News that caught our eye / The week ending August 11, 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.
‘Suicide attack if necessary’; China’s strong signals to Taiwan, ready for war / August 6, 2023
China’s People’s Liberation Army released a documentary series called “Chasing Dreams” about its preparedness to invade Taiwan, including statements from soldiers willing to include suicide attacks, if necessary, to accomplish the army’s goal of obtaining Taiwan before its 100th anniversary in 2027 (Mint).
China hawk says Beijing could attack Taiwan by 2024 / August 9, 2023
US investor Kyle Bass warned that signs point to China invading Taiwan before the end of 2024, citing 3 pieces of evidence in Xi Jinping’s governance that point in that direction. Like Putin, Xi is not concerned about the economic damage such a move could make. His focus is on acquiring Taiwan (CNBC).
China, Russia send warships near Alaska, triggering forceful US response / August 5, 2023
Eleven Russian and Chinese ships sailed close to the Aleutian Islands last week, triggering a response from the US which sent 4 warships and aircraft to guide the adversarial ships away from US territorial waters. Given the war in Ukraine and tensions around Taiwan, the exercise by China and Russia is concerning (Fox News).
Earthquake in eastern China destroys houses, injures at least 21 / August 5, 2023
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck near the eastern city of Dezhou, about 185 miles south of Beijing, where tremors were also felt, but no damage was reported. One hundred twenty-six homes were leveled in Dezhou, but no deaths were reported. About 5.6 million people live in and around Dezhou (ABC News).
Philippines tells China it will not abandon post in disputed reef / August 7, 2023
After Chinese ships shot water canons at Philippine ships heading to a Philippine post on the Second Thomas Shoal, a Philippine official declared that the country will not abandon its post on the Shoal. A similar incident occurred in November of 2021 (Reuters).
China calls on Philippines to move grounded warship from disputed reef / August 8, 2023
In an attempt to strengthen its claim to the Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippines grounded a warship in 1999 and has used it as a base of operations since then. China continues to object to the maneuver, leading to the water cannon incident last Saturday. China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea for itself (Al Jazeera).
What’s behind rising China-Philippines tensions in the South China Sea? / August 9, 2023
China claims almost all of the South China Sea on the basis of historical records from the Xia Dynasty from 4000 years ago, Currently, the Sea’s rich resources and its strategic location to control trade and any nation’s military presence there also incentivize China’s claims. (Al Jazeera).
Deflation: Why falling prices in China raise concerns / August 9, 2023
China’s consumer price index fell by .3% from last year for the first time in more than 2 years. China’s exports and imports also fell in July by more than 12%. The housing market continues to struggle, nearly losing one of its largest real estate developers, and youth unemployment is at an all-time high (BBC News).
US Navy sailor’s mom encouraged him to pass military details to China / August 9, 2023
Prosecutors charge that Jinchao Wei, one of the two US Navy sailors recently arrested for espionage, was encouraged by his mother to cooperate with Chinese intelligence officers so that he might obtain a place in China’s communist party after his stint with the US Navy. Wei was born in China and had only applied for US citizenship in February of 2022 (AP News).
How high will the fence be? China’s concerns over US tech investment curbs / August 10, 2023
President Biden signed an executive order on Wednesday curbing additional US investment in particular Chinese technology companies, described as a “small yard” (select industries) and a “high fence” (strong restrictions). Foreign investment in China has already decreased significantly, and China will likely respond with its own restrictions (SCMP).