News that caught our eye / The week ending on August 19
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.
China reverses one-child policy; now encourages larger families / August 19, 2022
China Global Television Network reports that the Chinese government has issued a new guidelines to boost the nation's birth and fertility rates. The guidelines add incentives for marriage, giving birth, and childraising. They provide access for families to education, housing, employment, and healthcare.
China’s threats to Taiwan become US campaign issue / August 18, 2022
According to Politico, “The Chinese government’s hysterical reaction to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit early this month is new ammunition for U.S. politicians seeking to weaponize perceptions of a “China threat” for political gain.”
China resolutely responds to US' Taiwan provocations / August 15, 2022
China’s Global Times has decried “the US continued provocation of China” by its support of Taiwan. “It's necessary to impose sanctions on those who have trampled on the one-China principle….” Visits by US lawmakers to Taiwan ”is considered as a blatant provocation….” The article quoted Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, Wu Qian, “Taiwan is part of China, and the Taiwan question is purely China's domestic affair and brooks no foreign interference.”
Banned for life / August 16, 2022
China imposed sanctions including an entry ban on seven Taiwanese officials and lawmakers. The seven are accused of being "independence diehards." The sanctions come after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan this month, a trip that China said had sent a wrong signal to what it views as pro-independence forces.
China cuts interest rates to shore up economy / August 2022
China's central bank trimmed a key interest rate Monday to shore up sagging economic growth at a politically sensitive time when President Xi Jinping is trying to extend his hold on power. "The momentum of economic recovery has slowed," a government spokesman, Fu Linghui, said at a news conference. The People's Bank of China cut its rate on a one-year loan to 2.75% from 2.85% and injected an extra $60 billion into lending markets after growth in factory output and retail sales weakened in July and home sales fell by double digits.
China describes its approach to reunifying with Taiwan / August 10, 2022
In a recently published white paper, Beijing has promised that “after peaceful reunification, Taiwan may continue its current social system and enjoy a high degree of autonomy.” It also insists that the “use of force [to capture Taiwan] would be the last resort taken under compelling circumstances.” However, critics point to Beijing’s takeover of Hong Hong as proof Taiwan would be treated in the same way.
China plans the “re-education” of Taiwan / August 5, 2022
According to Lu Shaye, China's Ambassador to France, once China establishes control over Taiwan, a process of "re-education" of the island's population would follow, "After the re-unification, we'll do re-education," Lu told the French TV channel. "I am sure that at that time, the people of Taiwan will be in favor of reunification again. They will become patriotic again.”
China’s withdrawal from policing illicit drugs is unacceptable / August 8, 2022
China’s move to suspend cooperation with the United States to combat narcotics trafficking, including illicit fentanyl, is “unacceptable,” according to the White House. Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), said, “At a time when illicit fentanyl continues to claim a life every five minutes, it’s unacceptable that the PRC (People’s Republic of China) is withholding cooperation that would help to bring to justice individuals who traffic these illicit drugs and who engage in this global criminal enterprise.”
Chinese electric car battery production surges / August 12, 2022
The China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance has announced that China’s power battery production and vehicle loading maintained a high year-on-year growth rate in July. Power battery output totaled 47.2GWh, a year-on-year increase of 172.2% and a month-on-month increase of 14.4%.
China objects to joint military practice / August 13, 2022
More than 5,000 personnel from the U.S., Indonesia, Australia, Japan, and Singapore are participating in this year’s Super Garuda Shield exercises. This is an annual joint combat exercise that began in 2009. The expanded drills are seen by China as a threat. Chinese state media have accused the U.S. of building an Indo-Pacific alliance similar to NATO to limit China’s growing military and diplomatic influence in the region.
Will Xi be overthrown? / August 8, 2022
According to CIA veteran and China scholar, Christopher K. Johnson, the reports that Chinese President Xi will soon lose power are fake news. Johnson maintains that “Xi has a plan and is executing it, even if it is not to the West’s liking,” and so “foreign governments would be wise to deal with Xi as he is if they seek to mount effective policy responses.”
#MeToo accuser, “I won’t give up, but I also don’t know what to do next.” / August 10, 2022
The woman at the center of a landmark case in China’s #MeToo movement has vowed not to give up after a court rejected her appeal for an apology and damages. In 2018 Zhou Xiaoxuan accused a high-profile state TV presenter, Zhu Jun, of forcibly kissing and groping her during a 2014 internship. The case inspired many others to share their experiences of sexual assault and caused a social media storm. On August 10, the court in Beijing ruled that evidence submitted by the 29-year-old was “insufficient” in proving alleged sexual harassment. Last year a court ruled against her on similar grounds, prompting her to appeal.