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.
Russian, Chinese bombers fly joint patrols over Pacific / November 30, 2022
Russia and China demonstrated their military cooperation by conducting a “joint patrol” with bombers over the western Pacific on Wednesday. While the countries’ cooperative drills are not new, this was the first time that China landed its jets at a Russian air base, and Russia did the same at a Chinese base (Associated Press).
Protestors urge China's President Xi to resign over Covid restrictions / November 28, 2022 Protests erupted throughout China over the weekend, initially in response to ongoing zero-Covid policies and their potential role in a fire that killed 40 people who were locked in their flats. However, the protests turned political as university students and citizens called for democratic reforms and the resignation of President Xi Jinping (BBC).
Protests; Covid; Xi's diplomacy; National security; A summary / November 28, 2022
While the protests in China may potentially continue, it is more likely the Chinese government will suppress the protests. Meanwhile, Covid cases increase and President Xi Jinping meets with Cuban, Mongolian, and European Council Presidents (Sinocism).
Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin Dies / November 30, 2022
Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin passed away on Wednesday at 96. He initiated China’s transformation into an economic powerhouse by adapting capitalism into the Chinese economy. His death potentially threatens Xi Jinping as citizens may view Jiang’s presidency as a time of greater freedom (Washington Post).
China's protests: Blank paper—the symbol of rare demonstrations / November 28, 2022
Citizens used plain white paper as a sign of protest in recent demonstrations in China, following a tradition of unusual items to represent an issue. The paper symbol began in Hong Kong in 2020 to protest new draconian laws there. In China, the papers suggest authorities might arrest protestors for “saying nothing” (BBC News).
Locked in their building because of Covid, 40 burn to death / November 29, 2022
Forty people burned to death in their apartment building on November 24th in Urumqi, the capital of the Uyghur region. They were unable to escape because the exits were wired shut from the outside to prevent people from leaving because of the Covid lockdown (Bitter Winter).
China’s space station gets a new crew / November 29, 2022
China has installed a new crew on its Shenzhou space station. The crew of three will complete the building of the space station. The crew takes over from the previous team of astronauts and marks the first in-orbit crew rotation in Chinese space history (Reuters).
US Space Force: China a threat in space / November 27, 2022
Nina Armagno, director of staff of the U.S. Space Force, has described China’s space efforts as a threat to the West. “I think it's entirely possible they could catch up and surpass us, absolutely. The progress they've made has been stunning, stunningly fast” (Reuters).
Protests in China over Covid / November 28, 2022
The weekend brought protests in several Chinese cities, including Shanghai and Beijing. Crowds were in the streets to criticize the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward Covid. Some protesters called for Chairman Xi to step down (AP News).
China reacts to protests /November 28, 2022 (Reuters)
N. Korea invited by China to work for peace / November 26, 2022
Chinese President Xi Jinping has told North Korea’s Kim Jong Un that Beijing is willing to work with Pyongyang for global peace and stability (Aljazeera).
China considers $700/person “stimulus” due to COVID-19 / November 22, 2022
Economists for the Chinese Communist party have recommended what is equivalent to a $700 per person “stimulus” effort to help support China’s sagging economy. Despite the country’s recent loosening of Covid restrictions, its zero-Covid lockdown policies have harmed the economy and public morale nearly 3 years after the pandemic began (Fox News Digital).
Under Biden, the US trade war on China is only likely to get worse / November 24, 2022 Despite the recent benevolent talks between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, the Biden administration’s efforts to shut out China from new trade and economic partnerships appears to signal a continuing attempt by the US to continue its trade war with China. Such a move, according to the IMF, could have a significantly negative global effect (SCMP).
China may have ‘passed the point of no return’ as Covid infections soar/ November 23, 2022 Covid infections in China have risen to 28,000 this week, almost matching last April’s record. Most cases appeared in Beijing, Guagzhou, and areas in central China. 400+ million Chinese citizens are now under lockdown restrictions. The road to “zero-Covid” may involve an ebb and flow before eradication of the virus in China (CNBC).
Covenant Home Church Banned in Shanxi / November 21, 2022
A popular Protestant house church, Covenant Home Church in Shanxi, was officially “liquidated” in mid-November. This is another step in a nationwide crackdown on churches that are not part of the government-approved Three-Self Church. The crackdown’s goal is to make all unregistered churches disappear (Bitter Winter).
Young Chinese refuse factory jobs; the economy suffers / November 20, 2022
Young adults in China are refusing the low pay, long hours of drudgery, and the risk of injuries in factory jobs that their fathers used to raise their families. A lack of factory workers is another factor slowing the Chinese economy (Reuters).
What G20 and Apec reveal about Xi Jinping / November 23, 2022
Chairman Xi Jinping’s unscripted moments during the summits in Southeast Asia last week offered insights into his approach to diplomacy. According to Gal Luft (Institute for the Analysis of Global Security), Xi “made it clear that he will not befriend those who present China as a threat, those who disrespect China’s core issues or …those… who disparage China publicly while…trying to score economic gains from it” (SCMP)
Opinion/ China has a timeline for subduing Taiwan /November 21, 2022
USNI News (the U.S. Naval Institute’s online news and analysis portal) reports on a speech by John Hemmings, a senior director at the Hawaii-based Pacific Forum. He maintained that Chairman “has a very deliberate timeline” on resolving the Taiwan issue (USNI News).
China has a stock exchange for data / November 21, 2022
The state-run data exchange in Shenzhen now allows companies to buy and sell data the way they do with regular commodities (SCMP).
Opinion: Has China and India changed their view of Ukraine war? / November 17, 2022
The G20 conference in Indonesia released a statement condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. China and India did not object. A lack of objection, however, does not indicate change in support for Russia (AP News).
Will Xi-Biden talks revive stalled climate talks"? / November 15, 2022
The bad news is that little progress resulted from Xi Jinping and Joe Biden’s discussion at the Egypt climate talks. The good news is China and the US will continue talking. Added good news is that the climate talks didn’t result in further hostilities (South China Morning Post).
Commentary: Covid relaxation must have clear messaging / November 15, 2022
China’s “relaxation” in its zero-Covid mandates appears to be contradictory. The goal remains the complete containment of the virus. But easing the testing of school children and targeted testing of adults (rather than mass testing) opens the door to Covid’s spreading (South China Morning Post).
A good deal? China infrastructure/trade deals / November 10, 2022
China continues its massive investment strategy in the continent of Africa and south Asia. Its newly structured financial packages appear to be equitable for those in a trade partnership with China. Countries with prior agreements appear to shortchange their struggling finances and benefit Chinese banks (The China Project).
China’s Xi starts 1st day at G20 with a whirlwind of meetings with US allies / November 15, 2022
Along with meeting President Biden at the G20 conference, Xi Jinping also met with other heads of state, mainly allies of the US. It is the first time in 2 years that Xi has met in person with so many heads of state, again. Western nations are striving to find common ground with China and China with them (CNN).
China's Xi confronts Canada's Trudeau at G20 over media leaks / November 16, 2022
In an informal conversation at the G20 summit in Bali, Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau received a bit of a snub from the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping. Xi voiced his disapproval that information about their talks at the summit was leaked to the media (Reuters).
Chinese military vessels cross ADIZ; Taiwan readies missiles / November 16, 2022
Chinese aircraft and naval vessels crossed Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) twice this month. President Biden claims there is no imminent plan for China to invade Taiwan. A high-level Chinese official declared that the Chinese military must be prepared to use “non-peaceful means” at all times to respond to these perceived threats (Fox).
Frustration turns to anger over ongoing COVID curbs / November 16, 2022
China recently “relaxed” some of its zero-Covid mandates. But positive cases of Covid have increased. Nationwide, positive cases more than doubled to 20,000 over a week ago. In the city of Guangzhou, protests broke out over the Covid lockdowns that came in response to the 5000 cases that were reported there (Al Jazeera).
Where are the babies? / November 15, 2022 (video)
The Chinese government is concerned that its fertility rate has dropped too much — more than 10% in 2021. China is incentivizing young parents to have more children. But young parents cite the expense of raising a second child and caring for their own aging parents as reasons to not increase the size of their families (SCMP).
China’s Xi tells PLA to focus on war preparation / November 11, 2022
According to various sources, President Xi Jinping has directed the PLA to prepare for war, citing an "unstable and uncertain national security situation." Perhaps his wording is typical of any speech to a country's military; however, based on Xi's consolidation of power in the CCP, the inception of his third term, and his reference to a threat to the country's security, he may have more in mind than just rallying the troops (Mint).
5 tensions That Could Derail the Climate Conference / November 6, 2022
The COP 27 (Conference of the Parties) climate meetings began this week on November 6th in Egypt, but a number of global issues may slow the impact of the meetings’ goals, such as the lack of representation by the world’s largest emitters (including China, the largest contributor to pollution), Russia’s war in Ukraine, which is causing Europe to eye fossil fuels in Africa, and the members’ general lack of ambition to fulfill prior commitments at former summits. (Politico)
Long Road to Reopening / November 7, 2022
China is dealing with current Covid cases and with a potential surge this winter. In addition, it is increasingly concerned about the risks of continuing its strangling shutdowns on the economy. If Covid goes wrong, the legitimacy of the CCP will be threatened. (Sinocism).
Opinion: China’s ‘peripheral diplomacy’ in Southeast Asia? / November 10, 2022
When President Xi Jinping became China’s leader in 2013, he established his “peripheral diplomacy” policy to focus on relations with neighboring countries. After ten years of military buildup in the South China Sea and other issues, it may be time to adjust this policy—at least, for clarification (South China Morning Post).
Can Germany ‘reduce lopsided dependencies’ on China? / November 07, 2022
Last week German Chancellor Scholz visited Beijing while German President Steinmeier met with Japanese and South Korean leaders. Germany seems to support “decoupling” from China’s economic powerhouse, but a Chinese company, COSCO, recently bought a significant portion of the port of Hamburg and a German chemical company has heavily invested in China’s chemical manufacturing (The China Project).
Canada facing ‘aggressive games’ from China: Trudeau / November 07, 2022
Prime Minister Trudeau claims that China, as well as other countries, may have influenced 11 Canadian politicians in the country's latest elections in 2019. He did not state which politicians were suspected either to have received financial support from China or to have had a staffer "planted" by China as an agent to influence policy (Global News).
Xi Jinping: Don’t use nuclear weapons in Europe / November 6, 2022
China's president Xi Jinping warned against using nuclear weapons over Ukraine. This is Xi’s first clear message to Russia about its war strategy. He made his remarks during a meeting with German chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing (Hindustan Times).
US, allies clash with China, Russia over North Korean missiles / November 4, 2022
The United States and its allies clashed with China and Russia on Friday over North Korea’s escalating ballistic missile launches and American-led military exercises in South Korea. Russia and China blamed the situation on the US war games in the area and its insistence on North Korea disarming (AP).
Chinese election meddling hits the midterms / November 4, 2022
Beijing is shifting its global influence campaigns from propaganda to blatant election interference. Chinese government-affiliated cyber-actors have increased their attempts to discourage Americans from voting, discredit the election process, and sow further divisions among voters (Foreign Policy)
A crackdown on illegal churches in China / November 4, 2022
In the months leading up to the 20th Congress of the CCP, a large number of pastors and church workers in house churches were detained by police. The message was clear: “illegal” religion should become invisible around the dates of the Congress (Bitter Winter).
A call for a closer relationship between China and Germany / November 4, 2022
On November 4, Xi Jinping met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Xi said, “As two major countries with great influence, China and Germany should work together in times of change and instability and contribute more to global peace and development (China’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs).
Germany’s Scholz and Xi talk about peace in Ukraine / November 4, 2022 (AP)
China updates the law protecting women / November 2, 2022
Chinese lawmakers have updated the Women's Rights and Interests Protection Law with the promise that it will guarantee women’s safety, honor their personal rights, and empower them. However, there is much wiggle room in the new law (The China Project).
Zero-Covid policy is still in place and still causing disruption / November 2, 2022
China’s zero-Covid policy is struggling to deal with new variants. Outbreaks have been reported across the country. Cases remain incredibly low, but even small numbers of positive tests can trigger wide-reaching lockdowns. China has shown little sign of relenting on its stringent restrictions, even though such a shift would undoubtedly help its slowing economy (Semafor - story#5).