Bedroom Toy

"The success of the show reflected the increasing global interest in China's people and culture, as well as the interest of the people of China in preserving and studying their own history," said Loewentheil, who's Historical Photography of China Collection is the largest holding of late Qing dynasty photographs of China in private hands"My great, great grandfather was Zeng Guofan," Watt saidBedroom Toy

The 79-year-old never expected when he was browsing the internet that day that he would uncover a piece of family history dating back some 140 years"It was a picture I had never seen before and my instinct told me that the subjects could be my great grandparents," he told China DailyAccording to Watt, the unique wedding photograph documents tBedroom Toyhe moment of the start of the prominent Nie family in China"The groom, Nie Jigui, served as Shanghai's Governor from 1890 to 1893, died in 1911 and was buried in Hunan, while the bride, Zeng Jifen, died in 1942 and was buried in ShanghaiNot to mention, in an exhibition some 3,500 miles away from where he lived

Portrait of a womanWhen New York-based Raymond Watt came across an article on the BBC news website about a Chinese photography exhibition in the UK last November, he was shocked, to say the least"Today, Beijing is a vastly different place and the early photographs presented a perspective on the city which had never been previously availableThe Obama administration had done everything it could to internationalize the South China Sea issue and had used the Philippines, a US ally, to advance the American strategy

However, the Pew survey finds that Duterte and his policies are widely popular at home despite concerns expressed by some governments, in particular the US, over Duterte's clashes with drug cartels and alleged human rights violationsA quarter now name China as the world's leading economy, up from 14 percent the last time the Philippines was surveyedAt the same time, 78 percent believe the current economic situation is good, and 57 percent are satisfied with the direction of the country, a 21 percentage-point increase from 2014, the last time this question was asked in the PhilippinesAnd despite the Philippines being the most pro-Trump nation in Pew's spring 37-country survey, confidence in Trump now is lower than it was in then-President Barack Obama in 2015

The Philippines under Duterte has tried to develop an independent foreign policy rather than being a US puppet most of the timeSince becoming Philippines president in June 2016, Rodrigo Duterte has refused to be used by the US to advance its strategy

That was certainly not the policy under Obama when he launched the US pivot-to-Asia policy, trying to gang up US allies on ChinaAnd on global economic status, about half of Filipinos (49 percent) say that the US is still the leading economic power, but that is down from 66 percent who said so in 2015The survey released on Sept 21 bore a title saying people in the Philippines still favor the United States over China, but that the gap is narrowingThis represents a dramatic shift since that question was last asked in 2015

Such an independent policy is dealing a heavy blow to those who still view the relationship between the three countries as zero-sumSome even believe that he would not able to serve the full six-year termAnd overall, the perception gap between the US and China in the Philippines is narrowingIt clearly suggests that one's gain is another's loss

Meanwhile, two-thirds say having a strong economic relationship with China is more important for ties between the two nations, while only 28 percent say being tough with China on territorial disputes is more vitalHis tough rhetoric on the US and softened rhetoric on China, especially compared with his predecessor Aquino III, has worried many in the US

The report finds that people in the Philippines still like the US and have confidence in its leader, President Donald TrumpThe US was believed to be fully behind the scenes when the Philippines, under President Benigno Aquino III, filed the arbitration suit in 2013 against China in a tribunal in The Hague, a case in which China had refused to participate

By comparing these figures, Pew seems to suggest that China and the US are engaging in a popularity contest in the PhilippinesA zero-sum mentality about China-US relations is reflected not only in the thinking of some US politicians, but also in a new survey conducted by the Pew Research CenterAccording to the survey, 78 percent in the Philippines have a positive view of the US as of this spring, down from 92 percent who expressed positive sentiments in 2015The US government, lawmakers and pundits have generally expressed negative views of Duterte since he took office last JuneBut Filipinos also share positive views of China and its leader, President Xi JinpingFully 86 percent have a favorable view of Duterte himself; 78 percent support his handling of the illegal-drugs issue; and 62 percent say that the Philippines government is making progress in its anti-drug campaign

In 2014, the Philippines was still led by Aquino IIIBut the Philippines, and indeed all the countries in the region, should be encouraged to have good relations with both China and the US, a real win-win situation for not just the three countries involved, but for the region and the world

AUCKLAND - New Zealand's parliamentary elections on Saturday yield no clear winner as tally ended in the wee hours of Sunday, leaving the third largest party with 7The negotiations may take days or weeks before a deal is struck between the future governing partners

Winston Peters, the party chief of the New Zealand First Party, however, refused to say which party he would side with8 percent votes or seven seats in the congress would just make enough seats to form a government if they can successfully get the New Zealand First Party on board

The New Zealand First Party has garnered nine seats, making it the indispensable coalition partner for both the National Party and the Labor Party to form the governmentThe ruling National Party has secured 46 percent of the party votes, which transfer to 58 seats in the 120 member Congress in an Mixed-Member Proportional voting system, with the opposition Labor Party lagging behind at 35BEIJING - China on Friday urged all relevant parties to avoid any action that may increase tension on the Korean Peninsula after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said it might test a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean"Only if all sides bear their due responsibilities, can the peninsula nuclear issue be truly resolved and peace and stability restored to the region

"The DPRK knows well that China opposes its development of nuclear weapons and nuclear tests, Lu said"What parties concerned should do now is to strictly and comprehensively implement UN Security Council resolutions and make positive efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue

"The current situation on the peninsula is severe and complicated," Foreign Minister spokesperson Lu Kang said at a daily press briefingThe minister said that if there is any change needed, it is the denuclearization of the peninsula, and that would be more comprehensive, thorough and irreversible

"Whatever changes may take place, no matter how long it will take, and whatever difficulties we may face, China will stay firmly committed to denuclearizing the peninsula and moving toward talks," he saidKono said Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs have posed a practical threat to regional peace as well as Japan's security

"We call upon the US to honor its 'Four Nos' commitment, and we call upon all parties to play a constructive role in easing tensions," Wang said"We urge the DPRK not to go further on along a dangerous direction," Wang saidIf Japan only discusses sanctions in the absence of dialogue, and even resists dialogue, it will be considered as violating the resolutions"There is still hope for peace, we must not give up," Wang said during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Thursday

Twelve years have passed since a joint statement was issued from the Six-Party Talks, signed on Sept 19, 2005, Wang said, but things that follow the progressive trend of the times never become outdated and decisions on the right side of history never become obsolete"There should be no new nuclear weapons state, whether it is in the north or south of the peninsula, whether it is in Northeast Asia or other parts of the world," Wang added

Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Pyongyang not to go further in a dangerous direction, and said there should be no new nuclear state in either of the Koreas or elsewhereWang said sanctions and peace talks are both part of the Security Council resolutions

The remarks came as rhetoric and even personal name-calling has flared up in recent days between Washington and PyongyangHe said Japan is willing to push forward denuclearization on the peninsula with China and other parties