Congress is dithering about passing the so-called “shield law”, designed to protect the American power system from electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) attack, despite the fact that the cost of the program would be about what the U.S. gives Pakistan every year, the political profit from which is […]

‘Get ready to fight’: China shifts from Deng’s ‘low profile’ to Mao’s aggression

‘Get ready to fight’: China shifts from Deng’s ‘low profile’ to Mao’s aggression

Special to WorldTribune.com By Willy Lam, East-Asia-Intel.com Nothing illustrates better the conservative turn that Chinese politics and foreign policy have taken under the Xi Jinping administration than the way ministers and senior cadres are reviving the credos – and familiar sayings – of Chairman Mao Zedong. Consider the reaction of the new Chinese ambassador to […]

Tail wags the dog: U.S. policy of outsourcing N. Korea crisis to China has failed

Tail wags the dog: U.S. policy of outsourcing N. Korea crisis to China has failed

Special to WorldTribune.com By Parris H. Chang In diplomacy, an inch can be longer than a foot, and the weak can wield greater leverage over the strong. This is why North Korea, a rogue state, impoverished and vulnerable is able to irritate, bully and even threaten the two superpowers, the U.S. and China. For many […]

Beijing troop movements foreshadow upheaval in neighboring N. Korea

Beijing troop movements foreshadow upheaval in neighboring N. Korea

Special to WorldTribune.com By Willy Lam, East-Asia-Intel.com Communist Party General Secretary and commander-in-chief Xi Jinping has asked the nation’s military and police forces to take full precautions regarding the possible collapse of the Kim Jung-Un regime. Chinese sources close to the foreign-policy establishment said earlier this week that Xi, who chairs the Communist Party’s Central […]

Can the CCP govern 1.3 billion web-savvy, corruption-hating Chinese?

Can the CCP govern 1.3 billion web-savvy, corruption-hating Chinese?

Sol W. Sanders   BEIJING – Only a few hours in this capital of a country with 1.3 billion people are enough to pose the question of whether the control of the Communist Party may not be cracking under the growing strains accompanying the exposure of its economy to the outside world. Stalin perhaps had […]