News that caught our eye / The week ending June 9, 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.
See before-and-after photos of forced mosque alteration in China / Jun 8, 2023
Hui Muslims continued to protest the alteration of a mosque in southwestern China, making the Arabic-style mosque look more Chinese, replacing the dew drop dome with a more culturally Chinese pagoda. Other mosques and churches have also been altered elsewhere in the country, with crosses removed from Christian churches (CNN).
Taiwan hails ‘comprehensive’ trade deal with US as China issues warning / June 1, 2023
Both US and Taiwan officials signed new trade agreements last week, declaring a “new beginning” in relations between the US and the self-governing island. Plans include an eventual “free-trade agreement,” but China warned the US against signing any agreement that indicated Taiwan’s sovereignty in its wording (The Guardian).
China Eyes Spain in Drive to Conquer European EV Market / June 1, 2023
China produces about 50% of all-electric vehicles on the road globally and now is edging its way into Spain’s market. Spain is the 2nd largest European producer of electric vehicles, following Germany. The Spanish government is working with a conglomeration of Spanish automakers to boost the production of Spanish vehicles (VOA).
Chinese warship comes within yards of US destroyer / June 3, 2023
A Chinese warship passed dangerously close to the USS Chung-Hoon, a guided missile destroyer that was conducting joint exercises with Canadian forces in international waters in the Taiwan Strait. China claims that the Strait is its own territorial waters. The event follows similar confrontations with China near Vietnam and the Paracel Islands (Fox News).
U.S. releases video of close call with China in the Taiwan Strait / June 6, 2023
The US military released video of the Chinese warship coming within 150 yards of the Chung-Hoon destroyer in the Taiwan Strait last Saturday. US Secretary Lloyd Austin invited Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu to talk at a summit in Singapore, but Li refused (AP News).
South Korea, Japan scramble jets due to China-Russia joint air patrol / June 7, 2023
South Korea and Japan sent aircraft to monitor their respective air space as China and Russia flew their aircraft into S. Korea’s “air defense identification zone (KADIZ) and the Sea of Japan during their joint military exercises. China said the aircraft were not meant to intimidate (Al Jazeera).
China’s Li says clash with US would bring ‘unbearable disaster’ / June 4, 2023
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue, warning of the dangerous outcome of a conflict between the two superpowers and stressing the need for both sides to seek common ground in spite of their differences. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin rebuked China for refusing to hold military talks (Al Jazeera).
Living the ‘Chinese Dream’: Beijing’s new world order / June 6, 2023
With his Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), presented in March, President Xi Jinping proposed a societal philosophy that may look culturally honorable and democratic but may be the first foot-in-the-door maneuver to establish a new international order that gives way to the CCP worldview. Xi’s diplomacy “ignores” present conflicts of interest in view of future development and benefits (Al Jazeera).
With raids and arrests, business in China is getting "very risky" / June 6, 2023
Three American businesses with offices in China were raided in recent weeks, increasing the concerns of foreign investors about setting up shop in China. A new counter-espionage law takes effect July 1, potentially increasing the government’s ability to “protect national security” (CBS News).
China set to account for less than half of US’s low-cost imports from Asia / June 4, 2023
It's not good news for China's economy. It's another sign that the cheap labor pool is moving from China to other Southeast Asia counties and beyond. The decline began with Trump-era tariffs and labor shortages in China but has continued with the Biden administration’s economic security sanctions against China, geopolitical tensions, and human rights concerns (Archyde.com).
China’s exports plunged by 7.5% in May, far more than expected / June 6, 2023
Although China’s exports increased by a healthy 8.5% in April, May’s export number slumped 7.5% year on year, contributing to a general downturn since the pandemic began. Inflation and high-interest rates have softened demand for goods in the US (CNBC).
Record 13m students sit China’s ‘gaokao’ college entrance exams / Jun 7, 2023
China’s national college entrance exam began on Wednesday with a record 13 million participants. A score of 600 or better on the 750-point tests is required to gain entrance into China’s best universities. In 2022, only 3% of participants in Guangdong Province achieved a score over 600 (Al Jazeera).