News that caught our eye / The week ending August 16, 2024
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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.
Curated by James Getka.
China resubmitted plans for a super embassy in London / August 13, 2024
With the Labour Party running England’s government as of July, China has resubmitted its bid to build a new “super embassy” in London, which would be about 10 times larger than its current embassy. The new structure would be built on the Royal Mint Court, which also has historic value to England. The Labour Party is reviewing the government’s stance toward China, and this will be a test for the Party to apply its philosophy to a potentially detrimental matter (VOA).
Chinese commercial bank chairman killed, stabbed in office / August 16, 2024
Zheng Zhiying, the chairman of the state-owned bank of Handan in the northern province of Hebei, was stabbed to death in his downtown office on Thursday, with a recently laid-off subordinate taken into custody as a suspect of the killing. Chinese banks have been under pressure in China’s struggling economy and the government’s tightening regulation (SCMP).
China Factory Figures Comes in Weak, But It’s Not All Bad News / August 15, 2024
Retail sales in China beat forecasts in July, suggesting that Chinese consumers are “getting their mojo back” as China’s economy tries to recover. Other data showed targets were almost made in other sectors. This brief article suggests China is moving into a new economic era of services and consumer spending rather than manufacturing (Barron’s).
China pledges billions more in funds to aid disaster-stricken farm regions / August 13, 2024
China’s Central Bank pledged $14 billion (US dollars) to banks in those regions affected by Typhoon Gaemi that struck its eastern seaboard, as well as heat-stricken areas in northern China. The country has suffered its worst agricultural losses due to natural disasters since 2021(Reuters).
China Admits Its Ship Damaged Baltic Natural Gas Pipeline by Accident / August 12, 2024
Chinese authorities admit that a Hong Kong-flagged ship owned by a mainland Chinese company accidentally damaged a natural gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea last October. It is possible that a large anchor caused a leak in the pipeline during a strong storm. Finland and Estonia, who share the pipeline, will continue their investigation of the incident (OilPrice.com).
Philippines protests Chinese Air Force jets' firing of flares in the path of patrol plane / August 12, 2024
Chinese Air Force jets fired flares in front of a Philippine Air Force patrol plane over a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, marking the first time China has claimed sovereignty in the air over a disputed area with the Philippines. The US, Canada, and Australia have all had similar encounters with China in the South China Sea (ABC News).
China firm claims world's fastest-charging EV battery / August 14, 2024
The Chinese automaker, Zeekr, declared that its EV batteries charge faster than even Tesla’s and BYD’s batteries, claiming that their batteries will charge from 10% to 80% in 10 and ½ minutes. Even in cold weather, they say it will charge the same amount, but in a half hour. Even if its claims are exaggerated, if it comes close to what the industry’s leaders can do, it is an achievement for Zeekr (BBC).
China's Wang Yi meets with Myanmar's military boss as civil war strains relations / August 14, 2024
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Myanmar’s military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, as Myanmar’s resistant forces have recently won victories against the military government near the border with China. The military is increasingly becoming anti-Chinese, with some suspecting that China is aiding the militia groups. China is interested in keeping its investments safe in the country (ABC News).
Army sergeant pleads guilty to selling U.S. military secrets to China / August 14, 2024
Sgt. Korbein Schultz pled guilty to six indictments in a federal court on Tuesday; he is accused of giving sensitive information on US military strategies and weaponry to a conspirator allegedly from Hong Kong. Schultz received $42,000 for the information he released; he will be sentenced next January (CBS News).
hailed as LGBTQ+ milestone in China / August 14, 2024
A Chinese woman, nicknamed Didi, who lives in Shanghai has won the right to make monthly visits with her daughter after her same-sex relationship fell apart five years ago. The couple has two children, both the biological offspring of Didi’s wife, although Didi was the child’s surrogate mother through an IVF procedure. This is the first time the courts have recognized the rights of a same-sex parent. Polls show China’s society is very tolerant of the concept of same-sex couples and marriage (The Guardian).
The ins and outs of Chinese superstitions / August 16, 2024
August 18th is the beginning of “ghost month” in China, with the Hungry Ghost Festival kicking off the observance in the 7th month of the lunar calendar. Chinese society has many superstitions, and this period brings many of them to the fore as the gates of hell are said to open up, releasing the spirits to meander among humans (SCMP).
China, Government-Controlled Three-Self Church Celebrates 70th Anniversary / August 14, 2024
A symposium celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Three-Self Church was held in early August this year, but the conference appeared to advocate the CCP’s dictates from its third Plenary session held earlier this year rather than the teachings of Scripture. Pastors who gave speeches encouraged their fellow pastors to integrate socialist ideals into their sermons and Bible studies and advocate for the sinicization of Christianity (Bitter Winter).