Foreign Policy

• China tightens diplomatic protocol in latest tit-for-tat since passage of US acts (SCMP)
• China hits out at 'unilateralism and bullying' after Nato calls it a strategic challenge (SCMP)
• Wang's visit a sign that two countries walk out of THAAD shadows: expert (Global Times)
• China holds to tariff demand amid US threats (Global Times)
• Sanctions announced for NGOs, US vessels (China Daily)
• Xinhua Headlines: China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline operational (Xinhua)
• Li, von der Leyen discuss China-EU cooperation over phone (Xinhua)

Domestic Policy

• China 2020 GDP growth target seen to be set at 'around 6 per cent' at top economic policy meeting (SCMP)
• China pushing forward high-level opening-up: Chinese state councilor (Xinhua)
• Cyber regulator requests app removal for privacy violation (Global Times)
• China to take multi-pronged measures to keep employment stable (Xinhua)
• China's ethnic groups face end to affirmative action in education, taxes, policing (SCMP)
• White paper reveals how courts are using internet to improve efficiency (China Daily)
• Xi meets foreign attendees to Imperial Springs Int'l Forum, calls for upholding multilateralism (Xinhua)
• China outlines integrated development of Yangtze River Delta (Xinhua)

Xinjiang

• Rare documentary reveals counter-terrorism perseverance in Xinjiang (Global Times)
• China Foundation for Human Rights Development condemns U.S. House passage of Xinjiang-related bill (Xinhua)

Hongkong

• Major Hong Kong anti-government rally and march get police permission (SCMP)
• Motion to impeach Hong Kong Chief Exec. Carrie Lam rejected at legislature by pro-Beijing camp (HKFP)
• Hong Kong's embattled MTR Corporation reveals it will incur HK$1.6 billion in costs from protests (SCMP)
• HKSAR gov't ramps up stimulus to help firms, residents through economic recession (Xinhua)

Macau

• Interview: Motherland always backs Macao, boosts confidence: Chief Executive Chui Sai On (Xinhua)

Taiwan

• Taiwan not a top priority for Beijing because it's too distracted, Taipei mayor says (SCMP)

Economy

• Huawei steps up legal battle (Global Times)
• China gradually cleans up P2P lending businesses (Global Times)

DPRK

• South Korea's Moon Jae-in calls for China to play role in denuclearising North Korea (SCMP)
• Kim Jong-un rides white horse up sacred mountain and Donald Trump revives 'rocket man' jibe (SCMP)

Mongolia

• Mongolian and Russian companies sign cooperation documents (Montsame)
• Two percent of national GDP to be spent on green economy in 2020 (Montsame)
• Mongolia's participation in Eurasian economic corridor discussed (Montsame)

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China tightens diplomatic protocol in latest tit-for-tat since passage of US acts (SCMP)
2019-12-05
China has told American diplomats to notify its foreign ministry five days before any meetings with local government officials and educational and research institutes, mainland media reported on Thursday, in what would appear to represent its latest retaliation against Washington. A report by Guancha.cn said that, with immediate effect, US diplomats based in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang and Wuhan should notify the foreign ministry five working days before any such meeting. The report said this was in response to a US requirement imposed in October, under which Chinese diplomats had to notify the US state department before meetings with local or state officials and with educational and research institutions. US officials said at that time that the US move was a reaction to the Chinese government's rules for American diplomats in China, who already needed to obtain permission from Beijing officials before travelling to official meetings in local provinces or institutions. The US officials said that Chinese diplomats were not required to seek permission for their meetings, but that the restrictions were intended to persuade China to relent on its limits on US diplomats in China. But Beijing said that October's US restrictions were in violation of the Vienna Convention and that the Chinese side did not at that point make similar requirements of US diplomats and consular officers in China. The new requirement from Beijing came with China and the US locked in rising confrontations over trade, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Beijing vowed repeatedly to take countermeasures after US President Donald Trump signed into law the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act – which will allow Washington to sanction officials assessed to be undermining human rights in Hong Kong – and the House of Representatives approved a bill paving the way for sanctions against Chinese officials over human rights abuses in Xinjiang. On Monday, China said it had suspended visits of US military vessels and aircraft to Hong Kong and sanctioned five US-based non-government organisations including Human Rights Watch and Freedom House, saying they supported violent activities in Hong Kong and interfered in China's internal affairs. Global Times, the nationalist tabloid published under the auspices of Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, reported that China may impose visa restrictions on US officials and legislators with "odious performance on Xinjiang issues". It also said China would soon release an "unreliable entity list" that would include "relevant US entities". The tensions between the two nations have triggered concerns that exchanges between them have become difficult, with tighter scrutiny of visa applications by academics and researchers from both sides. Observers have said this has hindered efforts to promote understanding and share intelligence. But Wang Yiwei, an international relations professor at Renmin University, said the new notification requirement would not create new obstacles to US-China exchanges. "It took China so long to respond, showing that China is not trying to actively trigger any new battle fields with the US, and is only making a necessary response after a series of provocative actions from the US," Wang said, referring to the US legislation concerning Hong Kong and Xinjiang. ^ top ^

China hits out at 'unilateralism and bullying' after Nato calls it a strategic challenge (SCMP)
2019-12-05
After Nato for the first time defined China as a strategic challenge during its summit in London, Beijing on Thursday noted that not all of the military alliance's members saw the country as an adversary. Steered by the United States, Nato leaders issued a statement after the two-day gathering ended on Wednesday, saying China's "growing influence and international policies present both opportunities and challenges that we need to address together as an alliance". Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said despite the US efforts, some of Nato's 29 members were against labelling Beijing as an adversary. "In fact the biggest threat and challenge the world is facing now is unilateralism and bullying behaviour, of which even US allies have become victims," she said. During the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said China should not "be the object of our collective defence … in strictly military terms". But he said France was concerned about China's military presence in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said ahead of the meeting that China's rise was "coming closer" to shifting the global balance of power, but the alliance did not want to "create new adversaries" or get involved in the South China Sea. Beijing has territorial disputes with its neighbours over the waterway and the US Navy regularly sends warships there on "freedom of navigation operations". Retired People's Liberation Army colonel Yue Gang said China had been singled out by Nato because it was an "easy target" – and it was probably the best way to keep the 70-year-old transatlantic security alliance together. The alliance was set up to counter Soviet expansion in 1949, and now the US and Europe are squabbling over different visions for its future, said Wang Yiwei, an international relations professor at Renmin University of China in Beijing. "The US wants Nato to become a political group for its global strategy, but Europe – especially France – wants it to deepen non-traditional security cooperation and establish a more independent defence of Europe itself," he said. After Macron earlier described Nato as "brain-dead", US President Donald Trump called the comment "nasty" and accused Macron of trying to break away from the alliance. But Wang noted that the US was still the group's leader, and its European members – while keen to take the opportunities offered by a rising China – were also concerned about Beijing's growing influence and activities in the region and in Africa, particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative. "It's very difficult to formally name China as an enemy – and institutionally impossible – because there is no consensus among the members. But China will become a symbolic focus in their future defence budget, for equipment procurement, tactics and mindset," he said. The growth of Chinese military power would be used to justify Nato's budget, Wang added, and he expected Chinese investment and construction projects in Europe to come under greater scrutiny. Chinese tech giant Huawei has already been targeted, as the US pressures its European allies to ban the firm from their next-generation 5G mobile infrastructure for "security reasons". Yue said there was scope for China to conduct more joint military drills with European countries. China held its first joint medical exercise with a major Nato power, Germany, in July. "The PLA could try something similar with France or Belgium next, or even Britain," he said. "China needs to increase military exchanges with European countries to build mutual trust and reduce the scepticism and hostility." ^ top ^

Wang's visit a sign that two countries walk out of THAAD shadows: expert (Global Times)
2019-12-05
China and South Korea vowed to strengthen cooperation and safeguard free trade on Thursday in Seoul, which Chinese experts took as a sign that the two countries would walk out of the shadows of the US deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday. "Unilateralism and power politics are threatening global and regional peace and stability," Wang said at the meeting. "As close neighbors, it is necessary that China and South Korea enhance communication and cooperation to safeguard multilateralism, free trade and adhere to basic principles of international relations." Moon noted he looked forward to the upcoming meeting between Chinese, Japanese and South Korean leaders to further deepen bilateral dialogue and cooperation. As the process of denuclearization and permanent peace for the Korean Peninsula is at a vital point, close communication between China and South Korea will benefit the safety and stability of the Northeast Asia region, Moon said, the Yonhap News Agency reported. China is willing to keep close communication on high-level exchanges, to connect the Belt and Road Initiative with South Korea's development plans and to accelerate the second phase of negotiation on China-South Korean free trade agreement, Wang said, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Wang also called for signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in 2020 and acceleration of the establishment of the China-Japan-South Korean free trade zone. The two sides also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula issues. Experts from China and South Korea expected Wang's visit to raise bilateral exchanges to a high level and help the two sides walk out of the shadows following South Korea's decision to deploy the THAAD system in 2016. Lü Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, said that both sides expressed strong willingness to restore relations given the ongoing trade frictions between China and US and frictions between South Korea and Japan. "China hopes the Northeast Asian region can huddle together for warmth amid a bad global economic situation," Lü told the Global Times. Citing an anonymous South Korean official, the Yonhap News Agency reported Seoul indicated the willingness to invite President Xi Jinping for a visit to South Korea as soon as possible during Wang's meeting with his South Korean counterpart Kang kyung-wha Wednesday. The visit could be arranged in the first half of 2020, Yonhap reported. Xi's visit, if realized, will mark full normalization of Chinese-South Korean ties, Kim Jin-ho, a professor of international relations at South Korea's Dankook University, told the Global Times. ^ top ^

China holds to tariff demand amid US threats (Global Times)
2019-12-05
Chinese government on Thursday made it clear that it would not back down on core demands for a phase one trade agreement with the US, as they reiterated that rolling back tariffs is a must and a trade deal needs to be mutually acceptable, despite erratic statements from US officials. Market sentiment for the highly anticipated phase one deal has been somewhat dented by recent incoherent messages out of Washington, but Chinese experts close to the trade talks said that the US may be testing the waters and both sides remain on track for reaching an agreement. Asked about China's stance on tariffs and US President Donald Trump's suggestion that he would prefer to sign a deal after the US elections in 2020, Gao Feng, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), reiterated at a press briefing on Thursday that China looks to roll back tariffs. Gao said that talks are continuing. "China believes that if the two sides were to reach a phase one deal, tariffs should be lowered accordingly," Gao said, though he struck a slightly different tone from his previous call for "simultaneously and proportionally" removing tariffs. Gao added that officials have maintained close contact but he had no additional information to reveal. The US has sent contradictory signals in recent days about the phase one trade deal, suggesting at times that a deal is very close and threatening at other occasions to hike tariffs in lieu of a deal. On Tuesday, Trump suggested that "it's better to wait until after" the US elections in 2020 for reaching the deal. "That may be Trump testing the waters domestically, as he weighs whether or not to sign a phase one deal," Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times on Thursday. "Trump has stopped saying that after he saw the US stock market plunged." Following Trump's statement on Tuesday, US stocks declined, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 1 percent and the S&P 500 dropping 0.7 percent. Trump's comments also met with stern pushback from Chinese officials. On Wednesday, Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, took aim at the erratic statements from US officials and said that China has set no deadline for reaching or not reaching a deal, and it will take countermeasures if forced. "If we face the pressures of unilateralism, protectionism and trade bullying, we have no choice but to take resolute and decisive measures to defend our legitimate rights and interests," Hua told a press briefing. However, despite the verbal sparring, a phase one deal remains on track as negotiators have "basically" completed negotiations, including the removal of some tariffs, said Gao Lingyun, who is close to the trade talks. But some in the US who do not want to see a deal are "acting out" with the so-called human rights bills on Hong Kong and Xinjiang and suggestions to kick Chinese telecom company Huawei out of the US dollar system, he said. "We have reached a very delicate moment," he said. The US moves on Hong Kong and Xinjiang have drawn furious responses from officials in Beijing, who called them "blatant interference" in China's internal affairs and have taken or vowed to take countermeasures Asked about the impact of the Hong Kong and Xinjiang bills on the trade talks, Hua, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said that "there is no way this won't affect bilateral relations and cooperation in important areas." ^ top ^

Sanctions announced for NGOs, US vessels (China Daily)
2019-12-03
China said on Monday that it has suspended review of requests by United States military ships and aircraft to visit Hong Kong and also announced sanctions against several US non-governmental organizations in response to a Hong Kong-related US legislation. The so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, signed into law by US President Donald Trump last week, has sparked strong opposition from China, which said it would issue firm countermeasures. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing on Monday that sanctions will apply to NGOs that "behaved badly" during Hong Kong's disturbances. She accused the NGOs of having "great responsibility for the chaos in Hong Kong". The US-headquartered NGOs include the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the International Republican Institute, Human Rights Watch and Freedom House. Hua said a large amount of facts and evidence has shown that these NGOs support anti-China forces that seek to disrupt Hong Kong, instigate them to engage in extreme violent crimes and incite separatist activities for Hong Kong independence. "We urge the US to correct the mistakes and stop interfering in our internal affairs. China will take further steps if necessary to uphold Hong Kong's stability and prosperity and China's sovereignty," Hua said. China had already denied requests for two US Navy ships to dock in Hong Kong in August. In another development, Hua again urged Canada on Monday to release Huawei's financial chief, Meng Wanzhou, who is being "unreasonably detained". Meng was taken into custody on Dec 1 last year and has been detained in Canada since. Her arrest was made at the request of the US, which is seeking her extradition on fraud charges. Meng and Huawei have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The US and Canada have abused their bilateral extradition treaties, arbitrarily imposed coercive measures on Chinese citizens and seriously violated the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, Hua said. China remains committed to safeguarding legitimate rights and interests, including those of both Chinese citizens and enterprises, she reiterated. "We strongly urge the Canadian side to take our position and concerns seriously, earnestly correct its mistakes and release Meng as soon as possible to ensure her safe return to her motherland," she said. Meng published an open letter on Monday expressing her gratitude to all supporters. In the letter, she recounted having experienced fear and pain, disappointment and struggle throughout the year. She said she has learned to face the unknown with courage. ^ top ^

Xinhua Headlines: China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline operational (Xinhua)
2019-12-03
The China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline became operational Monday, marking the start of a new era in the two countries' energy cooperation. "East-route natural gas pipeline is a landmark project of China-Russia energy cooperation and a paradigm of deep convergence of both countries' interests and win-win cooperation," Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin via a video call in Beijing Monday afternoon, as the two heads of state jointly witnessed the launching ceremony of the pipeline. Xi congratulated the launch of the pipeline and expressed appreciation to the construction teams from both countries. The pipeline is scheduled to provide China with 5 billion cubic meters of Russian gas in 2020 and the amount is expected to increase to 38 billion cubic meters annually from 2024, under a 30-year contract worth 400 billion U.S. dollars signed between the China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and Russian gas giant Gazprom in May 2014. The cross-border gas pipeline has a 3,000-km section in Russia and a 5,111-km stretch in China. The pipeline uses strong and tough X80 pipeline steel, with a super large diameter of 1,422 mm and 12 MPa high pressure, said Wang Yilin, board chairperson of CNPC. Construction work on the Chinese part of the east-route pipeline began in June 2015. Entering China via the border city of Heihe and running through nine provinces, municipalities and autonomous region, the pipeline has also been connected with existing natural gas networks in China to allow the Russian natural gas supply to reach China's northeast, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and the Yangtze River Delta regions. On Monday, at the gas-distributing and compressing station in Heihe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the data screen was switched on, indicating parameter variations of the gas passage. Shao Hua, general manager of Heihe City Natural Gas Development Co., Ltd. of China Gas, said that Heihe still largely relies on coal for heat. With the pipeline's operation, the city now has access to a stable supply of clean energy. Heihe has registered 30,000 households for switching to natural gas for heating. It will take one year to complete full coverage of the gas network in the city, according to the company. China's apparent natural gas consumption reached 280.3 billion cubic meters in 2018. The country's demand for natural gas will continue to soar toward 2040, outstripping domestic output by around 43 percent, according to an International Energy Agency report. China aims to raise the use of natural gas to 10 percent of the country's energy mix by 2020 and 15 percent by 2030, according to the National Development and Reform Commission. Sun Xingxiang, deputy chief economist of China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd. under CNPC, said the operation of the China-Russia east-route gas pipeline can help reduce the annual emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust by 164 million tonnes, 1.82 million tonnes, 460,000 tonnes and 840,000 tonnes, respectively. "This will effectively optimize the country's energy consumption structure, mitigate air pollution along the route and keep our skies blue," Sun said. The project is a successful example of China's practice of the concept of "mutual benefit and win-win" in international cooperation, and it combines the advantages of Russia's abundant resources and China's vast market, said Ma Youjun, an expert with the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences. It will also boost the development of Russia's Far East, according to Ma. ^ top ^

Li, von der Leyen discuss China-EU cooperation over phone (Xinhua)
2019-12-01
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spoke on the phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, and discussed China-European Union (EU) relations and cooperation on such issues as multilateralism, free trade and climate change. Li congratulated von der Leyen on assuming her new position and spoke highly of the current development of China-EU relations. He said that China and the EU are each other's major cooperative partners, and both are committed to upholding multilateralism and free trade. China has always firmly supported the process of European integration, the Chinese premier said, noting that the two sides focus on their broad common interests, and strengthen strategic communication and all-round cooperation, which is beneficial to both China and the EU, and the world at large. As the world's largest developing country, China still has a long way to go to realize modernization, Li said. He added that China will actively fulfill the commitments made in the Paris Agreement, make arduous efforts to address climate change, continuously improve the environment in the process of industrialization, urbanization and agricultural modernization, and work with the international community, including the EU, to tackle climate change. Li also welcomed new EU leaders to visit China for the 22nd China-EU Summit next year. For her part, von der Leyen said the fact that she held phone talks with Premier Li on the day of her inauguration indicates that the EU highly values its relations with China. The year 2020 will be a landmark for the development of EU-China relations as it will see a series of significant high-level exchanges between the two sides, von der Leyen said, noting that she looks forward to coming to China next year for the 22nd EU-China Summit. She said that the EU and China share broad common interests on such issues as sustainable development and China-EU investment agreement negotiation. Dealing with climate change is a priority of the new EU commission, she said, adding that the commission highly appreciates China's efforts on the issue and is willing to work with China to consolidate cooperation in addressing climate change and the reform of the World Trade Organization, in order to promote progress in EU-China relations. ^ top ^

China 2020 GDP growth target seen to be set at 'around 6 per cent' at top economic policy meeting (SCMP)
2019-12-06
In a tense atmosphere created by slowing Chinese growth, rising inflation and continued uncertainty whether trade tariffs will be rolled back as part of a deal with the United States, hundreds of senior Beijing officials, economic policymakers, provincial governors and heads of state-owned banks will convene for a major annual economic policymaking meeting later this month. The meeting will decide the economic policy priorities for next year, including setting growth and inflation targets and how much fiscal and monetary stimulus will be needed to meet those goals. The trade war, which has entered its 17th month with no immediate end in sight, will be just one of many economic problems to be discussed at the three-day Central Economic Work Conference at the tightly guarded Jingxi Hotel in Beijing. The world's second-largest economy is expected to continue to pursue policies that balance economic growth with risk prevention, employing modest measures to support growth without resorting to the massive stimulus seen after the global financial crisis a decade ago. But debate at this month's meeting is expected to include whether to take the steps needed to ensure that the growth rate remains at or above 6 per cent next year, how to defuse the nation's ticking debt time bomb and the consequences of a further decoupling of the Chinese and US economies. The government's management of the economy next year will be a big test for Beijing's top leadership, headed by President Xi Jinping, who has vowed to steer the world's most populous country towards the 2020 milestone of building a well-off society. Analysts widely expect the meeting to set a growth target of "around 6 per cent" next year, down from the target range of 6 per cent to 6.5 per cent for this year. The new target will be supported by an increase in the fiscal deficit ratio to 3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), the issuance of more than 3 trillion yuan (US$424 billion) of local special purpose bonds to support local government infrastructure projects and an accommodative monetary policy that modestly reduces the costs of borrowing for consumers and businesses, analysts expect. "Beijing has kept sending the message in recent months that the slowdown is gradual and this is OK as long as the labour market is good," said Louis Kuijs, who heads Asian economy research at Oxford Economics. The government should expand fiscal spending only modestly unless the headline growth drops significantly to 4 or 5 per cent, Kuijs added. However, further measures that break the connections between the Chinese and US economies cannot be ruled out in a US presidential election year, posing a great uncertainty for the Chinese economic outlook. "The relation with the US is the number one risk," Kuijs warned. Beijing and Washington continue to haggle over the details of their "phase one" deal almost two months after US President Donald Trump announced the outline of the agreement. Trump's comments this week that he might not agree to a deal until after the election in November has fuelled market expectations that bilateral relations could worsen further, with a negative impact on bilateral trade and investment. The continuous decline in the headline growth rate since 2011 has fuelled worries that China's economy, after four years of supply-side structural reforms, could enter a "vicious downward spiral," triggering rising calls from some policy advisers for Beijing to defend a 6 per cent growth rate. "We can no longer let the economic growth rate break the 6 per cent threshold … it is time to brake," Yu Yongding, former central bank adviser and a prominent government economist, wrote in an article published by Caijing Magazine on Monday. Analysts, meanwhile, are divided whether the Central Economic Work Conference will increase the inflation target next year. China's consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.8 per cent in October from a year earlier, well above the government's 3 per cent target for the full year, with pork prices more than doubling over the period, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. "If the GDP target is lowered but the CPI target is raised, it would increase market speculation of stagflation, which the government will want to avoid," said Zhou Hao, a senior emerging market economist of Commerzbank, who expects the government will keep the 2020 CPI target unchanged at 3 per cent. But Zhang Jun, chief economist of Morgan Stanley Huaxin Securities, expects the CPI target to be lifted to 3.5 per cent in 2020, to "create more room for monetary policy easing". On the surface, China still remains one of the fastest growing economies in the world. However, new risks, including increasing credit defaults, corporate bankruptcies and job losses, are now coming to the surface amid the slowdown. "At this point, it is definitely impossible for us to walk the old [debt-fuelled growth] road. The leadership knows this very well. It has pursued a variety of de-risking policies in recent years," said Mao Zhenghua, founder of China Chengxin Credit Rating Group. "China has a severe debt problem, which would already have triggered a crisis in traditional Western countries. A further policy loosening would increase the risk to a tipping point … We must be careful." Mao said the Central Economic Work Conference should focus on tackling financial risks and providing more tax relief. "If we previously spent 70 per cent of our energy on economic support and the rest on risk prevention, the balance now needs to be adjusted [to a ratio of about 50-50]," he argued. Lu Ting, Nomura's chief China economist who briefed Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and the State Council in mid-November on the economic outlook, believes that the Central Economic Work Conference will set a growth target of "around 6 per cent". "China has paid too much attention to the growth rate … and usually sets it too high," Lu said. "It's unnecessary to defend a number when no heavy [economic] shocks occur. No number is sacred and inviolable." The government can raise the fiscal deficit ratio to 3 per cent from this year's 2.8 per cent, while the quota for local special purpose bonds could be allowed to jump to 3.2 trillion yuan from 2.15 trillion yuan, he said. China has long claimed that it has ample toolkit to manage the slowdown, but it has shown restraint in using them. When meeting with the heads of six major international organisations last month, Premier Li explicitly ruled out an all-out stimulus programme to arrest the current slowdown. In the article published last week, People's Bank of China governor Yi Gang also rejected the use of unconventional monetary policies employed by Western economies – including quantitative easing and negative interest rates – to support the economy. ^ top ^

China pushing forward high-level opening-up: Chinese state councilor (Xinhua)
2019-12-05
China has widen market access on a large scale and is further promoting high-level opening-up, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Thursday. Wang made the remarks when he attended an event joined by friendship personnel from all circles of South Korea during his two-day visit to Seoul. "Not only have we over-fulfilled all the commitments we made when we joined the World Trade Organization, we have also further reduced the average tariff to 7.5 percent, much lower than that of developing countries and emerging economies," Wang said, adding that China's business environment ranking has jumped from the 78th to the 31st place over the past two years. China has largely lowered the threshold of market access, fully opened the manufacturing industry and is accelerating the opening-up of the service industry, he said. China will implement the new foreign investment law starting from Jan. 1 next year so as to provide a better investment environment for foreign investors, Wang added. In terms of China's economic achievements, Wang said that China has made great contributions to the world's development while realizing its own development. "China's contribution rate to world economic growth has remained above 30 percent for many years, becoming the main engine of global growth." Wang noted that China has lifted 850 million people out of poverty, contributing more than 70 percent to world poverty reduction. Meanwhile, China cut its carbon emissions by 45.8 percent in 2018 compared to that in 2005, which honored its commitment to the international community ahead of schedule and made great contributions to combating climate change, he added. ^ top ^

Cyber regulator requests app removal for privacy violation (Global Times)
2019-12-05
The Ministry of Public Security has requested some 100 companies to remove apps from app stores for illegal collection of private data, China's cybersecurity authority announced in a statement on Wednesday. It is part of regulator's broad efforts started since November to crack down on crimes related to private information violation. The public crackdown mainly focused on apps that violate users' privacy - for example by not providing a privacy agreement, or providing a vague description of the usage of private information or collecting unnecessary information. Listed apps cover industries including online education, health, e-commerce and financial services, the statement read. State-owned bank China Everbright Bank was also listed. China boasts the largest online population in the world. With rapid internet development, Chinese authorities have regularly publicized their ongoing efforts to protect people's privacy at the legislative and law enforcement level. But criticisms have never been absent. Citing a study by pro-consumer technology website Comparitech about biometric data use in the world, the South China Morning Post reported Thursday that China ranked the "world's worst" for invasive use of biometric data without proper data protection. Zhu Wei, a communications researcher at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing who specializes in cyberspace security, said China had in fact introduced adequate laws to ensure people's privacy back in 2012. "China's legislation on protecting private data, especially biological information, are the strictest in the world, and the judicial interpretation by the Supreme People's Court has included biometric data protection," Zhu said. "In addition to the relevant legislation, there are also some regulations on cybersecurity issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China at all levels, which have more protection for privacy," Zhu said. Xin Haiguang, a senior IT commentator, said that users' private information, including location and age, was a component of big data and could be used to analyze preferences and needs, information that is very valuable for companies. "When these companies get your information, they know what you like and what you have been searching for online," Xin said. "Then they can customize advertisements for you, which can boost customer experience." ^ top ^

China to take multi-pronged measures to keep employment stable (Xinhua)
2019-12-05
China will take robust and multi-pronged measures to ensure that employment remains stable. The government will scale up support for flexible employment, boost job opportunities for people with disabilities, and tackle the stubborn issue of wage arrears affecting migrant workers with legal means. A host of steps was decided upon at the State Council's executive meeting on Wednesday chaired by Premier Li Keqiang. Figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics last month showed that 11.93 million new urban jobs were created in first ten months this year, meeting the yearly target of 11 million ahead of schedule. The surveyed urban unemployment rate in October at the national level was 5.1 percent, down 0.1 percentage point over the previous month. "We will face even greater risks and challenges next year. We must give higher priority to keeping employment stable as this is the key in ensuring that our economy does not slide out of the proper range," Li said. It was emphasized at the Wednesday's meeting that local governments must fully appreciate the significance of stable employment. They are required to introduce more measures that support job creation, and promptly repeal unwarranted regulations that hinder flexible employment. More efforts will be made to catalyze business start-ups and innovation. The terms of guaranteed loans to micro and small start-ups will be eased. Jobs for the public good will be expanded in areas of weakness related to people's lives. The government will intensify support to businesses to keep their payrolls stable. The current policies of lowering the premiums of unemployment insurance and workplace injury compensation insurance, partial reimbursement of unemployment insurance contributions for employers who keep their payrolls, and subsidies for in-job vocational training will continue for another year. "Employment is essential to people's well-being. It is the wellspring of wealth and the foundation for social stability," Li said. "Nothing big would go wrong next year if we could keep employment stable." The meeting required that the vocational upskilling program be fully implemented and vocational training for essential skills be enhanced. The employment safety net will be strengthened to help the unemployed living in difficulty meet their essential needs. For instance, those who have not found full-time jobs yet are no longer eligible for the allowance of flexible employment insurance will be able to stay on this benefit for another year. To better leverage the Employment Security Fund for Disabled People to boost their employment, it was decided at the meeting to improve the fund's collecting methods and incentivize more employers to raise the percentage of disabled people on their payrolls. The job needs of disabled people as well as vocational training and employment services will be prioritized in the use of the fund to help people with disabilities land higher quality jobs. "We must take multi-pronged steps to keep existing jobs and add new ones, and introduce measures that boost job creation as quickly as possible. This year, thanks to the reform in transforming government functions and our mass entrepreneurship initiative, an average of nearly 20,000 businesses are newly registered every day. This has greatly eased the employment pressure," Li said. It was underlined at the meeting that migrant workers have made significant and unique contributions to the country's development. They should be remunerated in full and on time for their hard work. Legal means are needed to promote the fundamental resolution of the wage arrears these people face. Those at the Wednesday's meeting also adopted a new regulation on ensuring wage payments to migrant workers to resolve the problem of wage arrears faced by these people with legal means. The regulation clearly defines the primary responsibility of employers, the responsibility of local governments and the responsibility of regulatory authorities. It stipulates that wages of migrant workers must be paid in full and on time. According to the new regulation, no construction will begin and no building permit be issued if the funding requirements of the project are not met. And a blacklist of employers who delay paying up the migrant workers will be set up. The meeting urged local governments to take the wage arrears in government-invested projects as the top priority. Governments at all levels, state-owned enterprises and government-affiliated institutions must incur no new wage arrears under any reason. "We must ensure that the essential needs of the unemployed people are met, and fully protect the rights of people with disabilities and migrant workers," Li urged. ^ top ^

China's ethnic groups face end to affirmative action in education, taxes, policing (SCMP)
2019-12-05
China is set to scale back its affirmative action policies for ethnic minorities, which could result in curbs on education opportunities as well as removal of tax benefits and other subsidies for as many as 110 million people. That's more than four times the population of Australia. A police crackdown on ethnic groups that abuse the law could also be coming, along with tougher anti-corruption measures. In tandem, the state will expand campaigns that stress national identity over ethnic roots, a drive that has been spurred by the widely reported conflicts with Muslim communities in the far western Xinjiang region. Chinese President Xi Jinping has thrown his weight behind the move. In a speech in September, he said "national role models" were needed for ethnic unity and progress. "All citizens of all ethnic groups are equal before the law," he said. Ethnic minority affairs have been at the centre of heated and controversial debates in China for several years, not least because Han Chinese have increasingly complained about what they see as unfair benefits and subsidies handed out to minorities. The South China Morning Post has learned that Beijing ran studies in the past two years to assess the impact and repercussions of the policy changes. Some provinces have already started to make the shift, especially in education fields. The existing policies amount to "reverse discrimination" on Han Chinese, said Mei Xinyu, a researcher at the Ministry of Commerce. "[The ethnic minorities] receive bonus points in all national exams for entering high school, colleges, civil service and higher level education. From birth to death, they have so many privileges," he said on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform. Affirmative action in education is perhaps the most controversial of the policies and is also open to wide abuse. Ethnic minority students receive bonus marks when they sit the all-important college entrance exams, and this has led to Han Chinese fraudulently trying to change their ethnicity to take advantage. In addition, Beijing allowed tax revenues to stay in minority regions for investment in local infrastructure and ethnic groups were also seen as receiving more lenient treatment by law enforcement for crimes such as drug trafficking. All that is now set to change. Preferential policies for ethnic minorities are already being rolled back in a number of regions, according to a Beijing-based researcher specialised in ethnic minority issues. "In college entrance exams, a number of provinces this year scrapped the practice of adding extra marks for students from ethnic minority backgrounds, while other places reduced the additional marks by half," said the researcher, who asked that his name not be used because of the sensitivity of the issue. One example of this is in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region in the northwest, where students of Hui ethnic background and others receive an extra 10 to 30 points on their college entrance exam. Ningxia will abolish the practice next year, according to a report by state tabloid Global Times. Criminal and corruption cases involving ethnic minorities were also in for different treatment, said an ethnic affairs researcher in western China. "In regions beset by drug trafficking, convicted members of ethnic groups often receive lighter sentences than their Han counterparts, but this is changing," said the researcher, who also declined to be named. Both of the researchers said that when it came to corruption, Beijing was cracking down on cadres regardless of their ethnic background. "Corruption among officials from ethnic groups in Tibet and Xinjiang has been a thorn in the side of the Communist Party because of worries about stability in the regions, but we should now expect more heads to roll among ethnic minority officials," the Beijing researcher said. Again, that's already happening. Nur Bekri – an ethnic Uygur, former chairman of the Xinjiang region and head of the National Energy Administration – was detained in a corruption investigation in September last year and this month sentenced to life in prison by a court in Shenyang, Liaoning. Gao Zhenyu, an ethnic Hui and former head of the Religious and Ethnic Affairs Commission in the Ningxia Hui region, was placed under investigation for alleged "serious violations of law and discipline" in July this year. The Chinese president's speech on September 27 was a significant statement that showed how Beijing's policy towards ethnic groups was shifting, said James Leibold, an associate professor and researcher into China's ethnic affairs at La Trobe University in Melbourne. Xi was quoted by Xinhua as saying, "We must make sure all are treated equally and in accordance to the law, ensure citizens of all ethnic groups enjoy equal rights and perform their duties on an equal footing." The speech was "the most formal and comprehensive statement" of his views on ethnic policy published by state media, said Leibold, who added that it was the first time Xi had elaborated on the policy since the 2014 Central Ethnic Work Forum. China's approach to ethnic groups under former presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao focused on economic development in deprived regions, while Xi was stressing intensive educational and cultural propaganda work and Chinese culture as a core foundation of the nation, Leibold said. "Another signature of Xi's approach is the effort to use the legal system to protect territorial sovereignty and ethnic unity as well as the equality of everyone before the law," he said. "That signals an important stepping back from the preferential policy, which are the cornerstones of regional ethnic autonomy." ^ top ^

White paper reveals how courts are using internet to improve efficiency (China Daily)
2019-12-04
China's top court issued a white paper on courts' achievements in judicial efficiency through internet on Wednesday. Titled "Chinese Courts and Internet Judiciary", the white paper, unveiled by the Supreme People's Court in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, clarifies how courts nationwide use advanced technologies, including big data and artificial intelligence, in case handlings and how they offer convenience for litigants by improving legal services. It is the first white paper on the internet judiciary of Chinese courts as well as the first piece on the court innovation and development concerning internet around the world. With fast growth of the internet and technologies, a large number of disputes happen online, "bringing challenges and opportunities for our courts, and also pushing us to find new ways to hear such cases more efficiently and effectively," said Li Shaoping, vice-president of the top court. In August, the country established its first court to specialize in handling internet-related disputes in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. A year later, other two such courts were set up in Beijing and Guangzhou, Guangdong province. All legal procedures, including case filing, trial and ruling delivery, can be conducted online in these courts. As per the white paper, the three courts have heard 118,764 internet-related disputes as of Oct 31, of which, more than 88,000 were concluded. It also said the courts take 45 minutes on average in an online hearing and 38 days in concluding a case. ^ top ^

Xi meets foreign attendees to Imperial Springs Int'l Forum, calls for upholding multilateralism (Xinhua)
2019-12-04
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that all countries should shoulder their respective responsibilities, carry out constructive dialogue, seek common ground while shelving differences, and uphold multilateralism, to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Xi made the remarks when meeting in Beijing with foreign attendees to the 2019 Imperial Springs International Forum held in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, on Dec. 1-2. The international order is now at a critical crossroads, as the world is facing a choice of either multilateralism or unilateralism, Xi said. He noted that although the current international order is not perfect, it can be carefully maintained with reforms and improvement, instead of being scrapped or started all over again. As the world is undergoing profound changes rarely seen in a century, the relations between China and the rest of the world are also experiencing historic changes, the Chinese president said. "As a big nation with a population of nearly 1.4 billion, China can make the biggest contribution to human society by running its own affairs well," he said. "We are also willing to shoulder our due international obligations and responsibilities." Xi briefed the delegates on China's state governance as well as his opinions on the current international situation. He said upholding the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the fundamental reason why the People's Republic of China had achieved continuous development and stability over the past 70 years. "We will unswervingly continue down the path that we have chosen," he said, reiterating the country's commitment to reform and opening up and expressing his full confidence in China's future. China has always maintained that people of various countries have the right to choose a development path that suits their own national conditions. No country or nation could achieve its development and prosperity through copying others', nor is there a particular path that could guide all countries and nations towards prosperity, he noted. China is determined to prove with its own practice that a strong nation is not necessarily a hegemony, and this is decided, first and foremost, by China's 5,000-year historical and cultural tradition, which advocates the ideal of "pursuing a just cause for the common good," instead of I-win-you-lose zero-sum games, Xi said. He said China is committed to maintaining equality and mutual benefit in international relations, increasing mutual understanding and carrying out mutually beneficial cooperation with all countries for the joint building of a community with a shared future for humanity. The foreign delegates, including former Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, former Tanzanian President Benjamin William Mkapa, and former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, spoke highly of China's important contribution to safeguarding world peace and promoting sustainable development. They expressed the hope that China will continue playing a key leading role in tackling global challenges, including climate change. They told Xi that the world needs to uphold multilateralism, improve global governance, and build a more just, fair and diversified international order. The foreign delegates also pledged to work with China to uphold multilateralism, and jointly build the Belt and Road as well as a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect and win-win cooperation. ^ top ^

China outlines integrated development of Yangtze River Delta (Xinhua)
2019-12-01
The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council on Sunday jointly issued an outline of the integrated regional development of the Yangtze River Delta. The document outlined targets, requirements and measures to boost the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and build a regional cluster of high-quality development. As one of China's most economically active, open and innovative regions, the Yangtze River Delta boasts strategic significance in the country's modernization and further opening-up, which makes its regional integration crucial for leading the country's high-quality development and building a modern economic system. The outline, mapping development for a 358,000-square km expanse that encompasses Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Anhui Province and Shanghai Municipality, consists of 12 chapters. Tasks specified in the outline include establishing a coordinated innovative industry system, enhancing connectivity of infrastructure, strengthening environmental protection, advancing public services and building the Shanghai free trade zone under high standards. The document detailed development goals to be achieved by 2025 and offered visions into 2035. By 2025, the Yangtze River Delta is to see substantial development and basically realize integration in the science and innovation industry, infrastructure, environment and public services, said the document. To fulfill integrated development in the science and innovation sector by 2025, the ratio of the region's R&D spending to its gross domestic product (GDP) should top 3 percent, while its output of high-tech industries should account for 18 percent of total industrial output. In the same period, connectivity of infrastructure will be represented by improvements in railway and expressway density and a 5G network coverage of 80 percent. The outline also laid out environment standards to be met by 2025 in terms of PM2.5 density and energy consumption per unit of GDP. By 2025, accomplishments in public services should put per capita fiscal expenditure at 21,000 yuan (about 2,987 U.S. dollars) and extend the average life expectancy to 79 years, according to the outline. The outline also called for a unified market system marked by openness and the free flow of resources. Looking further into the future, the outline envisioned the Yangtze River Delta as the most influential and robust driving force of the nation's development by 2035. ^ top ^

Rare documentary reveals counter-terrorism perseverance in Xinjiang (Global Times)
2019-12-06
China's first documentary on its overall counter-terrorism efforts in Xinjiang aired Thursday night prompted wide discussions among the audience with never-seen-before real crime scenes of terrorism, which highlighted the hefty prices China has paid and the country's resolution in eradicating terrorism. A lot of the video and audio clips in the English-language documentary were disclosed for the first time as concrete evidence of the horrible crimes wreaked by terrorists in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It also revealed hard evidence of interactions between terrorists and overseas masterminds. "The authorities did not publish the video and details of terrorist attacks in Xinjiang before out of concern they may cause panic. This proves China had paid a high price in fighting terrorism, and the international community should have a clear understanding of this," Li Wei, a counter-terrorism expert at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations in Beijing, told the Global Times. Li noted that the video and audio footages justify China's Xinjiang policies in countering terrorism, including launching the vocational education and training centers, which have been highly effective in de-radicalizing and fighting extremist forces. China has spared no efforts in its fight against terrorists, who are often well-trained and take part in armed confrontations with counter-terrorism forces. Terrorist groups, including the "East Turkistan Islamic Movement," were found to help train terrorists in Xinjiang, experts and sources told the Global Times. Xinjiang has long been the main battlefield against terrorism. According to incomplete data, from 1990 to 2016, Xinjiang endured thousands of terrorist attacks that killed large numbers of innocent people and hundreds of police officers. "Some Western countries spread the idea that the 2009 Urumqi riots were ethnic clashes triggered by repression. Chinese experts say that's illogical, given the 9/11 attacks. The anti-China interpretation shows the double-standard approach adopted by some," the Thursday documentary said. Chinese authorities believe the "East Turkistan Islamic Movement," or ETIM, a shadowy Xinjiang-based group with alleged ties to al-Qaeda, organized the Tiananmen Square terrorist attack in 2013. And Chinese police said they have clear evidence that the incident was linked to separatist forces outside Xinjiang. Recent reports have revealed that there are hundreds of Chinese fighters in Syria, and some "jihadists" have brought their war home to Xinjiang. Group Captain Sultan Hali from Pakistan Air Force said a number of Muslims from China's Xinjiang were trained as "jihadists" in training centers in Syria. "When the Soviet-Afghan war ended in 1989, some of them went back. But most of them were not de-indoctrinated, and were used as tools," he said. Li told the Global Times that members of the ETIM terrorist group used to have secret trainings in mountainous and remote areas in Xinjiang. By colluding with overseas terrorists in the Middle East and studying their attack skills, these terrorists develop their own skills in making weapons and plotting attacks, and even battled counter-terrorism forces, Li said. A source who joined a counter-terrorism operation in Xinjiang told the Global Times that these well-trained terrorists, who were familiar with the local environment, usually hid in caves in mountainous areas. They were good at anti-reconnaissance operations and fiercely resisted special forces. In 2007, three members of the ETIM re-entered Xinjiang and trained more than 80 terrorists in the Pamir areas, Li said, noting that China has made great efforts in fighting these extremely dangerous terrorists. Police officers in Xinjiang work on the frontline of the fight against terrorism. According to data from China Central Television, from 2013 to 2016, a total of 127 police officers in Xinjiang sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Experts believe terrorism is a global threat, and no country can win the war against terrorism on its own. In the face of the threat of terrorism and extremism, Xinjiang has taken a series of measures, including establishing laws and regulations, and launching effective counter-terrorism operations. According to media reports found by the Global Times, the Xinjiang region launched a special counter-terrorism campaign in May 2014. Authorities have cracked down on 1,588 terrorist groups, and 12,995 terrorists and 2,052 explosive materials had been seized in Xinjiang since 2014, read a white paper on regional work on counter-terrorism, de-extremism and human rights protection released in March. China has also enhanced international cooperation to crack down on terrorist forces in Xinjiang. China has joined 12 global counter-terrorism conventions and played an active role in international multilateral mechanisms, including the international criminal police organization, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum, Liu Yuejin, China's top counter-terrorism official, said at a press conference on Wednesday. No violent terrorist attacks have happened in Xinjiang in three years. Publishing these videos would let more people and some Western media know more about China's current counter-terrorism policies in Xinjiang, Zheng said. "It seems impossible to correct the wrong opinions of the West toward China's Xinjiang counter-terrorism policies. But the documentary would open a window for those who want to know the truth," Zheng said. ^ top ^

China Foundation for Human Rights Development condemns U.S. House passage of Xinjiang-related bill (Xinhua)
2019-12-05
The China Foundation for Human Rights Development Thursday strongly condemned and protested against the passage of a Xinjiang-related bill by the U.S. House of Representatives. Disregarding the fact that basic human rights of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are well-protected, the so-called "Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019" distorted and smeared Xinjiang's counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts, the foundation said in a statement. "It is a gross interference in China's internal affairs and the 1.4 billion Chinese people will never accept it." "Only people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang know the best and have the best say in the situation of human rights in the region. The past few years have marked a significant milestone in the development of human rights in Xinjiang," said the statement. Given that in a certain period of time, violent terrorist incidents had frequently occurred and brought about great suffering to local people of all ethnic groups, Xinjiang has taken a series of counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures and local security situation has greatly improved, it said. Currently, the situation in Xinjiang features economic development, social stability, ethnic unity and people living and working in peace and contentment, the statement said. "The human rights situation in Xinjiang is getting better and better and has won positive comments from the international community." Some U.S. politicians turn a deaf ear to the heavy innocent casualties in terrorist attacks in Xinjiang and turn a blind eye to the progress Xinjiang has made in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, as well as in the protection of human rights, according to the statement. They are not really concerned about human rights in China, but have ulterior motives, said the statement. "Their purpose is to tarnish China's image, disrupt China's stability and contain China's development." The United States is known for its notorious human rights violations, such as racial and gender discrimination, and a flood of guns. It waged overseas wars that caused severe human rights disasters to relevant countries and regions. However, U.S. politicians always cast a veil over those facts, highlighting the U.S. double standard on counter-terrorism and human rights issues, and fully exposing its hypocrisy and extreme self-interest, the statement said. The foundation warned the United States to stop this ridiculous political farce which confuses right and wrong, and stop threatening and interfering with China's sovereignty and human rights. It also called on the international community to fully recognize the hypocrisy of the United States on the human rights issue and enhance their understanding of the real situation in China. ^ top ^

Major Hong Kong anti-government rally and march get police permission (SCMP)
2019-12-06
Hong Kong police have approved a mass rally and march planned for Sunday by the Civil Human Rights Front, after a series of rejections for pro-democracy group's events. Approval was granted on the condition that the front should observe police instructions on the route and start time, and that the force could order the march to be stopped if there is a threat to public order. Organisers would not be allowed to raise funds at the event. The front's convenor Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit said on Thursday that the arrangements had been worked out with police. "They are not perfect but we accept them anyway. We are confident that the rally and march will be peaceful, so long as the police do not provoke participants," said Sham, who will be a Sha Tin district councillor starting in January, having won a seat at the recent district council elections. The front organised the march to mark Human Rights Day next Tuesday. Observed by the international community every year on December 10, it commemorates the date in 1948 when the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sunday's march was scheduled to set off from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay at 3pm, bound for Chater Road in Central. Participants would be allowed to rally in the park from as early as midday. The entire demonstration should be finished by 10pm, according to the police requirements. Officers asked the front to ensure that the event is conducted in a lawful and orderly manner; participants should not threaten anyone, and no Hong Kong or national flags should be desecrated. They also asked the front to report to the force if the number of participants was significantly bigger or smaller than the expected 32,000, and to arrange for at least 200 marshals to help maintain order. The front has been behind some of the biggest protests since the political crisis began in June, sparked by the now-withdrawn extradition bill, including one on June 16 which drew an estimated 2 million people. Sunday's rally and march will be the first organised by the front to receive police approval. Its plan to hold a rally and march in Victoria Park in mid-August was turned down by police, who approved a rally in the park only. The group's other rally plans in October were also rejected. Last Sunday, police approved three marches organised by other groups. The biggest, from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hung Hom, quickly degenerated into violence, with police firing tear gas at the marchers, who blocked roads. Hong Kong has been gripped by six months of social unrest. The mass demonstrations have since morphed into a wider anti-government movement, fuelled by alleged police brutality, and the push for more democracy. ^ top ^

Motion to impeach Hong Kong Chief Exec. Carrie Lam rejected at legislature by pro-Beijing camp (HKFP)
2019-12-05
A motion proposed by the democrats to impeach Chief Executive Carrie Lam has been rejected at the legislature owing to opposition by the pro-Beijing camp. Twenty-five pro-democracy lawmakers put forward a motion to form an independent investigative committee to examine Lam's conduct for any serious breach of the law and dereliction of duty. 26 voted "yes" and 36 voted "no." The motion – as tabled under Article 73(9) of the Basic Law – was proposed in June, but the legislature was stormed by protesters on July 1 and entered summer break early. The council resumed proceedings in October but the debate was delayed until Wednesday. Large scale protests against the now-withdrawn extradition bill are set to enter their sixth month next week. But the movement has morphed into a larger one demanding democracy and an investigation into the police use of force. When proposing the motion, Civic Party lawmaker Alvin Yeung said the government wrongly thought the conflict could be resolved by handing out cash and provide more subsidised housing. "No one had too little freedom and dignity to lose in our society. Our compatriots took to the streets with the knowledge they might be subject to police brutality and they might be jailed for multiple years if convicted," he said. "There's circumstantial evidence suggesting arrestees suffered violence and extrajudicial abuse during police custody. But they love their city, so deeply that they risked their personal freedom and dignity for the freedom and dignity of all Hong Kong people," he added. He said the District Council election – where the pro-democracy camp won in a landslide – reflected that "Hong Kong people have had enough of this government." "That is why we have to impeach Carrie Lam," he said. Democratic Party lawmaker Wu Chi-wai said Lam "100 per cent committed dereliction of duty" by not listening to the public, using the police force to suppress the protests, and misleading Hongkongers. "The public asked you to form an independent commission of inquiry. After thinking for six months, after the District Council election, you said there will be an independent review committee. What kind of response is that?" he said. "Many peaceful protests [turned violent] because of provocation by the police." The independent review committee suggested by Lam will look into the causes of the protests, but will not probe police behaviour. Starry Lee, chair of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), said her party's members and supporters were angry at the government as well. "I received messages from them criticising the government's mistakes when handling the extradition bill, as well as the handling of the anti-government actions including rioting, damaging property, harming people, blocking roads and setting fires – it was far from the public's expectation," she said. She said government departments have not been united in helping police to end the violence. "We still see a lot of unverified rumours online. The police are the only ones who tried to refute them. Where are the government information officers?" she said. Pro-Beijing Business and Professional Alliance lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok said the government has had deficiencies in handling incidents since June. "But it is not objective and factual to say that the chief executive committed a serious breach of law and dereliction of duty," he said. He cited cases of violent protests and said those who violated the law should be prosecuted for rioting, which can carry a 10-year jail setence. He said there was an existing mechanism to investigate the police. DAB lawmaker Ann Chiang, however, said an independent commission of inquiry should be set up: "We need to prove the innocence of the police force," she said. ^ top ^

Hong Kong's embattled MTR Corporation reveals it will incur HK$1.6 billion in costs from protests (SCMP)
2019-12-05
Hong Kong's political and social unrest has dealt a heavy blow to rail operator MTR Corporation this year, with the embattled firm saying it will incur HK$1.6 billion (US$205 million) in costs. The government-controlled company on Thursday revealed for the first time the financial exposure arising from the protests, which centred on lower revenue from train services, repair costs for damaged facilities, extra expenses for strengthening security and concessions to tenants of its retail space. As a result, the corporation warned of a significant decline in profits from a year ago for the financial year ending December 31. Hong Kong Federation of Railway Trade Unions vice-chairman Tam Kin-chiu said MTR management told him that despite the additional expenses and reduced income, the rail operator could still be profitable this financial year. "Since the MTR is still supported by its rental and property business, despite the additional expenses for its rail operation, the management estimates that it could still make profits this financial year," he said. Last year, the company's profit from underlying business grew 7.1 per cent to HK$11.26 billion. The beleaguered firm emerged as a target of radicals in August – two months after anti-government demonstrations broke out – after they accused it of bowing to pressure from Beijing following a scathing attack by mainland Chinese media. The outlets accused MTR of facilitating the actions of mobs by laying on extra trains during protests. The rail operator has since taken a tougher stance against protesters by obtaining a court injunction to prevent disruptive acts on its network and closing stations in advance of demonstrations. But it denied it kowtowed to Beijing's pressure. The company, which currently carries nearly 5 million passengers a day, revealed that its patronage had been falling since July, with a decline of 27.4 per cent in October and 27.2 per cent in November from the same period last year. "The MTR should reflect on why Hongkongers are giving up on taking its trains," lawmaker Jeremy Tam Man-ho of the opposition Civic Party said. When the government's ban on people wearing facial coverings during protests took effect on October 5, MTR suspended services on the entire network for the day. The following day, service hours on most rail services were shortened until December 1, only returning to normal after that. During protests, it shut down stations temporarily at short notice. As of November 24, radicals had caused extensive damage to 85 of 94 rail stations and 62 of 68 Light Rail stops. More than 1,900 turnstiles, 1,100 ticketing and top-up machines, 1,200 surveillance cameras, 202 lifts and escalators, as well as 190 roller shutters were damaged. Some 54 heavy railway trains and 16 Light Rail vehicles had also been damaged. Transport sector lawmaker Frankie Yick Chi-ming said it was no surprise to hear about the losses incurred by the firm. "A lot of revenue generated from its operations, however, is from property businesses, I guess there may not be a deficit for its overall financial results," he said. Francis Lun Sheung-nim, chief executive of brokerage GEO Securities, said he expected more financial exposure would arise from the protests, which show no sign of abating. "It will only get worse," Lun said, adding that since June he had maintained his "sell" recommendation on the stock. "It is a public secret that the MTR Corp is the second enemy of radical protesters after police, and they call it the 'Communist Party Rail'." MTR shares were up 35 HK cents, or 0.81 per cent, to HK$43.55 before the company announced its profit warning on Thursday. Despite MTR's financial challenges, union chief Tam expressed hope that the rail giant would stick to the established wage adjustment mechanism and reward staff for their hard work in dealing with the radicals' vandalism. "I hope the MTR Corp will offer us a pay rise next year in accordance with the current pay adjustment mechanism considering the contribution and hard work of the staff during these difficult times. We also hope our year-end bonuses will remain the same," he said. For 2019, other than the protest-related loss, MTR's results were hurt by HK$2.43 billion in provisions from a construction scandal involving Hung Hom station and a rail joint venture in Britain called First MTR South Western Trains. "The reduced profit was because of its poor supervision on the works at Hung Hom station," lawmaker Tam said. The corporation said that owing to the impact of the social unrest, underlying business profit this year would be less than that of last year, but would have been higher without the total provisions. ^ top ^

HKSAR gov't ramps up stimulus to help firms, residents through economic recession (Xinhua)
2019-12-04
The government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday announced more relief measures worth more than 4 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 510 million U.S. dollars) amid ongoing economic hardship. At a press briefing, Financial Secretary Paul Chan elaborated on all the nine new measures, from reduction of water and sewage services charges to subsidies on power use and instalment tax payment. "For this round of measures, most of them are targeted towards supporting businesses, especially small and medium enterprises," Chan said, stressing that supporting businesses will help safeguard jobs, which is the number one priority at present. Chan added that there are also measures designed to benefit individuals, citing the increase in the allowance for people receiving training. The new package of economic stimulus came as the latest effort of the HKSAR government to help businesses and residents fend off impacts of an economic downturn. A total of 25 billion Hong Kong dollars (3.19 billion U.S. dollars) have been allocated in the altogether four rounds of relief measures adopted since August. An International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Mission has expressed support for the HKSAR government's various policies to support the economy and safeguard financial stability in recent months. Hong Kong economy, already suffering from the lackluster global trade, started to worsen in an unprecedented pace in the third quarter of the year as escalating violent incidents disrupted business activity, scared off visitors and caused severe damages to public and private property. The unrest in Hong Kong has dealt a heavy blow to the local economy, depressing private consumption and investment and weakening the confidence of global investors, Chan said. London-based consulting firm IHS Markit said Wednesday in a report that Hong Kong economy is on course for the weakest quarter in 21 years in the fourth quarter of 2019. Bernard Aw, the principal economist at IHS Markit, said business activity shrank at the steepest rate on record amid the escalating social unrest and predicted a GDP fall of 5 percent in the fourth quarter unless there is a dramatic recovery in December. The IMF Staff Mission predicted Hong Kong's real GDP will contract by 1.2 percent this year. Chan warned that more residents will be affected if the violence continues and urged concerted efforts from all sectors of the community to stop violence and restore order so that residents can live a peaceful life again and businesses can operate normally. ^ top ^

Interview: Motherland always backs Macao, boosts confidence: Chief Executive Chui Sai On (Xinhua)
2019-12-05
Chief Executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chui Sai On has said that the motherland is Macao's strongest supporter, which supports the region in the implementation and practice of the "one country, two systems," "Macao people governing Macao" and the high degree of autonomy, and in strictly abiding by China's constitution and the Basic Law of the Macao SAR. Chui, born here in 1957, is about to end his second term, wrapping-up his 10 years at the chief executive office. In his work review titled "Ten years of Policy Implementation for Achieving Long-term Stability," "to advocate the core value of being loyal to the country and to Macao" was among those highlighted concepts. Chui told Xinhua in a recent interview that Macao has seen a long tradition of being loyal to the country and to Macao even before it returned to the motherland in 1999. Since 1999, the tradition has been maintained at different levels of government, communities and in education. Since Macao returned to the motherland, Chui said, China's constitution and the Basic Law have been promoted in the whole society, laying a legal foundation for the region. Communities loyal to the country and to Macao have joined hands with the SAR government in economic development and livelihood improvement, Chui said, adding that the education sector have also spared no effort in promoting the core value of being loyal to the country and to Macao, which will hopefully be inherited generation by generation. All educational institutions in Macao hoist the national flag, where patriotism education is a regular practice. The SAR government launched a program in the curriculum year of 2004-2005 to improve knowledge and passion of both Macao teachers and students on the motherland. Some 65,000 people have since participated in the program. Since 2016, more than 3,000 Macao students have toured the Chinese mainland for study and cultural exchanges under a government-sponsored plan. A great number of cultural exchange activities between the Chinese mainland and Macao have boosted the mutual understanding between both education sectors. Chui said these activities help Macao people know more about the motherland's history thus encourage the compatriots to nurture the loyalty to the country and to the region. Since returning to the motherland 20 years ago, Macao has been finding it relatively easy to tackle problems, and this should mostly be due to the widely-cherished loyalty to both the country and the region, said Chui. He therefore stressed that to nurture the loyalty shall be a long-term and systematic work. Macao saw a proud per-capita GDP of over 82,000 U.S. dollars in 2018 and a humble unemployment rate of 1.8 percent in August, 2019. "Economic development and improvement of livelihood have been the important guideline during my 10 years at the chief executive office," said Chui. He outlined Macao's four-facet future role as a combination of an international tourism and leisure center, a platform for trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, an active participant of the Belt and Road Initiative and one of four center cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He praised Macao's achievements in building the tourism center and in boosting ties between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, hoping to see a bigger role for Macao to play in enhancing people-to-people exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative. The chief executive said Macao has been prepared to construct a technical innovation corridor for Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao. "Talents and education are crucial for the future," Chui said, adding that Macao encourages its youth to participate in the Greater Bay Area development and welcomes people from Guangdong to come to Macao for education and career development. In need of talents in sectors of conference and expo industry, cultural innovation, Chinese traditional medicine, special finance, high-end services, Chui said Macao wishes to both cultivate local talents and recruit from other areas. "We are pleased to be allowed into the country's development scheme. We do cherish the opportunity," said Chui, promising to wisely implement policies of the central government and actively participating in regional cooperation and sustainable development. Chui noticed the risks which is posed by the overwhelming reliance on gaming industry, vowing to continue the development of a more diversified economy. "Developing is our must-do, as we attach great importance to people's basic needs including education, health, social security and disaster prevention and diminishing," said Chui. "People's livelihood is our top priority." In the past, in face of the outcome of the international financial crisis and a growth slide-down, the SAR government has always prioritized safeguarding people's livelihood, said Chui. The government has spared no effort in stimulating the economy, stabilizing the employment through financial and aid programs and controlling the impact of economic slow-down on people's life. Chui hailed the central government for caring for Macao residents' welfare, saying with the country's support, the SAR government put forward a development scheme in which people's livelihood improvement is highlighted. Chui said the SAR government has been trying to benefit all residents in service and income. "I have been working in Macao for over 30 years, observing that hearts of Macao people and the mainland people are bonding together, which cements the base for the loyalty to the country and to Macao," said the chief executive. Citing the People's Liberation Army's aid efforts in the aftermath of the typhoon Hato in 2017, the chief executive expressed gratitude to the central government, as it always lends helping hand promptly when Macao is faced with difficulties. He also recalled the SARS epidemic in 2003, which dragged down Macao's tourism-dependent economy. Macao's recovery is much attributed to the central government's aid in medicine and individuals tourism boosting. "As to the principle of 'one country, two systems', the country means the strongest support," said Chui. He also praised Macao people for their passionate loyalty to the country, as when disasters take place in the mainland, many Macao people rush to the affected areas in aid efforts, donate fund and other resources. "Their love and caring for the mainland compatriots are sincere," said Chui. Nearing the conclusion of his 10 years at the chief executive office, Chui chose "stability" as the key word during his reign. He said Macao people and the mainland compatriots share a future for a long run instead of a short term. ^ top ^

Taiwan not a top priority for Beijing because it's too distracted, Taipei mayor says (SCMP)
2019-12-05
Beijing has too many other issues to worry about at the moment – from protests in Hong Kong to a slowing economy – to give much thought to Taiwan, the mayor of Taipei, sometimes seen as a potential future president, said on Thursday. Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je, who has advocated for better relations with the mainland, said that while Taiwan was important to the mainland, it was not currently the "core issue" that Beijing likes to portray. "They say that Taiwan is a core issue, but I'm very clear that it isn't. Taiwan is not China's core issue," he said. "In comparison to Hong Kong, to Xinjiang, Taiwan is not on the top of the priority list. For mainland China, there are their economic problems, their GDP has already fallen to below 7 per cent," Ko added in an interview, where he switched between Mandarin and English. Hong Kong has been rocked by anti-government protests for nearly six months, the biggest challenge to President Xi Jinping since he took charge in 2012. China has come under international opprobrium for locking up a million or more Muslims in the western region of Xinjiang as part of what it calls a deradicalisation programme. In any case, Ko said, the United States – Taiwan's most important international backer even in the absence of diplomatic ties – would not let Taiwan become formally independent or be taken over by the mainland. While the 60-year-old Ko decided not to run for the presidency for elections scheduled for January 11, the position he holds is traditionally a stepping stone to the presidency. The three presidents preceding current leader President Tsai Ing-wen all served as Taipei mayor. If Tsai wins re-election – and polling is on her side – she cannot then stand for a third term in 2024. Ko, who this year formed a new political party, the Taiwan People's Party, said it was still too early for him to say if he would run in 2024, adding he would decide when his mayoral term ran out in three years. "Do what you should do now and let God decide," he said. A surgeon turned politician, Ko is known for his colourful personal style. Last year he made a rap video for his mayoral re-election campaign called "Do the right thing", which quickly went viral. Ko has sought his own path between Taiwan's two main parties, Tsai's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party and the Kuomintang, which favours close ties with China. Visiting the United States earlier this year, Ko told the conservative Heritage Foundation that Taiwan can be close to the United States but also friendly with China. In July, Ko also went to Shanghai to meet the city's mayor, Ying Yong. While there, he reiterated previous comments that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait "are one family". Ko said he had no plans so far to go to the mainland next year. Senior Chinese leaders are always on their guard in such meetings, as if you make a mistake in the mainland "you will be disappeared from the world", he added, with a laugh. "They were very, very nervous when they talked with me. Because I'm very unpredictable. We're very easy. We say what we think. They can't. They're very rigid." ^ top ^

Huawei steps up legal battle (Global Times)
2019-12-05
Amid legal disputes and an escalated crackdown by Washington, Huawei has not stopped moving forward to defend its rights, a rational and legitimate way to win the battle against the US as well as the hearts of the public. Huawei announced it is suing the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday, asking to overturn the latest restrictions limiting the Chinese firm's market access to rural America. It was Huawei's second legal challenge against the US in a year, though the company has been used by Washington as a leverage amid the US-China trade war. In its latest legal move, Huawei filed a petition with the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, seeking to reverse an FCC order passed on November 2 which bans carriers from purchasing Huawei equipment through a federal subsidy plan, citing national security concerns, the Chinese company announced at a press conference in Shenzhen, South China's Guangzhou Province on Thursday. Huawei has become the world's largest telecoms equipment vendor, holding over 25 percent of market share. It has also been a leading force in 5G network roll-outs, as it was ranked first in technology contributions to 5G standards. The FCC's latest decision labeling Huawei a national security threat, forbidding small, mostly rural carriers, from purchasing its equipment through Universal Service Fund subsidies, has come as part of broader efforts by current US administration to suppress Huawei. Banning Huawei from building 5G networks would delay the roll-out of the next generation of wireless technologies in the US by six to 18 months, which would lead to $240 billion in the country's GDP losses, analysts said. Some analysts see Huawei's lawsuit as finally "showing its claws" after the Chinese telecoms giant has been repeatedly placed under scrutiny and sanctions by the US government, at a time when China-US relations are imperiled by a protracted trade war. Meanwhile, Washington has been escalating its crackdown against Huawei. For example, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been urging European countries to reject Huawei and ZTE on excuse of security risks, while the some in the Trump administration has even considered the "nuclear" option to ban the firm from the US banking system, media reported. Furthermore, some Western media claimed that the Chinese firm, as a rallying point for patriotism amid the trade war, began losing the sympathy of the Chinese public as it has been facing a backlash in the country over the 251-day detention of one of its former employees. Still, the lack of detailed evidence in the case of Li Hongyuan, the company's former employee jailed allegedly for extortion, made it bewildering, but it did not subdue public's support for Huawei in suing the US federal institution. "Huawei sues FCC" is among the top 10 most searched topic on Chinese Twitter-like Weibo on Thursday, viewed 140 million times. "Some people support Li's lawsuit against Huawei, now Huawei has set an example," a Weibo user said. As Li harshly criticized Huawei's alleged wrongdoings, the Chinese company replied that it supports Li's handling of the dispute through legal measures, which was considered by some as a cold PR response. "It's too early to draw any conclusion, as more details about the case are expected to be disclosed," Fang Xingdong, founder of Beijing-based technology think tank ChinaLabs, told the Global Times. "The image of Huawei in Chinese people's hearts has not changed," he said. Huawei challenged the constitutionality of the US government's decision in March, as the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) not only restricts the Chinese firm from serving US customers, but also deprives it of opportunities to serve customers outside the US. The company once said it is compelled to take this legal action as a proper and last resort. Nine months later, the firm challenged a US court's decision, which would also test the spirit of the rule of law in the US, analysts said. "This is a legal attack and defense strategy. If Huawei only endures attacks but never fights back, it will lose its initiative. Even if Huawei loses its case, it will put pressure on the US," Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Beijing-based Information Consumption Alliance, told the Global Times on Thursday. Under the rule of law in the US, the end does not justify such unlawful means of the FCC, Glen Nager, Huawei's lead counsel for the legal action, told reporters. "We are confident that the Fifth Circuit Court will vacate the commission's order." In terms of so-called national security risks, the Chinese foreign ministry also raised questions about the standards and who defines them. "China can suspect that the US may issue an order to shut off a Boeing engine at will if we follow US logic," Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the ministry, told a routine conference on Thursday, in response to US side's statements on the participation of Huawei and ZTE in 5G. The FCC said it declined to comment on the case when it was contacted by the Global Times on Thursday. While facing growing pressure from the US, Huawei senior executives are still committed to openness and collaboration, although uncertainties remain whether the Trump administration would impose tougher restrictions. "We insist on an open attitude to embrace globalization. If the law allows it, we'll keep collaborating with US partners," Song Liuping, Huawei's chief legal officer, told the Global Times. ^ top ^

China gradually cleans up P2P lending businesses (Global Times)
2019-12-05
Southwest China's Sichuan Province became the country's latest province to ban all peer-to-peer lending (P2P) businesses amid regulators' tightened grip on the internet financial industry due to monetary risks. Sichuan's local financial regulator on Wednesday issued a risk reminder on its website. It said that, based on its investigation of local companies which operate P2P businesses, there is thus far no fully compliant institute in the province. It stated that it will ban all non-compliant lending businesses. The reminder said that existing contracts are still subject to laws, and that disputes among lenders, platforms or borrowers could be solved in self-settlements or through legal channels. Sichuan's move is part of China's broader campaign to crack down on P2P businesses nationally. In recent months, local financial regulators in East China's Shandong Province, Central China's Henan and Hunan provinces, and Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality have issued similar bans on P2P businesses. The P2P industry has been blossoming since 2012, and with the high rate of defaults, fraud and disputes national regulators has release strict rules for the sector. According to a report from People's Bank of China on November 25, the number of online lending platforms has dropped from 5,000 to 1,490. ^ top ^

South Korea's Moon Jae-in calls for China to play role in denuclearising North Korea (SCMP)
2019-12-05
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday the global diplomatic push to defuse the nuclear stand-off with North Korea is at a "critical crossroads" and has called for China to continue serving a "positive role" in denuclearising the Korean peninsula and stabilising peace. Moon made the comments during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at Seoul's presidential Blue House. Wang made his first visit in four years amid efforts to patch up relations damaged by South Korea's deployment of a US anti-missile system China perceives as a security threat. "The process for the complete denuclearising of the Korean peninsula and permanently stabilising peace is at a critical crossroads," Moon said. "I would like to ask for continuous support from the Chinese government until the new era of a peaceful and denuclearised Korean peninsula opens." Wang called for stronger "strategic communication" between Beijing and Seoul and took a jab at the Trump administration, which is locked in trade war with Beijing, saying that international order was being threatened by "unilateralism" and "forcible politics." "China and South Korea as neighbours should strengthen dialogue and cooperation to jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade," Wang said. Wang on Wednesday met with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and discussed issues related to North Korea and details of a trilateral summit between Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo planned later this month in China. They also discussed facilitating high-level exchanges and arranging a possible visit to South Korea by Chinese President Xi Jinping next year, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said. His visit comes after years of tensions over the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system placed in southern South Korea and amid concerns that a US-led diplomatic push to resolve a nuclear stand-off with North Korea is beginning to fall apart over disagreements in exchanging sanctions relief and disarmament. With the talks faltering, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has intensified his missile testing activity while issuing an end-of-year deadline for the Trump administration to offer mutually acceptable terms for a deal to salvage the diplomacy. There's also uneasiness over the US-China trade war, which has hurt South Korea's export-dependent economy and included US demands that South Korean companies stop using equipment from Chinese technology giant Huawei based on security concerns. Wang last visited South Korea in 2015, a year before relations soured over Seoul's decision to deploy THAAD, which China claimed could be reconfigured to peer deep into its territory. South Korea has said China retaliated by limiting Chinese tour group visits to South Korea, whose economy is increasingly dependent on Chinese tourism, and demand for its industrial products. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying mentioned THAAD among issues affecting the bilateral ties that the sides had "agreed to continue to properly deal with." Hua also reiterated China's position that North Korea's "legitimate concerns … in terms of security and development should be taken seriously," and that the North should be offered sanctions relief "in light of the development of the situation so as to encourage all parties to move forward in the direction of political settlement." ^ top ^

Kim Jong-un rides white horse up sacred mountain and Donald Trump revives 'rocket man' jibe (SCMP)
2019-12-04
Kim Jong-un mounted a white horse again as North Korea announced on Wednesday it would soon convene a rare meeting of the ruling party's top leaders, steps analysts say signal preparations for a more confrontational stance. For the second time in two months, Kim visited North Korea's sacred Mount Paektu on horseback, this time accompanied by senior military officers, aimed at instilling a "revolutionary spirit" in the people, state news agency KCNA reported. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump revived both his "rocket man" nickname for Kim and the threat of military force against North Korea, in the latest sign of rising tensions. Trump revisited the name he once used to mock Kim just hours after North Korea said it was preparing a "Christmas gift" for the US if the administration failed to meet its demands by year-end for concessions in nuclear talks. Kim has repeatedly warned in recent months he could take a "new path" in relations with the US, while resuming ballistic missile launches. "He definitely likes sending rockets up, doesn't he? That's why I call him 'rocket man'," Trump said on Tuesday during a Nato summit in the UK, adding. "We have the most powerful military we've ever had, and we're by far the most powerful country in the world. And, hopefully, we don't have to use it, but if we do, we'll use it. If we have to, we'll do it." The US has called for North Korea to give up significant portions of its nuclear arsenal before punishing international sanctions are eased, while Pyongyang has accused the US of "gangster-like" demands for unilateral disarmament. Speaking in Washington on Tuesday, US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun said the US would not give up on talks with Pyongyang. Biegun has previously downplayed the year-end deadline, calling it "artificial" and warning that it would be a "huge mistake and a missed opportunity" for North Korea to take any provocative steps. But North Korean state media have carried a steady chorus of statements in recent weeks, saying Washington should not ignore the warning and dismissing US calls for talks as a stalling tactic. The announcement that a Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea would meet sometime in late December underscores how North Korea is serious about making a major decision, analysts said. Such meetings have often been when North Korea has announced major policy shifts. The timing of this plenum is unusual because it comes before the year-end deadline, as well as before Kim's expected New Year's address, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, an analyst with NK News, a website that monitors North Korea. KCNA reported Kim was joined by top military aides as he rode a white horse in a tour of historic battlefields near Mount Paektu. Kim has often visited the sacred mountain around the time of major developments in North Korea, including missile launches, and his horseback visit in October sparked speculation of a change in North Korea's nuclear negotiation strategy. State media photos on Wednesday showed the saddle and harness on Kim's horse adorned with more intricate gold-coloured fittings and government emblems. The ride was aimed at instilling in North Koreans the mountain's "indefatigable revolutionary spirit" in the face of "unprecedented blockade and pressure imposed by the imperialists," KCNA reported. Kim said there was a need to prepare for "the harshness and protracted character of our revolution," according to KCNA. While Kim's plans are still unclear, the signals suggest the window for diplomacy is closing fast, if not already shut, said John Delury of Seoul's Yonsei University. "The message is buckle up, it's going to be a big year for us next year," he said. "And not a year of diplomacy and summitry, but rather of national strength." The plenum meeting would mark the first time such a gathering has occurred twice in one year under Kim, Delury said. "This is not a standard meeting," he said. "How many details will actually come out of that meeting is anyone's guess. But it signals that diplomacy could be off and they are really going to act on this." Although Trump and Kim have held three face-to-face meetings and lavished each other with praise over the past two years, they've achieved little beyond a vague promise to "work toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". North Korea has continued to expand a nuclear weapons programme that it sees as a vital deterrent against the threat of American invasion. During their detente, Trump and Kim have held back from the threats and personal insults they flung at each other in 2017 as North Korea conducted a series of weapons tests. The president notably used the "rocket man" moniker in September of that year while threatening to "totally destroy North Korea" during a speech to the United Nations. North Korea has referred to Trump as a "dotard". ^ top ^

Mongolian and Russian companies sign cooperation documents (Montsame)
2019-12-05
During his official visit to the Russian Federation, Prime Minister of Mongolia U.Khurelsukh attended the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements between Mongolian and Russian businesses. At the ceremony, corresponding officials signed the following documents: 2020-2021 action plan for cooperation of the working group between Government of Mongolia and Eurasian Economic Commission; Cooperation agreement between Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation; Memorandum of cooperation between Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Protocol on operational principles and mechanisms of Mongolia-Russia Business Council; Cooperation agreement on the use of Business Market platform between Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Memorandum of cooperation between Mongol Em Impex Concern and Lasa Laboratorios LLC; Memorandum of cooperation between Mongolian Quality Management Association and All-Russian Quality Society; Memorandum of cooperation between Ulaanbaatar Railway Mongolia-Russia joint venture and International Investment Bank. ^ top ^

Two percent of national GDP to be spent on green economy in 2020 (Montsame)
2019-12-05
With the United Nations defining the main tool to reach sustainable development goals as the green economy, Mongolia approved the Green Development Policy document in 2014, and its implementation plan in 2016. As a result, there has been certain progress made in not only the environment but also various economic sectors with the green development policy successfully being implemented in Mongolia. The matter was highlighted at the consultative meeting held under the theme, 'Green Economy and Modelling', on December 4. Mongolia will be implementing the green development policy in two stages: from 2014 to 2021, and from 2021 to 2030. Starting from 2020, two percent of the GDP is to be spent on investing in green economy. Head of Green Development Policy Department at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism T.Bulgan said, "Production of renewable energy takes 18 percent of the total energy being produced nationwide. We consider that the use of financial mechanisms in partnership with international organizations, and the Green Climate Fund contributed to the results. Despite currently being in their initial stages, there are several projects and programmes being implemented in order to set the foundation for becoming green. For instance, a project on reducing greenhouse gases in the construction sector is currently being implemented in partnership with UNDP with financing of Global Environment Facility. Last year, the concept of green purchases was added to the Law on Procurement of Goods, Works and Services with State and Local Funds. This has served as the start for creating conditions to support environmentally friendly operations, and products through purchases." Commercial banks of Mongolia are also partnering in creating sustainable development and green economy development. For instance, as a result of the joint work done to create a sustainable financial system by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and Mongolian Bankers Association, banks have begun to consider the project's environmental impact when giving out loans. Director of Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Center B.Lakshmi said, "On the side of the green development policy, it must be noted that private entities are also making initiatives on the matter. For instance, XacBank has acquired the rights to provide financing for green loans. Furthermore, various projects are being implemented in the business sector, such as the projects on eco-parks and recycling paper. As the green development policy is one of the important tools to reach sustainable development goals, a lot of results are expected." ^ top ^

Mongolia's participation in Eurasian economic corridor discussed (Montsame)
2019-12-04
Trade and land transport flow that link Europe and China is creating Eurasian economic corridor. It is bringing new opportunities to countries such as Mongolia, Andrei Mikhnev, the World Bank's Country Manager for Mongolia emphasized during the opening of international meeting themed 'Mongolia's participation in Eurasian economic corridor' that took place on December 3 at Shangri-La hotel. "The recent World Bank report on economic condition of 'Belt and Road' Initiative reveals that the initiative opens many opportunities to number of countries while exposing risks," he said. The international meeting touched Asian highway network that will connect Eurasian economic corridor. "In 2016, an intergovernmental agreement on transit transportation through the Asian highway network was signed between Mongolia, Russia and China in Moscow. This was the first agreement, which was established within the framework of the project on establishment of economic corridor between the three countries. In the framework of the aforementioned agreement, the sides successfully experimented transit transport in route Tianjin-Ulaanbaatar-Ulan-Ude or a route of Asian Highway 3 in August 2016. Currently, Mongolian companies are conducting transport to Tianjin, China," said S,Batbold, State Secretary of the Ministry of Road and Transport Development. To ensure preparation of the transport, a joint committee on transport was set up in July 2019 and exchanged permission documents, which are required to conduct transport. As a result of it, legal framework has been created to launch the highway transit transport within the routes of AH-3 and AH-4 between the three countries. "Maintenance works on Asian Highway 3 has not been completed while 25.8 km road will be built next year within AH-4. By doing so, the construction and maintenance works will be fully completed, fully ensuring conditions for conducting transit transport between the three countries. Transport companies of our country got their permission and started their transportation to Tianjin," he added. Asian Highway 3 is in route from Tianjin, China, through Zamyn-Uud border checkpoint- Sainshand-Ulaanbaatar-Altanbulag of Mongolia to Ulan-Ude, Russia. Whereas Asian Highway 4 is a route, which runs from Novosibirsk, Russia via Bulgan and Tsagaannuur border checkpoints of Mongolia and Urumqi, China to Karachi, Pakistan. ^ top ^

Jennia Jin
Embassy of Switzerland