News that caught our eye / The week ending February 9, 2024
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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.
Meet Hong Kong’s ‘Flower Granny’ artist, 92 – the city’s answer to Yayoi Kusama / February 8, 2024
Known as “Fapopo,” or “Flower Granny” in Cantonese, a 92-year-old woman in Hong Kong is gaining notoriety as a novel painter, similar to Japan’s Yayoi Kusama. Fapopo sold flowers for nearly 60 years until she retired at the age of 80. A house project turned her to painting on everyday household items, which have been displayed in some Hong Kong art exhibitions (SCMP).
China, Russia and Iran to hold navy drills aimed at ‘regional security’ / February 6, 2024
While the West recently has responded to Iran-backed Houthi attacks on US bases in the Middle East, China, Russia, and Iran are planning to hold joint naval drills to protect regional security for the second time. The drills will likely occur in March. China has asked Iran to urge the Houthis to pull back their attacks on ships in the Red Sea (SCMP).
Russia and China slam US for Middle East strikes / February 6, 2024
Russia, China, and other nations accused the US of escalating tensions with its attacks against Iranian-backed proxies after those groups attacked US bases, killing three US soldiers. Russia also accused the Biden administration of using the strikes to boost its election campaign (Al Jazeera).
China launches Jielong-3 rocket as commercial missions pick up pace / February 3, 2024
China Rocket Co. launched its Jielong-3 rocket carrying 9 satellites into space on Saturday, demonstrating China’s growing commercial space program, as other Chinese companies—including automakers—have also recently launched satellites to improve autonomous vehicle navigation. In 2023, China was only behind the US in the number of rocket launches (Reuters).
China’s top prosecutors promise financial crime crackdown is about to ramp up / February 5, 2024
To further secure the economic environment in China, a senior prosecutor of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate stated that there will be an increase in crackdowns on financial crimes in the future, echoing Xi Jinping’s declaration that fighting financial crime is China’s “eternal theme” at the central finance work conference in late October (SCMP).
Is China’s economy in serious trouble? / February 4, 2024
Last week’s Hong Kong court declaration that Evergrande would be liquidated marked a significantly bad week for China’s economy as foreign investors also fled the Chinese stock market. Some speculate that 2024 will be a sluggish year that China will have to crawl through, hopefully to a better economic picture if the government’s economic reforms work (Al Jazeera).
In China, Deflation Tightens Its Grip / February 8, 2024
Consumer prices fell again in January at “their steepest pace in more than 14 years” signaling the possibility that deflation is strengthening its grip on the Chinese economy. China’s stock market plunged on Wednesday, prompting the government to replace its top securities regulator. Chinese companies may try to sell their goods at cheaper prices abroad, threatening other markets (WSJ).
Chinese migrants are the fastest-growing group crossing US southern border / February 4, 2024
In 2023, over 37,000 Chinese migrants entered the US illegally through the southern border, fifty times more than two years before. Many have crossed the border with rolling suitcases as if they had just disembarked from an airplane. They say they are coming to find work and freedom (CBS News).
Australian Yang Receives Suspended Death Sentence in China / February 4, 2024
Australian writer Yang Hengjun was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of espionage if he doesn’t commit any serious crimes in the next two years. Yang had worked for the Chinese government but became an advocate for democracy. He moved to Australia, and began blogging and writing spy novels, but was arrested while visiting China in 2019 (Bloomberg).