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GIF by Jia Guo. View pronunciation video from Jia.
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Dear reader,
Two things:
We’ve opened a shop!
SupChina’s team is dedicated to helping you understand China through our daily analysis of news, plus via events, podcasts, on-the-ground reporting, and interviews with luminaries from business, journalism, politics, academia, and culture.
We also like to buy stuff! So we’ve opened a shop where you can find a curated assortment of our favorite books and posters, and goods from China or influenced by Chinese culture. Please check out our selection, and let us know what you think.
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We want your help! Do you have any photos of China that you’d like to show the world? If so, please send them to jia@supchina.com, along with captions, a short bio, and a photo of the photographer! We’ll publish the best ones regularly in our daily newsletter.
—Jeremy Goldkorn, Editor-in-Chief
1. Trade war, day 132: Xi feted in Papua New Guinea, as U.S. panel warns of Chinese tech dominance
General Secretary and President Xí Jìnpíng 习近平 arrived early in Papua New Guinea (PNG) before Asia-Pacific leaders gather for the APEC summit this week.
- “Hundreds of fluttering red flags, buses emblazoned with ‘China Aid’ logos and even a purpose-built pagoda: driving around Port Moresby, you could be forgiven for thinking that Xi Jinping is hosting this week's APEC summit of Asia-Pacific leaders,” reports AFP.
- Xi published a bylined article in two newspapers in PNG ahead of his visit. You can read the full text here if you need a soporific.
- Trump will not attend the APEC summit, and will send Vice President Mike Pence in his place. This is yet another signal from the president that “has left Washington scrambling to convince allies that it has not conceded the battle for influence in the Pacific.”
- Meanwhile, in Singapore, on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, senior officials from the “Quad” — the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India — will meet in what Bloomberg describes as “potentially the most important meeting in Asia this week.” It is the informal group’s third meeting since it was revived last year, with the goal of serving as “a counterweight to China’s growing economic and military might.”
- Also on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, the 16 leaders of the nations participating in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) met. RCEP “is often viewed as a China-backed rival to the TPP,” but progress seems to have stalled. The meeting will conclude with “a joint communique stating that they have made ‘significant progress’ on the agreement,” whereas earlier expectations were that a deal would be signed.
American fears about Chinese technology are not subsiding. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has released its annual report, which warns that China’s growing technological prowess is a major threat to the U.S. The Wall Street Journal reports:
- “Chinese dominance of networking-equipment manufacturing threatens the security of U.S. fifth-generation, or 5G, wireless infrastructure,” according to the report.
- Huawei and ZTE, the Chinese telecom equipment manufacturers that American regulators love to hate, are cited as key examples.
- The internet of things (IoT) is a particular vulnerability, according to the report, because “China’s position as the world’s largest manufacturer of internet-connected household devices creates ‘numerous points of vulnerability for intelligence collection, cyberattacks, industrial control, or censorship.’”
- The commission also recommends that various government bodies:
- Ensure that all government agencies “address supply-chain vulnerabilities stemming from China, including potential cyber, operations, physical, information and data-security issues.”
- “Rapidly and securely” deploy 5G networking technology in the U.S., “with a particular focus on the threat posed by equipment and services designed or manufactured in China.”
- Reassess “whether U.S. export control policy for dual-use technology should continue to consider Hong Kong — where controls are more relaxed — and mainland China as separate customs areas, given Beijing’s continued erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy.”
- The Justice Department should “look into utilizing the little-known U.S. ‘Conspiracy Against Rights’ law to prosecute Chinese Communist Party affiliates who ‘threaten, coerce, or otherwise intimidate U.S. residents.’”
RELATED NEWS:
—Sky Canaves and Jeremy Goldkorn
2. Eric X. Li falls victim to new censorship campaign
The National Internet Information Office of China, the country’s top cyber authority, has launched yet another crackdown against online expression, with “self-media,” blogs, and microblogs squarely in the crosshairs.
- More than 9,800 blogging accounts have been erased from the internet since the campaign started on October 20, according to a statement (in Chinese) from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).
- Reasons include spreading “politically harmful information” (政治有害信息 zhèngzhì yǒuhài xìnxī), creating rumors that disrupt the normal social order, and circulating vulgar content that has a negative impact on teenagers. “The chaotic nature of these self-media accounts seriously trampled on the dignity of laws and regulations, harmed the interests of the people, shaped online public opinion in a negative way, and caused strong backlash from the society,” the statement reads.
- The move comes after a series of commentary articles published by the People’s Daily in October, which criticized bloggers, also known as self-media practitioners, for writing clickbait, spreading rumors to mislead the public, and being driven solely by profit. The Party's house newspaper also urged authorities to introduce more laws and regulations to restore order in the space of online information. (All links in Chinese).
- In August 2017, China initiated investigations into top social media sites, including WeChat and Weibo, claiming that they failed to comply with cyber laws. One month later, the cyberspace authorities moved to monitor conversations on WeChat more closely, which prompted many users to impose self-censorship by deleting chat groups.
- This round of censorship seems to be focused on social media accounts about current affairs, and many of the victims were critical or discussed “sensitive” issues.
- However, the purge surprised many by eradicating the official WeChat account of Guancha.cn 观察者网, a pro-government news site associated with Eric X. Li (李世默 Lǐ Shìmò), the silver-tongued venture capitalist who writes op-eds in American newspapers defending China's leadership.
- The No. 1 Sentry (一号哨位 yīhào shàowèi), a veteran-initiated military blog that was once praised (in Chinese) by the People’s Liberation Army Daily for its unique perspective and excellent writing, was also shut down for unknown reasons.
—Chauncey Jung
3. Richard Liu alleged rape — an impossible situation for the University of Minnesota?
Richard Liu (刘强东 Liú Qiángdōng), CEO of ecommerce giant JD.com, was arrested on suspicion of rape in Minneapolis in September, after a party with associates from a University of Minnesota executive education program. Liu was released without being charged. He returned to China, while the Minneapolis police conducted an initial investigation into the rape accusation. They passed their findings to the Hennepin County attorney’s office, “which says it has no deadline for deciding whether to press charges,” according to the New York Times (porous paywall).
- Liu has continued to deny allegations that he raped a student while in Minneapolis.
- The case “puts the university administration in an impossible situation” as it tries to simultaneously protect its students and its reputation, said Kristen Houlton Shaw, the executive director of the nonprofit Sexual Violence Center in Minneapolis, to the New York Times.
- “The program he’s participating in is a major moneymaker — it brings in these highfliers and heavy hitters from around the world,” said Shaw, adding, “Their prospective students are watching.”
- $10 million is how much the Times says the program has earned the university in tuition fees since it began last year.
- See also: Sexual misconduct and the problem with Chinese internet companies, earlier on SupChina.
4. State media today — meeting notes and mockery
Central state media today continued to focus on celebrations of 40 years of economic reform: Xi presides over 5th meeting of Central Committee for Deepening Overall Reform is the Xinhua story (in Chinese here).
The Global Times follows Xinhua’s lead, but also prominently features an opinion piece (in Chinese) criticizing the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s report on the dangers of Chinese tech (see trade war section above for details), and an article (in Chinese) mocking U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s most recent speech on China.
The Global Times English website is sunnier: The lead story is Ice-breaking signs show up for China-US trade dispute.
—Jeremy Goldkorn
BUSINESS AND TECH:
- Oil and the ‘coming recession’
China’s coming recession has pushed oil below $60 / MarketWatch
“In 2017, China overtook the U.S. as the largest importer of oil, so economic developments in China should be closely monitored by oil traders, as the Chinese economy is likely headed into a massive recession, and not due to the present trade frictions with the Trump administration.”
- Overseas infrastructure projects
Nighttime satellite images shed light on China's building spree in developing nations / NPR
“New research suggests that China's infrastructure projects may be better at reducing inequality in developing countries than many Western programs.”
- A fight about new flights to China
The brewing airline battle over China flights is truly absurd / The Motley Fool
American Airlines, United, and Delta Continental “will be competing for some of the few remaining route authorities that permit U.S. airline service to Beijing and Shanghai. The bizarre thing in this case is that none of the three airlines is interested in adding new flights to China until June 2020.”
- Tencent investors smile again
Tencent beats profit expectations despite China’s gaming clampdown / WSJ (paywall)
“The Shenzhen-based tech giant said that profit climbed to 23.3 billion yuan ($3.39 billion) in the three months ended September 30, up 30 percent from the year-earlier 18 billion yuan. Revenue was up 24 percent.”
- The business of the surveillance state
This U.S. firm wants to help build China's surveillance state / Wired
Remark Holdings is “a small public company with Hollywood producer Brett Ratner on its board and financial ties to TV’s Dr. Mehmet Oz.” Although it is currently an “unprofitable, debt-loaded website operator,” the owners want to turn its fortunes around by selling AI technology in Asia, particularly China.
“One subsidiary built technology for use by police in China’s fifth largest city, Hangzhou, that analyzes surveillance video to identify motorcycles driving on streets where they are banned.”
A new Venezuelan ID, created with China's ZTE, tracks citizen behavior / Reuters
Journalist Angus Berwick, who wrote the story, tweeted: “Today Reuters published my investigation into how Chinese telecoms giant ZTE is helping Venezuela build a system that monitors citizen behavior through a new ID card, known as the “fatherland card.” Here’s a thread on how the story developed.”
- Regulating genetic research
China’s crackdown on genetics breaches could deter data sharing / Nature
“China’s enormous population is a genetics goldmine. But the government, wary that this data could be exploited for profit, has been cracking down on researchers and companies that violate rules on sharing its citizens’ genetic material and information. Some scientists fear that this closer attention is creating hurdles for international collaborations.”
- Internet graveyard
The forgotten 'Facebook of China' is sold for $20M / TechCrunch
“Renren, which was once heralded as the ‘Facebook of China’ and later became China’s answer to MySpace after falling out of fashion among its core young users, is selling its social networking business.”
- Nuclear power
China’s ‘artificial sun’ marks breakthrough for nuclear fusion / Sixth Tone
“Scientists in eastern China on Monday announced the creation of a temporary ‘artificial sun’ over six times hotter than the core of the real sun, marking an important step toward building the world’s first nuclear fusion power plant.”
- Cathay Pacific hack
Cathay Pacific under fire from 15 countries on data breach / SCMP
“Cathay Pacific Airways on Wednesday said it was facing one of the worst crises in its history as the airline revealed it was being questioned by 27 regulators from 15 jurisdictions over a data breach that has affected 9.4 million passengers.”
- The super-rich
Foxconn head regains richest man's status in Taiwan / Focus Taiwan
“Terry Gou (郭台铭 Guō Táimíng), founder and chairman of Foxconn Technology Group, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer and a major supplier to Apple, became Taiwan's richest man again in 2018, despite a noticeable contraction of his wealth.”
POLITICS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS:
- Crackdown on student Marxists
Chinese campus crackdown on young Marxist activists expands in major cities / SCMP
“At least 16 of the 22 Chinese labor activists — many of them recent graduates from elite universities — who disappeared in five cities over the weekend were still missing early on Wednesday, as authorities widened their crackdown against an emerging grassroots activism led by young Marxists.”
Petition: Demand the release of kidnapped students and workers in China / Leta Hong Fincher
Young Marxists are going missing in China after protesting for workers / CNN
Chinese police detain more labor activists, group says / AFP
“The Jasic Workers Solidarity group said police in the central city of Wuhan ‘violently arrested’ three of its members on Sunday.”
China's Peking University tightens party control, curbs activism / Reuters
“China's prestigious Peking University, historically a bastion of student activism, has moved to quash dissent and strengthen Communist Party control after a spate of protests across China on issues ranging from labor rights to #MeToo.”
Opinion: It's time to get loud about academic freedom in China / by Eli Friedman in Foreign Policy (porous paywall)
“American schools should pull out of partnerships with schools that persecute students.”
- Xinjiang and Uyghur internment camps ?
China may face US sanctions over Uygur camps in Xinjiang / SCMP
“US lawmakers will introduce legislation on Wednesday urging a stronger response to China’s actions and calling on President Donald Trump to condemn China’s actions in the Xinjiang region.”
U.N. rights officials criticize China over Muslim internments / NYT (porous paywall)
“Six United Nations officials and rights experts said in a letter sent on Monday to the Chinese government that the regulations were a violation of international law, and they urged that those responsible be held accountable.”
Opinion: Why won’t Muslim countries defend China’s Muslims? / by Sophie Richardson in the Hong Kong Free Press
Families of the disappeared: A search for loved ones held in China's Xinjiang Region / NPR
- South Korean thaw continues
China allows online travel agencies to resume selling group tours to South Korea / Yonhap
“China banned group tours to South Korea in March last year after Seoul decided to install the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defence System (THAAD).”
- Censorship, at home and abroad
China censorship moves from politics to economics / FT (paywall)
Deletion of Wu Gan’s Twitter posts reflects the urgent need to protect Chinese human rights activists’ ‘data ownership’ / China Change
- South China Sea
ASEAN and China tout progress over South China Sea / AP
“Leaders from Southeast Asia and China say they're making progress in keeping the peace in the disputed South China Sea as they work towards a ‘code of conduct’ to govern navigation routes and other activities in the area.”
- Taiwan’s struggle for recognition
Taiwan to seek support for CPTPP bid at APEC summit: minister / Focus Taiwan
“Taiwan will strive to gather support at this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit for its efforts to join another regional economic bloc, the country's top trade negotiator said Wednesday.”
- Imprisoned Taiwanese activist Lee Ming-che
China to arrange visit to jailed Taiwanese activist: spokesman / Focus Taiwan
“China will continue to make arrangements for the family of Taiwanese democracy activist Lee Ming-che (李明哲 Lǐ Míngzhé) to visit him in jail, a Chinese government spokesman said Wednesday, despite Beijing's recent denials of visitation requests.”
- Foreign aid and bad press
Debt-trap allegations push China to tighten reins on foreign aid programme / SCMP
“Beijing has drafted a new regulation designed to improve the management of its foreign aid programme amid allegations it has engaged in debt-trap diplomacy and that some of its investment projects have failed to benefit local communities.”
- Hong Kong — one country, one system?
Communist Party branch meeting with Chinese judges held at City University of Hong Kong / Hong Kong Free Press
PLA border row: Mainland officials had ‘different understanding’ of the Hong Kong boundary, says Carrie Lam / Hong Kong Free Press
“The Shenzhen government was under the belief that a border area near Sha Tau Kok river belonged to the mainland — but the Hong Kong government disagreed, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Wednesday. Lam told the Legislative Council that her administration met with its Shenzhen counterpart on Tuesday to discuss the disputed tract of land.”
- Natural disasters
Barrier lake flood damages Sichuan-Tibet Highway / China.org.cn
“Traffic was halted on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway on Wednesday after water discharged from a landslide-formed lake damaged a bridge, local traffic authorities said.”
- North Korea and Chinese banks
US Congressional panel wants list of Chinese financial firms facing possible sanctions over North Korea’s nuclear programme / SCMP
“The U.S. Treasury should give Congress within six months a list of Chinese financial companies and officials that could be sanctioned because of their ties to North Korea's nuclear weapon programmes, a US congressional advisory committee said.”
- Pakistan
Why young Pakistanis are learning Chinese / The Atlantic
“In the past, English was the sole language of upward mobility in Pakistan, both a relic of British colonial rule and a means of accessing Western markets, educational institutions, and jobs. Now, Mandarin has become the ‘hot new trend,’” said a Mandarin instructor in Gilgit, a town on the Karakoram Highway, which leads to China.
- Surveillance-state watch
Chinese university 'rethinking' checks on students' electronic devices after privacy complaints / SCMP
Guilin University of Electronic Technology had scheduled the checks on student and faculty devices on campus, from November 7 to 23, with the aim of stopping “the spread of content inciting violence, terrorism, harmful political information, pornographic and other content that corrupts thought.” However, a backlash from the student body seems to have resulted in the school authorities changing their minds.
SOCIETY AND CULTURE:
PHOTO FROM MICHAEL YAMASHITA
Golden teeth
A woman from the Yao ethnic minority in Yunnan Province smiles, displaying her gold-sheathed teeth.
—Jia Guo
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This newsletter was sent at 6 p.m. from New York, NY on November 14, 2018
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