Foreign Policy

• China's top political advisory body opposes U.S. bill on Hong Kong (Xinhua)
• China urges certain countries to stop using human rights to meddle in others' domestic affairs (Xinhua)
• 4 US media outlets told to reveal details of China operations (China Daily)
• China 'prepared against military provocation from Australia' (Global Times)
• Beijing warns Taiwan's ruling party not to 'mess up' Hong Kong affairs (SCMP)
• US telecoms regulator designates China's Huawei, ZTE as national security threats (SCMP)
• India bans 59 Chinese apps amid border tensions (Global Times)
• Update: China to impose visa restrictions on U.S. individuals acting maliciously on HK-related issues (Xinhua)
• Australia wages espionage offensive against China: source (Global Times)

Domestic Policy

• China to honor Korean War veterans with medals (Xinhua)
• China Focus: Braving challenges, CPC to lead China to new economic success (Xinhua)
• Ministry warns of harsh penalties for gaokao fraud (China Daily)
• Experts propose iris recognition system to resolve face ID problems amid pandemic (Global Times)
• New swine flu found in China has pandemic potential, researchers say (SCMP)

Beijing

• Suspected COVID-19 patient triggers closure of shopping mall in Beijing (Global Times)
• Outbreak in Beijing not widespread (China Daily)
• Beijing keeps gaokao dates as scheduled (China Daily)
• Beijing doubles quarantine period to 28 days as scientists fear virus may be more contagious than the one in Wuhan (Global Times)

Xinjiang

• 46 countries voice support for China's anti-terrorism and de-radicalization work in Xinjiang (Xinhua)
• Chinese UN mission rejects U.S. accusations on human rights (Xinhua)

Hongkong

• Chan Kwok-ki sworn in as secretary general of Committee for Safeguarding National Security in HKSAR (Xinhua)
• National security law: Hong Kong activist Nathan Law reveals he has left city (SCMP)
• Hong Kong celebrates 23rd anniversary of return to motherland (Xinhua)
• National security law: peaceful protesters could land in jail, legal experts warn (SCMP)
• Xinhua Headlines: China adopts law on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong (Xinhua)
• National security law: US ends exports of defence equipment and restricts dual-use tech to Hong Kong (SCMP)

Taiwan

• Taiwan moves to build ties with unrecognised state of Somaliland (SCMP)
• PLA bombers approach Taiwan island from the east (Global Times)

Economy

• China suspends imports from meat processors in Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands over coronavirus concerns (Global Times)
• Industrial enterprises in China achieve first positive profit growth of the year in May (People's Daily)

DPRK

• North Korea supports Chinese people, CPC against US aggression: Ambassador (Global Times)

Mongolia

• Parliament re-elects incumbent Khurelsukh as Prime Minister (Montsame)
• President presented with final results of parliamentary election (Montsame)

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China's top political advisory body opposes U.S. bill on Hong Kong (Xinhua)
2020-07-02
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Thursday strongly condemned and resolutely opposed the passage of the so-called "Hong Kong Autonomy Act" by the U.S. Congress. The U.S. move gravely interferes in China's internal affairs, and grossly tramples on international law and basic norms governing international relations, the foreign affairs committee said in a statement. National security is a basic precondition for the existence and development of a nation and it concerns the nation's core interests, the statement stressed. "No country in the world would ever turn a blind eye to acts and activities severely undermining its national security," said the statement. The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has won firm support from all Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots, read the statement. The U.S. move is not about democracy or freedom of Hong Kong residents, but about containing China's development, said the statement, underlining that the plot of the anti-China forces in the United States will never succeed. The implementation of the law will definitely help Hong Kong end chaos and start afresh, the statement noted. ^ top ^

China urges certain countries to stop using human rights to meddle in others' domestic affairs (Xinhua)
2020-07-02
China urges certain countries to correct their mistakes on human rights issues, refrain from politicizing the relevant issues or practicing double standards, and stop meddling in other countries' domestic affairs, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Thursday. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing while commenting on the European Union's recent allegations at the UN Human Rights Council regarding Xinjiang-related human rights issues. A small number of countries have hyped up Xinjiang-related issues at multilateral events since last year, Zhao said, but many friendly and developing countries support China's position firmly and commend the enormous achievements China has made in Xinjiang's counter-terrorism and de-radicalization moves. Zhao told the press that 46 countries overwhelmingly passed a joint statement in the council, reiterating their support for China's governance policies in Xinjiang. He said this showed that "the attempts of some Western countries to smear Xinjiang and wantonly criticize China have failed once again." He also pointed out that the issues faced by Xinjiang are counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, rather than those of race, religion and human rights, and the Chinese government has taken a series of measures according to the law. "Now these measures have turned the situation around," Zhao said. "In more than three years, not a single violent and terrorist incident took place in Xinjiang. And these positive contributions made by China are recognized by the international community." Zhao said that China is working with all parties to ensure that multilateral human rights mechanisms abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, while human rights issues should be dealt with in an objective, fair and non-selective way. China is against certain countries using human rights as a pretext to interfere in other countries' internal affairs, Zhao said, adding that "we urge them to correct the mistakes, refrain from politicizing the relevant issues or practicing double standards, and stop meddling in other countries' domestic affairs." ^ top ^

4 US media outlets told to reveal details of China operations (China Daily)
2020-07-02
China has asked four US media outlets to disclose details about their staff and financial operations in the country within seven days starting from Wednesday, in response to Washington's unreasonable treatment of Chinese media organizations in the United States. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian announced on Wednesday that The Associated Press, United Press International, Columbia Broadcasting System and National Public Radio must declare in written form information about their staff members, financial information, operations and real estate. According to Zhao, the actions are "all necessary countermeasures" in response to the US' unreasonable treatment of Chinese media. Last month, the US State Department designated four Chinese media outlets as foreign missions in the US, adding them to five others so designated in February. The nine Chinese media organizations are required to report details of their US-based staff and real estate holdings to the US State Department. "China is only responding in legitimate self-defense," Zhao told reporters at a regular news briefing in Beijing. In March, China had required Voice of America, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time magazine and The Washington Post to declare information about their staff, finances, operations and real estate in China. The spokesman stressed on Wednesday that in recent years, the US government has placed unwarranted restrictions on Chinese media agencies and personnel in the US, purposely made things difficult for their normal reporting assignments and subjected them to growing discrimination. "The actions by the US are based on a Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice, which have gravely damaged the reputation of the Chinese media, Chinese journalists' normal reporting activities and normal people-to-people exchanges between the two sides," he said. Zhao added that the US restrictions exposed the hypocrisy of the so-called press freedom touted by Washington. China urged the US to immediately correct its mistake and scrap the restrictions, as well as political restrictions targeting Chinese media, he said. ^ top ^

China 'prepared against military provocation from Australia' (Global Times)
2020-07-02
Australia released two papers on Wednesday that define the country's future defense strategy and military development. According to the papers, Australia will invest heavily in the development and procurement of weapons and equipment, including aggressive, long-range items. These weapon procurement plans have been widely interpreted as being "aimed at China," and Chinese experts said on Thursday that while the Chinese military has no intention of provoking Australia, it is also not afraid of Australian provocations. Australia's Department of Defense released the 2020 Defense Strategic Update and 2020 Force Structure Plan on Wednesday, showing that the country will invest heavily in weapons for land, sea, air, space and cyberspace including warships, submarines, hypersonic missiles, stealth fighter jets and tanks. A factsheet released by the Australian Defense Department pointed out that Australia is in a "strategic competition primarily between the US and China." Judging from the specifics of the listed weapons and equipment, analysts noted that they are obviously not intended for homeland defense, but for long-range combat. Many of these weapons come from the US, so intelligence exchange with the US military will be easy, analysts said, noting that Australia's geographic location means it can become a key base for the US military in the direction of the South China Sea. Foreign media reports said the military expansion of Australia is aimed at China. Beijing-based naval expert Li Jie told the Global Times on Thursday that the US sees Australia and Japan as two horns in the West Pacific, and they form a triangle with Guam in controlling the South China Sea, Indian Ocean and West Pacific. Australia has easy access to these three sea regions, so it is in the frontline to support the US. Other military experts reached by the Global Times pointed out that China and Australia are thousands of kilometers away from each other and have no direct or essential interest conflicts such as territory disputes, and China has no intention of challenging Australia militarily. But If Australia wants to provoke China, China is also ready to defend itself. Australia is only a follower of the US and its capability in the South China Sea will be limited despite the new plans, they said. Li said that China may develop defense systems among other measures to deal with potential Australia-US collaboration against it, and China can also take countermeasures in terms of politics, diplomacy and economic measures. ^ top ^

Beijing warns Taiwan's ruling party not to 'mess up' Hong Kong affairs (SCMP)
2020-07-01
Beijing has warned the ruling party in Taiwan not to "mess up" Hong Kong affairs, as Taipei prepares to help Hongkongers seeking to flee their city, where a contentious national security law has been imposed. Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office, described the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party as a "black hand" that wanted to undermine the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. "What the DPP authorities said was an undisguised distortion of facts, which served only to reveal its vicious intention to mess up Hong Kong and seek independence for Taiwan," she said. Zhu was responding to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and her party's comments that the new legislation violated democracy and human rights in Hong Kong, and that Taipei would offer humanitarian assistance for fleeing Hongkongers. The national security law was passed unanimously by Beijing's top legislative body on Tuesday and came into force that night. It punishes crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with a maximum term of life imprisonment, raising fears that it will curtail freedoms and undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong. Zhu said: "Any person or force that attempts to undermine China's national sovereignty, security, development interests, and the prosperity and stability of [Hong Kong] will … suffer the consequences." She said penalties under the new law would "surely cut off the 'black hands' of the DPP trying to mess up Hong Kong". Chen Ming-tong, head of Taiwan's policymaking Mainland Affairs Council hit back at Beijing on Wednesday, as he opened an office to help people who want to leave Hong Kong. He said Beijing had imposed a law on the city that penalises anyone in the world who is critical of mainland authorities. "[This law] not only targets residents in Hong Kong. It's actually a supreme decree issued by the Celestial Empire to people all over the world," he said, referring to the mainland Chinese government. The legislation contains a clause targeting non-Hongkongers who say or do anything deemed to create hatred and resentment of mainland Chinese authorities. Chen said the new Taiwan-Hong Kong Office for Exchanges and Services "indicates our goodwill and concern for Hongkongers". He said anyone in the city could contact the office for help – including with relocation, employment, study and investment. Those seeking to move to Taiwan for political reasons could get advice and start the process for them to travel to the island while they waited for assistance. Chen said Taipei would treat Hongkongers as a special case and saw the city as part of "one country, one system" with the national security law now in force. Hours before the law was passed, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would stop exporting defence equipment to Hong Kong over security concerns as it no longer saw the financial hub as separate from mainland China. "We can no longer distinguish between the export of controlled items to Hong Kong or to mainland China," Pompeo said. On Wednesday, Chen said Taipei was watching developments in Hong Kong before it decided whether to end a law governing their relations. For now, the self-ruled island would make it easier for Hongkongers to relocate to Taiwan, including through investment and skilled employment. ^ top ^

US telecoms regulator designates China's Huawei, ZTE as national security threats (SCMP)
2020-07-01
The US telecommunications watchdog on Tuesday designated two Chinese companies – Huawei Technologies and ZTE – as security threats and banned American firms from using a fund to purchase their products. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement: "Based on the overwhelming weight of evidence," the agency has identified the two companies as well as their parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries "as national security risks to America's communications networks – and to our 5G future". "Both companies have close ties to the Chinese Communist Party and China's military apparatus, and both companies are broadly subject to Chinese law obligating them to cooperate with the country's intelligence services," said Pai. American tech firms will not be authorised to use money from the FCC's annual US$8.3 billion Universal Service Fund to purchase or support any equipment or services provided by these suppliers, effective immediately. The Universal Service Fund, established in 1997, is a programme of telecoms subsidies for companies to purchase equipment and service to maximise telecoms services access in the country. The programme typically funds between US$5 billion to US$8 billion each year. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson toughened his stance on Huawei, telling reporters on that on the company, "the position is very, very simple." "I do want to see our critical national infrastructure properly protected from hostile state vendors, so we need to strike that balance and that's what we'll do," said Johnson. A Huawei representative didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Tuesday's announcement by the FCC is a step forward in restricting 5G technological equipment made by Chinese companies from entering US telecommunications infrastructure. And Britain's statement showed a sea change in Huawei's position in Europe, where a number of governments have been resisting requests by the Trump administration to exclude the Chinese telecoms provider. Johnson, who in January allowed Huawei a limited role in Britain's 5G network, has faced intense pressure from its own lawmakers to ban the 5G equipment maker for security reasons. UK's Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told Parliament Tuesday that Huawei will not be part of the UK's 5G networks in the long term, adding that he welcomes approaches from alternative vendors including South Korea's Samsung Electronics and Japan's NEC. The FCC has proposed that Huawei and ZTE be added to this rule since November. The companies posed a national security threat to the integrity of communications networks or the communications supply chain, the FCC had said then. In March, US President Donald Trump signed legislation to bar rural telecoms carriers from using US subsidies to purchase network equipment from companies deemed a national security threat, including Huawei and ZTE. Existing products in the system are required to be ripped out and be replaced. The FCC is establishing a programme to assist small providers with the costs of removing prohibited equipment or services from their networks. "Once you get through all of that rip and replace, you clear out the underbrush problems of 5G spectrum, you start looking at how can the government compete against the Chinese government who, I would argue, illegally subsidises these contracts around the world," said Mike Rogers, former House Intelligence Committee chairman. "Then look at what benefits we can give to research and development for things like Open RAN or other technologies that are closing on the horizon. We need to ramp all of that together and understand that we're going to be competitive. It's in our national security interest," Rogers said on Tuesday at a discussion about 5G hosted by the United States Telecom Association, a trade organisation representing companies such as AT&T and Cisco. The US telecoms authority has been cracking down on Chinese firms after Congress criticised that the government agencies – Homeland Security, Justice and Defence – which advise the FCC on national security risks lacked consistent oversight in analysing threats by Chinese telecommunications companies. US government officials have warned that Chinese state-owned carriers are subject to exploitation, influence, and control by the Chinese government and can be used in the Chinese government's cyber and economic espionage efforts targeted at the United States. ZTE, a Chinese telecoms giant, was cut off from doing business in the US in 2018 after the government found out the firm sold products to US-sanctioned Iran. The company later agreed to pay US$1.4 billion in fines and was saved from the brink of collapse after US President Donald Trump directed the Commerce Department to lift the ban as a favour to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Huawei – the Chinese telecoms company that is a key player in next-generation 5G technology – has been a top target by the Trump administration. The company was placed on an "entity list" last May, barring it from buying critical components from its American suppliers. Telecommunications companies, while acknowledging the importance to safeguard national security, cautioned against policies that simply excludes Chinese firms. "Things like the export control restrictions and other things that the US government's looking at vis-a-vis China are so significant. But at the end of the day, industry needs to have a broad base of suppliers," said Chris Boyer, vice-president of global security and technology policy at AT&T on Tuesday. "What we'd like to see is policies that will help advance more competition and more diversity in the supply chain." The FCC has recently moved toward revoking the licenses or refused to issue licenses for China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, commonly referred to as the "Big Three", to provide telecoms services in the US. Also on Tuesday, Indian government ministers discussed the 5G rollout plans and whether Huawei should be allowed to participate, according to a report from the The Times of India. ^ top ^

India bans 59 Chinese apps amid border tensions (Global Times)
2020-06-30
Amid rising tensions with China, India on Monday abruptly banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, QQ Mail and UC Browser, claiming that they were "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of state and public order," Indian Ministry of Information Technology said. "There have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of our country," reads a notice posted on the ministry's official website. The sudden move comes as tensions between the two countries have been escalating recently after Indian troops crossed the border with China to conduct illegal activities and launched provocative attacks against Chinese personnel, causing a deadly clash between China and India's border defense troops in the Galwan Valley on June 15. Since then, ultra-nationalism appears to have taken over India, where calls for boycotting Chinese products and footage of Indian citizens destroying a Chinese-made TV set have been spread widely on social media. Among the 59 banned apps is China's Twitter like social media platform Weibo on which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a verified account and has more than 240,000 followers. ^ top ^

Update: China to impose visa restrictions on U.S. individuals acting maliciously on HK-related issues (Xinhua)
2020-06-29
China has decided to impose visa restrictions on U.S. individuals who have acted maliciously on issues related to Hong Kong, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Monday. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a press briefing in response to the U.S. imposition of visa restrictions on Chinese officials. Zhao said that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and allow for no foreign interference. The Chinese government is determined in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, implementing the "one country, two systems" principle, and opposing external interference in Hong Kong affairs, he said. The U.S. attempt to obstruct China's national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by adopting so-called sanctions will be to no avail, Zhao added. In response to the passing of the so-called Hong Kong Autonomy Act and other Hong Kong-related bills by the U.S. Senate, Zhao said separatist forces intending to disrupt Hong Kong can clamor as they like and anti-China external forces may try to exert pressure, but neither will stop China's resolute action to advance the legislation. "Their attempts are doomed to fail. This act will be nothing more than a piece of paper," Zhao said. "It is vicious denigration of the national security legislation for Hong Kong, grave interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, and violation of international law and basic norms of international relations," the spokesperson said, adding China rejects it and has lodged solemn representations with the United States. The national security legislation for Hong Kong aims to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests, lasting peace, stability and prosperity in Hong Kong, and steady and sustained implementation of "one country, two systems," he said. "We urge the U.S. side to grasp the situation and immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any way. It shall not push or implement the negative bill concerning Hong Kong, even less imposing sanctions on the Chinese side based on it. Otherwise China will react firmly with strong countermeasures and the United States shall bear all the consequences," Zhao said. ^ top ^

Australia wages espionage offensive against China: source (Global Times)
2020-06-29
Australia is waging an intensifying espionage offensive against China - sending agents to China to spy, gather intelligence and recruit assets, instigating defection among Chinese nationals, spying on Chinese students and organizations in Australia, feeding fake news to media to hype up the "China espionage theory" and even in early years attempting to install wiretaps in the Chinese Embassy in Canberra, the Global Times has learned from a source with a Chinese law-enforcement agency. Multiple Australian espionage cases uncovered by Chinese law-enforcement agencies showed that Australia is a veteran in spying against other countries and precisely "the thief who is crying stop the thief" as it steps up infiltration, spying and technological theft operations against China, the source told the Global Times. In response to Australia's espionage offensive, Chinese counterespionage agencies will take more vigorous countermeasures to crack down on Australian espionage operations to safeguard China's national security and interests, the source said. In 2018, a Chinese law-enforcement agency uncovered a spying operation launched by Australia and arrested agents who work for Australian security intelligence agencies, and seized materials, including espionage equipment, US dollars and Chinese yuan used for espionage funds, and the intelligence information they were going to exchange. According to the pictures provided by the source, the Australian spies caught red-handed also had a compass, a USB flash disk, a notebook, a mask, gloves and a map of Shanghai. On the notebook, there was some English handwriting about addresses, which are relevant to their operations. The Global Times learned from the Chinese law-enforcement agency that Australian security intelligence agencies are not just spying on China within Chinese territory, but also conduct acts against overseas Chinese in Australia and other countries, such as inciting the defection of some overseas Chinese to work for them. A case cracked by the Chinese law-enforcement agency showed that Australian security intelligence agencies incited the defection of a targeted person and trained him on Swan Island near Canberra with professional espionage skills, and then sent him back to China for intelligence gathering. The spying activities against China by Australian security intelligence agencies mainly include sending spies to China to incite defection and collect intelligence, according to the source. The source told the Global Times that Australian security intelligence agencies set up a Beijing intelligence station in the Australian Embassy in China, and this station is the most senior level one in East Asia, which also serves as a junction center to manage Australia's espionage activities in other countries in the region such as Japan, South Korea and Mongolia. Australian security intelligence agencies have deployed multiple intelligence officers in the station and they have status as Australian diplomats in China (which means they have diplomatic immunity), and their missions in China also include inciting defections, intelligence gathering and cross-linking. The source said Australian security intelligence agencies conduct espionage activities in China very carefully and cautiously. They tried to escape from China's counterespionage operations by using various sophisticated spying devices, but still, "the approaches that they thought to be reliable and sophisticated also leaked out during China's investigation," the source said. Australian security intelligence agencies have, in recent years, increased espionage activities and surveillance against Chinese institutions and their employees in Australia, including engaging and interrupting local Chinese to force them to spy on local Chinese communities and the Chinese Embassy, and even instigated local Chinese to become their informants to return to China for intelligence gathering or attempted to infiltrate Chinese Embassy and consulates in Australia. Feng Chongyi, a Chinese Australian "scholar" at the University of Technology Sydney, was an informant to Australian security intelligence agencies, and he provided much information regarding China to Australian security intelligence agencies, and also played the role of a "China studies expert" to stigmatize and smear China on some anti-China foreign media outlets, the source said. Australian security intelligence agencies' espionage activities against China can be traced back to the 1980s-1990s. At that time, Australian security intelligence agencies used the construction of a new Chinese Embassy as a chance to deploy different types of covert listening devices, including seismic wiretaps and high and low frequency electromagnetic induction devices all over the embassy, the source noted. China and Australia established formal diplomatic ties in 1972. After the construction of the building was completed, the relevant Chinese department found covert listening devices inside almost every floor and wall, and even the basement. Given the situation, China had to build a new embassy in Australia. According to the source, Australian intelligence agencies are still conducting espionage against the Chinese Embassy and consulates in the country. Australian intelligence agencies also launched an investigation against their own politicians who displayed friendly attitudes toward China recently while bilateral ties were worsening. According to the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday, the Australian federal police - as part of a joint investigation with the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) - raided the Sydney home of the New South Wales upper house Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane on Friday morning "searching for evidence to support allegations of a Chinese government plot to influence a serving politician." The MP held a friendly stance on China publicly and has come under scrutiny for his recent praise of China's successful handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the report said. The Australian Institute of International Affairs published an article in September 2019 saying that the Pine Gap satellite surveillance base jointly used by Australia and the US is also spying on China. The article says "Pine Gap is fully integrated into the US military's 'kill chain.' It directs drones and missiles onto targets in the Middle East and elsewhere. As a CIA base, it can also eavesdrop on all Australian telephone calls." The source with the Chinese law-enforcement agency noted that "when Australia continually conducts espionage operations against China, it also accuses China of 'espionage.' That's a typical practice of 'a thief crying stop a thief'." Apart from espionage activities, Australian security intelligence agencies have even started to influence public opinion and policymaking in the country by expressing views on major issues and feeding fake news to the media, Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University in Shanghai, told the Global Times. The alleged "Chinese spy" Wang Liqiang's case in 2019 is a typical example, said Chen. Wang's own claim that he was a "Chinese spy" and "defected" to Australian authorities was eventually proven to be false. "If Wang defected to Australia as he claimed, he must be in contact with Australian security intelligence agencies and wouldn't be allowed to talk to the media. But how could he get in touch with the media? The only scenario that makes sense is that Australian security intelligence agencies knew he is a swindler but intended to let him talk to the media to spread anti-China or sinophobic sentiment to the public," Chen said. "Fake news is not important anymore. As long as Wang could help them create an atmosphere in the country to show that 'Chinese spies are threatening Australia's national security,' the Australian security intelligence agencies will make no comment on the case," Chen noted. The source of the Chinese law-enforcement agency noted that Australia has added more weight to its espionage activities targeting China. "Australian security intelligence agencies have increased their budgets and strengthened the construction of espionage intelligence networks against China," the source said. Canberra made such moves because China's rise has put pressure on it, and as a member of the Five Eyes Alliance, Australia feels it has the "responsibility" to collect Chinese intelligence and share it with other "Five Eyes" allies, Chinese analysts said. In fact, Australia is not content with merely being a loyal follower of the US, but wants to make its own decisions, such as announcing a boycott against Chinese 5G telecom giant Huawei, and it even tried to convince other countries to follow, Chen noted. Chen added that on the one hand, Canberra wants to enjoy the benefits brought by the rise of China; on the other, Australia is a typical "Indo-Pacific nation" and wants to use US President Donald Trump and his administration's Indo-Pacific strategy to make itself more important to the US and the West in a competition with China. This is why Australia is nervous, panicking and self-contradicting when dealing with China. In recent years, due to the impact of ideological elements and the worsening of China-US relations, the anti-China conservative forces are becoming increasingly influential in misguiding China-Australia relations, Chinese analysts said. ^ top ^

China to honor Korean War veterans with medals (Xinhua)
2020-07-03
China will bestow memorial medals upon Chinese People's Volunteer Army veterans in the 1950-53 Korean War to mark the 70th anniversary of their participation. The medals are to be presented in the name of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, said a statement released Thursday by an office in charge of granting Party and state awards and honors. In addition to those who fought in the war, other people eligible for the medals include those who provided services during the war such as medical workers, transport sector workers, translators, truce talk participants, militia, migrant workers, journalists, writers, photographers, as well as those who stayed on to help with post-war economic recovery in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea after the armistice was signed in July 1953 to the full withdrawal of the volunteer army in October 1958, the statement said. ^ top ^

China Focus: Braving challenges, CPC to lead China to new economic success (Xinhua)
2020-07-02
The Communist Party of China (CPC), the world's largest political party, celebrated its 99th birthday as the country is consolidating its economic recovery amid the COVID-19 epidemic. Official data shows activities in many Chinese industries, from auto manufacturing to e-commerce, are returning to pre-epidemic levels. Given the country's solid pace of recovery, Fitch Ratings on Monday raised its 2020 GDP forecast for China to 1.2 percent from 0.7 percent. The recovery is hard won, though. For months, the COVID-19 epidemic, coupled with lingering trade tensions and weak external demand, has been testing the economic governance capacity of the CPC, which led the country to transform from a vastly impoverished agricultural land into the world's second-largest economy with better-off people. Based on the valuable experience it has accumulated over the past decades, the CPC will steer the country toward a healthier and long-term growth through deepening reform and widening opening-up, analysts say. After four decades of breakneck expansion, the CPC has been pushing China's economy to transition to high-quality development, putting emphasis on greener and more sustainable growth. China lowered its economic growth targets over the past few years, and even set no target for this year, showing the country is relying less on using GDP to measure success. "This marks a great shift in the leadership's development philosophy, which will continue to have far-reaching impacts on economic and social life," said Gao Peiyong, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. In a bid to push forward high-quality development, China has given less weight to traditional high-polluting and high energy-consuming industries even though they are vital sources of jobs and tax revenues. Instead, the country has doubled down on support for new drivers of growth such as high-end equipment manufacturing, modern services and high-tech industries. Even in the first quarter when the novel coronavirus epidemic pushed China's economy into its first contraction in decades, the country still avoided launching a massive stimulus and maintained a tight grip over the property sector. Further, rather than embarking on traditional infrastructure investment programs, China is seeking more targeted investments in "new infrastructure" such as 5G networks, big data centers and other projects that facilitate innovation and improve weak links in economic and social development. "Expanding investment in new infrastructure is not a stopgap. It will not only boost consumption and benefit the people, but also facilitate structural adjustments and enhance the sustainability of growth," said Liu Duo, head of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. Chinese policymakers innovatively started the reform and opening-up policy in 1978 to eliminate the constraints of a planned economy, nurture private sectors and advance state-owned enterprise reforms step by step. To unleash economic growth, the government has been pressing ahead with reforms to reduce corporate burdens, transform government functions and cut red tape. A total of 2.36 trillion yuan (about 337 billion U.S. dollars) of taxes and fees were cut in 2019 for businesses, well above the original target of 2 trillion yuan, with manufacturing and micro and small businesses benefiting most. In the face of the COVID-19 epidemic, the country has not slowed its pace of reforms toward expanding marketization. In May, China issued a guideline to accelerate the improvement of its socialist market economy, pledging to improve the market, policies, the rule of law and the social environment for supporting the development of private businesses and foreign-invested enterprises. Thanks to the deepening of reforms, the country's entrepreneurial enthusiasm ran high and the market vitality stayed unabated despite downward pressures and trade tensions, with 20,000 new businesses being set up each day on average last year. The process of reforms is far from complete. The advancing supply-side structural reform will inject new impetus to the economy, analysts say. Along with the sustained efforts to invigorate the domestic economy via market reforms, the CPC has been consistent in pushing opening-up step by step. "Unlike many Western countries, where policy initiatives are often overturned once an administration changes, China's policies have always been consistent with effective implementation, providing stable expectations for firms," said Zhao Lei, a professor with the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC. The CPC has been leading China's opening-up through trial and error. Pilot reforms were carried out in free trade zones designed to test water for new modes of international cooperation. The number of sectors that are off-limits for foreign investors was gradually reduced over the years as the country further opened up. In its latest efforts to open the economy, China unveiled a new negative list for foreign investment in late June, cutting the number of sectors that are off-limits for foreign investors to 33 from 40 in 2019. At a time when protectionism and anti-globalization sentiments rise, the CPC's opening-up push is facing unprecedented challenges. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has reiterated that it would continue to broaden market access and open up its service sector, vowing supportive measures to shore up foreign investment and trade. "Many thought that China would hit the brake on promoting the Belt and Road Initiative amid the pandemic, but the country has been unwaveringly advancing it, as evidenced in the recent High-level Video Conference on Belt and Road International Cooperation," Zhao said. Under the CPC's leadership, China is becoming ever more confident in the international market, shifting its role from merely a participant to an active builder of globalization by pushing for the establishment and development of multilateral institutions, he said. ^ top ^

Ministry warns of harsh penalties for gaokao fraud (China Daily)
2020-07-03
Any students who cheat or are involved in identity theft in the national college entrance exam, or gaokao, will be disqualified from enrolling in universities and colleges, the Ministry of Education said. The ministry said in a notice issued on Thursday it will work with public security and disciplinary authorities to look into any fraud in the exam and hold those guilty of violations and any people who assist them accountable. Universities should conduct identity checks of high school graduates to find any students who have stolen others' identities or gained extra gaokao points through illegal means, it said. To ensure safety and fairness, this year's exam has been delayed for a month due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be held nationwide from July 7 to 8. The gaokao is a make-or-break exam for millions of students, as the highly competitive and intensive test remains the single criteria to determine which colleges students can attend, which in turn significantly affects their future job prospects, especially for those from rural areas. A record 10.71 million students have signed up to participate in this year's gaokao, up by 400,000 from last year. The Shandong Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission said on Monday that 46 people had been punished for involvement in two cases of imposture. In one case that triggered widespread criticism online, a 36-year-old woman named Chen Chunxiu, from Liaocheng, Shandong, scored 546 out of 750 on the 2004 exam. But her score was stolen by Chen Yanping, also from Liaocheng, who had scored 303 the same year. Her father, a businessman, and her uncle, a local official, used their connections to facilitate the fraud. By stealing Chen Chunxiu's identity and gaokao score, Chen Yanping was able to enroll at Shandong University of Technology. After graduating in 2007, she found a job as a community worker. Chen Chunxiu was not enrolled by any university and became a migrant worker for years. She now works as a kindergarten teacher. The impostor's university diploma has been revoked, and she was fired from her job. A report by Southern Metropolis Daily said 14 universities in Shandong had revealed 242 cases of student identity theft during the gaokao in the province between 2002 and 2009, and that the impostors had been stripped of their diplomas. The incidents have drawn strong indignation from netizens. The hashtag "242 people in Shandong stole identity to get diploma" has been viewed 590 million times on the Sina Weibo social media platform. In the notice on Thursday, the ministry also asked local education authorities to implement the highest standards in epidemic control and prevention and the strictest measures against cheating for the upcoming gaokao, which will be the largest gathering of people since the start of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Students and exam monitors have been told to keep track of their body temperature and health condition in the two weeks leading up to the exam, the notice said. Students will have their temperatures taken before they are allowed into test centers, and will only be admitted if it is below 37.3 C, it added. ^ top ^

Experts propose iris recognition system to resolve face ID problems amid pandemic (Global Times)
2020-07-02
As wearing facial masks has become the new normal in people's daily lives amid the COVID-19 pandemic, face recognition applications, including its most common use of unlocking mobile phones, have met serious challenges, which in turn could accelerate and promote the wider use of iris recognition technology, according to Chinese experts and industry leaders on Wednesday. Human iris is one of the most unique biometric characteristics of a human body and it is stable during life, which could be processed as ways to accurately identify phone users and determine if they have access to the terminals, Sun Zhenan, a fellow researcher and iris recognition technology expert with the Institute of Automation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS,) told the Global Times on Wednesday. Iris recognition could resolve technical barriers when face identification is unavailable, as user's faces are mostly covered by masks, he noted. Iris recognition is more accurate and harder to be counterfeited than face recognition, whereas identification data of fingerprints are prone to wear and tear and its collection process involving physical touch could also add to infection risks, Ma Li, general manager of IrisKing, a Beijing-based company under the CAS Institute of Automation, told the Global Times on Wednesday, explaining the unique merits of the iris technology. A database containing the biometric iris information of up to 20 million people has also been developed in China, as part of the iris recognition system and platform built by the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau and IrisKing, Global Times previously reported. An employee with the Beijing firm told the Global Times on Wednesday that the database is mainly used to confirm the identification of people for public security purposes and declined to disclose further details. The reason why iris recognition technology is not as commonly used as face identification is that the collection process is more complex and therefore less convenient for users. But mounting a small-sized iris imaging device on a mobile phone is very simple, another Beijing-based expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday. According to Sun, Chinese researchers have been exploring effective ways to acquire and recognize iris images since the 1990s, and accumulated rich theories and methodologies over the past two decades. A security management and monitoring platform based on iris recognition has been widely applied in the country's major mining companies, including the state-owned China Coal, taking up more than 80 percent of the market share. Also, the iris recognition has also been supporting dozens of fields including mobile unlock, time and attendance, e-payment, finance and stock exchange, access control, education, as well as information security, Sun said. Domestic application of the iris recognition technology is mostly homegrown, said the CAS researcher, and he noted that "China has developed advanced iris recognition technology with successful applications in the international market" China recently adopted its first ever Civil Code, which in one section underscores protection of personal biometric information, including iris data, and the National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee also has special rules to manage iris recognition to ensure users' rights over personal data, the anonymous expert noted. However, experts also noted that although there are already international and domestic regulations to standardize iris recognition technology, further improvement is needed. New and more specific regulations should be made to promote and normalize the development of the encoding of iris features, long-distance iris imaging for multiple users and iris data application in special industries, Sun proposed. ^ top ^

New swine flu found in China has pandemic potential, researchers say (SCMP)
2020-06-30
Researchers in China have discovered a new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a pandemic, according to a study published Monday in the US science journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Named G4, it is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009. It possesses "all the essential hallmarks of being highly adapted to infect humans", say the authors, scientists at Chinese universities and China's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. From 2011 to 2018, researchers took 30,000 nasal swabs from pigs in slaughterhouses in 10 Chinese provinces and in a veterinary hospital, allowing them to isolate 179 swine flu viruses. The majority were of a new kind which has been dominant among pigs since 2016. The researchers then carried out various experiments including on ferrets, which are widely used in flu studies because they experience similar symptoms to humans – principally fever, coughing and sneezing. G4 was observed to be highly infectious, replicating in human cells and causing more serious symptoms in ferrets than other viruses. Tests also showed that any immunity humans gain from exposure to seasonal flu does not provide protection from G4. According to blood tests which showed up antibodies created by exposure to the virus, 10.4 per cent of swine workers had already been infected. The tests showed that as many as 4.4 per cent of the general population also appeared to have been exposed. The virus has therefore already passed from animals to humans, but there is no evidence yet that it can be passed from human to human – the scientists' main worry. "It is of concern that human infection of G4 virus will further human adaptation and increase the risk of a human pandemic," the researchers wrote. The authors called for urgent measures to monitor people working with pigs. "The work comes as a salutary reminder that we are constantly at risk of new emergence of zoonotic pathogens and that farmed animals, with which humans have greater contact than with wildlife, may act as the source for important pandemic viruses," said James Wood, head of the department of veterinary medicine at Cambridge University. A zoonotic infection is caused by a pathogen that has jumped from a non-human animal into a human. ^ top ^

Suspected COVID-19 patient triggers closure of shopping mall in Beijing (Global Times)
2020-07-02
A shopping mall in Beijing's Shijingshan district was shortly closed for sanitation work on Thursday after a customer said she tested positive for COVID-19, triggering widespread fear among Beijing residents. Disease prevention and control departments will go to the site for COVID-19 sample collection and everyone at shops in Wanda Plaza will undergo nucleic acid tests, several shops and staff members from the plaza reached by the Global Times said on Thursday. A video that circulated online shows a woman shouting and crying into a phone, yelling she tested positive for COVID-19, while passers-by cautiously walked away. The customer received her nucleic acid test result while having lunch at a noodle restaurant at the shopping mall, a staff member from the plaza told the Global Times. The mall was immediately closed for sanitation work to be carried out. The woman, surnamed Xie, was sent to a designated hospital and her close contacts were sent for quarantine. Some accused Wanda Plaza of not properly monitoring customers for signs of COVID-19, but vendors at the shopping mall said that a QR health code and normal body temperature are required for customers to enter the mall. The staff member from the plaza told the Global Times that the woman's QR health code and body temperature were normal, otherwise she would not have been allowed in. "All shops have been closed to customers and we are waiting to get tested," said the staff member. The woman also faced strong criticism on China's social media, with many questioning how she had managed to leave her community and whether she was from a high-risk district in Beijing. The chaotic scenes from Wanda Plaza emerged after Beijing reported only one new confirmed COVID-19 case Wednesday. ^ top ^

Outbreak in Beijing not widespread (China Daily)
2020-07-02
The recent COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing is a localized and sudden rebound in new infections and has not caused widespread transmission, a leading infectious disease expert said. To curb new infections, the capital has taken swift and targeted action, which has provided authorities and medical workers with more experience and has boosted their confidence that the city will avert a second wave, said Zhang Wenhong, director of the department of infectious diseases at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University in Shanghai. "Beijing has set a clear example that China will ward off a new wave of infections-domestic or imported-through prompt and refined epidemic control response. A second round of the epidemic in China is unlikely to occur," he said during an online webinar held by China Central Television on Tuesday night. However, Zhang also cautioned that in terms of the global situation, a new wave of infections is likely to have hit some regions or is about to. "There is a high chance for a second wave globally," he said. Beijing detected its first new domestic infection in nearly two months on June 11 and has since reported 328 confirmed cases by Tuesday. The majority of the infections are tied to the Xinfadi market, a major wholesale food market in Fengtai district. During the new outbreak, Zhang said, the capital has thoroughly tracked down close contacts of all confirmed infections and clearly mapped out the transmission routes through epidemiological investigations. "Such a targeted disease control approach is a role model for the country's disease control work and sets a great example," he said. As a result, the recent outbreak in Beijing has been contained to a relatively small scope, and the number of new daily infections is trending downward. "It constitutes a rebound in new cases and does not amount to a second wave of epidemic," Zhang said. Tong Zhaohui, vice-president of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, said during the webinar that Beijing is on track to bring the recent outbreak fully under control and will soon resume normal production and daily activities. Tong said the conditions of severe and critical cases admitted into Beijing Ditan Hospital is under control. By Monday, Beijing Ditan had received three critical cases and four severe cases during the recent outbreak in the capital. The first confirmed case, a 52-year-old man praised for his meticulous accounts of movement that helped epidemiologists narrow down the sources of infection, has been transferred to a normal ward from the intensive care unit. "He will be discharged from the hospital shortly if his test results come back negative," Tong said. In Hubei province, the hardest-hit region in China, there have been no new domestic cases for more than 40 days. Zhang Dingyu, vice-director of the Hubei provincial health commission and president of Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, said that in Wuhan, the provincial capital, all confirmed infections and asymptomatic cases have been released, but its disease control and prevention efforts are not relaxed. "Based on the results from the massive testing campaign, the city is very safe, and its night life is now buzzing. But every resident has developed a strong sense of epidemic control and is wearing masks in accordance with the national guideline," he said. ^ top ^

Beijing keeps gaokao dates as scheduled (China Daily)
2020-06-30
Around 50,000 students in Beijing will go back to campus to sit for their college entrance examinations next week with strict coronavirus prevention measures in place, a senior official announced on Monday. Beijing Municipal Education Commission spokesman Li Yi told a news conference on Monday that the timetable for the exams－known as the gaokao－in Beijing will stay unchanged, occurring from July 7 to 10 as scheduled. "All the students will be required to wear masks the whole time during the examination," he said. "All the staff for the exams will get nucleic acid tests, but students are not required to do so in order to reduce cross-infection risks." According to the commission, 49,225 students in their final year of senior high school will participate in the exam at 2,867 examination rooms in 132 schools. Each room will hold no more than 20 students in order to reduce density, and spare rooms are prepared for emergency use. For students who are in centralized quarantine for medical observation, they will take the exams alone in rooms. Local governments will provide private transportation for those students to prevent infection. Beijing reported seven new local cases on Sunday, half the number of new cases that were reported on Saturday. The total confirmed patients reported in Beijing rose to 318 since the first newly confirmed case was reported on June 11, according to the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Pang Xinghuo, deputy head of the center, said on Monday that people who have completed 14-days of centralized quarantine and received negative nucleic acid testing results should undergo another 14 days of centralized quarantine for medical observation before returning to their communities. According to Pang, 25 cases reported on Friday and Saturday were all confirmed at the hotels designated for centralized quarantine in Fengtai district. Most of them are workers at the meat-trading hall at Xinfadi wholesale market. "Based on analysis of the cases reported recently, most of them are among the people who were isolated in the designated quarantine hotels, and very few cases were found during the mass testing screening," Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, was quoted by China News Service. He said he expected that Beijing will see no new cases in about one week. A local COVID-19 patient surnamed He, 56, was discharged from Beijing Ditan Hospital on Monday morning, the first recovered case among the new cluster of novel coronavirus infections in Beijing. According to a report by Beijing Daily, the patient went to Xinfadi market on June 3 and started feeling weak and began experiencing a headache on June 5. He went to the hospital on June 12 when his body temperature rose to 38 C and was confirmed as a COVID-19 case on the same day. He is a bus driver for the Beijing Capital International Airport but was on leave because airport shuttle buses have been suspended. The patient's body temperature returned to normal on June 16 and his clinical symptoms, imaging and laboratory indicators gradually improved, said doctor Xu Yanli, adding that He's nucleic acid test results on June 21 and 26 were both negative. All COVID-19 patients have been receiving treatment at Beijing Ditan. A total of 108 medics from other Beijing hospitals have come to the hospital to help treat the patients. ^ top ^

Beijing doubles quarantine period to 28 days as scientists fear virus may be more contagious than the one in Wuhan (Global Times)
2020-06-29
Beijing has doubled the COVID-19 quarantine period from 14 days to 28 as scientists fear that the type of coronavirus that set off Beijing's recent outbreak in the Xinfadi market may be more contagious than the one in Wuhan. Most people under quarantine in Beijing are workers from the beef and lamb section of the Xinfadi market, which makes them a high-risk group for COVID-19 infection, said Shi Guoqing, an expert from China's National Health Commission (NHC), at a Monday conference. Shi said some of those who were infected had either shown no symptoms at all or demonstrated atypical symptoms, so it's hard to judge if they had contracted the virus simply by observing their symptoms. Moreover, because some infected had an initial negative test result, solely relying on a negative nucleic acid test, and no abnormality being found within 14 days, is not sufficient to confirm if they were infected, said Shi, noting it is possible they would spread the virus to others once allowed to move freely. Chu Junwei, deputy head of Beijing's Fengtai district, said on Sunday that the lockdown period for quarantined persons who were connected with the beef and lamb market section has risen to 28 days. Shi noted on Monday that this group of people will receive a nucleic acid test after being quarantined for 14 days, and another test after the 28-day quarantine, just in case. Shi said that 33.8 percent of the confirmed cases in Beijing were workers from the beef and lamb section of the Xinfadi market, while 20.5 percent were visitors to this area. Beijing's municipal health commission published an article on Monday, saying that this strain of coronavirus, which is believed to have been imported to China, may have come from Europe as early as March, then travelled to South America, and was finally imported to China by human carriers or imported meat, which set off Beijing's outbreak. Yang Zhanqiu, deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University, told the Global Times on Monday that many people were infected in Beijing within a short period, and all were related to Xinfadi. This means that this strain is more contagious than the one found in Wuhan, and it is possible a "super spreader may exist in the Xinfadi market." It is safer to impose stricter measures on high-risk groups, Yang noted. Currently, if someone tests negative for nucleic acid, it means that they're safe, Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Global Times. To address public concerns over someone who tested negative but was later confirmed to have contracted the virus, Wu dismissed the possibility of such people being contagious. "Even if someone was infected but could not be tested via throat swab, the possibility of passing the virus to others through breathing is very slim," said Wu, admitting that more testing methods are necessary for key groups. ^ top ^

46 countries voice support for China's anti-terrorism and de-radicalization work in Xinjiang (Xinhua)
2020-07-02
Belarus on Wednesday delivered a joint statement on behalf of 46 countries at the 44th session of UN Human Rights Council, voicing support for China's anti-terrorism and de-radicalization work in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. "We urge refraining from making unfounded allegations against China based on disinformation," they said in the statement. "We reiterate that the work of the Human Rights Council should be conducted in an objective, transparent, non-selective, constructive, non-confrontational and non-politicized manner. We reaffirm our commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and our firm opposition to the practice of politicization of human rights issues and double standards," the joint statement said. "Terrorism and extremism are common enemies to the human beings, and pose severe threats to all human rights. We note with concern that terrorism, separatism and extremism have caused enormous damage to people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, China, and seriously infringed upon their human rights," it added. The countries noted with appreciation that China has undertaken a series of measures in response to threats in accordance with the law to safeguard the human rights of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, saying "There was no single terrorist attack in Xinjiang in the last three years. Safety and stability have been restored in Xinjiang." Agreeing that "human rights of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have been effectively safeguarded," the countries "appreciate China's openness and transparency which is evident from, among other things, inviting more than 1,000 diplomats, officials of international organizations, journalists and religious personages to visit Xinjiang, who witnessed Xinjiang's remarkable achievements." The statement took note that the Chinese government has extended an invitation to the High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Xinjiang, and that the two sides are keeping contact on the matter. ^ top ^

Chinese UN mission rejects U.S. accusations on human rights (Xinhua)
2020-07-01
China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations on Tuesday rejected a statement by Kelly Craft, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, on what she claimed China's human rights "abuses." "On June 30, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations issued a seriously biased statement, making baseless comments on China's human rights situation and interfering in China's internal affairs. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition," said a statement by a spokesperson of the Chinese mission. It is the people who can best tell their country's human rights situation. The Chinese government always puts people first, promotes and protects human rights in the course of development, and follows a path of human rights development with Chinese characteristics, according to the statement of the Chinese mission. China has achieved remarkable human rights progress. On its land of 9.6 million square kilometers, there is no war, no displacement, no fear. The 1.4 billion Chinese people are living in peace, freedom and happiness. This is the biggest human rights project and the best human rights practice, and the enormous contribution China has made to the global cause of human rights, it said. It is the human rights situation in the United States that calls for international attention. Recently, the UN Human Rights Council held an urgent debate and unanimously adopted a resolution, strongly condemning the continuing racially discriminatory practices which led to the death of George Floyd, said the statement. "We urge the U.S. to listen to the voice of justice from the international community... We urge the U.S. to reflect on its own problems and let its people breathe." China is rock-solid in defending national interests, opposing external interference, and promoting and protecting human rights. Any attempt of politicizing the human rights issue and using human rights to smear China is doomed to fail, the statement said. ^ top ^

Chan Kwok-ki sworn in as secretary general of Committee for Safeguarding National Security in HKSAR (Xinhua)
2020-07-03
Director of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive's office Chan Kwok-ki was sworn in Thursday as the secretary general of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security Law in the HKSAR, said the HKSAR government Information Services Department. In accordance with stipulations of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, China's State Council, on the nomination by the HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam, has appointed Chan as the secretary general of the committee on Thursday. "As the director of the chief executive's office, Chan has had distinguished performance in leading the office," Lam said. "I have no doubt that he is capable of taking up the post of the secretary general of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the HKSAR, in addition to his existing post, to lead the Secretariat to support the committee to fulfill its crucial responsibility to safeguard national security." As required by the national security law for the HKSAR, a committee for safeguarding national security of the HKSAR chaired by the chief executive will be established to take up national security affairs and bear the major responsibility for safeguarding national security, and will be under the supervision of and be accountable to the central government. Members of the committee will include the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary, the Secretary for Justice, the Secretary for Security, the Commissioner of Police, the head of the department for safeguarding national security of the Hong Kong Police Force, the Director of Immigration, the Commissioner of Customs and Excise and the Director of the chief executive's office. The Secretariat under the committee is to be headed by the secretary general. The law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR was applied by promulgation in the HKSAR on Tuesday. ^ top ^

National security law: Hong Kong activist Nathan Law reveals he has left city (SCMP)
2020-07-03
Hong Kong political activist Nathan Law Kwun-chung has fled the city to an undisclosed location, he revealed late on Thursday, hours after testifying online at a US congressional hearing and criticising the new national security law. "Hi this is Nathan. I have already left Hong Kong and continue the advocacy work on the international level. Based on risk assessment, I shall not reveal too much about my personal whereabouts and situation now," he told the press in a WhatsApp group at 10.40pm. Law said he had landed himself with unpredictable risks after testifying via videoconference before a US congressional committee hearing on Wednesday, adding he would continue to fight on the international front so other countries could guard against Beijing's expansion of power. The new law drafted by Beijing for Hong Kong was passed on Tuesday by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the country's top legislative body, and adopted in the city that night. The legislation aims to stop, prevent and punish acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security. During the US hearing, the former member of activist group Demosisto had dropped a hint about his departure. "Merely speaking about the plight of Hongkongers on an occasion like this contradicts the new national security law," he told the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs. "Under this legislation Beijing just passed about 24 hours ago, anyone who would dare to speak up would likely face imprisonment once Beijing targeted you. So much is now lost in the city I love: the freedom to tell the truth." Law, who earlier vowed to run in the city's coming Legislative Council election, did not reveal his location when he testified along with activist Brian Leung Kai-ping, who is in the United States. Leung was among protesters who stormed the Legislative Council on July 1 last year and removed his mask while inside the chamber. Hours before the national security legislation took effect, Law withdrew from Demosisto along with prominent activists Joshua Wong Chi-fung and Agnes Chow Ting. Demosisto also disbanded along with other groups which had advocated self-determination. Wong and Chow are not permitted to leave Hong Kong as they are involved in criminal cases. Law's last public appearance in Hong Kong was on Saturday during a forum with others running in a primary race for the opposition camp that would choose candidates for the Hong Kong constituency of the Legislative Council elections in September. In 2016, the then 23-year-old former student leader of the Occupy movement was elected as Hong Kong's youngest lawmaker, but was controversially ousted in 2017 for failing to take his oath properly. ^ top ^

Hong Kong celebrates 23rd anniversary of return to motherland (Xinhua)
2020-07-02
China's Hong Kong celebrated Wednesday the 23rd anniversary of its return to the motherland, after a law on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong came into force Tuesday night. China's national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) were hoisted and the national anthem was played at a ceremony at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong Island at about 8:00 a.m. local time Wednesday in celebration of the anniversary. Helicopters flew over Victoria Harbor, displaying the national and regional flags, and a fireboat sprayed a water-column salute. At a reception following the flag-raising ceremony, Chief Executive of the HKSAR Carrie Lam stressed the significance of the return anniversary and said the new national security law will help restore stability in the HKSAR. The Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR was passed unanimously on Tuesday at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, and took effect at 11:00 p.m. local time the same day upon its promulgation by the HKSAR government in the gazette. The legislation came as Hong Kong had been gripped by prolonged social disturbances since June of last year. Intensified violent incidents and riots trampled order and the rule of law, threatened people's safety, and endangered national security. Lam called the enactment of the law a turning point to take Hong Kong out of the current impasse and restore stability and order from the chaos. The HKSAR government will do its utmost and remain steadfast in its duties to fulfill the primary responsibility of implementing the law in Hong Kong, Lam said, saying a committee on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR will be established. A series of celebrations were held on Wednesday for the anniversary, including parades of floats and fishing vessels and residents singing the national anthem in chorus. At the opening ceremony of celebrating activities, Luo Huining, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, highlighted the successful practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong over the past 23 years. The social unrest arising from the now-withdrawn ordinance amendments concerning fugitive transfers since last year has exposed the tremendous risks Hong Kong is facing in safeguarding national security and posed a grave challenge to "one country, two systems," Luo said. "With the elapse of time, we will get a good view that the promulgation of the law marks a significant turning point for Hong Kong to move from turmoil to stability, and a major milestone for the practice of 'one country, two systems' in Hong Kong," he said. Celebrations can be spotted across Hong Kong. Residents sang the national anthem in the chorus at multiple landmarks, including Victoria Peak and the Hong Kong Observation Wheel. In Victoria Harbor, 150 fishing vessels, decorated with the national flag and banners, sailed in a procession to celebrate the anniversary and the passage of the new law, which were warmly greeted by joyful Hong Kong residents on the harbor front. The captain of the pilot boat, surnamed Leung, participated in every parade since 1997. The man, 68, said the lives of fishermen have become better and better since Hong Kong's return to the motherland. "Only when our country is prosperous, can Hong Kong be prosperous," he said. Cally Kwong, an NPC deputy from the HKSAR, participated in the parade of floats and said she felt "very special" today as the new law took effect. The law came at the right timing as after a turbulent year, Hong Kong residents long for a peaceful life, she said, stressing that the legal mechanism on safeguarding national security will guarantee Hong Kong's future. "Hong Kong is our home and we must cherish our home," she said. ^ top ^

National security law: peaceful protesters could land in jail, legal experts warn (SCMP)
2020-07-02
Participants in peaceful protests could risk being sent to prison under the Beijing-decreed national security law for Hong Kong, members of the city's legal sector warned on Wednesday as they expressed concerns over the "broadly defined" offences. Political pundits also suggested Beijing had drafted the sweeping legislation as a way to target actions that protesters frequently engaged in during the anti-government demonstrations of the past year. Behaviour that could potentially lead to a guilty verdict under the new law included filibustering in the legislature, protests staged outside government offices and vandalism of traffic lights and public property, lawyers said. These were potential crimes according to the full detailed articles of the new law – finally made public after it became effective in the city on Tuesday night – which spelt out the scope of the four offences of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces to endanger national security. The maximum penalty for each crime is life imprisonment, although the suggested sentence for some minor offences is less than three years' jail. Bar Association vice-chairwoman Anita Yip Hau-ki raised concerns over the legislation's Article 20, which suggests that a person who organises, plans, commits or participates in acts of secession should be found guilty "whether or not by force or threat of force". Internationally, violence or the threat of violence usually had to be a key factor in determining secession, Yip said. She also pointed to the definition of subversion in the law, which not only targeted acts which would overthrow the body of central power of China and Hong Kong, but also those which could be viewed as "seriously interfering in, disrupting or undermining the performance of duties and functions" of the authorities of China and Hong Kong. "Will severe criticism from the media or forming human chains outside government premises be considered as obstruction?" Yip said, referring to the popular means of protest adopted by pupils near school areas. "They might merely be blocking the ingress of the buildings peacefully." Executive Council member and barrister Ronny Tong Ka-wah also suggested that months of filibustering, which would paralyse the legislature's proceedings, could risk breaching the law. Yip said it was as yet hard to determine which acts would fall under the category and which would not because it depended on the court's interpretation of the law. "But what is worrying right now is that the power to interpret the law does not rest with the city's court," she said. Instead, the power lies with the top body of the national legislature. Professor Fu Hualing, law dean at the University of Hong Kong, said the offences could have been more precisely defined but noted they were already clearer than under China's criminal law. Article 105 of the Criminal Law of China states that whoever instigates the subversion of the political power of the state and overthrows the socialist system through "spreading rumours, slandering, or other ways" is to be found guilty. In contrast, Article 22 of the Hong Kong law is more precise, stating that a person who organises, plans, commits or participates in any of the acts listed by force or threat of force or other unlawful means with a view to subverting the state power shall be guilty of subversion. "It's an indication of Beijing's recognition of the difference between the two systems," Fu said. Professor Simon Young Ngai-man, a legal scholar at HKU, said the definitions of secession and subversion were "reasonably clear". Under the new law, hosting a forum for a known separatist to speak about separatist matters or trashing the legislature – which protesters did on July 1 last year – would be clearly covered under the crime of subversion, he said. The Foreign Correspondents' Club came under fire in 2018 when it hosted a talk by Andy Chan Ho-tin, leader of the now-banned pro-independence Hong Kong National Party. But Young said both the annual July 1 march and candlelight vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown should be allowed, as long as they were only peaceful protests in compliance with the Public Order Ordinance and without any advocacy of Hong Kong independence. What was more problematic were the terrorism and collusion offences, he said. "The mental element is not clear for the terrorism offences and there is no exception for legitimate protest," he said. That was in contrast to the existing United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance. Most common law jurisdictions that enacted or revised national security laws after the September 11 terrorist attacks would have taken into account what was in the suspect's mind to ensure that the innocent were not caught by these serious offences, he said. He pointed to the new law's Article 26 and 27, which state that a person who provides support, assistance or facility such as training, weapons, information, funds, supplies, labour, transport, technologies or venues to a terrorist organisation or a terrorist, or advocates terrorism or incites the commission of a terrorist activity, shall be found guilty. The two clauses "are also wide and can catch innocent activity including commercial services and social media expression unless the mental element is clarified", he said. On collusion, Young said anyone calling for any kind of external sanctions on Hong Kong or China – which anti-government protesters had been asking for, notably from the United States – would also need to be wary of falling foul of the law. "Care must be taken in receiving any kind of foreign funding if the project has any potential to disrupt the implementation of laws and policies in Hong Kong or undermine an election in Hong Kong," Young warned. The scope of the offences also appeared to be inspired by the anti-government unrest, which had seen hardcore protesters trashing railway stations, vandalising shops with mainland links and public property including traffic lights, as well as attacking opponents and police officers. For instance, serious violence against a person or people, arson and vandalism of "transport, transport facilities, electric power or gas facilities" are among a range of acts which are considered to be "terrorist activities" under the new law if they are conducted to pursue a political agenda. Icarus Wong Ho-yin, of the Civil Rights Observer group, said such vandalism was already covered by existing laws, such as criminal damage, and questioned the drafting of the new legislation. Chinese University political scientist Ivan Choy Chi-keung said the new law was drafted in response to events that took place during the protests last year. "It is clear the law is targeting what happened last year, especially the provisions about terrorism and colluding with foreign forces," Choy said. Acts such as arson corresponded to street protests, while collusion clauses targeted those who were involved in lobbying efforts overseas. Another clause that raised eyebrows was Article 38, which states that the law also applies to non-permanent Hong Kong residents outside the region. "I believe it was inserted in the national security law to protect China and Hong Kong's interests and fend off interference from foreign forces," said Fu, who specialises in the mainland's criminal law and the country's legal reform. "But the clause could result in conflicts with other countries where foreigners commit offences banned by the national security law. Besides, China will face difficulties in enforcing the law in foreign countries." ^ top ^

Xinhua Headlines: China adopts law on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong (Xinhua)
2020-07-01
Chinese lawmakers Tuesday voted to adopt the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The law was passed unanimously at the 20th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature. President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to promulgate the law, which goes into effect on the date of promulgation. With 66 articles in six chapters, the law clearly defines the duties and government bodies of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security and four categories of offences -- secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security -- and their corresponding penalties. According to the law, the central government will set up an office in the HKSAR for safeguarding national security. The HKSAR will establish a committee for safeguarding national security, which is under the supervision of and accountable to the central government. To be chaired by the HKSAR chief executive, the committee shall have a national security adviser designated by the central government. The Hong Kong police force will also set up a department for safeguarding national security, according to the law. After the law was passed, the NPC Standing Committee consulted its HKSAR Basic Law Committee and the HKSAR government, and adopted on Tuesday afternoon, by a unanimous vote, a decision to list the law in Annex III to the HKSAR Basic Law. The newly-adopted decision stipulates that the law shall be applied locally in the HKSAR by way of promulgation by the region. The law came into force in Hong Kong at 11:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday upon its promulgation by the HKSAR government in the gazette. HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said in a statement that the HKSAR government welcomes the passage of the law. "I am confident that after the implementation of the national security law, the social unrest which has troubled Hong Kong people for nearly a year will be eased and stability will be restored, thereby enabling Hong Kong to start anew, focus on economic development and improve people's livelihood," she said. The law came after prolonged social unrest and escalating street violence had plunged Hong Kong into the gravest situation since its return to the motherland in 1997. Rampant activities of "Hong Kong independence" organizations and violent radicals as well as blatant interference by external forces have disrupted Hong Kong residents' daily life and threatened their safety. Addressing the closing meeting of the NPC Standing Committee session, Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said the unanimous passage of the law and the decision has reflected the common will of the Chinese people including Hong Kong compatriots. Stressing that national security, social stability and the order of rule of law are the premises of the development of Hong Kong, Li said the legislation represents the aspirations of the people and an irresistible trend of the times. In a statement, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council voiced firm support for the law, calling it a "milestone" event that will usher in a turning point for Hong Kong to end chaos and bring back order. In a separate statement, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR said the promulgation and implementation of the law at the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland is an event worth celebrating for all Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots. Nearly 2.93 million Hong Kong residents earlier signed a petition in support of the national security legislation during an eight-day campaign starting May 24. The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said in its statement that for a tiny number of people endangering national security, the law will be a "sharp sword" hanging over their heads. But for the vast majority of Hong Kong residents including foreigners in Hong Kong, the law will be a "guardian" that protects their rights, freedoms and peaceful life, said the office. According to the law, people convicted of the national security crimes could face up to life imprisonment. Convicted criminals will be disqualified from running for public office, and people in public office who are found guilty of the crimes will be removed from their posts. The law shall apply to acts committed after its entry into force for the purpose of conviction and imposition of punishment, according to its provision. Upon promulgation, the law will resolutely and effectively safeguard national security and ensure that the "one country, two systems" cause is steered toward the right direction, said top legislator Li Zhanshu. The law will vigorously uphold the constitutional order and the order of rule of law in the HKSAR, forestall and deter external interference, and safeguard Hong Kong's fundamental, long-term and current interests, he said. ^ top ^

National security law: US ends exports of defence equipment and restricts dual-use tech to Hong Kong (SCMP)
2020-06-30
The United States will stop exporting defence equipment to Hong Kong because of Beijing's pending implementation of a national security law, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday. As China moves forward with the national security law, which is expected to pass this week, "we can no longer distinguish between the export of controlled items to Hong Kong or to mainland China", Pompeo said in a statement. "The Chinese Communist Party's decision to eviscerate Hong Kong's freedoms has forced the Trump administration to re-evaluate its policies toward the territory," Pompeo said. The US "is forced to take this action to protect US national security". Previously, Hong Kong had enjoyed special privileges that allowed it to import American defence equipment that Beijing did not have. It was also able to import dual-use technologies without the licences required when the same items were sold to mainland China. "We cannot risk these items falling into the hands of the People's Liberation Army, whose primary purpose is to uphold the dictatorship of the [Chinese Communist Party] by any means necessary," he said. The announcement came after the administration and lawmakers from both parties denounced the new national security law, which threatens to curb free speech and dissent in Hong Kong after a year of political tumult. In May, the State Department told Congress that Hong Kong was no longer considered autonomous from China, an assessment that could threaten the city's long-standing special trading status. Under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act passed by the US Congress in November, the administration must decide every year whether governance of Hong Kong is suitably distinct from the mainland, which is the prerequisite for the special status to continue. A revocation of Hong Kong's trading status would put an end to the preferential economic and trade treatment the city has enjoyed and which has, at least partly, contributed to making it a regional financial and business hub. The State Department said Monday's move was a consequence of Beijing's decision to violate its own commitments under the 1997 Sino-British Joint Declaration. The actions were meant to "target the regime, not the Chinese people," Pompeo said. "But given Beijing now treats Hong Kong as 'one country, one system,' so must we." ^ top ^

Taiwan moves to build ties with unrecognised state of Somaliland (SCMP)
2020-07-02
Taiwan will establish informal diplomatic relations with the self-declared African state of Somaliland as it seeks to counter the growing diplomatic squeeze from Beijing. "Our two governments have agreed to swap official representative offices under the titles of Taiwan representative office and Somaliland representative office based on our friendship and shared belief," Taiwan's foreign minister Joseph Wu told a press conference in Taipei on Wednesday. Wu said he signed the agreement with his Somaliland counterpart Yasin Hagi Mohamoud in Taipei on February 26, of which the two sides agreed to cooperate in areas such as fishing, agriculture, energy, mining, health, education and information and communication technologies. The offices will be headed by veteran diplomats who will be given a formal rank. Because of the coronavirus outbreak, the two sides will delay opening them until the pandemic eases off, Wu added. He said the establishment of representative office was part of the island's efforts to promote ties with Africa and expand its presence in east Africa. With just 15 allies due to persistent pressure from Beijing, Wu's announcement is seen by observers as an attempt to break out of Taiwan's diplomatic predicament. Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of its territory that must eventually be reunited with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary. Since Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party became president in 2016 and refused to accept the one-China principle, Beijing has poached seven of the island's allies, in addition to suspending official exchanges with Taiwan and staging a series of war games to force Tsai to change her mind. While Wednesday's move falls short of full diplomatic recognition, the last time Taiwan managed to persuade a country to establish ties with it rather than Beijing was with the Caribbean island of St Lucia in 2007. Somaliland, a former British protectorate, has a population of 3.9 million and declared independence in 1991 amid the chaos of the civil war in Somalia, but has not been granted official recognition by any UN member state. It is recognised only as an autonomous region of Somalia. It has set up representative offices in some 20 countries, including the United States, Canada, Britain, Ireland and Kuwait, as well as the European Union. Asked why Taiwan does not go ahead to establish formal diplomatic ties with Somaliland, Wu said Taiwan remains open to such a status, but at the moment the two sides have found the swap as the "best option available." Asked whether the latest move would further infuriate Beijing, Wu said the mainland does not have official ties with Somaliland and in developing its global relations, Taiwan would not bow to the mainland's pressure. ^ top ^

PLA bombers approach Taiwan island from the east (Global Times)
2020-06-29
Two bombers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly approached the island of Taiwan from the east after crossing the Miyako Strait on Sunday, after PLA aircraft conducted at least eight sorties to Taiwan's southwestern "airspace" in June alone. The two H-6K bombers on Sunday flew through the Miyako Strait from the East China Sea, entered the Pacific Ocean, approached Taiwan Island from the east, then returned to base via the same route, according to a press release by Japan's Defense Ministry Joint Staff on the same day. Taiwan media said Sunday that there have been no similar missions by the PLA recently, and the Taiwan military was still confirming if the PLA bombers indeed returned from the same route they came, or returned after crossing the Bashi Channel. By flying through airspace to the east of Taiwan, the PLA showed it can not only strike targets in western Taiwan, but also on the eastern side of the island. From there, PLA warplanes can also conduct anti-access and area denial missions and keep foreign interventions away, a Chinese mainland military expert told the Global Times on Sunday under condition of anonymity. Prior to the Sunday operation by the H-6Ks, the PLA has sent military aircraft to Taiwan's southwestern "airspace" at least eight times this month. A variety of military aircraft including the J-10, J-11, and Su-30 fighter jets, and Y-8 special mission aircraft were involved, according to information released by Taiwan's defense authority. Many of these missions were believed to be countermeasures against US military aircraft approaches to or even crossing of Taiwan Island. Chinese mainland military expert and TV commentator Song Zhongping told the Global Times that the PLA operations from both the east and southwest of Taiwan indicate that the PLA is training to suppress the potential US and Japanese reinforcements coming from Guam and the Ryukyu Islands through the Miyako Strait east of Taiwan and through the Bashi, Balintang, and Babuyan channels southwest of Taiwan. The PLA could use these operations to effectively lockdown the area from foreign forces while ensuring that Taiwan's forces cannot escape, Song noted. When asked about Taiwan's close interactions with the US in the past month, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, said at a regular press conference on Wednesday that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and Taiwan affairs are purely China's internal affairs that brook no external interference. The PLA has been on high alert, and has the firm resolve, full confidence and sufficient capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, Wu said. ^ top ^

China suspends imports from meat processors in Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands over coronavirus concerns (Global Times)
2020-07-02
China customs said on Thursday that several meat processors in Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands have suspended exports to China since late June, a move which industry insiders said represents part of Beijing's strengthened measures on frozen imports as more cluster infection cases emerged in food processing factories overseas. Brazilian poultry exporter Jbs Aves Ltda voluntarily halted exports to China on June 26, according to a statement on the website of the General Administration of Customs. In addition, a beef exporter based in Argentina voluntarily suspended exports to China on June 22. Chinese customs has also halted several import applications from overseas meat processors since June 27, including German pork exporter Danisch Crown Fleisch GmbH, two Brazilian beef and poultry exporters, a Canadian beef exporter and four pork enterprises based in the Netherlands. Chinese industry insiders said that the suspension involving those companies is an important message that local authorities are tightening quality requirements for all imported meat, on heels of the latest coronavirus outbreak in a wholesale food market in Beijing. Jiao Shanwei, editor-in-chief of cngrain.com, a website specializing in grain news, told the Global Times on Thursday that the suspension will have a limited impact on the domestic meat supply market, as live pig supply is abundant in China and there is even a glut in poultry products. "If the coronavirus ebbs overseas, China will ramp up efforts to expand meat imports in the fourth quarter," Jiao said. China imported about 6.18 million tons of meat last year, mainly from Brazil, European countries such as Spain and Germany, and the US, according to the China Meat Association (CMA). In early June in Brazil, an estimated 2,399 employees from 24 slaughterhouses in 18 municipalities of Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul have been infected. Previously in the Netherlands, 147 people were diagnosed with the coronavirus at a Dutch pork processing plant near the German border, according to Reuters. On June 23, UK and Brazilian authorities informed China Customs that two companies - UK-based pork provider Tulip and Brazil's beef supplier Agra - had reported the suspension of all exports to China due to positive COVID-19 cases among their employees. China suspended imports from Tyson Foods, one of the largest meat producers in the US, on June 21 over cluster cases of COVID-19 at its factory. ^ top ^

Industrial enterprises in China achieve first positive profit growth of the year in May (People's Daily)
2020-06-30
Profits of China's industrial enterprises above designated size reached 582.3 billion yuan (about $82.3 billion) in May, marking a 6-percent growth year-on-year and the first positive growth of industrial profits of the country in 2020, suggested data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). In April, the year-on-year growth rate of the profits of the country's major industrial enterprises decreased by 4.3 percent, according to a monthly report on China's industrial economic performance released by the NBS on June 28. The total profits of the country's industrial companies, with annual revenue of over 20 million yuan, stood at 1,8 trillion yuan in the first five months of the year, dropping by 19.3 percent from the same period of the previous year, disclosed the NBS. The decline narrowed 8.1 percentage points from that of the first four months, data of the NBS indicated. Ten of the 41 industrial sectors recorded year-on-year profit growth in the first five months of 2020, while 30 sectors saw decline in their profits, and profits of one sector were at the same level as that of the period last year, the report revealed. Profits of computer, telecommunications and other electronic equipment manufacturing sectors rose by 34.7 percent year-on-year during the January-May period, while that of farm and sideline food processing industry and special-purpose equipment manufacturing sector grew by 19 percent and 16.6 percent respectively, according to the report. Certain key sectors witnessed significant profit increases in May, said the report, disclosing that petroleum processing industry logged total profits of 11.6 billion yuan in May, up 8.9 percent from the same period last year, while the whole industry had suffered losses of 21.8 billion yuan in April. Profits of the electricity sector reported a 10.9-percent growth year-on-year in May, a significant increase from the 15.7-percent decline in April, the report suggested. As of May 27, 67.4 percent of China's industrial enterprises above designated size had seen their production capacity reach over 80 percent of the normal levels, 6.6 percentage points more than that in late April, according to an earlier sampling survey conducted by the NBS. The value-added industrial output of these major industrial enterprises continued to pick up in May after realizing positive growth in April, rising by 4.4 percent year on year, 0.5 percentage points higher than that of the previous month, revealed the survey. The profit improvement in China's industrial enterprises mainly resulted from the country's policies designed to reduce corporate burden, including those on tax and fee cuts, said Liu Xiangdong, deputy head of the economic research department of China Center for International Economic Exchanges. The drop in prices of imported raw bulk materials has also reduced the pressure of procurement costs for enterprises, Liu told People's Daily. With the gradual resumption of domestic consumer market, companies in the country accelerated inventory digestion and made efforts to promote consumer price recovery, which helped increase profits, Liu pointed out. In addition, benefiting from the introduction of policies and measures on stabilizing domestic and foreign investment, enterprises increased their capital expenditure on investment, which has driven economic recovery and growth in returns on investment, thus leading to profit increase for industrial enterprises, according to Liu. ^ top ^

North Korea supports Chinese people, CPC against US aggression: Ambassador (Global Times)
2020-07-03
North Korean Ambassador to China Ji Jae-ryong voiced full support and solidarity with the Chinese people and the Communist Party of China (CPC) and their resistance to US interference in China's internal matters, such as Hong Kong affairs, to safeguard the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US has been making provocative remarks against China on economy, science and technology, security, human rights and diplomacy, which pushed China-US relations to the extreme, the senior North Korean diplomat told the Global Times. The US has openly smeared the CPC and the country's socialist system especially this year, constantly agitating China-US relations, which turned into a confrontation of ideologies and systems, he said. This shows that the US feels its hegemonic position is threatened by the development of China and the strengthening of socialism, he noted. "Therefore, the US tried to undermine the Chinese people's trust in the CPC, interfere in China's internal affairs, such as Hong Kong affairs and cross-Straits relations, and preach the "Jasmine revolution" in China, in order to disintegrate and disrupt socialist China." The Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC have built socialism with Chinese characteristics that is prosperous and progressing, the ambassador said. The strategic achievements that the Chinese people have attained in battling the COVID-19 epidemic cannot be won without the Party's correct judgment and leadership. "We express our full support and solidarity with the Chinese people and the CPC in their efforts to resist US interference and arbitrariness and to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Ji said. North Korea will fight side by side with the Chinese people as always to claim the ultimate victory of the great cause of socialism, the ambassador said. ^ top ^

Parliament re-elects incumbent Khurelsukh as Prime Minister (Montsame)
2020-07-02
At today's plenary session of State Great Khural, the parliament of Mongolia, elected incumbent Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh as the country's 31st Prime Minister. The ruling Mongolian People's Party's Conference nominated U.Khurelsukh to the Prime Minister, and President of Mongolia Kh.Battulga supported it and submitted the nomination to the parliament. After hearing proposal and conclusion of President of Mongolia Kh.Battulga and Parliamentary standing committee on State Structure on supporting to appoint U.Khurelsukh, Mongolian People's Party member elected to the parliament, as Prime Minister, an open vote was held, where out of 71 parliament members in attendance, 70 members, except MP B.Purevdorj (Democratic Party), voted in favor of the approval of U.Khurelsukh as a head of the cabinet. Following his re-election to a second term as Prime Minister, U.Khurelsukh addressed the session to introduce about four priority areas the new government will focus on, which are as follows. - Turning the country into an export-oriented country without any debt burdens and an active player in the regional trade with the help of ongoing and new large-scale railway, energy and mining development projects, such as Tavantolgoi-Gashuunsukhait-Zuunbayan railway construction projects, Tavantolgoi and Erdeneburen Power plant projects and the country's first oil refinery project, etc. - Promoting social justice and building a 'Digital Mongolia' - Improving livelihoods and expanding the middle class - Sustaining balance between urban and rural development Born in 1968 in Ulaanbaatar city, Khurelsukh Ukhnaa graduated from the National Defense University in 1999 and the Law School of the National University of Mongolia in 2000. He served as a member of the State Great Khural in 2000-2004, 2004-2008 and 2012-2013, and as a cabinet member in 2004-2006 and 2006-2008, and as a member of the cabinet and Deputy Prime Minister in 2014-2015 and 2016-2017. Since 2017, he was Prime Minister of Mongolia and was elected to the 8th parliament of Mongolia from Khentii aimag by the recent parliament election held on June 24. ^ top ^

President presented with final results of parliamentary election (Montsame)
2020-07-02
Upon presenting the official final results, GEC Chairman Ch.Sodnomtseren said: "The General Election Commission of Mongolia has organized the Eighth State Great Khural (Parliament) Elections with success, in the scope of the Commission's full rights bestowed by the laws and in accordance with the Constitution of Mongolia, the Law on General Election Authority, the Law on Elections of State Great Khural of Mongolia and the Law on Automated Election System. The regular parliamentary election of 2020 was organized based on larger constituencies with multi-mandate system. A total of 21 electoral commissions nationwide, consisting of 337 local commissions in soums and districts, 2070 polling stations and 27 IT teams had been set up and 35,772 public servants took part in the organization. The General Authority of State Registration took over the role of formulation of voters' list, keeping record of and crosschecking migration, eliminating duplication of identity, and provided general guidance over registration issues. GEC worked closely with the State Emergency Commission, the Ministry of Health and National Emergency Management Agency on implementing precaution measures of COVID-19. A total of 13 political parties and 4 coalitions registered their candidates. Including 121 independent candidates, a total of 606 candidates had been nominated and organized their electoral campaigns within the legally provided timeframe. Out of the total 2,003,969 Mongolian nationals of age, 1,475,780 voters cast their ballots on the Election Day of June 24th, 2020. Votes were counted electronically. However, additional manual counting took place in 846 polling stations for revaluation, results of which matched the e-counting results". The GEC Chairman further provided details of election results. The Mongolian People's Party (MPP) secured a majority, 62 seats, while the Democratic Party (DP) secured 11, "Ta Bidnii Evsel" (Yours and Ours or Our Coalition) won 1 seat, "Zuv Khun – Electorate" (Right Person – Electorate) Coalition, and independent candidate won a seat. The elected MPs received the Resolutions, certifying their electoral victory and seats in the parliament, on June 29, 2020. GEC members presented the final election results and the above mentioned Resolutions to President Khaltmaagiin Battulga. ^ top ^

Sandro Wirth
Embassy of Switzerland