Sutirtho Patranobis has been in Beijing since 2012, as Hindustan Times’ China correspondent. He was previously posted in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he covered the final phase of the civil war and its aftermath. Patranobis covered several beats including health and national politics in Delhi before being posted abroad.
Articles by Sutirtho Patranobis
Honduras is China’s new ally as it cuts ties with Taiwan
While Taiwan now has only 13 formal allies, a majority of countries including India maintain informal ties with the island, a world leader in technology including in the critical chip sector
Published on Mar 26, 2023 12:49 PM IST
Who is Dilma Rousseff? New BRICS bank chief
Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been “unanimously elected” as the head of New Development Bank (NDB), a multilateral financial institution set up by the five BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries, replacing Marcus Troyjo, who is also from Brazil.
Updated on Mar 25, 2023 06:26 AM IST
Sutirtho Patranobis, Beijing
China warns US as its warship sails through South China Sea for second day
The Chinese defence ministry warned the US military of “serious consequences” after it had to monitor for the second consecutive day a US Navy destroyer, which entered territorial waters claimed by China near a disputed island in the South China Sea on Friday.
Updated on Mar 24, 2023 04:38 PM IST
Sutirtho Patranobis, Beijing
China “expels” US destroyer from South China Sea, US rejects claim
The Chinese military on Thursday said it had warned and “expelled” an US warship from the disputed waters of the South China Sea, a claim denied by the American military.
Published on Mar 23, 2023 04:05 PM IST
Sutirtho Patranobis, Beijing
Russia supports China’s 12-point proposal to end Ukraine war
China’s proposal, which was issued on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, had made no call for Moscow to withdraw troops from the East European country and neither did it call the Russian act an ‘invasion’
Updated on Mar 22, 2023 06:45 PM IST
‘No limits friendship’: China’s Xi Jinping wraps up Russia visit, cements strategic, economic ties
Importantly, Beijing and Moscow pledged to “significantly increase” bilateral trade by 2030 with Putin calling for the wider use of the Chinese yuan, in a move not only to weaken the $ but also to work around strict US sanctions
Published on Mar 22, 2023 05:49 PM IST
Russia ties based on no-confrontation, not targeting any third party, says Chinese president
The growth of China-Russia relations has not only brought tangible benefits to the people of our two countries, but also made important contributions to the development and progress of the world, Xi Jinping said
Published on Mar 20, 2023 09:34 PM IST
Hutong Cat | Iran-Saudi deal, third term presidency, all in a day's work for Xi
While the sequence of how the talks were engineered falls into place only in hindsight, the timing of its announcement was finely calibrated and the symbolism was clear for all to see and interpret
Updated on Mar 20, 2023 06:26 PM IST
‘No simple solution to a complex issue’, Xi Jinping says on Ukraine
Xi’s visit, between March 20 and 22, comes just days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted Putin for war crimes, and is also a sign of Beijing’s soaring diplomatic ambitions in the region and beyond
Updated on Mar 20, 2023 07:02 PM IST
Former president Ma to be first Taiwan leader to visit China since 1948
The visit comes in the backdrop of tension between Beijing and Taipei as China rapidly escalates military activity to put pressure over Taiwan
Updated on Mar 20, 2023 03:25 PM IST
Xi heads to Moscow in first visit since the invasion of Ukraine
The announcement of the visit comes a day after China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang, called for peace talks during a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.
Updated on Mar 18, 2023 04:28 AM IST
Sutirtho Patranobis, Beijing
China announces Xi’s Russia visit day after minister’s rare phone call to Kyiv
The announcement of the visit comes a day after China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang, called for peace talks during a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba.
Updated on Mar 17, 2023 01:47 PM IST
China concerned about escalation of war in Ukraine, Chinese FM tells Ukrainian counterpart
China has refrained from condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, calling it a crisis instead and blaming the US and Nato for the situation in the Eastern European country
Published on Mar 16, 2023 09:49 PM IST
Xi tightens grip as China announces major plan to revamp governance
The new plan also streamlines the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) hold over the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau
Published on Mar 16, 2023 08:35 PM IST
China attacks Japan on disputed island, past history, says Tokyo-Seoul should not form blocs
The salvo also came on a day when South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol met his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Tokyo after a gap of 12 years in an attempt to put up a joint front against North Korea, and, of course, with a sharp focus on China
Published on Mar 16, 2023 05:13 PM IST
China welcomes move as Taiwan ally Honduras seeks ties with Beijing
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said China is willing to develop friendly relations with other countries, including Honduras, on the basis of the one-China principle
Updated on Mar 15, 2023 05:53 PM IST
China allows foreign tourists including from India after 3 years of Covid control
The decision to issue all categories of visas comes after China declared a “decisive victory” against Covid-19 and downgraded outbreak control protocols earlier this year
Published on Mar 14, 2023 07:51 PM IST
AUKUS: US, Australia and UK submarine pact has Beijing fuming
In September 2021, the three countries announced the AUKUS, described in yesterday’s joint statement as “…a new security partnership that will promote a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable”.
Updated on Mar 14, 2023 07:58 PM IST
China to allow foreign tourists after 3 years, signals complete end to ‘zero-Covid’
China took its first major step towards reopening two months ago, in January, when it scrapped quarantine requirements on arrival at international airports. Business visas were also resumed at the time
Updated on Mar 14, 2023 04:28 PM IST
Build a 'great wall of steel', Xi to PLA in new term's presidential speech
Xi’s calls to modernise and strengthen the armed forces comes in the backdrop the ongoing military tension with India along its western border and rising tension with Taiwan.
Updated on Mar 13, 2023 05:19 PM IST
Sutirtho Patranobis, Beijing
US-sanctioned general is China’s new defence minister, Xi Jinping’s loyal aide named vice-premier
Li Shangfu, a veteran of China’s ongoing drive to modernise the People’s Liberation Army, came under US’ scrutiny five years ago for allegedly purchasing Su-35 combat aircraft and S-400 missile system equipment from Russian arms seller Rosoboronexport
Published on Mar 12, 2023 02:29 PM IST
Xi loyalist Li Qiang picked as premier
Li Qiang, the former Communist Party chief of Shanghai, took oath as China’s premier on Saturday, and now faces the tough task of reviving the world’s second largest economy battered by three years of Covid controls and global uncertainties
Published on Mar 12, 2023 12:00 AM IST
Sutirtho Patranobis, Beijing
China gets new Premier in Li Qiang
Former Communist party chief of Shanghai, Li Qiang, on Saturday took oath as China’s premier, replacing outgoing Li Keqiang after a decade, and facing the tough task to revive an economy battered by three years of Covid controls and global uncertainties
Published on Mar 11, 2023 04:14 PM IST
Sutirtho Patranobis, Beijing
Formal nod to historic 3rd term for Xi Jinping
Chinese leader Xi Jinping was endorsed by hand-picked Communist Party elites for an unprecedented third term as president in a ceremonial vote at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday
Published on Mar 10, 2023 11:19 PM IST
Sutirtho Patranobis, Beijing
Xi Jinping gets endorsed as President of China for record third term
Xi, 69, has now emerged as China’s most dominant leader in decades, rivalling in stature the iconic Mao Zedong.
Updated on Mar 10, 2023 01:24 PM IST
US’ Indo-Pacific strategy an effort to ‘gang up’ against China: Qin Gang
Issued jointly on March 3 by the foreign ministers of Australia, India and Japan and the US, the Quad statement said the meeting “…reaffirms the Quad’s steadfast commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive and resilient”
Updated on Mar 07, 2023 10:41 PM IST
US should not cross Taiwan ‘red line’, says Chinese FM in scathing attack on Washington
China has been vocal in its criticism of the US’s Indo-Pacific strategy as well as the Quad grouping comprising the US, India, Japan and Australia besides often targeting the AUKUS, which is an Australia-UK-US alliance, saying that they were aimed at containing its rise
Updated on Mar 07, 2023 08:18 PM IST
Hutong Cat | The fine print of Chinese Parliament's ‘Two Sessions’
This year’s Two Sessions — or Liang Hui — are significant because they come within months of Xi Jinping beginning his third tenure as the general secretary of the CPC and post China's “zero-Covid” policy
Updated on Mar 06, 2023 06:42 PM IST
China forecasts 5% growth for 2023, budgets $224 billion for defence
China’s annual growth target is closely watched and scrutinised given that the ruling Communist Party of China’s legitimacy, observers say, is based on delivering steady economic growth and social stability
Published on Mar 05, 2023 11:47 AM IST
Xi Jinping set for 3rd term as President as China’s rubber-stamp legislature meets Sunday
The nearly 3,000 members of the NPC will also put its stamp on a new line-up of top government officials to be led by a new premier — set to be Xi’s confidante and former Shanghai chief, Li Qiang — for the next five years.
Published on Mar 04, 2023 04:39 PM IST
