China news roundup, 26th May
Hangzhou wants to score and rank its residents based on their health and lifestyle. “This is what the city government of Hangzhou in eastern China has envisioned for its more than 10 million residents, inspired by a “health code” system it adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic to profile people based on their risk of infection.”
CNN, 26th May
China says it has a ‘zero-tolerance policy’ for racism, but discrimination towards Africans goes back decades. “Posting under the hashtag #BlackChina, Dennis Kiplomo, a nurse from Kenya, tweeted: “We expect the kind of hospitality we give to Chinese here in Africa, be reciprocated in their home country.”Another user in Kenya, Peter Kariuk, wrote: “We need a united Africa which will not be slaves of #BlackChina.”
CNN, 26th May
China set to launch Mars probe. “China’s space program will launch a Mars mission in July, according to its current plans. This will include deploying an orbital probe to study the red planet, and a robotic, remotely-controlled rover for surface exploration.”
Tech Crunch, 25th May
‘Openness’: WHO renews praise for China’s coronavirus response. “World Health Organisation officials have renewed praise for China in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, citing its “openness” to the prospect of scientific inquiries involving foreign experts into the origins of the novel coronavirus.”
Sydney Morning Herald, 26th May
‘Cold War’: Chinese government issues warning to Australia after trade war threats with US. “The Chinese government has warned Australia to “distance” itself from the United States amid growing tensions between the two countries, saying it would be “extremely dangerous” for Canberra to get involved.”
NZ Herald, 25th May
China-India tensions mount as troop stand-offs along disputed border cause speculation to swirl. “Tensions at the border between India and China have spiked in recent weeks amid a flurry of media reports pointing to a series of skirmishes and military build-up by both sides.”
SCMP, 26th May
Hong Kong’s leader says security laws will not affect city’s rights and freedoms. “Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday added to a raft of attempts by local and Beijing officials to provide reassurance that proposed national security laws would not trample on the city’s rights and freedoms, amid widespread concerns.”
Reuters, 26th May
