Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Beijing this week to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, becoming the first Arab leader to visit China this year.
Abbas visits China as Beijing seeks to grow influence in the Middle East
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The United Nations General Assembly on Monday (November 14) voted to approve a resolution which calls for Russia to be held responsible and make reparations to Ukraine.
Russia, China and Iran are among the 14 members that voted against while 73 abstained, including Brazil, India and South Africa.
China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Geng Shuang, explained China’s opposition, pointing out that the resolution lacks both legal basis and practical precedent, and was put to vote without proper discussion and consultation or responding to concerns of UN member states.
He further stressed that all countries that had suffered from historic international injustices including colonialism, foreign intervention, unilateral sanction, economic embargo and so on, are entitled to demand reparations.
UNGA passes unbinding resolution to ask Russia make reparation to Ukraine; China votes against via ShanghaiEye魔都眼
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UN calls on Russia to pay Ukraine reparations
Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, speaking on the topic of the resolution, called it a legally insignificant document. “At the same time, the co-authors cannot help but realize that the adoption of such a resolution will entail consequences that can boomerang back to them,” Nebenzia said.
He added that the resolution intended to legalize the seizure of Russian assets previously frozen by Western countries.
Why tiny Djibouti hosts both China and U.S. military bases – only a few kilometers apart
The U.S. opened its military base, Camp Lemonnier, in the East African nation in 2003 and now the biggest base in Africa. It currently has about 4,500 troops stationed in it. Just 12km away from the U.S. base is China’s which was opened in 2017 with around 2,000 military personnel. The decision by China to set up military bases overseas is surprising as it has historically been opposed to the idea.
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The U.S. established the Camp Lemonnier in 2003 after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. It is home to some 4,500 personnel, some of whom are engaged in secretive missions and targeted drone killings in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, according to the New York Times.
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The lease of land for military bases has become one of the important sources of revenue for the government. In other words, it is the biggest foreign exchange earner for the country. Washington pays $63 million annually for a 10-year lease of the area while China pays $20 million a year, in addition to other investments. It is therefore not difficult to see why the former French colony will look pass the rivalry that exists between the two superpowers.
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 