News that caught our eye / The week ending January 20th
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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 population falls for first time since 1961 / January 17, 2023
China’s population fell by 850,000 in 2022 as deaths outnumbered births and the birth rate slipped slightly to 6.77 per 1000 people. Although China ended its 1-child policy in 2016, high youth unemployment, fears over income expectations and the lack of childcare support are discouraging people from marrying and having children (BBC News).
India v China: Is becoming the most populous country a boon or curse? / December 20, 2022
Surprisingly, India will become the most populous country in the world—this April. The title carries both bane and blessing as India will have to manage a growing elderly population, family planning without treading on human rights and provide jobs for a large group of young workers. However, India will have the largest pool of “young global talent” (BBC News).
China undergoing ‘build-up in every warfare area’ / January 16, 2023
As China continues to increase its military activity in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan’s military and its citizens are preparing to resist a potential takeover. China is increasing its capabilities in every area of warfare, even allowing its fishing fleets to harvest illegally in other national waters, threatening global food supplies (USNI News).
China masses take Covid fight into own hands / January 18, 2023
After the CCP abruptly ended the zero-Covid lockdowns, the virus spread so quickly, it caught the government unprepared to respond. So, citizens are helping one another, a surprising and heartwarming experience for the people, but a potential threat to the CCP, whose image is tarnished by the lockdown and the letdown (Bloomberg News).
China 'more likely’ to invade Taiwan - in 2027 / January 18, 2023
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister predicts China will attempt to take over Taiwan in 2027, perhaps in an attempt by Xi Jinping to detract attention from domestic problems in China and secure an unprecedented 4th presidential term and achieve his legacy. Politically, annexing Taiwan is at the core of the CCP’s goals (Sky News).
China’s shrinking population is cause for alarm / January 18, 2023
News of a population decline in China in 2022 spawned concerns that a continued decline could stagnate the global economy due to both a smaller Chinese consumer population and workforce. The high cost of urban living and many educated women ambivalent about marriage challenge the government’s attempts to reverse course (The New York Times).
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy invites China’s President Xi for ‘dialogue’ /January 18, 2023
In an attempt to bring a diplomatic end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Zelensky wrote a letter to President Xi Jinping via the Chinese delegation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. It is not the first time Zelensky has sought China’s influence over Russia (Al Jazeera).
One of the world’s largest Baptist churches banned as a “cult” in China / January 19, 2023
The Berea/Seoul Sungrak Church, a fast-growing church once affiliated with a large Korean Baptist church body, has been labeled a “cult” by the Chinese Three-Self Church in a statement written to their affiliates. Jealousy, sheep-stealing, and charges of Pentecostal teachings may lay at the heart of the discrediting label (Bitter Winter).
Japan-India’s ‘symbolic’ drills complicate China’s calculus for Indo-Pacific / January 20, 2023
Japan is hosting air combat drills with India until next Thursday--the first of its kind--although the two countries have held maritime and army training in the past. The exercise is seen as “symbolic,” but still aims to deter conflict as China flexes its muscle in the region (South China Morning Post).