Author: Arturo Stewart

The United States has imposed sanctions on a number of companies and individuals over alleged rights abuses linked to what Washington describes as illegal, distant-water fishing operations based in China. The US Treasury Department said on Friday that the sanctions targeted Chinese nationals Li Zhenyu and Zhuo Xinrong, as well as 10 entities linked to the pair, including Dalian Ocean Fishing Company and Pingtan Marine Enterprise. The department also identified 157 Chinse-flagged vessels related to the targeted entities, which it accused of “serious human rights abuses” and abusive labour conditions. “Treasury condemns the practices of those sanctioned today, which often involve the abuse…

BEIJING — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi defended what he said was his country’s position of impartiality on the war in Ukraine on Sunday and signaled that China would deepen ties with Russia in the coming year. Wang, speaking by video to a conference in the Chinese capital, also blamed America for the deterioration in relations between the world’s two largest economies, saying that China has “firmly rejected the United States’ erroneous China policy.” China has pushed back against Western pressure on trade, technology, human rights and its claims to a broad swath of the western Pacific, accusing the U.S. of bullying. Its refusal to condemn the…