News that caught our eye / The week ending March 31st
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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 threatens 'serious consequences' after US warship sails by Paracel Islands / March 24, 2023
The guided-missile destroyer USS Milius passed by the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea last Friday for the second straight day, prompting China to charge the US for “militarizing” the area. The US claimed it was legally traveling through international waters. The islands are contested by China, Vietnam and Taiwan (Fox News).
China’s huge quarantine camps standing months after ‘zero COVID’ / March 23, 2023
The Chinese government built a number of quarantine camps throughout the country to house Covid patients, investing hundreds of millions of dollars for makeshift structures that now, mostly, lay empty. No official plan for the sites has been made known as of yet, nor how to recover the expense (Al Jazeera).
Beijing sets up formal ties with Honduras in yet another diplomatic blow for Taiwan / March 26, 2023
Over the weekend, Honduras became the 9th country since 20116 to sever ties with Taiwan in favor of Beijing. The seemingly calculated announcement comes just before Taiwan’s pro-democracy President visits the US and Central America. China’s growing political and economic clout will be a challenge to Taiwan’s remaining allies (SCMP).
China threatens retaliation if Kevin McCarthy meets with Taiwan’s president / March 29, 2023
Although Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has traveled to the US 6 times before with no serious concern from China, China is threatening to retaliate if she speaks with US officials as she stops in New York and Los Angeles over the next week’s trip to Belize, Guatemala and the US (NBC News).
Putin 'Humiliated' China's Xi With Nuclear Decision: Former Ambassador / March 26, 2023
Possibly before the ink dried on Putin and Xi’s agreement to not deploy nuclear weapons beyond their countries’ borders, President Putin announced the transfer of nuclear warheads to Belarus. A former US ambassador to Russia claims that China must not be too happy about the situation (Newsweek).
Online trolls are taking a toll in China / March 26, 2023
While China has strong censorship control to block those who would speak contrary to the CCP’s doctrine online, it does not have a strong mechanism to block cyber-bullying. Since the pandemic began, a growing number of “trolls” have increasingly attacked both celebrities and citizens, driving many into depression and suicide (BBC News).
Jack Ma: Alibaba founder seen in China after long absence / March 27, 2023
Conspicuously absent for about 3 years, Alibaba founder Jack Ma appeared at a school in Hangzhou, Alibaba’s headquarters. Reports from the South China Morning Post state that he has been traveling overseas, and other reports claim he was seen in Europe, Thailand and Australia. In 2020, Ma criticized CCP bank regulators (BBC News).
Hohhot Trial of Christians Who Illegally Sold Legal Bibles Scheduled for Late April / March 30, 2023
A group of Christians in Inner Mongolia sold legally-produced Bibles produced by a government approved company were arrested in 2022 and may finally see their trial this April. Their crime: not being members of the officially recognized Three Self Church. Some may face up to 15 years in prison (Bitter Winter).
Xi Jinping’s “Global Community”: A Uyghur View / March 31, 22023
A Uyghur political émigré from East Turkestan claims that China’s call for “rational solutions” and “neutrality” regarding the war in Ukraine reveals a deceptive, historical pattern of supporting oppressive regimes while ignoring its own history of genocide and political repression (Bitter Winter).
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