Foreign Policy

• "We are not rejecting someone because he is Chinese," EU's Juncker says when asked on 5G (Xinhua)
• Days ahead of next round of talks, US slams China for 'failure' on intellectual property reform (SCMP)
• China vows to build a road of clean governance with B&R partners (Global Times)
• BRF gets positive reviews (Global Times)
• China, Russia to increase capabilities to jointly deal with security threats: Chinese defense minister (Xinhua)
• Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tries to smooth over South China Sea tensions in meeting with China's Xi Jinping (SCMP)
• China withdraws PLA Navy anniversary invitation to French warship after Taiwan Strait trip (SCMP)

Domestic Policy

• Vice-governor of China's Sichuan province Peng Yuxing 'taken away in corruption investigation' (SCMP)
• China steps up fight against IPR infringement (Xinhua)
• Premier Li calls for sustained, harder efforts against corruption (Xinhua)
• China using US-made satellites to boost its police and military power and quash protests in Tibet and Xinjiang, report says (SCMP)
• China adopts revised laws on judges, procurators (Xinhua)
• Chinese lawmakers deliberate personality rights section in draft civil code (Xinhua)

Beijing

• Beijing to use social credit system to address subway behavior (Global Times)

Guangdong

• Shenzhen releases white paper on intellectual property (Xinhua)

Tibet

Xinjiang

Hongkong

• Amnesty International 'targeted by state-sponsored hackers' in Hong Kong (SCMP)
• Commissioner's office of China's foreign ministry calls for respecting Hong Kong's rule of law (Xinhua)
• HK court sentences organizers of 'Occupy' movement (China Daily)

Macau

• President of Macau's Legislative Assembly Ho Iat-seng tipped to be city's next chief executive and will probably run unopposed (SCMP)

Taiwan

• China voices fierce opposition to US arms deal with Taiwan (China Daily)
• Mainland has 'always stayed out' of island's elections, spokesman says (China Daily)

Economy

• China, Japan to implement AEO customs agreement in June (Xinhua)

DPRK

• North Korea insisted US pay US$2 million hospital bill for comatose student Otto Warmbier before letting him go home (SCMP)
• Kim, Putin hold first ever summit (Global Times)

Mongolia

• Xi: Boost ties with Mongolia (China Daily)
• Mongolian Foreign Policy: The story of seeking the third neighbor (Gogo Mongolia)

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"We are not rejecting someone because he is Chinese," EU's Juncker says when asked on 5G (Xinhua)
2019-04-26
"We are not rejecting someone because he is coming from faraway, because he is Chinese, the rules have to be respected," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Thursday, when asked on 5G at a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe." As far as the 5G is concerned, I can simply say what we already said -- that the European Union and our internal market are open markets and all those respecting our rules governing this internal market are welcome," Juncker said. Juncker was replying to a question from a Japanese reporter, who asked the European and Japanese leaders that "the U.S. is calling on the allies to eliminate telecom equipment of Chinese companies including Huawei, so what did you discuss about that? And on this issue, what do you plan to deal with at G20?" Before Juncker, Abe first gave his answers, saying "We did not talk about specific countries or specific products. Dealing with cyber-security-related risks is extremely important, and we agree that we need to take coordinated actions at G20." In the past, the importance of ICT, the importance of security countermeasures related to the use of ICT has been recognized, and therefore based on that recognition, we will continue that discussion and we wish to continue to collaborate with the EU," Abe said, referring to information and communications technology (ICT). ^ top ^

Days ahead of next round of talks, US slams China for 'failure' on intellectual property reform (SCMP)
2019-04-26
China continues to engage in "unfair and harmful conduct" that damages US intellectual property rights, despite some limited areas of IP protection reform, the US government announced on Thursday. The Asian country, with which the US is engaged in a months-long, multibillion-dollar trade war, will remain on Washington's "priority watch list" for IP protection infringement, according to a report issued by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).The Special 301 Report, separate to the Section 301 investigation that launched the US government's tariff action against Beijing last summer, is issued yearly by the USTR to assess the "adequacy and effectiveness" of trading partners' intellectual property rights protection. China has been either listed on the "priority watch list" or identified as a "priority foreign country" for most of the years since the report was first issued in 1989.The country's placement on the priority watch list, which includes 10 other trading partners, "reflects the urgent need to remediate a range of IP-related concerns", said a USTR official on Thursday, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity. Those concerns included forced technology transfer, failure to make fundamental changes to provide effective IP protection, and theft of trade secrets, the official said. Thursday's report also noted that widespread online piracy and counterfeiting of goods in China, the world's largest e-commerce market, represented "critical concerns for US right holders". A new e-commerce law that went into effect at the beginning of this year provided inadequate agency to right holders seeking to enforce their IP while enabling those accused of infringement to halt take-down procedures with relative ease, the report said. It added that the US had sought to engage with Chinese counterparts on these concerns throughout the drafting process. Better protection for US intellectual property has remained at the heart of Washington's grievances with Beijing over the course of the trade war, which began in July last year following a Section 301 Investigation, named after Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, into China's trading practices. Negotiators are currently locked in talks to bring the dispute to an end, with USTR Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin planning to travel to Beijing soon for a further round of negotiations with their Chinese counterparts. Led on the Chinese side by Vice-Premier Liu He, who will subsequently travel to Washington for more negotiations on May 8, next week's discussions will focus on matters including intellectual property, forced technology transfer, non-tariff barriers, purchase agreements and enforcement, the White House said on Tuesday. The USTR official said that the Special 301 Report represented a separate and distinct investigation to the current trade dispute, "although they examine many of the same problems". The report, the official said, "reflects the urgent need for China to address fundamental structural changes to strengthen IP protection and enforcement and open its foreign-related IP investment". As a result of concerns over trade secret theft, online piracy and counterfeit goods, "sales of IP intensive goods and services in China remain disproportionately low when compared to sales in similar markets that provide a stronger environment for IP protection and market access", the official said. Although China remains on the "priority watch list", the USTR noted some promising areas of reform, including the creation in March 2018 of a new governmental body to coordinate administrative enforcement of patents and trademarks, the State Administration for Market Regulation. Judicial reforms such as the establishing in January 2019 of a new IP court within the Supreme People's Court were also welcomed by the USTR, though the report expressed broader concern about intervention in the judicial process by local officials, party officials and powerful local interests. "A truly independent judiciary is critical to promote rule of law in China," the report said. In addition to its assessment on the status of countries' protections for IP, the USTR also released on Thursday a review of "notorious markets", a private sector-focused report identifying "online and physical marketplaces that reportedly engage in and facilitate substantial piracy and counterfeiting". Among its Chinese targets were Alibaba-owned e-commerce site Taobao (Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post), a number of online-streaming sites including Kuaikan, and Pinduoduo, an e-commerce platform that allows users to buy in groups at lowered prices. Despite measures taken by Pinduoduo, a new addition to the USTR's notorious markets list, to tackle counterfeit goods, pirated goods "appear to remain widely available on the platform", the report said. ^ top ^

China vows to build a road of clean governance with B&R partners (Global Times)
2019-04-25
China has vowed to enhance international cooperation to fight corruption, improve the business environment and build a road of clean governance with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), said a top official in the Communist Party of China (CPC) discipline watchdog on Thursday. China has signed 120 agreements with 77 countries to snare fugitives abroad and confiscate ill-gotten gains, 55 extradition treaties and 64 mutual legal assistance treaties, and concluded multiple international conventions including the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to build a road of clean government, said Li Shulei, a deputy secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, at a Thursday forum. The forum is part of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which starts on Thursday in Beijing. "Establishing an international anti-corruption mechanism will effectively curb potential corrupt elements and ensure that funds and resources will be implemented in reality, which will also help China build a positive image among foreign countries," Deng Lianfan, a deputy director of China against Corruption Law Association, told the Global Times on Thursday. "A worldwide crackdown on corruption is absolutely necessary, but some people are able to evade being brought to justice due to different national legal systems. Countries need to cooperate in case investigations and information sharing," Chen Wenhao, a professor from anti-corruption research center of Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Thursday. China launched the "Sky Net 2019" in January, a campaign that targets fugitives suspected of involvement in graft and prevents corrupt officials from fleeing abroad, the Xinhua News Agency reported. In 2016, Yang Xiuzhu, a former Chinese official who was on the run for 13 years, arrived back at Beijing Capital International Airport from the US to turn herself in. In June 2014, China notified the US of Yang's entrance to the country, and Yang was detained shortly after. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement accused Yang of "violating the terms of the Visa Waiver Program," and requested that the immigration court deport her, according to Xinhua. ^ top ^

BRF gets positive reviews (Global Times)
2019-04-25
Since its launch in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has delivered results that have injected strong growth impetus in a world that is full of uncertainty, participants at the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) said. Nearly 5,000 delegates from 150 countries and 90 international organizations are in the Chinese capital city from Thursday to Saturday for the event, expecting to see how they can further benefit from and contribute to the platform in the future. On Thursday, Swiss President Ueli Maurer said at a press conference held in the Switzerland Embassy in Beijing that the country will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on BRI with China on Monday. So far 126 countries and 29 global organizations have joined the BRI, the Xinhua News Agency reported. On Thursday, 12 sub-forums featuring trade, financing, regional cooperation, digital communication, people-to-people exchanges and others were held in Beijing, as well as a CEO conference that attracted around 900 representatives from companies, trade organizations and business groups from home and abroad. Global Times reporters found that deals inked during the Thursday events went beyond traditional trade sectors. Cooperation agreements on cloud services, new-energy cooperation, and in financial technologies were also reached. "The BRI is a beautiful example of what kind of international cooperation the world needs," Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin told the Global Times. "The world is dangerous as it faces threats from terrorism, climate change, migrant crisis, trade wars and we disagree with a lot of things right now. What the world needs right now is more cooperation and less tension," Raffarin said. "The BRI is an initiative for peace, because it's an initiative for cooperation," remarked Raffarin. For Gregory Bowen, Minister of Infrastructure Development, Public Utilities, Energy, Transport and Implementation of Grenada, the BRI is a platform where every country involved is treated equally regardless of their size. "Unlike some big economic powers who often speak down to us, China listens to the small country about what they want to say and consults with us," said Bowen."Some big powers are fearful that they may lose total control in some areas because of the initiative, but the rest of us are looking at the initiative with hope," he noted. The Grenadian minister said that his country, that is only 344 square meters in the Caribbean currently with a population of 112,000, is looking toward more cooperation with China in trade and digital communication cooperation. Vera Songwe, executive secretary of the UN's Economic Commission for Africa, told the Global Times that she was expecting more actionable agreements to be reached by the end of the second BRF in sectors such as infrastructure and logistics. Songwe noted that the second BRF has been very forward-looking by having a forum on digital cooperation as the sector is important for allowing more and better commerce. "We come first with a desire to see how the 1.3 billion population market of Africa can speak to China," she said. Songwe said that the trade relationship between China and Africa is one where there is more value added on both sides and offers better mutual win-win benefits. Delegates to the forum told the Global Times that the increasing participation shows that cooperation under the framework of the BRI is delivering positive results and that the benefits of the initiative are gaining wider recognition from international community. During the past six years, the BRI has brought tremendous opportunities to the participant countries. According to the quantitative trade model of a World Bank study, the BRI will increase the GDP of East Asian and Pacific developing countries by 2.6 percent to 3.9 percent on average. These figures mean more job opportunities, more people shaking off poverty, and improved infrastructure in the Belt and Road countries." In terms of digital movement, Saudi's telecom industry is the 12th-largest global telecom market and we've arrived at this position in partnership with China," said Abdullah Alswaha, minister of Communications and Information Technology in Saudi Arabia. Companies like Huawei and ZTE's transfers of technology and know-how have helped Saudi Arabia arrive at this position and when other markets are either flat or declining, Saudi Arabia's market is growing by double digits, said the minister. Partnerships with Chinese companies have helped Saudi Arabia redefine education, smart healthcare, smart cities and have ignited a whole new economy in Saudi Arabia, noted the minister. "Our Chinese strategic partners have helped train 8,000 Saudi professionals on these basic and advanced technologies in the past 18 months," said Alswaha.  ^ top ^

China, Russia to increase capabilities to jointly deal with security threats: Chinese defense minister (Xinhua)
2019-04-25
China and Russia will cooperate on an array of major strategic projects and increase capabilities to jointly cope with security threats and challenges, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe said Thursday. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is developing at a high level, and cooperation between the two militaries is growing deeper and more concrete, Wei said at the eighth Moscow Conference on International Security held from Tuesday to Thursday. He said the Chinese military upholds a new concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, promotes the building of a new type of military relations, actively shoulders international responsibilities, pushes for the development of security mechanisms, and firmly maintains global peace and stability. Wei called on the international community to adhere to multilateralism, fairness and justice, win-win cooperation, as well as dialogue and consultation, while opposing unilateralism, power politics, zero-sum game, and use of force. The minister said that building a community with a shared future for mankind, which was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is an inevitable course in realizing the shared dream of people all over the world for a better life. China will always be committed to promoting world peace, propelling global growth and safeguarding international order, he added. On the sidelines of the conference, Wei held talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. He also met with Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami and Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin. ^ top ^

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tries to smooth over South China Sea tensions in meeting with China's Xi Jinping (SCMP)
2019-04-25
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte tried to play down tensions over the South China Sea and restated his support for Beijing's contentious global infrastructure and trade plan as he courted Chinese investment on his latest visit to the country. Duterte is one of dozens of world leaders attending the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing and on Thursday met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. According to state news agency Xinhua, Duterte emphasised that his country had an independent foreign policy in an apparent attempt to allay China's concerns about his country's long-standing alliance with the United States. His effort to smooth over their differences follows a recent spat over China's presence in Philippine-held waters and a pledge by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the US would come to Manila's aid in the event of an "armed attack by China". Xi, for his part, urged Manila to take a long-term view of their relationship, which he said had entered a new stage of development, and said friendship was the only correct choice. "Both sides should renew their trust in keeping promises, carry forward the spirit of partnership, maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, and strengthen maritime cooperation," he said. He also offered his support for Duterte's crackdowns on drugs and terrorism, which have been extensively criticised by human rights groups. The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Xi praised Duterte as a "genuine" friend and "trusted partner" and described the nation as an important part of the "Belt and Road Initiative", which has been facing increased accusations of "debt-trap diplomacy". The newspaper also reported that the Philippine ambassador to China Jose Santiago Romana had said the recent tensions over the South China Sea had been the subject of "very tense" discussions ahead of Duterte's visit, his fourth to China since taking office in 2016.Beijing and Manila are embroiled in a stand-off after the latter claimed that as many as 275 Chinese boats and ships had been spotted in recent months around the Philippine-held island of Thitu in the Spratly chain. The Philippines called the boats' presence "illegal" and Duterte threatened China with possible military action if it touched the island. The row also generated a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment, with around 1,000 demonstrators taking to the street to protest against what they perceived as Beijing's bullying and Duterte's weakness in confronting its territorial claims. On Thursday Duterte said both sides should continue to explore new areas of cooperation and partnership and vowed to work with Beijing to execute the "high-quality and good impact projects" that were agreed during Xi's visit to Manila last year. "The sooner they are completed, the sooner people on the ground will feel the benefits of Philippine-China relations," he said. Manila is expected to sign some 20 agreements worth about US$18 billion during Duterte's China trip, according to his trade minister, Ramon Lopez. ^ top ^

China withdraws PLA Navy anniversary invitation to French warship after Taiwan Strait trip (SCMP)
2019-04-25
China withdrew an invitation to a French warship to take part Tuesday's naval parade off the port city of Qingdao after the vessel entered the Taiwan Strait, a source said. Chinese defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said on Thursday that China lodged a protest with France after a warship illegally entered its waters while passing through the strait earlier this month. Ren said warships were sent to escort the French vessel away from Chinese waters. The frigate Vendémiaire was reported to have sailed through the international waterway on April 6. It was expected to join Tuesday's celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, but a military delegation took its place. The French defence ministry said it was "in close contact with the Chinese authorities" about the incident. "The navy passes on average once a year in the Taiwan Strait without incident or reaction," it said. "France reaffirms its attachment to the freedom of navigation in accordance with the law of the sea." A source close to the PLA Navy leadership said China felt the French warship's journey into the strait was "obviously instigated" by the United States. "Such a passage embarrassed Beijing. So, we advised them [the Marine Nationale] not to send the warship to the parade, though a delegation would still be welcomed," the source said. The source said that when the PLA Navy extended the invitation to its French counterpart, it expected that its guest would understand the sensitivity surrounding Western naval vessels entering the strait. On Tuesday, 18 vessels from 13 nations – including Russia and Japan – were involved in the anniversary flotilla, while delegations from 61 countries observed. Foreign warships sailed through the strait on their way to Qingdao, but those voyages took place after they were invited to join the anniversary flotilla and nearly three weeks after the Vendémiaire made its contentious voyage. According to Reuters, the Vendémiaire was shadowed by Chinese forces as it was crossed the 200km-wide strait between Fujian province and Taiwan, which is regarded by Beijing as a breakaway province to be reunited with China by force if necessary. Ships pass through the busy waterway every day, but the Vendémiaire's crossing came as the US Navy increased its presence in the region and Washington called for allies such as Japan and Australia to join what it called "freedom of navigation" exercises. Since October, the US has sent navy and coastguard ships through the strait five times. China described these operations as "provocative behaviours".The 26-year old, 2,950-tonne Vendémiaire's home port is in French New Caledonia in the Pacific, and it has called at Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, Shanghai and Hong Kong on its travels over the years. In its 13th and most recent trip to China in 2016, the frigate called at Qingdao for a fourth time and took part in an exercise with the Chinese Type 054 frigate Weifang. Before going through the strait, the Vendémiaire was on a friendship visit to the Philippines in March, and arrived in Japan for an exercise on April 11. ^ top ^

Vice-governor of China's Sichuan province Peng Yuxing 'taken away in corruption investigation' (SCMP)
2019-04-25
A vice-governor of China's southwestern province of Sichuan has been placed under investigation, according to sources familiar with the matter. Peng Yuxing, 57, became the vice-governor of Sichuan in 2017. A source told the South China Morning Post: "He was taken away last week", adding that he was likely to be facing an internal Communist Party investigation for alleged corruption. According to the provincial government's website, Peng's responsibilities include defence-related industrial and technological development, civilian-military integration and industrial and scientific development. A second source confirmed that Peng did not appear at an anti-corruption meeting presided over by the provincial governor Yin Li on Tuesday nor was his name listed with six other vice-governors in Wednesday's report on the meeting by the official newspaper Sichuan Daily. However, Peng is still named on the official website of the Sichuan government as one of the province's vice-governors. The provincial propaganda department did not respond to requests for comment. The last media report about him was on April 15, when he attended a routine meeting to discuss work safety and the development of culture and tourism. Peng, a Sichuan native, is a high academic achiever. He graduated from Sichuan University and received his PhD from Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris specialising in polymers and materials. He then served in leadership positions at the Chengdu Institute of Organic Chemistry, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, between 1997 and 2009. In 2015 he was promoted to party chief of Mianyang, an important research and production base for the defence industry. The city is home to more than 18 national defence research institutes and more than 10 universities, including two national military research institutes – the China Academy of Engineering Physics and the China Aerodynamics Research Institute. The former is the main nuclear technology research centre, while the latter hosts the biggest wind tunnel in Asia, which is used to develop military aircraft. Peng was also the chief of the party's working committee for the Mianyang Sciences and Technology City project, responsible for working with researchers to convert military technology into civilian products. Another source, who served in a senior position in a municipal legislature in the province, said Peng's problem "is similar to Li Chengyun". Li was the deputy governor of Sichuan between 2008 and 2011. According to the state-run Legal Evening News, one of Li's lovers was exposed as a double foreign agent. In 2017 he was jailed for 10 years for accepting bribes totalling over 6.36 million yuan (US$958,000). ^ top ^

China steps up fight against IPR infringement (Xinhua)
2019-04-25
China has been stepping up its fight against intellectual property right (IPR) infringement, according to the country's top procuratorate at a press conference Thursday. Procuratorates across China approved the arrest of 5,627 suspects involved in 3,306 IPR infringement cases in 2018, a year-on-year increase of 31.7 percent, according to the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP).A total of 8,325 suspects involved in 4,458 such cases were prosecuted last year, 22.3 percent more than in 2017."IPR infringement severely harms society," Liu Taizong, a prosecutor with the SPP, said at the press conference, adding that acts such as counterfeiting, pirating and information stealing have a huge negative impact on the market and impede the country's innovation. In 2018, procuratorates approved the arrest of 5,266 people suspected of trademark infringement in 3,100 cases and charged 7,741 people involved in 4,136 such cases. A total of 304 people were charged for copyright infringement last year, while 56 people were prosecuted for infringing trade secrets." China needs to strengthen IPR protection and crackdown on IPR infringement to serve high-quality economic development, stimulate innovation and further promote the reform and opening-up and its integration into economic globalization," said Zheng Xinjian, an SPP prosecutor. Handling IPR infringement cases has been increasingly difficult because production, logistics and sales are separate and victims are hard to identify, Zheng said." Criminals keep updating their means by deceiving dealers and consumers with fake permits, packages, batch numbers or customs certificates." Zheng pointed out that trademark infringement accounts for over 90 percent of IPR infringement cases, covering tobacco, alcohol, food, garments, cosmetics and digital products. With the rapid development of Internet technology comes a surge in IPR infringements, Zheng said. More and more commodities with counterfeit trademarks and works that infringe copyright are spreading online. IPR infringements have also been rife in online literature, music, film, video, games, cartoons and software. Online crimes are elusive and span many regions, while criminals are hard to identify and evidence easily destroyed. Prosecutors have intensified efforts to protect the IPR of online works, Liu said, adding that prosecutors now use more technological means to collect evidence as well as improve the quality and effectiveness of investigation in major and complex cases. Procuratorates have been strengthening the training of professionals for IPR infringement cases and enhancing cooperation with public security, administrative and law enforcement authorities in improving mechanisms of evidence reporting, evidence transfer, technique sharing and case coordination. ^ top ^

Premier Li calls for sustained, harder efforts against corruption (Xinhua)
2019-04-24
Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday called for sustained and harder efforts to fight corruption, improve Party conduct and build a clean government. Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a State Council meeting on clean governance. He demanded governments at all levels to firmly push forward both development and anti-corruption work, noting that the anti-graft campaign had remarkably boosted social and economic development. Tax cuts should be carried out in a larger scale, ensuring that tax burdens are significantly reduced in manufacturing industries and lowered in construction and transport industries, Li said, stressing that the tax burden must not increase in other industries. The premier required the full implementation of policies lowering firms' social insurance payment burdens. He said the payment burden of small and micro enterprises should not be raised. Calling for a balanced budget, Li said unnecessary expenditure must be cut while spending on fields concerning people's livelihoods should be guaranteed. He called on the government to pursue frugality, encourage thriftiness, refrain from extravagance and vigorously cut administrative expenses. Governments should further streamline administration, supervise in a fairer and more just manner, optimize administrative services and continuously improve the business environment, Li said. Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting. Zhao Leji, secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting on invitation. ^ top ^

China using US-made satellites to boost its police and military power and quash protests in Tibet and Xinjiang, report says (SCMP)
2019-04-24
A fleet of US-made satellites helps China's government police its people and supports its military despite growing wariness in Washington over Beijing's power, it has emerged. While the United States will not let China buy US-made satellites for national security reasons, it sells them to partly Chinese-controlled, Hong Kong-based Asia Satellite Communications, which then leases out capacity to Chinese and other customers, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday. Under that arrangement, China's Ministry of State Security, which oversees domestic and international intelligence gathering, has used the US-built satellites for communications in emergencies, including dealing with anti-government protests by minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang in 2008-2009, the Journal reported. And beginning in 2013, a Chinese state telecommunications firm used capacity on an AsiaSat satellite to provide mobile and internet services to China's military as it built permanent installations on contested islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Washington does not recognise China's territorial claim to those installations, which have effectively extended China's military reach far from the mainland. AsiaSat is jointly controlled by China's huge government-backed investment bank Citic Group and US investment bank Carlyle Group. The three-decades-old, publicly listed company, has launched a total of nine satellites, made by US aeronautics and space firms Boeing and SSL. AsiaSat told The Journal that China's military had used the satellite services via telecoms operators that held bandwidth for disaster relief. Carlyle, which has strong ties to the US political and security establishment, said that AsiaSat customers are Chinese phone and internet companies, who have their own customers. The report came amid stepped up US concern over China's efforts to obtain, legally or illegally, US technology that it cannot match itself. China especially trails the US in satellite technology, The Journal said. ^ top ^

China adopts revised laws on judges, procurators (Xinhua)
2019-04-23
China's top legislature on Tuesday voted to adopt revisions to the Judges Law and the Procurators Law as part of the country's efforts to advance judicial reform. Lawmakers approved the revisions at the end of a four-day bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. The two laws are of great significance for consolidating the achievements of judicial reform as well as raising judicial quality, efficiency and credibility, said Wang Aili, an official with the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC's Standing Committee, at a press conference. The laws have clearly required building a team loyal to the Party, the country, the people and the law, said Wang, adding that the boundaries of judicial responsibilities were also clarified. The laws also stipulate tighter supervision over judges and procurators and give them more responsibilities such as keeping business secrets and private information. There will be legal consequences if they fail to do so. In addition, the laws suggest making improvements in the selection and promotion of judges and procurators. New judges and procurators must pass the national unified qualification exam for legal professionals and those who seek promotion to higher-level courts and procuratorates must have experience at the corresponding lower level judicial organs. According to the two laws, judges should adjudicate based on facts and the law, guided by objectivity and impartiality. Procurators must strictly ensure that crimes are punished only under the law, and protect human rights. They must prosecute criminals while protecting the innocent from criminal prosecution. Zhou Yuqing, an official with the political department of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said the two laws had made a series of regulations to ensure judges and procurators exercise legitimate rights under supervision. Personal protection will be provided to judges and their immediate family members when the judges face challenges due to carrying out their duties by law. Improving safeguard mechanism for judicial professionals is an important institutional arrangement to enhance a sense of honor and ensure impartial performance for judges, said Chen Haiguang, an official with the political department of the Supreme People's Court. ^ top ^

Chinese lawmakers deliberate personality rights section in draft civil code (Xinhua)
2019-04-21
Chinese lawmakers on Sunday reviewed the draft section of personality rights of the civil code in panel discussions at the ongoing bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. They were in support of the draft, which is under its second reading, and noted the significance of this personality rights legislation. Du Yubo, a lawmaker, said the new parts of the draft including strict regulation over clinical trials, human gene or embryo-related studies met the requirement for personality rights protection. Lawmaker Guo Lei applauded the improvement of provisions on personal information protection and suggested expanding the scope of "personal space" to include virtual online space.  ^ top ^

Beijing to use social credit system to address subway behavior (Global Times)
2019-04-26
When it comes to improper behavior on the subway, Beijing has had enough. City officials announced plans to crackdown on passengers who use extra seats or eat food, using China's new social credit system. The Beijing Municipal Commission of Transportation (BMCT) released revisions on its code of conduct for subway passengers Thursday, proposing that "uncivilized" behavior would be added to individual credit information. China has developed an extensive social credit system, aimed at punishing those with bad credit scores by limiting their travel or publicly shaming them. People with bad social credit scores could be prohibited from flying or traveling on a high-speed train. The proposed BMCT revisions include new passenger rules to the list of "uncivilized behavior." Using extra seats, eating, and promoting and conducting sales transactions will be added to the list. The revisions have not been finalized. The BMCT will seek public opinion on the proposed regulations through May 11.The move follows recent debates about bad behaviors on public transportation after videos of passengers engaging in such behavior were posted online. ^ top ^

Shenzhen releases white paper on intellectual property (Xinhua)
2019-04-24
The city of Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province released a white paper on intellectual property on Wednesday. Domestic patent applications in the city reached 228,608 in 2018, up 29.08 percent year on year, according to the white paper on intellectual property in 2018.A total of 18,081 applications under the patent cooperation treaty (PCT) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), including 5,405 from Chinese technology giant Huawei, were filed in the city last year, accounting for 34.8 percent of the country's total. The city investigated 1,224 intellectual property right (IPR) infringement cases in 2018, including 1,082 closed. "The city will deepen the reform in the field of intellectual property in 2019, with the most stringent protection of intellectual property," said Kuang Bing, head of the city bureau of market supervision and administration. ^ top ^

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Amnesty International 'targeted by state-sponsored hackers' in Hong Kong (SCMP)
2019-04-26
The Hong Kong branch of London-based human rights group Amnesty International has said it was targeted by state-sponsored hackers in a cyberattack "consistent with those carried out by hostile groups linked to the Chinese government". Security monitoring tools had found suspicious activity on the organisation's local IT systems in March, Amnesty said in a statement on Thursday night. Cybersecurity experts had been deployed to safeguard the systems and launch an investigation, the group said. The attacks were carried out using tools and techniques associated with several hacking groups specialising in advanced persistent threats (APT), according to Amnesty. An APT is an attack in which intruders establish an illicit, long-term presence on a network to mine sensitive data, usually on behalf of a state. "Cyber forensic experts were able to establish links between the infrastructure used in this attack and previously reported APT campaigns associated with the Chinese government," the non-governmental rights advocacy group said. A spokeswoman said supporters' names, Hong Kong identity card numbers and personal contacts were among the information compromised. But no financial information such as credit card numbers or bank account details were lost. The spokeswoman did not disclose the number of people affected, citing the "operational sensitivity" of the issue. An investigation by a global task force formed by Amnesty had found extensive evidence that a known APT group used "tactics, techniques and procedures consistent with a well-developed adversary". The group did not give details of the data targeted, saying the investigation was ongoing, but said it would release a technical report when the probe had been concluded. Those affected by the attack had been contacted, and Amnesty said it was providing support to ensure their data was secure. Hong Kong's Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data had been notified, Amnesty said, but police had not yet been contacted. The privacy watchdog said it had received a data breach notification from Amnesty on Thursday and Privacy Commissioner Stephen Wong Kai-yi had begun gathering details to determine what action to take. Tam Man-kei, director of Amnesty in Hong Kong, said the group took the privacy of its supporters seriously. He urged anyone who believed they might be affected to contact the organisation. "This sophisticated cyberattack underscores the dangers posed by state-sponsored hacking and the need to be ever vigilant to the risk of such attacks. We refuse to be intimidated by this outrageous attempt to harvest information and obstruct our human rights work," Tam said. ^ top ^

Commissioner's office of China's foreign ministry calls for respecting Hong Kong's rule of law (Xinhua)
2019-04-25
Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday urged relevant consulates and organizations based in Hong Kong to abandon "double standards" and respect Hong Kong's rule of law." We urge the relevant consulates and organizations based in Hong Kong to earnestly respect the rule of law in the city, abandon the erroneous practice of applying 'double standards', stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs under the pretext of 'human rights' and 'freedom', and stop interfering in China's domestic affairs," a spokesperson of the commissioner's office said. The remarks were in response to comments made by the U.S. and British consulates general in Hong Kong and some foreign non-governmental organizations after a HKSAR court sentenced several founders of the 2014 illegal "Occupy Central" movement to imprisonment earlier on the same day." Hong Kong is under the rule of law. Everyone is equal before the law. The unlawful 'Occupy Central' incident posed grave threat to public security, and undermined social stability and the rule of law in Hong Kong, running counter to the freedoms of speech and assembly enjoyed by the Hong Kong residents in accordance with law," the spokesperson said. "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. Hong Kong affairs are entirely China's domestic affairs," the spokesperson said, adding, "We stand firmly against any interference by any foreign forces under whatever excuse." ^ top ^

HK court sentences organizers of 'Occupy' movement (China Daily)
2019-04-24
A court in Hong Kong jailed leaders of the so-called Occupy movement on Wednesday for up to 16 months for their roles in protests that brought much of the city to a virtual standstill in 2014. Four of the nine people convicted, including two of the three chief organizers－Benny Tai Yiu-ting and Chan Kin-man－were jailed immediately after the court delivered its sentence. In passing down the sentences, judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng said immediate imprisonment is the only appropriate penalty, considering the profound influence and extensive impact the protests inflicted on society. Chan said the protests went far beyond past cases submitted to the court as reference for sentencing. None of the convicted individuals showed any remorse over their misconduct, and the public has yet to receive the apology it deserves for the pain and inconvenience the protests inflicted, the judge said. Tai and Chan Kin-man were sentenced to 16 months in prison for conspiracy to commit public nuisance. Convicted of the same charge, their accomplice Chu Yiu-ming was also sentenced to 16 months, suspended for two years. Three others－incumbent lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun, Raphael Wong Ho-ming and Chung Yiu-wa, were each given an eight-month jail term for incitement to commit public nuisance, and incitement to incite public nuisance. The jail term for Chung was suspended for two years. Also convicted on the same two charges, Tommy Cheung Sau-yin was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. Former lawmaker Lee Wing-tat was convicted of incitement to commit public nuisance. He was given eight-months in prison, suspended for two years. The sentencing of legislator Tanya Chan Suk-chong was postponed until June 10 because of her poor health. She was convicted of two incitement charges. ^ top ^

President of Macau's Legislative Assembly Ho Iat-seng tipped to be city's next chief executive and will probably run unopposed (SCMP)
2019-04-25
When Macau celebrates the 20th anniversary of its handover from Portuguese to Chinese rule on December 20, its new leader will also be sworn in. However, unlike a decade ago, when Fernando Chui Sai-on was elected chief executive after serving for 10 years as the city's minister for social affairs and culture, this time a politician with no government experience could take over the casino hub. The president of Macau's legislature, Ho Iat-seng, was expected to be the sole candidate in the city's leadership election in August, after he announced his intention to run last week. His resignation from China's top legislative body, the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), was unanimously approved by the body's members on Tuesday. He has yet to resign from Macau's legislature. Ho comes from a prominent industrial and political family in the special administrative region. His late father, Ho Tin, who hailed from Zhejiang province, was one of Macau's best-known industrialists and supplied goods to mainland China in the 1960s and 70s. A respected business leader in Macau, Ho Iat-seng entered politics in 2000 as a local deputy to China's legislature, the National People's Congress. From 2004 to 2009 he was an adviser to Macau chief executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah in the Executive Council. Before his appointment to Exco, Ho Iat-seng was already tipped to become chief executive in 2009, but he surprised many by announcing he had no intention of running, and the job eventually went to Chui, the only contender in the race. Ho opted for the city legislature election instead, and was returned uncontested in the business and finance sector. Macau legislator Au Kam-san, who worked with Ho in the Legislative Assembly for a decade, believed a wealth of political experience could help Ho tackle Macau's economic and social challenges." As a legislator for China and Macau, Ho can see our Legislative Assembly has not been powerful enough monitoring the city's government, and could give him a stronger impetus and motivation for reform," Au said." It wouldn't be a big problem if the next chief executive were to have never been an official, because a chief executive's job is to make decisions while officials execute policies." Ieong Tou-hong, vice-president of the Macau Economic Association, a group of academics studying the city's public policies, echoed Au's comments." As a member of the NPCSC and the city legislature for many years, Ho would have a deep understanding of national and local laws. This is a fundamental requirement for chief executive," he said. Ieong added that for Macau to succeed under Beijing's "Greater Bay Area" plan, the city also need a leader who is familiar with national and regional cooperation, not just public administration. He was referring to the central government's plan to turn Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong cities into a financial and technology hub to rival Silicon Valley by 2035.Under the project's blueprint, Macau would develop into a tourism and leisure centre and a platform for trade with Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Brazil." His business background, national vision and working relationship with mainland authorities will help Macau to grasp new opportunities," Ieong added. But Au said that rather than focusing on the national project, the people of Macau were more concerned with social problems such as employment and housing." External labour accounts for about half of our working population. And while drivers and people in the gambling industry might earn a lot, working conditions for other sectors have been deteriorating," he said." Officials should do an in-depth analysis of how to import labour without hampering local people's employment opportunities." Au also complained the government had not been building enough subsidised housing, especially when pushing forward land reclamation and urban renewal projects. The new chief executive had to do more on these areas, he said. Under Macau's electoral law, the chief executive is elected by a 400-member election committee. A poll will be organised to pick the 400 members of the committee in June. It will be followed by a nomination period in July, during which a candidate must garner at least 66 nominations from the committee's members. Ho was the first to announce a candidacy. In 1999, Edmund Ho defeated banker Stanley Au Chong-kit to become the city's first postcolonial leader. But in each of the three elections that followed, in 2004, 2009 and 2014, there was just one candidate. Lionel Leong Vai-tac, Macau's secretary of economy and finance, was previously tipped to run, but pundits now believed it was likely Ho would be the only candidate. In the event of there being only one runner, an election would still be held and the candidate would be elected if he garnered at least 200 votes. ^ top ^

Mainland has 'always stayed out' of island's elections, spokesman says (China Daily)
2019-04-25
A spokesman for the Chinese mainland said on Wednesday that the mainland has never interfered in elections in Taiwan and that it never will. He was responding to recent comments by island authorities and the United States. Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said, "We have always stayed out of the elections in Taiwan. The DPP authorities are used to slandering the mainland and spreading rumors." Last week, the island's leader Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party said she believed the mainland had interfered in the nominating process for the Kuomintang party in the race for the island's top office." The accusation is nonsense and has ulterior motives behind it," Ma said on Wednesday. The DPP is creating cross-Straits conflict and is harming the interests of the Taiwan people, he added. Last week, a senior official of the United States, James Moriarty, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, said in a meeting that Beijing is exerting influence on the upcoming election in Taiwan. He said the US will continue to consult with Taiwan on security issues. In response, Ma said, "It is irresponsible for some people in the US to repeat the groundless claims of the DPP authorities. The Taiwan question is China's internal affair. No external interference will be allowed." Taiwan's 2020 election campaign kicked off earlier this year as more politicians from the DPP and KMT announced they would run for the top office. Terry Gou, head of the world's largest electronics supplier, Foxconn, announced last week that he will run in Taiwan's 2020 leadership election. Guo criticized Tsai via social media last week for her administration's hostile policy toward the mainland, saying that the key to Taiwan's participation in regional economic cooperation lies in the mainland. Another potential leadership candidate from the KMT, Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu, who gained popularity in the mayoral election last year, said on Tuesday that he is not going to participate in the KMT's primary election. During his first visit to the mainland at the end of March, trade deals worth more than 1 billion yuan ($149 million) were signed, selling the city's agricultural and fishery products to mainland cities. ^ top ^

China voices fierce opposition to US arms deal with Taiwan (China Daily)
2019-04-24
China resolutely oppose the recent $500 million military deal between the United States and Taiwan, calling the move "a complete mistake" and "very dangerous", a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said on Wednesday. The new deal, approved by the US State Department on April 15, is currently being reviewed by Congress. It consists of training programs for Taiwan F-16 pilots and maintenance crews in the US. The State Department said the sale is meant to improve the defensive capabilities of Taiwan. Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesman for China's defense ministry, said in an online statement China resolutely opposes any country selling arms to or having military interactions with Taiwan. "The actions by the US have seriously violated the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques," he said. "It interferes with China's internal affairs, undermining its sovereignty and security interests." Wu said the recent move has "poisoned Sino-US military relations and seriously damaged cross-Straits relations and the peace and security in the region." He called the move "a complete mistake and very dangerous". The Taiwan question is related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its core interests. It is the most sensitive issue in Sino-US ties, he said. Wu said Taiwan's current administration is relying on foreign forces and the US is using Taiwan to pressure China. Both strategies are doomed to fail, he added. China demands the US immediately cancel related arms sales to Taiwan and stop all military interaction with the island to avoid further damage to Sino-US relations, bilateral ties and the peace and security of the Taiwan Straits. "The Chinese military has the resolve, confidence and capability to foil any form of foreign interference and Taiwan secession efforts," he said. "It will resolutely protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and maintain the peace and security in the region." ^ top ^

China, Japan to implement AEO customs agreement in June (Xinhua)
2019-04-25
The China-Japan agreement on mutual Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status will go into effect on June 1 to provide easier customs clearance for exporters, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).Under the agreement, companies that obtain the AEO status in the two countries will enjoy simplified customs procedures, such as reduced examination and prioritized clearance, when they export products to the other country. China and Japan signed the AEO agreement in October last year, said the GAC. The AEO system, initiated by the World Customs Organization, aims at facilitating customs clearance for enterprises through the authentication by customs on enterprises with a high level of law compliance, credit status and safety. China has signed mutual AEO agreements with 36 countries and regions including Singapore, the Republic of Korea, the European Union, Switzerland and New Zealand. As each other's major trading partners, China and Japan have seen stable growth in trade and investment. In the first three months, Japanese investors set up 221 firms in China, up 44.4 percent year on year while its foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland increased by 1.6 percent year on year to 1.09 billion U.S. dollars. China has also made big investments in Japan. By the end of March, China's total direct investment in Japan had amounted to 3.5 billion dollars, covering various industries including manufacturing, financial services and telecommunications, showed data from the Ministry of Commerce. ^ top ^

Kim, Putin hold first ever summit (Global Times)
2019-04-25
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first ever summit on Thursday afternoon during which they discussed ways to peacefully settle Korean Peninsula issues in the aftermath of the fruitless US-North Korea summit in Hanoi. Although details of the Kim-Putin talks had not been released as of press time, Chinese analysts believe it will help North Korea gain more leverage in future talks with the US by winning support from an important member of the UN Security Council. The meeting between Kim and Putin lasted for about two hours. Putin said he was "pleased" with the outcome of the summit meeting, saying he would discuss the results with China and the US, CNN reported. Asked if Kim would be willing to continue his contact with the US, Putin said the North Korean leader would be guided by his "national interests," but added that "we can't resolve anything without talks" when it came to the Korean Peninsula issues. Putin will attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled to open on Friday when according to CNN, he will discuss the summit with top Chinese leaders." Moreover, Kim Jong-un himself asked us to inform the American side about his position, about the issues that arose for him in connection with the processes that are taking place on and around the Korean Peninsula," said the Russian president, CNN reported. "I came to Russia to exchange opinions on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, which is one of the major problems on the current international agenda, as well as discuss ways to peacefully settle this issue," Kim was quoted as saying by Russia's TASS news agency. TASS said the two leaders described the meeting as "thorough" and "fruitful and constructive." According to information received, the meeting between Putin and Kim has had positive outcomes, which China believes will provide new impetus to solve issues on the Korean Peninsula, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a routine press conference on Thursday. "China is willing to cooperate with all related sides, including Russia, to continue promoting the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula and settlement of political issues on the peninsula," Geng said. The summit came two months after the failed second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam, which took place on February 27-28.The current bottleneck in resolving the Korean Peninsula issue lies in the disagreement between North Korea and the US over the reduction of economic sanctions, Yang Mian, a professor at the Institute of International Relations at the China University of Communications, told the Global Times on Thursday. North Korea has pledged to gradually abandon its nuclear program and shift to economic development, but the US still refuses to make any concession on sanctions unless the country promises total denuclearization, Yang said. "North Korea is unwilling to completely abandon its nuclear program because it fears threats to its security," Yang said. Chinese analysts noted that the stalled Six-Party Talks were still the only efficient way of addressing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but all other efforts merit support. The Six-Party Talks are really the only viable mechanism for a reasonable solution as it is a platform that includes all the stakeholders in the North Korean nuclear issue, said Dong Xiangrong, a research fellow at the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Putin also called for another round of Six-Party Talks to discuss North Korea's nuclear program, reported USA Today on Thursday. However, Yang noted that if there is a third US-North Korea summit, it may not be so important to resume the Six-Party Talks right now. The Six-Party Talks were initiated in August 2003 in Beijing following North Korea's withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in January the same year. The collective forum consists of representatives from China, the US, North Korea, South Korea, Russia, and Japan, in hopes of finding a political and diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. The mechanism stalled after North Korea declared in 2009 that it would no longer participate in the Six-Party Talks and that it would no longer be bound by any of the previous agreements reached in the discussions." The key for a more pragmatic Six-Party Talks mechanism is that all the members need to find an effective way to enhance the power to implement and supervise, and maybe consider different approaches, such as sub-bilateral or multilateral talks under the Six-Party frame," Lü Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday. ^ top ^

Xi: Boost ties with Mongolia (China Daily)
2019-04-26
China and Mongolia should enhance strategic communication and respect each other's core interests and major concerns, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday. Xi made the remark while meeting with Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Battulga is on a five-day visit to China that started on Wednesday. He also is attending the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. With the two presidents as witnesses, China and Mongolia signed cooperation documents to connect the Belt and Road Initiative with the Mongolia-proposed Path of Development Initiative. Xi hosted a ceremony to welcome Battulga before their talks. Hailing Mongolia as a good neighbor, friend and partner of China, Xi said that the bilateral relationship has entered a fast track. China will continue to support Mongolia's efforts to promote economic development and improve the people's livelihood, Xi said. The two countries should uphold the right political direction, push forward cooperation in all areas and become each other's strategic partner with mutual respect and trust, he said. Xi said the two countries should maintain high-level exchanges and respect each other's core interests and major concerns. He also called for greater effort to advance practical cooperation in jointly building the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor. China and Mongolia should streamline their trading structure and explore their cooperation potential, Xi said, adding that the two countries should enhance border exchanges and jointly build a prosperous border to facilitate trade and people-to-people exchanges. The two countries should enhance communication and coordination in global and regional affairs and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, Xi said. Battulga reaffirmed Mongolia's commitment to the one-China policy, saying that Taiwan and Tibet are China's territory and matters related to Taiwan and Tibet are China's domestic affairs. It's a priority of Mongolia's diplomacy to develop a long-term friendly neighborhood and enhance cooperation with China, he said. Mongolia would like to work with China to draw a blueprint for bilateral relations and connect the Path of Development Initiative with the Belt and Road Initiative, he said. The two countries should enhance cooperation in such areas as trade, electricity, agriculture and animal husbandry, infrastructure construction and airlines, he said. Mongolia appreciates China's role in maintaining the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, Battulga said, adding that Mongolia would like to enhance coordination with China on regional affairs. ^ top ^

Mongolian Foreign Policy: The story of seeking the third neighbor (Gogo Mongolia)
2019-04-23
The Third Neighbor initiative was continued after World War II. Although the Soviet Union from the north warned Mongolia to avoid having a third neighbor because of being a small country that was under the shadow of Russia. It was also possible to call on the approval of many other countries. It was seen at the end of Stalin's speech. He said: When you are recognized internationally, your country is officially independent. There is nothing wrong with pursuing it. First of all, you should declare your independence from China. If your independence is accepted by China and is admitted by other countries, you will be able to attract the Inner Mongols, Tsakhar, and Barag. Then, they will know that Mongolia's true independence is in your hands. You will be able to declare your independence from China when you are strong in the state. If so, imperialist nations such as Japan and England will try to accept you at your own initiative. It should be noted that the Yalta Conference, also known as the Crimea Conference has played an important role in the third neighbor's policy of Mongolia. As a result of the following events, the People's Republic of Mongolia started to form an independent state as a de-jure in 1946. The Republic of China (ROC) recognized the independence of Mongolia on January 05, 1946 and established diplomatic relations on January 13, 1946. As for the Soviet Union, its de-facto approval was transformed into de-jure in 1945. It was the beginning of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance that two sides signed in Moscow on February 19, 1946. From that point on, Mongolia returned to pursue its 1912 aspiration and began to seek diplomatic relations. It was an attempt to expand to a third neighbor. The People's Republic of Mongolia has requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to join the UN on April 19, 1946, and was invited to the UN Security Council meeting on August 28, 1945. At the meeting, British delegation Alexander George Montagu Cadogan made the following statement about Mongolia: Mongolian People's Republic has diplomatic relations with only two countries, therefore, it does not have enough experience in international relations. After a while, the Chief of Mongolia's diplomatic office Tsedenbal Yumjaa opposed the statement at party activist meeting in Ulaanbaatar. He said: The size of international relations is not a condition that can be considered to be a member of the United Nations or whether it is a necessity to be admitted membership in the UN. The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) meeting in 1948 discussed the issue of Mongolia's foreign relations in a wider frame for the first time. At that time, they noted that the party had the right direction of foreign policy. After World War II, the diplomatic relations between China and the Soviet Union was a major achievement for Mongolia. Afterward, it declared diplomatic relations with North Korea in 1948, and Albania in 1949. The number has increased to 12 after five years. It was a huge advance. For the number to reach two-digits, Mongolian politicians had suffered 40 years of torture, and at that time, they were thinking of a third neighbor. There was a speech at MPRP XII Congress (1954.11.19). "We are now marking peace, harmony and mutual respect all over the borders of the People's Republic." They considered the relationship with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the People's Republic of China (PRC), and the DPRK and remarked, The Mongolian People's Republic is a strong part of the composition of the powerful democratic camps, with the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Democratic Republics of the Europe, including People's Republic of Poland, People's Republic of Botany, Czech Republic, Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, Buryatia Republic, Roman Republic, Republic of Angola and the German Democratic Republic. We also maintain diplomatic relations with the Republic of Vietnam and focus on strengthening the relations. In the mid-1950s, Mongolia had no idea of a diplomatic relationship beyond the socialist countries of the democracies, but in 1956, the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) declared the possibility of peaceful coexistence with countries of diverse people. The Mongolian Government has started to seek a third neighbor without any hesitation. The fact that "more than half the population of the humanity" and "the four continents of the population" were read as part of the ruling party's congressional speeches shows that diplomacy was being considered intently. The practice of declaring diplomatic relations as an important developmental progression, as it was known for its importance, continued for 30 years and remained until the 19th Congress of the MPRP (1986). 1958.03.17 - Part 1 of the "International Situation and People's Republic of Mongolia" report of Damba Dash's speech on the MPRP's conference evaluated the development of friendly relations with 12 countries including Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China, Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Democratic Germany, DPRK, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia. It read, We declared diplomatic relations with the Republic of India, Burma and the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Indonesia, complying the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, known as the Panchsheel Treaty, the base of the relationship between countries with different systems. Therefore, the People's Republic of Mongolia now has diplomatic relations with more than half the human population. The Mongolian People's Republic is ready to establish equal relations with other countries who are willing to maintain a further relationship with our country in order to ensure equality and mutual respect for the principle of peaceful coexistence without regard to social and political structures." However, the non-resident ambassadors were reported as diplomatic delegations. This is due to the lack of practice in international relations. In 1958, Mongolia began diplomatic relations with 15 countries. Diplomacy in the principle of peaceful coexistence, regardless of social and political structures, has expanded considerably since the 1960s. In 1959, after the United Nations announced the 1960s as the "African Year," it established diplomatic relations with Guinea, Cambodia, and Cuba. In 1961.07.03, the MPRP congress said, "Now the People's Republic of Mongolia has diplomatic relations with 21 countries in the four continents." ^ top ^

Leandra FRANK
Embassy of Switzerland