Extradition

The Chinese legislature ratified an extradition treaty with Spain, China's first extradition agreement with a western developed country. The treaty includes an unprecedented pledge not to execute repatriated criminals. China's chief negotiator of the treaty said, "The treaty will help China weave a global extradition net to bring back corrupt officials who have fled abroad, largely seeking asylum in developed countries in Europe and North America,"

See previous post.

Nationality

The Chinese legislature enacted the Passport Law to regulate the application, issuance and administration of passports. The law provides for three categories of passports: regular passport, diplomatic passport, and service passport.

Intervention

The Australian Justice Minister asked China and Taiwan keep out of Solomon Islands politics, linking the so-called chequebook diplomacy to the islands' rampant corruption. Beijing reportedly set up a HK$1.2 million fund to support politicians in the Solomon Islands who had promised switch diplomatic relations to mainland China.

See previous post.

Recognition -- Diplomatic Relations

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman blamed Taiwan's "dollar diplomacy" for fuelling corruption in the Solomon Islands. A Chinese official also said that Taiwan's embassy in the Solomon Islands did not offer any help to mainland Chinese that were attacked on the islands.

See previous post.

Consular Protection

A Chinese Foreign Ministry official said that the Chinese Government extended consular protection to Chinese nationals in 29,000 cases since 2005. He said that, for countries without diplomatic relations with China, the Chinese Government had worked through embassies in the neighbouring countries or countries with special relationships with the State concerned.

See previous post.

Law of the Sea

Following the signing of the agreements on division of maritime areas and fishing zones between China and Vietnam, the Chinese and Vietnamese naval forces started joint patrols in the Gulf of Tonkin to maintain order and stability.

Recognition -- Diplomatic Relations

The man slated to become the next prime minister of the Solomon Islands said he would consider switching diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing. "China has a very big role in the world. Taiwan has a very little role," an opposition politician explained.

Diplomatic Protection

After days of rioting and looting against Chinese businesses in Solomon Islands which has no diplomatic ties with China, the Chinese Government has requested the assistance of the neighbouring countries. Later, nearly 300 ethnic Chinese residents fled the islands on chartered aircraft provided by Beijing.

Law of the Sea

The Chinese Maritime Safety Administration issued a notice declaring a prohibited area on the East China Sea due to expansion work for an oil and gas field. After Japan expressed concerns that the declared area crossed the median line between Japan and China, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman admitted to a "technical error" in the declaration, but maintained that China does not recognise the median line as suggested by Japan.

Confiict of Jurisdiction

Google's chief executive said the company had not lobbied to change the Chinese censorship laws which the company has been sharply criticised for complying with. "I think it's arrogant for us to walk into a country where we are just beginning operations and tell that country how to run itself," he said.

See previous post.

Diplomatic Protection

The Chinese Foreign Ministry is to establish a Division of Consular Protection under the Department of Consular Affairs to deal with consular protection of overseas Chinese citizens. An official of the Department of Consular Affairs called on Chinese citizens to behave properly and observe local laws whilst abroad so that consular protection can be afforded in case their legitimate rights and interests are infringed.

See previous post.

Terrorism

China and Turkmenistan issued a Joint Statement to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism and pledged not to allow their territory to be used against the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the other party.

Taiwan

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that China and IAEA had made arrangements for IAEA's safeguard and monitoring of Taiwan's nuclear activities.

Non-Proliferation

Australia and China signed agreements for Australia to sell uranium to China. Australia described the accord as a safeguards agreement that stipulated conditions for the sale and will be monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Recognition -- Diplomatic Relations

China's top religious official confirmed that China and the Vatican had been in contact to establish diplomatic relations. China has insisted that Vatican break off ties with Taiwan and refrain from meddling in China's internal affairs, whilst the Vatican has demanded that the pope have supreme authority in the appointment of bishops in China.

See previous post.

Reparation -- Japanese War Reparation

Chinese activists formed a Chinese Association for Civilian Claims against Japan and planned to bring reparation claims in Chinese courts after losing 25 cases in Japanese courts. Amongst the members of the Association are reportedly many retired senior military and government officials.

See previous post.

Reparation -- Japanese War Reparation

The Fukuoka District Court in Japan rejected civil claims by Chinese labourers against the Japanese Government and companies for atrocities in World War II on the grounds of expiry of the limitation period and non-retroactivity of the Japanese compensation statute.

See previous post.

Extradition

A Chinese court in Guangdong Province sentenced a former Bank of China manager extradited from the US on corruption charges to 12 years' imprisonment. The defendant had accepted a plea bargain in the US whereby he agreed to his extradition on condition that he would not be tortured, executed or jailed for more than 12 years, and that his wife and children would be allowed to stay in the US.

See previous post.