News that caught our eye / The week ending September 22, 2023
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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.
Upheavals in Xi's world spread concern about China's diplomacy / September 17, 2023
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, last seen in August, is under investigation in a corruption probe within the Chinese military. This follows the abrupt disappearance of Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July as President Xi’s crackdown on corruption strikes even his closest appointees. The volatility has left many foreign diplomats concerned about dealing with their Chinese counterparts (Reuters).
China's ex-foreign minister Qin Gang was ousted after alleged affair / September 19, 2023
China’s former foreign minister, Qin Gang was ousted from that position after it was revealed that he was involved in an apparent affair while he was the ambassador to the United States and that a child was born from the affair. There were concerns that the affair threatened national security (CNA).
Massive retreat of funds from Chinese stocks diminishes dragon's global clout / September 16, 2023
Since December of 2021, about $188 billion of foreign investment in China has left the Chinese market, a result of the strict COVID lockdowns, poor consumer spending, a plummeting realty sector and political tensions with the West. Both China and the West are decoupling from one another. Still, China’s impact will have a presence in the global market (Mint).
China’s aversion to bad news about economy: unsettling & counterproductive / September 19, 2023
China’s habitual reaction to negative news—to hide it, shut it down or nullify the source--about its economy or other policies has stifled opportunities to learn from mistakes or to let the facts expose the disinformation of agitators, has ultimately created distrust and concern among foreign and domestic investors (SCMP).
Xi’s economic policies leave many China watchers perplexed, confused / September 19, 2023
China watchers cite two possible reasons for China’s strange way of dealing with its market woes: either President Xi is following his Marxist-Leninist philosophy and is hell-bent on maintaining control of the country, or the CCP is simply following long-term plans to rein in the private sector now that it has achieved a predetermined level of success (CNBC).
‘He’s had a bad summer’: Xi faces calls to loosen grip as China’s crises mount / September 17, 2023
President Xi has had bad seasons in the past, but this summer’s events are swelling up to perhaps become Xi’s greatest challenge yet. Many of the current issues are of his own making as he has sought to centralize power ever more tightly around himself. Now the people of China are growing discontent (The Guardian).
The bizarre secret behind China's spy balloon / September 17, 2023
US General Mark Milley declared this weekend that while the Chinese balloon shot down off the Atlantic coast in February was a spy balloon, he claimed that the balloon did not collect any intelligence while traversing across the US. Its sensors, technical experts reported, were never turned on. The balloon’s presence over the US soured relations between the two nations ever since (CBS News).
Taiwan urges China to stop ‘continuous military harassment’ / September 18, 2023
China sent over 100 military aircraft and 9 navy vessels toward Taiwan over a 24-hour period from Sunday through Monday with some of those aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan only monitored the exercise, but did demand that China “stop such destructive unilateral actions” (Al Jazeera).
Taiwan faces threat of invasion. Many Taiwanese aren't worried / September 18, 2023
China conducts military drills near or around Taiwan almost on a monthly basis now, but citizens of Taiwan seem unconcerned about an invasion since it’s been 70 years since the island nation separated from the mainland government and China has yet to do anything about it. With the upcoming election, questions arise if Taiwan should declare independence (CBC).
China Rolls Out Carrot & Stick Strategy to Influence Taiwan before Election September 20, 2023
China presented an “influence campaign” in Taiwan last week, proposing an economic and cultural program between Chinese coastal cities and two Taiwanese islands close to the Chinese mainland. At the same time, however, it also conducted military drills in the Taiwan Strait. The exchange program is seen by some Taiwanese as a way to divide the island nation before the presidential election in 2024 (VOA).
Southeast Asia troops launch first-ever joint military drills / September 20, 2023
All ten of the ASEAN nations are participating in a 5-day naval exercise at the southern edge of the South China Sea which includes maritime security, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance, but not combat drills. However, to avoid increasing tensions with China, the drills were moved to the South Natuna Sea (DW News).
China 'strongly dissatisfied' with Baerbock remarks / September 19, 2023
Last week, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock referred to President Xi as a “dictator.” This week, China summoned the German ambassador to China to condemn Baerbock’s comment. China is Germany’s largest trade partner and wants a good trading relationship. Earlier this year, US President Biden also called Xi a dictator (DW News).
China’s foreign minister holds talks with Russia’s Lavrov in Moscow / September 18, 2023
China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, was in Moscow this week, meeting with Sergey Lavrov to build on the “strategic cooperation” between the two countries in what they envision as a multipolar world (Al Jazeera).
Syria's Assad in China, seeks exit from diplomatic isolation / September 21, 2023
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in China this week to meet with government officials and President Xi, hoping to secure financial deals to help his war-torn country. But, sanctions by Western countries, including the US, may get in the way, as well as concerns by Chinese companies over Syria’s poor security and its dire financial situation (Reuters).
Tornadoes kill 10 people and seriously injure 4 others in eastern China / September 20, 2023
Two tornadoes hit eastern China on Tuesday, killing 10 people in two cities in Jiangsu province. Tornadoes in China are rare, but have struck Jiangsu province in 2022 and 2021(AP News).