Hague has no role in S.China Sea disputes

The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration sent a gift to the Philippines on Thursday, ruling that it has jurisdiction over the case filed by the Philippines against China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. The Chinese foreign ministry on Friday said that the ruling is null and void, and has no binding effect on China. China has been rejecting the Hague-based court's authority in this case since Manila filed the case in 2013. Some people in the West accused China of despising international law. But they have ignored that China is actually doing so in accordance with the rights given by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China ratified UNCLOS about 20 years ago. Following Article 298 of UNCLOS, China in 2006 handed in a written document, stating it will not accept international arbitration over sovereignty disputes. So far 58 countries have made similar statements, including South Korea. The Arbitral Tribunal's ruling ignored China's legal rights and the fact that the case involves territorial sovereignty and maritime demarcation. It also ignored China and the Philippines' bilateral and multilateral agreements to solve the disputes through negotiations. The ruling could become an excuse for those who try to worsen the disputes in the South China Sea and cause tension. UNCLOS's aim is to avoid forceful intervention. The best solution to territorial disputes is negotiation between the disputing parties. If the Arbitral Tribunal always decide to expand its power to intervene in such affairs at the request of one side, it will only start a system that may trigger more disputes. This is not what UNCLOS was created for. China's sovereignty over the South China Sea territories was formed over a long period of time, and has been upheld by various administrations. With ample historical and legal backing, China will not accept any plans over its sovereignty rights forced upon it by other parties. The Arbitral Tribunal should be clear about China's stance as well as the complexity and risks involved in the South China Sea disputes. However, the court made a ruling with one-sided influence from the Philippines. It is against the spirit of international law. It also hurts the authority of UNCLOS. If an international judicial institution twists and abuses the law, how can it shoulder the responsibility to safeguard peace and justice? Manila knows the Hague will not be able to solve its problem with China. In the end Manila will still have to sit down face-to-face with Beijing to find solutions. The US warship's patrol in the South China Sea and the Arbitral Tribunal's ruling are all smokescreens to fool the world.

Phone users left irate by dodgy data limit claims

Mobile phone users in China expected a pleasant surprise this month. Starting from October 1, a new policy adopted by the three giant cellphone operators - China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom - has allowed unused data from individual data packages to be carried over to the next month for use. At the beginning, users of the three telecommunication companies hailed this policy, since they would have more free data to use in the next month and Chinese phone users' zealousness for mobile Internet is unrelenting. However, even before Chinese users could enjoy the free extra package, inquisitive users found that since the adoption of the policy, the original data limits seem to be far more easily swallowed up, which means there wouldn't be any unused data left for the next month. One user of China Unicom claimed that it took him only nine days to use up the data package of a month. Telecoms have become as essential a utility in modern life as water or power, and raising or lowering costs significantly affects people's lives and finances. But disputes between consumers and service providers dominate discussion. Not long after mobile phones became popular in China about a decade ago, the country's mobile operators were blamed for their tight grip over telecoms fees. Regulators allowed cellular operators to charge both callers and receivers, and it took years for them to switch to a one-way charging scheme, among a slew of initiatives. During the process, public complaints played a major role. It is too early to judge how long the disputes between telecommunication companies and consumers over data packages will last, since, according to media reports, the measurement of data usage is difficult to track. Companies are using "user privacy" to avoid giving out any information. But reading through the complaints posted online by picky cellphone users, we can sense the public's distrust of State-owned enterprises (SOEs). A survey done by the People's Tribune Research Center in 2012 found that the public's negative impression of SOEs came from the belief that they only rely on government support and their employees usually do easy jobs but get higher pay, yet their efficiency and sense of service lag far behind private and foreign enterprises. Besides, they feel that the costs of daily life such as water, electricity and petrol are always on the rise and attribute this to the monopoly of SOEs. Even if SOEs do something positive, it doesn't help much win back public's trust. The current spat over the data package of the three State-owned telecommunication giants reflects the extent of public dissatisfaction. Amid the country's thriving anti-corruption campaign and reforms, it shows the public's enthusiasms for deepening reforms and making SOEs benefit domestic consumers.

Chinese leaders, non-CPC elite discuss 13th Five-year Plan

Chinese leaders met non-communist and business chiefs to listen to their opinions on the 13th Five-year Plan proposal approved at Thursday's plenary session. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presided over the meeting on August 21, attended by leaders of democratic parties such as Jiusan Society and China Democratic League, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and economist Justin Yifu Lin, representative of non-party personages, Xinhua learnt from the CPC Central Committee on Friday. Central leaders Li Keqiang, Yu Zhengsheng and Zhang Gaoli were also present. The attendees said they backed the central leadership's proposals but made suggestions on various issues concerning the economic growth target, poverty alleviation, the aging population and green development. Xi said the central leadership would seriously consider their suggestions. He stressed that the plan must focus on the goal of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society. China will face up to a lot of new situations and problems from 2016 to 2020, chief among them being the plateauing economy, the president noted. Adapting to this "new normal" and sustaining healthy economic and social development is crucial, he said. The proposal highlighted five development ideas, "innovation, coordination, the environment, opening up and sharing," and all must be implemented if China is to be successful, according to Xi. He urged members of non-CPC parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliation to pool wisdom and strength for the formation of the plan.

Beijing calls Hague ruling ‘null and void’

China said on Friday that the ruling by an arbitration court in the Netherlands on the jurisdiction and admissibility of the South China Sea is null and void, after The Hague ruled that it can take on the case established at the request of the Philippines. China's sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea are grounded in history and protected under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday in a statement. "The Philippines and the Arbitral Tribunal have abused relevant procedures and obstinately forced ahead with the arbitration ... have severely violated the legitimate rights that China enjoys as a State Party to the UNCLOS," the statement said. The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration on Thursday said it could hear arguments of the case filed by Manila in 2013 questioning the maritime boundaries claimed by China, while Beijing said in a position paper in December 2014 that the essence of the arbitration is territorial sovereignty. The ministry statement said that the Philippines' decision to seek arbitration was "a political provocation under the cloak of law." Yu Zhirong, a research fellow at the Ocean University of China, told the Global Times on Friday that the arbitration is a legal issue only on the surface, and it is a "political game" conducted by the Philippines and the US essentially to pressure China. "The arbitration filed by the Philippines is based on the miscalculation that China will not resolutely safeguard its rights and that Manila will have support from Washington. The South China Sea issue is especially a result of the US involvement in the region under its pivot to the Asia-Pacific," Teng Jianqun, a research fellow from China Institute of International Studies, told China Central Television on Friday. "The motivation [behind] the arbitration is not to settle disputes, but an attempt to negate China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea for its own sake," Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said Friday in a media briefing, reiterating China's position of "non-acceptance and non-participation" in the proceedings. Liu criticized the Philippines for failing to adhere to its own commitment to settle disputes through negotiation and consultation, which China will stick to in order to safeguard peace and stability of the South China Sea. "The result of the ruling will by no means affect China's sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea," he noted. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang also said at the Friday briefing that international arbitration is only one out of many ways to solve disputes, which must follow the "State Agreement Principle," calling for an objective, fair and rational perspective on the South China Sea issue. On several occasions since the 1990s, China and the Philippines have agreed, and reaffirmed, that disputes would be resolved through negotiation and consultation. Meanwhile, analysts voiced concern on the ruling of The Hague, which they claimed is under deep influence from the US and Japan as most members are legal experts from Western countries. "The Philippines has invited several lawyers from the US specializing in international territorial disputes in the proceedings. This suggests that the final ruling may not be to the advantage of China," Liu Feng, a Hainan-based marine expert, told the Global Times on Friday.

Shanghai FTZ to pioneer finance reform, yuan trade

China on Friday issued new guidelines to accelerate building Shanghai into an international financial center, which analysts said marked a substantial step forward for financial reform in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and the internationalization of renminbi. The new guidelines support the convertibility of yuan capital accounts and encourage more outbound investments by individuals and enterprises, according to a statement published on the website of the People's Bank of China (PBC) on Friday. The guidelines also encouraged expanding the scope of the use of the yuan in foreign countries, and to promote the yuan becoming a wider global currency, according to the statement. "These moves can promote the establishment of an offshore yuan market that can accelerate the internationalization of the currency," Li Xunlei, chief economist at Haitong Securities Company Ltd, told the Global Times on Friday. "China is seeking to make the yuan's international status match China's economic power." Li noted that the reform of the Shanghai FTZ has taken a substantial step forward thanks to the guidelines, amid criticism from the market over a underperforming reform measures. More foreign financial firms Under the guidelines, the financial services sector will further open up to both domestic and overseas markets, covering areas including banks, securities, insurance, funds, futures and equity investments. More types of financial institutions will be able to enter the FTZ due to the relaxed restrictions on their establishment, access conditions and the equity proportion, the Xinhua News Agency reported. For example, foreign financial institutions will be allowed to set up joint-venture securities firms in the FTA, with foreign ownership not exceeding 49 percent. "Another highlight in the new guidelines is the encouragement of the construction of various financial markets," a finance official of the Shanghai government surnamed Zhang told the Global Times on Friday. Lu Zhengwei, a senior economist with the Industrial Bank, said that it is critical for China to establish international finance platforms in multiple fields as the yuan's capital pool is expanding overseas, Xinhua reported. The guidelines said that international financial asset trading platforms will be set up by the China Foreign Exchange Trading System and the Shanghai Stock Exchange, while the Shanghai Futures Exchange will set up an international energy trading center for crude oil futures to go public. China is also mulling launching pilot programs for overseas investment of domestic individuals in the Shanghai FTZ, allowing qualified individuals and institutions to expand investments in stock and futures markets both at home and abroad, according to the guidelines. "This may indicate an upcoming launch of qualified domestic institutional investors, meaning that qualified individuals can set up free trade accounts to directly trade in overseas stock markets," Chen Bo, an expert with the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, told Xinhua. As the Shanghai FTZ has been undertaking the mission of exploring financial reforms in China since its establishment, successful experience under the new guidelines will be replicated and extended to China's other FTZs, Li noted.

China proposes four-step initiative to help solve Syrian crisis

China on Friday urged the international community to take actions, set aside interest conflict and seek a common ground to create conditions for the political settlement of the Syrian crisis. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong proposed at the Vienna talks on Syria a four-step initiative to help politically solve the Syrian crisis. Li said China urged all sides in Syria for an immediate cease-fire with commitment to fighting terrorism. He suggested that Syria's warring sides, under the auspices of the United Nations, should have comprehensive, inclusive and equal dialogues to make arrangements for political transitions. Li said that the United Nations should play the role of the main channel of mediation in the Syrian crisis. He also proposed the start of the reconstruction process in Syria to let the warring sides see the peace dividends once the war ends. The talks would be resumed in two weeks to push the diplomatic process forward, seeking a solution for ending years of conflict in Syria which has led to humanitarian crisis in the country and migration crisis in EU.

Russian jetliner wreckage found on Egypt's Sinai: reports

Wreckage of the Russian jetliner was found on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, RIA Novosti news agency reported Saturday. Egyptian security forces cordoned off the crash site, while some 20 cars rushed out from the Arish city of North Sinai province to rescue victims, RIA Novosti quoted Egypt's Youm7 news website as saying. An Airbus 320 aircraft en route from Egypt's Sharm El-Sheikh resort city in South Sinai to Russia's St. Petersburg vanished from the radars on Saturday, with over 200 people aboard, Youm7 quoted the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation. The airplane took off at 05:51 local time on Saturday morning and disappeared from radar 23 minutes afterwards, the ministry added. According to RIA Novosti, captain of the airliner informed air traffic controller of technical faults after takeoff, asking for route change and emergent landing in Cairo, Egypt's capital. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russian Embassy in Egypt is checking information and current situations about the airliner which belongs to Russia's Metrojet airline. Metrojet is an airline based in Kogalym, a town in Russia's western Siberia, that started operations from May of 1993.

70 years on, Taiwan should know separatism is dead end

Sunday marks the 70th anniversary of Taiwan's recovery from Japanese occupation. Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou, at a commemorative event in Taiwan, stressed the role of the government of the Republic of China in recovering Taiwan. Ma also admitted that Japanese colonists had contributed to the island, but he asked Japan to face up to its atrocities and correct its view of history. Other veterans of the ruling Kuomintang Party (KMT) have also made remarks on the event. Hau Pei-tsun emphasized how the entire Chinese nation, under the leadership of Chiang, won the war; Chu Li-luan, the party's nominee for the next year's election, showed concerns about what the opposing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would think about the event, on which the DPP's nominee Tsai Ing-wen had not made any comment as of press time. Taiwan has profoundly distorted its values. Although the KMT still insists on commemorating the recovery of Taiwan, Ma's speech was addlebrained and even included compliments for the Japanese colonists. Given its political climate, a memorial gathering seems to be what Taiwan can best do. We Chinese mainlanders had better not care too much about the details of Ma's statement. Separatism is rising in Taiwan. The KMT mainstream is ambiguous over sovereignty issues, and Hung Hsiu-chu, a committed supporter of the One-China policy, had to resign from the center of the political arena. The mainland does not have effective measures so far other than to encourage Taiwan to adopt a mild approach to the mainland. Japan occupied Taiwan for half a century, but it had to return it to China at last. Taiwan separatists can hardly do more than that. Tolerant of Taiwan's tricks, the mainland values the big picture of peace and development. But these extreme forces in Taiwan should keep in mind that if there is a showdown for the unity of the country, the mainland will take decisive measures and resolve the Taiwan question for good. Now the DPP has an edge in the ongoing election, and there are concerns that it will reactivate separatism, challenging the results of the positive cross-Straits relations. The mainland should, through different channels, inform the DPP that for every backward step they make in cross-Straits relations, they will pay great costs.

Afghan army reclaims district bordering Turkmenistan from Taliban

Afghan army soldiers recaptured Ghormach district, bordering Turkmenistan, from Taliban militants in northern Faryab province on Saturday, said spokesman of Defense Ministry. "Army personnel of the Corps 209 Shaheen entered Ghormach district center. Cleanup operation is going on to clear the militants from the district's surrounding areas," General Dawlat Waziri said on his twitter account. The militants were drove out from district center shortly after the operation began at early hours of the day. About five Taliban militants were killed and four others were injured since the troops engaged with the militants, according to Waziri. Sporadic clashes continued in the district as the army specialists were defusing landmines, roadside bombs and combing through booby-trapped buildings and government offices. The troops' advancement came after the earlier capture of Khamab district in the neighboring Jawzjan province. On Oct. 18, the Taliban militants overran the district in the province with Maimana as its capital, 425 km northwest of Afghan capital of Kabul. The Taliban has executed several security force members, including the district police chief Abdul Majid Galimbaf. They also set government buildings on fire, including district headquarters and police department, according to local media. The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since mid April when the militant group launched its so-called annual rebel offensive in different places of the militancy-plagued country which had claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians. Afghan military analysts believe that the armed militants have been attempting to take more territory and consolidate their positions ahead of winter in the mountainous country.

Strongest Hurricane Patricia makes landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast

Hurricane Patricia, the largest ever seen in the Western Hemisphere, made landfall on the Pacific coast of Mexico at around 5:40 p.m., local time, Friday, hitting the municipality of La Huerta in the state of Jalisco. La Huerta is about 90 kilometers northwest of Manzanillo, an important town in Mexico. Roberto Ramirez de la Parra, director of the National Commission of Water (Conagua), confirmed the landfall of the hurricane, which brought along strong winds and heavy rains, with waves raging as eight meters high off the coast of Jalisco, Colima and Michoacan. The maximum sustained winds were 335 km per hour, with gusts of up to 400 km per hour. Billboards and trees were toppled as the hurricane lashed inland through Jalisco and Colima, packing strong winds and heavy rains. Porfirio Mendoza Zambrano, the mayor of the municipality of Coahuayana in Michoacan, told the Mexican news agency, Notimex, that there were landslides on roads and rooftops being torn off in his city. Mexican authorities had by then evacuated more than 50,000 people from the three states by Friday afternoon and advised residents and tourists alike to leave the areas. It is estimated more than 400,000 people remained in the affected areas. President Enrique Peña Nieto dispatched 5,000 soldiers, 4,000 sailors and 400 federal police officers to the areas to help with evacuation efforts.

China to target financial sector in new anti-graft inspection

The anti-graft authority is set to expand its inspections into more state entities this year, with its sight set on major financial institutions including the central bank, securities regulators and state-owned banks. According to anti-corruption plans set previously, teams from the Communist Party of China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) will inspect all major state-owned enterprises that are under the direct stewardship of the central authorities. The CCDI released the findings from the second round of inspections this week. A statement released after a meeting Friday said that the third round will cover the People's Bank of China, the central bank, China Banking Regulatory Commission, China Insurance Regulatory Commission, China Securities Regulatory Commission and China Investment Corp. Others include CITIC Group Corporation, a major financial conglomerate; state-owned banks Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Bank of China; as well as China Life and the People's Insurance Company of China, two large insurers. China's two stock exchanges Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange were also on the list. The CPC Central Committee published a revised version of its disciplinary regulations on Wednesday, as the CPC moves to improve the management of its 88 million members amid the sweeping anti-corruption drive. Thus far, many high-ranking officials have been felled, including Ling Jihua, a former member of the CPC Central Committee, and Song Lin, former chair of state-owned China Resources (Holdings) Co. Ltd.

S. Korea fires warning shots at DPRK patrol boat in West Sea

South Korea on Saturday fired warning shots at a patrol boat from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday, citing military officials. The DPRK military ship sailed south several hundred meters away from the northern limited line (NLL) when it was clamping down on fishing boats at about 3:30 pm local time on Saturday, according to the South Korean military. South Korea's navy vessels fired five warning shots with 40-mm machine gun at the DPRK boat, which return back minutes after the firing. There was no more clash between the two sides, a military official was quoted as saying by Yonhap.

83 injured in ferry collision near Lantau in HK

A ferry sailing from Macao to Hong Kong hit an object in waters near Lantau Island on Sunday, leaving 83 people injured, Hong Kong police. The vessel was said to have taken on water and lost power following the accident shortly before 7 o'clock on Sunday evening. Passengers described chaotic scenes as people stumbled around in the dark, some bleeding and others with injuries to their arms and legs. Boats were sent to the scene, while ambulances were put on standby at the Central Ferry Piers. After arriving in Hong Kong, some of those hurt were given oxygen masks as they were taken to hospital. The ferry, carrying 163 passengers and 11 crew members, was operated by Shun Tak China Travel Ship Management Limited.

Rate cuts set to boost investment

China's recent cut in interest rates, the sixth since November last year, has made the return on deposits lower than inflation. This could result in outflows in banks' deposits, injecting liquidity that could help warm the cooling economy, analysts said Sunday. The People's Bank of China (PBC), the country's central bank, announced on Friday it would lower the country's one-year benchmark bank lending rate by 25 basis points to 4.35 percent, and the one-year benchmark deposit rate by 25 basis points to 1.5 percent, effective Saturday. Along with the interest rate cut, the bank reserve requirement ratio (RRR), the amount of money banks are required to hold in reserve, was also cut by 50 basis points for all banks. The RRR for some banks will be lowered by an additional 50 basis points in order to provide financial support for small companies and rural areas. The PBC's Friday move marks the sixth interest rate cut since November 2014 and the fourth across-the-board RRR reduction since the beginning of this year. The current one-year deposit interest rate of 1.5 percent is lower than the country's inflation rate of 1.6 percent recorded in September, meaning that the real deposit rate has entered into the negative realm. The value of a deposit of 100,000 yuan ($15,750) will shrink by around 100 yuan in a year, according to media calculations on Saturday. "The low deposit interest rate may result in an outflow in banks' deposits and in turn boost people's motivation to invest," Liu Xuezhi, an analyst at the Bank of Communications, told the Global Times on Sunday, noting that investment in the stock market may rise amid low interest rates. Stock market boost Li Daxiao, chief economist with Shenzhen-based Yingda Securities, also noted on Sunday that the recent monetary loosening may help bring another bull run for the stock market. "The stock market is expected to react positively on Monday," Li told the Global Times. Stock markets in Europe and the US also surged Friday, boosted by China's decision to cut interest rates, Reuters reported Friday. Along with the Friday rate cut, the central bank also announced it was lifting the ceiling on deposit interest rates, amid the government's efforts to deepen financial reforms. Friday's cut in interest rates and the RRR is expected to inject around 800 billion yuan to the market, according to a research note the China Merchants Securities sent to the Global Times on Sunday. "The interest rates and RRR cut … is expected to help stabilize growth, ease companies financing burden and increase their motivation to invest," read the research note, noting that stable growth in investment will still be the major driving force for growth in the future. China's economic growth slowed to 6.9 percent in the third quarter, the first time the country reported a quarterly growth rate lower than 7 percent in six years, government data showed on October 19. Major economic indicators like trade volume and investment also point to great downward pressure in the economy. Customs data showed that China's trade volume dropped 7.9 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters and growth in fixed-assets investment also dropped to a 15-year low of 10.3 percent. "China is expected to continue the loosening trend in its monetary policy in a bid to combat the slowdown, with a RRR cut more likely in the future," said Li from Yingda Securities. The PBC also said in a post on Friday that it will enhance its "policy fine-tuning" in a bid to provide a reasonable level of liquidity for the economy. Six interest rate cuts November 22, 2014, one-year benchmark bank lending rate cut by 40 basis points to 5.6 percent, deposit rate cut by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent. March 1, 2015, lending rate cut to 5.35 percent, deposit rate to 2.5 percent. May 11, 2015, lending rate cut to 5.1 percent, deposit rate lowered to 2.25 percent. June 28, 2015, lending rate cut to 4.85 percent, deposit rate to 2 percent. August 26, 2015, lending rate cut to 4.6 percent, deposit rate to 1.75 percent. October 24, 2015, lending rate cut to 4.35 percent, deposit rate to 1.5 percent.

Paranoia may be cause of diplomat killings

China's Consul General to the Philippines in Cebu, Song Ronghua, and two consular staff members were shot on Wednesday. The three were having lunch in a restaurant in Cebu when they were attacked by a man surnamed Li, who is the husband of another consular staff member. Song's two colleagues died. Song was seriously injured, but is in stable condition. Local Chinese nationals said the incident looked like an internal dispute between the Chinese. Li was older and had already retired. The stubborn man allegedly could not get along well with anyone. This seems to be an extreme behavior by the family member of a consulate employee. The Chinese Embassy in Manila said it was "verifying the facts" and people look forward to having official information. Song was appointed Consul General in September. Before that he worked in the Information Department of China's foreign ministry and many journalists feel that he is optimistic and kind. He may not have had any grudge with the perpetrator. A Chinese reporter said probably Li lost control of his behavior over some issues. The tragedy is saddening. China has complex foreign relations. China's embassies and consulates have to deal with an enormous amount of foreign affairs in the context of China having the world's largest trade volume, a large number of Chinese expatriates worldwide, and China's arduous mission to protect its overseas interests. China's embassies and consulates operate in a variety of places. Chinese diplomats need to handle complex issues in the international arena. Besides, every staff member has to face specific family issues like employment of their family members and schooling of children. The management of all these is a difficult and heavy task. The foreign ministry of a power is more complicated than a super multinational. Its headquarters manage the overall situation and hundreds of branches worldwide deal with troubles and disputes. The family and children of diplomats hold diplomatic passports and are often treated as diplomats too. This therefore needs a lot of management. The public should not set too high a bar for the diplomatic service. It is designed to safeguard China's national interests and the interests of Chinese citizens. We cannot require it to be perfect in its work because the diplomats have to face various problems. The diplomatic service should not consider themselves to be immune to problems, nor can the public think in this way.

China to build global comprehensive strategic partnership with Britain: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that his country and Britain will build a "global comprehensive strategic partnership" in the 21st century. The two countries will open up a golden era of enduring, inclusive and win-win relationship and jointly create a brighter future for bilateral relations, Xi told a joint news conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron after their talks. Describing the meeting as "productive," Xi said they have reached important agreement on many issues. China and Britain are both major countries with significant influence, and now their partnership is standing at a new starting point, the president said, urging them to seize opportunities to promote their ties. Xi said that during his visit to Britain, some inter-governmental and business cooperation documents will be signed, including one concerning the Hinkley Point nuclear power station, which Cameron said would provide reliable, affordable energy to nearly 6 million homes and create more than 25,000 jobs. Trade and investment between the two sides have been surging these years, and financial and infrastructure cooperation has also been deepening, as the two countries have agreed to conjoin China's "Belt and Road" Initiative with Britain's "Northern Powerhouse" project. "Our relationship goes beyond trade and investment," said Cameron, whose country has pledged to become China's best friend in the West. Calling China and Britain "global powers" with shared interests in a stable and modern world, he said that as permanent members of the UN Security Council, the two countries should deepen cooperation across the globe. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a senior lecturer in international relations with King's College London, said it is time to lift the China-Britain relationship to a new level. Economic links still dominate Britain-China relations, yet issues ranging from climate change to post-conflict reconstruction are now part of the relationship as well, Pardo said. Noting that British perceptions of China have been improving over the past few years, he said that despite the misgivings that some have about Chinese foreign and economic policy, for the most part Britain has recognized that China is becoming more of a cooperation partner.

Iran's leader endorses nuclear deal

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei endorsed the landmark nuclear deal on Wednesday following the recent approval of the agreement by Iran's legislative bodies. In a letter issued in the day, Khamenei asked President Hassan Rouhani and his negotiating team to be vigilant about the implementation of the nuclear deal since the United States "cannot be trusted." This is the first time that Khamenei openly comments on the nuclear deal which was reached between Iran and the P5+1 group -- namely permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- in July. Last week, Iran's Guardian Council, the highest legislative body of the country, endorsed the support of the Iranian parliament to the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "During the eight years (the span of time to normalize Iran's nuclear program), any sanction, at any level and under any pretext including the fabricated human rights issues and terrorism, by any country involved in the nuclear talks with Iran, would be a violation of the JCPOA," according to the letter. If such a move is taken by the other party, the Iranian government has to adopt reciprocal measures and to halt the implementation of the deal, it said. On Sunday, Iran and the powers announced the start of the implementation of the nuclear deal reached on July 14 in the Austrian capital of Vienna. In the day, western countries took pragmatic steps to start the process of lifting their sanctions against Iran as Tehran responded positively and voiced the hope that some of those sanctions can be lifted this year.

Visit closes $9b nuclear deal

Chinese President Xi Jinping will be focusing the second day of his state visit to the UK on boosting trade ties, with a number of business deals expected to be signed on Wednesday. Following a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron in Downing Street, where a wide range of issues, from global security to poverty and climate change, will be discussed, Xi will attend a UK-China Business Summit at Mansion House to meet the chief executives of big British companies. The highlight of the second day of Xi's visit was the announcement that the State-owned China General Nuclear Corporation (CGN) will invest 6 billion pounds ($9 billion) in French utility EDF's Hinkley Point C nuclear power station project in Britain. CGN will take a 33.5 percent stake in the 18 billion pound project in southwest England, whose start-up date has been pushed back by two years to 2025, and which will be the first nuclear plant to be built in Europe since the Fukushima disaster. Britain had sealed oil and gas deals with China worth more than 12 billion pounds, including with BP Plc, Cameron announced after his meeting with Xi. Cameron also said on Wednesday that Carnival Corp, the world's largest cruise ship operator, had signed a 2.6 billion pound joint venture deal with China to make new cruise ships. British engineer Rolls Royce also signed a deal worth 1.4 billion pounds in cooperation with China. China on Wednesday nearly doubled a bilateral currency swap agreement with Britain to 350 billion yuan ($55 billion), part of Beijing efforts to increase the use of the yuan abroad. Chinese company SinoFortone Group on Wednesday announced an investment of 100 million pounds in the London Paramount Entertainment Resort, a new theme park in Kent county. The resort, including hotels, restaurants and bars as well as rides and shows, costs 3.2 billion pounds and is expected to open in 2021. Merlin Entertainment and China Media Capital have agreed to establish a Legoland Park in Shanghai, as part of a deal to explore opportunities to build attractions throughout China, the BBC reported. Another highly-anticipated deal under discussion is a high speed railway project, for which the UK has been seeking investments from China. British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne opened the bidding process for the HS2 rail line project during a trip to China in September, and urged Chinese rail firms to start making offers for contracts worth 11.8 billion pounds for the project's first phase. Win-win relationship "A growing Sino-British relationship benefits both countries and the world as a whole," Xi told a state banquet at Buckingham Palace hosted by Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday night. Experts say the deals represent the start of a "golden era" in China-UK relations, where cooperation will expand to several sectors. Chen Fengying, director of the World Economy Institute of China's Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said such a broad cooperation between China and the UK will boost trade ties and foster people-to-people exchanges, as well as benefit people in both countries economically and socially. Analysts have also commented on the significance of China's investment in the Hinkley Point nuclear station. "It's a symbolic step that shows that China's nuclear power industry has successfully entered the world market," Lin Boqiang, director of the Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times, adding that the project will open more doors for Chinese nuclear companies in the future.

US Vice President Joe Biden says not to run for president

US Vice President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he was not running for president, ending months of speculation about his possible White House bid that had reached fever pitch earlier this week. Speaking at a press conference held outside his previous schedule for Wednesday, Biden said the grieving process over the death of his son Beau Biden "closes the window" on mounting a "realistic" White House bid. "I've concluded it has closed. I know from previous experience that there's no timetable for this process," Biden said in the White House Rose Garden with President Barack Obama and Biden's wife Jill at his side. "I believe we're out of time, the time necessary to mount a winning campaign for the (Democratic) nomination," he said, less than 15 weeks before the first electoral event of the nominating process will be held in Iowa. Biden's decision also ended months-long speculation over whether he would challenge front-runner Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. Biden's freshest flirtation with a White House run first surfaced on Aug. 1 after a New York Times column claimed that Biden's associates had already started to contact Democratic leaders and donors who had not endorsed Clinton or who had become increasingly concerned about odds of a successful run by Clinton. The controversy surrounding Clinton's private setup of an email system threatens to obstruct Clinton's otherwise smooth path to the Democratic nomination as an increasing number of voters have begun to see her as untrustworthy. On the other hand, Biden is currently enjoying unprecedented approval rate since 2009. However, Biden in previous weeks spoke up on several occasions his concerns of how a presidency bid would impact the family which were still grieving Beau's death and questioned whether the family would have "the emotional energy to run." Speculation about Biden's White House bid ran amok earlier this week as local media cited sources as saying that Biden's announcement of his candidacy would be imminent. Also, in a speech on Tuesday, Biden corrected his account about the decision-making process leading up to the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden, saying he did not oppose the raid, a move seen by many as attempting to dispel a possible criticism should he launched a candidacy.

No hard landing for Chinese economy despite downward pressure: Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping said in London Wednesday that his country's economy will keep operating within "a proper range" and there will be no "hard landing." "Downward pressure and structural problems do exist in the Chinese economy," Xi acknowledged while addressing the closing ceremony of a China-Britain business summit. But "it is a normal adjustment the economy has to go through when its growth reaches a certain phase and a certain level," added the president, pointing out that China's economy is running smoothly on the whole, with major indicators within a proper range and in line with expected targets. China's GDP growth dropped to a six-year low of 6.9 percent in the third quarter, slightly lower than the 7 percent in the previous two quarters, the National Bureau of Statistics announced Monday. But as the world's second largest economy, Xi told the business leaders, even if China keeps its growth at 7 percent or even a lower rate, its annual increment can still reach 800 billion US dollars. "We have both the foundation and condition to maintain a medium-to-high speed in economic growth," the president said, citing the huge potentials in the country's consumption and market. "China's economy still maintains a strong momentum and will release greater development potential," he added. Speaking at the event, Xi also reaffirmed China's adherence to the opening-up strategy, which serves as an important engine for the sustained prosperity of the Chinese economy. "China will continue to stick to the opening-up strategy featuring mutual benefit and win-win results, and integrate its own development with world peace, prosperity and development," he said. In a written interview with Reuters prior to his visit, Xi said China's opening-up means both opening up its economy further to attract foreign investment and encouraging Chinese firms to make overseas investment. In the address, Xi also described the China-proposed "Belt and Road" Initiative as an open, diversified and win-win project poised to bring huge opportunities for the development of China and many other countries. The "Belt and Road" Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which were proposed by Xi in 2013 with the aim of reviving the ancient trade routes. The network passes through more than 60 countries and regions with a total population of 4.4 billion. The initiative not only covers the countries along the ancient roads, but also links the Asia-Pacific, European, African and Eurasian economic circles, Xi said.

Charles chatter won’t affect Sino-UK ties

The UK is going all out to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping for his state visit with full pageantry. Under these circumstances, some Western media that prefer to sing a different tone tried to find something discordant with the visit. They eyed Prince Charles. Western media like The New York Times noticed that the prince would be absent from the official banquet held by Queen Elizabeth II in Xi's honor. It claimed that this "quiet protest" by Prince Charles symbolizes "an uneasy strain" in Britain, Germany and much of the EU. These media would find their perception untenable if they compared the Prince's skipping of the banquet to his grand meeting with Xi. Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, met with Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Tuesday morning and went to Horse Guards Parade. Prince Charles and Camilla also joined the Queen's luncheon at Buckingham Palace. The banquet was hosted by the Queen and attended by senior officials like Prime Minster David Cameron, with the presence of Prince William and his wife the Duchess of Cambridge. In the royal family only Prince Charles was missing. Does this have a strong political connotation? Most people won't read too much into it. With the splendid opening of the "golden era" between China and the UK, people can hardly notice the absence of a certain individual on such grand occasions. Neither the hosts nor guests would feel any unease. The Western media would fail to direct public attention toward Prince Charles' skipping the banquet because the influence of the significant China-UK "golden era" cannot be jeopardized. The more attention that gossips about Prince Charles attract, the bigger the loss the Prince has to bear. It is a decision by Britain as a whole to develop all-round cooperation with China and the royal family is firm in supporting it. Prince William and Kate Middleton extended the Queen's invitation to Xi during their trip to China in March while Prince Charles also attended several activities to welcome Xi on Tuesday. There is no room for Prince Charles to confirm his "quiet protest." By saying this is the Prince's intention, The New York Times would in fact cripple Prince Charles' influence in the UK. They actually stress his discordance with mainstream British politics. There is often speculation that the Queen may appoint Prince William as the next heir to the throne. In this case, the latest gossip does no good for Prince Charles. Most elites in the UK are aware that Xi's visit bears an unusual and historical significance and means more to Britain. We believe that Prince Charles is better aware of this and therefore declined to meet with the Dalai Lama. The Sino-UK relationship will expect the harvest of the "golden era." It's funny that some Western media claim that they have portrayed the general picture by merely reporting tittle-tattle.

China defends lighthouses construction in South China Sea

China responded on Tuesday to the Philippines' criticism of lighthouses constructed in the South China Sea, saying "these actions do not change the status quo there". "China holds indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their surrounding waters. There is no need for us to bolster a sovereignty claim through building lighthouses," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. She reiterated that China's construction on the Nansha Islands completely falls within its own sovereignty. China is building civilian and international public facilities on its own territory with the aim of better serving coastal nations in the South China Sea and passing vessels from around the world, Hua said. The lighthouses on Huayang and Chigua reefs went into operation on Oct. 10 and have significantly improved navigational safety in the South China Sea.

Mainland tourist beaten to death in HK

A Chinese mainland tourist allegedly beaten unconscious by four men died at a Hong Kong's hospital on Tuesday, with police treating the case as manslaughter and violence in public, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The fighting allegedly took place outside a jewelry store in Man Lok Street, Hung Hom on Monday, where the victim, a 54-year-old tourist surnamed Miao from Heilongjiang Province, was attacked. Miao was trying to meditate a dispute between a fellow tourist surnamed Zhang and the tour guide surnamed Deng. The incident was allegedly sparked by Zhang's refusal to buy expensive jewelry, which later turned into a fist fight, news site thepaper.cn reported on Tuesday. Both Zhang and Miao were dragged out of the jewelry shop by four unidentified men, with Miao beaten unconscious and Zhang suffering multiple injuries. The suspects fled before police arrived. Miao, Deng and Zhang were later sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday. Police arrested four people, including Zhang and Deng, for fighting in a public place and wounding others, Xinhua reported on Tuesday. Analysts said they believe that the incident was triggered by "forced shopping," thepaper.cn said. However, the dispute may have been caused by their smoking in the jewelry store, according to local newspaper the Sing Tao Daily. The tour group had planned to leave Hong Kong on Monday, whose members were all from the Chinese mainland, thepaper.cn reported. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death, police were quoted by Xinhua as saying. The China National Tourism Administration urged on Tuesday Hong Kong tourism authorities to determine the cause as soon as possible and to take measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of mainland tourists, read a statement issued on its official website on Tuesday. Joseph Tung Yao-chung, head of Hong Kong's Travel Industry Council, said that similar incidents would severely tarnish Hong Kong's image as a tourist destination, thepaper.cn reported. Yiu Si-wing, a legislator from the tourism constituency, said "forced shopping" is unacceptable, warning that shops, travel agencies and tour guides should avoid similar incidents from happening again, thepaper.cn reported.

70 Japanese lawmakers pay homage to notorious Yasukuni shrine

Some 70 Japanese lawmakers visited the notorious war-linked Yasukuni shrine Tuesday, following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ritual offering and two ministers' visits. The lawmakers from a right-wing group pay homage to the controversial shrine every year during its festivals and anniversaries of the end of World War II on Aug. 15. The Yasukuni, which enshrines 14 Japanese convicted class-A war criminals during WWII, is considered by victimized countries from Japan's wartime aggression as a symbol of the country's past militarism. Abe made offerings to the shrine on Saturday under the name of prime minister and two of his cabinet ministers -- Justice Minister Mitsuhide Iwaki and Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi -- worshiped the shrine on Sunday. Constant visits to the shrine by Japanese ministers and lawmakers have become a major obstacle for Japan to mend ties with its two closest neighbors of China and South Korea, as both of the countries suffered most from Japan's wartime atrocities.

150 biz leaders accompany Xi on his UK visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Monday to kick off his first state visit to the UK with an accompanying delegation of some 150 business leaders. The visit, scheduled from Monday to Friday, is the first state visit to the UK by a Chinese president in 10 years. Expectations are running high of deals in a number of sectors, which can in turn boost bilateral ties, said analysts. Organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the delegation, which covers industries in finance, infrastructure, energy and investment, stands in contrast to the delegation that accompanied Xi during his visit to the US, which featured Internet companies, news portal yicai.com reported, citing London-based anonymous sources. Separately, Downing Street said on Monday that Alibaba founder Jack Ma Yun has been appointed by British Prime Minister David Cameron as a business adviser. Cameron's spokesman said Ma will "provide particular help and advice on how to get small and medium sized British businesses boosting their exports and in particular accessing Chinese markets through platforms like Alibaba." Nuclear deal Of the business leaders, He Yu, general manager of China General Nuclear Power Group, and Yu Peigen, deputy general manager of China National Nuclear Corporation, have garnered the most attention as it is highly anticipated that China will announce a deal for a nuclear plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset during Xi's visit, the yicai.com report said. Other infrastructure and communications companies in the delegation include China Three Gorges Corporation and Sany Group. However, Chinese high-speed train manufacturer China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) was absent from the delegation, amid media speculation over the announcement of China's investment in the planned HS2 high-speed rail line from London to Manchester. "As the UK struggles to reverse declining economic competitiveness, China's investment in its infrastructure will spur the nation's productivity growth," Qu Bing, a scholar at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times. Chen Feng, chairman of the HNA Group, was also on the list, with the report from yicai.com saying that the group is planning on purchasing most of the stock rights of Manchester Airport. HNA Group refused to comment when reached by the Global Times on Monday, but an anonymous source with Hainan Airlines, which operates under parent company HNA, told the Global Times that the company will unveil new flight routes from China to the UK during Xi's visit. Sino-British tech fund The delegation also includes leaders in the banking industry, with the chairmen of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank of China and the Construction Bank of China attending, while yicai.com reported that the Construction Bank of China would open a branch in London on Monday. Meanwhile, a Sino-British innovative technology fund with an initial capital of 6 million pounds ($9.29 million) is expected to be set up by founder chairman of ChinaEquity Group, Wang Chaoyong, who will be traveling with Xi along with other heads of investment corporations. Also in the delegation are Geely Group's Chairman Li Shufu and the founder of Chinese battery and electric car maker BYD, Wang Chuanfu, in addition to six company heads from the China Poly Group Corporation, which is involved in the culture, real estate, security and energy sectors. A strategic alliance between BP and China National Petroleum Corporation to develop oil resources is also reportedly possible during the visit, the BBC reported. "Sino-UK relations are a model for China and developing countries to tap into the potential for cooperation and gain mutual benefit and win-win, but it still requires careful management in the face of challenges from within the UK and from the EU and the US," Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University of China, wrote in an opinion article published on guancha.cn.

Iran nuclear deal takes effect

The United States and Europe began preparations to lift trade sanctions that have hobbled the Iranian economy as a historic nuclear deal came into effect on Sunday, 90 days after the UN Security Council endorsed the accord. Foreign firms will not be able to resume ties with Iran's oil industry and banks right away, as sanctions will remain in place until Iran fulfills its end of the bargain. The implementation of the sanction-lifting agreement will only occur once UN nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirms that Iran has dramatically scaled back its nuclear program. Iran said that the lengthy process of confirmation will probably start this week. On Monday, envoys of the deal signatories - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - will meet in Vienna to form a commission to oversee the implementation of the accord. The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), requires Tehran to surrender or dilute the bulk of its enriched nuclear fuel stocks, dismantle most of its centrifuges and halt operation of a reactor capable of making plutonium. Only then will the sanctions waivers that US President Barack Obama ordered his administration to issue on Sunday come into effect, allowing trade to resume. "Today marks an important milestone toward preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring its nuclear program is exclusively peaceful going forward," Obama said in a statement. US Secretary of State John Kerry, who played a central role in negotiating the deal, added "If fully implemented, it will bring unprecedented insight and accountability to Iran's nuclear program forever." The European Union has also adopted a legal framework for lifting sanctions imposed on Iran. The accord "brings us a step closer to the beginning of implementation of the [July deal], to which we are strongly committed," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a joint statement with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. "As Iran begins taking its nuclear-related measures and the United States and our partners prepare to lift nuclear-related sanctions in response, we move one step closer to a successful JCPOA and a more secure international community," US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said. Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's nuclear agency, was awaiting President Hassan Rouhani's order to remove thousands of centrifuges from sites at Natanz and Fordo. "What we need to accomplish is a huge task. We hope to start this week or next week," he told Iranian state television. In addition to slashing the number of centrifuges at Natanz and Fordo to around 6,000, Iran will have to prove to the IAEA that its Arak reactor cannot be used for military purposes.

State visit to close deals worth $46b

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the UK is expected to close 30 billion pounds ($46.41 billion) worth of commercial deals and create over 3,900 jobs across the UK, as the two countries prepare to forge stronger economic ties. China's Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday the investment size is unprecedented, and will surpass those achieved by previous Chinese leaders who visited the UK. A statement issued by the British Embassy on Tuesday said numerous commercial deals involving, among others, the creative sector, retail, energy, health and technology, financial services, aerospace and education will be signed during Chinese President's UK trip, including export deals in retail worth over a billion pounds. The visit will also open up export opportunities for UK companies looking to expand in China, and attract Chinese investments. The Northern Powerhouse will get a boost as China is expected to announce further investments in the region when British Prime Minister David Cameron and Xi visit Manchester at the end of the week, the embassy said. On Tuesday, China's central bank attracted orders of more than 30 billion yuan ($4.72 billion) for its debut sale of debt on London's markets, the Financial Times reported. Major State-owned Bank of China also unveiled its trade center in UK's capital. As of Monday night, six Chinese companies have signed contracts with their UK partners, including Lakala Payment Co, NCF Group and 21Vianet Group, the Nandu Daily reported on Tuesday. Among them, Beijing-based Lakala signed an agreement with Allpay Ltd, UK's leading payment service provider, to jointly build a cross-country financial service platform. Separately, the BBC reported that Chinese investment group SinoFortone plans to invest 2 billion pounds in Orthios Eco Parks to develop waste power and food stations, aside from a plan to invest in an amusement park in Ebbsfleet, Kent. The Sunday Times also reported that Hamleys, a 255-year-old British toy store, is poised to be sold to a Hong Kong company run by a relative of Yuan Yafei, the billionaire owner of the House of Fraser. Investment impact According to China's commerce minister Gao Hucheng, more than 500 Chinese companies are currently operating in the UK. In 2014, bilateral trade increased by 15.3 percent, compared to the previous year, to $80.9 billion, with growth ranking first among all of China's trade partners in the EU. By the end of August this year, the UK invested $19.6 billion in China, with the number of projects reaching 7,992. Meanwhile, Chinese direct investment in the UK reached $12.8 billion by the end of last year, up from $1.35 billion in 2010, Gao pointed out in an interview published in the People's Daily on Tuesday. "Leaders of both countries have a vision toward bilateral cooperation, which will benefit both nations," Li Jian, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Tuesday. Shen Danyang, a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson, said China's 'Belt and Road' initiative, together with the UK's plan to bolster England's north, will provide new opportunities for cooperation in infrastructure. Jing Linbo, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the deals will upgrade related industries in China and encourage more Chinese companies to invest overseas.

PLA prowess persists without tough talk

At the sixth Xiangshan Forum on Saturday, Fan Changlong, vice- chairman of China's Central Military Commission, said China has always advocated dealing with disputes through peaceful means and will not use violence recklessly, even if it comes to territory and sovereignty. The quote was soon singled out and garbled by netizens without mentioning the context, resulting in the wrong impression that the Chinese military is "too weak." The commitment of the forum is to facilitate communication between governments and militaries in security policies, but the ordinary Chinese people have also shown much interest in it. It is difficult for top Chinese military officers to please every one of them. In fact, Fan's remarks have more clearly reflected China's stance over territorial issues. China does not use force recklessly, but, as it always insists, will use whatever is necessary to safeguard sovereign integrity. China's military building has garnered worldwide attention, and its construction works on some of the Nansha Islands are misunderstood to be a process of militarization. This misunderstanding is the bone of contention in the South China Sea disputes, and a focus of the Sino-US rivalry in this region. Concerns arise due to the simmering tensions, and how to soothe neighboring countries is of strategic significance for China. China is not at the appropriate moment to emphasize its military prowess. It is more important to declare to the world that China will utilize this power with caution. In this way, the international community will put more faith in China's rise as a responsible global player. China needs to coordinate military building with the publicity about the prudent use of force in the future. As a rising power, this could put China on the moral high ground, where it can avoid becoming a focal point of political conflicts. An unreasonably tough stance, used as an emotional outlet for the public, is not what a government should adopt. A deliberate show of strength can only reveal a country's lack of confidence in regional and international affairs. Powerful countries seldom deliver harsh words in most circumstances. The Chinese must understand that on the road to rejuvenation, China needs strength as much as it needs wisdom and an open mind. The country is more than able to defend itself by force, but it needs more than force to deal with many other kinds of conflicts. The US for example, which has the most powerful military, still cannot handle every security issue without using other leverage. We need to put more trust in both the Chinese military and diplomats. They know how to do their job well, and they cannot be disrupted by radical nationalists.

Xi’s UK visit will have global implications

Chinese President Xi Jinping began his state visit to the UK Monday. Not just the Sino-UK relationship, but also ties between China and the Western world will experience a special breakthrough. The British government has used the term "golden time" to describe the future ties between China and the UK. This is so far the most optimistic description from most Western countries over their relations with China. The attitude revealed exceeds the past boundaries of China's diplomatic relations with the West, while indicating a new political norm between China and the West is about to be kicked off. British public opinion and some political forces in the country, by force of habit, have expressed some opposing opinions. However, they seem unable to press their influence this time. Criticisms over the "violation of human rights" in China are no more than clichés, while the accusation, which argues that the bilateral deal to build a nuclear power plant in Britain will endanger UK national security, sounds like objections only for the sake of opposition. British society, like other Western ones, holds a prejudice against the rising China. Yet this prejudice is not rooted in the UK's core interests. The emergence of China has not posed any threat to Europe, nor has China stirred up any trouble in the West. The reason why Western countries do not like China lies mostly in the mentality of being sick of competition, while hoping to safeguard their vested interests. But if any nation holds such an attitude toward emerging countries like China, they would go against the trend of the times and drift further away from opportunities. When it comes to policy toward China, the UK bears no geopolitical burden. It is therefore more open-minded. Compared with other members of the EU, the trade volume between China and the UK is not the biggest. But London has intentionally come to the forefront of developing friendship with China, because it has realized the strategic importance of getting one step ahead and it is trying to count China in its big picture of revitalizing its glory. How far China and the UK can go beyond their ideological divergences and how much freedom London can get from Washington in terms of maintaining a friendly relationship with Beijing, will become the focus of attention with strategic values in future Sino-British ties. The West needs to rediscover China. Currently, the UK seems to be interested in making such a demonstration. Establishing a brand new relationship between China and the UK and China and the West will probably not be a smooth path. Yet the "golden time" will become an innovation in the field of international relations, and the high-level summit this week is bound to be a grand diplomatic feast.

Al-Qaida leader killed in US airstrike in Syria: Pentagon

Mohsen Adballah Ibrahim al Charekh, the highest ranking leader of the network of veteran al-Qaida operatives called the Khorasan Group, has been killed in a recent airstrike, the Pentagon announced Sunday. The Oct. 15 airstrike killed Charekh, also known as Sanafi al-Nasr, in northwest Syria, the Pentagon said in a statement. "This operation deals a significant blow to the Khorasan Group's plans to attack the United States and our allies, and once again proves that those who seek to do us harm are not beyond our reach," the Pentagon said. The statement called Al-Nasr "a long-time jihadist experienced in funneling money and fighters for al-Qaida." Al-Nasr moved funds from donors in the Gulf region into Iraq and then to al-Qaida leaders from Pakistan to Syria; he organized and maintained routes for new recruits to travel from Pakistan to Syria through Turkey; and he assisted al-Qaida's external operations in the West, the statement said. Al-Nasr previously worked for al-Qaida's Iran-based facilitation network, and in 2012, he took charge of al-Qaida's core finances before relocating to Syria in 2013, the statement said. He is the fifth senior Khorasan Group leader killed in the last four months.

China's GDP growth slows in Q3

China's economy posted a 6.9-percent growth year on year in the third quarter of 2015, lower than 7 percent in the first half of the year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced on Monday. In the first three quarters of the year, GDP hit 48.78 trillion yuan (7.68 trillion US dollars), up 6.9 percent year on year, according to the NBS. This is the first time the quarterly growth rate had dropped under 7 percent since the second quarter of 2009. NBS spokesperson Sheng Laiyun said that global factors amid the world economic recovery had impacted on China. "Expectation of a US interest rate hike prompted volatility in commodity prices, stocks and foreign currency markets. Many countries devaluated their currencies, putting more pressure on Chinese exports, one of the three pillars of China's economic growth," said Sheng at a press conference. China's exports growth dropped 7.9 percent year on year in the first three quarters to 17.87 trillion yuan, according to the NBS. During the first nine months, industrial output grew 6.2 percent year on year and fixed-asset investment climbed 10.3 percent. Property investment grew 2.6 percent year on year, while retail sales of consumer goods rose 10.5 percent.

Chinese president leaves for visit to Britain

hinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing Monday afternoon for a state visit to Britain at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II. The visit, scheduled from October 19 to 23, is made by a Chinese president in ten years. According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Queen will host a welcome ceremony for Xi and invite him for both an informal lunch and a formal dinner. Xi will hold talks with Prime Minister David Cameron and address a banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City of London. In Manchester, the Chinese president will attend a banquet and visit research projects and local businesses. Xi's entourage includes his wife Peng Liyuan; Wang Huning, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee; Li Zhanshu, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee; and State Councilor Yang Jiechi.

150 biz leaders accompany Xi on his UK visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Monday to kick off his first state visit to the UK with an accompanying delegation of some 150 business leaders. The visit, scheduled from Monday to Friday, is the first state visit to the UK by a Chinese president in 10 years. Expectations are running high of deals in a number of sectors, which can in turn boost bilateral ties, said analysts. Organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the delegation, which covers industries in finance, infrastructure, energy and investment, stands in contrast to the delegation that accompanied Xi during his visit to the US, which featured Internet companies, news portal yicai.com reported, citing London-based anonymous sources. Separately, Downing Street said on Monday that Alibaba founder Jack Ma Yun has been appointed by British Prime Minister David Cameron as a business adviser. Cameron's spokesman said Ma will "provide particular help and advice on how to get small and medium sized British businesses boosting their exports and in particular accessing Chinese markets through platforms like Alibaba." Nuclear deal Of the business leaders, He Yu, general manager of China General Nuclear Power Group, and Yu Peigen, deputy general manager of China National Nuclear Corporation, have garnered the most attention as it is highly anticipated that China will announce a deal for a nuclear plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset during Xi's visit, the yicai.com report said. Other infrastructure and communications companies in the delegation include China Three Gorges Corporation and Sany Group. However, Chinese high-speed train manufacturer China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) was absent from the delegation, amid media speculation over the announcement of China's investment in the planned HS2 high-speed rail line from London to Manchester. "As the UK struggles to reverse declining economic competitiveness, China's investment in its infrastructure will spur the nation's productivity growth," Qu Bing, a scholar at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times. Chen Feng, chairman of the HNA Group, was also on the list, with the report from yicai.com saying that the group is planning on purchasing most of the stock rights of Manchester Airport. HNA Group refused to comment when reached by the Global Times on Monday, but an anonymous source with Hainan Airlines, which operates under parent company HNA, told the Global Times that the company will unveil new flight routes from China to the UK during Xi's visit. Sino-British tech fund The delegation also includes leaders in the banking industry, with the chairmen of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank of China and the Construction Bank of China attending, while yicai.com reported that the Construction Bank of China would open a branch in London on Monday. Meanwhile, a Sino-British innovative technology fund with an initial capital of 6 million pounds ($9.29 million) is expected to be set up by founder chairman of ChinaEquity Group, Wang Chaoyong, who will be traveling with Xi along with other heads of investment corporations. Also in the delegation are Geely Group's Chairman Li Shufu and the founder of Chinese battery and electric car maker BYD, Wang Chuanfu, in addition to six company heads from the China Poly Group Corporation, which is involved in the culture, real estate, security and energy sectors. A strategic alliance between BP and China National Petroleum Corporation to develop oil resources is also reportedly possible during the visit, the BBC reported. "Sino-UK relations are a model for China and developing countries to tap into the potential for cooperation and gain mutual benefit and win-win, but it still requires careful management in the face of challenges from within the UK and from the EU and the US," Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University of China, wrote in an opinion article published on guancha.cn.

China Q3 GDP hits 6.9%

China's economy grew by 6.9 percent in the third quarter, compared to the same period last year, down from 7 percent in the first two quarters and 7.3 percent for 2014, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed on Monday. It was the country's slowest growth since the second quarter of 2009. Preliminary NBS data also showed that the country's GDP reached 48.8 trillion yuan ($7.67 trillion) in the first three quarters of 2015, up 6.9 percent from the same period last year. The figures show that China's economy is generally "on the normal track" and is "progressing in a stable manner," NBS spokesperson Sheng Laiyun stressed during a press conference on Monday. Chinese president Xi Jinping was also quoted by Reuters as saying on Saturday that the country's slowing economic growth was "normal as part of structural adjustments." Li Daxiao, director of research at Shenzhen-based Yingda Securities, told the Global Times on Monday that the newly released GDP data "hasn't strayed too far" from the government target of 7 percent. The Financial Times reported on Monday that China is "broadly on course" to meet its full-year growth target of about 7 percent. Tian Yun, a research fellow at the China Society of Macroeconomics, also told the Global Times on Monday that the slower GDP growth is "in line with expectations." "The 7 percent GDP growth in the first and second quarter has been driven to a great extent by performance of domestic stock markets. But this driving force has been dwindling since June, when the stock markets started to slump dramatically," he noted. Sheng said that the lower-than-expected recovery of the global economy has suppressed China's exports, another reason that leads to slower GDP growth. China's exports slumped 1.8 percent in the first three quarters, compared to the same period last year, the NBS said. On the other hand, China is undergoing economic structural adjustments. China's overall industrial performance and GDP would be negatively affected by the easing of output from many traditional industries saddled with overcapacity, Sheng added. Healthy momentum According to the NBS data, above-scale industrial added value, a barometer of the health of industry, rose 6.2 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters, falling back from the 6.3 percent growth in the first half of the year. Industrial enterprises saw a 1.9 percent slide in their profits from January to August, compared to the same period last year. Above scale industrial enterprises are those whose revenues are above 20 million yuan annually. But Sheng stressed that China's economic upgrading is showing a "healthy momentum," saying China's high-tech industries, including Internet and communications businesses, are growing fast. China's service sector investment also increased 11.2 percent in the first three quarters, and the country's total fixed assets investments reached 39.4 trillion yuan in the first three quarters, up 10.3 percent from the same period last year but down from the 11.4 percent growth in the first half of 2015. Tian, however, said that the above-scale industrial added value, along with a number of other economic data, indicates signs of a major industrial crisis which resembles the economic crisis China faced around 2009. "Despite structural transformation, manufacturing will still be a primary driving force for domestic growth, and its current lackluster performance deserves attention as well as remedies," Tian noted. He said that the government should take more measures to support domestic manufacturing, such as solving bad debts. More rate cuts needed Other data released together with the GDP figures also point to China's economic stability, Sheng said. The Consumer Price Index, a main gauge of inflation, had a reasonable growth rate of 1.4 percent in the first three quarters against one year earlier. Retail sales surged by 10.5 percent compared to a year earlier, up from the 10.4 percent growth from January to June, while the average per-capita disposable income climbed 9.2 percent. Although the government has rolled out a number of monetary policies to prop up the domestic economy, Li said this is not enough. "It's necessary for the government to cut benchmark interest rates and bank's reserve requirements in the fourth quarter," he said. The bank's reserve requirement ratio, or RRR, is the minimum level of reserves banks must hold.

Americans split by age over fate of Snowden

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT The question of Edward Snowden's status has led to a vast amount of public comment in America. By some, Snowden is reviled as a traitor who has provided America's enemies with valuable intelligence and harmed the ability of the US government to defend its citizens. Others find Snowden's actions to be praiseworthy, calling attention to a shadowy intelligence network that had not only violated the law, but also deceived members of Congress. Today, with Snowden's expressed willingness to return to the US if he can somehow strike a deal with the government over his charges, the question of where he stands in most Americans' eyes is more important than ever before. Unfortunately for Snowden, the US people have less sympathy for his cause than most outside the country do. Polls have consistently shown that he enjoys greater support abroad than domestically. This is unsurprising, not simply due to the nature of his revelations, but the fact that it is easier to support an individual when his actions antagonize a foreign nation. In addition, Snowden's decision to seek refuge in Russia may have contributed to the negative impression many Americans have of him, both due to memories of the Cold War and the current chill in the relationship between the two nations. However logical his action was, it definitely impacted how he was seen in the US. A recent poll commissioned by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) indicates that about 64 percent of those Americans who know about Snowden see him in a negative light. Polls conducted before his move to Russia showed a higher degree of US support for Snowden. While these poll results may seem to be a dangerous portent for Snowden's chances in the US, when they are divided by age, it becomes clear that hostility toward Snowden is very generational in nature. Millennials, those individuals ranging between 18 to 34 years old, show a far greater degree of support for Snowden than other age brackets. In the ACLU poll, 56 percent of American Millennials see Snowden in a positive light. The reasons for this support are likely to be varied. It is important to remember that younger individuals are usually more suspicious of the government than their elders. After all, while commonly seen as a conservative group today, the Baby Boomer generation was also the generation of the civil rights movement in the 1960s and the slogan "Don't trust anyone over 30." It is unsurprising that their Millennial descendants are following in their parents' footsteps regarding their concerns about government surveillance. Additionally, Millennials are often more aware of how pervasive the NSA's programs have been. As the generation that grew up alongside the rise of the Internet, they understand just how fragile privacy can be in the face of massive computerized state surveillance programs. To these individuals, Snowden is a hero for showing just how far the government was willing to go in its quest to obtain information. This generational divide may in fact benefit Snowden. To be blunt, Millennials will be here long after the Baby Boomers have gone to dust and as such, their opinions should be carefully considered by the US government. In 2015, Millennials surpassed the Baby Boom generation in numbers and by 2020, they may very well account for a third of the adult population. Given Snowden's position in outing the existence of this growing surveillance state, American Millennials are unlikely to look fondly on government actions that appear to be vengeful in nature. This is especially true given President Barack Obama's reputation for striking out against whistle-blowers and leaks of all kinds. On the other hand, however, a far higher percentage of older Americans vote than the young. Unless Millennials make themselves felt at the ballot box, their views are less relevant. Ultimately, where any given American stands regarding Snowden is largely dependent on where he or she stands regarding US surveillance programs. Those who tend to regard the claims that these programs are a vital part of defending against terrorists with skepticism will often find themselves agreeing with Snowden's position. Those who believe the government's claims that these programs have helped ensure that the US remains safe from the terrorist threat are more likely to see Snowden as a traitor rather than a defender of Americans' privacy. Whatever the outcome for Snowden, the debate between the need for security and the right of the people to retain their privacy is unlikely to be resolved by this affair. The only thing we can hope for is that the American public continues to be made aware of just how important this issue is for the future.

Lukashenko win defies Western democracy

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko won his fifth re-election recently by sweeping back to power with 84 percent of votes. The Western world is not happy about the result and neither is the Belarusian opposition. However, eye-rolling and curses are unlikely to tamper with Lukashenko's new five-year rule. The European Security Council scrutinized the election, and the West have not questioned the result, because Lukashenko's overwhelming popular support seems to be unquestionable. Belarus is still under some sanctions by the West after some opposition members were arrested for waging illegal protests in 2011. Lukashenko has also become, in the eyes of the West, the last dictator in Europe. However, he has been given an affectionate nickname "batka" - or "father" by his compatriots, in a stark contrast with how the West pictures him. When Lukashenko was elected as the first president of Belarus in 1994, the country was in chaos due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Lukashenko started his political career by fighting corruption. Under his leadership, Belarus regained social stability and economic growth, an outstanding achievement among the Commonwealth of Independent States. Belarus seems to have done something right in the past years, for it is much safer, richer and more stable than its turbulent neighbor Ukraine. Lukashenko's successful rule has ensured his success in all the past elections. It is abnormal from a Western perspective that a man can be in charge of a state for consecutive 21 years. Belarus' political system is Western in style, but they are different. Belarusians have accepted the difference, and the tragic outcome of Ukraine's "revolution" makes them believe that Lukashenko's way might be better. Ukraine used to be a straight-A student in learning Western democracy among the Commonwealth. But now, the ironic contrast between a poor and disordered Ukraine and a rich and stable Belarus has proven that Western democracy does not fit all countries without conditions. It is also dangerous to believe a life-long presidency is good for a country only due to Belarus. We have to admit that certain countries, like Belarus and Kazakhstan, have managed to explore a new path, which is a challenge to the "universality" of Western democracy. They should be analyzed for the diversity of human society governance. Western sanctions against Belarus are aggressive in disregard of the will of the Belarusians. It was reported that the EU would relax its sanctions, which could be an interesting signal. Lukashenko has a bad reputation in the West. Political terms like democracy and dictatorship cannot generalize his administration. Only time can tell where authoritarianism will go.

PLA bans troops from joining foreign NGOs, new regulation says

People serving in the military are banned from joining any overseas non-governmental organization (NGO), according to a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) regulation, reports said Monday. The regulation issued by the PLA's General Political Department took effect September 1. "It was out of confidentiality concerns," Song Zhongping, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times. Overseas NGOs refer to non-governmental and non-profit groups legally established abroad, including associations, academic societies, chambers of commerce, foundations, research institutes, the PLA Daily reported Monday. Many foreign NGOs are actually set up to steal military information by recruiting Chinese soldiers, which have happened, Song said. He added that some NGOs attempt to brainwash soldiers into conducting "peaceful evolution." Joining foreign NGOs is politically sensitive and the PLA has to remain united, said the working group in charge of implementing the regulation. Fang Gongbin, a professor at China's PLA National Defense University, told the Global Times that soldiers joining overseas NGO is uncommon. Organizations or associations under the PLA which have not registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs will be dissolved, including those posing as research centers and hobby-oriented clubs, according to the working group. Many of the associations, which have no essential functions, were set up primarily to feed the vanity of senior military officials, Song said.

China to set new 5-Year Plan

The Communist Party of China (CPC) will convene a plenary session later this month to map out the next five-year economic blueprint under the current slowdown and lay out institutional Party reform plans to guarantee a better and effective national leadership. The fifth plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee will be held in Beijing from October 26 to 29, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday. It is seen as the key step to fulfill the new Party leadership's vow to double the nation's GDP and per capita income by 2020. The announcement came at a Monday meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, presided over by CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping. The CPC approved two revised rules on clean governance and punishments for breaking Party rules at the meeting, while continuing discussions on the 13th Five-Year Plan - to be reviewed at the upcoming session, Xinhua reported. Five-Year Plans have been drawn up since 1953 to map strategies for overall economic and social development in China, setting growth targets and defining development policies. A statement issued after the meeting said that China has made major progress in national strength and global influence, as the nation is close to accomplishing the goals set by the 12th Five-Year Plan. "As uncertainty looms over the global economy, the world will set their eyes on China's new Five-Year Plan where they seek opportunities and direction," Cai Zhiqiang, a Party School of the CPC Central Committee professor, who also participated in the drafting of the 13th Five-Year Plan, told the Global Times. Economic blueprint The 13th Five-Year Plan will work to promote people's well-being, strengthen economic construction and rule of law in the market economy, while further opening up to the outside world in all aspects, the Political Bureau said at a meeting in July. It has also vowed to continue modernizing governance and tightening up administration of the Party. "The next five years from 2016 will be epochal as it concerns strategic layout to accomplish its goals before the Party celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding," said Zhang Xixian, another professor with the Party School. The CPC was founded in 1921. In 2012, the CPC identified two goals, pledging to double the nation's GDP and per capita income by 2020 from that of 2010 and vowing that by 2050, China would become a modern socialist country that is rich, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious. Zhang told the Global Times that the main task will be promoting urbanization throughout the nation, and villages will become township-level cities. "The most challenging task is still poverty relief, as tens of millions of our people still live below the poverty line. It is especially difficult to offer aid precisely to those in need," Zhang said, adding that the better-off regions in East China must also shoulder the responsibility to find a new goal for the nation after the first one is accomplished. As China undergoes a transition from an investment-oriented economy to an innovation-oriented one, a slower economic growth is unavoidable and a growth rate of no less than 5 percent is still impressive, said Hu Xingdou, a professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology. Citing several experts, Economic Information, a newspaper affiliated to Xinhua, said Monday that China may cut its GDP growth target to 6.5 percent in the next five years, a further decrease from this year's goal of 7 percent. "This is all just normal fluctuation, and it can't serve as an indicator to be pessimistic about the Chinese economy. With a huge economic aggregation, a 6.5 percent growth rate also suggests an impressive economic growth, especially as the global average is less than 3 percent," an anonymous Beijing-based expert on the economy told the Global Times. Party rules Apart from a detailed policy-making process for a better-off society, analysts said that the Five-Year Plan will also include a modern system to combat corruption and guarantee the Party has an advanced and effective leadership to handle the problem under specific rules and regulations. "It is in line with the nation's modernization process to carry out institutional construction of the Party. All the reform measures also require political reform and Party construction to support the nation's development," Cai said. He added that the fifth plenary session may also issue announcements detailing punishments for some corrupt officials. Among these is Ling Jihua, a former CPC Central Committee member. He was expelled from the Party in July and was put under criminal prosecution for bribery. More than 100 officials at ministry level or above have been brought down in the anti-graft campaign since 2012, including 18 members or alternate members of the CPC Central Committee, China's top leadership, The Beijing News reported.

China expounds on its Syria crisis stance

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Mondaystressed China's stance on the Syrian crisis, which includes joint international efforts against terrorism, a political solution and alleviation of the humanitarian crisis. "China supports counter-terrorism actions that are in line with international laws and endorsed by involved countries," Wang told visiting Syrian Presidential Political and Media Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban on Monday in Beijing. "We hope all parties could strengthen communication and cooperation, as well as join forces in counter-terrorism actions," the foreign ministry's website quoted Wang as saying. Russia began striking Islamic State targets in Syria on September 30 with the consent of the Syrian government. Its military involvement has been criticized by the West as an attempt to prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rather than for counter-terrorism purposes. "China opposes easy interference in other countries' domestic affairs. China supports Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as its approach to find its own path of development that is consistent with its national circumstances," Wang told Shaaban. "Wang's speech clarifies China's attitude at a time when the geopolitical environment is experiencing critical change. It should be noted that Wang's statement focuses on counter-terrorism, a cautious response to the West's accusations that Russian airstrikes are meant to hit rebel forces," Li Weijian, a professor of West Asian and African Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, told the Global Times. Responding to Western media reports, Tian Wenlin, a research fellow on Middle Eastern studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said it is unlikely that China will team up with Russia in airstrikes in Syria. "Diplomatic support from China should suffice at this time. The situation in Syria is quite complicated. The country is geographically far away from China and China has little private interest in the area," Tian told the Global Times. Wang re-emphasized that political settlement is fundamental in resolving the Syrian issue.

Iraq kicks off new phase of major offensive against IS

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on Monday evening the start of the second phase of major offensive to free the towns seized earlier by the Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin. According to a statement issued by his office, Abadi, who is also Commander-in-chief of Iraqi armed forces, made the announcement during his visit to Salahudin province and meeting with top military officers and leaders of powerful paramilitary groups, known as Hashd Shaabi. "It is a decisive battle which will liberate all Salahudin province, as we have seen great victories in the past period, we will continue these victories," the statement quoted Abadi as saying. In April, Iraqi security forces freed the provincial capital city of Tikrit, after weeks of heavy fighting, and air strikes by the US-led international bombing campaign against IS, as well as efforts by Shiite militias of Hashd Shaabi groups. "The victory in these operations will give a push forward (for the troops) to launch the liberalization of Mosul from Daesh (IS in Arabic) gangs," Abadi said, referring to the IS-held city of Mosul, some 400 km north of Baghdad. A source from Salahudin Operations Command told Xinhua that Abadi has met with the leaders of the security forces and Hashd Shaabi group, including the prominent leader Hadi al-Ameri, head of the Badr Organization, which is well-equipped and well-trained on urban warfare. The Badr Organization was previously known as Badr Brigade which maintains its long-running ties with neighboring Iran, where it was first built during the eight-year Iraqi-Iranian war in 1980s. Ameri's Brigade emerged as powerful militia during the years after the US-led invasion to Iraq in 2003 and turned to be a political organization a few years later. During the past few months, the security forces and allied militias, backed by Iraqi and US-led coalition aircraft, were fighting with extremist militants in the battleground town of Baiji, 40 km north of Tikrit, and the nearby Iraq's largest oil refinery, but the two sides have been involved in fierce tug-of-war battles. Salahudin, a predominantly Sunni province with its capital of Tikrit, some 170 km north of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, is the hometown of former President Saddam Hussein. Large parts of the province have been under the IS control since June 2014, after bloody clashes broke out between Iraqi security forces and the group. The IS has taken control of the country's northern city of Mosul and later seized swathes of territories in Nineveh and other predominantly Sunni provinces.