Advertisement Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers brawled in the Taiwanese legislature earlier this week over changes to Article 99-1 of the Accounting Act proposed by the DPP. What provoked ire was that the changes may clear former President Chen Shui-bian of corruption charges regarding the use of special expense funds when he was president. Chen, who served as president from 2000 to 2008, was the first DPP president in Taiwanese history. Chen rose to prominence as a defense lawyer for the Kaohsiung Eight, who were political dissidents…
Month: June 2022
Is Biden’s Foreign Policy Team the Best of ‘the Blob’?
Even more worrying is the Biden administration’s approach to China, which sees Beijing primarily as a threat to American global supremacy and thus defines relations with the world’s other superpower in largely zero-sum terms. In a May 26 speech at George Washington University outlining the administration’s China strategy, Mr. Blinken said it could be “summed up in three words”: The United States will “invest” domestically, “align” its policies with those of its allies and “compete” with Beijing. The word “cooperate” was notably absent. Biden officials describe their turn away from…
Shanghai reportedly bans media use of the term ‘lockdown’ as lockdown ends
Authorities in Shanghai have reportedly ordered the media to refrain from using the term “lockdown” while reporting on the end of the city’s two-month lockdown. This week the Chinese city of 25 million people reopened, allowing most to leave their homes, go to work, and use public transport after more than 60 days inside. On Thursday, according to leaked directives from the city, Chinese media were told to disseminate information about the changes to restrictions, but ordered not to use the phrase “ending the lockdown”. “Unlike Wuhan, Shanghai never declared…
Have China’s Pacific ambitions been thwarted?
China has long had its eye on the Pacific Islands, where it has been steadily growing its trade, aid, diplomatic and commercial activity since 2006. Between then and 2017, Beijing provided close to $1.5bn in foreign aid to the region through a mixture of grants and loans, according to the Lowy Institute. BBC
West demands publication of UN’s long-awaited Xinjiang report
Pressure to release a long-awaited Xinjiang report is mounting on the UN’s rights head, as her recent six-day visit to China left activists, western governments and commentators unsatisfied. The report, which Michelle Bachelet said was being finalised late last year, is believed to contain evidence of China’s alleged human rights abuses of its Uyghur ethnic minority group in Xinjiang. In a press conference on Saturday, Bachelet promised to “follow up” on instances of China’s human rights abuse, calling for the authorities in Beijing to review their counter-terrorism policies in the…
Shanghai lockdown: The punishing cost on small businesses
China’s economic hub, Shanghai, has encouraged firms to open again after significantly easing coronavirus measures in the city. For many businesses, particularly small ones, such restrictions have come at a great cost. Martin Li, a 24 year old hairdresser in Shanghai, has been forced to close his salon after it was locked down for over two months. He spoke to the BBC about his experience. BBC
Putin’s Threats Highlight the Dangers of a New, Riskier Nuclear Era
WASHINGTON — The old nuclear order, rooted in the Cold War’s unthinkable outcomes, was fraying before Russia invaded Ukraine. Now, it is giving way to a looming era of disorder unlike any since the beginning of the atomic age. Russia’s regular reminders over the past three months of its nuclear might, even if largely bluster, were the latest evidence of how the potential threat has resurfaced in more overt and dangerous ways. They were enough to draw a pointed warning to Moscow on Tuesday from President Biden in what amounted…
China’s spies are not always as good as advertised
In recent years Western officials have maintained a steady drumbeat of warnings about Chinese spies. In short, the spooks are getting bolder and better. Among other things, they’re accused of hacking into Microsoft’s Exchange email service, stealing Western defence and commercial secrets, harassing Chinese dissidents overseas and bugging the headquarters of the African Union (all of which China denies). Yet, when confronted by overwhelming evidence that Russia was about to invade Ukraine, China’s spies appear to have dropped the ball. Whatever Vladimir Putin told Xi Jinping when the two presidents…
Shanghai Starts Coming Back to Life as COVID Lockdown Eases
Advertisement Traffic, pedestrians and joggers reappeared on the streets of Shanghai on Wednesday as China’s largest city began returning to normalcy amid the easing of a strict two-month COVID-19 lockdown that has drawn unusual protests over its heavy-handed implementation. Shanghai’s Communist Party committee, the city’s most powerful political body, issued a letter online proclaiming the lockdown’s success and thanking citizens for their “support and contributions.” The move came amid a steady rollback in compulsory measures that have upended daily life for millions while severely disrupting the economy and global supply…
Biden Administration Begins Trade Dialogue With Taiwan
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Wednesday said that it would pursue negotiations to strengthen trade and technology ties with Taiwan, a move that is aimed at countering China’s influence in the Asia-Pacific region and one that is likely to rankle Beijing. The announcement follows the Biden administration’s efforts to build an Asia-Pacific economic bloc, known as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, that includes 13 countries and excludes Taiwan. China claims the island, a self-governing democracy that is critical to global technology supply chains, as an incontestable part of its territory.…