News that caught our eye / The week ending December 9
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 blasts US report, reiterates ‘no 1st use’ nuke policy / December 6, 2022
Responding to a US report about China’s plans to bolster its nuclear stockpile, China’s Defense Ministry accused the US of wildly distorting the facts, claiming that the US is the biggest threat to world peace. The rhetoric has turned up the heat in political tension between the two countries (AP News).
Saudi’s MBS rolls out the red carpet for China’s Xi / December 7, 2022
President Xi Jinping is in Saudi Arabia this week, negotiating trade agreements and solidifying relationships with many gulf nations, including US allies. The Saudi nation defended its lavish treatment toward Xi, citing the unreliable nature of US support and the multipolar nature of geopolitics as reasons for its strengthening bonds with China (CNN)
How far is Saudi Arabia leaning toward China? / December 8, 2022
Saudia Arabia appears to be warming toward China, especially its weapons. At the same time, it appears to be cooling toward the US. In what ways will this reshape alliances in the Middle East? (SCMP).
House of Representatives establishes the Select Committee on China / December 8, 2022
Mike McCarthy, the Republican leader of the House of Representatives, has established the Select Committee on China. McCarthy stated, “The Chinese Communist Party is the greatest geopolitical threat of our lifetime. We need a whole-of-government approach that will … ensure America is prepared to tackle the economic and security challenges posed by the CCP” (Fox News).
Protest Violence in Mongolia’s Capital / December 7, 2022
Thousands of Mongolian citizens expressed their frustration in protests since Sunday over high inflation and alleged corruption by Mongolian leaders in an illegal coal deal with China. The Mongolian president states he has a plan to dissolve the government in response to the demonstrations (SCMP).
China’s Xi Busy Schedule with Heads of State / December 6, 2022
After a 3-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic and consolidating power at home, Chairman Xi of China has met with more than 25 heads of state since October 31st, seeking to establish a positive economic and political environment for China on the world stage (CNBC).
China Bids Farewell to Ex-leader Jiang / December 6, 2022
A memorial service was held on Tuesday for former China president Jiang Zemin, capping a week of mourning for the national leader while current President Xi faced nationwide protests over Covid restrictions and calls for reform. Security was tight since, historically, the death of former leaders can spark “unrest” (The Washington Post).
China Eases Controls, Gives No Sign When 'Zero COVID' Ends / December 5, 2022
In an attempt to help a struggling economy and likely in response to recent protests over Covid restrictions, China announced some loosening of its “zero-Covid” policies. However, the changes create confusion as rules change regionally and are dependent on where one wants to go locally (US News).
No US vaccines for China / December 4, 2022
Chairman Xi will not allow China to use Covid vaccines that were developed in the US. This decision comes despite the threat of loosened Covid restrictions allowing for increased infections, the comparative ineffectiveness of Chinese vaccines, and hesitance in China to use the country’s vaccines (Economic Times).