K J M Varma

Stories by K J M Varma

WHO experts visit Wuhan wet market

WHO experts visit Wuhan wet market

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2021

The wet market was where a variety of live animals were traded until it was shut down following fears that the coronavirus had jumped to humans either from bats or pangolins.

Appreciate India's suggestions to mend ties: China

Appreciate India's suggestions to mend ties: China

Rediff.com   29 Jan 2021

'We stress that the boundary issue shall not be linked with the overall bilateral relations. That is an important experience we have gathered through many years' effort to keep the ties moving forward

Chinese military personnel to get 40% pay hike: Report

Chinese military personnel to get 40% pay hike: Report

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2021

The "bumper" 40 per cent increase followed a number of sweeping reforms intended to transform the "bloated People's Liberation Army, into a more modern, nimble fighting force".

China warms up to Biden, asks him to bring ties back on track

China warms up to Biden, asks him to bring ties back on track

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2021

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, known for fiery retorts against the US, welcomed Biden's first moves to join the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organisation (WHO) which was trashed by Trump as a puppet of China over its conduct to deal with the COVID-19.

'Our own territory': China on building village in Arunachal

'Our own territory': China on building village in Arunachal

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2021

"China's position on the Zangnan region (South Tibet) is consistent and clear. We never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing while responding to a question.

China sanctions Pompeo, 27 other Americans

China sanctions Pompeo, 27 other Americans

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2021

The sanctioned individuals and their immediate family members are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of China. They and companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China, according to the statement by the Chinese foreign ministry.

13 WHO scientists in Wuhan to probe COVID-19 origins

13 WHO scientists in Wuhan to probe COVID-19 origins

Rediff.com   14 Jan 2021

The World Health Organisation team's visit has become a bone of contention as Beijing, which questions the widely-held view about the virus' origins in Wuhan, had delayed granting permission to it.

Time on China's side as world faces unprecedented turbulence: Xi

Time on China's side as world faces unprecedented turbulence: Xi

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2021

Xi spoke of the importance of implementing the new development philosophy and advancing the new development paradigm of "dual circulation" in the country's new development phase to ensure a good start for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period.

WHO team tasked to probe origins of Covid to visit China on January 14

WHO team tasked to probe origins of Covid to visit China on January 14

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2021

Confirming the visit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing on Monday that China supported scientists around the world to conduct a global study on the origins and transmission routes of the virus.

China denies coronavirus leaked from Wuhan lab, says global outbreaks caused pandemic

China denies coronavirus leaked from Wuhan lab, says global outbreaks caused pandemic

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2021

"We raced against time and were the first country to report cases to the world," Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said in interviews to the official media over the weekend.

China's new defence law expands power of its military

China's new defence law expands power of its military

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2021

The new law, effective from January 1, weakens the role of the State Council, China's Cabinet headed by Premier Li Keqiang, in formulating military policy, handing decision-making powers to the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high-command of the two million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) headed by Xi, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Sunday.

China hopes Biden will end Trump's Cold War

China hopes Biden will end Trump's Cold War

Rediff.com   2 Jan 2021

The Chinese side hopes that the next US administration will return to a sensible approach, resume dialogue with China, restore normalcy to the bilateral relations and restart cooperation, Wang, who is also a state councillor, told the state-run Xinhua news agency in an interview.

China grants conditional nod to homegrown COVID-19 vaccine

China grants conditional nod to homegrown COVID-19 vaccine

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2020

The approval comes a day after Sinopharm said its vaccine showed 79.34 per cent efficacy and a 99.52 per cent antibody-positive conversion rate in the interim results of the Phase III clinical trials.

China, India in talks to hold 9th round of Commander-level meet

China, India in talks to hold 9th round of Commander-level meet

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2020

India and China have held several rounds of talks at the diplomatic and military-level to resolve the standoff that erupted in early May.

China kicks off emergency COVID-19 vaccination in Wuhan

China kicks off emergency COVID-19 vaccination in Wuhan

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2020

The vaccination, available at 48 designated clinics in 15 districts, began on December 24, targeting certain groups of people aged between 18 and 59 years, He Zhenyu, deputy director of the centre for disease control and prevention in Wuhan, told the media in Wuhan.

Xi appoints new Gen to oversee China-India border

Xi appoints new Gen to oversee China-India border

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2020

President Xi, who heads the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high-command of the two million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA), appointed Gen. Zhang Xudong as the Commander of the Western Theatre Command, according to the official media in Beijing.

China's spacecraft successfully brings home moon samples

China's spacecraft successfully brings home moon samples

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2020

China's President Xi Jinping congratulated scientists on the complete success of the Chang'e-5 mission.

No need for any anxiety on new Brahmaputra dam: China

No need for any anxiety on new Brahmaputra dam: China

Rediff.com   3 Dec 2020

The over 3,800-km-long Brahmaputra, one of the longest rivers in the world passes through China, India and Bangladesh and has several tributaries and sub-tributaries.

China questions Covid origin to Wuhan ahead of WHO probe

China questions Covid origin to Wuhan ahead of WHO probe

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2020

Battling global adversity over the coronavirus and bracing for a World Health Organisation inquiry over its origin, China on Friday claimed that just because COVID-19 cases were first reported in Wuhan does not mean the contagion originated from the central Chinese city.

China's Xi finally congratulates Biden on victory

China's Xi finally congratulates Biden on victory

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2020

Xi said he hopes that the two sides will uphold the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, manage differences, advance the healthy and stable development of China-US ties, and join hands with other countries and the international community to promote the noble cause of world peace and development.