Tag: China

Taiwan’s Defenses Against Information Warfare Gain Attention – WSJ

Western officials are studying the island’s methods for combating what its government says are attempts by China to sow fear
— Read on www.wsj.com/articles/taiwans-defenses-against-information-warfare-gain-attention-11661419802

CNN Exclusive: US intel and satellite images show Saudi Arabia is now building its own ballistic missiles with help of China – CNNPolitics

US intelligence agencies have assessed that Saudi Arabia is now actively manufacturing its own ballistic missiles with the help of China, CNN has learned, a development that could have significant ripple effects across the Middle East and complicate the Biden administration’s efforts to restrain the nuclear ambitions of Iran, the Saudis’ top regional rival.
— Read on edition.cnn.com/2021/12/23/politics/saudi-ballistic-missiles-china/index.html

Taiwan Unveils China’s Military Playbook

Taiwan, the independent and democratically governed island China claims as part of its own territory, has become the epicenter of a major geopolitical showdown between Washington and Beijing—to the point it was dubbed “the most dangerous place on Earth” by the Economist earlier this year amid fears its fate could spark a war between the two world superpowers. 

There are other important takeaways from the 208-page door stopper for defense wonks to pour through. One that stood out to us was how China plans to beef up its intelligence-gathering capabilities on Taiwan, including through the “deployment of JB series and Tiantong series reconnaissance and communications satellites to strengthen its supremacy in space and electromagnetic domains.” Another ominous takeaway is China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is “beefing up” amphibious capabilities and “strengthening training for its marines for joint landing operations.”
— Read on foreignpolicy.com/2021/11/11/can-taiwan-show-china-its-a-porcupine/

China cracks down on ‘characteristic towns’ that misused land, real estate while racking up massive debt | South China Morning Post

Move is in line with China’s efforts to reduce high local government debt and excess that collectively pose a serious threat to the national economy and property market.
— Read on www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3155055/china-cracks-down-characteristic-towns-misused-land-real

43 countries call on China to respect Uyghur rights

Beijing has long denied accusations of ethnic cleansing against Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic people in Xinjiang, where experts have estimated that more than one million people are incarcerated in camps.

Its ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun furiously denounced Thursday what he termed the “lies” and “a plot to hurt China”.
— Read on www.yahoo.com/news/forty-three-countries-call-china-192425564.html

“YOU turned her against me”.

You have done that yourself Anakin.

43 countries call on China to respect Uyghur rights

Forty-three countries have called on China to “ensure full respect for the rule of law” for the Muslim Uyghur community in Xinjiang, in a statement read at the United Nations on Thursday that sparked outrage from Beijing.
— Read on www.yahoo.com/news/forty-three-countries-call-china-192425564.html

How does this nation have such thin skin?

Because of desperation. It is weakness that causes a need to grip itself and the people living inside ever tighter.

Aides race to correct Biden gaffe on Taiwan | National Post

President appears to shift established US policy by pledging to defend the island should China attack
— Read on nationalpost.com/news/world/aides-race-to-correct-biden-gaffe-on-taiwan

Gaffe? Imagine being from the democratic nation of Taiwan 🇹🇼. Imagine having the swords hanging over your heads, unsheathed at the smallest slight.

Empty Homes, Shattered Dreams: China’s “Ghost Castles” – NHK WORLD PRIME – TV | NHK WORLD-JAPAN Live & Programs

A curious sight has emerged in the economically flourishing cities of China: Apartment buildings in which construction halts midway. Locals refer to them as “ghost castles.” Residents of one such building in Wuhan live in rooms without water or electricity, struggling under the financial weight of repaying the mortgage for an unfinished home. This program examines the shadow behind real estate development through the turmoil faced by the residents who have become victims of a ghost castle.
— Read on www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/worldprime/20210911/3016103/

BBC World Service – The Inquiry, Is China’s economy in trouble?

For decades China’s economic growth has been the envy of the western world. But current signs suggest all is not well.
Regulations brought in by government to curb businesses reliance on debt have badly hit the its second largest real estate developer, Evergrande and manufacturing output has been hit by power shortages.
So is China’s economy in trouble?

Experts:
Sara Hsu, visiting scholar at Fudan University in Shanghai
Michael Pettis, Finance Professor at Peking University and a Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment
Iris Pang, ING’s Chief Economist for Greater China
Travis Lundy, independent research analyst in Hong Kong
— Read on www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct1z2l