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.
Ukraine invites China's Xi to 'peace summit' - Zelenskiy's top adviser / January 26, 2024
In an effort to construct a peace plan, Ukraine is organizing a peace summit to take place in Switzerland sometime in the future and has invited Chinese President Xi to the summit, underscoring the value Ukraine places in China’s input. Ukraine has a 10-point peace plan, but Russia so far has rejected it (Reuters).
Beijing steps up military pressure on Taiwan after US, China announce talks / January 27, 2024
After plans for top American and Chinese officials to meet were announced on Saturday, China sent 30 aircraft and 6 six ships to surround Taiwan in another military exercise. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Chinese and Chinese Foreign Security Officer Wang Yi were both in Thailand and were expected to meet to discuss Taiwan, troubled Red Sea shipping, and other concerns (NBC News).
US-China meetings fail to produce breakthrough on Red Sea shipping attacks / January 27, 2024
Talks between US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Chinese Foreign Security Officer Wang Yi did not convince China to aid the US in calling for Iran to scale back its involvement in the Red Sea tensions, nor for North Korea to stop its military nuclear buildup, nor for Russia to end its war with Ukraine. The talks reveal the Biden administration’s limitations in its dealings with China (Politico).
China's top diplomat warns U.S. against Taiwan independence / January 27, 2024
China appeared to hold the upper hand in Chinese Foreign Security Officer Wang Yi’s talks with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Thailand on Friday and Saturday, as Wang told the US to not interfere in China’s agenda to restore Taiwan to the mainland. Sullivan urged China to maintain peace and stability regarding the island (Kyodo News).
Exclusive: Xi promised Biden China wouldn’t interfere in 2024 election / January 31, 2024
When President Xi met with President Biden in California last November, Xi confirmed that China would not interfere in the US elections in 2024. When top officials met in Thailand last week, China’s Wang Yi reaffirmed Xi’s statement in his discussions with Jake Sullivan. Nevertheless, Chinese operatives may still pose a threat with disinformation on social media (CNN Politics).
US says it blocked China cyber-threat but warns hackers can ‘wreak havoc’ / February 1, 2024
US officials stated that they partially dismantled a Chinese cyber operation called Volt Typhoon that was attempting to disrupt public utilities in the event of a conflict between China and Russia. By disrupting water, electricity, and gas lines, the hackers could create chaos to weaken any US response to foreign aggression (Al Jazeera).
Evergrande collapse: Hong Kong court orders liquidation of property giant / January 29, 2024
After a year and a half of attempts to restructure, a Hong Kong court ordered the liquidation of property giant Evergrande after it failed to restructure in September, and its founder came under investigation for possible crimes. It is not certain how Evergrande’s liquidation may affect both China’s and the global economy (The Guardian).
The West shouldn’t celebrate a weaker Chinese economy / January 29, 2024
While some in the West might see China’s economic slump as a boon for Western dominance, China’s influence on the global economic market could negatively affect other economies. More than that, authoritarian governments often resort to aggressive nationalism to satisfy their citizens when other means of compliance have failed (The Hill).
Woman ordered deported over Chinese foreign interference / January 30, 2024
A Chinese woman, Jing Zhang, has been ordered deported from Canada when it was determined she was part of a foreign interference program called the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office. That agency often works to silence dissent in Chinese nationals and even immigrants in other nations, like Canada. The deportation was ordered on August 28th, but only publicly announced this week (Global News).
Russia’s planned gas pipeline to China faces construction delay / January 28, 2024
Russia had planned to start construction on a new gas pipeline through Mongolia to China in early 2024, but now, those plans have been delayed due to ongoing negotiations between Russia and China. The Power of Siberia-2 pipeline is expected to transport 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year once it is operating around 2030 (Reuters).
China sees potential 2024 Biden-Trump rematch as two 'bowls of poison' / January 30, 2024
A Shanghai professor of international relations states that either US presidential candidate (likely Donald Trump for the Republican party) would be a challenge for China, but at least China has had the experience of dealing with both presidents for four years. Both Trump and Biden have had a hot/cold relationship with China (Fox News).
China-Africa trade increased in 2023 but Africa’s trade deficit widens / February 1, 2024
While China’s trade with Africa grew modestly in 2023, Africa’s trade deficit with China grew significantly from US$46.9 billion to US$64 billion. Part of that, however, may be due to lower prices on raw materials, not necessarily a decrease in the volume of those raw materials. China has promised to balance the trade deficit, but that will take time (SCMP).
Vietnam becomes largest exporter of goods from Uyghur forced labor / January 31, 2024
China appears to be rerouting goods made in Uyghur forced labor camps to other neighboring countries, causing Vietnam to pass China as the largest exporter of those goods. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, passed in 2021, prevents imports of these goods to the US. The US has increased trade and political relations with Vietnam recently (VOA).
China is ramping up stimulus to boost market confidence, but is it enough? / January 25, 2024
Beginning February 5th, the People’s Bank of China will allow Chinese banks to allow for more capital for lending, to the tune of 1 trillion yuan throughout the banking system. The cut to the Reserve Requirement Ratio (RRR) was more than expected and suggests that the government is more concerned about the economy; however, negative consumer sentiment, global political concerns, and government crackdowns are still holding investors and consumers back (CNBC).
Chinese Stocks Surge On Market Rescue Plan Report / January 23, 2024
Chinese stocks rose solidly upon the news that Chinese policymakers plan to utilize 2 trillion yuan in state-owned enterprises to boost the economy. The removal of “draft rules” for gaming companies from the gaming regulator’s website boosted stocks in the gaming sector, also (Investors Business Daily).
China says EU's 'unfair' EV subsidies probe risks damaging ties / January 23, 2024
The Chinese Ambassador to the EU declared that the EU’s probe into EV subsidies for Chinese-made vehicles is unfair, and may escalate tensions and trade wars between the EU and China. The EU is investigating whether Chinese automakers are receiving government subsidies that allow them to sell their vehicles for less than EU-made vehicles (Reuters-Bloomberg).
China's attempts to lift confidence in economy fall flat / January 24, 2024
While Chinese Premiere Li Qiang spoke positively about the Chinese economy in Davos last week, his words fell flat, unfortunately. The next day the stock market sell-off accelerated because Li didn’t reveal anything concrete to boost confidence, which seems to be a recurring theme for the last year. One analyst suggests Xi’s consolidation of power in his third term has lower-level officials hesitant to make policy choices (Reuters).
Beijing boosts use of yuan in Africa as nations move away from US dollar / January 21, 2024
An increasing number of African countries are working with Chinese Banks and the CCP to conduct more trade and business based on the Chinese yuan. Many African countries have been dealing with economic crises and debt repayment problems based on the US dollar. China has offered “panda bonds” to help these countries resolve their debts, or at least transfer them (SCMP).
China defies sanctions to make Russia its biggest oil supplier in 2023 / January 21, 2024
Russia became China’s largest oil supplier in 2023, edging out Saudi Arabia and circumventing US sanctions against Russia. China imported over 107 million metric tons of crude oil from Russia over the year as Russia was able to offer its crude at a discounted price (Reuters).
China Landslide Death Toll Hits 44 / January 25, 2024
Rescue workers in southwestern China have been working to recover people caught in a landslide that claimed the lives of at least 44 people. The landslide, along with an earthquake in the Xinjiang province and a fire in the Jiangxi province have made for a difficult week for China (VOA).
Several injured after 7.1-magnitude earthquake hits part of western China / January 23,2024
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Xinjiang province in western China early Tuesday morning, injuring six, but as of this writing, no deaths were reported. The quake was also felt in neighboring Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan (CBS News).
Thirteen children die in Chinese boarding school fire / January 20, 2024
A dormitory for a grade school in Henan province caught fire last Friday night, killing thirteen students, all from the same class, who were residing in the dormitory. The students were 9-10 years old. Fires like this are unfortunately common in China (The Guardian).
The US is hamstringing itself in its spy war with China / January 24, 2024
China’s espionage network is extensive and difficult to penetrate, but according to this article, the US government does not fund the CIA enough for it to take advantage of the limited opportunities circumstances present from time to time, as China’s current economic struggle currently does. That window may be closing soon (The Hill).
Filipino fisherman to China’s coast guard: `This is Philippine territory. Go away’ / January 23, 2024
Chinese Coast Guard personnel attempted to move Filipino fishermen from harvesting fish and shellfish on the Scarborough shoal last week Tuesday, prompting the fishermen and the Philippine government to launch a protest. A 2016 UN tribunal declared China’s expansive measures in the South China Sea to be unlawful, but China has rejected that ruling (AP News).
China, More Members of The Church of Almighty God Arrested, Tortured / January 26, 2024
Bitter Winter has obtained evidence of nationwide persecution by the CCP of members of the Church of the Almighty God, currently the largest new Christian sect that has grown quickly since its inception in 1991. The church believes Christ has returned to earth in the form of a Chinese woman who emphasizes the purification of mankind and a millennial kingdom (Bitter Winter).
China GDP grew around 5.2% in 2023 without relying on 'massive stimulus' / January 17, 2024
Li Qiang reported that China’s economy grew by 5.2%, meeting expected target goals for 2023 while he was in Davos, Switzerland, emphasizing that the achievement did not require any stimulus on the part of the government. However, the CCP did offer fiscal aid and interest cut rates. Even so, the targeted growth is a positive note in what has been a challenging year for China (Mint).
China's Charm Offensive in Davos to Woo Investors Falls Short / January 17, 2024
China’s Premier, Li Qiang, with a large entourage of 140 Chinese officials in tow, spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, encouraging foreign business leaders to see China as a positive place for future investing. However, he did not provide any specifics to win them over. Divestment out of China was the trend in 2023 and it may continue (VOA).
China snubs Zelenskyy in Switzerland / January 17, 2024
Ukrainian President Zelensky requested a meeting with Chinese officials while they attended the World Economic Forum, but his request went unanswered even though there were opportunities for the leaders to meet. China has thrown its support to Russia instead (Politico).
Taiwan voters elect president labeled 'troublemaker' by China / January 13, 2024
William Lai Ching-te won Taiwan’s presidential election on Saturday, garnering about 40 percent of the vote, frustrating China and President Xi Jinping, who still vowed to unite the island to the mainland. Lai will extend the DPP’s interests as the former president is limited to two terms by law (NBC News).
China vents fury at Philippines over Taiwan congratulations / January 16, 2024
“Don’t play with fire,” was China’s retort to Philippines President Marcos after Marcos congratulated William Lai Ching-te on his presidential win in Taiwan last Saturday, potentially souring the already tense relationship between China and the Philippines. The US and Japan also sent well-wishes to Lai (Al Jazeera).
Taiwan election: China says US 'gravely wrong' to congratulate new leader / January 14, 2024
China lashed out at the US after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai Ching-te on his presidential win in Taiwan. China does not want any government to formally dialogue with Taiwan’s government, so Blinken’s comments were strongly rejected. Yet, the Biden administration sent a delegation to Taiwan just hours after the election win (BBC News).
China’s muted reaction to Taiwan’s election may signal a waiting game / January 18, 2024
While China began military exercises around Taiwan again on Wednesday (after Taiwan’s presidential election last Saturday), China’s response to the DPP’s win in Taiwan has been fairly quiet. Some analysts suggest China may provoke the new president, Lai Ching-te, to get him to react in a way that China can justify its “need” to take action against Taiwan (The Guardian).
China experts urge Beijing to revive communication with Taiwan / January 19, 2024
With William Lai Ching-te’s election victory in Taiwan last Saturday, China experts are urging the CCP to resume communication with Taipei after suspending that communication when the DPP won the presidential election in 2016. The current lack of communication could escalate tensions between the two governments (SCMP).
Chinese lab mapped deadly Coronavirus 2 weeks before Beijing told the world / January 17, 2024
A Chinese researcher mapped the COVID-19 virus in a database on December 28, 2019, two weeks before China revealed the presence of the deadly disease. The virus’ information was stored on a US government-run database. Had the information been disclosed two weeks earlier, more lives could have been saved worldwide (WSJ).
US had COVID sequence in 2019, raising questions about who knew what when / January 17, 2024
Since the COVID-19 virus mapping had been stored on a US government-run database, both China and the US were in possession of this information before China announced the new disease around January 8, 2020. The new timeline has caused many to question the timeline of the early days of the pandemic and how leaders responded to the novel disease (USA Today).
China records population decline for second straight year / January 17, 2024
China saw a decline in population and its birth rate for the second straight year in 2023, but there has been an overall decline in China’s population since the late 70’s. The CCP’s attempts to encourage more births with financial incentives have not caught on as many young adults don’t feel financially secure enough to have even one child (BBC).
China develops nuclear battery that can last 50 years without charging / January 18, 2024
A Chinese start-up company, Betavolt, has developed a nuclear battery smaller than a coin that can provide electricity for up to 50 years without recharging. The company says the battery is safe, won’t explode when subjected to sudden force, and protects users from radiation. The battery could be used in items like drones, cell phones, and even health products like pacemakers (The Economic Times).
China and Taiwan: Love and longing across the strait / January 10, 2024
While tensions are high between the governments of China and Taiwan, citizens of both countries seem more ambivalent about the possible unification of the island to the mainland, focusing their attention on putting food on the table instead. Cross-strait couples, however, face challenges even in meeting one another (BBC News).
US urges China not to interfere in Taiwan elections / January 11, 2024
The Biden Administration urged China to refrain from influencing Taiwan’s presidential and parliamentary elections this week, although China launched a satellite over Taiwan on Wednesday, sparking a defensive panic on the island. Chinese and US military officials also met this week to continue talks set by Biden and Xi at their California meeting in November (Reuters).
China sanctions 5 US defense companies in response to US sanctions, arms sales / January 7, 2024
China sanctioned 5 US defense companies involved in making armament sales to Taiwan, preventing those companies from doing business in China and seizing any property held by them in China. The sanctions are mostly symbolic, however, since most of the defense companies do not sell to China (AP News).
In talks with US, China says it will ‘never compromise’ on Taiwan / January 10, 2024
As military officials from China met with US officials in the US this week, China vowed that it will never compromise on its plans for reunification of Taiwan to the mainland. China urged the US to stop supporting Taiwan, as well as those countries in the South China Sea who are contesting China’s claims in the region (Al Jazeera).
US and Chinese military officers resume talks as agreed by Biden and Xi / January 10, 2024
Military officers from both China and the US met at the Pentagon this week, resuming the communication that was halted since Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022. Talks this week, however, primarily involved scheduling future meetings, with some discussion of policy concerns but no resolutions to those issues (AP News).
The Taiwan that China wants is vanishing / January 10, 2024
As Taiwan faces its presidential election on Saturday, many young citizens of Taiwan see themselves as Taiwanese, not Chinese, and they prefer the status-quo of not being an independent nation, and ultimately, peace. The article explores Taiwan’s interesting history that sheds light on the steps that led to today’s uneasy relationship between Taiwan and mainland China (BBC).
Maldives upgrades ties with China amid pivot from India / January 10, 2024
President Xi of China and the newly elected president Muizzu of the Maldives met this Wednesday, signing 20 agreements and pledging a strengthening of the relationship between the two countries. Muizzu’s presidential campaign featured an anti-India platform out of concern over a threat to the Maldives’ sovereignty (Reuters).
China will make foreign investment easier, vice premier tells foreign executives / January 10, 2024
Chinese economic officials announced easier access for foreign investors to do business in China as foreign investors are still hesitant to invest in China after 3 years of a declining stock market in China. No mention was made, however, of easing the government’s scrutiny of activities that violate national security by business leaders of foreign companies (CNBC).
China Claims It Caught a Foreign Consultant Spying for the U.K.’s MI6 / January 8, 2024
China’s Ministry of State Security accused the UK’s MI6 of spying through an employee of a consulting firm in China. The charge is another example of China’s crackdown on alleged anti-espionage activities that increased since last year when a new law was enacted. The scrutiny, however, is scaring off foreign investment (TIME).
Xi’s Empty Dream City Shows Limits of His Power, Even in China / January 9, 2024
Xiongan, President Xi’s modern dream city just south of Beijing, is struggling to gain residents, even though it has been meticulously planned and promoted as a shining light of China’s development. Unfortunately, the city was built on low ground, so torrential rains last summer forced the city to divert excess water to its surrounding villages, stranding thousands (Bloomberg).
US intel shows China's army had missiles filled with water instead of fuel / January 8, 2024
Bloomberg reported on Saturday that China’s army had missiles filled with water instead of fuel, and missile silos had the wrong lids, preventing rockets from launching. It was such failures that triggered the purge of leading military officers in the PLA last year, according to the report (Yahoo News).
Shadow bank Zhongzhi files for bankruptcy as China’s debt, property crisis deepens / January 8, 2024
Unable to finance its debt, shadow bank Zhongzhi filed for bankruptcy last week Friday, causing a slight downturn in property stocks that afternoon. Shadow banks “pool” funds from business and household savings to provide loans outside of state-owned banks. One analyst states that it is unlikely that the government will bail out the firm (CNBC).
China removes official after video games rules spark turmoil / January 2, 2024
Feng Shixin, head of the publishing unit of the Communist Party's Publicity Department, was removed from his position after new regulations to curb video gaming purchases and incentives were published and provoked a significant drop in gaming stocks, like Tencent. China has been trying to curb excessive gaming through regulation (Reuters).
China's First Domestically Built Cruise Ship Begins Maiden Voyage / January 1, 2024
China’s first domestically built cruise ship, the Adora Magic City, set sail on its maiden voyage on New Year’s Day, marking a milestone in China’s bid to become self-sufficient in more complex, large-scale technological production. China’s first domestically built passenger plane was unveiled last month (VOA).
China's 2024 outlook will be shaped by decisions beyond its borders / January 3, 2024
Elections in Taiwan and the US this year, along with foreign investors being reluctant to invest in China may have a large influence on the direction China will take in 2024. Xi and the CCP may loosen their tough anti-corruption regulations on the business sector to attract more investment, or they may double down and demand compliance (Axios).