News that caught our eye / The week ending November 3, 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.
China’s ex-premier, Li Keqiang, sidelined by Xi Jinping, dies at 68 / October 27, 2023
Chinese state media reported the death of Li Keqiang just after midnight on Oct. 27th. Li was the former premier of China until last March when he was deposed by President Xi Jinping. Li had been known for his preference for a looser market economy, and his camaraderie with the poor and common people (Reuters).
How does China fix the Evergrande mess? / October 26, 2023
Property developer Evergrande is like a zombie, neither living nor dead, as it flails from one crisis to another. The CCP can’t afford to let it die, and its statist policies are the DNR papers Xi has signed. Some say Xi’s crackdown on the economy and “investment-led growth” was the sword that impaled the property sector to begin with (BBC News).
China sets tone on real estate, government debt at a high-level meeting / October 31, 2023
At the central financial work conference held this week, policymakers vowed to establish measures to satisfy the demands of property developers and to resolve local government debt. The two entities are intertwined, with the Covid epidemic exasperating the debt crisis. The conference is held every 5 years (CNBC).
China cremates 'people's' premier, lowers flag amidst outpouring of grief / November 2, 2023
A funeral was held for former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday, attended by President Xi, his wife and the six members of the CCP’s Politburo Standing Committee. Tens of thousands of comments flooded Weibo, which turned its “like” icon into a chrysanthemum flower, symbolizing “mourning” (Reuters).
Xi Jinping's advice to China's women on family: ‘Marriage, childbearing are…’ / Nov. 1, 2023
In an effort to kickstart a rebound in China’s birthrate, President Xi stated that Chinese women have a critical role to play in the implementation of a “new trend of family” cultural mindset for the nation. Not only should women seek personal development, but they should also create “a new culture of marriage, childbearing and family” (The Hindustan Times).
Chinese fighter jet nearly collides with B-52 bomber over S. China Sea / October 26, 2023
A Chinese J-11 jet flew within 10 feet of a B-52 bomber last Tuesday over the South China Sea, adding to the more than 180 similar events tabulated by the US Indo-Pacific Command of Chinese fighters exhibiting “unsafe, unprofessional” behavior when intercepting US aircraft over international waters (ABC News).
China sends dozens of military aircraft, ships near Taiwan / November 1, 2023
Forty-three Chinese aircraft and seven warships conducted military drills and exercises in the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, with 37 of the aircraft entering Taiwan’s airspace. Taiwan responded by deploying its own aircraft, vessels, and ground missile systems (The Hill).
China security minister in Myanmar as fighting rages near border / October 31, 2023
The “Three Brotherhood Alliance,” an association of three pro-democracy ethnic groups on Myanmar’s border with China, has been fighting against the country’s military leadership over resources and autonomy. While China supports some ethnic Chinese groups in Myanmar, it denied offering any support to the Alliance (Al Jazeera).
China, Russia Take Aim at US at Chinese Military Forum / October 30, 2023
Chinese and Russian military officials made direct and veiled accusations against the US and the West at the Xiangshan security forum this week, blaming the West for stoking potentially greater conflict in Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific. A US delegation was present, but evidently did not address the forum or offer any public rebuttal (VOA).
Agreement reached for Biden-Xi talks, but details still being worked out / October 27, 2023
In the midst of global and bilateral political tensions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with US officials Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, and President Biden, as well, in Washington D.C. on Friday to discuss the relationship between the two countries and to confirm that President Biden and President Xi will meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperations Summit in San Francisco in mid-November (AP News).
Wang Yi calls for 'five musts' in China-U.S. relations / October 28, 2023
The Chinese Foreign Minister listed “five musts” for diplomacy between the two nations to succeed as he met with Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan last week, but the mandates were basically to keep communication open, respectful and outcome oriented. Blinken repeated the same ideals in diplomatic fashion. Regarding the Israeli-Hamas conflict, both expressed hope for a two-state solution (CGTN).
China’s foreign minister: road to Xi-Biden summit will not be smooth / October 28, 2023
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed concern that the process to secure a bilateral meeting between President Biden and President Xi in November would not be an easy one to accomplish. He expects the US to show “sufficient sincerity” that it wants the meeting to occur (CNBC).
Why does Zelenskyy accept China’s ‘neutrality’? / October 31, 2023
Ukrainian President Zelensky has often spoken about the West’s support, or lack thereof, for Ukraine in its war with Russia, but he has yet to speak publicly about China’s “neutral” stance regarding the conflict. One reason may be that China became Ukraine’s “first key trade partner” in 2019, with grain exports benefiting China (The China Project).
Biden received $40K in 'laundered China money' from brother in 2017 / November 1, 2023
Rep. James Comer has revealed that President Biden received $40,000 from his brother James Biden that can be traced to the Chinese energy company CEFC back in 2017. All in all, Comer says the Biden family and their partners raked in more than $24 million between 2014-19 by “selling Joe Biden as ‘the brand” around the world” (Fox News).