VATICAN CITY: The Vatican said Saturday (Oct 22) it had renewed a secretive 2018 deal with Beijing allowing China to choose bishops on the mainland and then have Rome approve them.

It said the deal had, as widely expected, been renewed for two years.

“After appropriate consultation and assessment, the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China have agreed to extend for another two years the Provisional Agreement regarding the appointment of Bishops,” read a statement from the Vatican press office.

The agreement, signed in September 2018, was previously extended in October 2020.

The accord is designed to bring closer together Catholics caught between the official state-backed church in China and an underground movement loyal to Rome and the pontiff as the church’s supreme leader.

It also provides for greater cooperation between the Vatican and Beijing, while affording the pope the final say in the appointment of Chinese bishops.

Opponents of the deal, who have highlighted restrictions on religion in China, point to the fact that only six new bishops have been appointed since the deal was first struck.

Diplomatic sources say the renewal of the accord had been called into doubt by the arrest in early May in Hong Kong of 90-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen, one of Asia’s highest-ranking Catholic clerics.

Originally detained earlier this year under a national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong to quell dissent, he went on trial last month alongside five fellow democracy supporters over their role in running a fund to help defend people arrested in anti-government protests.

Zen was arrested for “colluding with foreign forces”.

The People’s Bank of China did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The looming reshuffle comes as the PBOC seeks to bolster the COVID-19 ravaged economy while avoiding aggressive loosening that could fuel capital flight, as the Federal Reserve and other central banks raise interest rates to fight soaring inflation.

Yin Yong, deputy party chief in the capital Beijing who worked as a deputy central bank governor from 2016 to 2018, is a leading candidate to replace Yi, sources close to the central bank said.

Yin, 53, who holds a doctorate in engineering from Tsinghua University and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University, was elected as a full member of the Central Committee during the party congress.

“Yin Yong is likely to replace Yi Gang,” said a source close to the PBOC who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Other sources described Yin as well-positioned to replace Yi, given his status as a rising star and his previous experience at the central bank, the foreign exchange regulator and Beijing government.

Yi has been PBOC governor since 2018 and is one of China’s highest-ranking “sea turtles” – a term for Chinese returning from overseas. He has a doctorate in economics from the University of Illinois.

The PBOC has been overhauling its top management team in recent weeks. Xuan Changneng was named deputy central bank governor on Thursday.

China faces the biggest overhaul of its economic leadership in a decade, with a generation of reform-minded policymakers expected to step down amid worsening growth prospects.

HONG KONG: Three members of a Hong Kong pro-democracy student group were sentenced on Saturday (Oct 22) to up to three years in jail for conspiracy to incite subversion, after setting up street booths that allegedly called on people to oppose the government.

The three, plus one ordered to go to a less-severe correction facility, had pleaded guilty to various acts between October 2020 and June 2021, including giving speeches asking members of the public to struggle against those in power, that were deemed to violate a China-imposed national security law.

They had all been in the group “Student Politicism”.

Ex-convenor Wong Yat-chin, 21, was sentenced to 36 months; Chan Chi-sum, 21, to 34 months; and Jessica Chu, 19, to 30 months. Alice Wong, 20, was ordered to serve up to three years at a facility called a training centre.

Prosecutor Vincent Lee alleged the group had urged the public to remember the popular protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our times”, which could mean separating the city from China, and inciting secession.

The group was accused of calling on people to support 12 youths arrested by the Chinese coastguard for trying to flee to Taiwan by speedboat in 2020, and of not downloading a required government COVID-19 contact tracing app.

“In terms of the effectiveness of incitement, I have noticed that the street stands set up by the defendants are quite popular,” Kwok Wai-kin – a district court judge appointed by the government to hear national security cases – wrote in the judgment.

Kwok said in court that a letter written by Wong Yat-chin from prison before sentencing had called upon people to take certain actions, including “Breathe well, think well, live well, continue to choose and insist on doing the right thing. Let’s walk the unfinished journey with our heads up.”

The national security law punishes acts like subversion with up to life in prison in the former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Some western governments say the law has been used as a tool to crack down on the financial hub’s freedoms and autonomy. China says the law has brought stability after prolonged pro-democracy street protests in 2019.

BEIJING: China’s Communist Party on Saturday (Oct 22) unanimously approved a series of amendments to its constitution, further strengthening the control of Xi Jinping who now appears set for a historic third term in power.

The party constitution, or charter, is a document of ultimate authority by which all 96 million party members must abide, and amendments remain effective indefinitely.

Here’s a guide to what has – and hasn’t – changed.

XI’S “CORE POSITION”

China’s Communist Party endorsed Xi’s “core position” on the Party Central Committee – a group of about 200 senior officials – as well as his rarefied status “in the Party as a whole”.

All party members will have to “acquire a deep understanding” of Xi’s unassailable role and work to uphold it, the document says.

While the 69-year-old has long been referred to as the “core” of the party, the resolution uses the designation more often and in more reverent terms than the previous charter.

That may indicate a further consolidation of his untrammelled power at the top of the party and state.

NO “XI JINPING THOUGHT”

Many analysts were waiting to see whether the party would enshrine the term “Xi Jinping Thought” as its guiding doctrine, a move that would have placed Xi on a par with the likes of the country’s founding leader Mao Zedong.

The lengthier “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” was first woven into the charter in 2017, and argues that the party must take a commanding role in Chinese society while pushing further reform, national security and internal discipline.

The resolution Saturday referred to the ideology by its longer name, indicating that its status had not been significantly elevated.

However, it lauded the creed as “the Marxism of contemporary China and of the 21st century”.

It “embodies the best Chinese culture and ethos of this era”, the resolution said.

TAIWAN INCLUSION

For the first time, the party’s charter will say explicitly that it opposes Taiwanese independence, according to the resolution.

The constitution will be changed to include “statements on … resolutely opposing and deterring separatists seeking ‘Taiwan independence'”.

The existing charter says only that the party will “work continuously to strengthen the unity of all the Chinese people, including compatriots … in Taiwan” as part of efforts to achieve the “reunification of the motherland”.

Beijing views self-ruled Taiwan as part of its own territory and has vowed to one day take it – by force if necessary.

Tensions ratcheted up in the summer when US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island, prompting Beijing to launch huge military drills.

During the congress opening ceremony, Xi reiterated that China would never renounce the option of using force to impose its rule on Taiwan.

Xi, 69, is widely expected to be confirmed on Sunday to a third five-year leadership term as party general secretary.
 

SINGAPORE: Crowds of Causeway bus travellers from Singapore were seen at Malaysia’s immigration building in Johor Bahru on Friday evening (Oct 21), ahead of the Deepavali long weekend.

Videos shared on the Facebook page Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers showed a crush of commuters jostling for space at the bus platform. 

Shouts could be heard as people pushed forward to walk up the escalator and staircase into the arrival immigration hall. 

A video shared by Facebook user Gugan Zizou at about 10.40pm showed a Malaysian official standing on a platform. 

“Stop pushing, stop pushing!” the uniformed official was heard saying as he attempted to control the crowd.

A separate video taken by Facebook user Revathi Rajagopal showed how the travellers were standing shoulder to shoulder. Voices could be heard urging the crowd to stop pushing. 

“There is a person who is about to fall,” a man was heard saying. 

BEIJING: China’s five-yearly Communist Party Congress wrapped up on Saturday (Oct 22) with delegates endorsing President Xi Jinping’s “core position” in the country’s leadership, all but assuring he will be handed an unprecedented third term in power.

At the end of the week-long gathering in Beijing, China’s ruling party approved a sweeping reshuffle that saw a number of top officials – including Premier Li Keqiang – step down, allowing Xi to appoint new allies.

The largely rubber-stamp meeting among 2,300 party delegates was meticulously choreographed, with Xi determined to avoid any surprises as he enshrined his leadership for the next five years.

But in an unexpected move that punctured the proceedings at the Great Hall of the People, former leader Hu Jintao was led out of the closing ceremony. No official explanation was given.

Delegates then approved a call obliging all party members to “uphold Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the Party Central Committee and in the party as a whole”, according to a unanimously passed resolution on changes to the party charter.

Xi is now all but certain to be unveiled as general secretary on Sunday, shortly after the first meeting of the new Central Committee.

This will allow Xi to sail through to a third term as China’s president, due to be announced during the government’s annual legislative sessions in March.

NEW CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

A new Central Committee of around 200 senior party officials was elected shortly before the closing ceremony.

A list of officials of the newly elected group revealed that four out of seven members of the Party’s Standing Committee – the apex of power – would retire.

Among them was current Premier Li Keqiang, as well as fellow Politburo Standing Committee members Wang Yang – who was touted as a possible successor to Li – Han Zheng, and Li Zhanshu.

Han and Li Zhanshu were widely expected to step down, having surpassed the informal age limit of 68 for Politburo-level officials – a requirement not extended to 69-year-old Xi.

Wang and Li Keqiang, both 67, could still have continued in the Standing Committee or 25-member Politburo for another five-year term.

Other high-profile Communist Party top brass absent from the new Central Committee include high-ranking diplomat Yang Jiechi and economic tsar Liu He.

“HARD TO DRAW SOLID CONCLUSIONS”

Hu’s exit came just before the 2,300 delegates at the Congress voted unanimously to endorse Xi’s “core” leadership position.

“We still don’t know what caused Hu’s actions, such as whether it was opposition to Xi’s power or simply an unfortunately timed senior moment,” said Neil Thomas, a senior China analyst at the Eurasia Group consultancy.

“So without more information, it’s hard to draw solid conclusions about how this incident relates to Chinese politics.”

Analyst Alex White tweeted: “Whether it was deliberate, or he was unwell, the effect is the same. Complete humiliation for the last generation of pre-Xi leadership.”

Search results for “Hu Jintao” on the Twitter-like Weibo platform appeared to be heavily censored Saturday afternoon, with the most recent result dated Friday and posts limited to those of official accounts.

Xi is all but assured of being formally announced on Sunday as the party’s general secretary for another five years.

This will allow Xi to sail through to a third term as China’s president, due to be announced during the government’s annual legislative sessions in March.

Silver prices are down 9 per cent since the start of the year in India, with futures trading at about 56,000 rupees (US$675) per kilogram. This is about 40 per cent lower compared to a record high of nearly 78,000 rupees per kilogram in 2020. 

In contrast, gold prices in the country have remained elevated, at about 52,000 rupees for 10g.

INVESTING IN SILVER

As inflation soars in India, buying gold may not be an option for some people. Many are also betting that the price of silver will return to its highs eventually, making it a good investment.

Jeweller Vrishank Jain said his silver sales are up by 50 per cent compared to last year.  

“People are not buying gold, but they’ve started to buy silver, seeing a bigger scope of when silver goes up, they’ll get a better return,” he said. 

Mr Naveen Mathur, a director at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, said: “It has kind of a surrogate demand, which would continue for silver because it’s less expensive than gold, and at the same time serving some purposes.”

But observers pointed out that silver cannot completely replace gold, which still has huge religious and cultural significance in India, as well as being a means of accumulating wealth.

“Markets today are sitting at around 24,000 to 25,000 tonnes of gold – in jewellery across the country, in religious places, temples, and also gold reserves,” said Mr Mathur.

“So this means, I think, we never would be able to take silver to that particular position.”

SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida agreed on Saturday (Oct 22) to strengthen security ties between the two US allies amid China’s push for greater influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the annual Australia-Japan Leaders’ Meeting, held in the Western Australia capital Perth, the two signed a security cooperation agreement updating a 2007 pact, to respond to a changed regional security environment.

As part of the bolstered security partnership, Albanese said Japan’s military would train and exercise in northern Australia alongside Australian Defence Force personnel.

In their fourth summit since Albanese took office in May, they said the agreement would serve “as a compass” for security cooperation for the next decade. They agreed to consult and study responses to emergencies that could affect regional security.

Albanese and Kishida also discussed climate change, expressing support for a regional transition to net zero carbon emissions and boosting investment in clean energy tech.

“Both our countries are committed to net zero by 2050,” Albanese told reporters after a signing ceremony.

Among those efforts, the leaders agreed to help build secure supply chains between the two nations for “critical minerals, including those that are required for building the green technologies of the future,” Albanese said.

“This partnership will mean we build secure supply chains, promote investment, develop Australia’s domestic sector and make sure Japan’s advanced manufacturers have the critical minerals they need.”

As well as building a framework for secure supply chains, the partnership would promote information sharing and collaboration, including research, investment and commercial arrangements between Japanese and Australian critical minerals projects, the Australian government said in a statement.

Kishida told reporters signing the updated joint security declaration was one of the largest achievements of his visit.

“I expressed my determination that all necessary options for the defence of our country, including the so-called counterstrike capability, would become contemplated and Japan’s defence capability will be fundamentally reinforced in the next five years, which is supported by Anthony,” he said.

The Japanese leader said the two nations had been working to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific under “an increasingly severe strategic environment”.

“Through this experience, the bonds that tie Japan and Australia together have become much stronger. And our two countries have become the central pillar of cooperation among like-minded countries,” he said.

Australia is a major supplier of iron ore, coal and gas to Japan. Locating the meeting in Perth, 3,700km from the national capital Canberra, was meant to showcase Western Australia’s importance in supplying Japan’s energy needs, including renewable energy. The state is also a key source of beef and wheat to Japan.

Canberra and Tokyo recently bolstered security ties in response to China’s growing military strength in the region. In May, Kishida and Albanese pledged to work toward a new bilateral declaration on security cooperation.

A previous joint declaration outlined security cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism and North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons programmes. The two countries in 2014 elevated their relationship to a “Special Strategic Partnership”.