News that caught our eye / The week ending December 16
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.
Chinese AI advances drug research / December 14, 2022
“Chinese scientists say they have achieved “the impossible”: developing an AI that can predict the structural changes of proteins, a task so complex it is thought by many biologists – including China’s ‘goddess scientist’ Yan Ning – to be beyond the capabilities of machine learning” (SouthChina Morning Post).
India says China trying to ‘change status quo’ on disputed border / December 13, 2022
Chinese and Indian soldiers clashed along a disputed Himalayan border on Dec. 9th, the first clash since a deadly dispute in 2020. The two sides retreated soon after the incident occurred; however, India expects more skirmishes in the future and claims it has little leverage against China’s advances (Al Jazeera).
The factors behind the India-China border conflict / December 14, 2022
Earlier this month the border conflict between India and China flared again. This opinion piece suggests the backstory is not about a border but about China’s fear of India’s rising economic prominence (Swarajya).
China’s $143 billion package for chip firms in face of U.S. curbs / December 13, 2022
In response to challenges brought on by US sanctions against the Chinese microchip industry, the Chinese government is developing a 5-year, 143 billion dollar support package to bolster this branch of the economy, and to increase its presence in the global market (Reuters).
China Covid: Hospitals under strain in wave of infections / December 14, 2022
Chinese hospitals are struggling to meet the demands of a surging Covid outbreak, with many medical employees coming to work infected, passing the virus back on to patients. It is stated that culturally, Chinese citizens go to the hospital even when their symptoms could be treated at home (BBC News).
Xi and top China officials to hold economic talks as COVID spikes / December 14, 2022
Amid concerns that the Covid surge in China could hinder its plans, the Chinese government still aims to hold a major economic conference this week to strategize a plan to reinvigorate its Covid-battered economy. However, the virus’s recent wave threatens to make any recovery a long and difficult battle (Nikkei Asia).
Opinion: Xi Jinping’s risky path for China / December 14, 2022
Scholar and author Francis Fukuyamas offers his opinion about China’s Covid policies, its national protests, and its future (China Project).
China’s adjustments to Covid create confusion / December 12, 2022
China has eased its restrictions intended to combat Covid. But various areas of China have taken various approaches (sometimes contradictory approaches to implementing new protocols. In addition, directions from the central government have not been clear. Citizens are reacting with fear and confusion.
China takes aim at “evil cults” / December 12, 2022
China’s propaganda against xie jiao, “evil cults,” is taking a new approach: manga-style posters. Xie jiao refers to any illegal religion. Poster 2 in the series of six warns against those who believe that human beings can be regarded as incarnations of immortal deities. Poster 5 warns against trusting religion to help in times of sickness.