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# 关于中国的新闻报道：Economy 章节

1. 引言

　　近期，西方媒体对中国经济的报道频繁且多样，涉及宏观经济政策、房地产市场、科技创新等多个领域。本章节将对这些报道进行客观的评价，分析其背景、内容及可能的影响，力求提供一个全面、专业的视角。

2. 宏观经济政策

2.1 经济目标与政策调整

　　报道指出，中国政府在2024年设定的经济增长目标为“约5%”，并在年底的政治局会议上强调了“适度宽松”的货币政策和“更加积极”的财政政策。这一政策调整的背景是全球经济不确定性增加，国内消费疲软和房地产市场持续低迷。

　　评价：

• 积极应对：中国政府通过政策调整，积极应对内外部挑战，展现了灵活的宏观调控能力。
• 长期视角：虽然短期内政策可能带来一定的财政压力，但从长远来看，有助于稳定经济增长，促进结构性改革。

2.2 中央经济工作会议

　　中央经济工作会议是中国经济政策的风向标，报道提及会议将讨论2025年的经济政策。会议的核心议题包括扩大内需、促进消费和投资，以及加强科技自主创新。

　　评价：

• 政策连续性：会议的议题延续了近年来中国经济政策的主线，体现了政策的连续性和稳定性。
• 创新驱动：强调科技创新，符合中国经济转型升级的战略方向，有助于提升国家竞争力。

3. 房地产市场

3.1 二手房交易增长

　　报道显示，中国主要城市的二手房交易量有所回升，但房价仍然低迷。这一现象反映了政府在房地产市场的调控政策初见成效，但市场信心尚未完全恢复。

　　评价：

• 政策效果：政府的调控政策在稳定市场预期方面取得了一定效果，但市场信心的恢复需要更长时间。
• 结构性问题：房地产市场的低迷反映了中国经济结构性问题，需要综合治理，不能单纯依赖短期刺激政策。

3.2 基础设施投资

　　报道提到，基础设施投资仍是中国政府稳增长的重要手段。特别是在房地产市场低迷的情况下，基础设施投资可以起到拉动经济的作用。

　　评价：

• 稳增长工具：基础设施投资是中国政府稳增长的重要工具，有助于短期内拉动经济增长。
• 长期效益：基础设施投资不仅有助于短期稳增长，还能为长期经济发展提供支持，提升整体经济竞争力。

4. 科技创新

4.1 高科技产业发展

　　报道强调了中国在量子技术、人工智能和低空经济等高科技领域的快速发展。这些领域被视为未来经济增长的重要驱动力。

　　评价：

• 创新驱动：高科技产业的发展符合中国经济转型升级的战略方向，有助于提升国家竞争力。
• 政策支持：政府对高科技产业的支持政策，有助于培育新的经济增长点，推动经济高质量发展。

4.2 自主创新

　　报道指出，中国政府在会议中强调了自主创新的重要性，特别是在当前国际环境复杂多变的情况下。

　　评价：

• 战略布局：自主创新是中国应对国际环境变化的重要战略布局，有助于减少对外部技术的依赖。
• 内生动力：强调自主创新，有助于激发国内企业的创新动力，推动经济高质量发展。

5. 国际环境与挑战

5.1 地缘政治因素

　　报道提到，中国经济面临的外部挑战包括地缘政治风险和国际贸易摩擦。特别是美国新政府的贸易政策可能对中国经济产生影响。

　　评价：

• 外部风险：地缘政治风险和国际贸易摩擦是中国经济面临的重要外部挑战，需要高度重视。
• 应对策略：中国政府需要制定应对策略，减少外部风险对经济的冲击，保持经济稳定发展。

5.2 国际合作

　　报道指出，中国在国际合作中的角色正在增强，特别是在中亚地区。中国通过经济合作，增强了在该地区的影响力。

　　评价：

• 经济外交：中国通过经济合作，增强了在国际舞台上的影响力，有助于构建良好的国际环境。
• 互利共赢：国际合作有助于实现互利共赢，推动全球经济的共同发展。

6. 结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国经济的报道反映了中国在宏观经济政策、房地产市场和科技创新等方面的最新动态和挑战。中国政府通过一系列政策调整和战略布局，积极应对内外部挑战，推动经济高质量发展。尽管面临诸多挑战，但中国经济展现出强大的韧性和潜力，未来发展前景值得期待。

新闻来源： 2412130635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-12

# 关于中国的新闻报道

Politics

一、美国对华政策的动向与分析

　　#### 1.1 美国外交政策专家面临的社会与职业压力

　　根据美国哈佛大学政府系博士生迈克尔·塞尔尼（Michael Cerny）与普林斯顿大学政治与国际事务副教授罗里·特鲁克斯（Rory Truex）联合发表的调查研究，美国外交政策专家在表达对美国对华政策的观点时，受到显著的社会与职业压力。调查显示，21.8%的受访者感受到社会压力，需要表达某些观点，而这种压力在女性与年轻或非白人专家中尤为明显。研究指出，这一现象导致了“多元无知”的情况，即专家们高估了共识的程度，夸大了威胁，并认为集体意见比实际情况更具对抗性。

　　#### 1.2 拜登政府的国家安全备忘录

　　美国总统拜登批准了一份旨在帮助特朗普政府应对中国、伊朗、朝鲜和俄罗斯问题的国家安全备忘录。该备忘录的出台旨在为下一届政府提供指导，帮助其从第一天起应对与这些国家之间的复杂关系。备忘录的具体内容未公开，但其目的是为了确保新政府能够迅速应对这些国家带来的挑战。

二、中美关系的关键时期

　　#### 2.1 特朗普第二任期的首年关键

　　克莱蒙特·麦肯纳学院政府学教授宓思敏（Minxin Pei）指出，特朗普第二任期的首年对中美关系至关重要。宓思敏认为，如果双方能够在首年有效管理紧张局势，特别是在台湾问题上，将是一个值得庆祝的成果。他强调，中美关系在特朗普第二任期的初期如何发展，将对未来几年的双边关系产生深远影响。

　　#### 2.2 中美关系中的经济因素

　　宓思敏还指出，中美关系中的经济因素不容忽视。以芬太尼危机为例，美国国会选择委员会的报告对北京在美国毒品危机中的角色进行了不实指责，这些指责不仅损害了双方的合作，还使得共同打击鸦片危机的努力更加困难。

三、中国在东北亚地区的地缘政治影响

　　#### 3.1 朝鲜局势对中美关系的影响

　　朝鲜半岛局势的不稳定促使美中两国需要搁置自身利益，共同应对区域安全问题。朝鲜领导人金正恩与俄罗斯总统普京的接触，表明朝鲜在国际政治中的盟友关系具有流动性和便利性。这种变化可能会导致东北亚地区的联盟重组，进一步影响该地区的权力平衡。

　　#### 3.2 美国对朝鲜参与乌克兰冲突的担忧

　　美国对朝鲜参与乌克兰冲突表示高度关注，认为这可能会对地区安全产生负面影响。朝鲜的行动不仅加剧了地区紧张局势，还可能导致美国重新评估其对朝政策，进一步加强对朝制裁和军事威慑。

四、中国内部政治动态

　　#### 4.1 中国网络红人的社会责任

　　中国著名网络红人因在直播中用棍子戳穿穿迷你裙的女性而被拘留，引发了对网络红人社会责任的广泛讨论。此事件反映了中国社会对网络行为规范的重视，以及对不当行为的严厉打击。

　　#### 4.2 中国对反对派的打压

　　美国对中国香港45名反对派人士被判刑表示关切，认为这是对香港自治和人权的进一步侵蚀。美国国务院发言人呼吁中国政府释放所有因和平倡导基本权利而被不公正监禁的政治犯。

结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国政治新闻的报道虽然带有一定的偏见和双重标准，但仍然反映了中国在国际政治中的重要地位和影响力。中美关系的发展、中国在东北亚地区的地缘政治影响以及中国内部的政治动态，都是理解当前国际政治格局的重要组成部分。通过客观分析这些报道，我们可以更全面地了解中国在全球政治中的角色和作用。

新闻来源： 2412130635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-12; 2412131556The-Guardian-Trump-invites-Chinas-leader-Xi-Jinping-to-his-presidential-inauguration

### 关于中国的新闻报道：Military 章节

　　#### 引言

　　近年来，西方媒体对中国军事发展的报道频繁且充满争议。这些报道通常反映了西方对中国崛起的担忧和猜疑，同时也展示了中国在军事现代化和技术创新方面的显著进步。本章节将对近期西方媒体关于中国军事的报道进行详细分析，评估其客观性和偏见，并提供一个全面的视角。

　　#### 中国军事现代化

　　西方媒体常常关注中国军事现代化的进程，特别是在航空母舰、隐形战机和导弹防御系统等领域的发展。例如，中国第三艘航空母舰“福建舰”的下水和试航引起了广泛关注。西方媒体报道称，“福建舰”配备了先进的电磁弹射系统（CATOBAR），这使其能够启动更重、更先进的战机。然而，这些报道往往夸大中国的军事威胁，忽视了中国在技术和操作上仍面临的挑战。

　　#### 导弹防御与区域稳定

　　美国在关岛进行的首次弹道导弹拦截试验也成为媒体关注的焦点。西方媒体普遍将此次试验视为美国应对中国导弹威胁的重要举措。然而，这些报道往往忽视了中国在自身导弹防御系统方面的发展，以及美国在亚太地区军事存在的扩展对区域稳定的潜在影响。

　　#### 中美军事竞争

　　西方媒体经常强调中美之间的军事竞争，特别是在南海和台海地区。报道指出，中国在南海的岛礁建设和军事部署增加了区域紧张局势。然而，这些报道往往忽视了美国在该地区的军事活动和盟友关系，这些活动同样对区域稳定构成威胁。

　　#### 国际合作与军事技术交流

　　西方媒体也关注中国与其他国家的军事合作，特别是与俄罗斯和伊朗的关系。报道指出，中俄在军事技术和联合演习方面的合作加强了双方的军事实力。然而，这些报道往往忽视了中国在国际社会中的正当防御需求，以及中国在维护全球和地区稳定方面的努力。

　　#### 结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国军事发展的报道往往带有明显的偏见和双重标准。这些报道虽然反映了西方对中国崛起的担忧，但也忽视了中国在维护国家安全和区域稳定方面的合理需求。为了更全面地理解中国的军事发展，有必要结合多方视角，客观地评估中国在军事现代化和国际合作方面的努力。

　　#### 建议

　　1. 多元视角：在评估中国军事发展时，应结合多方视角，避免单一视角的偏见。 2. 客观评估：注重客观评估中国军事现代化的实际进展，避免夸大或低估其威胁。 3. 国际合作：加强国际合作与沟通，促进区域稳定与和平。

　　通过以上分析，我们可以更全面、客观地理解西方媒体关于中国军事的报道，并在此基础上形成更为理性和平衡的观点。

新闻来源： 2412130635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-12; 2412132207The-Guardian-Prince-Andrew-says-he-ceased-all-contact-with-alleged-Chinese-spy-after-government-advice; 2412131556The-Guardian-Trump-invites-Chinas-leader-Xi-Jinping-to-his-presidential-inauguration

# 关于中国的新闻报道

文化章节

引言

　　本章节将对西方媒体近期关于中国文化的报道进行客观评价。由于西方媒体在报道中国时往往存在偏见和双重标准，因此本章节将力求以专业的视角，详细分析这些报道的内容、背景和影响，以期为读者提供全面、客观的理解。

1. 文化交流与影响

　　#### 1.1 首尔中国文化中心举办“2024中国电影之夜”

　　首尔中国文化中心于2024年12月11日在首尔市江南区清潭洞CGV影城特展放映厅隆重举办了“2024中国电影之夜”，点映了第23届中国金鸡奖最佳纪录片《里斯本丸沉没》。该活动通过详尽的历史资料与生动的影像叙述，揭示了“里斯本丸”沉船事件的真相，唤醒了人们对二战时期被遗忘历史的记忆。

　　评价： 该活动不仅展示了中国电影的高水平制作，还通过历史事件的再现，深刻反映了中华民族的大爱精神和国际人道主义精神。这种跨越文化和语言界限的文化交流，有助于增进不同国家、种族和文化背景的观众之间的理解和共鸣。

　　#### 1.2 中国电影的国际影响

　　《里斯本丸沉没》这部影片在首尔的放映引发了广泛的关注和讨论。影片不仅讲述了历史事件，还通过对战争和人性的反思，引发了观众的情感共鸣。

　　评价： 中国电影在国际舞台上的影响力日益增强，通过真实、深刻的故事讲述，中国电影人不仅展示了中国文化的独特魅力，还通过跨文化交流，促进了不同文化之间的理解和互信。

2. 社会文化现象

　　#### 2.1 社交媒体内容审查

　　西方媒体报道了中国社交媒体账号因发布不当内容而被关闭的事件。例如，来自青海省的三个社交媒体账号因创建粗俗、暴力或误导性视频而被关闭，相关博主也受到了警方的警告。

　　评价： 该事件反映了中国政府对网络内容的严格监管。虽然这种监管在一定程度上限制了言论自由，但也有助于维护网络环境的健康和秩序。需要注意的是，不同文化背景下的网络监管标准可能存在差异，因此在评价这类事件时应考虑文化背景的差异。

3. 文化政策与社会反响

　　#### 3.1 美国对华政策的影响

　　西方媒体对美国专家在对华政策上表现出的“鹰派”倾向进行了报道。研究发现，美国外交政策专家在讨论对华政策时，往往会表现出比实际更为强硬的态度，这种现象被称为“多元无知”。

　　评价： 这种现象反映了美国外交政策界在面对中国时的复杂心态。虽然美国政府内部存在不同的声音，但总体上对华政策仍然存在较大的强硬倾向。这种政策倾向不仅影响了美中关系，也对国际社会的其他成员产生了深远影响。

结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体关于中国文化的报道在一定程度上存在偏见和双重标准。然而，通过客观、专业的分析，我们可以看到中国文化在国际舞台上的积极影响和重要作用。未来，我们应继续推动文化交流，增进不同文化之间的理解和互信，共同应对全球性挑战，迈向更加和谐、繁荣的未来。

新闻来源： 2412130635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-12; 2412130749韩国中央日报-首尔中国文化中心举办2024中国电影之夜

# 关于中国的新闻报道

Technology 章节

引言

　　近年来，西方媒体对中国科技领域的报道日益密集，内容涵盖从半导体产业、人工智能到基础设施建设等多个方面。然而，这些报道往往带有明显的偏见和双重标准，忽视了中国科技进步的客观事实和背后的复杂因素。本章节将对近期西方媒体关于中国科技领域的报道进行客观评价，旨在揭示其中的偏见，并还原事实真相。

半导体产业

　　#### 背景

　　半导体产业是现代科技的核心，中国在该领域的快速发展引起了西方媒体的广泛关注。近期报道多涉及美国对中国半导体产业的制裁和中国在此背景下的应对措施。

　　#### 报道分析

　　1. 美国制裁：西方媒体普遍报道了美国对中国半导体产业的制裁，强调这些措施旨在遏制中国的科技发展。然而，这些报道往往忽视了制裁对全球半导体供应链的负面影响，以及中国企业在困境中的创新能力。

　　2. 中国应对：中国在半导体领域的自主创新和替代方案得到了一定的报道，但西方媒体常常将其描绘成“低端”或“落后”。实际上，中国企业在28纳米芯片生产上的突破已经显示出其在该领域的竞争力。

　　#### 评价

　　西方媒体对中国半导体产业的报道存在明显的偏见，忽视了中国在困境中的创新能力和对全球供应链的贡献。中国在半导体领域的进步不仅是为了自身发展，也是为了应对全球科技领域的挑战。

人工智能

　　#### 背景

　　人工智能（AI）是当前科技领域的热点，中国在AI研究和应用方面的进展引起了广泛关注。

　　#### 报道分析

　　1. 技术进步：西方媒体报道了中国在AI领域的技术进步，但往往将其描绘成“威胁”或“竞争对手”。实际上，中国在AI领域的研究和应用对全球科技发展具有积极的推动作用。

　　2. 应用场景：中国在智能制造、医疗健康等领域的AI应用得到了一定的报道，但西方媒体常常忽视了这些应用对提升生活质量和生产效率的积极作用。

　　#### 评价

　　西方媒体对中国AI技术的报道存在双重标准，忽视了中国在AI领域的积极贡献。中国在AI领域的研究和应用不仅是为了自身发展，也是为了推动全球科技进步。

基础设施建设

　　#### 背景

　　中国在基础设施建设方面的投入和成就是全球瞩目的焦点，特别是在5G网络、智能交通等领域。

　　#### 报道分析

　　1. 5G网络：西方媒体报道了中国在5G网络建设方面的领先地位，但往往将其描绘成“安全威胁”。实际上，中国在5G技术上的领先地位为全球通信技术的发展提供了重要参考。

　　2. 智能交通：中国在智能交通领域的投入和成就得到了一定的报道，但西方媒体常常忽视了这些成就对提升城市管理效率和居民生活质量的积极作用。

　　#### 评价

　　西方媒体对中国基础设施建设的报道存在明显的偏见，忽视了中国在该领域的积极贡献。中国在基础设施建设方面的投入和成就不仅是为了自身发展，也是为了推动全球科技进步。

结论

　　综上所述，西方媒体对中国科技领域的报道存在明显的偏见和双重标准，忽视了中国在半导体产业、人工智能和基础设施建设方面的积极贡献。中国在科技领域的进步不仅是为了自身发展，也是为了应对全球科技挑战和推动全球科技进步。我们应该以客观和公正的态度看待中国科技领域的发展，避免被偏见和双重标准所左右。

新闻来源： 2412130635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-12

### 关于中国的新闻报道：Society 章节

　　#### 1. 引言 近期，西方媒体对中国社会的报道呈现出多样化的特点，涉及社会道德、经济政策、教育体系等多个方面。然而，这些报道往往带有一定的偏见和双重标准，因此需要从客观的角度进行分析和评价。

　　#### 2. 社会道德与网络监管 西方媒体报道了中国网络红人（KOL）因不当行为被处罚的事件。例如，某KOL因在直播中用竹竿戳女性臀部而被行政拘留10天。警方表示，此类行为对社会道德造成了负面影响。此类报道往往夸大中国社会道德的下滑，忽视了中国政府为维护社会秩序所做的努力。

　　评价： 中国政府对网络不当行为的严厉打击，反映了其对社会道德和公共秩序的高度重视。虽然个别事件可能引发公众关注，但整体上中国社会道德水平并未出现显著下滑。西方媒体应客观看待这些事件，而不是以此为依据对中国社会进行全盘否定。

　　#### 3. 经济政策与决策会议 西方媒体关注了中国年度中央经济工作会议，认为其决策将影响全球第二大经济体的未来走向。会议讨论了稳定房地产市场、提振国内需求等重要议题。

　　评价： 中国的经济政策决策具有高度的复杂性和多样性，西方媒体往往简化这些决策，忽视了其背后的深层次原因。中国政府通过中央经济工作会议等机制，综合考虑内外部因素，制定科学合理的经济政策。西方媒体应避免片面解读，全面了解中国经济政策的背景和意图。

　　#### 4. 教育体系与人才培养 西方媒体报道了中国工程专业毕业生缺乏基础知识的问题，认为这可能影响中国在科技领域的竞争力。

　　评价： 中国的教育体系正在不断改革和完善，虽然存在一些问题，但整体上中国的高等教育已经取得了显著成就。西方媒体应客观看待中国教育体系的优缺点，认识到中国在培养高素质人才方面的努力和成就。

　　#### 5. 科技创新与国际合作 西方媒体关注了中国在高科技领域的快速发展，认为中国的科技公司正在成为全球竞争的重要力量。同时，也提到美国和中国在科技领域的合作面临挑战。

　　评价： 中国在高科技领域的快速发展，反映了其在科技创新方面的巨大潜力和实力。然而，科技领域的合作需要双方的共同努力和信任。西方媒体应客观报道中国科技公司的发展，避免因政治因素而夸大冲突和对立。

　　#### 6. 结论 西方媒体对中国社会的报道往往带有偏见和双重标准，需要从客观角度进行分析和评价。中国在社会道德、经济政策、教育体系和科技创新等方面都取得了显著成就，西方媒体应避免片面解读，全面了解中国社会的复杂性和多样性。

　　通过客观、全面的报道，可以促进中西方社会的相互理解和合作，共同应对全球性挑战，推动世界的和平与发展。

新闻来源： 2412130635英文媒体关于中国的报道汇总_2024-12-12; 2412132207The-Guardian-Prince-Andrew-says-he-ceased-all-contact-with-alleged-Chinese-spy-after-government-advice; 2412131556The-Guardian-Trump-invites-Chinas-leader-Xi-Jinping-to-his-presidential-inauguration

• Chinese associate of Prince Andrew banned from UK as national security risk
• Emmanuel Macron plans China visit amid talk of Beijing taking role to help end Ukraine war
• Chinese official praises Trump invitation but does not say if Xi will attend inauguration
• China busy bolstering other trade ties amid tensions with US, EU
• Indian chess prodigy Dommaraju beats Chinese grandmaster to become youngest world champion
• China-US study replicates ancient rice wine identified from 10,000 years ago
• Chinese fashion brand Urban Revivo opens in Bangkok, eyes New York, London
• China must reach economic targets, leaders say, as high-profile conference draws to a close
• China is training super-pilots with qigong for stealth jet and drone battle
• Nobel Prize-winning research on institutions gains traction in China to aid private sector
• Could Trump be a catalyst for the reforms China and Germany need?
• Anchoring China’s yuan, Trump invites Xi: SCMP daily catch-up
• China still ‘open’ to trade engagement with Trump despite tariff threats
• China-Russia ties: Xi Jinping tells Medvedev Beijing seeks political solution in Ukraine
• Why next year will be ‘critical’ in China’s efforts to attract students from the US
• Beijing decries South Korean leader Yoon’s ‘Chinese spy’ defence of martial law
• Officers on patrol in China test ball-shaped robot as Beijing pushes hi-tech policing
• China’s massive Yiwu wholesale hub at the forefront of trade-reform efforts
• Tencent boss Pony Ma praises China’s economic policy, stimulus for private sector
• Singapore police explain why they did not arrest Chinese fugitive on Interpol Red Notice
• Why red cloth covers guardian stone lions in China during auspicious events
• Will Chinese President Xi Jinping attend presidential inauguration at Trump’s invitation?
• China urged to anchor yuan to non-US dollar currencies to empower domestic tools
• China’s controversial university love course, US$4 million for divorce: 5 trending stories
• Australia seals Papua New Guinea security deal with eye on China
• SpaceX and the 7 dwarves: Chinese space firms line up to enter reusable rocket race
• China prepared to keep talking to US, Xi assures Washington business group
• Novelist Chiung Yao’s death rekindles discussion on euthanasia in China
• China’s Wolf Warrior Lu Shaye heads home from France in shadow of controversy
• China abductee declines gifts of 3 flats, car from birth family to avoid altering ‘mindset’
• Chinese citizen arrested for flying drone over US Space Force base
• China must innovate in semiconductor design or fall behind the global market, expert says
• FBI budget cuts could thwart US efforts to detect and foil Chinese cyberattacks: official
• Trump invites China’s Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration, US news report says
• US House advances defence bill that bans Chinese goods from tech to garlic

Chinese associate of Prince Andrew banned from UK as national security risk

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3290575/chinese-associate-prince-andrew-banned-uk-national-security-risk?utm_source=rss_feed

A Chinese businessman, who had forged close links with Prince Andrew and was authorised to act on his behalf to seek investors in China, has been banned from Britain on national security grounds.

The 50-year-old man, who has been granted anonymity and is named only as H6, was taken off a flight from Beijing to London in February 2023 and told that Britain intended to ban him from the country. This happened the following month.

H6 appealed against the ban at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), which rejected his case in a written ruling on Thursday – the first time the reported relationship has come to light.

Buckingham Palace no longer comments on matters relating to Andrew, who was removed from royal duties by the palace in 2022, and Reuters was unable to reach him or a representative for comment.

The ban on the Chinese businessman came after the contents of his phone were downloaded when he was stopped under counterterrorism laws at a UK border in 2021, the ruling said.

It said this revealed Prince Andrew had authorised him to set up an international financial initiative to engage with potential partners and investors in China. The ruling did not say what the fund was intended for.

Documents on his phone suggested H6 had “deliberately obscured his links” with the Chinese Communist Party and the United Front Work Department and been in a position to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials which Beijing could leverage, the ruling stated.

The United Front Work Department is a network of groups that Chinese leader Xi Jinping has described as a “magic weapon” to bolster Beijing’s reach abroad.

The Chinese embassy in London was not immediately available to comment after working hours.

SIAC’s decision revealed a letter from a senior adviser to Andrew to H6 from March 2020, which noted H6 had been invited to Andrew’s birthday party that month and stated: “I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal and indeed his family.

“You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship … outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.”

It added that following a meeting between Andrew, H6 and the adviser they had “wisely navigated our way around former Private Secretaries and we have found a way to carefully remove those people who we don’t completely trust”.

“Under your guidance, we found a way to get the relevant people unnoticed in and out of the house in Windsor,” the letter said. The ruling did not say who the people were or give the reason for potential distrust.

The prince, 64, the eighth in line to the throne, was a roving UK trade ambassador from 2001-2011.

He was forced to step aside from public duties in 2019 over his friendship with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has always denied any accusations of wrongdoing. In 2022, the royal family removed his military links and royal patronages.

The SIAC ruling referred to a 2021 document recovered from H6’s device which listed talking points for a call between him and Andrew which said the prince “is in a desperate situation and will grab onto anything”.

Judge Charles Bourne said in the ruling that H6 had “won a significant degree, one could say an unusual degree, of trust from a senior member of the royal family who was prepared to enter into business activities with him”.

The judge added: “That occurred in a context where, as the contemporaneous documents record, the Duke was under considerable pressure and could be expected to value [H6’s] loyal support.

“It is obvious that the pressures on the Duke could make him vulnerable to the misuse of that sort of influence.”

Bourne said Britain’s Home Office was entitled to conclude that H6 had significant links to the Chinese Communist Party and the United Front Work Department and that there was potential for him “leveraging” his relationship with Andrew.

Emmanuel Macron plans China visit amid talk of Beijing taking role to help end Ukraine war

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3290576/emmanuel-macron-plans-china-visit-amid-talk-beijing-taking-role-help-end-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed

French President Emmanuel Macron is planning to visit China in the new year, as speculation swirls about Beijing’s potential role in ending the Ukraine war.

According to several sources familiar with the matter, Macron’s trusted diplomatic adviser Emmanuel Bonne travelled this week to Beijing with a team of aides to lay the groundwork for a trip by the French leader.

Bonne’s visit has been timed to coincide with Macron’s return this week from Poland. There, Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk discussed plans to put troops from European Union member states in Ukraine to monitor a future ceasefire, according to media reports.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that during talks in Paris earlier this month, Macron, US president-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed leveraging China’s influence over Russia as part of a ceasefire deal.

“Trump also pushed the Europeans to do more to get the Chinese to press the Kremlin to end the conflict, according to a person briefed on the meeting. They discussed using tariffs on China as a bargaining chip, if Beijing doesn’t agree to do so,” it also reported.

European leaders have long sought China’s help to end the war, which began with a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, they have been largely disappointed by its response.

While Beijing proclaims itself neutral in the conflict, concerns in the West have spiked about the economic lifeline its free-flowing trade with Moscow has provided the Russian military.

In addition, EU officials have been disturbed by what they describe as an “echoing of Kremlin talking points” during meetings with Chinese interlocutors.

During a recent event in Brussels organised by the Chinese mission to the EU, European guests were enraged when several mainland academics blamed “Nato’s eastward expansion” for causing the war in Ukraine.

Anxieties have intensified in recent weeks after European intelligence services shared evidence of a drone factory in China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region producing military-grade craft for Russian forces.

The issue is expected to be raised at several gatherings of ministers and leaders next week.

Meanwhile, having vowed to quickly end the war, Trump has voiced his own view that Beijing should be involved in any discussions. In a post on his Truth Social network on Sunday, he said Kyiv “would like to make a deal” to end its war with Russia.

“There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed,” wrote Trump.

“I know Vladimir [Putin] well,” he added, referring to the Russian leader. “This is his time to act. China can help. The world is waiting!”

For its part, China has long called for an immediate ceasefire, even if Western countries have been disappointed by its failure to rein in Putin, who enjoys close ties with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

While the EU has urged parties to follow Zelensky’s own peace plan, Beijing has coordinated with Brazil and other developing countries to launch a “friends-for-peace” group aimed at ending the conflict.

The group’s first meeting, held at the United Nations General Assembly in September, was attended by ministers from countries including Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and Zambia.

Subsequently, EU members Hungary and Slovakia have stated an interest in taking part in the forum. Their leaders, Viktor Orban and Robert Fico, have also been in contact with Putin, bucking the trend among EU chiefs.

Macron’s manoeuvring on the global stage, meanwhile, comes amid severe pressure domestically. The French government collapsed this month after far-left and far-right parties secured a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

These parties have called for Macron to resign, but the centrist has vowed to fight on and is expected to name a new prime minister imminently.

And amid China’s strained ties with the EU, Macron has regularly engaged with Xi.

At the height of a spat over EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, Xi in May visited France and was afforded red-carpet treatment by his French counterpart.

This was despite Macron’s government being the most prominent backer of the European Commission’s anti-subsidy investigation into mainland EVs.

A year earlier, Macron enjoyed a lavish state visit to China. During a flight between Beijing and Guangzhou, he stoked controversy when he told journalists that Europe should avoid getting “caught up in crises that are not ours”, referring to Taiwan.

Chinese official praises Trump invitation but does not say if Xi will attend inauguration

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3290577/chinese-official-praises-trump-invitation-does-not-say-if-xi-will-attend-inauguration?utm_source=rss_feed

An official at the Chinese embassy in Washington on Thursday called Donald Trump’s invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping to his second inauguration a “welcoming signal”, but did not say whether Xi would attend the ceremony on January 20.

Trump’s incoming press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed earlier media reports that Trump had invited Xi, but said it remained “to be determined” if Xi would attend.

Qiu Wenxing, an embassy minister, said at the Institute for China-America Studies’ annual conference in Washington that he hoped such an overture might lead to a “good start” to bilateral relations in Trump’s second term.

“If that report is real, it shows that the president-elect’s transitional team attaches great performance to the working relations between the presidents, and between the Chinese government and the transition team,” Qiu said, though he did not say whether Xi would attend.

“I think that is a welcoming signal. We’re looking forward to working … with the transition team … that is our goal, to make this relationship to have a smooth transition, and then early next year we can have a good start.”

Foreign heads of state do not customarily attend US presidential inaugurations, and some analysts said Xi was unlikely to go.

The Chinese foreign ministry in Beijing said on Thursday that it had “no information to provide” about the invitation.

However, Yu Tiejun, an international relations professor at Peking University, contended during the panel discussion that Xi should attend the inauguration.

“It’s very unusual of Trump, and that will be another icebreaker,” he said.

Many analysts expect Trump’s China policy in his second term to resume the aggressive stance of his first, as he has vowed to impose more tariffs on China from his first day in office – up to 60 per cent on all Chinese imports.

Trump has also been filling top-level slots with long-time China hawks including Senator Marco Rubio for US secretary of state and Representative Mike Waltz for national security adviser.

Qiu said he hoped that Trump’s second administration would recognise the importance of cooperation between the two nations and resolve their differences through negotiations.

“If China and the United States start a trade war again, the whole world will pay a price for it, and so will both China and the United States,” he said.

It is unclear whether Trump will keep the communication channels and working groups that US President Joe Biden and his administration have maintained with Beijing.

Biden and Xi resumed and established working groups on issues ranging from the economy to technology to the Indo-Pacific since their November 2023 meeting on the sidelines of the Apec forum in San Francisco.

Qiu said it would be “detrimental” to the interests of both nations if those channels are reduced or scrapped in Trump’s second term.

“We also hope that the new US government … can carry out close communication through the existing channels of both sides at the beginning of its term.”

At the institute event, US and Chinese analysts said it was too early to determine how Trump’s second administration would handle China policy.

Even with Trump’s threat of new tariffs, he has given few details about his trade policy for China.

Michael Swaine, a senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said that Beijing should not overreact to Trump’s threats and promises.

“Beijing needs to resist the temptation to engage in rigid tit-for-tat action in response to Trump and instead convey an image of restraint, prudence, pragmatism … while making it clear where certain red lines lie, especially regarding issues like Taiwan.”

It is also unclear what Trump’s Taiwan policy will look like in his second term. During his campaign, he said he wanted the self-ruled island to pay the US for its defence.

Taiwan remains one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the US-China relationship, with Beijing ramping up military actions around the island and citing the continued US arms sales to Taipei as a cause.

Reuters reported on Thursday that Taipei sent two senior officials to meet with people connected with Trump’s transition team, a move expected to infuriate Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a rogue province, to be eventually united with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent nation, but Washington opposes any attempt to take the island by force and is committed to supplying it with arms to defend itself.

In his remarks at the conference, Qiu said that China was determined to safeguard its sovereignty and that Taiwan’s status was not to be challenged.

“If this red line is being pushed, the relationship will suffer a lot,” he said.

---

China busy bolstering other trade ties amid tensions with US, EU

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3290521/china-busy-bolstering-other-trade-ties-amid-tensions-us-eu?utm_source=rss_feed

Officials at China’s Ministry of Commerce have been kept busy recently as they navigate a hectic agenda of trade talks.

As well as continuing to engage in negotiations with the European Union on electric vehicle tariffs, they have been monitoring tariff threats from United States president-elect Donald Trump, and working on strengthening trade ties with other countries and relationships with international bodies.

It was a busy start to the week on those fronts for ministry officials.

On Monday alone, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met visiting International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva in Beijing, while vice-minister Wang Shouwen attended a meeting of the China-South Korea Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee with South Korean Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo in Seoul.

On the same day, and also in Seoul, Wang Shouwen led the Chinese delegation at the 24th minister’s meeting of the Greater Tumen Initiative – an intergovernmental mechanism involving China, South Korea, Mongolia and Russia.

On the Middle East front, China’s deputy international trade representative, Ling Ji, convened the first investment and economic cooperation meeting in Saudi Arabia on Monday.

And in the Asia-Pacific region, Chinese representatives attended Monday’s opening of the 15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’s support unit office in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Analysts said such intensive efforts to build trade relations with different countries could be seen as China’s way of creating a “strategic counterbalance” to its complex relationships with the US and EU, adding that such a reordering of trade patterns could have significant long-term impacts.

Wang Zichen, a research fellow with the Beijing-based Centre for China and Globalisation think tank, said he saw China’s multilateral trade approach “as a strategic counterbalance” initiated because the Chinese leadership recognised “that free trade, even on a smaller-than-global scale, is beneficial”.

Stephen Olson, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said “the potential impact could be significant”, adding that “a dramatic reordering in trade patterns will not happen overnight, but over the longer term it is entirely possible”.

He said “the primary sources of global economic growth are in the Indo-Pacific and no longer in the West”, and the reorientation “is something that makes sense both economically and geopolitically for Beijing”.

With a deal between the EU and China on electric vehicle tariffs no closer, and the US-China trade war likely to intensify after Trump’s inauguration in January, Rolf Langhammer, a professor at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, said that China has its reasons for building multilateral trade relationships.

“Beijing intends to find support in the Global South, in neighbouring Asian countries and in the Gulf states, convincing them that unilateral actions of the US against China will strongly impede their economic prosperity,” he said.

The Biden administration in the US said last week that it would launch its third crackdown in three years on China’s semiconductor industry, with Chinese chip toolmakers Piotech and SiCarrier Technology to also be hit with new export restrictions as part of the package.

A day later, China announced it would restrict exports of minerals crucial to the tech trade to the US, prohibiting “in principle” all exports to the US of gallium, germanium, antimony and super-hard materials.

Trump has already threatened to levy an additional 10 per cent tariff on all imports from China, and some US lawmakers are looking to revoke the permanent normal trade relationship that Washington has had with Beijing for more than two decades.

In a statement released by his ministry on Monday, China’s commerce minister said some countries were pushing “‘small-yard-high-fence’, or decoupling and de-risking, which is an abuse of trade protection measures that will increase costs, damage multilateralism and lead to economic fragmentation”.

Wang Zichen at the Centre for China and Globalisation said China’s import tariffs now average 7.3 per cent, nearing those of developed countries.

“It is a testament to Beijing’s promise of increased opening-up and, in many cases, shouldering its international responsibility of aiding least-developed nations, which now have zero-tariff treatment from China,” he said.

Indian chess prodigy Dommaraju beats Chinese grandmaster to become youngest world champion

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3290573/indian-chess-prodigy-dommaraju-beats-chinese-grandmaster-become-youngest-world-champion?utm_source=rss_feed

Indian teen prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju became the youngest undisputed world chess champion on Thursday after beating China’s Ding Liren in the final match of their series in Singapore.

The 18-year-old Dommaraju burst into tears, burying his face in both hands, after Ding resigned in a thrilling endgame that had been expected to end in a draw.

Dommaraju later stood up and raised both hands triumphantly, smiling wide.

“My whole strategy for this match was to push as much as possible in every single game,” Dommaraju told reporters afterwards. “It just takes one game for the strategy to pay off.”

Cheers from jubilant fans, many of them Indians who had flown in to watch the match and Singaporeans of Indian descent, had erupted at the viewing rooms near the playing arena.

Fans were also chanting Dommaraju’s name as he walked in for the after-match press conference.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the young champion on his “remarkable accomplishment” which he said was “the result of his unparalleled talent, hard work and unwavering determination”.

“His triumph has not only etched his name in the annals of chess history but has also inspired millions of young minds to dream big and pursue excellence,” Modi said in a social media post.

Under a distribution formula of the US$2.5 million prize money drawn up by the International Chess Federation, each player will receive US$200,000 for every game they won, with the remainder divided equally between them.

That means Dommaraju will receive US$1.35 million in total, and Ding will take home US$1.15 million.

The game had been going for a draw but with a one-pawn advantage – supported by a rook and a bishop – a tenacious Dommaraju pressed on and was richly rewarded for it.

The dethroned Chinese champion Ding, 32, slumped on the table after he realised he had made an endgame blunder that gave his opponent an opportunity to pounce.

In between heavy sighs, a dejected Ding later told reporters: “I was totally in shock when I realised I made a blunder.”

Dommaraju’s victory in game 14 gave him a score of 7.5 against Ding’s 6.5, cementing his remarkable rise to stardom after becoming the youngest challenger for the world championship.

At his age, Dommaraju surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov refers to an opposition leader who won the title at age 22. He also became the second Indian after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand to hold the title.

Magnanimous in victory, Dommaraju praised Ding, saying he “fought like a true champion” despite being “obviously not at his best physically”.

Ding had said before the tournament started last month that he was “having mental problems mainly during the period last year” and had to take a break from chess on his doctor’s advice and travel around China to relax.

Dommaraju had won in the Candidates Tournament held in Toronto, Canada, in April this year, earning him the right to challenge Ding.

The Singapore match kicked off on November 25 at the Resorts World Sentosa, stretching on as the two players had nine draws in 14 games.

The Chinese grandmaster won the opening game, but Dommaraju levelled the score with a victory in game three. Seven consecutive draws followed, broken only when Dommaraju beat his opponent in game 11.

But Ding emphatically won an equaliser with white in game 12 and salvaged a draw with the black pieces in the 13th, bringing the game to the homestretch.

Born to a doctor father and microbiologist mother, Dommaraju started playing chess when he was seven, and became India’s youngest grandmaster aged 12 years, seven months and 17 days.

Though he spends much of his time practising the game, Dommaraju recently confessed to a love of the hit television sitcom Friends.

When competing he usually wears a tilak – a smattering of white ash on his forehead in deference to his Hindu faith – to go with his suit.

In 2022, Dommaraju beat US No 1 Fabiano Caruana at the Chess Olympiad and later that year triumphed over Magnus Carlsen, a five-time world champion.

After his win on Thursday, Dommaraju said his career was just starting.

“My goal with my career has always been to be at the very top for the longest time possible,” he said.

China-US study replicates ancient rice wine identified from 10,000 years ago

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3290467/china-us-study-replicates-ancient-rice-wine-identified-10000-years-ago?utm_source=rss_feed

A group of international researchers has uncovered evidence that people in southeast China’s Zhejiang province were fermenting rice into the wine known as mijiu some 10,000 years ago – far earlier than previously thought.

The findings – from a Shangshan archaeological site in Pujiang county, part of ancient China’s Lower Yangtze region – mark “the earliest known alcohol fermentation technique in East Asia”, said the researchers, in a study published on Monday.

The research, which appeared in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealed “the complexity and innovation of early rice wine brewing”, the team said.

“[It also] provides an important scientific basis for exploring the origins of rice agriculture, early social structures and technology diffusion in East Asia.”

The study was co-led by Liu Li, from Stanford University’s department of East Asian languages and cultures in the United States, and Zhang Jianping of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG), an affiliate of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Because wine is a volatile liquid that is difficult to preserve, let alone discover and study, the mystery of when and how winemaking technology originated and developed remains unsolved, according to an IGG said in a statement on Tuesday.

The researchers decided to look for answers in the Shangshan culture of about 11,000 to 8,500 years ago, described in the study as “a focal point of archaeological investigation” into the origins of rice domestication and fermentation in China.

There are 21 Shangshan archaeological sites within an area of about 30,000 square metres (7.4 acres), mainly along the Qiantang River valley, which have been investigated since November 2000.

Previous studies have unearthed the earliest known evidence of rice cultivation, along with settlements and a large number of painted pottery remains, according to the National Museum of China.

In 2021, analysis of 9,000-year-old pottery sherds from another Shangshan site found evidence of beer-making – a process that leaves different residues to wine production – that also used rice as the key ingredient.

For the latest study, the researchers collected 12 pottery sherds from the earliest period of the site, between 9,000 and 10,000 years ago, and tested them to determine what the original vessels contained and their uses.

The team used a multidimensional approach to analyse microfossil remains on residues from the internal surfaces of the pottery, as well as the clay and surrounding cultural layer sediments.

According to the study, the analysis showed different types of vessels, including those for fermentation, serving, storage, cooking and processing, as well as a “significant presence” of domesticated rice phytoliths in the pottery residues.

Phytoliths are microscopic mineral deposits found in some plant tissues that often remain after a plant has decayed.

There was also evidence that rice husks and leaves were used in pottery production, indicating the central role of the grain in Shangshan culture, the researchers said.

The results showed that local people were using rice not only as a staple food, but also as a raw material for mijiu, giving new insights into the origins of brewing alcoholic drinks in East Asia, they said.

The researchers also discovered abundant fungal elements – including Monascus moulds and yeast cells that are closely associated with traditional brewing methods – direct evidence of mijiu fermentation processes, according to the study.

To verify the findings, the team simulated the traditional fermenting method of rice, Monascus and yeast. The results were highly consistent with the fungal remains identified on the Shangshan pottery, the study said.

In addition to rice, other cereals used in fermentation at the time included Job’s Tears – also known as adlay millet – and barnyard grass, along with ingredients like acorn and lily, it said.

Liu and his colleagues attributed the emergence of fermentation technology to the early development of rice domestication and the arrival of the humid and warm Holocene climate, which was favourable for fungal growth.

“These alcoholic beverages likely played a pivotal role in ceremonial feasting, highlighting their ritual importance as a potential driving force behind the intensified utilisation and widespread cultivation of rice in Neolithic China,” Liu said.

Chinese fashion brand Urban Revivo opens in Bangkok, eyes New York, London

https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3290527/chinese-fashion-brand-urban-revivo-opens-bangkok-eyes-new-york-london?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese fast-fashion retailer Urban Revivo, which outperforms Zara and H&M on its home turf, had the official launch of its largest overseas store on Thursday in Bangkok as it continues an international push that also includes coming stores in London and New York.

“We strive to become the world’s most influential fashion brand, whether in China, Southeast Asia, or markets across Europe and the Americas,” Leo Li Mingguang, chairman and CEO of parent company Fashion Momentum Group (FMG), said at a briefing in the Thai capital on Thursday.

Going global can not only capture the spending power of global consumers but also provide benefits like early feedback that can help the company make adjustments to its product line-up and marketing strategy, Li said. It signed contracts recently for its planned New York and London locations.

“Chinese companies often focus on achieving significant scale domestically before expanding overseas, which is a valid strategy,” Li said. “But if you look at brands in the US, many are global from day one.”

FMG is reportedly planning to raise more than US$100 million via an initial public offering in Hong Kong. FMG declined to provide details on the timeline of the listing.

Urban Revivo’s store in One Bangkok, at the heart of the city, spans close to 3,000 square metres. Nearby is the first overseas location of Benlai, FMG’s casual brand that emphasises sustainable materials and enhanced functionality. The Benlai store, unveiled simultaneously, spans 1,286 square metres.

Li likes the brands’ chances in the international arena.

“Chinese consumers are becoming increasingly international in their tastes, lifestyle, and aesthetics,” he said. “I think if we can do well in China, chances are we’ll do pretty decently overseas as well.”

Founded in 2006 in Guangzhou, FMG operates more than 400 stores in mainland China and 21 locations abroad, all currently in Southeast Asia.

The company has generated more than 7 billion yuan (US$964 million) in sales in 2024. Li’s ambition is to hit 100 billion yuan in total sales, with overseas revenue exceeding domestic sales in the long run, he has said in previous interviews.

Despite FMG’s success in China, it remains a long way from such global dominance. For comparison, For comparison, Zara parent Inditex posted €9.36 billion (US$9.8 billion) in sales in the third quarter alone despite missing analyst expectations.

Unlike Chinese online fashion retailer Shein and e-commerce platform Temu, which have taken the world by storm with their budget-friendly merchandise, Urban Revivo generates more than 70 per cent of its revenue from bricks-and-mortar stores.

The brand’s approach also differs from that of Zara, a brand Li once wanted to franchise. Over the past five years, the Spanish fashion retailer has closed hundreds of stores worldwide to focus on online sales.

Urban Revivo, on the other hand, continues to expand with larger stores. Its biggest locations span 1,000 to 4,000 square metres and are typically situated in prime areas of first- and second-tier cities on the mainland. The brand aims to attract shoppers aged 18 to 40 who not only seek clothing for work and commuting but also use fashion as a means of expressing their personal identity.

An average consumer in China spends around 600 yuan per trip, while in Southeast Asia, willingness to spend is even higher, according to the company.

China must reach economic targets, leaders say, as high-profile conference draws to a close

https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3290547/china-must-reach-economic-targets-leaders-say-high-profile-conference-draws-close?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s leaders pledged on Thursday to increase the fiscal deficit ratio and raise the issuance of treasury bonds as part of efforts to boost domestic demand, according to a statement issued after the central economic work conference – a high-profile agenda-setting meeting held annually in Beijing.

The world’s second-largest economy must complete the tasks set out for 2021 to 2025 in a “high-quality” way, state broadcaster CCTV reported, citing the document released following the closed-door conference’s conclusion.

“For the next year, China needs to keep steady economic growth, maintain the overall stability of job and price levels, as well as safeguard the basic balance of international payments,” the CCTV report said.

Authorities should cut interest rates and the reserve requirement ratio in a timely manner, it added.

More to follow...

China is training super-pilots with qigong for stealth jet and drone battle

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3290514/china-training-super-pilots-qigong-stealth-jet-and-drone-battle?utm_source=rss_feed

In a secluded hot spring pool in the coastal town of Xingcheng in northeast China, a group of 50 robust men move their bodies in unison, practising a form of qigong known as while a melody drifts through the mist.

Aged between 23 and 48, the men are China’s top fighter pilots, many hailing from the country’s most competitive carrier-based aircraft squadrons. They are using an ancient Chinese practice to harness the body’s vital energy, or qi, to improve muscle development.

According to scientific data analysis, this unconventional approach is proving to be “remarkably effective”. A peer-reviewed paper published in the Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine this month revealed that, compared to pilots engaging solely in Western-style exercise, those practising qigong have seen an average increase of 15 per cent in the thickness of their core muscle groups, including their back and waist muscles.

The elite pilots of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fly some of the world’s most advanced and complex stealth fighter jets. Their training is intense, facing scenarios such as cooperating with drones. To meet the demands of future hi-tech air battles, the intensity of their daily training has surpassed that of their American counterparts, posing unprecedented challenges to their physical endurance.

Practised in China for thousands of years, qigong emphasises the harmonious flow of qi through the body, ultimately achieving a state of balance between heaven, Earth and humanity.

Originating in the Song dynasty over 800 years ago, baduanjin is a gentle yet powerful form of qigong that, combined with unique breathing techniques, has a profound effect on strengthening the body.

When training with qigong, pilots must focus their attention on the flow of qi. For example, before training begins, they spend 10 minutes adjusting their breathing.

“As you inhale, let the hot spring water and air enter your body, feeling every cell in your body breathing,” the project team led by Song Yanping, a rehabilitation expert from the Joint Logistics Support Force, wrote in the paper.

Then the pilots need to “exhale slowly, expelling waste gas from the body along with the warmth of the hot spring water”, Song and her colleagues added.

Baduanjin consists of eight specific movements, designed not to target specific muscles but to facilitate the smooth flow of qi through the body, thereby strengthening it as a whole.

For instance, the fourth movement involves raising one hand high and lowering the other, using shoulder rotations to enhance the qi flow in the internal organs.

Many pilots had reported neck, waist or shoulder pain before training, however, after practising qigong, these symptoms had significantly diminished. Their level of exertion during exercise also decreased by nearly 20 per cent compared to a control group, while their waist strength increased by one-third, according to Song’s team.

The hot springs of Xingcheng have been renowned since the Tang dynasty (618-907). Rich in minerals such as sulphate ions, carbonate ions and chloride ions, these underground hot waters are believed to penetrate deep into the skin. When combined with qigong practice, they are thought to further improve muscle growth.

“The multifidus muscle, located deep in the spine, is crucial for maintaining spinal stability and controlling spinal movement. For pilots, who have a special occupation, good spinal stability is the physiological foundation for maintaining a long sitting posture and coping with various situations during flight,” Song’s team wrote.

“A thicker multifidus muscle means more muscle fibres, which can generate greater force. This is crucial for pilots to maintain a sitting posture and withstand vibrations and impacts during flight.

“Especially during take-off, landing and turbulence in-flight, the strength of the multifidus muscle helps pilots maintain a neutral spinal position, reducing the risk of fatigue and injury caused by improper posture.”

Nobel Prize-winning research on institutions gains traction in China to aid private sector

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3290526/nobel-prize-winning-research-institutions-gains-traction-china-aid-private-sector?utm_source=rss_feed

Riding on recent discussions by Nobel Prize-winning economists on the importance of institutions to growth, some members of the Communist Party’s elite have renewed calls for more policy support for private entrepreneurs as China looks for ways to reinvigorate its sluggish economy.

Hu Deping, the eldest son of late liberal leader Hu Yaobang who was instrumental in China’s opening up, called for greater attention for the research conducted by Western scholars James Robinson, Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson.

The trio were awarded the Nobel Prize in economics in October for their elaboration on how institutions and inclusiveness are critical factors that separate rich and poor nations.

While their theory has been viewed by some with suspicion in China, Hu – a vocal voice of the so-called princeling faction that refers to descendants of the past state leaders – said it deserved closer reading and further discussion.

Other prominent Chinese intellectuals, including economist Xiang Songzuo and Renmin University professor Nie Huihua, have also called for a rethink about the role of institutions.

Hu, meanwhile, said the theory about “institutional economics” had caused a sensation in China and overseas, according to a transcript of a speech published in the December issue of China Private Business magazine.

“We can learn a lot from it,” he said.

Hu, 82, who was the head of the semi-official All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce between 2003-06, has frequently called for the support of the private economy in recent years.

The views of the Nobel laureates, though, run counter to the Marxist tenet about economic foundation determining the superstructure, Hu said.

However, “we should treat it rationally,” he added.

Hu mentioned the research when he rallied for better protection of the private sector at a time Beijing is looking at policy options to revitalise the national economy in 2025.

“The current difficulties facing the private economy are about the business environment and external factors. These issues are not of the sector’s own making,” he told a forum on reform and the economy in Beijing on Saturday.

“The solution is more than about policies promoting its development. Instead, special emphasis should be placed on protection. This issue is also related to capital and law.”

Beijing is attempting to revive private confidence by establishing a new department under the National Development and Reform Commission, and a draft law on boosting the private sector is in the process of seeking public opinion.

Hu, however, hinted that Beijing needed to institutionalise its promises to the private sector as it crafted a dedicated new law.

“The superstructure should continuously and proactively serve the economic base,” he said.

“When we formulate laws on the private sector, we should ensure the superstructure can clarify the property rights of the private economy.”

The private sector contributes half of China’s tax revenue, 60 per cent of the national economic output and over 80 per cent of urban jobs.

But despite Beijing’s mantra of support, private sector confidence has remained stubbornly feeble.

Private investment dropped by 0.3 per cent year on year in the first 10 months of 2024, compared with the 6.2 per cent growth in investments by state firms during the same period.

Hu said the new law should place an emphasis squarely on protection, while he also suggested a name change to reflect clear-cut property rights and ownership.

In China’s official discourse, private enterprises are referred to as “enterprises run by the people” and Hu said the name could be changed to “enterprises owned by the people”.

“The more thorough and clearer legal concepts are set out in laws, the higher the consensus we will have and laws will be more recognised and upheld by the society and the government,” he added.

Nie said earlier that the Nobel Prize-winning research had “important insights” for China’s reforms and sustainable development, adding the key would be protection of private entrepreneurs’ “two rights” of personal and property rights and safety.

“Only when these are protected can the private economy develop in a healthy and sustainable manner,” Nie said on his official WeChat social media account in October.

Meanwhile, Xiang said the conclusions of the research showed that institutions were the most critical to a country’s economic development.

“This also has big implications for China’s way forward,” Xiang added.

Could Trump be a catalyst for the reforms China and Germany need?

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3290442/could-trump-be-catalyst-reforms-china-and-germany-need?utm_source=rss_feed

There is still over a month before US president-elect Donald Trump moves back into the White House and supposedly makes good on his campaign pledge to put America first. Yet this has not stopped pundits, economists and investment strategists from fiercely speculating about how Trump will manage the conflicting policy goals of his four-pronged agenda of deregulation, tax cuts, punitive trade tariffs and a crackdown on immigration.

Never mind what is likely to happen in the first 100 days of his second term, even the first couple of days are the subject of intense discussion among analysts. “Trump’s first day of his second term as president may be very long indeed – ‘a day in the biblical sense’ – given the string of campaign promises he pledged to enact,” said Tina Fordham, the founder of Fordham Global Foresight.

Financial markets seem to be taking comfort from the growth-friendly parts of Trumponomics while withholding judgment or downplaying the severity of the damage caused by tariffs and immigration crackdowns. The benchmark S&P 500 equity index hit a fresh high on December 6 and is up more than 5 per cent since Trump’s victory.

In fact, the prevailing narrative is that the resounding triumph of Trump and his Republican Party reinforces the trend of “American exceptionalism”. This is the notion that America’s economy and markets will continue to outperform the rest of the world because of the US dollar’s role as the world’s pre-eminent reserve currency, a large consumer market, vast energy resources and its dominance of the industries of the future.

Moreover, the US benefits from being a relatively closed economy, with merchandise trade as a share of economic output standing at just 19 per cent last year. Morgan Stanley says: “US assets should also do relatively better than [the rest of the world] in an environment of rising trade tension. European and Chinese economies have to contend with a growth drag from a decline in exports and also need to price in higher geopolitical risk premiums.”

Yet there is another narrative that is getting more attention but is more controversial. Trump’s aggressive “America first” agenda may prove to be the catalyst for much-needed policy changes and reforms in the global economy.

While the consequences of Trump’s policies are difficult to predict – partly because of his unpredictability – the mix of protectionism, nationalism and isolationism in US policymaking poses a huge challenge to China and Europe at a time when the pressure to reflate their economies has never been greater.

The dramatic shift in the tone and language of Chinese policymakers this week suggests the geopolitical and economic ramifications of a second Trump presidency have become an important determinant of the scale and focus of the stimulus package.

On December 9, the Communist Party’s Politburo pledged to implement a “moderately loose” monetary policy, a “more proactive” fiscal policy, and “extraordinary” countercyclical adjustments, as well as “vigorously boost consumption”.

While Beijing has a track record of making promises not backed up by concrete action, the latest hints are a sea change in Chinese policy signals. Morgan Stanley said the shift amounted to the “most aggressive stimulus tone in a decade” and suggested that “expanding domestic demand (to vigorously boost consumption) will be elevated as the [number one] key task for 2025”.

This is highly questionable given the government’s prioritisation of high-end manufacturing over consumption. However, the prospect of a trade war appears to be redressing the balance in favour of domestic demand to increase China’s resilience to external shocks. JP Morgan says, “Higher tariffs could be the trigger for China to shift policy focus towards consumption boost and addressing housing policy issues.”

In Europe, meanwhile, one of the most striking developments since the US presidential election has been the surge in share prices in Germany, whose export-oriented economy is acutely vulnerable to an escalation in trade tensions. The stock of Rheinmetall, the German arms manufacturer, is up a whopping 32 per cent.

This is due to expectations that Europe, in particular Germany, will come under more pressure to spend more on defence once Trump sets foot in the Oval Office on January 20. All eyes are on Germany’s parliamentary election on February 23 which could pave the way for a relaxation of the country’s constitutionally enshrined “debt brake” that prohibits the government from running anything other than a tiny fiscal deficit.

Societe Generale believes next year will see an end to the German debt brake and the rise of reflationary policies in China. The former could improve the prospects for Europe’s shaky monetary union while the latter could provide a fillip to emerging markets.

Still, there are good reasons to doubt whether a second Trump term will help bring about such changes. First, a trade war and draconian curbs on immigration could inflict significant damage on the US economy itself, driving up inflation and forcing the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates again.

Second, the political, economic and financial constraints to meaningful and effective stimuli in China and Europe are substantial and should not be underestimated. Third, the focus on US tariffs overlooks the consequences of more aggressive retaliatory measures on the part of Beijing, especially in the crucial technology sector.

The fact remains, however, that China and Germany are under mounting domestic and external pressure to stimulate and reform their economies. A second Trump presidency, regardless of how it plays out, will add to these pressures significantly, potentially forcing the hands of Beijing and Berlin.

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Anchoring China’s yuan, Trump invites Xi: SCMP daily catch-up

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3290542/anchoring-chinas-yuan-trump-invites-xi-scmp-daily-catch?utm_source=rss_feed

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China and economy stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider .

US president-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration in Washington next month, CBS News reported on Wednesday, citing multiple sources. The report said it was not clear whether Xi has accepted the invitation to the ceremony scheduled for January 20.

The Panchen Lama, Tibet’s second highest religious figure who sits on China’s top political advisory body, will make a rare visit to Nepal, according to Nepalese media reports. It comes just months before the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, is expected to reveal a succession plan.

China has hit back against comments South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol made about alleged Chinese espionage while defending his decision to declare martial law, calling the remarks “deeply unsettling”.

Despite intensifying restrictions from the US intended to stifle China’s semiconductor trade, Beijing’s shipments of the bedrock technology stood out as a rare bright spot in a recent export data release.

China’s ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, whose remarks about Ukraine and other former Soviet states caused uproar across Europe last year, is wrapping up his tenure in Paris.

Legislation banning everything from Chinese laser-based navigation technology to Chinese garlic has passed the US House of Representatives and is set to become law by the end of the year.

China’s policymakers should consider anchoring the yuan exchange rate to a basket of non-US dollar currencies to create more flexibility for domestic monetary policies aimed at boosting demand, according to a prominent Beijing-based think tank.

China still ‘open’ to trade engagement with Trump despite tariff threats

https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3290531/china-still-open-trade-engagement-trump-despite-tariff-threats?utm_source=rss_feed

China remains “open to engaging with the new US administration” on trade, the country’s Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday, maintaining a cordial tone despite the high likelihood of new tariffs during Donald Trump’s imminent second term as US president.

“China’s stance against unilateral tariffs has been consistent,” said ministry spokesman He Yadong at a regular press conference.

Beijing is willing to strengthen dialogue and coordination with Washington, he added, while “effectively managing differences” to ensure the “steady and long-term development” of ties.

His remarks came as concerns mount over a potential resurgent trade war between the world’s two largest economies, as Trump has signalled he will resume his hardline stance upon taking office.

Addressing the heads of 10 major international economic organisations in Beijing on Tuesday, President Xi Jinping warned that there would be “no winners” in a protracted conflict between the two powers.

“Tariff wars, trade wars and technology wars run counter to historical trends and economic laws,” Xi said.

He added that China is ready to “maintain dialogue, expand cooperation and manage differences with the US government,” stressing the country will continue to safeguard its interests.

The US House of Representatives is expected to vote next week on a bill that includes over $3 billion in appropriations for removing equipment from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE in US wireless networks, citing security risks.

In response, ministry spokesman He dismissed claims that Chinese communication technology poses a threat as “entirely baseless”, urging Washington to “stop politicising and weaponising” trade.

“China firmly opposes the US practice of overgeneralising the concept of national security, violating market economy principles and fair competition, and disrupting normal trade and economic cooperation between Chinese and US enterprises,” he said.

He added China will “take all necessary measures” to “resolutely safeguard” its companies’ interests.

During his successful re-election campaign, Trump promised tariffs of up to 60 per cent on all imports from China, one of the US’ largest trading partners.

Last month, he said he would impose an extra 10 per cent tariff on goods from China and a 25 per cent tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders.

Tensions escalated earlier this month when Beijing announced a ban on “dual-use” items – products or materials which carry both civilian and military applications – to any US military end users, one day after Washington unveiled new restrictions intended to limit Beijing’s footprint in advanced semiconductors.

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China-Russia ties: Xi Jinping tells Medvedev Beijing seeks political solution in Ukraine

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3290562/china-russia-ties-xi-jinping-tells-medvedev-beijing-seeks-political-solution-ukraine?utm_source=rss_feed

China will continue to work to create “favourable conditions for a political solution” to the Ukraine crisis, President Xi Jinping said while vowing to strengthen “strategic synergy” with Russia, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Meeting former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev in Beijing on Thursday, Xi reiterated Beijing’s stance on the Ukraine war, saying China “repeatedly stressed” the need to adhere to three principles – “no expansion of the battlefields, no escalation of hostilities and no fanning flames” – to strive for a swift de-escalation.

The three principles were previously mentioned in Xi’s speech at the 16th Brics summit in Kazan, Russia, in October.

“China will continue to uphold its consistent position and work with the international community to create favourable conditions for a political solution to the crisis,” Xi told Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia’s powerful Security Council and chairman of the ruling United Russia party.

Hailing China-Russia relations as “exemplary” for international relations between large neighbouring countries, Xi said China was willing to “strengthen strategic synergy” with Russia, CCTV said.

He said both countries should work closely in multilateral frameworks such as Brics and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to “firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations as the core, practise true multilateralism, promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction to jointly safeguard global strategic stability and international fairness and justice”.

Xi, the leader of China’s ruling Communist Party, also stressed that the ruling parties of both countries would further strengthen their coordination and cooperation to lead global governance.

“[We should] gather consensus among friendly political parties from around the world, especially those in the Global South, and push the world in the right direction,” Xi said.

According to the Chinese readout, Medvedev gave Xi a letter signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and pledged that Russia would “unswervingly implement” the consensus of the two leaders to deepen strategic cooperation.

Medvedev said Russia took China’s position on the Ukraine issue “positively”, noted the “Friends of Peace” group initiative proposed by China, Brazil and other countries, and was willing to “actively push for a political solution” to the Ukrainian crisis, according to CCTV.

According to Russia’s Tass media outlet, Medvedev said Russia was ready for peace talks with Ukraine, but only if Kyiv understood the realities on the ground.

Wang Huning, the fourth ranking member of China’s decision-making Politburo Standing Committee, also met Medvedev in Beijing on Thursday.

Xi’s meeting with Medvedev came less than two month after he met Putin on the sidelines of the Brics summit, with both countries seeking to build momentum from the emerging-economies bloc to provide an alternative to the Western-led world order.

Medvedev arrived in the Chinese capital on Tuesday night and was welcomed on arrival by Liu Jianchao, head of China’s International Department of the Communist Party, according to Sputnik News.

On Wednesday, Medvedev laid a wreath at the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Russian state media said.

China and Russia have had a series of close interactions among their top power echelons. Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council, attended Zhuhai air show in southern China last month.

Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov also visited Beijing in October, meeting with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun.

Why next year will be ‘critical’ in China’s efforts to attract students from the US

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3290548/why-next-year-will-be-critical-chinas-efforts-attract-students-us?utm_source=rss_feed

The year ahead will be pivotal for an initiative that encourages young Americans to study in China as Beijing tries to ramp up people-to-people exchanges, according to a leading American business group.

As ties between the two countries remain strained ahead of the imminent return of US president-elect Donald Trump, both countries have been urged to prioritise and expand partnerships at the university level for US students to study long-term in China, according to a report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) to its members last month.

During a visit to the US in November last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China would welcome 50,000 young Americans on exchange and study programmes over the next five years.

The second year of the programme would be “critical in scaling the initiative” through improved partnerships and greater institutional collaboration, the report said.

“Next year will show us whether the momentum gathered this year has been successful in rekindling interest in China as a destination for study,” AmCham China president Michael Hart said on Wednesday, adding that the initiative had shown some progress in its first year.

US student enrolment in China saw “modest growth”, according to the report, but most of the US high school and student visitors to China had taken part in short-term programmes, typically lasting from one week to a summer, and were not as comprehensive as longer exchanges.

Since November last year, 14,000 American students have visited China for study, Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to Washington, told a youth exchange event at the embassy in Washington last week.

But according to the US embassy, only a little more than 1,100 students were on long-term visas, Hart said.

“While AmCham China recognises that any US students coming to China for any length of time is better than nothing, the chamber would still like to see an emphasis placed on longer-term exchanges at the university level, paving the way for US graduates to consider a career working in, or with respect to, China,” the report said.

“Language skills and an understanding of cultural nuances, as well as mutual respect and friendship, are best learned through long-term, in-country study programmes.”

To reach its five-year goal, China appeared to have been “strategic”, assigning Chinese consulates in the US to find students, looking to not only universities and long-term programmes, but also short-term ones and high schools, according to the report.

Five Chinese consulates in the US – the embassy in Washington, and the consulates in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles – had each been tasked to bring 2,000 US students to China each year, the report said.

“Short-term programmes have been a practical way to achieve numbers quickly, given the challenges of scaling up long-term exchanges,” Hart said.

The report said Beijing could make other key improvements including streamlining visa processes, reducing travel costs, addressing academic freedom, and improving assurances for student safety.

Hart said this could help make studying in China “more accessible and impactful”, and would “lay the groundwork” for the next generation of American professionals with China expertise – be it in business, academia or government.

Despite being less in-depth than longer exchanges, short-term programmes had been “an effective entry point”, sparking curiosity and breaking down stereotypes and giving students “a stepping stone” towards considering deeper academic or professional engagement with China, Hart added.

As tensions between the US and China have remained strained over issues ranging from ideology and national security to hi-tech access and trade tariffs, work has continued on both sides to restore people-to-people exchanges, which are considered essential in helping to manage the increasingly complex relations between the geopolitical rivals.

“Educational exchanges remain vital, non-political platforms for fostering mutual understanding, even in challenging times,” Hart said.

“By insulating the initiative from broader geopolitical tensions, we can ensure that it continues to build bridges and prepares the next generation to contribute to future US-China engagement in whatever form that takes.”

The report said that concerns about academic freedom and wariness over the nature of the exchange programmes, which – under supervision of the Communist Party – have been accused prioritising propaganda ahead of language or Chinese culture, had prompted American families and educational institutions to avoid the initiative.

“Several of the programme’s most prominent supporters are organisations that oversee the building of China’s image rather than educational institutions. This opens the programme to criticism outside China,” it said.

Ongoing bilateral issues – particularly concerning Taiwan, security, and trade disputes – have also affected student participation and resulted in many US universities remaining cautious about deepening ties with Chinese institutions, the report said.

When considering international options, “US students are increasingly concerned that a stint in China could be seen in years to come as a black mark on their career rather than as a positive experience”, it said.

Procedural obstacles also remain – from university and visa applications to travelling and settling in China. Exchange students face estimated costs of US$1,350 to US$3,370 to get to China and study, not including tuition and accommodation fees.

The exchange process also required extensive documentation, including in-person consulate visits in the US that could encourage students to choose more accessible countries such as South Korea or Japan, the report said.

Potential exchange students were also worried that having a lengthy stint in China could affect their ability to obtain security clearance for future US government positions “for no apparent reason”, despite a stated need for more China expertise in the US, the report added, citing anecdotal evidence.

A string of stabbing attacks earlier this year against foreigners in China have also fuelled concerns in the country’s expatriate community about personal safety.

Four American teachers from Cornell College in Iowa were stabbed at a public park in the northeastern province of Jilin in early June.

Later that month, a Chinese school bus chaperon was killed in the eastern city of Suzhou while trying to protect a young Japanese student and his mother from an attacker.

In September, a 10-year-old Japanese boy died after he was stabbed in the southern city of Shenzhen.

Beijing decries South Korean leader Yoon’s ‘Chinese spy’ defence of martial law

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3290541/beijing-decries-south-korean-leaders-chinese-spy-defence-martial-law?utm_source=rss_feed

China has hit back against comments South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol made about alleged Chinese espionage when defending his decision to declare martial law, calling the remarks “deeply unsettling”.

In a speech on Thursday, Yoon said his martial law decree last week was a response to his political opponents blocking legislation aimed at preventing Chinese espionage, citing two cases of alleged Chinese spies targeting US and South Korean military facilities in June and November.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning responded by saying Beijing was “deeply surprised” by the comments and found them “deeply unsettling”.

“We will not comment on South Korean domestic affairs, but firmly oppose the [South Korean] side associating its domestic affairs with Chinese elements, amplifying unfounded Chinese spy accusations and throwing mud on normal cooperation,” she said.

“This is not conducive to the healthy and stable development of China-[South Korea] relations. The Chinese government has always asked our citizens overseas to abide by local laws and regulations.”

In June, three Chinese nationals studying in South Korea were arrested for using a drone to film the US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt docked in the port city of Busan.

A search of the students’ phones and laptops revealed they had taken over 500 photos of South Korean military facilities since September 2022. Investigators also found they had contact details for an apparent Chinese police official.

Last month, a Chinese tourist was arrested for filming the Seoul headquarters of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), South Korea’s spy agency, with a drone.

In his fourth speech since declaring martial law, Yoon slammed the opposition Democratic Party’s (DP) attempts to impeach and investigate him as a “frenzy sword dance”.

Yoon said his decision was motivated by DP actions that were “threatening national security and social safety”, adding that there was no way to punish foreign spy activities under South Korea’s espionage act.

“In order to prevent this situation, attempts were made to amend the espionage provisions of the Criminal Act, but the opposition party holding the majority is stubbornly blocking it,” he said.

“Doesn’t this mean [the DP is saying] we shouldn’t catch spies who threaten national security?”

South Korean law stipulates that people working for an “enemy country”, and those who are aware of espionage activities but fail to report them, could face punitive measures – including the death penalty.

However, the law only identifies North Korea as an enemy, so those working for other countries, such as China, cannot be punished under South Korea’s spy law.

Several industrial espionage cases involving leaks about cutting-edge semiconductors have added to the calls to amend South Korea’s espionage act.

South Korean police said they had made arrests in 25 industrial spy cases between January and October, including leaks about “national core technologies” such as semiconductors and batteries, and 18 of them reportedly involved leaks to China.

While the espionage act amendment initially gained bipartisan support, the DP, which holds 171 out of 300 seats in the National Assembly, later changed its position, citing the possibility of misuse because of ambiguous provisions under the new law.

In his speech, Yoon said that if the opposition party gained power, it would “crush” the country with “laws ruining the economy” and turn South Korea into “a country where spies run rampant, drugs destroy future generations, and gangsters run around”.

He pointed to DP budget cuts affecting prosecutors, police and the nuclear power industry as harmful for the country.

“Future growth engines, including the nuclear power plant industry and the semiconductor industry, will dry up, and Chinese solar power facilities will destroy forests across the country,” Yoon said.

He warned that South Korea’s alliance with the US and their three-way cooperation with Japan, which he called the foundations of the nation’s security and economy, would “collapse again”.

“North Korea will continue to advance its nuclear weapons and missiles, posing a more serious threat to our lives,” he added.

Last week, Yoon said he would declare martial law to “eradicate shameless pro-North Korea and anti-state forces”. But he was soon rebuffed when lawmakers unanimously voted to lift martial law in an emergency session, and the DP and five other opposition parties, holding 192 seats in total, filed an impeachment motion to remove Yoon from the presidency.

A two-thirds majority – or 200 out of 300 members – is required to pass a motion in the National Assembly, meaning at least eight members from Yoon’s People Power Party would need to vote for his impeachment.

The impeachment motion cited opposition to Yoon’s foreign policy, saying it “antagonises North Korea, China and Russia while ignoring geopolitical balance”. It claims Yoon has brought “isolation in northeast Asia, triggered a crisis of war, and abandoned national security and the duty to protect the people”.

While an impeachment motion vote over the weekend failed because a quorum was not met, the opposition filed another motion this week and the DP announced a vote would be held on Saturday.

In response to Yoon’s latest speech, the DP said the president’s remarks were a “declaration of war against the nation” and “inciting extreme right-wing unrest”.

Officers on patrol in China test ball-shaped robot as Beijing pushes hi-tech policing

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3290536/officers-patrol-china-test-ball-shaped-robot-beijing-pushes-hi-tech-policing?utm_source=rss_feed

In eastern China, a robot that can identify and chase suspects follows police officers as they patrol the streets in a crowded commercial district, as Beijing seeks new ways to deploy advanced technology to aid police.

Police in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, are reportedly using the robots, which could be equipped with suppression tools such as tear gas, under a new project.

In the viral clip that appears straight from a sci-fi film, the spherical robot is shown equipped with cameras and flashing lights, it tilts to the sides and rolls around without tipping over.

Chinese authorities promote it as a tool that “cannot be smashed” and is “resilient in hostile environments” in their latest push to improve hi-tech policing.

The spherical robot, patented by the College of Control Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University, intended to solve issues facing robots with wheels and legs, the Wenzhou Daily reported on Wednesday.

Wang You, an associate professor at the college, told the newspaper the device weighed 125kg (275lbs), could travel at 35km/h (22mph) and needed only 2.5 seconds to accelerate to maximum speed.

“This robot can cope with dangers such as falling or being beaten, and can perform tactical actions such as enemy identification, tracking and capture after modular modification,” Wang said.

“Because it can complete tasks in hostile environments, it can make up for the deficiencies of [Wenzhou police] drones and robot dogs.”

Wenzhou police said the robot remained operational, even after being attacked at close range, and could come and go easily in crowds and extreme environments. They have equipped it with speakers, net guns and tear-gas sprayers.

The spherical robot was a new attempt to help Wenzhou police with intelligent equipment, to improve patrol efficiency and enhance their ability to handle crises, the report said.

It is among China’s latest moves to equip police with intelligent products as the country pursues “new quality productive forces” with hi-tech innovation.

In March, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a notice seeking “typical application scenarios for robots in policing” that should closely revolve around practical needs, such as security patrols, service management, border defence and investigation and evidence collection.

It said examples would be selected and displayed on different platforms at an appropriate time, to be promoted in future activities.

Also this week, media in southwest China’s Chengdu province reported that local police had used robots in commercial districts to prevent mob violence.

During a simulated fight, a robot at the scene started flashing its lights and loudly sounding the words: “If you win the fight, you’ll end up in jail. If you lose the fight, you’ll end up in hospital”.

Meanwhile, it sent a text message summoning nearby local police to attend immediately.

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China’s massive Yiwu wholesale hub at the forefront of trade-reform efforts

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3290494/chinas-massive-yiwu-wholesale-hub-forefront-trade-reform-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed

The world’s largest wholesale hub for small manufactured items is expected to be enhanced as a symbol for international trade following the State Council’s approval of plans to more comprehensively deepen and reform its development.

Yiwu, a small city in China’s Zhejiang province known for funnelling huge quantities of dollar-store products to the West, will undergo efforts to resolve deep-rooted institutional problems, strengthen the building of integrated standards of domestic and foreign trade, and promote greater cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Specific items on the deepening-development list included maximising the function of tariff-free zones, reforming procurement systems, proactively connecting to international trade standards, improving management of export companies’ categorisation, and building 100 good-quality international trade corporations.

“The more intensive development this time will bring more opportunities to Yiwu,” Zhu Keli, the founding head of the International New Economic Research Institute, was quoted as saying by the Shanghai Securities News. “Yiwu can go deep into reforming and innovating the area of international trade, improve its trade structure and enhance quality.”

Yiwu saw its total trade value reach 560.2 billion yuan (US$77 billion) in the first 10 months of this year – 18.3 per cent more than the same period last year, according to customs figures.

The deepening-development plan will also support the high-quality development of China-Europe express trains to enhance the circulation of goods.

Being an important economic driver within the Yangtze River Delta, Yiwu’s transformation would help buttress China’s “world’s factory” role in the face of a challenging bilateral trade landscape between China and the European Union on electric vehicles, and with the US-China trade war expected to intensify amid threats from US president-elect Donald Trump to levy more tariffs on Chinese goods.

“Yiwu has abundant experience in reforming international trade,” Zhu was quoted as saying. “[The city] has a comprehensive market structure and advanced commerce network.”

The trade hub has also been working to better promote brands to the international market, while deepening its transaction mechanisms by using yuan and foreign currencies for cross-border trade, according to the Shanghai Securities News.

The state-run publication also reported that, with reform efforts gathering pace, Yiwu is riding the new digital-economy trend by employing artificial intelligence tools to shore up commerce.

Ultimately, the efforts are expected to contribute to China’s trade transformation that aims to expand domestic and global markets while ensuring smooth domestic and international circulation, according to the State Council.

Tencent boss Pony Ma praises China’s economic policy, stimulus for private sector

https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3290509/tencent-boss-pony-ma-praises-chinas-economic-policy-stimulus-private-sector?utm_source=rss_feed

Pony Ma Huateng, the founder and CEO of Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings, published a rare commentary in an official newspaper on Thursday, praising Beijing’s recent economic policies for supporting the private sector.

The stimulus policies that Beijing started implementing in late September have shown private enterprises the central government’s “strong determination” to sustain its push for economic recovery by focusing on the business pain points and responding comprehensively to market demands, Ma wrote in a piece published in People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party.

The package of regulatory and legislative measures “has truly formed policy synergy, allowing enterprises to concentrate more on doing their main business well and developing with reassurance”, wrote Ma, who has largely kept a low profile in recent years.

Ma offered his remarks alongside those of other Chinese business leaders – including Liu Yonghao, chairman of agribusiness company New Hope Group, and Zhang Xinghai, chairman of carmaker Seres Group – commenting on how the private sector can further drive the country’s economic development.

Beijing has implemented a series of stimulus packages since September that have lifted the market and raised growth projections, while sparking anticipation of further measures to inject vitality into the world’s second-largest economy.

The readout of a Politburo meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping on Monday has fanned speculation that next year Beijing is likely to deliver more interest-rate cuts, increase the government’s borrowing limit and take more steps to stabilise the beleaguered property market.

In his commentary, Ma said that the internet industry has followed Beijing’s call to expand digital consumption in recent years, playing an important role in revitalising the economy.

He committed to “boost investment” in government-endorsed sectors and ensure that technological innovation is closely aligned with industrial advancement.

Ma added that the internet industry will continue to sustain a healthy development after improving regulatory compliance and making contributions to society.

China’s tech giants came under close government scrutiny in late 2020, when Beijing initiated a series of crackdowns on the basis of ending monopolistic behaviour, unfair competition and abuse of data, with Tencent among the targets. After trillions of dollars in market value were wiped out, Beijing eased up in 2022, when the government vowed to showcase the tech sector’s role in boosting the economy, job creation and international competition.

Singapore police explain why they did not arrest Chinese fugitive on Interpol Red Notice

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3290455/singapore-police-explain-why-they-did-not-arrest-chinese-fugitive-interpol-red-notice?utm_source=rss_feed

Authorities in Singapore do not have sufficient evidence that a Singapore-based Chinese fugitive who was arrested in Indonesia had committed money-laundering offences, the local police said, explaining why his detention occurred in Batam rather than within the city state.

The police’s comments were in reference to the case of Yan Zhenxing, a Chinese national in his early 40s who is a Singapore permanent resident and on Interpol’s Red Notice list.

Yan was detained on December 2 by Indonesian authorities after he arrived at a ferry terminal on the resort island of Batam, located some 23km (14 miles) southeast of Singapore, having travelled there for a holiday, Indonesian media reported.

The case has sparked discussion around why Yan was not arrested in Singapore but only when he travelled to Indonesia.

Responding to queries from This Week in Asia, the Singapore Police said on Thursday: “To date, we do not have enough evidence that Yan may have committed money-laundering offences under Singapore’s laws, that would allow us to commence formal investigations against him.”

When Yan was granted Singapore permanent residency, there were no Interpol Red Notices against him, they added.

Yan is wanted by Interpol China for online gambling and is suspected of being involved in a criminal gang that laundered money.

According to the Interpol website, Red Notices are a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.

However, the notice is not an international arrest warrant and member countries apply their own laws in deciding whether to make the arrest.

The Singapore authorities explained on Tuesday that they did not have the powers to arrest a fugitive wanted by a foreign jurisdiction unless an extradition request was made under an extradition treaty.

Indonesian media reported their authorities saying that Yan was believed to be responsible for transferring and laundering money from a gang that operated an online gambling platform. He was named as a suspect by police in China’s Inner Mongolia region who alleged he was involved in transferring and laundering more than 130 million yuan (US$17.9 million) from a criminal online gambling group.

The Singapore police said: “Should we eventually receive credible evidence of Yan’s alleged offences, we will deal with him in accordance with our laws, including the review of his PR [permanent resident] status.

“We do not tolerate foreigners who may have committed crimes, taking refuge in Singapore, and will take firm action against them if we have sufficient grounds.”

The police noted that when an individual with links to Singapore is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, even without requests for assistance from the country which published the notice, Singapore authorities will keep the individual under close watch and commence investigations if there is evidence an offence has been committed under Singapore laws.

“In addition, the adverse information from the Interpol Red Notice will be an important factor when the authorities deliberate on the renewal of the individual’s immigration facilities,” they said.

The authorities noted earlier that Yan was neither implicated nor investigated in relation to the S$3 billion (US$2.2 billion) money-laundering case, referring to the city state’s largest scandal of its kind earlier this year.

Yan’s is the latest in a recent spate of cases involving people of Chinese origin allegedly hiding out and spending their ill-gotten gains in Singapore.

In May, alleged botnet king Wang Yunhe, 35, was arrested in his home in Singapore. The United States’ Department of Justice said Wang had amassed at least US$99 million in profits by reselling access to criminals who used the botnet for identity theft, child exploitation and financial fraud.

In the S$3 billion money-laundering case, the 10 individuals of Chinese origin who were convicted spent their ill-gotten gains on property, luxury cars and watches, among other things in Singapore.

Why red cloth covers guardian stone lions in China during auspicious events

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3290274/why-red-cloth-covers-guardian-stone-lions-china-during-auspicious-events?utm_source=rss_feed

It is common to see pairs of sizeable stone lions guarding the front doors of Chinese restaurants and hotels across China. This tradition, passed down from ancient times, involves lion statues – typically carved from stone – that are believed to possess the power to protect commercial establishments from harmful spiritual influences.

However, these stone lions are sometimes seen with their heads or eyes covered by red cloth. In this context, the Post explores the various mythical beliefs behind this unusual practice.

In some rural areas of China, villagers cover the faces or eyes of the stone lions with red or pink cloth or paper on the wedding days of new couples.

They superstitiously believe that the fierce gaze of these majestic guardian lions could bring bad luck to the newlyweds. Consequently, if the lions are located along the route from the bride’s maiden home to the groom’s home – traditionally seen as the couple’s future residence – the villagers cover the lions’ eyes.

A user on Douyin, the mainland version of TikTok, from central China’s Henan province, also interpreted this practice as a way to “prevent the bride’s mother-in-law from being too demanding.”

The guardian lions in front of business buildings and shops have their eyes covered for a different reason.

It is said that these stone lions must undergo a consecration ritual – a Buddhist ceremony that imbues them with spiritual power – to effectively protect a business from evil spirits.

For their protective powers to work, the consecrated eyes of the lions must not see anyone before they see the business owner. On the opening day of a business, it is common for some to dip the auspicious red fabric in water and lightly brush it over the lions’ eyes as a final blessing.

Many visitors to the Forbidden City in Beijing find it hard to overlook the stone lions along the Broken Rainbow Bridge, which are depicted in various endearing poses. One particular lion attracts attention for its unusual posture of covering its stomach with one leg.

According to a popular story, this lion, crafted during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), had its head covered during the reign of Qing emperor Daoguang (r. 1820-1850) because it reminded him of his first son, Yiwei, who tragically died at the age of 23 after he kicked him in the stomach for not studying diligently.

While this story’s authenticity remains unverified – documented only in a memoir by a eunuch named Xin Xiuming and not in any official historical records – it continues to capture the imagination of those who visit.

Will Chinese President Xi Jinping attend presidential inauguration at Trump’s invitation?

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3290460/will-chinese-president-xi-jinping-attend-presidential-inauguration-trumps-invitation?utm_source=rss_feed

China appears unlikely to accept US president-elect Donald Trump’s invitation for the Chinese president Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month given diplomatic protocol and historical precedents.

There is no record of any Chinese heads of state joining a US presidential transition ceremony. Since becoming China’s paramount leader, Xi has never attended such events personally in foreign countries, instead sending a special representative or envoy.

Meanwhile, it would generally take rounds of preparation for a Chinese president to visit the United States, a process that could span several months.

In early November, shortly after winning the US election, Trump invited Xi to attend the ceremony scheduled for January 20, CBS News reported on Wednesday, citing multiple sources.

However, Washington records dating back to 1874 show that no foreign heads of state have been involved in a US presidential inauguration, although it is common for foreign dignitaries and diplomats to attend, a practice Beijing has also adopted.

For instance, then-Chinese ambassador to the US Zhou Wenzhong attended Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009 as the Chinese government’s representative.

But in 2021, Beijing only stated that the Chinese embassy had received an invitation to attend Joe Biden’s inauguration and “extended congratulations” to him without confirming whether it had sent any officials.

“I noticed that the US government has reiterated many times that it only invites diplomatic envoys posted in the country to attend the presidential inauguration ceremony, and does not invite or encourage other countries or regions to send delegations to the ceremony,” said Hua Chunying, then a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry and now vice-foreign minister, in 2017 when asked about Trump’s first presidential inauguration.

Chinese authorities have sent the vice-president or other high-ranking officials to attend the inauguration of foreign national leaders in recent years.

On October 20, Vice-President Han Zheng attended the inauguration of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta as Xi’s special representative. Han also attended the coronation of King Charles III of the United Kingdom in May last year.

Beijing sent its vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Tie Ning, as Xi’s “special envoy” to the inauguration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on October 1. And the late Chinese customs chief Yu Jianhua attended the inauguration of Panama President José Raúl Mulino on July 1 as Xi’s special envoy.

The last in-person meeting between Xi and Trump occurred in June 2019 on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan.

Xi’s last visit to the US was in November last year for a summit with Biden and the Apec leaders’ meeting in California. Before that, Beijing and Washington spent eight months restoring diplomatic interaction and laying the groundwork through mutual high-level official visits.

After Trump won the US election in November, the Beijing-based think tank Centre for China and Globalisation advised in a report released on November 15 that as Trump assumed office, it would be prudent to extend an invitation for him to visit China at a suitable time.

“Such a visit could serve as an opportunity to outline a strategic blueprint for the next phase of bilateral relations,” the report said.

The think tank expected that Trump would pursue policies of “strategic retrenchment” and “America First”, characterised by transactional strategies to safeguard and advance US interests after taking office.

“In this context, once the new US cabinet is established, high-level China-US dialogues could be launched to negotiate each side’s priorities and red lines,” the report said.

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China urged to anchor yuan to non-US dollar currencies to empower domestic tools

https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3290321/china-urged-anchor-yuan-non-us-dollar-currencies-empower-domestic-tools?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s policymakers should consider anchoring the yuan exchange rate to a basket of non-US dollar currencies to create more flexibility for domestic monetary policies aimed at boosting demand, according to a prominent Beijing-based think tank.

The proposal by the China Finance 40 Forum, which is made up of senior Chinese regulatory officials and financial experts, comes as Beijing is struggling to balance the need for looser monetary policies to stimulate the economy, while also maintaining an interest rate spread with the US dollar amid rising external risks.

“Given the stronger dollar and tariff threats posed by Donald Trump’s re-election, intensified external uncertainties could limit the space for domestic monetary policies aimed at maintaining internal and external balance,” the forum said on its official social media account on Tuesday.

To counter the pressures, the think tank suggested temporarily anchoring the yuan to a basket of currencies, particularly the euro, which it said would grant “greater flexibility against the dollar”.

“This would free the exchange rate from tight fluctuation bands, so that it can better reflect shifts in the domestic and international economic environment, and create more room for adjustments in domestic monetary policy,” the forum added.

Financial News, a publication supervised by the People’s Bank of China, said on Wednesday that the yuan’s exchange rate had a “solid foundation” to “remain basically stable”, and was poised to stabilise or strengthen by the end of the year, following a Reuters report that Beijing was considering allowing the yuan to depreciate next year – possibly to 7.5 per US dollar – to offset the impact of the tariffs proposed by Trump.

On Thursday, the People’s Bank of China set the midpoint rate – also known as the fixing rate – at 7.1854 per US dollar, up from 7.1843 a day earlier.

The yuan had received huge pressure after Trump was re-elected as US president last month, with the offshore rate dropping to around 7.3 per US dollar in anticipation of a strong US dollar policy and hawkish stance on China.

Policymakers shifted to allow the yuan to be pegged to a basket of currencies in 2005, rather than relying solely on the US dollar, however, in practice the US dollar has remained the dominant reference point, given its role in global trade and finance.

In 2017, China was forced to defend the psychological mark of 7 yuan per US dollar, although in recent years, authorities have allowed the yuan to depreciate further as officials prioritised domestic needs.

The central economic work conference – the annual tone-setting conference which is reported to have started on Wednesday – is expected to set the tone on yuan policy, with the current official stance aimed at maintaining the Chinese currency’s basic stability on a reasonable equilibrium level.

The world’s second-largest economy has been struggling to revive its sluggish domestic demand, especially with the expected impact of proposed trade tariffs, while a stronger US dollar under Trump’s incoming second term could heighten depreciation pressures on the yuan and further constrain Beijing’s monetary policy options.

During a meeting of China’s major decision-making body on Monday, Politburo officials pledged to adopt a “moderately loose” monetary policy – a phrase that had not been used since the global financial crisis in 2009.

The statement also signalled a shift in tone by calling for a “more active” fiscal policy and “unconventional” countercyclical adjustments to “expand domestic demand on all fronts”.

“The countercyclical policies must involve resolute and unequivocal statements, coupled with stronger-than-expected policy measures to truly make effects,” the China Finance 40 Forum said.

“The firmer the stance and the more surprising the policy, the smaller the cost of altering market expectations, and the less policy space is ultimately consumed.”

The think tank urged monetary policy to focus on reducing real interest rates and implementing “strong rate cuts,” while calling for the rates of structural monetary tools to be lowered below policy interest rates.

Compared to reserve requirement ratio reductions, existing tools such as relending and structural monetary policy instruments were deemed more “unconventional” and more effective in boosting domestic demand, the forum said.

China’s controversial university love course, US$4 million for divorce: 5 trending stories

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3290311/chinas-controversial-university-love-course-us4-million-divorce-5-trending-stories?utm_source=rss_feed

We have selected five Trending in China stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider .

A woman in China who survived being pushed off a cliff in Thailand by her husband is now in a legal battle with him after the attempted murder five years ago, as he demands 30 million yuan for a divorce.

After years of unsuccessful blind dates, a man from southern China found love with a Belarusian woman who is a head taller than him. Tian says he always believed he could find true love, and that’s when Namei appeared.

A recent proposal from mainland Chinese media recommending that universities offer courses on love education to help students balance their studies with romantic relationships has proved controversial online.

Former Chinese gymnast and world champion Wu Liufang gained 3.5 million followers in a single day after her social media account was reinstated following a brief suspension due to provocative dance clips.

Language serves as a mirror of society. This year’s buzzwords in China undeniably reflect the essence of our times. In this annual exercise, the Post explores the top 10 buzzwords and the meanings behind them.

Australia seals Papua New Guinea security deal with eye on China

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3290449/australia-seals-papua-new-guinea-security-deal-eye-china?utm_source=rss_feed

The Australian government has signed a confidential agreement with Papua New Guinea, its second security pact in the Pacific in just under a week, in the latest move by the US ally to attempt to contain China’s growing strategic presence in the region.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stood alongside Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in Sydney on Thursday to announce a deal that would see the Pacific nation enter a team in Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) from 2028, at the cost of A$600 million (US$383 million) over 10 years to Canberra’s budget.

The sporting deal is accompanied by a second confidential security agreement between Canberra and Port Moresby, which underpins the understanding between the two countries that Australia will remain Papua New Guinea’s security partner of choice, according to a government official who asked not to be identified as they weren’t authorised to speak publicly.

“We belong to one region, our shared space is important in a world that is currently conflicted all over,” Marape said at the press conference. “We want to preserve our Pacific – safe, peaceful, good for all of us to live in, especially our children.”

Albanese said that Australia and Papua New Guinea “are the nearest of neighbours and we are the truest of friends”.

The agreement is confidential and will not be released publicly, but it is believed to bear similarities to statements from the Papua New Guinea leadership that Australia is the Pacific nation’s security partner of choice. Under the agreement, it is understood that any move by Papua New Guinea on security that Australia disapproved of could lead to the NRL deal being cancelled.

The news comes just days after Albanese announced a treaty between Australia and the small Pacific nation of Nauru, which gave Canberra a veto over any potential security or communications partners in exchange for A$140 million in financial support.

It was similar to a deal struck between Australia and Tuvalu following the conclusion of the Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands in 2023. In that agreement, the small Pacific nation had asked for guarantees of migration assistance in the face of the growing threat of climate change.

The agreements are a win for US-ally Australia in the competition with China for strategic influence in the Pacific – a diplomatic struggle that ramped up after the Solomon Islands announced in early 2022 that it had signed a confidential security pact with Beijing. That news sparked a wave of diplomatic efforts by both Australia and the US to rebuild bilateral ties across the Pacific.

SpaceX and the 7 dwarves: Chinese space firms line up to enter reusable rocket race

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3290445/spacex-and-7-dwarves-chinese-space-firms-line-enter-reusable-rocket-race?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese space launch start-ups are racing to debut their reusable rockets next year, driven by the nation’s push to build internet megaconstellations in low-Earth orbit (LEO) in a challenge to SpaceX’s Starlink.

At least seven new private rockets, all featuring vertical recovery and reusability, are aiming to reach orbit in 2025 and compete for launch contracts to deploy tens of thousands of broadband satellites in the coming years.

Leading the charge is the Tianlong-3, a 71-metre, two-stage kerosene and liquid oxygen rocket being assembled by Space Pioneer in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province, in eastern China.

Tianlong-3 is the second most powerful rocket developed in China, surpassed only by the Long March-5B. With a payload capacity of 17 tonnes for LEO, it is designed for batch satellite deployments and could carry 30 or more satellites per launch, Jiangsu Television reported on Sunday.

The rocket, which had an unexpected launch and crash during a static fire test in June, has incorporated a suite of advanced technologies, according to Liu Yang, an engineer at Space Pioneer.

“These technologies, including 3D-printed stainless steel engines and liquid nitrogen gasification pressurisation, were developed specifically to meet the ‘low-cost, high-reliability and high-frequency’ demands of internet satellite launches,” Liu told Jiangsu Television.

The first stage of Tianlong-3 is powered by nine Tianhuo-12 engines and can be used up to 10 times, according to the company’s website.

Hot on Tianlong-3’s heels is Zhuque-3, a medium-lift reusable rocket being developed by LandSpace in Huzhou, Zhejiang province. Zhuque-3 is the only one of the seven set to attempt both orbital insertion and first-stage recovery during its maiden flight next year.

“Zhuque-3 is expected to launch in the second half of 2025, and aims to become China’s first operational reusable carrier rocket,” LandSpace’s Founder and CEO Zhang Changwu told state broadcaster CCTV last week.

Standing at 76.6 metres, Zhuque-3 is made of stainless steel and powered by liquid methane fuel. In September, it completed a 10km (6.2-mile) vertical landing test. The rocket can carry around 21 tonnes for LEO in expendable mode and 18.3 tonnes when the first stage is recovered down range.

Equipped with nine Tianque-12B engines, Zhuque-3’s first stage is designed for recovery and reuse, with a capacity of up to 20 launches.

“LandSpace manufactures over 60 per cent of the components for the Tianque-12B engines. We’ve also established a closed-loop process for the engines’ 3D-printed parts, from design to integration,” Zhang said.

The 69-metre Hyperbola-3, developed by Beijing-based iSpace, and the 53-metre Kinetic-2, built by CAS Space from Guangzhou, are also looking to make inaugural flights next year. Both offer a payload capacity of 12-13 tonnes for LEO in expandable mode, with Hyperbola-3 capable of lifting 8.5 tonnes in reusable mode.

Joining the race are the relatively smaller Galactic Energy’s Pallas-1 and Deep Blue Aerospace’s Nebula-1. Both rockets, which will eventually become reusable, are slated to fly in the first half of next year.

Meanwhile, Gravity-2, a reusable medium- to heavy-lift rocket under development by Orienspace, is expected to debut in late 2025 at the earliest.

China’s rocket companies are ramping up efforts to close the gap with SpaceX while hoping to replicate its success with reusable rockets – particularly the Falcon 9. As SpaceX’s workhorse, the Falcon 9 boasts a payload capacity of 17-18 tonnes for LEO with reuse, and has been instrumental in building the Starlink megaconstellation.

In 2024, the Falcon 9 achieved an impressive launch cadence of every three days, typically deploying two dozen Starlink satellites per mission. The constellation now comprises nearly 7,000 satellites, providing internet services to millions of users worldwide, including those in remote areas.

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China prepared to keep talking to US, Xi assures Washington business group

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3290427/china-prepared-keep-talking-us-xi-assures-washington-business-group?utm_source=rss_feed

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Beijing is “prepared to stay in communication” with the US, calling on proper management of trade differences when US president-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January.

In written remarks to the US-China Business Council on Wednesday, Xi said Beijing and Washington should choose dialogue instead of confrontation, and called for market openness from both countries in the face of Trump’s tariff threats.

“Openness is a key driving force for human civilisation and progress,” Xi said. “We both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation … the success of one side should be an opportunity rather than a challenge for the other.”

“China is prepared to stay in communication with the United States to expand cooperation, manage differences, continuing exploring the right way for our two countries to get along with each other in the new year and realise long-term peaceful coexistence on this planet to the benefit of the two countries and the world.”

Xi’s remarks were delivered by Xie Feng, China’s top envoy to the US, at the US-China Business Council’s annual gala in Washington on Wednesday, amid uncertainty about what Trump’s return means for relations between the two superpowers.

In his message, Xi stressed to the attending business executives that China remains committed to opening up and reform, and will continue to provide “market-oriented, law-based, and world-class business environment” for companies from all countries.

Moments before Xie delivered the Chinese leader’s remarks, US media reported that Trump has invited Xi to his inauguration on January 20. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump told NBC News last weekend that he has already had “communications” with Xi, with whom he “got along with very well”. China did not confirm or deny the communications.

Trump has vowed to impose more tariffs, of up to 60 per cent, on Chinese imports. Such a hike is expected to significantly affect both US importers and China’s economy, which is facing a slowdown.

The US-China business environment has deteriorated as the rivalry between the two countries has intensified since Trump’s first term as president, when he started a trade war with Beijing in 2018.

Many analysts expect Beijing to adopt a wait-and-see approach, keeping communication channels open to learns details of Trump’s China policy in his second term.

The tenor is expected to resume the toughness of his first, since Trump has been filling top-level slots with long-time China critics including Senator Marco Rubio for US secretary of state and Representative Mike Waltz for national security adviser.

Addressing US executives on Wednesday, Xie urged Washington not to “weaponise” tariffs or impose tech restrictions against China, which he said would only isolate or constrain the United States.

“Shutting China out in the name of ‘de-risking’ poses the real risk to global industrial and supply chains, and exploiting national security as a convenient pretext for suppressing others is in itself causing insecurity,” he said.

“Underestimating China would be unwise … any attempt to contain China is bound to fail,” Xie warned.

Marisa Lago, undersecretary for international trade with the US Commerce Department, also delivered a letter to the US-China Business Council from President Joe Biden.

The outgoing leader said the US has been committed to “responsibly managing competition” with China throughout his four years in office and touted progress in military-to-military communications and anti-narcotics efforts.

In her own remarks, Lago stressed that the US did not want to decouple from China but pointed out that China’s tightening of regulations on foreign investments constrains the US business community.

“Direct communication between our governments on behalf of both of our countries, businesses and workers, is vital to reduce misunderstandings and also to prevent irritants from escalating into harmful repercussions for both sides,” she said.

In these last weeks before Trump takes office, the Biden administration has continued to impose economic and technology restrictions on China, with new measures announced on Wednesday by the office of the US trade representative.

Import taxes for solar wafers and polysilicon, an essential component in solar panels, were doubled to 50 per cent, while tungsten products used in making electronics and semiconductors face a new 25 per cent levy.

The move followed China’s limits last week on exports of antimony, gallium and germanium, key material for chips and battery production.

Those actions were in response to the US move a day earlier that added 140 China-affiliated hi-tech firms to the “entity list”, restricting their access to US tech suppliers – part of a strategy to curb China’s hi-tech development that Washington contends could advance the Chinese military.

The US also continues to sanction Chinese firms accused of helping Russia to circumvent Western sanctions during the Ukraine war. China’s ties with Moscow have become a major point of friction between Beijing and Washington and its allies.

Nicholas Burns, Washington’s top envoy to Beijing, also addressed the gathering in a video, predicting that US-China ties in the next decade will continue to be “intensive, competitive, complicated [and] challenging”.

Burns went on to describe bilateral ties as a “roller coaster of a relationship [that] you just can’t minimise or sugarcoat”.

He called on the US to continue to work closely with allies and remain an “outward looking country” that champions “democratic values, the rule of law and individual human rights”, to strengthen itself in the long-run competition with China.

Burns is likely to be succeeded as ambassador to China by Trump’s pick for the role David Perdue, pending his confirmation by the Senate.

A former Republican senator from Georgia, Perdue is aligned with Trump’s “America first” policy, despite voicing concerns in 2018 over Trump’s tariffs. His nomination last week raised prospects for top-tier US-China contacts, analysts said.

Novelist Chiung Yao’s death rekindles discussion on euthanasia in China

https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3290166/novelist-chiung-yaos-death-rekindles-discussion-euthanasia-china?utm_source=rss_feed

On December 4, renowned Taiwanese romantic novelist Chiung Yao ended her life in a manner as poignant as her prose that captivated millions. In her suicide note, the 86-year-old who was beloved across mainland China wrote: “Do not cry, do not be sad, do not feel sorry for me. I have already ‘flitted away’.” She used the term “pian ran”, a poetic phrase often found in her novels, to evoke a sense of ease and liberation.

Chiung Yao explained her decision to take control of what she called the final “major event” of her life. Having witnessed her late husband, Ping Hsin-tao, endure the prolonged agony of dementia, she chose to avoid a similar fate.

Her decision to embrace death on her own terms sparked widespread reactions on Chinese social media. It also reignited the long-standing debate about euthanasia, which remains illegal in China. Many people online expressed their desire for the same dignity and agency in their final days.

Traditionally, suicide has been viewed negatively in China. Buddhism, a major influence on Chinese culture, discourages taking life in any form. Moreover, life is regarded as a gift from one’s parents, and taking one’s own life could be seen as both disrespectful and a violation of Confucian values, which emphasise filial piety. Chiung Yao’s act challenges these cultural norms, prompting a collective reckoning.

China’s modern euthanasia debate began in 1986, when Dr Pu Liansheng of Shaanxi province ended the life of Xia Suwen, a terminally ill woman suffering from late-stage cirrhosis of the liver. Pu did so to spare her from unbearable pain, at the request of Xia and her son Wang Mingcheng. Although Pu and Wang were later arrested and prosecuted for intentional homicide, they were found not guilty in 1991.

The debate reflects universal dilemmas, chief among them the fear of a slippery slope. Some worry that legalising euthanasia might lead to vulnerable people, particularly the elderly, being pressured into ending their lives prematurely.

Yet in China, the conversation also highlights cultural tensions, such as the conflict between filial piety and personal autonomy. Some argue that euthanasia is at odds with traditional Chinese values and point to the fact that no Asian country has yet legalised the practice.

However, attitudes are changing. As society becomes more secular and individual rights gain prominence, younger, better-educated Chinese are increasingly accepting of euthanasia. Surveys confirm this trend.

A 2013 study by Shanghai Jiao Tong University found that about 70 per cent of respondents across 34 cities supported or did not oppose euthanasia. A 2022 study by Zhejiang Normal University showed that 84 per cent of participants were in favour, with support highest among those aged 16-30 (92.7 per cent) and gradually declining with age.

Western countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, New Zealand and Switzerland have legalised euthanasia or assisted dying, offering terminally ill patients the option to die with dignity. In the UK, a bill for assisted dying recently passed its second reading in Parliament, signalling growing acceptance.

Adding to the urgency of the debate in China is the country’s rapidly ageing population. China officially reached the stage of an ageing society in 1999 and, by 2050, some 40 per cent of the population is expected to be aged 60 and above. With one of the world’s largest elderly populations and an underdeveloped elderly care system, addressing the issue of dignified end-of-life care has become critical.

Chinese families used to all live under one roof, and ageing parents relied on their children for support. Today, many families are fragmented, and the children – often part of the one-child generation – struggle to care for their ageing parents. Additionally, palliative care remains inadequate.

During the National People’s Congress in March, Liu Guifang, a rural doctor, proposed legalising euthanasia, citing her experiences with terminally ill patients. Her proposal echoed similar calls from other representatives in recent decades.

Opponents might argue that China lacks the necessary infrastructure and safeguards to prevent potential abuse. In poorer rural areas, where healthcare is underdeveloped, there could be concerns about coercion. Could financial pressures compel families to view euthanasia as an economic solution?

These concerns are valid but they should not hinder progress. The sheer scale of China’s ageing population demands that this issue be addressed. When carefully regulated, euthanasia could provide a humane option for those facing unbearable suffering.

In life, Chiung Yao entertained millions with her emotionally charged love stories. In death, she has sparked a profound debate, forcing us to confront questions that touch the core of human existence. My admiration goes out to this remarkable woman.

China’s Wolf Warrior Lu Shaye heads home from France in shadow of controversy

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3290368/chinas-wolf-warrior-lu-shaye-heads-home-france-shadow-controversy?utm_source=rss_feed

China’s ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, whose remarks about Ukraine and other former Soviet states caused uproar across Europe last year, is wrapping up his tenure in Paris.

Lu, 60, one of the country’s most prominent Wolf Warrior diplomats who is famed for his abrasive style, is expected to return to Beijing next month, according to French media.

At a farewell reception at Beijing’s embassy in Paris on Monday, Lu said he would continue to support the Chinese community in France “no matter where I am in the future”.

“Economic and trade relations have always been the ballast of China-France relations. Cultural exchanges are the driving force. And Chinese people in France are a bridge that connects our hearts,” he said in comments that appeared in videos on social media.

In a video interview with the official China News Service on Sunday, Lu said he had seen China-France relations evolve over the past five years while he was ambassador, as the “friendly atmosphere” became marked by “more intricate issues” in the fields of politics, the economy and trade.

Lu said he hoped the French side and the Europeans would not resort to wishful thinking or self-centredness but be pragmatic in solving problems.

He also said “France or the West” had been “at the top of the pyramid” for the past few hundred years, accustomed to looking down on others, including China.

China and the European Union are currently locking horns over trade, with Brussels imposing high tariffs on China-produced electric vehicles and Beijing imposing provisional anti-dumping duties ranging from 30.6 per cent to 39 per cent on liquor, mainly cognac shipments from France.

Lu’s public remarks before leaving the post in Paris were softer than some of his earlier statements.

In April last year, Lu’s response to a French television interview on whether he considered Crimea part of Ukraine under international law caused a diplomatic uproar. The peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014.

Lu said: “Even these ex-Soviet Union countries do not have effective status, as we say, under international law because there’s no international accord to concretise their status as a sovereign country.”

Lu’s comments drew widespread anger and criticism from Ukraine, France, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the EU and others. Dozens of European Parliament legislators even called on Emmanuel Macron’s government to declare Lu persona non grata.

Beijing scrambled to distance itself from his remarks and limit the damage and there was widespread speculation about Lu’s tenure in the wake of the faux pas, yet he stayed the full term as ambassador.

The saga, according to diplomatic watchers, dealt a blow to Beijing’s charm offensives aimed at pulling Europe away from the United States, and increased scrutiny of its move to mediate peace in Ukraine.

Despite growing calls for Beijing to keep its Wolf Warrior diplomats under tighter control following the controversy, there was little sign Beijing wanted to change its increasingly assertive foreign policy.

In a subsequent interview, Lu vigorously defended his comment, saying it was “not contradictory to China’s official foreign policy” and describing those who criticised him as “unkind” and “very unfair”.

Claiming the controversy was about “freedom of speech in public debate”, he told Régis de Castelnau, a lawyer who runs the blog page Vu du Droit that “some people are making a big fuss out of nothing”, according to a transcript of the interview on the embassy’s website.

Although Lu insisted he was expressing his personal opinions, many observers believed his controversial views might be based on internal talking points not authorised to be made public.

Famed for his escalatory, uncompromising style, Lu’s rise in China’s diplomatic corps coincided with China’s nationalist shift in diplomacy and President Xi Jinping’s repeated calls for greater fighting spirit to counter US-led containment.

According to his official resume, Lu joined the foreign ministry in 1987 after graduating from the ministry-affiliated China Foreign Affairs University.

After spending most of his early career working on African affairs, particularly related to French-speaking African countries, he became China’s ambassador to Senegal in 2005 and then head of the ministry’s Africa department in 2009.

He served briefly as deputy mayor of Wuhan and then as head of policy research at the Central Leading Group on Foreign Affairs between 2015 and 2016, a policy adviser role to the top leadership, before his appointment as China’s ambassador to Canada in 2017.

His career took off during his two-year stint in Canada, especially after the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in late 2017 and China’s subsequent detention of two Canadians in 2018, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

In article published in January 2019, Lu repeatedly attacked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government over its close ties with the US and accused Canada and its Western allies of “Western egotism and white supremacy” for calling for the release of “the two Michaels”.

While the commentary stirred angry protests in Ottawa, China’s foreign ministry commended his article, which spokesman Lu Kang said “may have hit a sore spot with some Canadians”.

Lu’s term in Paris, which began in July 2019, was marked by one controversy after another, often landing him at the centre of diplomatic storms.

He was summoned to France’s foreign ministry several times, including over the comment about ex-Soviet states and an article in April 2020 suggesting Paris was abandoning old people in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He earned notoriety for calling a respected China scholar at a French think tank who was critical of Beijing’s alleged disinformation a “little rascal” and “rabid dog” in 2021 and claimed in 2022 that re-education would be required for the Taiwanese population after reunification.

He often described himself as a proud Wolf Warrior – a name derived from a series of nationalistic action films.

In an interview in June 2021 with French newspaper L’Opinion, he said those critical of China’s Wolf Warrior diplomacy were “cowards”.

He insisted China had never been an aggressor and asked: “Don’t we have the right to fight back and defend ourselves? This is not fair!”

Additional reporting William Zheng

China abductee declines gifts of 3 flats, car from birth family to avoid altering ‘mindset’

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3290263/china-abductee-declines-gifts-3-flats-car-birth-family-avoid-altering-mindset?utm_source=rss_feed

A Chinese man, who was abducted as an infant and reunited with his birth family last year, has recently made headlines again for declining three flats and a car gifted by his wealthy father, choosing not to become a “rich second-generation”.

Xie Qingshuai, 26, from Xingtai, Hebei province in northern China, was kidnapped on January 20, 1999, when he was just three months old.

His biological parents, successful owners of several construction companies, embarked on a decade-long search, spending over one million yuan (US$140,000) to find him.

He was finally reunited with his family on December 1 last year. His life transformed overnight, leading many netizens to joke that he had gone from an “orphan” to a “wealthy second-generation”.

However, in a December 5 interview with Shandong Radio and TV station, Xie publicly revealed that he had declined the flats and car offered by his father.

Xie expressed concerns that suddenly accepting such wealth could alter his mindset and lead to reckless spending.

“I feared that accepting these gifts might change my outlook. Suddenly becoming ‘second-generation rich’ is reminiscent of the protagonist in Hello Mr Billionaire, who goes from rags to riches and starts spending extravagantly. Would I end up like that?” he reflected.

Hello Mr Billionaire is a 2018 Chinese comedy film that tells the story of an unsuccessful goalie who finds himself as the heir to a billionaire but must spend 1 billion yuan (US$140 million) within 30 days to inherit 30 billion.

Xie further added: “I told my dad that all I need is a flat to use as a marital home. I want to marry my girlfriend soon. I don’t need anything else. I can buy my own car, even if I have to work hard and earn just a few thousand yuan.”

Last December, Xie began leveraging the attention from his family reunion to venture into live-streaming, initially facing significant backlash as this new endeavour started just 23 days after their reunion.

Critics accused him of “cashing in on sympathy” and being “too eager”, which led him to briefly pause his live-streaming activities.

In July, Xie formally launched a studio and announced live-stream e-commerce as his entrepreneurial focus. The first five live-stream sessions he held, starting on July 29, attracted over 20 million viewers and generated sales of up to 50 million yuan (US$7 million).

Defending his decision, Xie stated that the revenue from live-stream e-commerce allows him to provide better for his family and assist others in need.

“I believe that not engaging in e-commerce would be a waste of resources. In this era of traffic and attention, there’s nothing wrong with doing this,” he added.

Xie’s remarks and rejection of gifts have sparked widespread discussion online.

One person commented: “This young man is truly clear-headed. How many could resist such tempting gifts from their father?”

Another expressed scepticism, saying: “He became famous and can earn a lot through live-streaming. If he were to rely on regular, modest wages, he would have happily accepted the gifts.”

With existing estimates being scarce, it is believed that the number of children who go missing in China each year ranges from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, with many of these children being trafficked for illegal adoptions, according to a paper from the Journal of Economic Behaviour and Organisation.

Chinese citizen arrested for flying drone over US Space Force base

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3290406/chinese-citizen-arrested-flying-drone-over-us-space-force-base?utm_source=rss_feed

A Chinese citizen has been charged with flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base in California where he is alleged to have recorded images of the military facility, the US Justice Department said Wednesday.

Yinpiao Zhou, 39, was arrested as he readied to board a flight to China from San Francisco, authorities said.

“This defendant allegedly flew a drone over a military base and took photos of the base’s layout, which is against the law,” United States Attorney Martin Estrada said.

“The security of our nation is of paramount importance and my office will continue to promote the safety of our nation’s military personnel and facilities.”

Charging documents say detection systems at Vandenberg tracked a drone as it flew about 1.6km (one mile) above the facility in late November.

Security personnel at the base, which is the launch site for space missions – including Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets – as well as missile tests, traced the drone to a nearby public park where they allegedly found Zhou with the device concealed in his jacket.

Agents who acquired a search warrant examined the drone, which contained aerial photographs of the base.

The Justice Department said Zhou is a Chinese citizen and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, and had been in China most recently in February.

Zhou did not enter a plea when he appeared in a San Francisco court on Tuesday charged with failure to register an aircraft not providing transport and violation of national defence airspace.

He is expected to appear in US District Court in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.

Zhou remains in custody pending an appeal by prosecutors against the court’s decision to free him on bail.

The episode comes less than two years after a national security incident that dramatically raised tensions between Washington and Beijing.

In early 2023 the United States discovered and tracked what it called a spy balloon as it flew high above sensitive US military installations, shot it down and retrieved its large payload of electronics.

The incident prompted concerns China was scooping up vital intelligence, while Beijing said it was a civilian airship blown off-course.

China must innovate in semiconductor design or fall behind the global market, expert says

https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3290367/china-must-innovate-semiconductor-design-or-fall-behind-global-market-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed

China must develop new chip-design technologies that do not rely on advanced manufacturing processes, according to one of the mainland’s leading authorities on semiconductors, as the domestic integrated circuit (IC) industry faces increased US technology restrictions.

“It’s time to commit to building our own technological ecosystem,” Wei Shaojun, a professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Integrated Circuits and vice-president of the China Semiconductor Industry Association, said in his keynote speech on Wednesday at this year’s China Integrated Circuit Design Industry Exhibition in Shanghai.

“External advanced resources are now closed to China,” Wei said. “The range of manufacturing technologies available to us is no longer as diverse as before.”

His call for greater domestic innovation reflects the Chinese IC industry’s concerns over the severity of tightened US chip restrictions.

The latest US measures, announced earlier this month, imposed export restrictions on 24 types of chipmaking equipment and three categories of software essential for IC development. Washington also added 140 Chinese semiconductor enterprises to its so-called Entity List, which generally bars them from doing business with US companies.

Wei suggested creating new design architecture and microsystem integration as two paths to innovation that could help China advance from its current position, which is in the mid- to low-end of the global value chain.

The domestic chip design sector’s current situation has been exacerbated by the restricted access to advanced electronic design automation (EDA) software and chip lithography machines under US sanctions.

Another industry insider reiterated how tech restrictions have hindered chip-design innovation on the mainland.

“We’re essentially blocked from advanced processing technologies, both in software and hardware,” Chen Zenghui, chief technology officer at Shanghai-based EDA firm PhySim Electricity Technology, said in a recent interview with the South China Morning Post.

“Using 3D stacking and heterogeneous integration offers a long-term, viable solution to bypass sanctions,” Chen said. He suggested that stacking chips with lower processing power could deliver performance comparable to certain advanced nodes.

China’s chip-design sales are projected to reach 646 billion yuan (US$89.1 billion) this year, Wei said. That output, however, would fall short of the global semiconductor industry’s forecast 19 per cent growth rate in 2024, according to Wei, citing data from the latest World Semiconductor Trade Statistics.

Chips for communications and consumer electronics dominate China’s IC design market, with a combined share of 68.48 per cent, according to Wei. Computer processors, meanwhile, account for less than 11 per cent.

Wei said the challenge for China’s chip-design enterprises comes from the lack of transformative “killer” applications, as emerging industries like artificial intelligence and electric vehicles have yet to reach full mainstream adoption.

Meanwhile, concerns over the impact of US sanctions resulted in the continued expansion of China’s semiconductor imports, as mainland enterprises rushed to stockpile ICs.

From January to November, China imported 501.47 billion ICs, a 14.8 per cent increase in volume compared to the same period last year, according to customs data released Tuesday. The total value of these imports rose to US$349 billion, up 10.5 per cent from a year ago.

China’s semiconductor exports also recorded double-digit growth in terms of volume and value in the January-November period, showing continued momentum in the country’s production of so-called legacy chips. The country exported 271.6 billion ICs during that period, an 11.4 per cent increase from the previous year. The value of these exports nearly reached US$145 billion, up 18.8 per cent from a year earlier.

FBI budget cuts could thwart US efforts to detect and foil Chinese cyberattacks: official

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3290410/fbi-budget-cuts-could-thwart-us-efforts-detect-and-foil-chinese-cyberattacks-official?utm_source=rss_feed

A senior official at the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday warned that budget cuts could undermine the ability of America’s top federal law enforcement agency to detect and counter Chinese cyberattacks.

“It all highlights the same, which is a giant enterprise that’s focused on being able to compromise American networks”, said Cynthia Kaiser of FBI Cyber on Wednesday.

Kaiser cited alleged mainland efforts known as Salt Typhoon to infiltrate telecommunications companies and steal data from millions of Americans.

“Now you’re seeing it with these Chinese compromises of telecommunications companies,” she added, estimating the ratio of FBI personnel working on such matters was “over 50 to one, and if we get budget cuts, might be 60 or 7o to one”.

Kaiser’s comments offered at a virtual event hosted by The Cipher Brief, a media outlet focused on national security, came just hours after FBI Director Christopher Wray said he would resign before Donald Trump’s administration takes office on January 20.

Trump earlier hailed Wray’s resignation announcement, saying it was a “great day for America” that will end the agency’s “weaponisation”.

The president-elect last week named Kash Patel, a firebrand loyalist, to replace Wray.

A critic of the FBI and the intelligence community, Patel is a former federal prosecutor who backs overhauling the century-old agency by separating its intelligence functions from its law enforcement duties.

Intelligence forms a key part of the bureau’s budget, and Trump has pledged to shake up the FBI with reduced funding.

The FBI is charged with protecting Americans from threats posed by China, which Wray has described as “existential”.

Jen Easterly, director of the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency, in a separate session at the virtual event described the alleged infiltrations by Chinese hackers as merely the “tip of the iceberg”.

“A war in Asia could see very real impacts to the lives of Americans across our nation,” said Easterly, “with attacks against pipelines, against water facilities, against transportation nodes, against communications, all to induce societal panic.”

Last week, senior officials from the FBI and Joe Biden administration said Salt Typhoon had managed to infiltrate at least eight telecoms infrastructure companies and that Chinese hackers could still be lurking in US telecoms systems.

On Wednesday, US senator Ben Ray Lujan, a New Mexico Democrat who chairs a Senate subcommittee on telecoms issues, called the breach the “largest telecommunications hack in our nation’s history”.

“There’s a lot that we still don’t know about the damage that was done by the Salt Typhoon hacks, but what we do know is that more must be done to prevent attacks like this,” Lujan added.

And on Tuesday, the US Treasury Department sanctioned the Chinese cybersecurity firm Sichuan Silence Information Technology and its employee Guan Tianfeng for a cyberattack that officials said could have killed people.

Treasury officials said the Chengdu-based company and Guan, 30, deployed malware in more than 80,000 firewalls in 2020 across thousands of companies around the world.

The FBI has offered a US$10 million reward for information on Guan, his company, or their alleged hacking activities.

Kaiser said private companies that have worked closely with the FBI in responding to Salt Typhoon or China-affiliated actors were the “the furthest along, for the most part, in these types of incident response”.

“China is incredibly hard,” she added. “And this isn’t our normal type of incident response that we do. It’s not our normal detection.”

The senior FBI official remarked on the “enormity” of the infiltration campaign and the “technical capability of actors to be able to do this” and their dedication “to try to target us”.

What has happened, Kaiser said, should prompt us “to be more secure, to defend better and to come up with ways in which we can hold them accountable and impose costs so that they think twice about doing it again”.

Trump invites China’s Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration, US news report says

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3290411/trump-invites-chinas-xi-jinping-attend-his-inauguration-us-news-report-says?utm_source=rss_feed

US president-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration in Washington next month, CBS News reported on Wednesday, citing multiple sources.

The report said it was not clear whether Xi has accepted the invitation.

More to follow ...

US House advances defence bill that bans Chinese goods from tech to garlic

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3290404/us-house-advances-defence-bill-bans-chinese-goods-tech-garlic?utm_source=rss_feed

Legislation banning everything from Chinese laser-based navigation technology to Chinese garlic has passed the US House of Representatives and is set to become law by the end of the year.

The House advanced Congress’s annual defence bill, known as the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), on Wednesday by a vote of 281-140. The Senate is expected to vote on the US$884 billion measure by next week before US President Joe Biden signs it into law.

The NDAA, which establishes the top-line budget and directs policy for the Pentagon, is a “must-pass” bill because its enactment is required for members of the military to receive their pay and benefits on time. As a result, provisions not strictly tied to defence often make it into the legislation.

As has been the case in past years, the NDAA for the 2025 fiscal year is ripe with measures related to competing with and countering China.

Among other procurement restrictions, the bill bans the Pentagon from operating or contracting for light detection and ranging (lidar) technology manufactured in or using operating software developed in China.

“Lidar, a remote sensing technology with both military and civilian applications, stands at the centre of Beijing’s bid for technological superiority,” said the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank.

While China-origin sensors serve as “essential nodes” within systems for public safety, transportation and utilities in the US, their “system-wide integration” leaves its users’ data “vulnerable to espionage and sabotage” by Beijing, the group said.

Earlier this year, the US Defence Department added China’s Hesai Group, one of the biggest makers of lidar systems, to a list of companies with alleged ties to Beijing’s military.

Data concerns also drove provisions to prohibit Pentagon contracting with Chinese online tutoring companies and entities that provide semiconductor products and services to Chinese-owned Huawei. Meanwhile, agricultural safety and anti-competition worries prompted a ban on the sale of fresh or chilled Chinese garlic in US military commissaries.

Expanding the US defence industrial base in the Indo-Pacific was another stand-out theme in this year’s NDAA.

The bill authorises the creation of an “advanced manufacturing facility” on or near a military installation within the US Indo-Pacific Command in order to “support the submarine, shipbuilding and other defence activity industrial bases”.

The bill also commissioned numerous China-focused studies, often crucial to setting up future legislation. This year, the NDAA mandates a report on the anti-competitive advantages benefiting the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, an international freight shipping group jointly established by China’s Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai municipal government.

In the past year, US lawmakers have warned that the exchange had a “stranglehold” on rate indexes for trade to and from the Indo-Pacific region, sparking concern that Chinese government manipulation could disadvantage American shippers.

The legislation also mandates an assessment on the recruitment of Mandarin speakers in the intelligence community, a potential problem highlighted by congressional advisers amid the decrease of Americans studying in China; a report on Beijing’s efforts to evade US transparency and national security regulations; and an analysis of how Beijing is supporting China’s biotechnology industry.

Several key China-related measures lawmakers aimed to pass before the next Congress, which starts in January, did not make it.

These include restrictions on outbound US investment to China, prohibitions on federal contracting with major Chinese biotechnology companies, and legislation to remove duty-free exemptions for certain Chinese goods.

A provision that would have significantly limited Chinese nationals from accessing national security labs was watered down after opponents said it would significantly disturb scientific research.

But, observers say, Republicans may have decided that it made more sense to hold more aggressive legislation until next year, when their party will control both chambers of Congress and the presidency.

“There’s not a huge need for them to push right now to get legislation,” said Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute.

“Republicans may feel that it’s easier to get consensus legislation through the next Congress than this one,” he added, citing the departure of Representative Patrick McHenry, the pro-business House financial services committee chair who has opposed restrictions on outbound US investment.