News that caught our eye / The week ending November 24, 2023
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NOTE: The news reports below are not in chronological order. There is often a time lag in their reaching the US and in gaining our attention. These reports reflect the opinions of a variety of news sources.
Journalist Dies in Hospital in China Hours After Police Raid / November 21, 2023
Freeland journalist Sun Lin apparently died after police raided his house in the eastern city of Nanjing last Friday. Sun had previously been incarcerated for four years due to his criticism of China’s censorship of the media. Friends and family of Sun had also been visited by police (VOA).
China’s property sector needs more government support as crisis deepens / November 20, 2023
Measures to support the struggling property sector in China since November of 2022 have not brought the intended results as home prices sank again in October and Country Garden defaulted on a US dollar bond. Both supply and demand in real estate are struggling (CNBC).
CCP’s regime set to collapse as Xi Jinping's woes 'underestimated' / November 21, 2023
Foreign policy expert Gordon Chang suggested that China’s internal problems are much worse than the Chinese media has revealed and that a collapse of Xi’s communist government is possible. Chang advised that other nations could weather such a collapse if they prepare for it and not panic (GBN)
FBI, CDC shredded for 'dropping the ball' on Chinese lab found in US / November 19, 2023
An illegal Chinese bio lab was discovered in California in October, sparking suspicions that more labs could exist elsewhere in the US. Iowa Republican Ashley Hinson claims the FBI and the CDC did not do enough to investigate the lab, its ties to the CCP, and the danger it could bring to US citizens (Fox News).
What is the mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China? / November 23, 2023
A type of respiratory virus has afflicted a larger number of children in China than usual this fall, especially in Beijing and the northeastern city of Liaoning. It may be an after-effect of the Covid lockdown as it suppressed the population’s immunity. The WHO has asked China to clarify the type of illness they are dealing with as it is sure to spread across China’s borders (Al Jazeera).
US Dismisses Chinese Diplomacy on Gaza / November 22, 2023
US Security Council Spokesman John Kirby dismissed China’s recent diplomatic efforts to bring peace to the Israeli-Hamas conflict, stating that he was comfortable with the US’s involvement in its own efforts to negotiate the release of some of the hostages. China has an interest in a peaceful Middle East but has supported Gaza more than Israel (VOA).
Rising global tensions may have China rethinking Russia alliance / November 22, 2023
A former State Department official suggested that China may be re-assessing its “no limits’ partnership with Russia as Putin continues his battle against Ukraine with support from North Korea and appears to be acting as “an agent of chaos” in the Middle East as well (SCMP).
China looming large, India and Australia crank up defense partnership / November 21, 2023
Foreign Ministers from India and Australia met for the second time to discuss increasing the partnership between the two countries in the areas of trade, military support, security, and investment, especially in light of the increasing aggressiveness of China in the region. However, China is both countries’ largest trade partner (The Times of India).
Beijing rejects Australian claims China sonar injured navy divers / November 20, 2023
China rejected any blame for injuring two Australian divers earlier this month off of the coast of Japan and conversely blamed Australia for causing trouble and being irresponsible in its accusations against China for the incident. The divers suffered minor injuries from a Chinese warship’s sonar pulses, according to Australia’s Defense Minister, Richard Marles (The Guardian).
China says it stands ready to work with Argentina despite Milei criticism / November 21, 2023
Libertarian Javier Milei secured Argentina’s presidential win recently, running on a campaign highly critical of China and Brazil. In spite of that, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China would seek to retain its valued relationship with Argentina, and Argentina should do the same (CNBC).
China is expanding its crackdown on mosques outside Xinjiang / November 22, 2023
A Human Rights Watch report states that the Chinese government has closed, consolidated, or transformed mosques outside of Xinjiang province in an effort to control the growth and spread of Islam in China and to suppress any possible opposition against the CCP. Typically, China has focused its control of Islan on Xinjiang province (AP News).
China: Allow Commemorations of ‘White Paper’ Protests / November 19, 2023
It’s been a year since the November 2022 “White Paper” protests in China’s major cities that brought the abrupt end of the CCP’s strict “zero-Covid” policies, but even today some protesters are still being held in undisclosed locations, and anniversary commemorations are being suppressed (Human Rights Watch).