BEIJING, January 30, 2014 (AFP) - A New York Times reporter was leaving Beijing Thursday after authorities did not grant him a visa, in a case that comes as Chinese authorities ratchet up pressure on foreign media. "China is forcing out Austin Ramzy today after 6.5 years," Times China correspondent Ed Wong wrote on Twitter. "Sad to be leaving Beijing," Ramzy tweeted. "Hope I can return soon." It comes a month after US Vice President Joe Biden raised the issue of China's treatment of foreign journalists privately with Chinese leaders during a visit to Beijing. Beijing has blocked the websites of both the Times and Bloomberg News after they published investigations in 2012 into the family wealth of former premier Wen Jiabao and President Xi Jinping, respectively. Authorities this week said that Ramzy's journalist visa, which the newspaper applied for in June after he joined from Time magazine, would not be ready before the end of the month, effectively obliging him to leave. The … [Read more...] about New York Times reporter leaves China after visa denial
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Chinese tycoon wants to ‘rebuild’ New York Times
BEIJING - A Chinese tycoon said Monday he is serious about buying the New York Times and wants to work on "rebuilding its credibility and influence" by reforming its award-winning coverage of China. Chen Guangbiao, listed as one of China's 400 richest people and a man known as much for his publicity stunts as his charitable giving, penned an op-ed in the state-run Global Times newspaper headlined: "I intend to buy The New York Times, please don't take it as a joke". "The tradition and style of The New York Times make it very difficult to have objective coverage of China," Chen wrote. "If we could purchase it, its tone might turn around. Therefore I have been involved in discussing acquisition-related matters with like-minded investors." The New York Times has published several award-winning reports on China, including a 2012 investigation into the family wealth of then-premier Wen Jiabao that was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. The paper's website has been blocked ever since in … [Read more...] about Chinese tycoon wants to ‘rebuild’ New York Times
China’s Wen warns of new action in Japan boat row
- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has warned of further action if Japan fails to release a trawler captain whose arrest this month set off the worst diplomatic row between the two Asian powers in years. In the highest reaction yet from Beijing, Wen demanded the immediate release of the captain who was arrested by Tokyo following a collision between his fishing boat and two Japanese patrol vessels near disputed islands. Japan in turn called Wednesday for high-level talks to resolve the feud but rejected China's claims to the disputed islands in the East China Sea, with Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara saying "there is no territorial issue". The dispute erupted September 7 when the Chinese fishing trawler and Japanese coastguard vessels collided near the islands, which are claimed by Beijing, Tokyo and Taipei and lie near possible oil and gas fields. Japan arrested the captain Zhan Qixiong the following day, sparking fury in Beijing. "I strongly urge the Japanese side to release the skipper … [Read more...] about China’s Wen warns of new action in Japan boat row
Japan to free Chinese skipper at centre of row
TOKYO, Sept 24, 2010 (AFP) - Japan said Friday it would free a Chinese fishing boat captain whose arrest in disputed waters over two weeks ago sparked the worst row in years between the Asian giants. Prosecutors cited the deepening rift between Beijing and Tokyo in their decision to release the captain who was arrested after his boat collided with two Japanese coastguard vessels in the East China Sea. "Considering the impact on Japan's people and the Japan-China relationship, we decided it would not be worth continuing detaining and investigating the captain," said Naha district deputy chief prosecutor Toru Suzuki. The Chinese captain, Zhan Qixiong, 41, had acted on the spur of the moment and not committed a premeditated criminal act, and he had no prior criminal record in Japan, said Suzuki in a televised press conference. Public broadcaster NHK, also citing prosecutors, reported that "the Chinese captain will be sent back to China", while adding it would take time because … [Read more...] about Japan to free Chinese skipper at centre of row
US Senate bill would penalize China over yuan
Members of Congress on Tuesday threatened Beijing with duties on some of its exports if it fails to revalue its currency, pressuring the Obama administration to label China a currency manipulator. A bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate merges previous legislative efforts to press China to change policies that critics say keep its yuan currency cheap, effectively subsidizing Chinese exports and taxing competing imports. "When there's a 20 percent or 30 percent undervaluation that reduces the price of a product coming in, that's not fair. That's cheating," Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow, a co-sponsor of the legislation, told a news conference. "If they're not going to do it, we're going to force them," Republican Senator Sam Brownback added. The bill, a rare show of bipartisan accord, reflects widespread concern about high U.S. unemployment. It follows two days after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao dismissed U.S. complaints about China's exchange-rate policy as protectionist. … [Read more...] about US Senate bill would penalize China over yuan