Boris Johnson and Joe Biden Respond to China Sanctions Case

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President of the United States (US) Joe Biden expressed concern about China's response, following sanctions on state officials, on Friday (26/3). The two also discussed Iran, which is being asked to return to compliance with the international nuclear deal.

Previously, the US, UK, European Union and Canada imposed sanctions on China's position for alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang. To that move, China responded by imposing sanctions on nine British citizens, including members of parliament. 

In addition, China has also imposed sanctions on members of the European Union parliament and other European institutions. Both Johnson and Biden reflect on the actions the US is taking with Britain and other international partners to suppress human rights abuses. 

officials China Breaking

“The Prime Minister and US President Biden expressed concern about the retaliation being taken by China. The two also agreed that Iran must return to adhering to the nuclear deal and share views on climate change, "a spokesman for the British prime minister's office said in a statement, reported by NTD, Sunday (28/3). 

Johnson and Biden are said to have agreed to fight climate change for a better world. In particular, this step is expected to start immediately and create the welfare of many people around the world after the epidemic of the new type of corona virus (Covid-19) which is currently still happening. 

"The two also share goals for the President's Climate Change Summit in April and the COP26 summit to be held in the UK in November, including the need to tackle climate change and conserve biodiversity simultaneously," said the spokesman for the British prime minister's office.

Philippine Warplanes Watch Chinese Ships in South China Sea

The Philippine military sent a number of warplanes to monitor hundreds of Chinese ships in the waters of the South China Sea . This was done by the Minister of Defense of the Philippines, after he repeated his request to China for the ships to be withdrawn immediately.

As reported by Reuters on Sunday (28/3/2021) international concern has arisen over the "swarming and threatening presence" of more than 200 Chinese ships believed to be manned by the Philippines by maritime militias.

The boats are moored on Whitsun Reef in the Philippines' 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

"Philippine military aircraft are dispatched daily to monitor the situation," Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement on Saturday evening local time.

Lorenzana said the military would also increase its naval presence in the South China Sea to carry out sovereign patrols and protect Filipino fishermen.

"Our air and sea assets are ready to protect our sovereignty and sovereign rights," Lorenzana said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. It is said that the ships on Whitsun Reef are fishing vessels that take cover from the rough seas and there are no militias on board.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated to China's ambassador, Huang Xilian, that his country won a landmark arbitration case in 2016 that clarified its sovereign rights amid competition claims by China.

Meanwhile, a number of countries in Asia, including Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, China and Vietnam have competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

China Implements Duty on Australian Wine for 5 Years, This Is the Amount of the Tariff

China will impose tariffs of more than 200 percent on Australian wines for five years, formalizing restrictions that have been in place for months amid increasingly tense relations with Canberra. 

China's Ministry of Commerce said imports of Australian wine products would be subject to an anti-dumping levy of between 116.2 percent and 218.4 percent which took effect from March 28.  

The rate at Treasury Wine Estates, Australia's largest winemaker known for its Penfolds brand, was set at 175.6 percent.

A major commodity buyer introduced interim tariffs in November after launching an investigation into Australian wines, claiming that the product had been subsidized and was selling at below market value. 

That has been rejected by industry bodies and the Australian government, which say it could challenge Beijing at the World Trade Organization, similar to the measures taken against barley. 

"I'm sure we'd recommend that we go to the WTO. Obviously, barley is up, and we're not sure there's a case to answer, so it makes sense for us to go that route," said Australian Grape & Wine Inc. Chief Executive. Tony Battaglene,

The latest move comes after nearly a year of unilateral trade retaliation by China in Australia that has hit commodities ranging from coal to beef and lobster.

Relations between the two countries have ruptured since 2018, when Canberra banned Huawei Technologies Co from building its 5G network, and fell into freefall last year when leaders called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic that first emerged in Wuhan. 

Dan Tehan, Australia's Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment, said the tariffs were disappointing and completely unjustified.  He added that the decision made it difficult for him to continue working with the Chinese government. 

While China's final ruling also featured anti-subsidy tariffs from 6.3 percent to 6.4 percent, the ministry decided not to impose them other than anti-dumping duties to avoid double taxation. 

China was a major buyer of Australian wine before the tariffs, spending nearly US $ 1 billion in 2019 and accounting for 40 percent of winemaker shipments from Down Under.  The duties imposed in November effectively shut out access to its most valuable market, although strong European sales stifled a slump to China .