Biden and Xi expected to meet next month after high-level US-China meetings；China-US ties must return to ‘healthy, stable’ state soon: Foreign Minister Wang Yi
US Rolls Back China Covid Flight Curbs Again in Air Travel Boost; US, Australia, Japan would join Philippines-China ‘fight’, says analyst
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Biden and Xi expected to meet next month after high-level US-China meetings
Al Jazeera
US President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. The meeting is seen as an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss various global challenges, including the Israel-Hamas war, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the upcoming presidential election in Taiwan. While both countries have recently been at odds over various issues, there is hope that they can work together to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and improve their often-acrimonious relationship. However, they remain at odds over Taiwan, which China claims as part of its own territory.
China-US ties must return to ‘healthy, stable’ state soon: Foreign Minister Wang Yi
South China Morning Post
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with US President Joe Biden in Washington on Friday, urging both countries to return to a healthy and stable development track. Wang emphasized the importance of stabilizing and improving bilateral relations, citing the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also highlighted the significance of the one-China principle and the Three Joint Communiques in maintaining the foundation of US-China ties. Biden conveyed his greetings to Xi and expressed the US's willingness to maintain communication with China and jointly address global challenges. Wang's visit is part of efforts to lay the groundwork for a potential meeting between Xi and Biden at the APEC summit in November. The talks were seen as a courtesy gesture in response to Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Beijing earlier this year.
US, Australia, Japan would join Philippines-China ‘fight’, says analyst
South China Morning Post
Australia, Japan, and the United States are likely to join the Philippines in its confrontation with China over the South China Sea, according to analysts. The Philippines defence secretary recently stated that Manila will boost multilateral activities, including freedom of navigation patrols in the disputed region, and expressed hope that more countries would “join our fight”. Analysts believe that Australia, Japan, and the US are the most likely to join the effort, due to their direct experience of China’s assertive military and economic moves. The second tier of countries likely to join the fight are the European Union and Britain, who have recognised China as a “systemic threat” to liberal values. The third tier, South Korea and New Zealand, are expected to join only in the event of an open shooting war. However, one analyst believes that the fight referred to by the Philippines defence secretary is mainly diplomatic, rather than military, in nature. The Philippines has been documenting Chinese behaviour in the disputed waters and has gained support from several countries, including France, South Korea, and Japan.
Top US and Chinese diplomats pave way for Joe Biden and Xi Jinping summit
ABC
The US and China have agreed to work towards a summit between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping next month, according to US officials. The announcement followed talks between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and senior US diplomats in Washington, including a one-hour meeting with Biden. The discussions covered issues including military relations, China's actions in the South China Sea, Taiwan, human rights, and detained Americans in China. The two sides also had "candid and in-depth" exchanges about the conflict in the Middle East, and expressed hopes for a meeting between Biden and Xi at the APEC summit next month.
Chinese workers in Brunei live in a bubble. That’s a missed opportunity
South China Morning Post
Chinese investment in Brunei is yet to foster stronger bonds between the people of both countries, as the Chinese workers typically live in isolated communities away from the Bruneians. Although Brunei has become an attractive investment destination for China, with bilateral trade last year reaching a record $3.08bn, there is limited interaction between Chinese workers and local communities. The workers, who tend to be men in their 40s and 50s, are employed under contracts with Chinese companies and typically offer technical assistance in their roles. They live in shared dormitories near their workplaces and have little incentive to build connections with the local community. However, internet technologies have allowed some Chinese workers to connect with local Chinese-Bruneians. Some Chinese companies in Brunei are taking steps to foster cross-cultural understanding and integrate their employees into Bruneian society. One example is the Muara Port Company, a joint venture between a Chinese state-owned enterprise and the Bruneian government, which has initiated skills upgrading for local workers and participated in charity events.
Tang Dengjie appointed Communist Party secretary of China's Shanxi province
Reuters
Tang Dengjie has been appointed as the secretary of the ruling Communist Party in China's Shanxi province. Tang, who previously served as China's minister of civil affairs, now holds the top political post in a major coal-producing province.
Hong Kong denies visa to prominent Tiananmen Square scholar
Al Jazeera
Rowena He, a Hong Kong professor known for her research on the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, has been fired from her position at the Chinese University of Hong Kong after her visa extension was declined by the city's immigration authorities. He is the author of the book "Tiananmen Exiles: Voices of the Struggle for Democracy in China" and has published numerous articles on China's democracy movement. The move has been seen as further evidence of Chinese government censorship and revisionism in academia. Hong Kong has recently denied visas to foreign critics, including journalists and activists.
US Rolls Back China Covid Flight Curbs Again in Air Travel Boost
Bloomberg
Flights between the US and China will increase to 70 per week starting from November 9. This marks an increase from the current limit of 48 flights per week, with round-trips increasing to 35 from 24. The increase in flights comes as the US and China gradually lift restrictions on air travel imposed during the pandemic. The US Department of Transportation is seeking ongoing dialogue with its counterparts in China to facilitate a broader reopening of the US-China air services market. Flights between the two countries have struggled to recover as the US blocked any increase, citing China's strict COVID-19 control measures.
Will the Israel-Hamas war upend China’s Middle East ambitions?
Al Jazeera
China's neutrality in the Israel-Hamas conflict highlights its ambitions as a major player in the Middle East and its desire to position itself as a counterpoint to the United States, which has historically had close ties to Israel. China has interests on both sides of the conflict, as it has long advocated for a two-state solution and is also Israel's second-largest trading partner. Beijing has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and has urged all parties to exercise restraint and protect civilians. However, critics have called China's response too "bland" and too late, as it took a day to issue a formal statement. China's neutrality is in its long-term regional interest, as it wants to appear as a different great power projecting a different future of reconciliation. Beijing may also recognize that it is out of its depth in a protracted conflict that could escalate and draw in other powers. China's strong economic interests in the region and its standing on the global stage are at stake, which incentivizes China to remain neutral even at risk to its relationship with Israel. The conflict also provides an opportunity for China to push forward an alternative to the US-dominated liberal international order and to show that China and the US can work together on important issues.
Hong Kong leader vows not to ‘target’ home prices, pledges to offer clear details
South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, has promised not to "target" property prices, acknowledging that prospective and existing homeowners have conflicting interests. He stated that the government's role is not to control property prices but to ensure that future home supply can meet market demand and provide clear information to help residents when buying homes. Despite a continued decline in home prices, Hong Kong homes are still among the least affordable in the world. The government aims to attract investment through the revival of the capital investment entrant scheme, granting residency to those who invest a minimum of HKD30m ($3.8m) in assets.
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