Latest news with #GlobalTimes
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
Panda-mania: PM gushes over 'great friend of Australia'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been schooled in soft diplomacy at a panda breeding research centre on the final day of his China visit. In Chengdu, capital of the southwest province of Sichuan, the prime minister was reacquainted with an old "friend of Australia", Fu Ni. The 18-year-old female panda returned to China in 2024 after spending 15 years as one of the star attractions at Adelaide Zoo. "A great ambassador for China and a great friend of Australia," Mr Albanese said as he watched her chew a stick of bamboo. Fu Ni and her former partner Wang Wang were loaned to Australia by China in an example of "panda diplomacy". The practice dates back centuries but in recent decades has been used by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to exert soft power across the globe. When Beijing is happy with you, you get pandas. But if relations sour, they always have the option to take them back, as Canada and the UK have learned to their detriment in recent years. In 2024, when Fu Ni and Wang Wang's time was up, Premier Li Qiang loaned two new pandas to Australia - Li Yan and Xing Qiu. Mr Albanese hailed Mr Li's "gracious" decision to extend the panda relationship. "They are absolutely wonderful animals. Our Adelaide Zoo pandas are a sign of friendship between Australia and China," he told reporters on Thursday. The prime minister's "very positive and warm" reception on his six-day trip shows how far the mood has recovered since the breakdown in Sino-Australian relations in 2020. Chinese state media has covered Mr Albanese's visit in glowing terms, with the Global Times describing the relationship as "a plane flying in the 'stratosphere' after passing through the storm zone". His visit to Chengdu, a provincial hub home to 21 million people is best known as the home of giant pandas, is the first by an Australian prime minister since Bob Hawke in 1986. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been schooled in soft diplomacy at a panda breeding research centre on the final day of his China visit. In Chengdu, capital of the southwest province of Sichuan, the prime minister was reacquainted with an old "friend of Australia", Fu Ni. The 18-year-old female panda returned to China in 2024 after spending 15 years as one of the star attractions at Adelaide Zoo. "A great ambassador for China and a great friend of Australia," Mr Albanese said as he watched her chew a stick of bamboo. Fu Ni and her former partner Wang Wang were loaned to Australia by China in an example of "panda diplomacy". The practice dates back centuries but in recent decades has been used by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to exert soft power across the globe. When Beijing is happy with you, you get pandas. But if relations sour, they always have the option to take them back, as Canada and the UK have learned to their detriment in recent years. In 2024, when Fu Ni and Wang Wang's time was up, Premier Li Qiang loaned two new pandas to Australia - Li Yan and Xing Qiu. Mr Albanese hailed Mr Li's "gracious" decision to extend the panda relationship. "They are absolutely wonderful animals. Our Adelaide Zoo pandas are a sign of friendship between Australia and China," he told reporters on Thursday. The prime minister's "very positive and warm" reception on his six-day trip shows how far the mood has recovered since the breakdown in Sino-Australian relations in 2020. Chinese state media has covered Mr Albanese's visit in glowing terms, with the Global Times describing the relationship as "a plane flying in the 'stratosphere' after passing through the storm zone". His visit to Chengdu, a provincial hub home to 21 million people is best known as the home of giant pandas, is the first by an Australian prime minister since Bob Hawke in 1986. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been schooled in soft diplomacy at a panda breeding research centre on the final day of his China visit. In Chengdu, capital of the southwest province of Sichuan, the prime minister was reacquainted with an old "friend of Australia", Fu Ni. The 18-year-old female panda returned to China in 2024 after spending 15 years as one of the star attractions at Adelaide Zoo. "A great ambassador for China and a great friend of Australia," Mr Albanese said as he watched her chew a stick of bamboo. Fu Ni and her former partner Wang Wang were loaned to Australia by China in an example of "panda diplomacy". The practice dates back centuries but in recent decades has been used by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to exert soft power across the globe. When Beijing is happy with you, you get pandas. But if relations sour, they always have the option to take them back, as Canada and the UK have learned to their detriment in recent years. In 2024, when Fu Ni and Wang Wang's time was up, Premier Li Qiang loaned two new pandas to Australia - Li Yan and Xing Qiu. Mr Albanese hailed Mr Li's "gracious" decision to extend the panda relationship. "They are absolutely wonderful animals. Our Adelaide Zoo pandas are a sign of friendship between Australia and China," he told reporters on Thursday. The prime minister's "very positive and warm" reception on his six-day trip shows how far the mood has recovered since the breakdown in Sino-Australian relations in 2020. Chinese state media has covered Mr Albanese's visit in glowing terms, with the Global Times describing the relationship as "a plane flying in the 'stratosphere' after passing through the storm zone". His visit to Chengdu, a provincial hub home to 21 million people is best known as the home of giant pandas, is the first by an Australian prime minister since Bob Hawke in 1986. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been schooled in soft diplomacy at a panda breeding research centre on the final day of his China visit. In Chengdu, capital of the southwest province of Sichuan, the prime minister was reacquainted with an old "friend of Australia", Fu Ni. The 18-year-old female panda returned to China in 2024 after spending 15 years as one of the star attractions at Adelaide Zoo. "A great ambassador for China and a great friend of Australia," Mr Albanese said as he watched her chew a stick of bamboo. Fu Ni and her former partner Wang Wang were loaned to Australia by China in an example of "panda diplomacy". The practice dates back centuries but in recent decades has been used by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to exert soft power across the globe. When Beijing is happy with you, you get pandas. But if relations sour, they always have the option to take them back, as Canada and the UK have learned to their detriment in recent years. In 2024, when Fu Ni and Wang Wang's time was up, Premier Li Qiang loaned two new pandas to Australia - Li Yan and Xing Qiu. Mr Albanese hailed Mr Li's "gracious" decision to extend the panda relationship. "They are absolutely wonderful animals. Our Adelaide Zoo pandas are a sign of friendship between Australia and China," he told reporters on Thursday. The prime minister's "very positive and warm" reception on his six-day trip shows how far the mood has recovered since the breakdown in Sino-Australian relations in 2020. Chinese state media has covered Mr Albanese's visit in glowing terms, with the Global Times describing the relationship as "a plane flying in the 'stratosphere' after passing through the storm zone". His visit to Chengdu, a provincial hub home to 21 million people is best known as the home of giant pandas, is the first by an Australian prime minister since Bob Hawke in 1986.
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Panda-mania: PM gushes over 'great friend of Australia'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been schooled in soft diplomacy at a panda breeding research centre on the final day of his China visit. In Chengdu, capital of the southwest province of Sichuan, the prime minister was reacquainted with an old "friend of Australia", Fu Ni. The 18-year-old female panda returned to China in 2024 after spending 15 years as one of the star attractions at Adelaide Zoo. "A great ambassador for China and a great friend of Australia," Mr Albanese said as he watched her chew a stick of bamboo. Fu Ni and her former partner Wang Wang were loaned to Australia by China in an example of "panda diplomacy". The practice dates back centuries but in recent decades has been used by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to exert soft power across the globe. When Beijing is happy with you, you get pandas. But if relations sour, they always have the option to take them back, as Canada and the UK have learned to their detriment in recent years. In 2024, when Fu Ni and Wang Wang's time was up, Premier Li Qiang loaned two new pandas to Australia - Li Yan and Xing Qiu. Mr Albanese hailed Mr Li's "gracious" decision to extend the panda relationship. "They are absolutely wonderful animals. Our Adelaide Zoo pandas are a sign of friendship between Australia and China," he told reporters on Thursday. The prime minister's "very positive and warm" reception on his six-day trip shows how far the mood has recovered since the breakdown in Sino-Australian relations in 2020. Chinese state media has covered Mr Albanese's visit in glowing terms, with the Global Times describing the relationship as "a plane flying in the 'stratosphere' after passing through the storm zone". His visit to Chengdu, a provincial hub home to 21 million people is best known as the home of giant pandas, is the first by an Australian prime minister since Bob Hawke in 1986.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Is this what the Chinese REALLY think of Anthony Albanese? Read the glowing editorial in China's state-run newspaper
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has received positive coverage from China 's state-controlled media during his highly anticipated visit to Beijing. Albanese is currently in the country for a six-day visit, where he has held 'constructive' talks with President Xi Jinping to restore ties between the two nations. The leaders' in-depth discussion of Chinese-Australian relations on Tuesday was then reviewed in an 'editorial' piece for The Global Times. The article highlighted how Australia has embraced China's independence and the country's approach to governance. 'As China-Australia relations have continued to improve, the Australian government's understanding of its relationship with China has also deepened,' it said. 'During the meeting on Tuesday, Albanese said that Australia values its relations with China. 'It adheres to the one-China policy and Australia has never sought to decouple from the Chinese economy.' The Global Times is understood to be a voice of the Chinese Communist Party, run under the direction of the government's People's Daily newspaper. It has previously been described by international business news company Quartz as 'China's most belligerent tabloid'. The publication said it is 'best known for its hawkish, insulting editorials (with) aggressive attacks that get it noticed, and quoted, by foreign media around the world as the 'voice' of Beijing'. But the hawkish tone seemed suitably absent as the editorial team delivered compliment after compliment to Australia. 'Although China-Australia relations have experienced ups and downs, after the storm comes the rainbow,' it said. 'Today's... relationship is like a plane flying in the "stratosphere" after passing through the storm zone, and the most turbulent and bumpy period has passed.' It also sought to frame the Chinese government as a welcome ally to Australia in the face of Donald Trump's disruptive global tariffs. 'Australia is currently facing tariff pressure from Washington, but the outlook for the development of China-Australia economic and trade relations remains very clear,' it said. However, key Australian issues prioritised in Canberra - namely the lease of Darwin Port and the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement - were only mentioned in passing. Concerns about cyberattacks have been diminished to a subclause noting 'interference from third parties'. Albanese's diplomatic tour has clearly appeased The Global Times, even if it has taken a teacherly tone outlining hopes that Australia 'adheres to a mature and correct path' moving forward. Meanwhile, the visit has caused issues for Australian news outlets who attempted to cover the trip. A group of journalists and camera crews were filming near the historic Drum Tower landmark in the heart of the Chinese capital on Tuesday when they were confronted by security guards who demanded they stop filming. The guards blocked the contingent, who were travelling with a diplomatic escort, from leaving as they packed up, telling them they were not allowed to leave and that the police had been called. Following the altercation, Albanese admitted to reporters: 'China has a different system obviously with the media.' The Chinese government strictly regulates all forms of media, including news outlets, film, television, and online platforms, ensuring content aligns with the Communist Party's narrative. Sensitive topics such as human rights abuses, political dissent, Taiwan, Tibet, and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre are heavily censored or erased altogether. Online, the 'Great Firewall' blocks access to many foreign websites and social media platforms, while Chinese alternatives are closely monitored and filtered in real time.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
China Responds to Lindsey Graham Russia Threat
China hit back at "illegal unilateral sanctions" after U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said Beijing would be among those to feel the pain of his proposed legislation, which would slap up to a 500 percent secondary tariff on those trading with Russia. Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said the legislation has bipartisan support in Congress, and it comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens new secondary tariffs against Russia to force Moscow to make peace in Ukraine. Trump touted a 100 percent secondary tariff, but Graham's bill would give him the power to do five times that. Large-scale Chinese oil purchases have been a vital crutch for the sanctions-hit Russian economy during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Lin Jian, spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said at a press briefing on Tuesday, July 15, Beijing's position on ending the Ukraine war has been consistent and clear, and that it can only be achieved through dialogue and negotiation. "China firmly opposes any illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction," Lin said, the state-run Global Times reported. "There are no winners in a tariff war, and coercion and pressure cannot solve problems. "It's hoped all parties will further foster an environment and accumulate conditions to advance the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and take more actions that are conducive to peace talks." This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow. Related Articles US and Allies Train Forces for Pacific War With ChinaTaiwan Deploys HIMARS, Patriot, Stinger Weapons in China Invasion ExerciseMap Shows States Most and Least Prepared for RecessionUS Sends Advanced F-15 Jets To Frontline Air Base Near China 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
China's Military Flexes Muscles With Putin Ally
China has announced that it will conduct joint military training with Serbia, one of Russia's major allies in Europe, later this month as Beijing expands its foreign military cooperation. Newsweek has contacted Serbia's Defense Ministry for further comment via email. Serbia-which is not a member of the European Union-has maintained close ties with both Russia and China, with President Aleksandar Vučić describing China as "Serbia's most precious friend." The training is part of the growing military cooperation between the countries. The East Asian power provided air defense systems to the Balkan nation to help protect its airspace, raising concerns in the United States about Serbia's path toward European integration. In addition to rapidly building up its capabilities, the Chinese military has strengthened its relations with foreign counterparts through bilateral activities. From mid-April to early May, the Chinese and Egyptian air forces conducted joint training in the North African country. Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said on Monday that China would host the Peace Guardian-2025 joint training in Hebei Province-near the capital city of Beijing-in the second half of July, involving Chinese and Serbian army special forces. "This will be the first joint training between Chinese and Serbian militaries," the Chinese military official said, adding that the bilateral activity would help strengthen the combat capabilities of participating troops and deepen cooperation between the two armed forces. However, details of the training-including its content and duration-remain unclear. Neither China nor Serbia has announced the arrival of Serbian army special forces in China. Prior to the announcement of the training, the Chinese state-run Global Times published an interview on July 10 with Serbian Lieutenant Colonel Dalibor Aleksic, who commands an air defense unit operating two China-supplied weapon systems: the FK-3 and the HQ-17AE. The Serbian military officer said both Chinese air defense systems were satisfactory, praising their combat capabilities, performance, reliability, and ease of use and maintenance. Serbia's acquisition of Chinese air defense systems contributed to the further strengthening of friendship and cooperation between the two nations, Aleksic told Global Times, adding that, as a weapons expert, he was also fascinated by "many other Chinese weapon systems." Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in May: "China is ready to deepen strategic communication with Serbia, enhance mutual support, strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, continue supporting the construction and operation of relevant projects, give full play to their demonstrative effect, and achieve more outcomes that deliver mutual benefit and win-win results." Vuk Vuksanovic, a senior researcher at the Belgrade Center for Security Policy, told RFE/RL's Balkan Service in May 2024: "Serbia has demonstrated once again that China, not Russia, is its most important partner in the East at the moment, especially with Russian-Serbian ties under constant scrutiny because of Ukraine." While Serbia is likely to make additional purchases of Chinese military equipment, it remains to be seen whether China will send its troops to Serbia for joint training in the future. Related Articles China and India's Top Officials Meet Amid Tensions Over Pakistan, BorderChina Responds to Lindsey Graham Russia ThreatUS and Allies Train Forces for Pacific War With ChinaTaiwan Deploys HIMARS, Patriot, Stinger Weapons in China Invasion Exercise 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
