Britain once again shows it is at US' beck and call

Despite some of them having conflicting territorial claims, countries in the region have been working hard to ensure peace and stability are maintained in the South China Sea, through which a third of global maritime trade passes, and to this effect they recently reached agreement on a framework for a code of conduct in the waters on the basis of consultation and consensus.

Trump proposes fresh salvo of tariffs in his war for spoils

It is yet to be seen whether US President Donald Trump's threat of a "reciprocal tax" on goods imported from countries that levy tariffs on US products was just a reiteration of his campaign trail slogans as some observers believe.

Foxconn's planned IPO reflects vitality of China's real economy

THE CHINA SECURITIES REGULATORY COMMISSION disclosed the prospectus of Foxconn Industrial Internet Company, a subsidiary of the Foxconn Technology Group, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, on its official website on Friday. Beijing News comments:

Time to close underground blood market

CHINA WILL halt its "mutual aid blood donation", except in some far-flung areas, by the end of March. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Tuesday:

No ice, no problem Qomolangma is still the highest peak

SOME MEDIA REPORTS have suggested China has given up its previous data about Qomolangma's height of 8,844.43 meters and adopted the data of Nepal that measures the height of the mountain as 8,848.13 meters. However, the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation has responded that China will adhere to its own data. Beijing News comments:

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How do we get from Pyeongchang to peace?

After some two years of rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the reprieve brought by the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in the Republic of Korea is more than welcome. However, complacency is not an option.

Clearer regulations on digital hongbao needed

This Lunar New Year, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has once again stressed members of the Communist Party of China must obey the Eight-Point Regulation, which aims to curb corruption and extravagance. Festivals and holidays used to be peak periods for such extravagance and gift-giving in exchange for favors. But over the last five years, thanks to the enforcement of the code of behavior for officials, expensive banquets paid for with public money have largely disappeared during the holidays.

To cope with black swan events - hang in there

As the United States' economy has recovered in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, the US Federal Reserve has gradually raised interest rates. As a result, rates have risen from 0.25 percent in December 2008 to their current 1.5 percent. Although each increase had an initial negative impact on the stock market, every downturn has been accompanied by a subsequent rebound due to an influx of large buy orders.

Visit boosts productive Sino-US ties

The visit to Washington by State Councilor Yang Jiechi has helped set in motion what a spokesperson for US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says will be a "constructive and productive" bilateral relationship during the second year of Trump's presidency.

Poverty relief requires complete commitment

President Xi Jinping's visit to Zhaojue county in Southwest China's Sichuan province, one of the country's most poverty-stricken counties, five days before Spring Festival, points to the importance China's top leadership attaches to the poverty alleviation task.

US act would put it at risk of being pawn of secessionists

The Taiwan Travel Act, which encourages high-level exchange of visits between the United States and the island, passed the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations last week as expected, and will now move to the Senate, where it is quite likely to get the seal of approval before being sent to the president to be signed into law.