China
MIT faculty defend professor against trumped-up charges related to China ties
By Mike Ingram, 25 January 2021
A letter signed by 100 faculty members at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology calls for the defense of Professor Gang Chen, whom the US government is prosecuting on charges of wire fraud and tax violations as part of its witchhunt against academics who collaborate with Chinese institutions.
Biden’s secretary of state nominee endorses lies about Chinese “genocide” of Uyghurs
By Peter Symonds, 23 January 2021
Blinken’s endorsement of Pompeo’s provocative remarks is a sure demonstration that the Biden administration will escalate the war drive against China.
Suicide attempt by food delivery worker in China exposes exploitative working conditions
By Lily Zhao, 22 January 2021
The tragic attempt by this food delivery worker to take his own life has not only revealed his desperate plight, but also the broader exploitation of workers in China.
As COVID-19 resurges, Chinese workers hit by pay and job cuts
By Jerry Zhang, 21 January 2021
As well as being placed on the front line of the pandemic, workers are facing an offensive against their working conditions.
China’s growth rate increase fuels geo-political tensions
By Nick Beams, 20 January 2021
The 6.5 percent growth in the fourth quarter indicates that the Chinese economy is expanding at a faster rate than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
22 workers trapped by blast in Chinese gold mine
By Peter Symonds, 20 January 2021
The disaster provoked public concern after it became known that the mining company did not report the explosion for more than 30 hours.
Mute on Washington coup, UK ruling elite turns fire against China
By Julie Hyland, 18 January 2021
The British government has been at pains to downplay the January 6 coup attempt by outgoing US President Donald Trump, sections of the military intelligence complex and their fascist supporters.
Australian government invokes “national security” to ban Chinese infrastructure investments
By Mike Head, 16 January 2021
In effect, Chinese investment is now being banned across most of the economy, in preparation for military conflict.
Trump administration fuels tensions with China over Taiwan
By Peter Symonds, 14 January 2021
Last weekend, US Secretary of State Pompeo announced a sweeping shift in diplomatic protocols in dealing with Taiwan, giving the green light for lifting all restrictions on contact between Washington and Taipei.
Canada deepens support for US-led anti-China offensive
By Laurent Lafrance and Roger Jordan, 14 January 2021
Tensions between Canada and China are growing sharper as Ottawa swings ever more openly behind US imperialism’s aggressive diplomatic, economic and military-strategic offensive against Beijing.
Staggering growth of super-rich in China
By Fu Hong, 13 January 2021
Some of China’s wealthiest capitalist entrepreneurs are members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), have been delegates to the National People’s Congress, or are members of the associated People's Political Consultative Conference.
COVID-19 cases increasing rapidly in China
By Jerry Zhang, 12 January 2021
Despite large-scale testing and contact tracing, the highly-contagious virus has still spread, especially among workers in the most exposed industries.
Hong Kong police carry out largest arrests since imposition of national security law
By Ben McGrath, 8 January 2021
Beijing’s primary fear is that the working class will start to fight for its own class interests in Hong Kong and opposition will spread throughout the rest of China.
Australia: Chinese immigrant meatworkers locked out after protesting alleged assault
By Jason Quill and Patrick O’Connor, 6 January 2021
The meatworkers' union acted as strike-breaker, shutting down the Chinese workers’ principled act of solidarity with their victimised colleague.
COVID-19 cases rise sharply in China
By Lily Zhao, 5 January 2021
An examination of the chain of infections in three major Chinese cities further underscores the highly contagious nature of the COVID-19 virus.
EU–US tensions mount after EU signs trade deal with China
By Alex Lantier, 5 January 2021
Officials of the incoming Biden administration and their European allies denounced the EU–China deal, which they tried to halt before it was signed on December 30.
Tens of thousands face eviction after Chinese rental company collapses
By Lily Zhao, 31 December 2020
Danke’s failure provides an insight into the far broader housing crisis in China confronting workers and young people, and exposes the profiteering and parasitic character of layers of capitalists in China.
Defaults raise concerns on financial markets over Chinese debt
By Nick Beams, 20 December 2020
The economic slowdown due to the coronavirus has intensified the debt problems of major Chinese enterprises, which have been building since the global financial crisis of 2008.
US secretary of state incites xenophobic hysteria against Chinese students, denounces “anti-American” universities
By Dominic Gustavo, 17 December 2020
The remarks represent a coming together of the war drive against China and the assault on the exchange of ideas on college campuses.
Biden’s choice for US trade representative signals anti-China stance
By Peter Symonds, 14 December 2020
President-elect Joe Biden has made clear that he will continue the aggressive confrontation with Beijing that was launched by the Obama administration a decade ago and stepped up under Trump.
This week in history: December 14-20
14 December 2020
On December 14, 1970, Polish workers in the port city of Gdansk walked off the job protesting the announcement by the Stalinist government, led by Władysław Gomułka, that there would be a major increase in food and fuel prices.
999 Pompeo attack on Chinese students
11 December 2020
Australian law rushed through to veto agreements with China
By Mike Head, 10 December 2020
The passage of the legislation marks another escalation in the Australian ruling elite’s alignment behind the US confrontation with Beijing, despite China being Australia’s largest export market.
US secretary of state hypocritically sanctions Chinese officials over Hong Kong human rights
By Peter Symonds, 9 December 2020
Washington has a long record of selectively exploiting human rights issues to further its economic and strategic interests, while turning a blind eye to flagrant abuses of democratic rights by its allies and strategic partners.
999 US Secretary of State Pompeo imposes sanctions on Chinese officials
9 December 2020
Chinese defence minister visits Nepal to boost political and military ties
By Rohantha De Silva, 7 December 2020
The landlocked and poverty-stricken Himalayan country has become another focal point in the dangerous geo-political rivalry between India and the US on one side, and China on the other.
Beijing intensifies crackdown on Hong Kong political opposition
By Peter Symonds, 5 December 2020
Three opposition activists in Hong Kong were sentenced to jail terms this week on trumped-up charges for their part in a so-called unauthorised assembly during large-scale protests in support of democratic rights last year.
Pentagon to Biden: Latin America a major battlefield in war with China
By Bill Van Auken, 5 December 2020
The chief of the US Southern Command warned Wednesday that US imperialism’s “competitive edge” is eroding as a result of growing Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere.
New Zealand government denounces China’s condemnation of Australian war crimes
By Tom Peters, 5 December 2020
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern did not condemn the murder of at least 39 unarmed people in Afghanistan by Australian special forces, but denounced a Chinese official’s tweet that drew attention to these war crimes.
999 Chinese defence minister visits Nepal to boost military ties
5 December 2020
999 Pentagon warns about China in Latin America
4 December 2020
Australian ruling elite responds to Chinese condemnation of Afghan war crimes with nationalist hysteria
By Oscar Grenfell, 2 December 2020
Having covered up and downplayed the atrocities against Afghan civilians, Australia’s official parties and the corporate media are up in arms about a tweet condemning the war crimes.
Fiji and Australia to negotiate new military pact
By John Braddock, 1 December 2020
The move to establish closer Fiji-Australian military ties is part of the intensifying US-led build-up to counter China’s influence in the south west Pacific.
Australian PM seeks to protect revenue from China while reasserting US alliance
By Mike Head, 27 November 2020
Morrison pleaded that Australia should not have to choose between its “enduring alliance” with the US and a “beneficial relationship” with China.
Trump administration delays enforcement of TikTok ban
By Kevin Reed, 21 November 2020
The White House backed off from its threat to shut down the video-sharing app TikTok if its Chinese owner ByteDance did not divest itself of the popular social media platform to an American owner by November 12.
Japan and Australia step up military partnership against China
By Mike Head, 19 November 2020
The two governments echoed the Trump administration’s accusations of Chinese aggression and aligned themselves with the expected intensification of the US confrontation under a Biden administration.
New China-led trade bloc sets stage for further tensions with the US
By Peter Symonds, 17 November 2020
While relatively limited in scope, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a further blow to US ambitions for economic domination of the Asia-Pacific.
With Malabar exercise, Quad emerging as US-led, anti-China military alliance
By Shuvu Batta and Keith Jones, 17 November 2020
The Indian Ocean exercise is a clear signal that the US and its Quad allies—India, Japan and Australia—are now seeking to develop the capacity and expertise for joint military planning and action, including combat, against China.
Large COVID-19 outbreak in Xinjiang, China
By Jerry Zhang, 16 November 2020
Repeated flare-ups of coronavirus in different regions of China highlight the fact that the pandemic is a global issue that cannot be resolved on a national basis by locking down borders.
US judge blocks shutdown of TikTok scheduled for November 12
By Kevin Reed, 10 November 2020
A Pennsylvania district court judge ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by three TikTok users seeking a temporary injunction against the Trump administration’s plan to shut down the video sharing app if it is not sold to a US owner by November 12.
Protests in Inner Mongolia over Chinese government language policy
By Jerry Zhang, 7 November 2020
Just as it has latched onto “human rights” in Tibet, and among the Uighur population in Xinjiang, so Washington has sought to exploit discontent in Inner Mongolia to weaken China.
Chinese government blocks Jack Ma’s major IPO
By Nick Beams, 5 November 2020
The decision to block the listing of Ma’s fintech company Ant, which would have been the biggest initial public offering in history, was clearly taken at the highest levels in Beijing
Chinese Communist Party meets amid rising social and geo-political tensions
By Peter Symonds, 2 November 2020
The CCP plenum was held on the eve of the US election in which both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have signalled a ramping up of Washington’s confrontation with Beijing.
Months of unpaid wages spark strikes by delivery drivers across China
By Lily Zhao, 2 November 2020
To maintain or boost profits amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the big express delivery companies have lowered prices, shifting the burden onto local courier stations and exploiting delivery workers ever more harshly.
Indian health and public sector workers strike; Chinese courier drivers protest over unpaid wages; hospital workers and nurses threaten strikes in Australia, New Zealand and Solomon Islands
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
30 October 2020
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Amid tense India-China border stand-off, US and India boost military-security partnership
By Deepal Jayasekera and Keith Jones, 29 October 2020
India’s BJP government has exploited the ongoing military border standoff with China to integrate India still more fully into American imperialism’s incendiary military-strategic offensive against Beijing.
In interview with Radio Free Asia, Sison announces
Communist Party of the Philippines targets Chinese firms blacklisted by Washington
By John Malvar, 19 October 2020
The leadership of the CPP explained it would be targeting Chinese firms in interviews with Radio Free Asia, an official organ of US government propaganda directed against China.
Taipei and Washington continue to challenge Beijing’s redline over Taiwan
By Ben McGrath, 13 October 2020
Taiwan is being made the frontlines of a potential US-led war against the Chinese mainland.
A discussion with a young member of the Chinese Communist Party
The Chinese Communist Party is “an organisation with a deep, deep level of bureaucratisation”
By Peter Symonds, 12 October 2020
“From Marx to Lenin to Trotsky, an unbroken string runs through and connects them… Trotskyism inherited the scientific principles of Marxism.”
US secretary of state lashes out against China at Quad meeting
By Peter Symonds, 8 October 2020
The US has been pushing for the transformation of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue involving Japan, India and Australia into a formal military alliance as part of its escalating war drive against China.
Opposition parties seize power in Kyrgyzstan amid growing geopolitical rivalry in the region
By Jason Melanovski and Clara Weiss, 8 October 2020
The current seizure of power marks the third removal of a sitting president since 1991 in a poverty-stricken country that is dominated by oligarchic politics and geopolitical rivalries.
Chinese students support historian Joseph Scalice against Stalinist slanders
By Our correspondents, 3 October 2020
We urge our readers, including in China, to come to the defence of Dr. Scalice, including by sending statements of support to the WSWS opposing the slanderous attack on him by the CPP and sharing his lecture widely.
Indian and Chinese militaries dig in for prolonged border standoff, as “de-escalation” efforts flounder
By Rohantha De Silva and Keith Jones, 30 September 2020
Encouraged by Washington, India has taken an increasingly belligerent and provocative stance in its tense five-month-long border confrontation with China.
Federal district judge blocks President Trump’s TikTok download ban
By Kevin Reed, 29 September 2020
A US district court judge blocked Trump’s emergency ban of the video sharing app on Sunday, saying it violates the exchange of “information and informational materials” protected by the constitution.
US hits leading Chinese chip maker
By Nick Beams, 28 September 2020
The latest decision instigated by the Pentagon is aimed at crippling China’s ability to make high-tech advances.
Washington continues to ramp up tensions with Beijing over Taiwan
By Ben McGrath, 26 September 2020
The US has sent another high-ranking government official to Taiwan—a thinly-veiled challenge to the “One China” policy—while also planning a $7 billion military package to Taipei.
Controversy over Mulan film used to further Washington’s anti-China agenda
By Ben McGrath, 23 September 2020
US accusations of human right violations in Xinjiang are highly selective, meant to further US imperialist interests and to provide a pretext for military aggression.
President Trump gives preliminary approval to takeover of TikTok by Oracle and Walmart
By Kevin Reed, 21 September 2020
In an unprecedented act of imperialist piracy, the assets of Chinese-owned video sharing app TikTok are being handed over to Oracle, Walmart and group of private investors.
Trump’s China tariffs ruled illegal by World Trade Organisation
By Nick Beams, 17 September 2020
The WTO decision will not see any relaxation of the US trade war against China but rather its intensification.
India-China border conflict remains on knife’s edge
By Jordan Shilton and Keith Jones, 12 September 2020
US support for India and efforts by major European powers to boost their military-strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific could cascade the border crisis into a catastrophic war.
Australian raids on Chinese journalists mark escalation of US-led witch hunt
By Mike Head, 12 September 2020
The timeline of this affair points to an intensifying anti-China propaganda campaign, instigated by Washington and the intelligence apparatus.
Hong Kong police carry out mass arrest of protesters
By Ben McGrath, 11 September 2020
The conditions for the heightened attack on democratic and social rights have been created by the pro-capitalist opposition pan-democrat bloc.
Solomon Islands’ renegade province threatens separatist split over China diplomatic recognition
By Patrick O’Connor, 11 September 2020
The threat is the latest in a series of provocations by the Malaitan leader, who is being backed by US and Australian imperialism.
India-China border tensions flare anew, posing threat of catastrophic military conflict
By Deepal Jayasekera, 5 September 2020
India’s increasingly aggressive stance against China is being stoked by Washington.
US-China conflict over TikTok intensifies as Trump’s forced divestiture deadline approaches
By Kevin Reed, 2 September 2020
The drive to force the Chinese-owned video sharing app to be sold to a US company was countered by Beijing’s imposition of export restrictions on software components of the platform.
Hong Kong authorities arrest opposition legislators in further crackdown
By Ben McGrath, 1 September 2020
Behind the string of detentions, the real fear motivating the authorities is a united movement of the entire Chinese working class.
Bipartisan Australian move to ban agreements with China
By Mike Head, 29 August 2020
The bill was announced amid bellicose anti-China speeches by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and an accompanying media witch hunt.
China launches missiles into South China Sea in response to US provocations
By Ben McGrath, 29 August 2020
The ultimate responsibility for the dangerous escalation of tensions rests with Washington, which is continuing to try to provoke China.
Forced home demolitions fuel discontent in China’s Shandong Province
By a correspondent, 28 August 2020
Many local governments implemented “demolition first, then resettlement” policies, causing villagers to lose their homes.
TikTok files federal lawsuit against the Trump administration
By Kevin Reed, 27 August 2020
TikTok, the massively popular social media platform owned by China-based ByteDance, has filed a lawsuit seeking to block President Trump’s executive order banning the app and forcing its sale to a US owner.
Australian media stokes fears over Papua New Guinea-China links
By John Braddock, 27 August 2020
The Australian media is working hand-in-hand with the government to undermine China’s presence in its former colonial possession.
Chinese academic expelled for denouncing President Xi
By Peter Symonds, 20 August 2020
Xi’s consolidation of power is not a sign of strength but reflects the fragile and fractured character of the CCP, which has no progressive answer to the developing social and economic crisis or to Washington’s war drive.
Chinese prime minister: 600 million people earn less than $145 a month
By Lily Zhao, 19 August 2020
While almost half of its population earns less than $145 a month, China recorded 373 billionaires in 2020, the second highest figure in the world.
US steps up war against Huawei
By Nick Beams, 19 August 2020
The latest US bans against the Chinese telecom giant have been described by one financial analyst as a “death sentence” for its global operations.
Responding to US provocations, Chinese officials appeal for “peaceful coexistence”
By Peter Symonds, 18 August 2020
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang warned that relations between the US and Beijing were facing “the gravest challenge since the establishment of diplomatic ties” in the 1970s.”
US-backed opposition in Solomon Islands opposes ties to Beijing
By Patrick O’Connor, 17 August 2020
A provincial administration in Malaita insists that it has the right to maintain its own relations with Taiwan and refuses to recognise Beijing.
Top US health official makes provocative trip to Taiwan
By Peter Symonds, 11 August 2020
With the visit by US Secretary of Health Alex Azar to Taiwan, the Trump administration is taking another step towards overturning the “One China” policy and breaking US diplomatic relations with China.
President Trump signs executive orders banning Chinese social media apps TikTok and WeChat
By Kevin Reed, 8 August 2020
On Thursday, the US president signed two executive orders that will ban the operation of TikTok and WeChat in the US unless they are acquired by US-based companies within 45 days.
US moves to delist Chinese companies from stock exchanges
By Nick Beams, 8 August 2020
The move has been couched in terms of protecting “investor safety,” but it is another component of the economic warfare being carried out by Washington.
Former Australian PM: Beware the Guns of August in Asia
By Peter Symonds, 8 August 2020
Kevin Rudd argues that the danger of war between the US and China is greater than at any time since the 1950s and warns the risk “will be especially high” in the lead-up to the US presidential election.
US imposes new sanctions on China over alleged Uyghur abuses
By Peter Symonds, 5 August 2020
US propaganda now includes allegations of Uyghur “genocide,” based on sensational accounts of forced birth control and the sterilization of Uyghur women in Xinjiang province.
White House engineering a takeover of TikTok by Microsoft
By Kevin Reed, 3 August 2020
Under the White House’s direction, Microsoft is preparing to acquire the video-sharing app TikTok in a forced-divestiture from its China-based company ByteDance.
Hong Kong delays legislative elections amid crackdown on democratic rights
By Ben McGrath, 3 August 2020
Beijing is driven above all by fears that renewed protests in Hong Kong could spread to the mainland.
Japan raising tensions with Beijing in the East China Sea
By Ben McGrath, 31 July 2020
The US and Japan bear primary responsibility for upending the status quo in the East China Sea and fueling the dangerous stand-off over the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.
New Zealand suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong
By John Braddock, 31 July 2020
The diplomatic rift, underpinned by a domestic anti-China propaganda campaign, echoes Washington’s increasingly aggressive operations against Beijing.
US adopts policy of regime-change in Beijing
By Peter Symonds, 29 July 2020
By declaring the defeat of Chinese “tyranny” the aim of American foreign policy, the Trump administration has greatly intensified confrontation with China, with an all-but explicit call for regime-change.
Australian government echoes aggressive US shift on South China Sea
By Mike Head, 28 July 2020
Australia suddenly abandoned its previous policy of formal neutrality on the competing territorial claims, just 10 days after a similar declaration by the US.
US secretary of state sets out case for conflict with China
By Peter Symonds, 25 July 2020
By ruling out a return to the policy of “containment,” Pompeo’s speech marks a strategy aimed at regime change in Beijing.
US demands even greater support from Australia in confrontation with China
By Mike Head, 25 July 2020
Despite the intensifying COVID-19 danger in the US, Australia’s foreign and defence ministers will personally attend the annual AUSMIN talks in Washington next week.
US indicts Chinese nationals on trumped-up hacking charges
By Jacob Crosse, 22 July 2020
Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi are accused by the US government of hacking private computer networks with assistance from the Chinese government in order to steal intellectual property, including COVID-19 research.
Letter from a student in China on the COVID-19 pandemic
By a correspondent, 22 July 2020
“People are worried that on top of the hardship they have already gone through, they would face more unknown, long-term, and negative consequences from the pandemic.”
Driver plunges bus into a Chinese reservoir, killing 21
By Lily Zhao, 20 July 2020
The tragedy is a product of the social crisis confronting millions of workers throughout the country.
US escalates economic warfare against Russia and China
By Nick Beams, 18 July 2020
After securing a decision by the UK government to ban the Chinese firm Huawei from its 5G rollout, the US is pressuring the Merkel government in Germany to take the same decision.
US moving to ban China-based TikTok social media app
By Kevin Reed, 18 July 2020
There is bipartisan support in Congress for the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts against the Chinese app.
Facing mounting crisis, US lashes out against China
By Peter Symonds, 17 July 2020
Confronted with an economic and social crisis at home and his own worsening election prospects, Trump is aggressively confronting China across a whole range of potentially explosive issues.
UK excluding Huawei from 5G network
By Thomas Scripps, 16 July 2020
US President Donald Trump was quick to boast of his administration’s responsibility for the UK’s volte face.
US secretary of state denounces China over South China Sea
By Peter Symonds, 15 July 2020
The Trump administration formally adopts the 2016 Hague ruling against Chinese claims in the sensitive, strategic waters, as it ramps up US naval provocations there.
US takes punitive measures against China over Hong Kong
By Peter Symonds, 11 July 2020
Washington’s increasingly shrill campaign is part of a US confrontation across the full range of issues—diplomatic, economic and military—that are leading to war.
New Zealand boosts preparations to join US war against China
By Tom Peters, 11 July 2020
The Labour Party-led government is spending billions on new naval vessels and armoured vehicles, while praising the Australian military build-up against China.
UK set to ban Huawei from 5G network
By Nick Beams, 8 July 2020
The key factor in the decision was the move by the Trump administration in May to ban the use of US software in Huawei’s operating systems.
Follow the WSWS