Reuters: Telecom Italia Intends to Reduce Purchases of Huawei 5G Equipment

Reuters reported on 23 December that Telecom Italia has decided to retain Nokia as a supplier of its 5G network equipment to reduce the proportion of that supplied by Huawei. Among the suppliers whose contracts have been reviewed, Sweden’s Ericsson will supply most of the equipment with Huawei and Nokia winning 20 to 25% of the contracts. Negotiations on reducing the proportion of contracts awarded to Huawei are still in progress.

According to the report, the US has been persuading Italy and other European countries to avoid using Huawei’s equipment, which may pose a threat to national security, an allegation denied by Huawei. Italy still refuses to completely prohibit the use of Huawei equipment.

Source: Stand News #Dec23

#Huawei #TelecomItalia #Ericsson #Nokia #5G

https://bit.ly/3nPTzPH

‘Politics come first’ as ban on Australian coal worsens China’s power cuts

Mid of December,, more than a dozen Chinese cities have imposed restrictions on electricity use as growing demand for energy owing to the country’s post-coronavirus economic recovery collides head on with a shortage of thermal coal. The shortage underscores the dilemma Chinese authorities face in balancing their muscular approach to international diplomacy with the needs of the economy.

Authorities in at least four Chinese provinces have recently asked residents and businesses to cut electricity consumption, according to public announcements.

“The import curb is enough to change the industry landscape,” said a director at China Huadian Corporation, one of the nation’s largest energy groups. “Many local power plants depend on Australian coal due to its higher efficiency and now they are having trouble finding an alternative.”

Source: Financial Times #Dec23

https://www.ft.com/content/e83fffeb-3ef2-4b67-8989-6d17f153d8d4

#AustraliaChina #Coal #ElecricityChina

'Good riddance,' China says as Germany leaves UN Security Council

Germany's UN envoy Christoph Heusgen during his last scheduled UN Security Council meeting, appealed to China to free two detained Canadians for Christmas

"Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture," Heusgen, who plans to retire after more than 40 years as a diplomat, said.

China's deputy UN envoy to respond promptly, "out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance."

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald #Dec23

https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/good-riddance-china-says-as-germany-leaves-un-security-council-20201223-p56ppb.html

#GermanyUNEnvoy #ChinaHostageDiplomacy #China #Canada

Germany's UN envoy urged China to release the 2 captive Canadians, China replied “Good Riddance”

Christoph Heusgen, UN envoy of Germany, attended his last meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday (Dec 22). At the meeting, he call on China to free the two detained Canadian citizens, but China deputy UN envoy Geng Shuang promptly respond with “good riddance”.

As Germany end its 2-years term as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council this month, and Ambassador Christoph Heusgen's retirement after being a diplomat for over 40 years. He utilises his parting message to call on China, “Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture,”

However, Geng accused Huesgen of abusing the Security Council to launch “malicious” attack on other members “in an attempt to poison the working atmosphere.” He said, “I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen. I am hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfill the responsibilities...for maintaining international peace and security.”

#GengShuang #ChristophHuesgen #China #Germany #Canada #UN #SecurityCouncil #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor

Source: Apple daily #Dec23

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201223/Z5NPPCONDZC6HHRDMAUPUVM2YU/

Telephone Call between Chinese and Russian Foreign Ministers Accuses US of Unilateral Sanctions, Indicating Cooperation between the Two Countries in Resistance to Suppression from US 
 
Tension between US-China and US-Russia relationship continues to heighten. In a telephone call on December 22 between Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, the two foreign ministers stated that the two countries shall continue to work closely together to combat suppression from the US. 
 
Wang told Lavrov that China and Russia share a “high quality and special” relationship. He also agreed with Russia President Putin that leaders from the two countries have built a highly mutually trusting and friendly relationship, and that both countries share much common ground on multiple issues. 
 
Wang criticised the US of “going against the current trends and still waving its huge stick of unilateral sanctions”, and that the US “would only leave undignified records in the world”. Lavrov responded that the two nations shall firmly oppose the US’s destructive actions towards multilateralism, reinstating that suppression from the US must be resisted. He claimed that such could effectively protect international law, the mutual benefits for the two countries, as well as international stability and cooperation. 
 
#China #ChineseDiplomacy #WangYi #USDiplomacy #US #Russia #RussiaDiplomacy #SergeyLavrov #unilateralsanctions
 
Source: The Stand News  #Dec23

https://bit.ly/2OMDE8E