K J M VARMA

Stories by K J M VARMA

China defends fielding Galwan soldier as Winter Olympics torchbearer

China defends fielding Galwan soldier as Winter Olympics torchbearer

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2022

China in a provocative move fielded Qi Fabao, the regimental commander of the (PLA), who was injured during the June 2020 clash in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh, as a torchbearer for the Olympics Games Torch Relay, which led India to diplomatically boycott the opening ceremony of the games on Friday.

Opposed to 'unilateral actions' on Kashmir: China after Xi-Imran meet

Opposed to 'unilateral actions' on Kashmir: China after Xi-Imran meet

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2022

In the past, India strongly rejected references made to Jammu and Kashmir in a previous joint statement by Pakistan and China.

China says not aware of missing Arunachal youth

China says not aware of missing Arunachal youth

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2022

Asked for his reaction to the allegation of the PLA abducting Taron, the spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry in Beijing said, "I don't know the situation."

China's economy grows by 8.1% in 2021

China's economy grows by 8.1% in 2021

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2022

China's economy grew by 8.1 per cent in 2021 to about $18 trillion despite challenges, including epidemic resurgences and a complicated external environment, the government said on Monday. According to the official figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China's economy grew by four per cent in the fourth quarter of last year, slowing from the 4.9 per cent growth in the third quarter, rounding off the full year's growth rate to 8.1 per cent in 2021. The GDP increase is also above the six per cent target set by the government for the year.

Anyang 3rd Chinese city to go under lockdown as Covid cases spiral

Anyang 3rd Chinese city to go under lockdown as Covid cases spiral

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2022

As Covid-19 cases spiralled in China ahead of the next month's Beijing Winter Olympics, authorities effectively put Anyang under lockdown, the third city after Xian and Tianjin, confining over 20 million people to their homes to arrest the spread of the contagion.

China confirms Wednesday's border talks, says border 'stable'

China confirms Wednesday's border talks, says border 'stable'

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2022

China said on Tuesday that the current situation on the border areas with India was "stable" as it confirmed that the 14th round of Corps Commander-level talks to discuss the disengagement process in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh will be held on Wednesday.

We will press China for return of stranded Indians: Top diplomat

We will press China for return of stranded Indians: Top diplomat

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2022

India will continue to take up with China the return of over 23,000 stranded Indian students, besides a large number of Indian workers and their families who are currently stranded back home for the last two years due travel restrictions imposed by Beijing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior diplomat has said.

China says Arunachal 'inherent part' of its territory

China says Arunachal 'inherent part' of its territory

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2021

India on Thursday strongly rejected China renaming 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh and asserted that the state has 'always been' and will 'always be' an integral part of India and that assigning 'invented' names does not alter this fact.

China's 'zero case' policy under stress due to spike in Covid cases

China's 'zero case' policy under stress due to spike in Covid cases

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2021

China's Zero-COVID-19 case policy is increasingly coming under stress as the country is reporting a spike in the number of coronavirus infections from different provinces ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games with over 2,500 people undergoing treatment.

China says Musk's SpaceX satellites had 2 close encounters with its space station

China says Musk's SpaceX satellites had 2 close encounters with its space station

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2021

China on Tuesday alleged that US billionaire Elon Musk-owned SpaceX's satellites had two 'close encounters' with its space station in orbit, and has complained to the United Nations about the incidents which endangered the safety of the Chinese astronauts.

2021: An year of record trade amid frozen India-China ties

2021: An year of record trade amid frozen India-China ties

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2021

India and China achieved a major milestone this year when their bilateral trade crossed the landmark figure of $100 billion but it did not generate any fanfare in both capitals as the two Asian giants are going through a "particularly bad patch" in their relations due to a set of actions by Beijing in violation of agreements that led to the military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Starting with a modest $1.83 billion in 2001, the bilateral trade crossed $100 billion-mark in the first 11 months this year, a significant milestone for which the two countries carried out campaigns to boost trade and build it as a major stakeholder to improve the relations between two nations, whose ties otherwise remained frosty over the festering boundary dispute and strategic rivalry. According to last month's data from China's General Administration of Customs (GAC), the India-China bilateral trade totalled $114.263 billion, up 46.4 per cent year-on-year from January to November 2021.

Situation at Sino-India border 'generally stable': China

Situation at Sino-India border 'generally stable': China

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2021

On Monday China said it has "effectively managed and controlled" frictions in certain border areas.

Ahead of Winter Olympics, China sees spurt in Delta cases

Ahead of Winter Olympics, China sees spurt in Delta cases

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2021

China has reported a spike in COVID-19 infections in Zhejiang Province which registered 138 locally-transmitted confirmed cases stated to be that of new Delta strain "sub-lineage AY.4", prompting authorities to bar millions of people in the eastern province from travelling.

China accuses US of using democracy as 'WMD' to stoke confrontation

China accuses US of using democracy as 'WMD' to stoke confrontation

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2021

While the US omitted China and Russia from the list of invitees, Beijing was furious over the invitation to the self-governing island Taiwan, which China said is a blatant violation of the 'One China' policy that considers Taipei as the integral part of the Chinese mainland.

Opportunities missed, outgoing envoy Vikram Misri tells Chinese FM

Opportunities missed, outgoing envoy Vikram Misri tells Chinese FM

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2021

Outgoing Indian envoy to China Vikram Misri on Monday had a virtual farewell call on Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during which he said that "certain challenges" had overpowered the vast opportunities in the bilateral ties last year and hoped that with continued communication the two sides would be able to resolve the current difficulties.

Xi asks military to recruit new talent to gain edge in future wars

Xi asks military to recruit new talent to gain edge in future wars

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2021

Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the need for the recruitment of new talent to support the rapid modernisation of the armed forces and win future wars amid reports that the military has committed more resources to enrol 3 lakh personnel for frontline positions.

Xi talks tough with Biden, says China can't be stopped; warns him over Taiwan

Xi talks tough with Biden, says China can't be stopped; warns him over Taiwan

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2021

The highly-anticipated summit, which began early Tuesday, is the third engagement between Xi, 68, and Biden, 78, since February.

China 'open' for talks with Dalai Lama to discuss his future

China 'open' for talks with Dalai Lama to discuss his future

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2021

Reports from Tokyo said the Dalai Lama while speaking at an online press conference hosted by the Tokyo Foreign Correspondents Club on Wednesday said, 'I prefer to remain here in India, peacefully', praising the country as a centre of religious harmony.

China to attend Pak's meet over India's NSA summit

China to attend Pak's meet over India's NSA summit

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2021

China said that it would not attend the security dialogue on Afghanistan convened by India due to "scheduling reasons".

Why China won't attend NSA-level meet on Afghanistan hosted by India

Why China won't attend NSA-level meet on Afghanistan hosted by India

Rediff.com   9 Nov 2021

"Due to scheduling reasons, it is inconvenient for China to attend the meeting," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told mediapersons.