The Chinese government has expressed regret over the expansion of South Korea's air defense zone.

Chinese Foreign Ministry says the Chinese side will continue to communicate with South Korea over the matter.

The remarks come after South Korea's government announced a southward expansion of its own defense zone. 

The new zone covers Suyan Islet, which is known as Ieodo Island in South Korea.

Suyan is a submerged reef within the overlapping areas of the exclusive economic zones of China and South Korea.

 

China refutes comments of becoming a "militarist country"

The Chinese government has issued another statement, saying it is strongly dissatisfied with China being called a militarist country.

It comes in response to the recent comments made by Hidehisa Horinouchi, minister at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing.

Horinouchi says China has become a militarist country itself if it criticizes Japan for passing a secrecy law.

Horinouchi also says China has unilaterally altered the status quo of the East China Sea by establishing an Air Defense Identification Zone.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei says the comments are "totally wrong and ridiculous".

Hong Lei says it is natural for the international community to closely watch the development of Japan's defense strategy, not the other way around.

 

Expelling leader's uncle North Korea's "internal affair": China

The Chinese government has issued a statement in response to the expulsion of senior North Korean official Jang Song-thaek.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei says it is an internal issue of North Korea, adding the Chinese side is committed to maintaining its traditional friendship with North Korea.

North Korean authorities have confirmed Jang Song-thaek has been removed from all his posts and expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea.

Pyongyang says Jang committed "anti-Party and counterrevolutionary crimes".

 

U.S., China complementary in Africa: US envoy

U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton says the United States does not view China as a threat in Africa.

Wharton made the comments at Harare, saying the US side believes the two sides can be complementary on the continent.

The US diplomat says China tends to invest more in infrastructure construction, while the U.S. focuses on human resources and information technologies.

The statement comes in response to the reportedly growing opinion that the West, led by Britain and the United States, has been gradually overtaken by China in Africa.

 

World leaders arriving South Africa ahead of Mandela's memorial service

World leaders are arriving in South Africa ahead of the national memorial service for former South African president Nelson Mandela.

So far, 91 leaders from across the world have confirmed their attendance for the memorial service at FNB Stadium of Johannesburg later today.

China's Vice President Li Yuanchao will attend the memorial service as a special representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

After the service, Mandela's remains will lie in state for three days at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where he was sworn in as president in 1994.

He will then be buried on Sunday in Qunu, his ancestral home in the Eastern Cape province.

 

Thai King approves holding general election on Feb 2

The King of Thailand has formally approved a general election in the country for Feburary 2nd.

Despite this, Thailand's anti-government protest leader has asked protesters not to go home until victory gained.

Suthep Thaugsuban has made the comments to around 100-thousand protesters marching outside Government House in Bangkok.

The opposition continues to protest, despite Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announcing the dissolution of the parliament. 

The Chinese government has released a new statement, saying its the Chinese hope stability can be restored in Thailand as soon as possible.

 

France to start disarming Central African Republic fighters, may use force if needed

France says it will start disarming fighters in the Central African Republic by force if necessary.

The Central African Republic has slid into chaos as interim president Michel Djotodia struggles to control his loose band of Seleka fighters.

France is deploying 16-hundred troops to the Central African Republic.

France also wants elections advanced to next year and end the interim period originally scheduled to run into 2015.

 

Philippine typhoon death toll nears 6,000

The official death toll from Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines has reached 6-thousand.

Close to 18-hundred are listed as missing.

The massive storm last month also left more than 27-thousand injured.

Around 4-million people are still living in temporary shelters.

 

China allows interbank trading of deposit certificates

The Chinese government has taken the next step toward fully floating interest rates.

The People's Bank of China is now allowing banks to trade deposits with each other, using a financial product called certificates of deposits.

The interest rate on the certificates will be determined by the market, unlike ordinary deposits, which are subject to rate caps.

This will allow banks to borrow at a more stable cost in the interbank market. 

Authorities expect the move will help improve cash circulation in the market.

In June, the overnight lending rate between banks spiked after banks became reluctant to lend to each other amid a cash crunch.

 

American Airlines and US Airways merger finalised

American Airlines and US Airways have completed their long awaited merger to create the world's biggest airline.

The new American Airlines Group started trading on the Nasdaq on Monday and shares in the new company soared after making their debut.

The merger follows AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, emerging from its 2011 bankruptcy filing.