News that caught our eye / The week ending February 3rd
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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.
Chinese vessels and aircraft appear in Taiwanese waters and airspace / January 29, 2023
In what has become almost a daily occurrence, China sent aircraft and naval vessels into the Taiwan Strait, crossing the midline, essentially into Taiwanese waters in a show of force against the island. China has stated that the island belongs to China and must reunite to the mainland (Fox News).
How Xi Jinping's past helps explain the China of today / January 28, 2023
Two people, an American in Iowa who met Xi Jinping in a 1985 trip by Xi to the Midwest, and a Chinese national who moved from China to Australia, describe how Xi grew up in a strict, communist party-focused home due to his father’s influence and love for the Party (Australian Broadcast Corporation).
Xi Story: Ensuring a better life for the people / January 29, 2023
Prior to the Lunar New Year, President Xi has made an annual tradition of visiting rural ethnic villages, congratulating the citizens on their successes and encouraging them to strive to improve the lives of others. He often visits areas previously decimated by natural disasters, but have revived through CCP subsidies (Xinhua News).
China is sending interesting signals to the US. Is anyone listening? / January 31, 2023
Journalist Joergen Oerstroem Moeller suggests that China is sending signals that it is seeking a stable global economy and political atmosphere, specifically through its dealing with the Russia-Ukraine crisis, its economic overtures to Europe, and its rapid end of the zero-Covid lockdown policies, under social pressure from the citizens themselves (Responsible Statecraft).
Sichuan removes marriage as prerequisite for birth registration / February 1, 2023
Hoping to reverse a dip in China’s population in 2022, Sichuan officials announced that beginning February 15th, unmarried couples and single mothers can now register children to receive government support and insurance. Furthermore, there will no longer be a limit to the number of children people can have, either (The China Project).
Chinese scientists make quantum leap with first practical use computer / January 31, 2023
Two Chinese quantum physicists at the 6-year old company, Origin Quantum, have developed China’s first practical use quantum computer, which uses elemental particles called qubits rather than the binary numbers 0 and 1 to operate. With this achievement, China follows Canada and the US in quantum computer development (SCMP).
It’s as if Nothing Ever Happened Here in China / February 1, 2023
A journalist explains that state media during the New Year holiday avoided practically any mention of the Covid surge while citizens endured the reality of the disease on their own and suffered the loss of loved ones. The lockdown propaganda and the letdown of insufficient government responses exposed the CCP’s limitations (The New York Times).
US secures deal on Philippines bases to complete arc around China / February 2, 2023
The US has made an agreement with the Philippines to establish four additional bases in the country, sealing a gap in the US presence in the region around China from Japan to Australia. The purpose of additional bases there includes humanitarian support, climate-related disasters, and “other shared challenges” (BBC News).
Chinese spy balloon flies over the United States: Pentagon / February 3, 2023
A Chinese surveillance balloon has been detected over the continental US since Feb. 1st or so. Concern over the danger from debris has kept the US military from shooting it down. The US government is communicating with China to resolve the situation diplomatically. China denies any culpability (Reuters).