News that caught our eye / The week ending January 17, 2025
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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.
UK and China selling new economic relationship as a win-win - but it's complicated / January 11, 2025
Great Britain is working to improve economic relations with China, but the complicated geo-political realities and China’s cyberattacks against England continue to breed caution and concern on the road to that goal (Sky News).
Reeves accused of abandoning principles over China in bid to save UK economy / January 11, 2025
Critics of British Chancellor Rachel Reeves spoke strongly against her visit to China and her efforts to work with China on trade agreements while the British economy is tanking. They claim Reeves is willing to break her “golden rule” on borrowing limits, and pushing human rights concerns to the side, all for more cooperation with the CCP (Independent).
Even some Five Eyes now want better relations with China / January 15, 2025
As President-elect Trump approaches his second inauguration next week, some US allies are re-thinking their alliance with the US as new, liberal administrations take the helm in places like England and Australia (SCMP).
US Investment Ban on China: What it Means Now That it’s in Effect / January 15, 2025
“The US has introduced a stringent investment ban on China, effective January 2025. These restrictions focus on sensitive technologies like AI, semiconductors, and quantum computing and require detailed due diligence. These regulations will significantly impact US investors and Chinese firms, especially in the affected sectors, reshaping US-China economic relations” (China Briefing).
Protests turn violent in China after student falls to his death / January 11, 2025
Protests erupted on Monday over a teenage student who died from falling from a balcony window at a technical school in the northwestern Shaanxi region of China on January 2nd. Evidently, the death was ruled a suicide, but eye-witnesses and unusual circumstances have many, including the deceased’s family, rejecting the officially reported cause of death (CNN).
China exports accelerate amid trade tensions, imports surprise / January 13, 2025
With the threat of increased tariffs from the incoming US Trump administration, exports from China and imports to China increased 10% and 1% respectively in December in an effort to get goods delivered before any additional tariffs are set in 2025 (Reuters).
China-Russia 2024 trade value hits record high - Chinese customs / January 12, 2025
Trade between Russia and China hit a new record level in dollar terms in 2024, reaching 1.74 trillion yuan ($237 billion), with modest gains in 2024 compared with the colossal increases in trade between the two countries in 2023. President Xi and Putin hailed their close relationship in New Year’s greetings to one another (Reuters).
OpenAI reveals AI policy proposals to best China, protect kids: ‘America must win’ / January 13, 2025
Chris Lehane, Open AI's Vice President of Global Affairs told Fox News Digital that the US must responsibly develop the legal framework for a successful development of AI so that the billions of dollars of investment monies available will go to AI development in a democratic environment, as in the US, rather than in an autocratic environment, like China or Russia (Fox News).
China mulls potential sale of TikTok US to Musk / January 13, 2025
With TikTok facing a deadline to be sold to a US buyer or face a ban by January 19th, Bloomberg News reported that the popular social app could be sold to Elon Musk. A TikTok spokesperson called the proposed deal “pure fiction.” With a Musk purchase, both Musk and X could operate TikTok US together (Reuters).
Philippines alarmed after China sends ‘monster ship’ to disputed shoal / January 14, 2025
China sent its largest Coast Guard vessel to the Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday, coming ever closer to the Philippine coast. Since it seized the Shoal in 2012, China has been maintaining a presence around the Shoal that the Philippines still claims belongs to them (NBC News).
China reportedly building 'D-Day'-style barges as fears of Taiwan invasion rise / January 13, 2025
Naval News reports that China is building at least three barges nearly 400 feet long at its Guangzhou shipyard. Such barges could assist the Chinese military by providing landing access on solid ground, making an invasion of Taiwan more possible (Fox News).
Trump's Greenland bid stirs debate in China about what to do with Taiwan / January 15, 2025
President-elect Trump’s comments about purchasing Greenland, adding Canada as a US state, and gaining control of the Panama Canal made for much conversation on Chinese social media, with many saying that if Trump takes Greenland, China should take Taiwan, even if the two scenarios don’t compare (Reuters).
Trump's pick for top diplomat Rubio urges China not to destabilize Asia / January 16, 2025
Florida Senator Marco Rubio is likely on the way to confirmation as President-elect Trump’s Secretary of State. Rubio warned China to not destabilize the Indo-Pacific region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun warned the US to stop getting involved in China’s internal affairs regarding Taiwan (Kyodo News).
Yunnan, New Update on Brother Chang Hao: Out of Jail, but Under Heavy Surveillance / January 9, 2025
Chang Hao, a Reformed Christian preacher, was arrested and detained for twelve days last October. Since his release, the Chinese government has installed video cameras to monitor Chang and his church members. False “house cleaners” also came to his house to harass him. Customarily, police will go to members’ homes, threatening to take their phones if they don’t delete Bible and Christian apps from their phones (Bitter Winter).
Hubei, CCP Salutes January 1 with a Party Denouncing “Cults and Illegal Religion” / January 6, 2025
While January 1st is not a national holiday in China, the Western tradition is gaining popularity, with Chinese citizens and organizations creating celebrations for the day. The CCP in Tongshan County, Hubei Province, created an “educational celebration” teaching observers to watch for and report any sign of “xie-jiao,” or illegal religion, and instead, to promote science (Bitter Winter).