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.
Beijing sizzles at 106 degrees, hottest June day recorded in capital / June 23, 2023
China experienced record-breaking heat last week, with the capital, Beijing breaking a 1961 heat record for the hottest day in June. Concerns also rose about electricity being cut off because of high demand. The heat is expected to affect northern and northeastern China (NBC News).
US charges Chinese individuals and firms over fentanyl chemical trafficking / June 23, 2023
The US Justice Department filed charges against four Chinese companies for producing the materials for making fentanyl and shipping them to the US. A Manhattan southern district court revealed the indictment against the Chinese chemical company, Hubei Amarvel Biotech, and three executives. Indictments were issued against three other companies from another New York district court (The Guardian).
Analysis: Investors shelve China assets before bigger stimulus / June 25, 2023
Investors in Chinese stocks are hesitant to gamble on the Chinese market due to the slow rebound of the Chinese economy after the Covid crisis. Authorities have cut interest rates, but not enough to get revive the economy. This makes some stocks more of a bargain, but investors still prefer short-term options (Reuters).
China’s surprising move after slashing rates amid global economic turmoil / June 26, 2023
While Australia and other “Western” economies are raising interest rates to combat inflation, China is slashing rates in an attempt to re-ignite its smoldering economy. The 10-point cut is meant to stimulate business confidence and housing demand, but may not be enough to significantly change the market (news.com.au)
China’s premier strikes bullish tone on economic growth despite concerns / June 27, 2023
China’s Premier Li Qiang spoke optimistically about the Chinese economy’s second-quarter results after a disappointing first quarter. China is dealing with low consumer confidence, low demand, and a staggeringly high youth unemployment rate around 20%. While some ratings agencies have lowered their growth forecasts for China, the World Bank raised theirs (CNN Business).
Nvidia dips on report U.S. considering new chip export restrictions for China / June 28, 2023
The US government is considering additional chip export restrictions against China, which caused several chip maker stocks to recede into negative territory upon the announcement. The new restrictions would block measures taken by some chip makers to skirt around prior restrictions (CNBC).
China expresses support for Russia after aborted mutiny / June 25, 2023
Both the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese citizens on social media expressed support for Russia and Vladimir Putin after the Wagner Group’s attempted mutiny was aborted on Saturday. Russia’s Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko held talks in Beijing over the weekend. China vowed to stay out of Russia’s “internal affairs (Reuters).
‘Don’t see why not’: China envoy on backing Ukraine’s ’91 borders / June 27, 2023
China’s EU envoy, Fu Cong, stated that supporting a return to Ukraine’s 1991 border with Russia when it broke from the Soviet bloc could be considered in peace negotiations with Russia. Cong made his remarks after the 2023 Europe-China Business Summit in Brussels on June 16 (Al Jazeera).
Haley says Trump did ‘too little’ about China threats / June 27, 2023
Presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized her former boss’ dealings with China, stating that he didn’t do enough to stem China’s threatening advances, and for Trump’s congratulating Xi on the 70th anniversary of the Communist Party. Haley’s campaign speech suggested a more aggressive stance toward China than the prior and current administrations’ approach (AP News).
PM Modi’s US visit sends ‘strong’ message to China in a subtle way / June 25, 2023
While China was not explicitly a major topic in Prime Minister Modi’s visit with President Biden last week, its economic, technological, and military influence underscored much of their talks. Two significant deals strengthened the US’s ties with India while boosting India’s military capabilities (Mint).
US Officials Agree: China’s Xi Is a Dictator / June 25, 2023
Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed with President Biden’s claim that President Xi is a dictator as he spoke on“Face the Nation.” Blinken recently visited China to ease tensions with the US adversary but evidently told his counterparts that both sides will still do and say things that the other side won’t appreciate (VOA).
Blinken meets Chinese Foreign Minister on high-stakes trip to Beijing / June 18, 2023
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang this weekend to try to cool relations between the two countries. The meeting follows the spy-balloon debacle 6 months ago and a few other dignitary meetings, and may open the door to Biden meeting with Xi Jinping in November (CNBC).
Blinken trip to China 'makes no sense' as tensions remain high / June 17, 2023
Rebekah Koffler, president of Doctrine & Strategy Consulting and a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer, declared on Fox News that Blinken’s meeting in China is not likely to produce any substantive change in the two superpowers’ relationship. She said diplomatic talks are useless after decades of China’s economic, intelligence-gathering, and military buildup (Fox News).
US and China pledge to stabilize tense relationship after talks / June 19, 2023
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had an unscheduled meeting with President Xi Jinping during his trip to China this weekend, and while no substantive progress was made, the two sides agreed to continue keeping the communication lines open for further dialogue (BBC News).
Five things we learned from the China-US talks after Xi calls surprise meeting / June 20, 2023
While there was no sign of “world peace” coming out of Blinken’s recent visit to China, the visit did point future relations could go in the right direction, improving the prospects for more dialogue and potential solutions. Still, Xi demonstrated his superiority by placing Blinken in a diminutive position, and no red-carpet welcome (ABC News).
Blinken Says He Warned China About Military, Intel Activities in Cuba / June 21, 2023
While in London, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that he did advise China that the US would be very concerned about any increase in intelligence activity or military training facilities in Cuba. A Chinese representative said she was unaware of any negotiations between China and Cuba (VOA).
US-China tensions: Biden calls Xi a dictator a day after Beijing talks / June 21, 2023
President Biden spoke at a fund-raising event in California, calling President Xi a dictator and stating that Xi was embarrassed by the “spy balloon” because Xi didn’t know it was there. China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning labeled Biden’s words “extremely absurd” (BBC News).
Three convicted in US plot to force people to go to China / June 20, 2023
A retiree New York Police Department detective and two others were convicted of “interstate stalking,” harassment, and attempting to repatriate Chinese-Americans living in the US. This event is different from the Chinese police station discovered in April in New York City. A report claims that 10,000 Chinese repatriations have occurred globally since 2014 (Al Jazeera).
Yinchuan: China restaurant gas explosion kills 31 / June 21, 2023
A gas leak is suspected as the cause of an explosion in Yinchuan, the capital city of the Ningxia autonomous region in northwest China. Several high school teens and retirees are reportedly among the dead. The explosion occurred at the beginning of the Dragon Boat Festival, a national holiday (BBC News).
China Watcher: China and Ukraine — Angering Xi — Colonialism’s Legacy / June 22, 2023
Due to Russia’s status of the war in Ukraine, it may be looking to China for military support in the form of “dual use” items that can sneak under the threat of US sanctions against China, and it may be getting it, as Chinese “kit” keeps showing up in the conflict (Politico).
Bible College Teachers Indoctrinated at Beijing’s Central Institute of Socialism / June 13, 2023
Christian professors from all over China were summoned to the Central Institute of Socialism in Beijing this Spring to take mandatory courses on the principles of core Marxism, the 20th Conference of the CCP, and Xi Jinping’s “new era of socialism.” The goal is the “Sinicization of Christianity” through the study CCP documents (Bitter Winter).
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 the 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).