Regional

Japanese company launches instant noodle flavored soda

instant noodle flavor Nissin soda
Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

Japanese company Nissin Foods is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its popular instant noodle brand by launching a drinkable version in the form of instant noodle flavored sodas. Japan’s Mainichi News reports that Nissin has reproduced four of its most popular instant noodle flavors as soda drinks, including Nissin cup noodle, Seafood, curry, and spicy tomato instant noodle flavors. Nissin Foods took to Twitter to say that the sodas faithfully reproduce the authentic taste of instant noodles. “It’s up to

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China tests “underwater helicopter” prototype autonomous submersible vehicle in South China Sea

underwater helicopter raised onto deck during sea trials
Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Chinese researchers have successfully tested a new type of autonomous unmanned submersible vehicle they have dubbed an “underwater helicopter” according to Chinese media outlets today, September 6. Reports say that tests carried out in the South China Sea successfully trialed take offs, landings, docking on a submarine apron, 360-degree steering, fixed-point hovering, wireless charging, acoustic navigation and tracking, and other functions of the vehicle. The project partners include Zhejiang University, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy

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Suspected Chinese space junk found on Japanese island

suspected Chinese space junk
Regional 
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An object resembling a rocket fragment bearing the words “China manned spaceflight” has been reported washed up in the Japanese Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, according to the Chinese language version of Kyodo News. The Taketomi Township Office reported that the object was found on a sandy beach on Kohama Island August 30. The 4 meter by 2.5 meter white object bears the words “China Manned Spaceflight” in blue, simplified Chinese characters, resembling the logo of China’s manned spaceflight project.

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Human brawl at Beijing wildlife park sets bad example for animals

tourists fight at Beijing wildlife park
Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Animals began fighting with each other after witnessing a brawl break out among a group of human visitors at the Beijing Safari Park on Saturday afternoon, according to Beijing Daily. An argument broke out among the tourists before escalating into an all-in brawl according to a video uploaded to China’s social media platform Weibo which quickly went viral over the weekend August 7-8. “They shouted at each other, tore at each other and many tourists and animals were watching. The

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China incensed after Japan’s Prime Minister, opposition leader call Taiwan ‘a country’

Wang Wenbin spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

China expressed “strong dissatisfaction with erroneous remarks” in response to statements made in Japan’s parliamentary body yesterday referring to Taiwan as a country, according to Beijing Daily. Both the Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, and the leader of the opposition, Yukio Edano, made comments using the word “country” when referring to Taiwan in the Japanese Diet yesterday, Wednesday, June 9. Prime Minister Suga, speaking about epidemic prevention efforts in overseas countries cited the examples of Australia, New Zealand, and

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Hong Kong’s public broadcasting service purged of democratic voices: journalist who challenged WHO with Taiwan question resigns

Hong Kong journalist Yvonne Tong and WHO assistant director-general Bruce Aylward interview March 2020
Media Issues Regional 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , ,

The host of an English language news and current affairs program on Hong Kong’s public broadcasting service who questioned a WHO bureaucrat about Taiwan’s lack of membership in the organization has resigned, according to reports including Hong Kong Media outlet The Standard, March 12. The host of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) program The Pulse, Yvonne Tong, had been dogged by pro-CCP (Chinese Communist Party) organizations since asking assistant director-general of the World Health Organization, Bruce Aylward, whether WHO would

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Chinese PLA commander who refused CCP order to attack student protestors dead at 85

Regional 
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A Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) major-general who spent the last decades of his life under house arrest after facing court-martial and a five-year prison sentence for refusing an order to crush student protestors in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989, died January 8, 2021, according to reports coming out of Hong Kong. Xu Qinxian was commander of the PLA’s 38th Group Army when he was ordered to mobilize his troops to Beijing to enforce a martial law order against demonstrators,

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Made in China baby lotion allegedly contains hormones that produces “Michelin babies”

baby allegedly suffering from hormone-related problems
Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A baby lotion manufactured and sold in China has been pulled from shelves in that country, after allegations that it contained hormones that caused a five-month-old baby to balloon in weight, grow hair on its forehead, and suffer developmental setbacks, according to Chinese language news sources, including Apple Daily. The story came to light after popular Chinese science blogger, Daddy Wei published a video on the Chinese social network Weibo, January 7. According to reports, the parents of a five-month-old

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Taiwan citizen charged with spying in China after reporting PLA troop movements on Hong Kong border

Lee Meng-ju
Regional 
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A Taiwanese man who went missing after crossing the border from Hong Kong into Shenzhen City in August has been formally charged for spying and endangering the national security of China, according to reports today, November 30. Morrison Lee (Lee Meng-chu, 李孟居), 44, crossed the border to Shenzhen City, August 20, after visiting Hong Kong. At the time, mass protests against the Extradition Law Amendment Bill were in progress in Hong Kong. Lee had expressed support for the pro-democracy movement

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Ministry of Education organizes emergency flight to get Taiwan students out of Hong Kong after violence escalates

students protest at China University Hong Kong
Regional 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , ,

Taiwan’s Ministry of Education arranged a special flight for 85 students who requested help to return home, after violent conflicts between protesters and police spread to a university campus, yesterday, November 12. Another 41 Taiwanese students purchased tickets on regular flights to Taiwan. According to the MOE, there are a total of 1,021 Taiwanese students enrolled at universities in Hong Kong, including exchange students. Around 300 Taiwanese students are enrolled at China University of Hong Kong (CUHK). CUHK remained barricaded

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Senator urges Congress to invite President Tsai Ing-wen to Washington

Senator Ted Cruz
Regional 
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US Senator Ted Cruz said that he had written to Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, urging her to invite President Tsai Ing-wen to make a speech to Congress. Texas Republican Senator Cruz made the remarks in a response to questions by a CNA reporter in a Q and A session after a speech delivered to the American Enterprise Institute yesterday, February 6. During the speech, which focused on the role of Congress in American foreign

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