News that caught our eye / The week ending March 1, 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.
Country Garden liquidation petition adds to China's property woes / February 27, 2024
Ever Credit Ltd, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Kingboard Holdings, filed a liquidation petition against Chinese property developer Country Garden this week. Only last month China’s largest developer, Evergrande Group, was ordered to be liquidated. Country Garden’s liquidation process may further slow China’s economic recovery (Reuters).
China's economy is unraveling at a pace previously thought unimaginable / February 26, 2024
Australia’s government recently announced that it would double the size of its navy in response to rising tensions in the region, specifically China. But China’s economic ties to Australia may be the bigger threat as China’s economy continues to implode. The concern is that domestic troubles often inspire militaristic leaders to cause trouble outside of their borders (ABC News).
China has the biggest diplomatic footprint in the world just ahead of US / February 25, 2024
China now leads the world in the number of embassies or diplomatic representatives in other countries, edging out the US 274 to 271. Australia, however, only has 124, mostly in the South Pacific region. China’s presence is greater in Asia and Africa, while the US emphasis is in the Americas and Europe (ABC News).
Why has the EU sanctioned Indian, and Chinese companies for Russia links? / February 29, 2024
Close to the anniversary of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the EU has added another 27 entities to its list of sanctioned countries, companies, and individuals. Seven companies—4 from Hong Kong and 3 from China—are of Chinese origin. The sanctioned entities are suspected of selling “dual-use” products to Russia. China condemned the new sanctions, but it is mostly symbolic (Al Jazeera).
China lauds Russia relations and calls for strengthened Asia-Pacific role / February 28, 2024
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong praised the relationship between China and Russia after a recent trip to Russia, stating that the warm relationship is at a new high. While the relationship may be strong, Russia is a bit concerned about China’s interest in Russia’s sparsely populated, resource-rich eastern territory which is 11 time zones from Moscow (Al Jazeera).
China sees ‘unprecedented’ hurdles in keeping state secrets safe / February 29, 2024
China recently updated a 2010 law on keeping state secrets to bolster national security. The law now also includes information or “work secrets” that are not classified but could be used in a negative way against the CCP. The updates present further challenges for civil workers, foreign companies, and even citizens to avoid trouble if they share too much (Hindustan Times).
Reporting from China: How this trip was different / February 25, 2024
Few Western journalists have gone to China since 2020 when the CCP cracked down on foreign media. A 60 Minutes journalist recently went to China and found that there was less interference by police and secret service personnel. But that was because surveillance is now done via cameras. The government also tried to manipulate the interviews 60 Minutes tried to arrange (60 Minutes).
China could seize the moon. We need to stop them / February 29, 2024
Just as China expanded its territorial claims in the South China Sea, it may also have its sites set on claiming territory on the moon. While the US just recently landed a spacecraft on the moon after a 50-year hiatus, China has done the same three times in the last decade and has at least two more landings planned in the near future. China is eyeing the moon’s southern pole where there may be ice (Fox News).
Images reveal floating barrier at mouth of disputed atoll in South China Sea / February 25, 2024
Satellite images showed a floating barrier blocking the entrance to the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Feb. 22nd. The barrier was placed there by China to block a Philippine vessel attempting to enter the shoal and was removed after the vessel left. The situation is the latest escalation of tensions between the two countries (Reuters).
Taiwan says 5 Chinese coast guard ships entered waters near front-line islands / February 27, 2024
A Taiwan minister reported that 5 Chinese coast guard ships entered “restricted” waters around Kinmen, an island just off the coast of mainland China that Taiwan claims as its own. China does not recognize any restriction zone, although the ships left the area after Taiwan warned them to leave. Taiwan has a military garrison on the island (NBC News).
China urges largest nuclear states to negotiate a 'no-first-use' treaty / February 27, 2024
Sun Xiaobo, a representative of China’s Foreign Ministry, called on nuclear powers to pledge to a “no-first-use” policy to prevent nuclear war. China and India are the only countries that have signed such an agreement. He also included emerging technologies, including AI and military developments in space to the concept (Reuters).
Scathing details reveal why Biden appears 'silent' on China's role in fentanyl crisis / February 27, 2024
Author Peter Schweizer claims that the Biden family has financial ties to both the CCP and leading drug kingpins in China who fuel the fentanyl drug trade through the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico. Additionally, Hunter Biden’s legal counsel, Abbe Lowell, also represented nefarious Chinese operatives. Did the money buy President Biden’s silence (Fox News)?