分类： politics

Foreign diplomatic envoys in China have voiced their optimism regarding the nation’s economic growth, expressing a keen interest in sharing the development opportunities arising from China’s modernization efforts. These sentiments were shared during a thematic briefing on the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), organized by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee in Beijing on Monday. The fourth plenary session, held in October, saw the adoption of the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. The envoys highlighted their interest in China’s initiatives to expand domestic consumption, build a unified national market, and implement decarbonization policies, with a particular focus on Beijing’s foreign policy and efforts to enhance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov emphasized the political significance of the CPC Central Committee’s recommendations, noting their alignment with Russia’s development plans and the strategic partnership between the two nations. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to China Nazmul Islam underscored the emphasis on high-quality development and technological innovation in the recommendations, expressing Bangladesh’s eagerness to learn from China’s development experience. Liu Haixing, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, highlighted the 15th Five-Year Plan’s potential to open new prospects for China’s development and create broader market opportunities for the world. He reiterated China’s commitment to expanding its opening-up, promoting innovative trade development, and aligning with high-standard international economic and trade rules. The event was attended by diplomatic envoys from over 160 countries.

In a significant development, former President Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea (ROK) has been indicted on additional charges of “aiding the enemy” and “abuse of power.” The indictment was announced on Monday by Cho Eunsuk, the special counsel leading the investigation into Yoon’s alleged insurrection and other related offenses. The charges stem from actions that reportedly undermined the military interests of the ROK by escalating the risk of armed conflict between the two Koreas, allegedly to create conditions for declaring martial law.

Prosecutor Park Ji-young revealed that compelling evidence was found in a memo written by Yoon’s former counter-intelligence commander in October last year, which suggested efforts to “create an unstable situation or seize an arising opportunity.” Alongside Yoon, a former defense minister and a former counter-intelligence commander were also indicted on similar charges.

Yoon’s political career has been marred by controversy since December last year, when he attempted to subvert civilian rule by deploying armed soldiers to parliament to prevent lawmakers from rejecting his martial law declaration. This move plunged the ROK into a political crisis. Yoon was subsequently apprehended in January, indicted while in detention, and later released in March. However, he was taken into custody again in July.

The constitutional court upheld his impeachment on April 4, officially removing him from office over his failed martial law bid. The latest indictments add to the legal challenges facing the former president, who has yet to issue a public response.

The Candidate Eligibility Review Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has officially confirmed the validity of all 161 nominations for the 2025 Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election. This announcement was made by the HKSAR government in a press release on Monday, November 11, 2025. The committee meticulously reviewed each nomination to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including adherence to the HKSAR Basic Law and allegiance to the People’s Republic of China. The nomination period, which ran from October 24 to November 6, saw a total of 161 candidates submitting their forms across the 10 geographical constituencies, 28 functional constituencies, and the Election Committee constituency. The election is set to take place on December 7, marking a significant milestone in Hong Kong’s political landscape.

China has implemented stricter regulations on the export of precursor chemicals to the United States, Mexico, and Canada, requiring special licenses for such transactions. The new rule, effective immediately, was jointly announced by the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the General Administration of Customs, and the National Medical Products Administration. This adjustment targets 13 specific precursor chemicals, which are essential in various industries but are often misused in the illegal production of narcotics. Exporters must now provide original documentation from the importing country’s authorities or a guarantee from the importer confirming the legal use of these chemicals. These documents will be reviewed by Chinese public security and commerce departments. The move follows similar measures introduced in April last year, which added 24 substances to the export control catalog for specific countries, including Myanmar, Laos, and Afghanistan. The Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission has also issued a notice urging exporters to comply with international conventions and local laws, particularly in high-risk destinations like the US, Canada, and Mexico. Enterprises are advised to establish robust internal management systems, verify overseas buyers, and avoid illegal inducements. China’s narcotics control authorities emphasize the regulation of precursor chemicals as a critical step in curbing the production of illegal substances both domestically and internationally. Additionally, China has deepened its anti-narcotics cooperation with the US, including the establishment of a joint working group and regular intelligence exchanges.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message on Monday to Alassane Ouattara, who was reelected as the President of Cote d’Ivoire. In his message, Xi highlighted the strong bilateral ties between China and Cote d’Ivoire, describing the two nations as ‘fellow travelers and good partners’ on the path to modernization. He noted that their relationship has seen robust development, with significant achievements in various fields of cooperation and a deepening bond between their peoples. Xi also pointed out the unprecedented global changes and the growing influence of the Global South, emphasizing his commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership with Cote d’Ivoire. He expressed his willingness to collaborate with Ouattara to enhance solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations. Ouattara, 83, secured his fourth term with an overwhelming 89.77 percent of the votes in last month’s presidential election, as confirmed by Cote d’Ivoire’s Constitutional Council. Ouattara has been a prominent political figure in the country, serving as Prime Minister from 1990 to 1993 and winning his first presidential election in 2010, followed by reelections in 2015 and 2020.

In a historic turn of events, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda member, made his first-ever visit to the White House on Monday, symbolizing a dramatic shift in US-Syria relations. Sharaa, who led the Islamist rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to overthrow longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, is the first Syrian leader to visit Washington since Syria’s independence from France in 1946. His visit underscores Damascus’s transformation from a US-designated sponsor of terror to a potential partner in regional stability. During the meeting, President Donald Trump praised Sharaa as a “strong leader” and pledged US support to make Syria “successful.” Sharaa’s government has been working to solidify security ties with the US, reassert control over Kurdish-dominated regions, and address Israeli attacks in the south. While Sharaa has faced skepticism from Egypt and the UAE due to his past, he has strengthened ties with Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The US is reportedly considering integrating Syria into its coalition against the Islamic State (IS) and may establish an air base south of Damascus to monitor a potential de-escalation agreement between Syria and Israel. Despite these diplomatic strides, Syria’s economy remains stagnant, with corruption and lingering sanctions deterring foreign investment. Trump has lifted some sanctions and is lobbying Congress to repeal the 2019 Caesar Sanctions, but progress has been slow. Sharaa’s visit, though cautiously handled by the White House, marks a significant step in reshaping Syria’s role in the Middle East.

MELBOURNE, Australia — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is set to embark on his inaugural official visit to Australia since assuming office in October 2023. The visit, scheduled for Wednesday, underscores the deepening diplomatic ties between the two nations. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the trip on Tuesday, though specifics remain scarce. Prabowo last visited Australia in August 2023 as defense minister and president-elect, just months before his inauguration. Albanese and Prabowo previously met in Jakarta during the Australia–Indonesia annual leaders’ meeting in May 2024, marking Albanese’s first overseas trip following his reelection. Albanese expressed enthusiasm about hosting Prabowo, stating, ‘I am delighted to welcome President Prabowo to Australia and reciprocate the warm hospitality he extended during my visit to Jakarta earlier this year.’ He emphasized the enduring partnership between the two countries, describing it as a ‘deep trust and unbreakable bond’ that fosters a secure, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Australia views Indonesia, its closest neighbor after Papua New Guinea, as a cornerstone of its foreign policy. Notably, newly elected Australian prime ministers traditionally prioritize Jakarta as one of their initial international destinations, reflecting the strategic importance of the bilateral relationship.

In a significant shift in firearms policy, the New Zealand government has announced sweeping reforms aimed at restructuring the regulation of gun ownership. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee revealed on Tuesday that uniformed police officers will no longer be involved in the Firearms Safety Authority (FSA), a move designed to ease tensions between the regulator and gun owners. This decision follows years of strained relations, exacerbated by the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, where a white supremacist legally amassed semiautomatic weapons before killing 51 people. The FSA, established in 2022, will now report directly to the government instead of the New Zealand Police, though it will retain access to law enforcement databases. McKee emphasized the need to rebuild trust within the firearms community, which has felt unfairly scrutinized since the tragedy. The reforms also include extending license renewal periods, allowing more flexible storage options, and introducing a ‘red flag’ system for information sharing among agencies. However, the near-total ban on semiautomatic firearms, enacted after the Christchurch attack, remains intact. McKee’s proposals, which aim to simplify regulations for law-abiding gun owners, are expected to be introduced to Parliament by the end of 2024 and passed by mid-2026. Gun owners have cautiously welcomed the changes, though some expressed disappointment over the lack of clarity on eligibility criteria for firearm ownership.