James Griffiths, CNN, Author at newswatchplus.ph

Divorces fall 70% in China after government orders couples to cool off

James Griffiths, CNN — Thu, 20 May 2021 11:40:33 +0000

(CNN) — The number of divorces recorded in China has fallen by more than 70% since the introduction of a mandatory “cooling-off” period earlier this year. According to statistics released by the country’s Ministry of Civil Affairs, 296,000 divorces were registered in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 1.06 million in the final quarter

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Taiwan’s Tsai wins Canadian government-backed award that Ottawa reportedly tried to block

James Griffiths, CNN — Tue, 04 May 2021 11:14:41 +0000

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has been awarded the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service. Tsai is shown speaking during her inspection of a Republic of China Navy fleet in Keelung on March 8, 2021.

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China targets foreign spies and ‘hostile forces’ with new anti-espionage rules

James Griffiths, CNN — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 16:53:59 +0000

(CNN) — China is stepping up anti-espionage activities amid worsening ties with the United States and a renewed focus on national security ahead of a key Communist Party anniversary later this year. Announcing the new regulations Monday, state news agency Xinhua quoted a senior official at the Ministry of State Security as saying “overseas espionage and

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ANALYSIS: Xi Jinping’s culture war comes to China’s campuses as Communist Party prepares to mark 100 years

James Griffiths, CNN — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 14:03:36 +0000

(CNN) — When it comes to making history, Beijing’s universities have played an outsized role: they were the source of the demonstrations which kicked off the May Fourth Movement, to which the Chinese Communist Party traces its roots, and the Tiananmen Square protests, perhaps the biggest challenge to the CCP since it took power. So

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China’s parliament endorses plan to ‘improve’ Hong Kong elections, further curbing opposition

James Griffiths, CNN — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 17:49:43 +0000

(CNN) — China’s rubber-stamp parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly endorsed a proposal on “improving the electoral system” of Hong Kong, further restricting the ability of people in the city to freely elect their leaders. Members of the National People’s Congress in Beijing voted 2,895 in favor of the proposal, with no votes against and one abstention.

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China orders US consulate in Chengdu to cease operations in retaliation for Houston closure

James Griffiths, CNN — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 12:31:47 +0000

(FILE PHOTO)

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People planning to get married can check if their partner has a history of domestic violence on new Chinese database

James Griffiths, CNN — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 13:31:41 +0000

(CNN) — A city in eastern China is launching a database for people considering marriage to check the domestic violence records of their partner. The database will be launched on July 1 in the city of Yiwu, in Zhejiang province. It’s backed by the All China Women’s Foundation (ACWF), an influential, government-linked organization, which said

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ANALYSIS: China revealed some details of Hong Kong’s national security law and it’s as bad as critics feared

James Griffiths, CNN — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 15:41:12 +0000

(CNN) — Since Beijing revealed plans to impose a national security law on Hong Kong, defenders of the bill have argued that fears of what it could do to the city’s political freedoms and civil liberties are overblown. The law is simply plugging a loophole, they claimed, and is no different to what many other

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A border dispute with China may push India closer to some of Beijing’s top rivals

James Griffiths, CNN — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 07:05:50 +0000

This story was first published on CNN.com A border dispute with China may push India closer to some of Beijing’s top rivals (CNN) — Relations between China and India have always been complicated. During British colonialism, India was the source of opium foreign traders forced onto Chinese markets, sparking war between the UK and the

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Thousands of Hong Kongers defy police ban to remember Tiananmen Square massacre

James Griffiths, CNN — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 10:39:10 +0000

(CNN) — Thousands of Hong Kongers defied a police ban Thursday to gather in the city’s Victoria Park and mark the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. The rally, which has been held every year since the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in China, had been banned over coronavirus fears, a move many viewed

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