News that caught our eye / The week ending May 10, 2024
Tap here for our archives.
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 carries Pakistan into space / May 3, 2024
China’s rocket launch last Friday directed to the southern pole of the moon included a Pakistani satellite that will orbit the moon to collect data for Pakistan. The “ride-along” serves as an example of China’s ambition to host other nations in space travel. But space travel isn’t the only partnership China has with Islamabad (VOA).
China publicizes for time what it claims is a 2016 agreement with the Philippines / May 3, 2024
China claims that it had a secret, verbal agreement with former Philippine President Duterte, which limited the Philippines’ presence in the South China Sea to fishing boats, while any military vessels or aircraft are limited to the 12 nautical mile region in territorial waters. The current President, Marcos, said he will rescind any agreement if one exists (ABC News).
China ramps up pressure on Taiwan ahead of presidential inauguration / May 6, 2024
China increased its military presence in the Taiwan Strait recently, both to test the new, incoming administration under President-elect Lai Ching-te and to redefine China’s possession of the Taiwan Strait. China is also using disinformation, economic coercion, and influence operations within Taiwan to divide the government and the island nation (VOA).
Anthony Albanese has not spoken with Xi Jinping after military confrontation / May 7, 2024
Last Saturday, a Chinese military jet fired flares close to an Australian helicopter over the Yellow Sea (between China and the Korean peninsula) in an effort to repel the helicopter from what China claimed was too close to its airspace. Australian diplomatic channels lodged complaints, but Australian Prime Minister Albanese has not yet spoken to President Xi about the issue (ABC News).
The US military may have a new leg up on China in the Pacific / May 4, 2024
The US may utilize a fleet of autonomous drones to deliver up to 300 pounds of military equipment, food, or other supplies, preventing potential injuries to pilots who would otherwise fly traditional aircraft. The fleet, produced by a California company, could be used in the South Pacific (Fox News).
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse / May 4, 2024
A Chinese driver received praise from fellow citizens, a foundation, and a charity project that was a subsidiary of Alibaba. The latter two also gave him an award of just over $1000 USD each. Wang Xiangnan placed his vehicle sideways on the road to prevent drivers from tumbling into the collapsed area (CTV News).
Two dead, 21 injured after knife attack in hospital in Yunnan province / May 7, 2024
A knife attack occurred at a hospital in southwest China as a young man attacked and killed two people and injured nearly two dozen more. Mass attacks like this are rare as Chinese citizens cannot own firearms, but knife attacks have recently occurred. No cause for this attack was given at this time (CAN).
China's president arrives in Europe to reinvigorate ties amidst global tensions / May 5, 2024
President Xi Jinping made a 3-country trip to Europe last week, meeting with leaders in France, Hungary, and Serbia. Xi wanted to strengthen and build relations with the EU after Covid’s suspension of international interaction, but both French President Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pushed for better trade balances and China’s help to urge Russia to end its war in Ukraine (Yahoo Finance).
Why European leaders are divided over the Chinese president's visit / May 5, 2024
President Xi Jinping’s visit exposed divisions across Europe regarding relations with China and other autocracies like Russia. Serbia and Hungary are more allies of Russia than they are of the US or the West, and it appears Xi is exploiting that division. When Xi last visited Europe in 2019, there was no pandemic, war in Ukraine or excessively subsidized Chinese products flooding Europe (DW News).
China and EU-candidate Serbia sign an agreement to build a ‘shared future’ / May 8, 2024
President Xi’s visit to Serbia concluded with an alliance between the two nations for a stronger partnership in investment and trade. For a number of years, Serbia has participated in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, allowing Chinese mining companies to operate in Serbia. Serbia has applied for EU membership but appears to be shrinking back from that goal (AP News).
China suspected of massive cyberattack of UK armed forces database / May 7, 2024
Britain’s Ministry of Defense says a Chinese cyberattack revealed the names and bank account information of tens of thousands of UK military personnel recently. Similar cyberattacks occurred in 2021 and 2022 and earlier this year (Independent).
China is now engaged in open hybrid warfare against the West / May 4, 2024
Journalist Matthew Henderson warns that China is seeking to exploit any and all weaknesses in liberal Western societies in an effort to shift global power and influence away from the West and to China. Henderson cites coercive diplomacy, proxy wars, data theft, and influence operations among a number of the battlefronts in this hybrid war (The Telegraph).
China in a Frenzy for Gold, Up 45% Since 2022 / May 6, 2024
Chinese citizens, investors, and its Central Bank are driving the gold market now, pushing the price higher even while high interest rates and a strong US dollar, which typically lower gold’s value, are dominant in Western commerce. Given China’s economy, it makes sense that people would invest in gold for security (Newsmax).