Switzerland

• Switzerland to ship hospital equipment to China soon (China Daily)

Foreign Policy

• Chinese lenders turn off the taps on international energy projects as 'debt trap diplomacy' criticisms mount (SCMP)
• Xi says China-S.Korea friendship to deepen after COVID-19 battle victory (Xinhua)
• Coronavirus: China's top diplomat Wang Yi urges world to resume links with Beijing, says it's taken 'forceful action' (SCMP)
• China threatens further action against Wall Street Journal a day after kicking out three reporters (SCMP)
• Some in West weaponize rumors to attack China (Global Times)
• China appreciates NATO's remarks of not seeing China as an adversary: spokesperson (Xinhua)
• US must be ready for military clash with China, Pentagon official Chad Sbragia says (SCMP)
• Trump wants to make doing business with China 'easy' (China Daily)

Domestic Policy

• Companies in Hubei not to resume business before March 10 (Xinhua)
• Why postponing China's National People's Congress adds further complexity to Beijing's economic plan (SCMP)
• Long March carrier rocket lifts four satellites into space (China Daily)
• Top regulator takes first steps toward safeguarding data (China Daily)
• Xi stresses centralized leadership in virus battle (Global Times)
• China Focus: Travelers, businesses still confident in China's epidemic-hit tourism (Xinhua)
• Combination of Chinese, Western medicine effective in treating COVID-19: expert (Xinhua)
• China to halve employers' medical insurance contributions (Xinhua)
• Chinese state media 'humiliating' women nurses in coronavirus propaganda campaign (SCMP)
• Central government demands better conditions for medical workers (China Daily)
• Chinese police detain fugitive rights activist Xu Zhiyong during 'coronavirus check' (SCMP)

Shanghai

• Company launches insurance program to stabilize vegetable prices in Shanghai (Xinhua)
• Shanghai COVID-19 control effective amid work resumption: official (Xinhua)

Xinjiang

• West obsessed with political stunt over Xinjiang (Global Times)
• China locks up Muslims in Xinjiang for their religion, not extremism, leaked data shows (SCMP)

Hongkong

• Xi Jinping's coronavirus power grab is endangering public health in Hong Kong (HKFP)
• Removal of Hong Kong protest images from Sony World Photography Awards website raises censorship concerns (HKFP)
• Coronavirus: massive HK$30 billion relief package revealed as Hong Kong government plans to bail out struggling industries and fund the fight against deadly bug (SCMP)

Taiwan

• Mainland urges DPP to facilitate chartered flights for Taiwan compatriots' return (Xinhua)
• Could the coronavirus drag Beijing and Taipei towards conflict? (SCMP)
• Taiwan export orders drop in January (Xinhua)

Mongolia

• Mining Minister meets Ambassador of China (Montsame)
• Mongolia launches campaign to help China fight coronavirus (Montsame)
• 'Build Mongolia-2020' expo to take place in April (Montsame)

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Switzerland to ship hospital equipment to China soon (China Daily)
2020-02-17
The Swiss government will soon ship hospital equipment to China to help the country's continued fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia, according to information released by the Consulate General of Switzerland in Shanghai. The European country is currently working on a shipment of hospital equipment in coordination with Chinese government. At the same time, the Swiss government has decided to make a donation of 4.3 million yuan ($620,000) in response to a call for help from the Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and in support of the World Health Organization in China and its regional office for the Western Pacific, according to the released information. On the private sector side, Swiss companies, such as ABB Group and Nestle SA, have been donating medical supplies and nutritional products to support the fight against the epidemic, supporting local organizations on the front line, according to the Swiss consulate. In addition, the Swiss pharmaceutical industry is committed to providing expertise, products and advice to support virus research and patient diagnosis. ^ top ^

Chinese lenders turn off the taps on international energy projects as 'debt trap diplomacy' criticisms mount (SCMP)
2020-02-20
Funding for energy projects from two of China's biggest policy banks dropped to the lowest level in more than a decade last year amid growing criticism of its "debt trap diplomacy", according to a new report. China Development Bank and the Exim Bank of China only advanced loans for three projects worth US$3.2 billion last year – the biggest drop since 2008, research by Boston University's Global China Initiative found. This marked a 71 per cent drop from the US$11 billion advanced in 2018, and came amid a general reduction of Beijing's lending to foreign countries and growing concerns that it is burdening poorer countries with unsustainable debts. The devastating effects of Covid-19, which has killed more than 2,000 people, and the effects of the prolonged US-China trade war will only worsen the situation in an economy already witnessing a deceleration in growth in recent years, the researchers said. Kevin Gallagher, director of the centre that compiled the report, said the lenders were becoming concerned about the debt sustainability of recipient countries. They were also facing growing opposition from politicians and civil society in these countries over their cost and environmental impact. But he also said domestic caution was a factor. "China needs its US dollars for potential instability in the economy at home and has drawn down its foreign reserves." He said Beijing had hoped to convert loans given under the Belt and Road Initiative, its transcontinental infrastructure drive, from US dollars into yuan "but there is little appetite for that" from recipients. "This, and the [Covid-19] virus, will lead to likely decline next year too." Last year, Exim Bank of China financed two hydropower projects – the Gurara hydropower project in Nigeria at a cost of US$1 billion and the Koukoutamba hydropower project in Guinea at a cost of US$8 million. China Development Bank bankrolled the construction of the Hunutlu coal plant in Turkey for US$1.4 billion. The US$3.2 billion total is a far cry from the peak figures of US$48 billion in 2009 and US$45.7 billion in 2016, according to China's Global Energy Finance database, which is based on figures from the two global policy banks. The study said that as of last year, the two lenders had granted a total of 270 energy sector loans since 2000, with a total value of around US$251 billion. The report said nearly three-quarters of these loans went to belt and road countries. The oil sector received the largest amount, followed by coal and hydropower. According to the study, a third of the 270 projects supported by the two banks were hydropower projects, followed by coal (25 per cent) and other transmission projects (15 per cent). The study found that the largest number of projects they financed were in Africa (32 per cent), followed by Southeast Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean (both on 13 per cent). However, the study said the East European and Central Asian countries had received the largest sums because of the region's oil and gas projects. Funding for coal projects was highest in Asia, with Africa receiving the largest sums for hydropower. The researchers said that although the focus on a small number of projects last year may be a reflection of stricter risk management by the banks, they were not free from controversy. The report said the Koukoutamba dam project in Guinea has become increasingly controversial due to the potential impact on the new Moyen-Bafing national park – a crucial sanctuary for the critically endangered western chimpanzee. It also warned the new roads and infrastructure would open up previously remote areas, potentially moving people into protected areas. Similarly, the Hunutlu thermal power plant in Turkey is planned near a biodiversity hotspot and faces local and national opposition due to its potential impact on health and the environment. The study found out that even though the power plant is adopting higher pollution and efficiency standards, its projected greenhouse gas emissions are still alarming. ^ top ^

Xi says China-S.Korea friendship to deepen after COVID-19 battle victory (Xinhua)
2020-02-20
The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on China-South Korea economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges will only be temporary, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a phone conversation with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday. Noting that at the special moment when the Chinese people are fighting against the infectious coronavirus disease, Moon chose to call to express sympathies and support and exchange views on deepening bilateral ties, Xi said that reflects the friendly bond between the two nations, which are close neighbors that always support each other through thick and thin. Since the novel coronavirus outbreak, Xi stressed, the Chinese government has mobilized resources throughout the country, united all the Chinese people as one, and taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures to prevent and control the spread of the COVID-19. Thanks to those arduous efforts, the situation has witnessed positive changes, he said, stressing that the epidemic will by no means shake the solid foundation of China's long-term stable development. China, he added, will endeavor to minimize the impact of the epidemic and realize its economic and social development goals. China's forceful prevention and control measures are not only aimed at safeguarding the lives and health of the Chinese people, but also contributing to the world's public health cause, Xi said. Xi expressed China's deep gratitude for the care and sympathies as well as the considerable help and support the South Korean government and society have offered to China since the COVID-19 outbreak. China will continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with South Korea and other countries in an open and transparent manner, so as to tackle the epidemic together and promote the health and well-being of people across the world, said the Chinese president. He pointed out that China and South Korea are close neighbors and important cooperation partners, and that bilateral relations are enjoying good momentum of development. Recalling that during their meeting in Beijing at the end of 2019, the two heads of state reached a series of important consensuses, Xi expressed the hope that the two sides will lift the China-South Korea strategic cooperative partnership to higher levels. Xi said he believes that following the victory against the COVID-19, the friendly feelings between the Chinese and South Korean people will grow even deeper, and bilateral exchanges and cooperation more flourishing. Moon, for his part, conveyed the South Korean government and people's sincere sympathies to the Chinese people over the epidemic. The South Korean side applauds China's great efforts in tackling the COVID-19, and believes that under the strong leadership of Xi, the Chinese people will unite as one and win the battle against the epidemic at an early date, he said. Noting that the two countries are close neighbors and South Korea takes China's difficulties as its own, Moon said his country will firmly stand together with China, and is willing to provide China with more assistance, carry out epidemic prevention cooperation with China, and take this battle as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral health cooperation. This year is of significance to the development of South Korea-China relations, Moon said, pledging that South Korea stands ready to work with China to deepen cooperation in various fields and score new progress in bilateral relations. ^ top ^

Coronavirus: China's top diplomat Wang Yi urges world to resume links with Beijing, says it's taken 'forceful action' (SCMP)
2020-02-20
Beijing's top diplomat Wang Yi on Thursday called for countries to resume bilateral trade and people-to-people ties with China, saying it had taken "forceful action" to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus. These efforts were working, he said, referencing how China had reported its lowest number of new cases on Thursday since Wuhan city in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, was locked down on January 23. "China is not only protecting its own people but also the rest of the world," he said at a special Asean-China meeting held in Vientiane, Laos. "The outbreak may have some impact on the Chinese economy, but such impact will only be temporary and limited," Wang said. "In light of the conditions on the ground, countries need to resume people-to-people ties and cooperation. We will turn challenges into opportunities," he said. "While the outbreak is highly challenging, new industries have also emerged in the process." At a press conference after emergency talks with the foreign ministers of the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Wang said he and his counterparts had agreed to strengthen cooperation to combat the epidemic. Wang pledged that Beijing would share timely information on the epidemic, and said governments would explore setting up a China-Asean liaison mechanism to promote faster responses. The Asean bloc is China's second-largest trading partner after the European Union and travel restrictions introduced by some of its members have stalled projects under Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative to boost global trade and connectivity. The coronavirus, which causes the pneumonia-like Covid-19 illness, has sickened at least 75,000 people and killed more than 2,100, mostly in mainland China. Japan, Singapore and South Korea have the highest number of cases outside mainland China. More than 50 countries and territories have imposed travel bans and visa restrictions on China, with dozens of airlines suspending flights. The United States, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines have closed their borders to foreign travellers arriving from mainland China and urged their citizens not to travel there, with Philippine Airlines also cancelling flights there. Malaysia has banned travellers from Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, and this week said it would temporarily block international cruise ships that had departed or transited from any ports in China. Vietnam has closed its land border with China. Thailand has not placed any travel restrictions on mainland Chinese tourists, a move that has sparked internal debates within its Cabinet. On Thursday it issued a travel advisory urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to China. In 2018, there were nearly 4,500 flights between China and Asean countries every week, with the number of mutual visits reaching 57 million. Other contacts between China and Asean have been affected by the outbreak, Associated Press reported. It said a meeting of Chinese and Asean diplomats negotiating a regional "code of conduct" to prevent clashes in the disputed South China Sea was postponed in Brunei early this month, according to two Southeast Asian diplomats. The mood at the hastily called Thursday meeting, held before a scheduled meeting on the Beijing-backed Lancang-Mekong Cooperation development project, was upbeat with smiles and praise for China's efforts. But Asean leaders had in a statement last week expressed "serious concerns" over the impact of the virus that has disrupted trade and supply chains and slowed regional tourism, forcing countries to downgrade their growth forecasts for the year and plan stimulus measures to help businesses stay afloat. On Wednesday evening Wang met the Philippine foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin Jnr and Singapore's foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan on the sidelines of a dinner event. Reuters reported that Wang told Balakrishnan that Beijing was worried about Singapore's "restrictive measures". "Now that the epidemic has eased and the situation is under control, we hope that normal exchanges between the two countries can be resumed as soon as possible," Wang told Balakrishnan. Locsin, speaking at the start of the 90-minute long meeting on Thursday said apart from the health impacts of the Covid-19 disease, the outbreak had been "massively detrimental" to trade, travel, and the global economy. While acknowledging China's handling of the virus was "unprecedented" and "quick", the Philippine minister stressed the need for collective efforts, saying that states hoped to work towards a "consolidated response". "Enemies such as Covid-19 demand action, compassion, and cooperation," Locsin said. "Strengthening cooperation can help pave the way to subduing this enemy." After the meeting, Locsin told the South China Morning Post that the Chinese government had taken "completely rational" steps to contain the disease, and the conference was "basically to say thank you" to Beijing. Apart from the broader initiatives mentioned by Wang, including a possible gathering of health ministers later this year, Locsin said day-to-day gestures showing solidarity with China were more important. "Little gestures, such as when we took our people out of Wuhan back, we brought goods to China," he said. "We did not have much but that'll never be forgotten. People remember that." He echoed Wang's point that it was important to strengthen people-to-people relations. He said one example of this was how he had lifted a travel ban so Filipinos working in Hong Kong could return to work. Locsin also felt the coronavirus had not affected ties between China and Asean. "What it has done is show that there are some things that are really beyond politics," he said, adding that it would be "sickening" if people used the virus for political leverage. "Those who weaponise the [virus] for their geopolitical ends … they will be sorry." He added, however, that there were ongoing issues in the China-Asean relationship, such as long-standing territorial disputes in the South China Sea. "[Issues] will be there but I think on both sides, they will see that these issues that are dividing us are not really worth as much as we can gain from plain, old friendship," he said. Some analysts said the China-Asean meeting was partly a public relations exercise. Dylan Loh, assistant professor of social sciences at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said the meeting could "be seen as a legitimacy building exercise where external actors take turns to vindicate and praise Chinese efforts in fighting the coronavirus". He said all member states were heavily dependent on China for trade, and in turn, Beijing expected political and diplomatic support for its virus containment efforts. "It is of no surprise then, that Beijing has found succour in Southeast Asia, with countries in the region offering material, moral and rhetorical support even as these countries themselves have enacted travel restrictions of various kinds," he said. Loh said that besides hoping that formal travel restrictions on mainland Chinese travellers would ease, Beijing also hoped that governments of Southeast Asia would do more symbolically and rhetorically in shoring up confidence in Chinese efforts to contain the virus – particularly to their business communities. "Asean countries are, of course, genuinely hoping that the impact of the virus is short, and that China will win the battle against the disease because they themselves stand to lose a lot from the fallout," he said. "In that way, the emphasis on resuming people-to-people relations is an attempt to normalise and de-stigmatise Chinese business, tourists and citizens." Benjamin Ho, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies' China programme in Singapore, said the meeting was "first and foremost" to "project a favourable image of China given all the negative news we have seen the past month". "Most of the hardest hit countries this time are countries that have close ties with China [such as] Japan, South Korea, Singapore, as well as Asean more broadly. For people-to-people ties to resume, it is important for China to return to normalcy," he said. Zi Yang, a senior analyst who is in the same China programme as Ho, said the meeting gave China an opportunity to project confidence to the world, adding that it was in the interest of both parties to see the end of the Covid-19 outbreak. "The central message from the China-Asean meeting today is unity in facing adversity and their desire to move forward together in containing Covid-19," he said. "The Chinese economy, already under pressure, desperately needs a return to normalcy. Trade, investment, and travel flows must resume to previous levels as soon as possible, or else the Chinese government could face further uncertainty and instability." Meanwhile, the coronavirus also dominated the fifth Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (LMC) meeting, a Beijing-backed project with five Asean countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Wang said a shared response towards Covid-19 was one of the areas that partner nations needed to work on as the initiative moves from what he called a stage of "rapid expansion" to one of "comprehensive development". "We will also, from a longer-term perspective, discuss the establishment of a joint response mechanism to major public health emergencies and commit ourselves to enhance the medical and healthcare service for people in this region," Wang said at a joint press conference. China also said it was helping its downstream neighbours cope with a prolonged drought by releasing more water from its dams on the Mekong River, adding it would consider sharing information on hydrology to provide further assistance in the future. A new economic report by Fitch Solutions Macro Research predicted the building of dams to harness hydropower on the Mekong River would reshape the economies of the countries along the waterway, fuelling long-term inflation and dependence on China. The drought over the past year has severely hurt farming and fishing in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam, and many blame China's 11 dams on the upper Mekong – which China calls the Lancang River – as well as climate change. Wang said a lack of rain was the main cause of the drought and said China had suffered from it too. "China has overcome its own difficulty and increased water outflow from the Lancang River to help Mekong countries mitigate the drought," Wang told the meeting. "We also agreed to strengthen such cooperation within the framework of LMC to ensure the rational and sustainable use of water resources." ^ top ^

China threatens further action against Wall Street Journal a day after kicking out three reporters (SCMP)
2020-02-20
China warned on Thursday that it may take further action against The Wall Street Journal, a day after it expelled three reporters over a commentary it deemed racist. At a daily press conference on Thursday, the foreign ministry spokesman was bombarded by questions from journalists about the decision to revoke the press credentials of the three, none of whom had been involved in the offending opinion piece, which dubbed China the "sick man of Asia". The paper's deputy Beijing bureau chief Josh Chin and Chao Deng, both US nationals, and Philip Wen, an Australian, were given five days to leave the country. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the decision, saying "mature, responsible countries understand that a free press reports facts and expresses opinions". "The correct response is to present counter arguments, not restrict speech," he continued. In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the Journal has done nothing but "fudge the issue and dodge responsibility" despite "stern representation" from China. He said "we are not interested" in the newspaper's editorial structure, because "there is only one media agency called the WSJ, and it must be responsible for what it has said and done" "Those media who blatantly insult China, pitch racial discrimination and maliciously smear China must pay the price." "We urge it to treat our concerns seriously and respond to our demands. We reserve the right to take further measures," Geng said. The opinion piece, written by Walter Russell Mead, a professor at Bard College in New York, and published on February 3, said the Covid-19 crisis was a reminder that China's power remained brittle. The headline triggered widespread condemnation among Chinese internet users, saying the term "sick man of Asia" was derogatory and stereotyped Chinese people as disease-ridden and unclean. William Lewis, the newspaper's publisher, said on Wednesday that the opinion piece had been published independently of newsroom and none of the three reporters had any involvement with it. "Our opinion pages regularly publish articles with opinions that people disagree – or agree – with, and it was not our intention to cause offence with the headline on the piece," Lewis said. "However, this has clearly caused upset and concern among the Chinese people, which we regret." Although the phrase originated in the mid-19th century, when the ailing Ottoman Empire was described as the "sick man of Europe" – and been widely adopted when discussing different countries' problems – it has humiliating echoes of the late 19th and early 20th century in China. Geng said the article triggered "huge indignation and condemnation" and whoever "has conscience and moral standards" will condemn the racially discriminatory article. He repeated that China deals with foreign journalists in accordance with the law, but declined to a request to set out the relevant rules. ^ top ^

Some in West weaponize rumors to attack China (Global Times)
2020-02-18
There's a clamor around the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic. Just after the Wuhan Institute of Virology denied Sunday the raging rumors claiming that the first person infected with the novel coronavirus came from the institute, another false information became rampant on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo, saying that a senior researcher of the institute, as a real-name "whistleblower," reported the virus was released by the institute's director general Wang Yanyi. On Monday, in addition to the institute's new statement dispelling rumors, Weibo also confirmed that the rumormonger's internet protocol address was outside the Chinese mainland. In fact, since the beginning of the epidemic, such ridiculous rumors have been flooding China from abroad. In particular, some US politicians have exploited the virus outbreak to attack the Chinese government and system, which has worsened the public opinion environment and fueled the spread of rumors. For instance, since the outbreak of this epidemic, US Senator Tom Cotton has constantly claimed that the coronavirus came from a "super laboratory" in Wuhan. Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai has refuted this absurd allegation, saying conspiracy theories also exist about the coronavirus originating from the US. But Cotton, and many anti-China people like him, have never ceased their hostility against China. They have viewed the epidemic a "golden opportunity" to stir up trouble. Their evil intentions are so obvious that everyone with rationality can clearly see that. When the Chinese government and people are going all out to curb the spread of the virus, they either spread fear by alleging the epidemic is getting out of hand, or launch groundless attacks, saying that China's prevention and control measures are a violation of human rights. When China interacts with the international community well, they either turn a blind eye, or alleged that the praises China earned from other countries and even the World Health Organization were due to China's pressure on them. Cui has already proven that speculation and rumors are "dangerous." "For one thing, this will create panic. Another is that it will fan racial discrimination and xenophobia, and all these things will really harm our joint efforts to combat the virus." But these ill-disposed people will never listen. Perhaps, these consequences are exactly what they are glad to witness. The epidemic for them is not a crisis which needs the entire world's cooperation to resolve, but a political tool for them to contain China, just like the Huawei issue, Hong Kong riots, Taiwan question, and Xinjiang governance. All they want is to drive a wedge between the Chinese government and people, disrupt China's social order, and tarnish the country's image in the international community. In the face of these sinister people and their malicious rumors, China should on the one hand resolutely fight back, showing people both abroad and at home what is really happening in the country; on the other, the country must keep focusing on its own development, growing strong enough until they shut up. ^ top ^

China appreciates NATO's remarks of not seeing China as an adversary: spokesperson (Xinhua)
2020-02-17
China appreciates the statement by secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that NATO does not see China as an adversary, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said Monday during an online press briefing. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Feb. 14 that although China has achieved rapid development, NATO does not see China as an adversary and stands ready to strengthen relations with China. "We appreciate Secretary General Stoltenberg's remarks that NATO does not see China as an adversary, and note NATO's readiness to enhance its ties with China," Geng said. China is committed to peaceful development and win-win cooperation and adheres to a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. China and NATO members do not have geopolitical conflicts and competition, Geng stressed. "We hope that NATO will continue to foster a positive view of China and regard China as a friend and partner. China stands ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with NATO based on equality and mutual respect," he added. ^ top ^

US must be ready for military clash with China, Pentagon official Chad Sbragia says (SCMP)
2020-02-21
The United States must prepare for a possible military conflict with China by developing new weapons, strengthening ties with allies and improving the Pentagon's efficiency, a senior Trump administration official said on Thursday. "The stakes of the challenge of conflict with China, in other words, are formidable," said Chad Sbragia, deputy assistant secretary of defence for China. "This is a long-term process. We have to be agile, smart." The People's Liberation Army is an increasingly formidable adversary that is marrying long-standing ambition with unprecedented new resources, Sbragia, the former US defence attaché in Beijing, told the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. This is allowing China and the PLA to expand the military's global presence, modernise its capabilities and more effectively challenge US national interests, he added. As China expands its ability to project force far beyond its shores, the Pentagon needs to "build and deploy a more lethal, resilient joint force," including more hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, robots and laser weapons, Sbragia testified. A second Defence Department priority is to strengthen alliances and attract new partners, he told the commission, which was set up by Congress in 2000 to evaluate the defence implications of US-China trade and economic ties. This pairing would give the US a potential "asymmetric" advantage that Beijing could not easily match, given the many US treaty partners, strong diplomatic ties and history of free and open borders and trade, he said. While the Pentagon has emphasised alliance building in Southeast Asia and the Pacific as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy, other Trump administration policies have irritated many long-standing European and Asian allies. Traditional partners have bridled over President Donald Trump's aggressive use of tariffs, his decision to withdraw from multilateral agreements and his focus on "America First" policies. Sbragia declined to say whether the Pentagon was surprised by Manila's announcement this month that it would end the Philippines-US Visiting Forces Agreement. The island nation is strategically located in the South China Sea, a potential hotspot as Beijing ramps up its island-building activities in the contested region. But Sbragia said Beijing's effort to sway allies is no surprise. "It's a competition," he said. "We have to be very clear-eyed. These countries are coming under increasing pressure." Dennis Blair, a fellow with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, a former admiral and an ex-director of National Intelligence, told the commission that Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's views often run counter to those of his own military establishment. Duterte reportedly scratched the visiting forces agreement in retaliation for a cancelled US visa involving a personal ally. "It throws grit into the gears," of serious US-Philippines military cooperation, Blair said. "But it doesn't eliminate it." Finally, Sbragia said, preparing for a more ambitious PLA requires the Pentagon to clean its own house. This includes improving American military strategy and performance, using the Defence Department's budget more efficiently and drawing more effectively on civilian innovation while safeguarding US technology. In recent weeks, the administration has shocked the science community with the high-profile arrest of a Harvard University chemistry department head for his China ties and by investigating top universities for failing to disclose links to Beijing and other countries. Science policy experts warn, however, that too many restrictions risk undermining collaboration and US competitiveness. While China has an ambitious military blueprint – including more bases overseas; the unification of Taiwan with the mainland by force, if necessary, and closer overseas investment, trade and military linkage – an armed US-China clash is hardly inevitable, the senior defence official said. "Competition with China does not mean confrontation, nor must it lead to conflict," Sbragia said. The PLA briefed US officials after releasing its 2019 Defence White Paper and Washington hopes to maintain a "constructive, stable and results-oriented defence relationship" with Beijing, he added. With the coronavirus spreading globally, amid some evidence that it has peaked, the PLA was drawn in early to help Beijing fight the epidemic that originated in Wuhan, Sbragia said. The Pentagon is watching how this deployment plays out for insights into the PLA's ability to mobilise rapidly and respond effectively overseas, he said. But the jury is still out on how well it has performed. "The PLA is being brought in early, often," Sbragia said. "At the end of the day, this will make the PLA better, or not." The PLA now has around 2 million people in uniform, not counting paramilitary, armed police, coastguard or reserve forces, although it has been reducing that number to create a more responsive force. This contingent compares with about 1.3 million people under US active duty and another 800,000 on reserve. China's official military budget reached US$177 billion in 2019, up from US$28 billion in 1999, although analysts say this figure excludes hidden funding. This budget increase has allowed the PLA to deploy an "increasingly formidable" array of ballistic and cruise missiles, fighter aircraft and cyber and space technologies "postured to deny the US military access to the Indo-Pacific theatre if called upon", Sbragia said. Beijing's spending – the world's second highest after Washington's – compares with a 2020 US military budget of US$748 billion. The Trump administration has called for a slight reduction in US military funding next year to US$740.5 billion as part of a budget deal with Congress. Kristen Gunness, chief executive with the Vantage Point Asia consultancy and a Rand Corporation analyst, told the commission that China increasingly is working to align its overseas military and economic objectives. This effort is seen in its growing clout in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Pakistan corridor, she said, as military ambition is coordinated with the Belt and Road Initiative and other strategic programmes. But its growing presence has also increased tensions with neighbours, analysts said. "We should be prepared for a China that will use its military as an overseas policy tool," Gunness said. "Of course, this carries some risk for China. Increased use of the military overseas may backfire." Sbragia added that China continues to challenge the Pentagon and Washington's place in the world. "There's a great risk if you see things that China does as one-dimensional," he said. "If you're prepared, you'll win. If you're not, you'll lose. It's no longer steady state, but a continuum." ^ top ^

Trump wants to make doing business with China 'easy' (China Daily)
2020-02-19
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday openly vilified proposed restrictions on trade with China, saying that his administration wanted to make doing business with China "easy'', including sales of jet engines, instead of resorting to the "always used national security excuse". "The United States cannot, & will not, become such a difficult place to deal with in terms of foreign countries buying our product, including for the always used National Security excuse, that our companies will be forced to leave in order to remain competitive," Trump tweeted early Tuesday. Trump's public rebuke in his flurry of tweets apparently followed reports over the weekend that the Trump administration was weighing a proposal to halt deliveries of jet engines co-produced by General Electric Company (GE) for the COMAC C919 airliner being developed in China, over concerns that the Chinese could reverse-engineer the engines, posing a potential threat to US business. "We want to sell product and goods to China and other countries. That's what trade is all about. We don't want to make it impossible to do business with us," Trump continued saying on his Twitter account. "That will only mean that orders will go to someplace else. As an example, I want China to buy our jet engines, the best in the World," he said. The New York Times reported on Monday that top Trump administration officials will discuss whether to prevent the sale of an aircraft engine produced in part by GE at a cabinet meeting on Feb 28. It also said stopping such licenses would be a big financial hit to companies like GE. "I have seen some of the regulations being circulated, including those being contemplated by Congress, and they are ridiculous. I want to make it EASY to do business with the United States, not difficult. Everyone in my Administration is being so instructed, with no excuses," Trump tweeted, without identifying the restrictions or the regulations. GE shares reversed an earlier decline after Trump's tweets Tuesday. Early on Tuesday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Beijing urged Washington to view Chinese companies and China-US business cooperation "objectively and fairly", and be a "constructive contributor rather than an irrational spoiler". "We noted this report," Geng said about the media report of the proposed blocking of the jet engine sales. "It also says that GE is arguing against the possible move of the US government, saying that mimicking the advanced manufacturing techniques that have produced the engine is far harder than some administration officials believe." Geng added that GE has also argued the engines have been on the ground in China for years, meaning there is no reason for China to wait until now to begin the reverse-engineering if it had wanted to do so. If the content of the report is true, it suggests that Americans in industrial sectors seem to have more common sense, and be more sensible and likely to tell the truth than certain officials in the US administration, the spokesperson said. "These officials are ignorant about science and technology and of the market principle, and they are also worried about China's development," Geng said. "It will be another example of the US using political means to undermine its bilateral business cooperation with China and wantonly oppress Chinese businesses." ^ top ^

Companies in Hubei not to resume business before March 10 (Xinhua)
2020-02-20
Companies should not resume business before March 10 in central China's Hubei Province, the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak, local authorities said Thursday. The requirement is part of the efforts to consolidate the positive effect of epidemic control, which has entered a crucial stage in Hubei, according to a circular released by the provincial epidemic prevention and control headquarters. However, the requirement does not apply to companies necessary for epidemic control, public utilities and people's daily necessities, or those essential for important national and public interests, says the circular. Those resuming production should strictly follow anti-epidemic measures to guarantee the legal rights and interests of workers, and authorities should enhance guidance and supervision in various sectors, according to the circular. Hubei's universities, colleges, middle and primary schools, vocational schools, technical schools and kindergartens should delay the new school term until further notice. The circular also urges the public to strictly abide by requirements by decreasing outdoor activities, avoiding public gatherings and keeping a clean home environment. Those not wearing masks in public could face punishments in accordance with laws and regulations. ^ top ^

Why postponing China's National People's Congress adds further complexity to Beijing's economic plan (SCMP)
2020-02-20
The forced postponement of China's annual parliamentary gathering due to the coronavirus outbreak has added fresh uncertainty and complexity to Beijing's management of the world's second largest economy, reflecting inherent contradiction between a top-down policymaking system and a rapidly changing world. Beijing's practice of setting targets and top-down approach, a legacy from the command economy days, is again under pressure with the National People's Congress set to be delayed until at least the end of March or even early April. This raises questions over how China can reconcile goals made at December's Central Economic Work Conference, which are usually then released during Premier Li Keqiang's government work report at the National People's Congress, with the reality of a much-changed environment due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak which escalated at the end of January. While the annual parliamentary gathering is seen as a ceremonial event to rubber-stamp policies that have already been decided, it is officially the supreme power body in China and the visible end of a long and opaque policy decision making chain. It is the venue to explain the ruling Communist Party's decisions to the public and to publish Beijing's targets for economic growth, unemployment and inflation as well as the fiscal deficits – all of which were decided weeks or even months earlier at close-door meetings but remained unpublished. President Xi Jinping has said on several different occasions over the last two weeks that China will stick to its economic and social development goals for 2020 as the impact of coronavirus, which has killed over 2,000 people in China and seriously disrupted services and production, would be short-lived. In a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, Xi reiterated the message that the impact of the coronavirus, which causes the disease officially known as Covid-19, on China's economy will be "temporary" and that China "will still be able to achieve this year's set goals for economic and social development", Xinhua reported. While Xi is putting faith in the broad policy direction set at the Central Economic Work Conference in December and the grand vision of building up a comprehensive well-off society by 2020, analysts have said the Chinese authority should be flexible in adjusting its specific economic policies and goals in response to the outbreak. A report published by a group of 17 senior officials and economists, led by former central bank deputy governor Wu Xiaoling, this week argued that China should increase the fiscal deficit to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year, breaking the red line of 3 per cent, to support the economy. In addition, China should also issue 1 trillion yuan (US$142 billion) of special treasury bonds to help growth. The report even suggested that China's National Bureau of Statistics should publish a comparable GDP growth figure for the first quarter of 2020 by "excluding the impact of the coronavirus" in a bid to shore up public and market confidence, in addition to the usual headline GDP growth figure. The 2020 GDP growth target is another widely watched figure to be released during the National People's Congress. The closed-door Central Economic Work Conference discusses the target and decides the figure, which is in turn endorsed into the government work report through internal drafting. The report is then read to the National People's Congress, which was scheduled to be on March 5 this year, and ultimately approved. The figure is technically a confidential number until it is officially released, but in reality, it has already been briefed internally to senior officials. It is widely reported that China's GDP growth target for 2020 will be set at "around 6 per cent" against the 2019 target of "6 to 6.5 per cent" and the actual 2019 growth rate of 6.1 per cent. Zhang Yansheng, the chief research fellow at the Beijing-based think tank, the China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, said that China may revise its annual economic growth target for 2020 in response to the coronavirus outbreak. "There will definitely be adjustments. For the central government, it hasn't defined what the 'reasonable range' should be after the outbreak of coronavirus. People are still watching how the outbreak will develop and influence the economy," Zhang said. Shen Jianguang, chief economist of JD Digits, said that there remains many uncertainties as the outbreak continues. "There might be some policy fine-tuning, but the overall direction will remain unchanged," he said. Beijing finds itself in an awkward position, as if it keeps the long-agreed targets for GDP growth and fiscal deficit, it may look out of touch with the new reality since the first quarter of GDP growth, which is scheduled be released in middle of April, is set to be very low. But if it revises the target, it could send a confusing messages since 29 out of 31 provincial-level governments have already published their local growth goals for the year with reference to the previous targets briefed by Beijing. Song Xiaowu, former president of the China Society of Economic Reform, a state-backed think tank, argued that China should forgo the 6 per cent annual growth target and even the long-term goal of doubling the size of its economy in 2020 from 2010, a key part of the "comprehensive well-off society target. Ding Shuang, chief Greater China economist of Standard Chartered Bank, said China may stick to the target of keeping growth at "around 6 per cent" for 2020 but that Beijing will "tolerate a bigger deviation from the target". ^ top ^

Long March carrier rocket lifts four satellites into space (China Daily)
2020-02-20
China launched a Long March 2D carrier rocket on Thursday morning at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. Four technology demonstration satellites were lifted into space atop the rocket, which blasted off at 5:07 am, and are tasked with demonstrating and verifying new technologies for intersatellite links as well as Earth observations, the space contractor said in a statement. The launch marked the country's fourth spaceflight in 2020 and the 326th mission of the Long March rocket series. The rocket and two of the satellites were developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and the other two satellites were respectively built by the Harbin Institute of Technology and the China Academy of Space Technology. The mission could be seen as an indicator that China's space programs have not been extensively affected by the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak, which has led to the lockdown of many cities in the country and suspension of businesses. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp said that it now has a lot of workers doing preparation work for coming missions, noting measures have been taken to ensure those people's health and missions' implementation. The State-owned space conglomerate said in January that it has plans of carrying out more than 40 launch missions to serve national space programs, such as the completion of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, and meet demand from commercial satellite operators. Company insiders said the 40-odd planned missions would be carried out by the conglomerate's Long March-series rockets, the nation's backbone rocket fleet, and do not include those to be made by the company's newly developed Smart Dragon solid-propellant rockets. This means the actual number of launches by the company in 2020 will be even bigger. At least four new types of rockets from the company – the Long March 5B, Long March 7A, Long March 8 and Smart Dragon 2 – are scheduled to conduct their maiden missions this year. ^ top ^

Top regulator takes first steps toward safeguarding data (China Daily)
2020-02-20
In August, China's top internet regulator issued a guideline on the protection of juveniles' personal information. The move came after a number of cases in which children had been harmed by the release of private data online. The Cyberspace Administration of China said the guideline is a milestone in safeguarding children's legitimate rights online, because it aims to prevent infringement from the roots, and calls for more bodies and individuals －including government agencies, internet enterprises and parents －to guarantee children's safety, starting with the protection of privacy. In recent years, China has seen a growing number of cases in which children have been damaged by leaks of personal information online, either intentionally or by accident. For example, in Anhui province, information about many children, such as names and health status, was leaked by hackers who attacked a hospital's computer system and posted the details on a website. The media also reported that people had paid 32,000 yuan ($4,584) to access more than 200,000 pieces of information －such as home addresses －related to children ages 1 to 5 in Shandong province. While some data was inadvertently released by children who had poor awareness of privacy protection when surfing the internet, other information was posted by parents on social media or even gained illegally by hackers, according to Sun Hongyan, an official with the China Youth and Children Research Center. "Compared with the small number of regulations that focus on the protection of children's personal data, the boom in educational smartphone applications has seen abundant information collected, which poses great risks to the safety of juveniles," she said. The situation prompted officials to produce the guideline, which for the first time clarifies the responsibilities of internet service providers regarding the collection, storage, use, transfer or disclosure of children's personal information. It stipulates that online service providers must inform children's guardians about the information they collect or use, and such collection and use must be authorized by the guardians. Meanwhile, internet service providers are required to formulate their own rules about the protection of minors' personal data and establish departments to ensure it is protected. The cyberspace administration regards the guideline as the first step toward safeguarding online data security for children. It said it is working with technology companies and government departments to further study ways of accurately confirming guardians' identities, but stressed that the task is huge. ^ top ^

Xi stresses centralized leadership in virus battle (Global Times)
2020-02-16
President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of securing success in the prevention and control work of the pneumonia epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus, pointing out that the outcome of the epidemic prevention and control directly affects people's lives and health, the overall economic and social stability and the country's opening-up, in an article published Sunday on Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. The article is the transcript of a speech made by Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on February 3, Xinhua reported. Analysts noted that Xi, the leader of the Party and the country, is leading the fight against the COVID-19 in a very transparent and responsible manner, directly addressing public discontent and meeting people's expectations. It is very rarely seen that a speech by the president at a senior-level meeting included so many details, direct instructions and harsh criticisms on the problems, especially during the fight against the virus. At the very beginning of the article, Xi noted that he has made requirements on work to prevent and control the COVID-19 on January 7 since outbreak started while presiding a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Chinese experts said that the CPC Central Committee is playing the most significant role in this war on the virus which needs to mobilize a country with a 1.4 billion population. "It is impossible to mobilize a huge country in this kind of emergency scenario without top-down efficient decision-making and implementation mechanisms. For instance, the two modernized hospitals in Wuhan won't be built in only a few weeks; a large number of military personnel, including military medical workers won't arrive in Hubei Province so quickly and it is also impossible to mobilize other provinces and municipalities with enough resources and capabilities to precisely assist every single city in Hubei Province," said Song Luzheng, a research fellow at the China Institute of Fudan University in Shanghai. Without these timely and determined actions that require centralized leadership to coordinate and instruct different provinces, governmental departments, military forces and big state-owned enterprises, it is unimaginable how worse the situation could be and the outbreak would likely to turn into a global megacrisis, Song noted. Xi stressed that centralized leadership over epidemic prevention and control should be strengthened. The article noted that "Party committees and governments at all levels must firmly obey the centralized leadership of the CPC Central Committee," epidemic prevention and control is not an issue only related to medical care, but works of all aspects. It is a comprehensive war, and all effort must lend support to winning this battle in preventing and controlling the epidemic. The implementation of the CPC Central Committee's instructions at all levels is generally good, the article noted, but also stressed the need to strengthen areas of weakness and close loopholes exposed by the current epidemic. Shen Yi, head of Fudan University's Cyberspace Governance Research Institute, said that the article shows an honest and transparent attitude, as a very serious problem that was exposed since the beginning of the outbreak is that "a few officials at local level governments didn't effectively implement the instructions from the CPC Central Committee and also didn't reflect the real situation at the time." "The CPC Central Committee is aware of a situation on January 7, but due to this kind of problem (inefficient implementation), it caused some loopholes and mistakes, and fortunately the Party has a strong capability of self-correction, and now the damage over the credibility of the government has been generally fixed and recovered," Song said. The article also emphasized the importance of taking control of the narrative and winning over public opinion at home and abroad. There must be closer monitoring and assessment of public opinion, proactively speaking out and giving positive guidance, and law-enforcement must crack down on people who spread rumors and stir trouble, the article noted. Seize the initiative and effectively shape international opinion, win the understanding and support amongst the international community, read the article. Xi stressed the current fight against the epidemic is "a major test of China's system and capacity for governance." In the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee that was held last year, the Party has already pointed out the importance of advancing the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance, and the COVID-19 is exactly a chance, a pressure test, for exposure of the system's problems and weaknesses, and the Party must seize it and use it to improve its governance strategies, said Shen. ^ top ^

China Focus: Travelers, businesses still confident in China's epidemic-hit tourism (Xinhua)
2020-02-21
Chinese travelers and businesses have expressed confidence in the development of the country's tourism industry, although it was hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. "China's tourism economy will prove strong resilience against the epidemic," Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy, said during an online conference Thursday. "Chinese have made 250 million domestic trips, contributing 280 billion yuan (about 39.89 billion U.S. dollars) to the tourism industry during this year's Spring Festival holiday from Jan. 24 to 30, despite a 40 percent year-on-year decrease," he said. A survey by the academy shows 71.5 percent of the respondents would travel after the outbreak ends and everything stabilizes for a while, and 20.7 percent would go traveling as soon as possible after the epidemic. "It makes it clear that the market fundamentals supporting the operation of China's tourism economy remain unchanged and chances are high that domestic tourism consumption will bottom out after the epidemic," Dai said. According to the academy, a 15.5 percent drop in the number of domestic trips and 17.6 percent falloff in outbound trips made by Chinese in 2020 are estimated to come on the heels of the virus hit. The outbreak could also mean a yearly decrease of 1.18 trillion yuan in domestic tourism revenue, it said. "The first quarter will be stricken hard. But the virus impact throughout the year will be less negative once the epidemic is reined in within Q1," Dai said. Against the virus-hit backdrop, businesses still regard China's travel market as bullish. Another survey among travel agencies by the academy shows that 70 percent of the respondents would progressively resume business operations after the epidemic. A total of 26 percent believed the travel market would recover soon after the epidemic is over, and 66 percent estimated the recovery period to be one to three months after the epidemic. "Chinese authorities at all levels have rolled out measures to help travel businesses recover their operations," Dai said. "On the premise of ensuring the safety and health of tourists and employees, it is possible for travel agencies to explore ways to prudently and steadily push forward the resumption of work," he added. ^ top ^

Combination of Chinese, Western medicine effective in treating COVID-19: expert (Xinhua)
2020-02-20
The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine in treating COVID-19 is proved effective, said Yu Yanhong, an official with the National Health Commission, at a video press conference Thursday. The method can rapidly improve the condition of patients with mild symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, weakness and lack of appetite, and cut the duration of hospital stays, said Yu, who is also the deputy head of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Experts also find that the combination can help prevent mild symptoms from developing into severe and critical conditions, thus reducing the death rate of the disease, she noted. A study on 102 mild cases showed that the clinical symptoms of those receiving the combined treatment disappeared two days sooner than the control group, and the recovery rate improved 33 percent, Yu explained. She also noted that traditional Chinese medicine can effectively improve the number of lymphocytes, an indicator of patient recovery. In another study on cases of severe conditions, the patients receiving the combined treatment stayed an average of over two days shorter in hospital than the control group, with multiple indicators improving. "In the future, we will further improve the plan of traditional and western medicine treatment to give it a greater role in saving the patients," Yu said. ^ top ^

China to halve employers' medical insurance contributions (Xinhua)
2020-02-20
China will halve employers' contributions to the basic medical insurance scheme to help them resume work while easing their financial burden. On the premise of ensuring the medium- to long-term balance of fund payments, companies will see their medical insurance contribution halved for no more than five months, starting from February, said Chen Jinfu, deputy head of the National Healthcare Security Administration, at a press conference Thursday. The reduced contributions to medical security premiums are expected to free the enterprises with 150 billion yuan (about 21.4 billion U.S. dollars), helping coordinate the epidemic prevention efforts and the economic development, according to Chen. "The basic medical security fund has so far been sufficient of backing the waiver," Chen said. By the end of 2019, accumulated balance of the basic medical security fund totaled 1.3 trillion yuan, which is enough to fund 22 months of payments, propping up its long-term and steady operation, Chen added. ^ top ^

Chinese state media 'humiliating' women nurses in coronavirus propaganda campaign (SCMP)
2020-02-21
Chinese state media reports heaping praise on women nurses for their sacrifices in the fight against the deadly coronavirus epidemic are backfiring online, with social media users and academics dismissing them as propaganda and "humiliating". State broadcaster CCTV led the charge last week, describing a nurse who was in her last month of pregnancy as "a great mother and angel in a white gown" because she had continued to work in the emergency ward of a military hospital in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak in central China. Zhao Yu was due to give birth in 20 days when the report aired, and apparently insisted she should remain on duty at the General Hospital of Central China War Zone, which like other hospitals in the city was overwhelmed with virus patients. Although her colleagues had tried to talk her out of it, she said she wanted to share the burden. But the report hailing the nurse's devotion to her job did not get the intended response online. After many social media users raised concern about a heavily pregnant nurse working in a highly contagious and difficult environment, the video clip was withdrawn from CCTV's website. "I'm not touched at all – on the contrary, I'm angry," read one of many similar comments on Weibo, China's Twitter. "Shouldn't a woman who's nine months' pregnant be at home? She's in such thick protective clothes and it's hard for her to even move around. Can that be good for her baby?" The next day, a report in Wuhan Evening News told the story of another nurse who had returned to work just 10 days after she had surgery following a miscarriage. The nurse normally worked in oncology, but when she went back at the end of January she was assigned to the coronavirus isolation ward – something she kept from her family because she did not want to worry them. At first she felt exhausted by the work, but after a few days she adapted to the high-pressure work environment, according to the report, which met with a similar reaction online. Hou Hongbin, a feminist writer in Guangzhou, said the reports were disrespectful and it was "inhumane" to let the two nurses keep working. "Hospitals should not be allowing a nurse who is nine months' pregnant – or the one who'd had a miscarriage – work. Their immune systems are weakened, and it's highly possible that they will be infected with the virus themselves," Hou said. Her views were echoed by Huang Lin, a feminist researcher and professor at Capital Normal University in Beijing, who called the reports inappropriate. "Even during an epidemic, medical staff need to protect themselves first," she said. The new coronavirus strain, which causes a disease known as Covid-19, has killed more than 2,100 people and infected over 74,000, mostly in China, since it began in December. As the virus continued to spread earlier this month, and public anger over handling of the outbreak mounted, the internet was also abuzz with reports of women nurses having their heads shaved to help control the spread of the disease. Their hospitals said the women were "willing" to do this, but some nurses were seen in video footage weeping while their hair was cut off. Hou said having nurses take such an extreme step was unnecessary. "Medical workers in Wuhan, whether they're male or female, don't need to shave their heads, and the epidemic control guidelines issued by the health authorities have never said they should do this," she said. "These reports are just propaganda, and they're the result of bullying women nurses. They're humiliating these nurses, but they present it as if they are making a sacrifice." Shen Yifei, an associate professor in sociology at Fudan University and director of its Family Study Centre in Shanghai, agreed. She said at first, several nurses had their hair cut very short and were seen in photos looking pleased on social media. Later, hospitals arranged for more women nurses to have their heads shaved in front of the cameras, and that was when the public sentiment turned, she said. "It's very apparent that the authorities have their own agenda here," Shen said. She said the reports about women nurses were misleading, and could put pressure on others. "Medical workers should be praised for their performance at work, not anything to do with their female features," she said. There have also been reports of women working on the front line not having access to sanitary pads in hospitals, with some taking birth control pills to avoid having their periods. "This is part of a bigger phenomenon, that women are overlooked in the workplace," said feminist writer Hou. "Their normal biological needs are stigmatised." There was a slight improvement for women medical workers in Wuhan last week. After rights activists called for their needs to be met, the authorities and manufacturers sent supplies of disposable underwear designed for periods to hospitals in the city, according to Hou. Media expert Wei Wuhui, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said if the media on the mainland was independent and the nurses were being honest, there would be no problem. But since the stories had all come from media backed by the government, they were more about swaying public opinion. "The authorities are hoping that people will be moved by these heroic deeds and will forget that this epidemic has partly been caused by officials' malpractice," he said. Huang Lin, from Capital Normal University, said the media should also be looking at the why the epidemic happened. "It's all right for the media to report on 'positive energy' and praise medical staff, but it shouldn't just be promoting the sacrifices made by a vulnerable group in society," she said. "Many people will take this sacrifice and devotion for granted." ^ top ^

Central government demands better conditions for medical workers (China Daily)
2020-02-14
The central government has required a better working and living environment for medical staff on the front lines combating the novel coronavirus. Sufficient medical facilities and supplies of protective equipment are necessary for medical workers, according to a guideline jointly released by the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Friday. The government should make sure medical workers have enough food and rest amid the epidemic. County-level or higher-level governments can take over hotels near hospitals, according to the law, as resting places for medical workers, the guideline said. Discrimination against or isolation of medical workers and their family shall be criticized, according to the guideline. Also, those who attack and hurt medical workers amid the epidemic will be investigated and punished accordingly. Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health Commission, said at a news conference medical workers are facing great pressures, both physical and emotional, while fighting the virus. "Local governments should arrange medical workers with reasonable plans to make sure they have enough time for rest," he said. He said hospitals and medical organizations should give these workers vacations for their extra shifts. A total of 1,716 medical workers had been infected by the novel coronavirus as of Tuesday midnight, comprising 3.8 percent of the total infections on the Chinese mainland. Six of them had died, accounting for 0.4 percent of the total fatalities, Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health Commission, said at a news conference on Friday. According to him, about 87.5 percent of the infected medical workers, or 1,502 cases, were in Hubei province. Among the confirmed cases in Hubei, 1,102 were reported from Wuhan. ^ top ^

Chinese police detain fugitive rights activist Xu Zhiyong during 'coronavirus check' (SCMP)
2020-02-17
A Chinese rights activist in hiding since December was detained in the southern city of Guangzhou after police mounted "coronavirus prevention checks" on the homes of friends and sympathisers, according to other activists. Xu Zhiyong, 47, had been in hiding since attending a gathering in Xiamen, in the southeastern province of Fujian, to discuss "democratic transition in China". Four other activists – Ding Jiaxi, Dai Zhenya, Zhang Zhongshun, Li Yingjun – were detained soon after the gathering without access to lawyers. "Xu had been hiding and meeting friends in different cities, continuing his work of developing civil movements. But he became stuck as quarantine controls across the country against the coronavirus outbreak were stepped up," another activist said, referring to heightened restrictions to stop the spread of Covid-19. Xu was detained at the home of Yang Bin, a Guangzhou-based lawyer and a former prosecutor, during a police "coronavirus check". Yang confirmed that she, her husband, their son and Xu were taken away by police together and all but Xu were released on Sunday evening after being questioned by police. "I'm fine and telling friends we are safe. Thanks for your concern about us," Yang said, adding that she could not say more on Xu's whereabouts and why he had been detained. A dissident source close to the matter said Xu had been taken away by police from Beijing and Yang's family remained under police surveillance at their home. The activist, who had briefly sheltered Xu and declined to be named on safety concerns, said police had visited his home on a "coronavirus prevention" check as well as the homes of others who had helped Xu in recent days. Xu's girlfriend, Li Qiaochu, a Beijing-based feminist and labour rights activist, has also been missing since she sent a message that "someone is knocking at my door" early on Sunday, according to Hu Jia, a veteran activist based in Beijing and winner of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, stepped up prevention measures against the virus last week, including authorising the government to take over private property. The province has the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 patients outside Hubei, the epicentre of the outbreak, with most cases concentrated in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The public security bureau of Panyu district, where Yang's home is located, could not be reached for comment. Xu's defence lawyer, Zhang Qingfang, said he did not know if the authorities would allow him to represent the activist. "Xu Zhiyong did hire me and hoped I would be his lawyer if he were arrested," Zhang said. Xu, a former lecturer at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, founded a civic group called the New Citizens' Movement. He was arrested in 2013 and served four years in prison for "gathering a crowd to disturb public order". The charge related to a series of small protests he organised in 2012 and 2013 to push for official transparency and the rights of rural children to education. Early this month, Xu published an article online urging Xi to step down for his "inability to handle major crises", including the Covid-19 outbreak. Pro-democracy activist and independent political analyst Wu Yangwei, also known by the pseudonym Ye Du, said Xu's detention showed that the Communist Party "doesn't allow any dissent to be voiced, nor the possibility of challenging the party's rule". ^ top ^

Company launches insurance program to stabilize vegetable prices in Shanghai (Xinhua)
2020-02-20
A major insurance company has launched an insurance program in Shanghai to help stabilize vegetable prices amid the coronavirus outbreak. The program will compensate vegetable suppliers in the city when the prices of agricultural products in the production bases are higher than in Shanghai, said Ma Xin, vice president of the China Pacific Insurance Company (CPIC). Headquartered in Shanghai, CPIC is one of China's leading insurance companies with more than 80 million customers. To protect low-income people in the city, the company also developed a "vegetable basket" price index insurance. It will subsidize people when vegetables become too expensive for them to consume. The daily supply of vegetables was about 3,000 tonnes in Shanghai, a local official said last week. ^ top ^

Shanghai COVID-19 control effective amid work resumption: official (Xinhua)
2020-02-20
The anti-epidemic efforts taken by Shanghai have proved effective as the city saw decreasing number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection in recent days, a local official said Thursday. Zheng Jin, a spokesperson with the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, made the remarks at a press conference held by Shanghai municipal government. The city is allowing enterprises to resume work and production in an orderly manner while it remains highly vigilant of the epidemic situation, Zheng said. "At present, the traffic volume and city commuting in Shanghai have gradually returned to normal," she said. The city is also using big data and other information-based technology to manage the flow of people. ^ top ^

West obsessed with political stunt over Xinjiang (Global Times)
2020-02-20
Western media recently reported another what they called "a leaked government document" on Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It includes the alleged information of more than 300 Uygur people and their relatives in Xinjiang's Moyu County. The document is claimed to have detailed records of why these people were "detained" in Xinjiang's vocational education and training centers and their performance there. Western media admitted that the so-called document is not signed or stamped, but claimed that it is "legitimate for a number of reasons" as some of its content matches that of "other government documents, spreadsheets and a leaked database." The work of Xinjiang's vocational education and training centers has passed the peak period over the previous years, but the West is still interested in attacking it. Some Western people have been smearing China's Xinjiang policy to vent their dissatisfaction toward China. It is meaningless to argue with certain Western public opinion about a specific practice in Xinjiang. The fact is China is pragmatically reshaping the situation in Xinjiang and has achieved outstanding results. Xinjiang's overall situation has been refreshed. Peace and stability have returned to the land which occupies about one-sixth of China's total area, and economic and social undertakings have returned to normal. The recovery of tourism is particularly prominent. At the same time, a public opinion carnival to smear China over Xinjiang governance has emerged in the West. Some are upset that the public opinion campaign has failed to affect the situation in Xinjiang. Frictions between China and the West are common, yet is it not common to see such a fierce verbal attack by the West and the firm resistance from China. There is no doubt that problems can be found in the details of de-radicalization efforts in Xinjiang, a large-scale social movement. But the ultimate goal of the movement is to restore peace and stability in the region. This is political goodwill toward all local people. Yet those who are accusing China's efforts from the US and the West totally deny the goodwill. From their narrow-minded stance and paranoid ideology, the governance in Xinjiang equals appalling ethnic repression. They have shown unprecedented obsession and fanaticism over demonizing China. Ethnic minorities in China enjoy quite many preferential policies in many fields such as access to education. Mosques can be seen everywhere in Xinjiang. How can that be called de-Islamization, which is a completely different concept from de-radicalization? The de-radicalization movement is to completely shake off the influence of those radical forces in Xinjiang. China's political system is different from that of the West. Our system is to serve the people and has achieved fruitful results. Some Western elites are arrogant and petty-minded, as if they hope for China's prosperity more than the Chinese government does. They pretend to be noble and shut their eyes to the reality, which shows Western civilization has lost its openness and inclusiveness. Facts speak louder than words. History will finally record Xinjiang's revolutionary turning point which leads the region away from turbulence. A real humanitarian monument is being established in Xinjiang. All paranoia and hypocrisy will eventually be gone with the wind. ^ top ^

China locks up Muslims in Xinjiang for their religion, not extremism, leaked data shows (SCMP)
2020-02-20
For decades, the Uygur imam was a bedrock of his farming community in China's far west. On Fridays, he preached Islam as a religion of peace. On Sundays, he treated the sick with free herbal medicine. In the winter, he bought coal for the poor. But as a Chinese government mass detention campaign engulfed Memtimin Emer's native Xinjiang region three years ago, the elderly imam was swept up and locked away, along with all three of his sons living in China. Now, a newly revealed database exposes in extraordinary detail the main reasons for the detentions of Emer, his three sons, and hundreds of others in Karakax county: their religion and their family ties. The database obtained by Associated Press profiles the internment of 311 individuals with relatives abroad and lists information on more than 2,000 of their relatives, neighbours and friends. Each entry includes the detainee's name, address, national identity number, detention date and location, along with a detailed dossier on their family, religious and neighbourhood background, the reason for detention, and a decision on whether to release them. Issued within the past year, the documents do not indicate which government department compiled them or for whom. Taken as a whole, the information offers the fullest and most personal view yet into how Chinese officials decided who to put into and let out of detention camps, as part of a massive crackdown that has locked away more than a million ethnic minorities, most of them Muslims. The database emphasises that the Chinese government focused on religion as a reason for detention – not just political extremism, as authorities claim, but ordinary activities such as praying, attending a mosque or even growing a long beard. It also shows the role of family: people with detained relatives are far more likely to end up in a camp themselves, uprooting and criminalising entire families like Emer's in the process. Similarly, family background and attitude is a bigger factor than detainee behaviour in whether they are released. "It's very clear that religious practice is being targeted," said Darren Byler, a University of Colorado researcher studying the use of surveillance technology in Xinjiang. "They want to fragment society, to pull the families apart and make them much more vulnerable to retraining and re-education." The Xinjiang regional government did not respond to faxes requesting comment. Asked whether Xinjiang is targeting religious people and their families, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said "this kind of nonsense is not worth commenting on". Beijing has said before that the detention centres are for voluntary job training, and that it does not discriminate based on religion. China has struggled for decades to govern Xinjiang, where the native Uygurs have long resented Beijing's heavy-handed rule. After the September 11 attacks in the United States, officials began using the spectre of terrorism to justify harsher religious restrictions, saying young Uygurs were susceptible to Islamic extremism. After militants set off bombs at a railway station in Xinjiang's capital in 2014, President Xi Jinping launched a so-called "People's War on Terror", transforming Xinjiang into a digital police state. The leak of the database from sources in the Uygur exile community follows the release in November of a classified blueprint on how the mass detention system really works. The blueprint obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which includes Associated Press, showed that the centres are in fact forced ideological and behavioural re-education camps run in secret. Another set of documents leaked to The New York Times revealed the historical lead-up to the mass detention. The latest set of documents came from sources in the Uygur exile community, and the most recent date in them is March 2019. The detainees listed come from Karakax county, a traditional settlement of about 650,000 on the edge of Xinjiang's Taklamakan desert where more than 97 per cent of residents are Uygur. The list was corroborated through interviews with former Karakax residents, Chinese identity verification tools, and other lists and documents seen by Associated Press. Detainees and their families are tracked and classified by rigid, well-defined categories. Households are designated as "trustworthy" or "not trustworthy", and their attitudes are graded as "ordinary" or "good". Families have "light" or "heavy" religious atmospheres, and the database keeps count of how many relatives of each detainee are locked in prison or sent to a "training centre". Officials used these categories to determine how suspicious a person was – even if they had not committed any crimes. "It underscores the witch-hunt mindset of the government, and how the government criminalises everything," said Adrian Zenz, an expert on the detention centres and senior fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington. Reasons listed for internment include "minor religious infection", "disturbs other persons by visiting them without reasons", "relatives abroad", "thinking is hard to grasp" and "untrustworthy person born in a certain decade". The last seems to refer to younger men: about 31 per cent of people considered "untrustworthy" were in the age bracket of 25 to 29 years, according to an analysis of the data by Zenz. When former student Abdullah Muhammad spotted Emer's name on the list of the detained, he was distraught. "He did not deserve this," Muhammad said. "Everyone liked and respected him. He was the kind of person who could not stay silent against injustice." Even in Karakax county, famed for its intellectuals and scholars, Emer stood out as one of the most renowned teachers in the region. Muhammad studied the Koran under Emer for six years as a kid, following him from house to house in an effort to dodge the authorities. Muhammad said Emer was so respected that the police would phone him with warnings ahead of time before raiding classes at his modest, single-storey home of brick and mud. Although Emer gave Communist Party-approved sermons, he refused to preach Communist propaganda, Muhammad said, eventually running into trouble with the authorities. He was stripped of his position as an imam and barred from teaching in 1997, amid unrest roiling the region. When Muhammad left China for Saudi Arabia and Turkey in 2009, Emer was making his living as a doctor of traditional medicine. Emer was growing old and, under heavy surveillance, he had stopped attending religious gatherings. That did not stop authorities from detaining the imam, who is in his eighties, and sentencing him on various charges for up to 12 years in prison during 2017 and 2018. The database cites four charges in various entries: "stirring up terrorism", acting as an unauthorised "wild" imam, following the strict Saudi Wahhabi sect and conducting illegal religious teachings. Muhammad called the charges false. Emer had stopped his preaching, practised a moderate Central Asian sect of Islam rather than Wahhabism and never dreamed of hurting others, let alone stirring up "terrorism", Muhammad said. "He used to always preach against violence," Muhammad said. "Anyone who knew him can testify that he wasn't a religious extremist." None of Emer's three sons had been convicted of a crime. But the database shows that over the course of 2017, all were thrown into the detention camps for having too many children, trying to travel abroad, being "untrustworthy" or "infected with religious extremism", or going on the haj, the Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. It also shows that their relation to Emer and their religious background was enough to convince officials they were too dangerous to let out from the detention camps. "His father taught him how to pray," notes one entry for his eldest, Ablikim Memtimin. "His family's religious atmosphere is thick. We recommend he continue training," says another entry for his youngest son, Emer Memtimin. Even a neighbour was tainted by living near him, with Emer's alleged crimes and prison sentence recorded in the neighbour's dossier. The database indicates much of this information is collected by teams of cadres stationed at mosques, sent to visit homes and posted in communities. The information is then compiled in a dossier called the "three circles", encompassing relatives, community and religious background. It was not only the religious who were detained. The database shows that Karakax officials also explicitly targeted people for activities that included going abroad, getting a passport or installing foreign software. Pharmacist Tohti Himit was detained in a camp for having gone multiple times to one of 26 "key" countries, mostly Muslim, according to the database. Former employee Habibullah, who is now in Turkey, recalled Himit as a secular, kind and wealthy man who kept his face free of a beard. "He wasn't very pious, he did not go to the mosque," said Habibullah, who declined to give his first name out of fear of retribution against family still in China. "I was shocked by how absurd the reasons for detention were." The database says cadres found Himit had attended his grandfather's funeral at a local mosque on March 10, 2008. Later that year, the cadres found, he had gone to the same mosque again, once to worship and once to celebrate a festival. In 2014 he had gone to Anhui province, in inner China, to get a passport and go abroad. That, the government concluded, was enough to show that Himit was "certainly dangerous". They ordered Himit to stay in the centre and "continue training". Emer is now under house arrest due to health issues, his former student, Muhammad, has heard. It is unclear where Emer's sons are. It was the imam's courage and stubbornness that did him in, Muhammad said. Although deprived of his mosque and his right to teach, Emer quietly defied the authorities for two decades by staying true to his faith. "Unlike some other scholars, he never cared about money or anything else the Communist Party could give him," Muhammad said. "He never bowed down to them – and that is why they wanted to eliminate him." ^ top ^

Xi Jinping's coronavirus power grab is endangering public health in Hong Kong (HKFP)
2020-02-20
Across the world, governments are taking necessary steps to tackle the coronavirus and keep their citizens safe. But Hong Kong has been hit by a one-two punch: President Xi Jinping seems determined to use the outbreak to increase control over the semi-autonomous region, and Chief Executive Carrie Lam is doing nothing to stand in his way. Hong Kong is particularly vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus as a result of decisions made directly by the Chief Executive. For one, the introduction of a ban on face masks in October, designed to stop peaceful protests, has exacerbated the shortage of masks city-wide, to the point where the Government is largely unable to provide masks to vulnerable senior citizens living in poverty. Further, Carrie Lam has refused to close the border with mainland China to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission, despite weeks of protest by medics led by the Hospital Authority Employees Alliance. Shortages of masks, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, rice, and empty supermarket shelves are what you might expect to find in a failed state, not in one of the financial powerhouses of the world. Yet all of these conditions have rapidly become a part of daily life for many Hong Kong residents, and have further fueled rising levels distrust in the Hong Kong Government. The uneasy mood across the city is due in large part to the ineptitude of the Hong Kong Government. Eight months of violently suppressing protests and punishing activists has left Carrie Lam with little legitimacy when it comes to handling the coronavirus. Of course, the situation in Hong Kong is not as dire as that of mainland China, where we are witnessing the unprecedented lockdown of millions of people. However, after over 60 confirmed cases and two fatalities, all museums, schools, and universities are closed and much of the population have opted for self-quarantine. Viruses know no borders, no political affiliation and no belief system. This makes the decision by the Chinese Government to use this crisis as an opportunity to appoint Xia Baolong, a notorious ideological hardliner to the position of Director of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, all the more perplexing. Xia, a close ally of Xi Jinping, received international condemnation in 2014 and 2015 for waging an ideological war against Christians, which involved tearing down 2,000 crosses and demolishing entire churches. Xia's appointment last week sends a clear signal that Beijing plans to tighten its grip on Hong Kong by continuing to curb the rights of civil society by increasing the PRC's direct involvement and diminishing the role of Beijing's liaison office. This is a worrying development for policymakers in the United States as well, where the US-Hong Kong Policy Act and Hong Kong's special trade status is based on a high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong from the PRC. The Chinese people deserve all the help and resources the international community can give to tackle the coronavirus, but at the same time, we must be ready to prevent the Chinese Communist Party form using the crisis to advance its political agenda. Whether it's the steady encroachment of state-sponsored surveillance or the purging of party moderates in favour of hardliners in key positions, the coronavirus has offered President Xi the perfect cover. For these reasons and more, I led the first Congressional hearing into the rapid spread of coronavirus as Ranking Member of the Asia Pacific Subcommittee. The findings were clear in detailing how the authoritarian government in Beijing is unwilling to offer the global community an accurate account of the spread of coronavirus in China and remains unapologetic in its refusal to embrace transparency. Now is not the time to allow petty grievances to overwhelm decisive action, which is why I have urged the creation of a global coalition to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This should include Taiwan, which remains excluded from the World Health Organization by China and was pivotal in helping to tackle the SARS virus seventeen years ago. Now is also not the time to forget our commitment to the promotion of human rights. While China is rightly focused on mobilising resources to fight the spread of the coronavirus, we cannot ignore the continued secrecy and entrenched authoritarianism that has allowed it to spread so quickly both domestically and abroad. I stand with the people of Hong Kong who are on the frontline of fighting the coronavirus and increased authoritarianism from Beijing. Chief Executive Lam should follow the example of the USA and listen to medics on strike in closing the border with mainland China. The Hong Kong Government should also begin providing face masks to senior citizens and other vulnerable groups irrespective of the cost. Finally, steps must be taken by the international community to reform the World Health Organization so that no country is able to hide the spread of a deadly virus. The people of Hong Kong deserve better than to have their health put into jeopardy by a government more concerned with political wins than the lives of their citizens. ^ top ^

Removal of Hong Kong protest images from Sony World Photography Awards website raises censorship concerns (HKFP)
2020-02-19
Images relating to the Hong Kong protests have been taken down from the 2020 Sony World Photography Awards website because of their "sensitive nature." While the finalists are still in the running for a prize, the move has raised concerns over possible censorship. Contest organisers, the World Photography Organisation (WPO), removed shots from Hong Kong photographer Ko Chung-ming's series titled Wounds of Hong Kong. The collection, which features ten images that highlighted the injuries and scars people had sustained from the city's pro-democracy protests, was one of the finalists in the Documentary category. Ko first discovered the link to his collection was broken last Friday. He told HKFP that he thought the website had been attacked, but later discovered two other shortlisted series related to the anti-extradition law protests had been removed as well. He was referring to the submission by American photographer David Butow titled Battleground HongKong, and Hong Kong Protesters by Australian photographer Adam Ferguson. In an initial reply to Ko's inquiry, the WPO said his series was taken down temporarily because there had been concerns about the "sensitive nature" of some of his images. "We have temporarily taken down the images as part of a standard process which we have to put in place for these type of cases, until we are able to review everything in further detail," the WPO said. But the WPO said the list of finalists had not changed, and the contest result will be announced on April 17. "I don't know who's complaining and what their concerns are. But why should any 'concerns' not be addressed by the judges at the judging phase?" asked Ko in a response to HKFP. "As long as the final result is up to the jury's professional judgement, I wouldn't say there's censorship," he added. On Tuesday, the page for Ko's series was displayed as "404 Page not found" on the contest site. However, the same link was directed to a "Protected Page" on Wednesday, where a password was needed in order to view the content. ^ top ^

Coronavirus: massive HK$30 billion relief package revealed as Hong Kong government plans to bail out struggling industries and fund the fight against deadly bug (SCMP)
2020-02-20
The Hong Kong government will dish out a bigger-than-expected HK$30 billion (US$3.86 billion) relief package in an urgent attempt to bail out virtually all industries across the board as people from all walks of life are left reeling from the coronavirus outbreak. Details of the measures, which were revealed in a document to lawmakers late on Wednesday night, aimed to serve two purposes: boosting the city's ability to fight the epidemic and easing the woes of businesses as the number of confirmed infections of Covid-19 continued to rise. More than half the funding – HK$16.9 billion (US$2.15 billion) – would be used to provide one-off cash injections to retailers, food and drink service providers, transport companies, students, the arts and culture sector, guest houses and travel agents. Another HK$10.19 billion would focus on the virus itself, with support given to the Hospital Authority; more investment in technology to boost local production of surgical masks; the purchase of more protective equipment; and aid for various sectors including property management staff, security guards and construction and cleaning workers in their fight against contagion. Some of this funding would also be set aside for households of two public housing estates designated as temporary quarantine centres. The two parts of the funding plus a 10 per cent buffer add up to about HK$30 billion. Since the outbreak worsened in January, 65 people in Hong Kong have been infected with the virus and two have died. Globally, more than 2,000 people have died since the outbreak began, and more than 75,000 have been infected – the vast majority in mainland China. The intensifying public health crisis prompted the Hong Kong government to close all but three of its border checkpoints with mainland China. Only the airport, the Shenzhen Bay Port and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge are still operating. A total of 47 jurisdictions have issued travel advisories against visiting mainland China, while 28 included Hong Kong as well. Flights have been cut and cruise tours cancelled while tourist arrivals have plunged to a trough even worse than the depth of the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in 2003. Of the funding, the Hospital Authority would receive HK$4.7 billion, which would cover subsidies to its 80,000 staff on rent, extra personal protective equipment and special allowances. To boost mask production in Hong Kong, HK$1.5 billion would be earmarked for subsidising producers setting up a maximum of 20 production lines while the government was committed to buying 2 million masks a month for a year. The government would spend HK$1 billion on the global procurement of personal protective equipment, including clothes. As for sectors that had suffered a heavy toll from the outbreak, the city's 70,000 retailers would share a total of HK$5.6 billion cash subsidy. Those qualified were defined as "businesses which sell goods at a physical location mainly to the general public for personal/household consumption", the government said. It said the retail sector employs about 267,000 workers. For the city's 28,000 food licence holders, a total of HK$3.73 billion was earmarked for two groups. Those that have a general restaurant licence, a marine restaurant licence or a canteen licence are eligible for a one-off grant of HK$200,000. Holders of light refreshment licences, such as bakeries, food factories and siu mei or lo mei (Chinese cuisine), would be eligible for a cash grant of HK$80,000 each. Public transport providers would be subsidised with HK$3.23 billion altogether. Students are to receive grants of HK$900 million for the 2020/21 academic year. Tenants of technology hubs in Science Park in Tai Po and Cyberport in Pok Fu Lam would be subsidised with HK$380 million in rent. The fund will be set up within a week following funding approval and the specific measures discussed would be implemented as a matter of priority. The measures were due to be discussed in a finance committee meeting on Friday. "As the fight against the epidemic continues, we may identify further measures for enhancing our capability, and other sectors or types of individuals that need financial support or relief," the document said. "We therefore propose that some financial buffer be injected into the fund to serve as a ready source for prompt response to such needs." ^ top ^

Mainland urges DPP to facilitate chartered flights for Taiwan compatriots' return (Xinhua)
2020-02-20
Chinese mainland authority on Thursday urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration in Taiwan to allow the mainland's chartered flights to send nearly 1,000 Taiwan compatriots in Hubei Province back home. The DPP administration should take the Taiwan compatriots' appeal into serious consideration and approve the chartered flight plan of China Eastern Airlines as soon as possible, said an official with the cross-Strait affairs office of Hubei Province. Among the Taiwan compatriots who are staying in Hubei due to the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic, nearly 400 are under the age of 18 or elderly aged 60 or above, and nearly 80 have chronic diseases. They are all eager to return to work, go back to school or seek medical treatment, the official said, adding that nearly 85 percent of them came to Hubei before the epidemic only for short visits. They have had to stay in Hubei for more than half a month due to obstructions made by the DPP administration on planned chartered flights of China Eastern Airlines, though the first such flight sent 247 people to Taiwan on Feb. 3. After being quarantined for over 14 days, none of them have been found to suffer COVID-19, the official said. Two Taiwan compatriots who were previously confirmed as COVID-19 patients in Hubei have been discharged from hospital after recovery, the official said. The cross-Strait affairs authorities at various levels in Hubei have constantly kept the Taiwan compatriots informed on epidemic prevention and control information and assisted them in epidemic prevention and daily life, said the official. ^ top ^

Could the coronavirus drag Beijing and Taipei towards conflict? (SCMP)
2020-02-16
First it was residual anti-mainland sentiment from a fiercely fought presidential election in January. Now disagreement between Beijing and Taipei over the repatriation of Taiwanese from the epicentre of a deadly coronavirus outbreak is piling pressure on already strained relations across the Taiwan Strait. Analysts said that failure to resolve such disputes could turn stalemate into confrontation, with Tsai Ing-wen, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, winning a second four-year term as the island's leader in a clear rejection of the pro-Beijing Kuomintang. The repatriation dispute erupted when Beijing ignored Taipei's request to airlift about 500 people from Wuhan, despite allowing various countries to allow such flights. Mainland China regards Taiwan as its province, not a country in its own right, so rescues would be a matter for Beijing to decide. This view extended to the island's relationship with the World Health Organisation (WHO) as Taiwanese scientists asked to be allowed to help develop a strategy to tackle the coronavirus. While countries petitioned the WHO to let Taiwan take part in its talks, Beijing sent 247 Taiwanese home on February 3. But Beijing came under fire from the island when one passenger on the flight tested positive for the virus. The mainland's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Taiwan's participation was made possible only by Beijing's agreement. "Taiwan region's participation in WHO technical activities … must be arranged by the Chinese side … through consultations under the 'one-China' principle," ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said. Taiwanese foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said the involvement of Taiwanese experts in the forum was the result of direct negotiations between the island and the WHO. Analysts said political calculation played a part in the way both sides dealt with the coronavirus crisis. While the Taiwanese government hoped that evacuation flights would strengthen its pro-independence credentials, Beijing tried to keep the island's health affairs under its one-China umbrella. "That's why the Chinese communists changed their initial attitude by sending the [first batch] of the Taiwanese back because they wanted to create the impression that they are responsible in taking care of the health of Taiwanese public," said Fan Shih-ping, a professor of political science at National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei. Fan said Beijing also wanted to tackle the swell of international support for Taiwan's membership of the WHO. Repatriations to Taiwan from Wuhan remained unresolved. Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office, accused the island of picking faults with Beijing's efforts, regardless of the safety of the Taiwanese who remained. He accused the Tsai government of trying to shirk its responsibilities and stalling Beijing's efforts to send home the more than 970 Taiwanese citizens who were still in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province. Ma said that after the first repatriation Beijing sent a list of 979 names to the Taiwanese government. These people were expected to leave mainland China in five groups between February 6 and 8. But the evacuation was aborted because the island said it could not accommodate so many people in medical observation at such short notice, Ma said, adding that Taipei must be held responsible for putting its people at risk. Chen Ming-tong, head of the island's Mainland Affairs Council, said Taiwan asked that the elderly, minors and those with chronic diseases be made priority cases for flights home from Wuhan, but only 50 people who fitted that description were put forward for the first flight. Alexander Huang Chieh-cheng, a professor of international strategic and US studies at Tamkang University in Taipei, said failed efforts between Taiwan and mainland China to deal with the outbreak would only worsen cross-strait relations. "The outbreak occurred shortly after Taiwan's highly tense presidential election and anti-China emotion was still around," Huang said, adding that this would lead Taiwan to distance itself further from the mainland. He said that support for Taiwan's international visibility from the US government was at a level "that has never seen for decades". This included William Lai Ching-te's "private" Washington trip this month, when the vice-president-designate became the first high-level Taiwanese figure to meet National Security Council officials in more than 40 years. This, and Taiwan's renewed ties to the WHO, could prompt Beijing to retaliate, Huang said. "The impact would further strain cross-strait relations or push back the time for cross-strait rapprochement," he said. Wang Kung-yi, a political-science professor at Chinese Culture University in Taipei, said that both sides needed to talk because there was a danger that the stalemate could break and escalate to confrontation in the next four years if they did not resolve their differences. "Cross-strait relations are entering a vicious cycle, with the DPP and the Communist Party challenging each other amid strong mutual distrust," Wang said. Such an impasse would result in "direct confrontation if no goodwill is shown by the two sides during Tsai's next four-year term beginning in May". ^ top ^

Taiwan export orders drop in January (Xinhua)
2020-02-20
Export orders received by Taiwan companies dropped 12.8 percent year on year to 35.31 billion U.S. dollars in January, the island's economic affairs department said Thursday. Month on month, the export orders in January fell by 19.4 percent from December, the department said in a press release. The department attributed the shrinking export orders to fewer working days in January due to the Spring Festival holiday and the off-season of manufacturing industries. The statistics consist of export orders produced both in and outside Taiwan. About 48.8 percent of the export orders received by Taiwan companies in January were produced outside Taiwan, according to the department. The largest amount of orders was from the United States, followed by the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong as well as Europe. The export orders from the three economies all reduced year on year in January. ^ top ^

Mining Minister meets Ambassador of China (Montsame)
2020-02-19
Minister of Mining and Heavy Industry D.Sumiyabazar on February 18 met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Mongolia Chai Wenrui in connection with his recent appointment. Minister D.Sumiyabazar started the meeting by wishing success to the Ambassador and stressed that the bilateral cooperation in mining sector have been expanding further between Mongolia and China. Expressing his hope that Chinese people will be able to tackle the outbreak and spread of Covid-19 in a short time, the Mining Minister informed that the mineral industry professionals of Mongolia launched a fundraising campaign to provide Chinese people with moral and material support and that the staff of the Ministry of Mining and Heavy industry joined it, donating their one-day salary. Ambassador Chai Wenrui thanked the industry for their kind initiative on behalf of the people of China and voiced his confidence that the Minister's businesslike manner will play an important role in further deepening bilateral relations. The ambassador also undertook to put emphasis on the development of mining industries of the countries, especially fruitful implementation of large-scale projects. ^ top ^

Mongolia launches campaign to help China fight coronavirus (Montsame)
2020-02-18
The government of Mongolia has decided to launch a campaign to provide assistance to China to help contain the outbreak of coronavirus and appointed Minister of Environment and Tourism N.Tserenbat as a head of a working team responsible for the campaign. Today, February 18, a press briefing was organized to announce the launch of the campaign "Emotional Support to Eternal Neighbor". In the scope of the campaign, a donation account at the State Bank was established by the Ministries of Environment and Tourism, Foreign Affairs and Finance. […] "Despite the ongoing donations and assistance given by Mongolian government and private organizations to the Chinese Embassy in Ulaanbaatar since January, we should give greater donations, involving more people. That is why we have opened the donations account" said Minister N.Tserenbat at the press conference. Minister of Foreign Affairs D.Tsogtbaatar mentioned that a large number of Mongolians have been taking the initiatives to provide emotional and material support to China. Therefore, the campaign organizers stepped in to compile those cash assistance into one account. "Apart from the government's assistance to China, Ulaanbaatar City Governor's Office, Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, China Alumni organization in Mongolia and the Democratic Party have already delivered their donations to China." noted Minister D.Tsogtbaatar Deputy Minister of Finance Kh.Bulgantuya said that China is the largest trade partners of Mongolia and major development projects are underway in Mongolia since 2010 with USD 1.5 billion soft loan from China. "… Not to mention the CNY 1 billion grant aid from China to the government of Mongolia in the last years. We call for the public and business entities of Mongolia to cooperate with us and provide their support to our eternal and longstanding friendly neighbor during these challenging times." said Ms. Kh.Bulgantuya. Minister D.Tsogtbaatar informed during the press briefing that there are currently 336 Mongolian nationals in China, who have expressed their requests to return home, and the foreign ministry is working to bring them home. Last week, the cabinet decided to impose full ban on passenger travels through its borders with China. The donations collected to the account will be reported to the public and delivered to the Chinese Embassy in Mongolia weekly. ^ top ^

'Build Mongolia-2020' expo to take place in April (Montsame)
2020-02-17
'Build Mongolia-2020' international construction, mining, road and renewable energy expo is scheduled to be organized at Buyant-Ukhaa Sport Complex on April 2-4 with the support of the Ministry of Construction and Urban Development. Build Mongolia consists of four different sectors; building and construction, road and transport, power and renewable energy, and mining and heavy industry, which play significant roles to Mongolian economy and prosperity. The expo will bring together representatives of the four fields, be a platform to get acquainted with the advanced technology and make presentations and lectures on main issues in the sectors as well as to bring cooperation into a new level. As domestic and foreign companies will take part in the fair, it is believed to be an excellent opportunity to get direct contacts with international companies, introduce advanced technology into the native country and be a getaway of learning mutual experiences and develop together. ^ top ^

Gabriel Bishop
Embassy of Switzerland