News that caught our eye / The week ending on August 5
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.
News that caught our eye / The week ending on August 5
3 killed, 6 injured in attack on Chinese kindergarten / August 3, 2022
Police in southern China are searching for a man who allegedly killed three people and injured six at a kindergarten in the country’s southern province of Jiangxi on Wednesday.
China’s declining birthrate signals greater problems / August 2, 2022
The Chinese Party Work Group of the National Health Commission reports that the Chinese population is facing “profound and complex changes.” The report identifies four factors that are impacting the nation’s long-term health: a large drop in the birth rate; a decline in childbearing willingness; the rapidly aging population; and the miniaturization of families.
Conflicting views on China’s economy
Manufacturing in China is expanding / July 29, 2022
A Reuter’s poll shows that China's factory activity has expanded at the fastest pace in a year. Production in COVID-hit manufacturing hubs has resumed now that lockdowns are lifted. The official manufacturing Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) is expected to have risen to 50.4 in July - the highest in 12 months - compared with 50.2 in the previous month.
Manufacturing is retreating / July 31, 2022
Two surveys find Chinese manufacturing’s recovery from anti-virus shutdowns faltered in July. The China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing reports factory activity was depressed by weak global demand and anti-virus controls that are weighing on domestic consumer spending. The Federation and the National Bureau of Statistics issues a monthly purchasing managers’ index. That index retreated to 49 from June’s 50.2 on a 100-point scale. On that scale numbers below 50 indicate activity declining.
Pelosi visit to Taiwan
China announces military exercise opposite Taiwan / July 30 2022
China said it was conducting military exercises off its coast opposite Taiwan. The military exercises come after China warned U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to scrap possible plans to visit the island democracy. Pelosi has yet to confirm whether or not she will go.
Washington: “We won’t take the bait” / August 2, 2022
The White House on Monday decried Beijing’s rhetoric over an expected visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, vowing the United States “will not take the bait or engage in saber rattling” and has no interest in increasing tensions with China.
Chinese reaction to Pelosi visit / August 3, 2022
When US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan on Tuesday night, many Chinese entities issued statements condemning the visit and warning of its “severe impact” on US-China relations. China’s military said it would immediately launch “air and sea exercises” and released a plan for drills surrounding the island in coming days.
The impact of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan / August 2, 2022 (YouTube video, 18 minutes)
Bonnie Glaser, Director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund, explains what you need to know about US House Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. She unpacks the likely consequences of Speaker Pelosi's visit, against the background of deteriorating US-China relations and China's domestic politics in the leadup to the 20th Party Congress.
China conducts ‘precision missile strikes’ in Taiwan Strait / August 4, 2022
China conducted “precision missile strikes” Thursday in the Taiwan Strait and in the waters off the eastern coast of Taiwan. The drills were prompted by a visit to the island by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week and are intended to advertise China’s threat to attack the self-governing island republic.
US-China relations on a precipice / August 3, 2022
Matthew Lee, the diplomatic writer for AP, offers his insights about U.S.-China relations in view of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.
China refuses to cooperate with US over Pelosi visit / August 5, 2022
China is canceling or suspending dialogue with the United States on a range of issues from climate change to military relations and anti-drug efforts in retaliation for a visit this week to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Cooperation on returning illegal immigrants, criminal investigations, transnational crime, illegal drugs, and climate change will be suspended.
Preparing for war post draws wide support / July 29, 2022
"Preparing for war!" This short social media post by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) 80th Group Army generated over 300,000 thumbs-ups in 12 hours on July 29. The post on Sina Weibo received more than 19,000 comments. Some veterans said that they are always prepared to return to the PLA whenever the country needs them. Some netizens expressed their wish for reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits soon. The 95th anniversary of the founding of the PLA occurs on August 1.
China unveils an aircraft-killer missile / July 31, 2022
Leading up to the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), China published a video that features the launch of what resembles a DF-17 missile. This missile displays the flexibility of the "aircraft carrier killer" hypersonic weapon that is almost impossible to intercept. The video was published ahead of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's possible visit to Taiwan.
Calls for more attention to violence against women / July 22, 2022
Last month a gang of men brutally attacked several women in Tangshan. In response, Chinese authorities have focused on organized crime instead of violence against women. While there have been some small steps in the right direction, the state still refuses to treat gendered violence as a systemic problem.