US may impose fresh tariffs on Chinese goods, and Trump’s contribution to the new world order.
China’s most famous actress is missing and the govt may be responsible
Fan Bingbing, one of China’s most famous actresses who is also a regular at international film festivals, is said to have disappeared amid accusations of tax evasion, and the country’s government may be involved, reports CNN.
Fan has been away from the public eye since early June, when she was last seen visiting a children’s hospital in Tibet, according to posts on her verified social media account, the report added.
The actor first came under the scanner when alleged copies of one of her contracts leaked on social media in May. She had two different contracts — known as a ‘yin yang contract’ — the one for tax purposes said she was paid $1.5 million (10 million yuan) for a film, while the second stated her pay as $7.5 million (50 million yuan), The Global Times had reported.
“In an article by state media Securities Daily on September 6, which was later deleted, the publication said Fan had been brought ‘under control and about to receive legal judgment’,” CNN reported. However, “no official statement has been made as to Fan’s whereabouts, or any potential criminal charges against the actress”, it added.
Many see the possibility of the administration’s involvement because “top celebrities of the country are forced to keep an inoffensive public profile to stay in the Chinese government’s good graces”.
“In 2011, China’s best-known artist, Ai Weiwei, was detained for almost three months during which time his whereabouts were unclear. He was later released after he signed a confession authorities described as being related to tax evasion,” the report added.
US may impose new tariffs on $20 billion of Chinese goods
US President Donald Trump is planning to impose new tariffs on Chinese imports worth as much as $200 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.
According to the report, the tariffs are expected to be set at 10 per cent, lower than the previously announced rate of 25 per cent.
Washington’s aim behind the new tariffs is to put pressure on Beijing ahead of a planned high-level meeting on trade, the report said. It is “intended to provide the US leverage in talks over China’s alleged practice of demanding American companies to turn over technology in order to do business in the country”.
“But any imposition of new tariffs has the potential to further escalate trade tensions between the US and China,” CNN noted in a report.
The move will make Chinese manufactured goods even more expensive for American consumers.
President Trump has already imposed import duty on Chinese goods worth billions of dollars in order to “punish” Beijing for its “unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft”. China has also accused the United States of trade bullying and hit back with tariffs.
Kenyan athlete sets new marathon world record
Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge has smashed the marathon world record, by completing one in the German city of Berlin in two hours one minute and 39 seconds Sunday, BBC reported.
The 33-year-old took nearly one minute 20 seconds off the previous best, which was set by Dennis Kimetto in Berlin in 2014 at 2:02:57 hrs, it added.
“I lack words to describe this day,” said Kipchoge. “I am really grateful, happy to smash the world record,” BBC quoted him as saying.
Kipchoge won the London Marathon for a third time earlier this year and is the Olympic champion over the distance.
How Pakistan and China be there for each other
“In a rapidly changing world order, Pakistan and China are becoming increasingly important for each other,” Pakistan-based freelance writer Daniel Hyatt noted in an op-ed for The Global Times .
Reaching out to the newly formed government, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi made a delegation-level visit to Pakistan last week.
Hyatt sought to point out the key notes of the meeting. “Pakistan is facing disparaging bids from the United States despite its decisive action in the war on terror. China has, on the other hand, time and again supported efforts made by Pakistan in uprooting the menace of terrorism,” he added. “During this visit, Wang Yi appreciated Pakistan’s positive role and active participation in issues pertaining to Afghanistan and regional cooperation.”
While the “newly formed Pakistani government is finalising a strategy to meet its ambitious development goals… “Wang stated his government’s intent of providing all-out help in this regard and discussed poverty alleviation”.
Trump and the new world order
While the US played a central role in founding institutions aimed at maintaining a balanced world order, President Donald Trump has been systematically pulling the country out of them, CNN noted in an analysis.
“Since his election, Trump has followed through on his promise to distance the US from global pacts it helped forge,” the report stated. “He’s withdrawn from the Paris Agreement on climate change, ignored NAFTA and the World Trade Organization by launching trade wars on allies and even called into question the role of NATO.”
The analysis by CNN journalists came ahead of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, scheduled to take off Tuesday.
Nima Elbagir, senior international correspondent based in London, said:
“America’s loss of the moral high ground and unwillingness to engage has resulted in a contagion of authoritarian overreach around the globe.”
Nic Robertson, international diplomatic editor from London, added:
“President Trump is an accelerant in the changing world order…The trouble for Trump is he lacks experience in re-righting the imbalance. His moves threaten to throw world order even more off-kilter at America’s expense and its enemies gain. Trump is making change happen faster, and that in itself is dangerous.”
Matt Rivers, international correspondent from Beijing, noted:
“Donald Trump is the kind of leader who could wield outsized American influence to forever change the international world order. But he hasn’t done it yet. To prove fundamental change, you need fundamental proof.”