Global Politics
Xi Jinping warns against foreign bullying of China
Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued a warning to China’s foes, declaring the era of his nation being bullied is over
The fiery statements came during a lengthy speech delivered in front of 70,000 people in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, to mark 100 years of the ruling Communist Party.
The Chinese President, who is wanting to strengthen the CCP’s legitimacy and shore up his own popularity, used his address to praise the role of the party. He says it has been central to China’s growth.
The Chinese President declared his nation will not stand for foreign bullying
“Anyone who would attempts to do so will find themselves on a collision course with a great wall of steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people,” President Xi Jinping said.
“We have never bullied, oppressed, or subjugated the people of any other country, and we never will.”
The assertion is at odds with the recent coercive behavior from Beijing targeting Australia.
President Xi has also overseen China’s repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, with human rights groups alleging the Chinese government is committing crimes against humanity. Beijing has also been called out for its oppression of Hong Kong, where another anniversary is being marked today.
FILE PHOTO: Staff members chat as they prepare a seminar of Australia China bilateral cooperation in resources and infrastructure in West Australia, in Beijing July 23, 2009. REUTERS/Jason Lee
Today marks 24 years since Hong Kong’s 1997 handover to China by colonial Britain
More than 10,000 police officers have been deployed to discourage protests today and local police have banned a planned pro-democracy rally, citing COVID restrictions.
Contrast that to the grand celebrations taking place in mainland China.
Author
US Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci says the US is moving in the “wrong direction” when it comes to combating the nation’s new wave of Covid-19 infections
Fauci says a booster shot may help slow the spread of Covid-19 and reduce hospitalisations for vulnerable Americans.
Around half of Americans are fully vaccinated, but experts fear daily deaths could soar back up to 4,000 a day as the Delta variant spreads.
The Committee on Immunisation discussed the possibility of introducing a third booster shot last week. Fauci says the new data should push the country in that direction.
It comes as Israel’s health ministry released statistics showing Pfizer’s Covid-19 jab is 39% effective in keeping people from getting infected by the delta variant. However, is significantly reduces hospitalisations.
Author
As a number of states in Fortress Australia amp up Covid-19 restrictions, authorities remain concerned over rising cases and protests
Covid-19 restrictions are continuing in the Australian cities of Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide today. This comes as so called ‘Fortress Australia’ faces a growing number of cases in New South Wales.
Meanwhile, Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews says he is “optimistic.” Victoria plans to lift certain restrictions on Tuesday at midnight.
Anti-lockdown protests across the country
Over the weekend, thousands of protesters gathered in various cities around the nation to protest Covid-19 stay at home orders.
It comes as some residents dub the nation “fortress Australia” over harsh border policies. These have seen the country largely cut off from most parts of the world for months.
Marc Stears from Sydney Uni’s policy labs believes “Australians have been willing to put up with restrictions which elsewhere in the democratic world would have been entirely politically impossible”.
Australia’s vaccine rollout
A recent ABC survey found that around 80 percent of residents are comfortable with strong border policies until authorities bring the pandemic under control.
It comes as the country’s total vaccination rate stands at 11 percent – making it the lowest ranking OECD nation for vaccination rollout.
Author
New Zealand has suspended its travel bubble with Australia
The nation has halted its travel bubble arrangements for at least eight weeks as Australia continues to battle against the delta variant of COVID-19.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern fronted the media and stated that “the Delta variant has materially changed the risk profile”.
From 11:59pm tonight, Australians will be unable to travel to New Zealand on a quarantine-free flight
This restriction will be in place for at least the next eight weeks.
The trans-tasman route is already closed to travellers flying into New Zealand from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia as those states battle COVID-19 outbreaks.
“For New Zealanders in Australia, we are absolutely committed to getting you home,” Ms Ardern said.
Constant disruption to trans-Tasman travel bubble
Flights to New Zealand inside the bubble have been paused and restarted as different Australian states have experienced COVID-19 outbreaks.
“For the next seven days, we will have managed return flights for New Zealanders from all states and territories.
“Only New Zealand citizens and those ordinarily resident in New Zealand will be able to fly home.”
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