China's air defense identification zone "conforms" to UN charter and international practices: foreign ministry

Chinese government has issued a rebuke to Japanese and US government comments connected to the Chinese government's establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone.

The Chinese government announced the establishment of the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone over the weekend, including a diagram for the zone and a set of rules connected to aircraft identification.

The Chinese government says it will take "timely measures" to deal with air threats and unidentified flying objects from the sea.

The Japanese government says it can't accept the fact the zone covers the Diaoyu Islands.

In response, the Chinese government is describing the establishment of the zone as "thoroughly legitimate", saying the measures "conform to the Charter of the United Nations and international laws and practices".

China's defense ministry has issued a similar statement, calling the Japanese side's remarks "absolutely groundless and unacceptable."

Defense ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun says the move is designed to exercise China's self-defense. 

Yang notes Japan established its own air defense identification zone in late 1960s.

Meanwhile, Chinese defense ministry has also lodged solemn representations with the military attaché of the U.S. Embassy in China after the US Department of Defense said it was "concerned" over the issue.

 

Xi Jinping urges work safety check after fatal blasts

Chinese President Xi Jinping has travelled to the city of Qingdao to pay his respects to those killed in last Friday's massive explosions.

A pair of explosions triggered by an oil leak on a major pipeline left at least 52 people dead.

11 others are still listed as missing.

Almost 140 people remain hospitalized following Friday's blasts, 10 of whom are in critical condition.

The massive explosion took place while workers were trying to clean an oil spill from an underground pipeline operated by Sinopec. 

The pipeline was put into use in 1986.

 

Pipeline blast injures three in Wenzhou City

A gas pipeline has blown up in the city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang, injuring three people.

The pipeline was hit by an excavator yesterday afternoon, injuring the excavator operator and two bystanders.

It took an hour to put out the subsequent fire. 

The extent of the injuries remains unclear at this point.

 

Chinese FM hails agreement on Iran's nuclear issue as first-step success

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who attended the latest round of international talks over Iran's nuclear issue in Geneva says the an interim agreement marks an important first step.

The consensus comes after nearly a decade of inconclusive international efforts to halt Iran's expanding nuclear program.

The agreement will see Iran freeze its nuclear programs for six months.

In exchange, Iran will be given some relief from the economic sanctions that have been imposed on it.

If the interim deal holds, the parties will begin negotiating final-stage agreements.

 

Chinese vice Premier in Ethiopia for three-day working visit

Chinese vice Premier Liu Yandong is now in Ethiopia for a three-day visit.

She's set to hold talks with Ethiopia's President and Prime Minister.

The Ethiopian side says the two sides are going to sign 8 agreements connected to education, scientific research and cultural exchanges.

 

Egypt's interim president approves protest law

Egypt's interim president has approved a law regulating protests in the country.

The law bans all public protests that have not been given prior written permission.

The controversial "protest law" was submitted to Adly Mansour for review two weeks ago. 

The approval of the law comes as university students across the country stage protests demanding the reinstatement of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.

 

Voting begins in Honduran presidential elections

Millions of Hondurans are casting their votes to elect the country's new president.

The race to replace Porfirio Sosa is believed to be down between ruling National Party candidate Juan Orlando Hernandez and Xiomara Zelaya.

She's the wife of the deposed former president Manuel Zelaya.

Polling shows both are sitting at around 20-percent voter support each.

Under the Honduran constitution, the victor needs to win only by one vote.

No runoff is necessary. 

About 700 international observers are monitoring the elections.

 

China fights back against U.S. accusations of blocking WTO technology deal

Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng has issued the Chinese government's response to Washington's accusation the Chinese government is jeopardizing a deal to cut tariffs on technology products.

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman has gone on-record saying a Chinese demand to exempt more than 100 products from a technology trade deal risk leading to a breakdown in negotiations.

Gao Hucheng has said it's irresponsible for the U.S. to discard the consensus that has been agreed by most of the countries.

He says the Chinese side wants to push forward negotiations to expand the Information Technology Agreement.

 

Millions go for China's Public Servant Exam

Over a million candidates have taken China's National Public Servant Exam on Sunday.

This is a decrease of around 130-thousand from last year.

The central authorities, their affiliated public institutions and local branches will recruit over 19-thousand civil servants next year.

This is a slight drop from 2013. 

Only one in 51 who take the test will be hired.

There are around 7-million civil servants here in China.

 

Daimler CEO says would 'welcome' Chinese investor

Daimler Cheif Excutive Dieter Zetsche says the German carmaker would welcome a Chinese investor.

This, after taking a stake in Beijing Automotive Group. 

Zetsche says Daimler "would welcome Chinese investment."

But he also says they're not looking for that at the time-being.

Daimler is trying to revive its operations here in China.

the company is struggling with dealership problems here in China. 

The German manufacturer and Beijing Auto signed an agreement last week that will see Daimler take a 12 percent equity stake in BAIC Motor and two seats on the board.