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SCHWEIZER
BOTSCHAFT IN BEIJING
EMBASSY OF SWITZERLAND IN BEIJING
AMBASSADE DE SUISSE EN CHINE |
Der wöchentliche
Presserückblick der Schweizer Botschaft in der VR China
The Weekly Press Review of the Swiss Embassy in the People's Republic
of China
La revue de presse hebdomadaire de l'Ambassade de Suisse en RP
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| Switzerland |
World's top 10 most innovative economies (China Daily)
2020-11-19
Switzerland has taken the crown as the world's most innovative economy, followed by Sweden, the United States and the United Kingdom, according to a report released by the World Intellectual Property Organization. The 2020 edition of the Global Innovation Index presents the latest global innovation trends and the annual innovation ranking of 131 economies based on a variety of factors, including R&D, ICT, and knowledge and technology outputs. China ranks 14th this year, the same as last year and higher compared to 2018's 17th position. The country ranks first among the 37 upper middle-income group economies. Let's take a look at the top 10 most innovative economies in the world. ^ top ^
Photo exhibition on Switzerland opens in Beijing (China Daily)
2020-11-18
The exhibition Between Mountains, Hills and Lakes kicked off on Friday in the Three Shadows Photography Art Centre in Beijing. The exhibition starts from the curator He Yining's own travel experience and research in Switzerland in the past two years. She selected nine projects from seven photographers from Switzerland and two Chinese photographers who have stayed in Switzerland in recent years. The exhibition also showcases 29 photography books published in the last five years under the support of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia. Swiss Ambassador Bernardino Regazzoni said at the opening ceremony that the exhibition comes at the right time, when travel outside China has literally become impossible. "Fortunately, art, and in this case photography, provides an alternative that makes it possible to cross borders safely!" he said. The exhibition coincides with the 70th anniversary of Sino-Swiss bilateral relations. After being held in Shenzhen, Guangdong province and Shanghai, it has traveled to the capital and will last till the end of January. ^ top ^
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| Foreign Policy |
Xi's speech at APEC CEO Dialogues underscores opening China to bring world more opportunities, experts say (Xinhua)
2020-11-19
Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Dialogues on Thursday highlights that China's opening-up and its new development paradigm will offer more development opportunities to the world, overseas experts have said. In a keynote speech delivered via video link at the APEC CEO Dialogues, Xi said that China will open its door still wider to the world, and China's new development paradigm will enable the country to fully unlock its market potential and create greater demand for other countries. Hailing China's policies to "drive economic growth through innovation, expanding domestic demand and further opening up its market," Jin Jianmin, a senior fellow at the Fujitsu Research Institute in Japan, said that "the win-win plan" is welcomed by the industry in other countries. Xi's speech is encouraging and the important signal from those remarks injects confidence into the world economy, noted Alvaro Echeverria, vice president of the Asia Pacific Chamber of Commerce in Chile. China's active and forward-looking atitude will not only push forward China's development, but also promote the world economy's recovery, he said. "It is reassuring good news to the world that Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed that China has not stopped its opening-up pace despite rising unilateralism and protectionism in some countries," said Wilson Lee Flores, a columnist for the English daily The Philippine Star. "China has shown its commitment to international cooperation, openness, rules-based free trade and multilateralism which are important for global economic recovery," he said. Ong Tee Keat, founding chairman of the Center for New Inclusive Asia, a think tank based in Malaysia, said that China's new development paradigm will provide a Chinese market with huge potential for the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large, create more opportunities and space for post-pandemic global economic recovery and development, and further encourage countries to forge cooperation. ^ top ^
China willing to boost comprehensive strategic coordination with Russia to higher level: FM (Xinhua)
2020-11-19
China is willing to enrich the strategic connotation of its relations with Russia in the new era and promote bilateral comprehensive strategic coordination to a higher level, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday. In a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Wang congratulated the Russian side on successfully hosting the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS summit via video link which have achieved fruitful results. The China-Russia relations have withstood the test of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang said, adding that mutual trust between the two countries has been deepened continuously and bilateral trade has stopped falling and rebounded. Noting that the China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation has been launched successfully, Wang said that the people-to-people relations between China and Russia have been strengthened continuously and bilateral ties are facing new development opportunities. For his part, Lavrov said despite the raging pandemic, Russia-China relations have continued to move forward rapidly, which reflects the high level of bilateral ties. Russia congratulates China on its great achievements in fighting the pandemic, and is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China, ensure the success of the Russia-China Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation, and promote the practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields to continuously achieve new results, he said. Noting that Russia supports the dovetailing of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative, Lavrov said that Russia is ready to coordinate closely with China on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the UN Security Council, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS mechanism, jointly safeguard the stability of the international and regional situation, support countries in the region in their fight against extremism and support the ASEAN-centered East Asian regional cooperation framework. ^ top ^
Australia urged to tackle issues hampering ties (China Daily)
2020-11-18
China urged Australia on Tuesday to face up to the issues at the heart of the setback in bilateral relations, saying that the responsibility for the current situation does not lie with China. "The root cause of China-Australia relations worsening to the current level of difficulty is that some people in Australia regard China's development as a threat and have taken a series of wrong moves based on a Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular news briefing in Beijing. According to Zhao, Australia has repeatedly made mistakes on issues involving Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Taiwan and other issues related to China's core interests, and has "grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people". Moreover, some people in Australia slandered and accused China of engaging in so-called intervention and infiltration activities in the country without giving any evidence, Zhao said, adding that Australia even sought to politicize, stigmatize and create barriers for normal exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. "These practices have seriously damaged mutual trust, poisoned the atmosphere of bilateral relations and impeded the momentum of bilateral cooperation," he said. The spokesman said Australia has also engaged in political manipulation of the COVID-19 situation and interfered in international anti-epidemic cooperation by promoting a so-called independent investigation. Australia should seriously think about taking a rational and impartial stance in dealing with its relations with China, as many people in Australia are calling for, rather than accusing China and avoiding its own responsibilities, Zhao said. Zhao said that it is normal for China and Australia, countries with different historical traditions, social systems and at different development stages, to have differences, but what's important is to properly manage those differences in a constructive manner rather than impose one's own ideas on others based on the pretext of safeguarding national interests and values. "We hope the Australian side will look at China and China's development objectively... and do more to enhance mutual trust and promote cooperation rather than go down the wrong path," Zhao said. ^ top ^
European leaders call for unity with US against China (SCMP)
2020-11-18
EU leaders are looking to US President-elect Joe Biden to work with Europe to tackle Beijing, with Germany and France calling for unity against countries like China, Russia and Iran. In a rare joint opinion piece, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his German counterpart Heiko Maas outlined their call in The Washington Post on Monday, less than two weeks after the US election. "With Biden, greater transatlantic unity will be possible with regard to autocrats and countries that seek to enhance their power by undermining international or regional order. But a principled approach does not exclude dialogue and cooperation," they wrote. "Under a Biden administration, the compass needle of US foreign policy will continue to gravitate toward China, which we see as a partner, competitor and systemic rival at the same time." They also said the US and the European Union should "consult each other" to coordinate their approach to China on human rights, digital infrastructure and fair trade. Biden echoed that view on Monday, saying Washington would count on its allies to confront Beijing over unequal trade practices. Both the US and the EU have long complained about restrictions on market access in China, which on Sunday signed the world's largest trade deal with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and 10 Southeast Asian nations. "We need to be aligned with the other democracies … so that we can set the rules of the road instead of having China and others dictate outcomes because they are the only game in town," Biden said. But as Le Drian and Maas call for US consultation with Europe, others want Washington to take the lead. "There is a strong need for US leadership and commitment," Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide told an online forum hosted by the German Marshall Fund of the US, a Washington think tank. Soreide, like the French and German foreign ministers, met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi when he visited the region in summer, as Beijing sought to turn the tide of growing scepticism against China. But unlike France and Germany, Norway is not part of the EU and is closer geographically to traditional foe Russia, against which US defence is deemed essential. Soreide called it "one of the most stunning features" of the Donald Trump administration that it sought to confront China by withdrawing from international cooperation. "That of course leaves the space wide open for China to exert even more influence, filling the void more quickly," she said. "It's extremely important that when we engage in a transatlantic dialogue about this, exerting US leadership means engaging in the areas where your allies are present," Soreide said. "By that, we can manage to do things together." Bilateral disagreements between Washington and Brussels could be an obstacle to any joint policy on China. Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told the BBC on Monday that it would be wise for the US and the EU to settle disputes regarding Boeing and Airbus before they embark on policies to confront China over unfair trade practices. The digital domain is another area of dispute, as the EU takes on big tech in the US, mainly over privacy concerns. But last week Europe's commissioner in charge of digital policies struck a positive tone on a future Biden administration. "We should work towards a transatlantic technology space, based on our common values of democracy, the rule of law and the dignity and integrity of the individual," Margrethe Vestager said. "Because if we can agree on the rules, these are likely to become the global standard." While Biden's election victory has been welcomed in Europe, there is also caution. Responding to German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer's pro-American stand against European strategic autonomy, French President Emmanuel Macron said there should be less reliance on the US. "I think it is vital that our Europe finds the ways and means to decide for itself, to rely on itself, not to depend on others, in every area, technological, as I said, but also health, geopolitics," he told journal Le Grand Continent on Monday. "I am sure of one thing: we are not the United States of America," Macron said. "Our values are not quite the same … We have a different world view, which is connected with Africa, the Near and Middle East, and we have different geography, which can mean our interests are not in line." ^ top ^
China and Latin America must use BRI to deepen cooperation (China Daily)
2020-11-17
As members of BRICS, China and Brazil need to deepen cooperation to optimize the opportunities they share and meet the common challenges they face. The two countries should also help elevate China-Latin America cooperation to a higher level. Cooperation between China and Latin America has been deepening through the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which comprises a five-pronged approach－policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and enhancement of people-to-people ties. So China and Latin America can further expand cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative to help the world to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and reboot the global economy, leading to normal, sustainable economic development. An increasing number of people in Latin American countries realize the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative in not only domestic, but also regional and global development. Not least because, based on the spirit of mutual respect, win-win cooperation and inclusiveness, the Belt and Road projects are aimed at benefiting all participants. In particular, the Belt and Road projects have won widespread praise because they have contributed to developing countries' economic growth, especially in infrastructure construction. As for China-Latin America cooperation through the Belt and Road, among the 24 Latin American countries with diplomatic relations with China, 19 have signed cooperation memorandums under the Belt and Road framework. And the other five countries, including Brazil, Argentina and Colombia, are in talks on Belt and Road projects. Chile and Panama, too, are trying to connect the Belt and Road projects, including Digital Silk Road, Green Silk Road and Innovative Silk Road, to their national planning mechanism. That Chinese investment in Latin America has increased is good news for projects in energy and transportation among others. Also, policy communication has improved China-Latin America cooperation in new areas such as e-commerce and services, and the two sides are experiencing a structural change in trade, particularly in the higher levels of the value chain. For China, Latin America is playing a more fundamental role in industrial and supply chains. Data from Chinese customs show food and material imports from Latin America increased during the first quarter of this year when China was battling the worst phase of the novel coronavirus epidemic. These imports helped stabilize China's food supply. And for Latin America, China is a large source of stable income. The pandemic has caused a sharp decline in Latin America's exports to the European Union and the United States, which have traditionally been Latin America's major trade partners, while its exports to China remained stable, even increasing slightly. In fact, Brazil's soybean exports to China hit a record high in April and May. The pandemic, ironically, has made China and Latin America realize each other's increasing importance given the growing risks to globalization. The two sides have also realized that the inclusive Belt and Road Initiative will help them maintain stable and sustainable development. Expanding cooperation in the post-pandemic era is in the mutual interest of China and Latin America. With the global economy facing both opportunities and challenges, the Belt and Road's multidimensional development policy can be used to further expand trade and economic exchanges between China and Latin America. For example, the Silk Road of Health and the Digital Silk Road can help develop the industries that have been beneficial to people during the pandemic, including food, pharmaceuticals, and mobile apps and video games. The Belt and Road Initiative can also help the two sides strengthen their policy communication and coordination, in order to deal with the short-term risks at a time when the pandemic has given rise to an unprecedentedly complicated global situation. For instance, the Belt and Road mechanism can help upgrade and expand China-Latin America cooperation and avoid systemic risks. Besides, if China and Latin America further deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road framework in third-party markets, and between governments and social capital, the outflow effect will allow the two sides to share the gains with more parties. And President Xi Jinping's participation in the upcoming meetings of BRICS and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the G20 summit is expected to further boost China-Latin America cooperation. ^ top ^
China, 14 other economies sign RCEP in historic win for multilateralism (Global Times)
2020-11-16
China and 14 other economies signed the world's largest trade deal, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), on Sunday to form a free trade zone in the Asia-Pacific region that will encompass a third of the global economy, in what Chinese officials and experts call a historic win for multilateralism that would help the regional and global economies cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and rising protectionism. Inked after years of negotiations and coming at a critical turning point in the global political climate - when the next US administration is set to take office and the world is grasping for solutions to tackle challenges arising from the coronavirus pandemic, the new regional deal would also help the Asia Pacific region take lead in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and resist US hegemony in the region, economists said. On Sunday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spoke highly of the pact, saying it is not only an achievement of landmark significance in East Asian regional cooperation, but also a victory of multilateralism and free trade. "Signed after eight years of negotiation, the RCEP lets people see brightness and hope in shadows, proving that multilateralism and free trade remain the main and correct course as well as the right direction for the global economy and mankind," Li said. The deal, which encompasses China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will create what is to be the world's largest free trade zone, covering about one-third of the world's total population and GDP. It will also be Japan's first free trade framework with its vital trading partners China and South Korea. Notably, two major economies - the US and India - are left out of the trade pact. The US, under President Donald Trump, has been pushing for bilateral deals rather than multilateral ones. India was part of the negotiations, but pulled out of the negotiation last year. Chinese economists also applauded the signing of the pact, saying that the pact mirrors China's leading role in pushing multilateral cooperation, which is in sharp contrast to the US government's acts aimed at an economic decoupling not only between the US and China, but among major global economies as well. "The signing of the RCEP shows China, which played a very active role in pushing for the deal, has led the way in liberalizing trade and promoting a global market order based on free competition. It shows China provides the world with a Chinese model and a Chinese solution on the open platform, where it serves the world," Bao Jianyun, professor of the School of International Studies and director of the Center for International Political Economy Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times. Liu Kuikui, a Beijing-based consultant on international transport and trade, told the Global Times that the participation of some US allies like Japan and Australia in the RCEP also showed that the US' protectionism and economic hegemony is increasingly losing supporters even among the country's usual "friends". "It signals that the US is becoming increasingly marginalized in Asia, and that it has actually lost discourse power on Asian economic issues," Liu commented. Chen Fengying, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, also noted that the signing of the deal is a correction of the protectionist course of the past several years, when the China-US trade war raised questions about global cooperation. "But the RCEP's signing is a signal that cooperation does work, which I think is even more important than the lift it gives to specific countries' GDP growth," Chen told the Global Times. The megadeal's successful signing has also raised hopes for economic turnaround in the Asia-Pacific region in the post-coronavirus era, as it is expected to boost regional trade volume and strengthen other forms of economic exchange. Comprised of 20 chapters covering areas from commodity trade to services trade, e-commerce and government procurement, the pact would likely deliver major results in a short period of time. Under the deal, members will aim to reduce tariffs to zero in 10 years; in some cases, tariffs might be scrapped immediately, China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Sunday. In particular, it is also the first time that China and Japan arranged to decrease tariffs for each other. Chen Bo, director of the Digital Finance Research Center at the Central University of Finance and Economics, predicted that with the support of the RCEP, negotiations on China-Japan-South Korea free trade zone might also speed up. "I think China, Japan and South Korea might scrap tariffs for each other on certain products shortly, but general tariff removal would require further step-by-step negotiations, given the complicated relations among the three countries," he told the Global Times. Experts also have high hopes about the Asian countries getting back on the horse economically after the pandemic, stimulated by the pact. For example, Chen predicted that the RCEP would reduce about $150-200 billion worth of losses for China, Japan and South Korea caused by the China-US trade war. He also noted that the RCEP's signing would speed up integration and improvement of Asia-Pacific supply chains, giving birth to the world's largest market and largest supply chains. Previous estimates also showed that removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers alone under the RCEP would increase the Asia-Pacific region's GDP by 2.1 percent and world GDP by 1.4 percent. Liu said that the signing of the RCEP will integrate its members into the largest free trade zone in the world and build Asia into a region of integrative trade similar to other global trading blocs such as the EU and the North American free trade area. Experts further stressed that the signing of the RCEP would add pressure on the US government, as the next US administration will face a novel global trade paradigm characterized by a major regional free trade system not led by Western countries, but with China as the major promoter and contributor. And although this does not mean the US has completely failed in its attempt to contain China, or it would stop efforts to undermine China's rise in the Asia-Pacific region, it has largely increased the costs and uncertainties for US strategies against China in this area, they said. "The forming of the RCEP would deal a heavy blow to the US Indo-Pacific strategy, particularly in the trade sector, as it largely hits the US' ability to influence and interfere with Asia-Pacific issues. This would be a pressure whether Trump or Biden is in office," Bao said. He predicted that the next US administration might join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement again to adopt an aggressive stance on the RCEP. Liu also predicted that Biden would be pushed to reconsider US economic hegemonism and protectionism, and would need to rebuild US' economic relations with other countries in order to comply with the trend of economic globalization, if he assumes office as the new US president. "Biden won't copy Trump's policies, and China-US trade war should ease in a certain period. The RCEP, in my view, would affect the pace and degree of such a thaw," Bao said. Besides, the RCEP didn't rule out India's participation, although the country has not returned to the negotiation table after it bowed out in 2019, despite Japan's efforts to draw it back. Hu Qimu, a senior fellow at the Sinosteel Economic Research Institute, predicted that India wouldn't join the RCEP in the short term, as the pact's commodity trade terms are not very attractive to a country reliant upon software outsourcing industries like India, and that India is more inclined to side with the US on frictions with China. However, the RCEP has not entirely shut the door on India, but left room for future changes. "I think that has set an example of an open, step-by-step, sustainable model of regional talks that can be generalized in other, like WTO, talks as well," Chen noted. ^ top ^
Operation Reset? US and China revive backchannel talks; Beijing congratulates Biden (SCMP)
2020-11-13
China and the United States have revived stalled backchannel diplomacy, seeking to reset their stormy relationship in the wake of the US presidential election. The semi-official communication channel – often conducted through former officials, think tanks and business leaders – has traditionally been an important conduit for the two sides to exchange candid views and float ideas before more formal contacts. Such communication had stopped in recent months as the relationship went into deep freeze, a Chinese government adviser told the South China Morning Post. But the semi-official exchanges have resumed. "A while ago, people in the United States dared not to talk to us [because of the toxic relationship]. This has changed, particularly from the Democrats side. The semi-official exchanges have again resumed," Wang Xiangsui, a well-connected professor at Beihang University in Beijing, told an audience at a closed-door forum last month. His speech has only now been made public. Wang said several people closely associated with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden had recently contacted China and talked to Chinese think tanks about how to reset the relationship between the world's two biggest economies. On Friday, China officially offered cautious congratulations to Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris. The message came a week after the former vice-president declared that he had secured enough Electoral College votes to lead the United States in the next four years. President Donald Trump has refused to concede and fiercely contested the results. "We respect the choice of the American people, and we express our congratulations to Mr Biden and Ms Harris," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said. But he stopped short of calling Biden president-elect, saying China understood that the election results needed to be confirmed following procedures in accordance with US law. Unlike America's allies, China did not congratulate Biden immediately after the election, prompting speculation that Beijing was trying not to appear to be favouring any side or risk getting embroiled in US domestic politics before the results had been officially announced. And although the foreign ministry broke the silence on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping has yet to formally congratulate Biden and Harris, suggesting that China is acting on the side of caution. Pang Zhongying, an international relations specialist at the Ocean University of China, said Beijing's move was well calculated and came after leaders in Japan and South Korea sent their congratulations. "It seemed that China should not wait any longer and had come to the conclusion that Biden had indeed won," Pang said, adding that a note from a Chinese state leader might come later. In all of the last four US elections, China's sitting president has sent a personal message to America's president-elect soon after voting day. The last time there was a wait was in 2000, when George W. Bush became president-elect after a month-long legal battle. Then Chinese president Jiang Zemin congratulated Bush on December 14, a day after Bush's rival, Al Gore, conceded. Pang said that despite Trump's defeat in last week's election, he had continued to roll out aggressive policies against Beijing, which might have added to Beijing's caution. But at the same time, preparations have already begun to recalibrate the relationship that could decide the future of the Asia-Pacific for years to come. Wang Xiangsui, who was a senior colonel before becoming an academic at Beihang University, said China had been hedging its bets and reaching out to both sides. He said the messages from the Biden camp were positive. "The consensus is that we do need to reset and redefine our relationship but we need to be patient. China is also waiting for a proper opening. The present atmosphere is poisonous and we need to handle it with caution," he said. Wang Xiangsui said the message from Democrats visiting China was that the two countries should avoid entering into a cold war or direct conflict. The two sides had to learn how to manage their differences and find ways to coexist. Relations between the two sides under Trump hit rock-bottom as tension surfaced on all fronts, from technology to human rights to security and ideology. The two countries bickered over Taiwan, Hong Kong and even the fight against Covid-19. While both Republicans and Democrats agreed that the US needed a tougher China policy, observers in Beijing said the two sides needed to contain their hostility and avoid direct conflict – which could ruin global peace and prosperity. Semi-official backchannel communication – a useful way for the two sides to talk quietly and frankly – has become difficult this year, partly due to travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic and partly because of the poisonous political environment on both sides. A Chinese government adviser who had previously met Kurt Campbell and Jake Sullivan from the Biden camp said some former Democratic Party officials had visited Beijing several times over the years. "They raised concerns about bilateral relations and proposed advice for improvement," the adviser said, adding that both Beijing and Washington should be clear that the decades-long engagement policy in the US had come to end. Wang Xiangsui said Biden had already assembled a team of more than 2,000 foreign policy and security advisers and experts. Some of them might take on senior positions in the coming administration. Many of them were considered "old China hands" and had a wealth of experience in talking to Beijing, said another Chinese government adviser. But he said they had been quiet since the beginning of the year because of the political sensitivity in the election period. Now with the Biden presidency on the horizon, many hope the two sides can break the deadlock and bring their relationship back to at least a manageable level. Former US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and former deputy secretary of state Antony Blinken are among front-runners for secretary of state and Blinken is also being considered as the national security adviser. Biden picked Ron Klain, one of his long-time advisers, to be White House chief of staff. Beijing, meanwhile, is wary that Trump and hawks still in the White House might use their remaining few months in power to further damage ties between the two countries. In an executive order on Thursday, the Trump administration announced that Americans were banned from investing in Chinese firms deemed controlled by the Chinese military. It adds to pressure to cut off US capital to 31 Chinese companies – including telecom firms Huawei Technologies Co, China Telecom and China Mobile – that Washington says are crucial to the modernisation of the People's Liberation Army. Also on Friday, responding to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remarks that Taiwan "has not been a part of China", Wang from the foreign ministry said China would strike back at US moves that undermined its core interests. "We solemnly tell Pompeo and his ilk that any behaviour that undermines China's core interests and interferes with China's domestic affairs will be met with a resolute counter-attack by China," Wang said. ^ top ^
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Under Xi's leadership, China champions rule of law on journey to modernization (Xinhua)
2020-11-19
The Communist Party of China (CPC) convened its first central conference on work related to overall law-based governance this week. At the event, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law was described as the guideline for advancing China's overall law-based governance. The rule of law is also a key term in a new development blueprint drawn up by the Party leadership for the country's march toward modernization. "The goal of building a country, government and society based on the rule of law shall be basically achieved by 2035," according to the plan. By that time, China is also expected to have basically achieved socialist modernization. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has consistently championed the rule of law throughout his political career. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Xi put forward a series of new ideas, new thinking and new strategies to advance law-based governance in all respects. Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law was first unveiled in full and in detail in October 2014, when the 18th CPC Central Committee held its fourth plenary session, focusing on law-based governance. The goal was set: developing a socialist rule of law system with Chinese characteristics and building a socialist rule of law country. The basic framework for law-based governance was specifically laid out. Xi said fairness and justice are the lifeline of the rule of law, and he demanded fostering the rule of law for the people, by the people. He said power must be exercised in an institutional cage, and administrative bodies should not do things not mandated by law. "Just one wrongly-adjudicated case can ruin the reputation accumulated through the fair trials of 99 cases," Xi said. In the past eight years, more than 50 major miscarriages of justice have been re-addressed. The rule of law has become the basis for all aspects of work. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics is taking shape. The ultimate goal of China's rule of law is to protect the interests of the people. The socialist rule of law system with Chinese characteristics, with the Constitution at its heart, is constantly being improved. By August 2020, China had 279 national laws in force and more than 600 administrative regulations. Major pieces of legislation adopted in recent years include the amendments to the Criminal Law and the Administrative Procedure Law, as well as the Civil Code. Under law-based governance, China has become one of the safest countries in the world, with the lowest homicide rate per 100,000 people. The country's traffic management reform has benefited more than 800 million people, while the people's rate of satisfaction with public security has reached 95.55 percent. To protect the environment, the country stepped up law-enforcement inspections on environmental protection and promoted ecological conservation with public-interest litigations. Public awareness of the rule of law has also been strengthened. Xi has emphasized that only by establishing the public's faith in the legal system can the law function properly. The rule of law has helped safeguard the country's security, territorial integrity and its opening-up initiative. China is making steady progress on implementing the Constitution in all aspects of state governance. It has passed the National Anthem Law, the National Flag Law and the National Emblem Law, as well as the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The rule of law is the most favorable environment for business. Over the past few years, China has enacted the Foreign Investment Law, revised its Patent Law and the Copyright Law, and introduced new measures to enhance the protection of the property rights of enterprises. Based on these efforts, China's business environment has been constantly improving. From improving an open and transparent system of foreign-related laws to upholding the authority of international law and order, China has pledged to unwaveringly stick to the rule of law in its reform and opening-up drive to seek mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. "Advancing reform, development and stability cannot be achieved without the rule of law," Xi said. "The reason why we advance law-based governance in all respects and take measures to unswervingly enforce the rule of law is for the sake of generations to come and long-term development," he stressed. ^ top ^
Maximum Penalties to Skyrocket Under China's New Copyright Law (Caixin)
2020-11-18
China will increase the maximum penalty for copyright infringement by a factor of 10 in an effort to deter intellectual property violations, a major gripe for many companies that conduct business in the world's second-largest economy. The national legislature last week approved an amended copyright law that will raise the highest compensation payment for infringement to 5 million yuan ($762,114) from 500,000 yuan. The new law will take effect on June 1. Shi Hong, the deputy director of the civil law office affiliated with China's top legislative body, said that the current copyright protections are beset by "high costs, low compensation and weak enforcement." The changes will also make China's copyright system more responsive to the "rapid development and adoption of new technologies" and reflect the need to link laws to China's Civil Code and international treaties, Shi said. The move marks the third time the copyright law has been tweaked in its 30-year history. It states that serious copyright violators must pay compensation equivalent to between one and five times the amount gained from using their work without permission, with a minimum penalty of 500,000 yuan and a maximum penalty of 5 million yuan. Under the new law, courts will be able to order violators to give the authorities access to "relevant bank accounts and other materials," and punish those who do not comply. At the copyright holder's request, they will also be able to order the destruction of any "materials, tools or equipment" used for illegally duplicating protected work, and block their entry into "commercial channels." If the party accused of infringement disputes the allegation, other revisions require them to provide evidence proving that they have obtained the permission of the copyright holder before using their work, or that their use is otherwise fair under Chinese law. Additionally, legal organs in charge of copyright protection will have greater powers to investigate alleged violators and seize "relevant premises and property." Copyright holders will also have greater scope to apply for preemptive action to be taken against suspected violators prior to filing a formal lawsuit. Although the current law covers various literary and audiovisual content as well as "other works as stipulated by laws and administrative regulations," the new version has been rephrased to include "other intellectual achievements that conform to the characteristics of a work," leaving leeway for new forms that may emerge in future. It also contains a broader definition of audiovisual works in a bid to encompass popular new online formats like livestreams, online games and short videos. "The establishment of a (new) punitive compensation system will raise the costs of copyright infringement and will certainly have positive social effects," said Zhang Hongbo, the director-general of the China Written Works Copyright Society. "It will act as a strong deterrent on possible infringement and piracy, thereby curbing their occurrence." On Monday, China's Supreme People's Court issued a set of opinions on strengthening copyright protections, calling on the judiciary to "take into account the interests of both disseminators and the general public," and balance the "development of emerging industries with (the need to) safeguard copyright holders' legal rights and interests" as well as "the creation and protection of the people's cultural rights and interests." ^ top ^
Xi stresses sticking to socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics (Xinhua)
2020-11-18
President Xi Jinping has called for sticking to the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, and promoting the modernization of China's governance system and capacity in line with the rule of law. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered the statement in a speech to the central conference on work related to overall law-based governance held in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday. The meeting noted that Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law represents the latest achievement in adapting Marxist theories on the rule of law to the Chinese context, serving as the fundamental guideline for law-based governance in China. Presided over by Li Keqiang, the event was attended by Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Zhao Leji, and Han Zheng. Wang Huning delivered a concluding speech. Noting the major achievements in promoting law-based governance, which was put forward by the CPC Central Committee since the 18th CPC National Congress, Xi set forth the requirements for current and future work. Xi urged upholding Party leadership on law-based governance, saying that Party leadership is the fundamental guarantee for ensuring that governance in China is law-based and calling for promoting law-based governance to guarantee the effective implementation of the Party's line, principles and policies. A people-centered approach must be taken, Xi said, noting that the fundamental goal of promoting law-based governance is to protect the people's rights and interests. People's happy life must be guaranteed by the rule of law, he added. Xi said efforts should be made to ensure that China stays on the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics. He underscored adopting a mindset consistent with the rule of law and taking a law-based approach when handling deep-seated obstacles to economic and social development, as well as providing long-term institutional guarantees for the development of the cause of the Party and the country. He stressed the need to adhere to Constitution-based governance, calling for unswervingly upholding the leadership of the Party, the people's democratic dictatorship and the people's congress system, which are enshrined in the Constitution. Noting the importance of promoting the modernization of China's governance system and capacity along the path of the rule of law, Xi urged efforts to respond to major challenges, withstand major risks, overcome major obstacles, and address major conflicts in accordance with the law. He called for efforts to continue fostering a system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, and actively advance legislation in key areas including national security, scientific and technological innovation, public health, bio-safety and ecological civilization. He said the country should pursue coordinated progress in law-based governance, law-based exercise of state power, and law-based government administration, and promote the integrated development of rule of law for the country, the government and the society. Highlighting work to ensure sound lawmaking, strict law enforcement, impartial administration of justice, and the observance of the law by everyone, Xi said efforts should be made to enable the people to see that justice is served in every judicial case. Xi stressed taking a coordinated approach to promoting the rule of law at home and in matters involving foreign parties, demanding efforts to better safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. A high-quality team of professionals with both integrity and ability should be fostered for legal work, Xi said. He stressed that leading officials at various levels must faithfully implement major decisions and plans made by the CPC Central Committee on law-based governance. Law-based governance should be promoted under the guidance of scientific theories, Xi said. Li Keqiang said Xi's speech serves as a guiding document for the work of law-based governance in the new era. He called for sincere efforts to develop a good grasp of it and act on it. Wang Huning said that it is imperative to study Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, grasp it in a comprehensive, faithful way, and apply it in the daily practice of law-based governance. ^ top ^
China nears nationwide victory in poverty alleviation (Global Times)
2020-11-17
Although the COVID-19 epidemic has increased the difficulties of China's poverty alleviation work, the country is approaching a final victory as three remaining provincial-level regions are having their poverty-alleviation achievements undergo public scrutiny before announcing the result, while at least 19 other provincial regions' former poverty-stricken counties have shaken off the label this year. Among the remaining three, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Northwest China's Gansu Province are likely to announce they have lifted all counties out of poverty after the public scrutiny period ends on Wednesday. Southwest China's Guizhou Province's publicity period will last until Sunday. But China will comprehensively review the poverty alleviation work to make sure it is a solid success and announce the results in the first half of 2021, experts said, noting the country will also set new targets to improve living standards. Poverty alleviation is a macro task, but it would have been impossible to achieve without local governments' and officials' efforts over a period of years, which in all ways altered the lives of poverty-stricken people. The remote Ali Prefecture in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has one of China's most desolate landscapes. In many rural areas of Ali, not even a blade of grass grows. Some tough Tibetans have been herding animals at an altitude of 4,650 meters for centuries, confronting the harsh environment with meager income. They slept in small tents in the sand and the wind, and many never went to school. But life has changed greatly thanks to the poverty alleviation policies. Tsering Tarchin, a young man from an Ali township who graduated from a college in Sichuan Province, went to Ali's Tuduo village last year to serve as an official and help villagers raise their living standards. He told the Global Times that villagers now work at a sand factory and a yak farm. They could also receive 8,000 yuan ($1,221) in annual subsidies for returning grazing land to conservation areas. Their medical fees are mostly reimbursed by the government. Plus, all children go to school for free, as Tibet is the first region in China that provides 15 years of free education, Tarchin said. "Policies here are really favorable (for poverty-stricken households)," Tarchin said. "Our [officials'] daily task is to visit the villagers, explain policies to them, check if the children are going to school, and help them apply for bank loans or other sponsorship." The official-village bond is very close and Tarchin took family photos for the villagers a few months ago. Tarchin is among 20,000 people stationed in rural Tibet. Some 3 million "Tarchins" nationwide made China's poverty alleviation possible, despite concerns that the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as floods and other natural disasters that wreaked havoc in southern provinces this summer, could affect the poverty alleviation cause. When all provincial-level regions declare their poverty-stricken counties meet the national standards, China can proudly announce it has won the tough battle against poverty under the current stage and standard, meaning the country has reached the poverty reduction target set by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule, Chinese experts said. Yu Shaoxiang, an expert on poverty relief legislation at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing, attributed the completion of the poverty alleviation campaign amid the COVID-19 pandemic to the central government's concentrated attention and strong deployment of resources. "It was the whole nation's all-out efforts that achieved the goal," Yu said. China has strong institutional ability to concentrate resources and solve a big task, effectively execute orders, and implement policies quickly and efficiently. The number of people living in poverty dropped from 98.99 million at the end of 2012 to 5.51 million at the end of 2019, and the incidence of poverty dropped from 10.2 percent to 0.6 percent. Regional poverty issues as a whole were basically resolved. However, observers said it's not time to be complacent, and it's necessary to closely watch whether some people fall back into poverty. Therefore, the poverty alleviation projects will stay in place. He Xuefeng, director of the China Rural Governance Research Center at Wuhan University, told the Global Times that more assistance programs will continue to serve tens of millions of people who have just escaped poverty, despite the successes. In the next step, He stressed the importance of ensuring sustainability - meaning that people can still live at a good standard without sponsorship and assistance from the government. "Poverty-alleviation resources should be equally accessible to prevent a small group from living solely on government funding and losing their striving spirit," He said. China's current poverty line is an annual income of 3,700 yuan ($564), which means China needs to work further to achieve the World Bank's $2 per day standard, Yu said, hinting that the battle against poverty is not over. In the past, poverty alleviation was mainly targeted at rural areas, while social insurance was used in urban areas. After 2020, urban and rural poverty alleviation programs are likely to be integrated, according to Yu. But China may not immediately declare a victory in poverty alleviation after all provincial regions' declarations, as previously released information suggests the country will have a comprehensive review and announce the results in the first half of 2021. ^ top ^
Dozens of Cities Issue Smog Warnings as Winter Haze Descends (Caixin)
2020-11-16
A total of 54 cities issued air pollution warnings Sunday, as smog descended across swathes of northern China. Most of the cities – which are in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region or the Fenwei Plain which includes parts of Shaanxi, Shanxi and Henan provinces — have enforced orange alerts, which are the second-most severe warnings on a tiered scale. Seven of the cities, including the province-level municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin, have issued yellow alerts, one notch below orange. The alerts coincide with the beginning of the winter heating season in the country's north, as well as an industrial comeback in the wake of suspended work earlier this year amid the domestic Covid-19 epidemic. Industrial output has also increased year-on-year for enterprises producing crude steel, coke, cement and sheet glass, as well as those processing crude oil. This is despite a plan by the environment ministry that says the cement industry should reduce production in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei from the beginning of November, in a bid to reduce the polluting sector's contribution to seasonal smog. Under a smog action plan, the cities now choked by smog will take localized measures based on their own capacity to reduce pollution. For example, the Hebei province city of Tangshan, home to many heavy industries including a wealth of steel mills, should be able to cut its output of several smog components including particulate matter by as much as 30% in the short term. A plan jointly issued in late October by several national ministries and provincial governments put smog targets in place for cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Fenwei Plain regions, setting daily average air pollution goals and limiting them to a certain number of heavily polluted days this winter. However, Beijing had exceeded its quota before the plan was even released. The current smog event is predicted to end by Wednesday at the latest with the arrival of rainstorms across northern China, followed by a high pressure system rolling into the region from the northwest which will help dispel any remaining airborne contaminants. ^ top ^
Xi stresses applying new development philosophy, fostering new development pattern (Xinhua)
2020-11-14
Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed efforts to apply the new development philosophy and foster a new development pattern to advance high-quality and sustainable economic and social development. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in east China's Jiangsu Province from Thursday to Friday. Xi urged Jiangsu to focus its efforts on striving to be a model of reform and innovation as well as advancing high-quality development, take the lead in promoting the country's establishment of a new development paradigm, and become a frontrunner in realizing socialist modernization. Xi visited places including waterfront along the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal, a key water control project, and cultural heritage site during stops in Nantong and Yangzhou, where he inspected work related to the implementation of the spirit of the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and coordination of regular epidemic control with economic and social development. On Thursday afternoon, Xi visited a riverside district in the city of Nantong, where he inspected local efforts in improving the overall environment along the shoreline of the Yangtze River, as well as the enforcement of fishing ban policies. Xi urged efforts to blaze a new trail of green development that gives priority to ecology, so as to provide powerful support for the high-quality and sustainable development of the Yangtze Economic Belt. After learning that the dirty and messy places in the past have been turned into attractive parks, Xi said a happy life has been achieved through the hard work of all. More prominence should be given to protect urban environment and ensure better quality of economic development and people's lives, Xi said. Xi then went to Nantong Museum, where he watched exhibits introducing Zhang Jian, founder of the museum and a Chinese industrialist and educator in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and learned about how Zhang started businesses, developed education and initiated public welfare undertakings. Hailing Zhang as a model of all Chinese private entrepreneurs, Xi said the museum and Zhang's former residence should be turned into a base for patriotic education, which can enhance the sense of social responsibility of private entrepreneurs and the country's youth and their confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. While visiting an ecological and cultural park in Sanwan area in Yangzhou on Friday, Xi learned about environmental remediation and ecological restoration along the Grand Canal and the development of a demonstration zone of modernized shipping. Building ecological civilization directly concerns the happiness of the people, bears significance to the growth of young people, and meets the consensus and aspiration of the broad masses of the people, he said. While visiting the Jiangdu water control project, Xi stressed coordination of implementation of the country's South-to-North Water Diversion Project and water-saving efforts in northern China. He also stressed guiding the development of cities and industries based on water capacities and making more efforts in water conservation. ^ top ^
Li urges speedy consultations on S. China Sea conduct code (China Daily)
2020-11-13
China calls on all parties involved to speed up consultations on the expected Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in a flexible and pragmatic way, Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday. Li made the remark during the annual China-ASEAN leaders' meeting via video link. He urged all 10 Southeast Asian member countries to overcome the impact of COVID-19 and think in a creative manner when approaching talks on the document, which is designed to help manage the South China Sea situation. By so doing, China and ASEAN countries will demonstrate to the international community that they have the wisdom and capability to properly manage the situation in the South China Sea and safeguard its peace and stability, Li said. Beijing will positively consider convening face-to-face consultations in China as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic allows in order to bring forward the second reading of the code of conduct's draft, according to the premier. Li said the South China Sea is the shared home of countries in the region, the situation there is stable in general and that China and ASEAN countries have worked to actively manage differences and steadily advance consultations on the code. China remains firmly committed and determined to conclude the consultations at an early date, Li said. Thursday's annual meeting took place in a historic year that has seen ASEAN as a whole become China's largest trading partner. In the first three quarters, trade between China and ASEAN reached $481.8 billion, a year-on-year rise of 5 percent, and China's total investment in ASEAN countries increased by 76.6 percent year-on-year, Vice-Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui said on Wednesday. Also, China and ASEAN have been working jointly to fight the novel coronavirus since the pandemic's outbreak, enhancing cooperation and sharing their experience in the fight. Li stressed that the concerted, combined force of China and ASEAN has been a key factor underlying the strong momentum of China-ASEAN cooperation and its important role in ensuring regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. To further catalyze China-ASEAN teamwork, Li made a four-point proposal encompassing public health, trade, digital economy and sustainable development. China will actively consider ASEAN countries' needs for a COVID-19 vaccine and will take practical actions to promote the accessibility and affordability of vaccines, Li said. He called for launching a China-ASEAN public health emergency liaison network at an early date. In terms of promoting regional economic recovery, Li said China welcomes the upcoming signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade agreement, which will upgrade regional trade and bolster investment liberalization and facilitation. The two sides also should exchange their experience in fields such as digital governance and jointly ensure data security and network security, Li said, adding that China expects early results in projects that involve areas like maritime cooperation. The meeting issued two documents. The first was an action plan aimed at implementing in 2021 to 2025 the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, which was signed by the 11 countries in 2003. The second document was an initiative calling for building a China-ASEAN cooperative partnership on digital economy. The meeting also announced that 2021 will be the year of China-ASEAN sustainable development. ^ top ^
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| Beijing |
Beijing 2022 announces new competition schedule (Xinhua)
2020-11-18
The Beijing 2022 organizers released the seventh edition of the competition schedule for the Olympic Winter Games on Tuesday, with curling mixed doubles the first event to start. The lastest version of the schedule was released following approval by the International Olympic Committee, and is still subject to change. The Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games are scheduled to take place from February 4 to 20, 2022. The Games program will include seven sports, 15 disciplines and 109 medal events. Compared with PyeongChang 2018, seven new events have been added to the Beijing 2022 program, namely women's monobob, short track speed skating mixed team relay, ski jumping mixed team, freestyle skiing aerials mixed team, freeski men's big air, freeski women's big air and snowboard cross mixed team. According to the schedule, curling mixed doubles round robin will be the very first event of the Games, beginning on February 2, two days before opening ceremony. High-profile events of ice hockey, curling, figure skating and ice dance will be staged on the opening ceremony day, while the closing ceremony day features finals of men's ice hockey, women's curling, four-man bobsleigh, cross-country skiing women's 30km mass start as well as the figure skating gala exhibition. The events of short track speed skating will have six competition days. Five out of 12 competition sessions are arranged at night for figure skating. With the Big Air Shougang the only snowboarding venue located in the Beijing Zone, with others in the Zhangjiakou Zone, the organizers noted that athletes with simultaneous entries in both Big Air and slopestyle will compete in both zones. ^ top ^
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| Shanghai |
State Council approves "one integrated license" pilot in Shanghai's Pudong (Xinhua)
2020-11-19
The State Council has given the nod to a pilot "one integrated license" in Shanghai's Pudong New Area. The "one integrated license," combining the previously-needed multiple licenses, can significantly reduce the cost of industry access and foster a world-class business environment, the State Council said. The pilot, to last till the end of 2022, aims to accumulate experience for similar practices to be implemented across China, it said. Altogether, 31 sectors in Pudong New Area including e-commerce, convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants and hotels will spearhead the integrated license reform. A total of 25 administrative licensing items under the responsibility of State Council departments will be processed by the authorities in Pudong New Area. ^ top ^
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| Guangdong |
Virtual cultural industries fair opens online (China Daily)
2020-11-16
The 16th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair opened online Monday. Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the expo is entirely based on a virtual exhibition platform for the first time in history. Since 2004, the annual event has become one of the nation's largest and most influential cultural industry fairs. It was supposed to be held in May this year, but due to coronavirus was postponed to be held online this month. However, the innovative channel is facilitating the fair to attract 40 percent more participants, compared to last year. A total of 3,243 companies from 30 countries and regions, such as Japan, France and Brazil, participated in the online feast with more than 21,000 exhibitors. The five-day event will post live stream lectures on Chinese culture, tourism resources, and introduce the nation's latest achievements and products in the sector. Viewers can stroll around the 12 virtual exhibition halls with the support of 5G, virtual reality, big data and artificial intelligence technologies, while a cloud-based signing system will allow them to ink contracts online as well. The event features two new halls - film technology and internet industry - where China's top internet and film companies, including Tencent, Alibaba and Bona Film Group, will display their latest works. ^ top ^
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| Tibet |
Unmanned helicopters fit for high-altitude combat aid China's Tibetan military command at the border with India (Global Times)
2020-11-19
The most cutting-edge Chinese self-produced unmanned helicopters were recently equipped to People's Liberation Army (PLA) Tibet Military Command troops at the border with India. The command had ordered smart weapons and customized equipment - from portable oxygen generators to a multi-purpose dining car - from 22 domestic manufactures, CCTV reported on November 3. Two Unmanned helicopters designed for plateau region, Blowfish A2 and Ranger P2-X, part of the Ziyan UAV Universal Unmanned Helicopter series, are some of the purchased equipment. These two aircraft can perform strategic support, material transport, logistics support, and plateau intelligence reconnaissance and tactical strike missions, Guangdong-based Zhuhai Ziyan UAV Company, the manufacturer of the drones, told the Global Times on Sunday. The long-endurance unmanned helicopter Ranger P2-X is Ziyan's latest frontier land and maritime defense reconnaissance model. It has the advantages of great maneuverability, strong wind resistance, modular design, two-minute fast disassembly and easy deployment. It can carry out long-endurance reconnaissance over the target in quiet state, and is suitable for extreme flight in small areas such as mountain areas. As early as July 2018, the Ziyan series unmanned aerial system has been used for border patrol and surveillance in the plateau with an altitude of more than 3500 meters. During a test of its training mission, Parus, the small reconnaissance unmanned helicopter from Ziyan, successfully took off from an altitude of 4,000 meters and flew to an altitude of 7,000 meters. In 2019, Ziyan had successfully participated in the 'Centre 2019' military exercises held in Russia with the involvement of seven nations. And Blowfish was the only Chinese-made small unmanned helicopter in the exercise. Unmanned helicopters have frequently joined highland operations in recent years. As a small portable piece of equipment, Ziyan UAS is more suitable for the plateau geographical environment, and it is the only product with a self-developed and self-adaptive speed control algorithm system that was only featured in US-based Boeing's product. It can maintain the most effective speed and efficiency in flight to expand its maximum endurance and flight range, according to the company. ^ top ^
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| Xinjiang |
Xinjiang clarifies rumors on mosque demolition, takes questions from foreign media (Global Times)
2020-11-19
It is "completely untrue" to say that "thousands of mosques and other religious sites in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have been destroyed or permanently closed down," senior officials in Xinjiang said at a press conference on Wednesday in answer to questions from foreign media. Xinjiang has never "destroyed" or "forcibly demolished" religious sites. Instead, it has taken a series of measures to protect them. Religious sites are in normal use, Elijan Anayit, spokesperson of the information office of the Xinjiang regional government, said. Elijan made the response to questions raised by Bloomberg which attended the Wednesday press conference via video link. In response to Bloomberg's question on the number of people in Xinjiang's vocational education and training centers every year from 2017 to 2020, Elijan said that the number of trainees at the centers was dynamic. On December 9, 2019, the press conference on the stable development of Xinjiang announced that all the trainees for "national universal language and words, legal knowledge, vocational techniques and de-extremity" have completed their studies, gained stable jobs and are enjoying normal lives. Tokyo Broadcasting System from Japan raised a question on some EU officials' proposals for an "independent investigation" into Xinjiang. Elijan said that Xinjiang is an open place and the region has received more than 1,000 foreign officials from 100 countries and regions. "We welcome friends from all over the world, including the EU officials to visit Xinjiang… we are opposed to any investigation based on the presumption of guilt and against anyone looking at Xinjiang through a biased lens," said the spokesperson. Antara News from Indonesia asked questions on the sudden spike of COVID-19 infections in the city of Kashi. Mutalip Rouz, director of the Xinjiang regional health commission, told the press conference that Xinjiang has taken a series of measures to control the sudden spike. Between October 24 to November 17, a total of 70 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospital, and 286 asymptomatic patients were released from medical observation. In response to a question on whether Muslims in Xinjiang "are allowed" to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, next year, Elijan said that from 1996 to 2019, the Islamic Association of China has organized more than 50,000 Xinjiang Muslims to fly on charter flights arranged by the government to Mecca, as well as provided medical treatment, translation and other services from the government. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Islamic Association of China suspended the 2020 pilgrimage. The Association will decide whether the pilgrimage can go ahead in 2021. "Next year, we will do a good job for the pilgrimage according to the organization of the Islamic Association of China if conditions permit," the spokesperson said. ^ top ^
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| Hongkong |
China refutes "Five Eyes" statement over top legislature's HK decision (Xinhua)
2020-11-20
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Thursday refuted a statement by the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance over China's decision to disqualify certain Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Legislative Council (LegCo) members. In a joint statement, the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK called on the Chinese government to reconsider actions against Hong Kong's legislature and reinstate the disqualified LegCo members. "We deplore and firmly oppose relevant country's finger-pointing over China's Hong Kong affairs, which is a flagrant violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations," spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a daily press briefing, adding that China's solemn position on the relevant issue has been made clear on many occasions. Zhao said the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee's decision on the eligibility of the HKSAR Legislative Council's members in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the Basic Law and the HKSAR national security law is an inherent requirement of upholding and improving the system of "one country, two systems" and a necessary step to maintain the rule of law and constitutional order in the HKSAR. "This is legal, reasonable and unchallengeable." He added that since the implementation of the HKSAR national security law, there has been no more so-called "beautiful sight to behold" in Hong Kong. "Civil servants must uphold their country's constitutional laws and honor the pledge of allegiance to the motherland, which is the basic political ethics in all countries," Zhao said. He said that the HKSAR is an inalienable part of China, and all the Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, will never allow anyone that advocates or supports the idea of Hong Kong independence, refuses to recognize the state's sovereignty and exercise of it over Hong Kong, seeks external interference in Hong Kong affairs, or endangers national security, to manage or govern Hong Kong. "It is only natural that those who love the country and Hong Kong should govern Hong Kong, while those anti-China disruptors who stir up troubles in Hong Kong should be knocked out," Zhao said. He called on relevant countries to face up to the fact that Hong Kong has returned to China, abandon double standards, earnestly respect China's sovereignty, and immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong's affairs and China's other internal affairs in any form. "Any attempt to pressure China and undermine China's sovereignty, security and development interests will not succeed," Zhao said. ^ top ^
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| Macau |
Macao's 2021 policy address focuses on anti-pandemic, economy recovery (Xinhua)
2020-11-17
Chief Executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Ho Iat Seng delivered the policy address for the fiscal year 2021 on Monday afternoon, focusing on anti-pandemic measures and economic recovery. Ho gave his second policy address at the Legislative Assembly, titled "Strengthening the foundation for consolidation, tackling challenges head on." Ho said thanks to the support and guidance of the central government, the support and cooperation of various mainland areas and the joint efforts of all Macao residents, Macao has achieved zero deaths, zero community infections, zero nosocomial infections with low severe cases and high cure rates in the COVID-19 pandemic. Macao is now a safe tourist destination with low risk of epidemic situation, and mainland authorities have resumed the issuance of travel permit for mainland residents as tourists to Macao, the chief executive added. Ho said that the SAR government will have eight main tasks in 2021, including epidemic prevention and control, economic recovery, people's livelihood and welfare, moderately diversified and sustainable economic development, public administration reform, cultural and educational development, safeguarding national security, and deepening of regional cooperation. Ho reiterated that in 2021 the SAR government will stick to the epidemic prevention strategy of "preventing imports and local resurgence," including improving the import and export health and quarantine mechanism, and monitoring the import of cold-chain food to prevent the COVID-19 infection. In terms of economic recovery, the chief executive said China has been forming a new dual circulation development pattern, where domestic and foreign markets can boost each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. For Macao which is in the intersection of dual circulation, this new pattern is not only an opportunity and an advantage, but also a responsibility and a duty, Ho added. The policy address mentioned several measures to promote a moderately diversified economy, such as industry repositioning, bond market and wealth management, industrialization of traditional Chinese medicine, cross-border e-commerce, and industrialization of the cultural and sport sectors. Ho also said Macao will actively follow the blueprints in the country's proposals for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan. For example, the SAR government will work with Guangdong province and Zhuhai city to build Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone. In terms of safeguarding national security, Ho vowed that Macao will constantly improve the related legal system and enforcement mechanism, strengthen law enforcement, promote publicity and education, and enhance residents' awareness of national security. The chief executive said the future of Macao has always been closely linked with the mainland. With the support of the central government and the people of the motherland, and the concerted efforts of Macao residents, the SAR government is confident to face all kinds of challenges, and break new ground for the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics. ^ top ^
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| Taiwan |
Beijing prepares blacklist to target 'diehard Taiwan separatists' (SCMP)
2020-11-17
Beijing is drafting a blacklist of "diehard Taiwan separatists" as a warning to Taipei not to get too close to Washington, according to two mainland official sources specialising in Taiwan affairs. The sources said that although the idea of the list was first floated two years ago, the decision to go ahead with it came after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that Taiwan "has not been a part of China". A Beijing-based source working for a government think tank specialising in Taiwan affairs said the names of the people targeted were not expected to be known publicly until next year. "The announcement of the list is likely to come after the inauguration of the next president of the United States," the source said, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue. He said the targets would be anybody who openly advocated Taiwan independence, pushed aggressively for Taiwan independence or funded separatists generously. The list was first reported by pro-Beijing newspaper Ta Kung Pao. But Beijing only made the decision to go ahead with it in the last few days because "there are many dangerous signs recently". Apart from Pompeo's speech, the Taiwanese navy command acknowledged news reports last week that a contingent of US Marine Raiders were on a month-long mission in Taiwan to train local personnel. However, the US and Taiwan quickly distanced themselves from reports of the cooperation, saying they were not accurate. Beijing would keep the list "very short, targeting at just a handful separatist leaders so as not to affect routine business and personal exchanges across the Taiwan Strait", the think tank source said. Both sources confirmed that the sanctions list would be based on the mainland's Anti-Secession Law, Criminal Law and National Security Law, all of which classify separatist activities as a crime with a possible punishment of life in prison. The Beijing source said the final list was being settled but he understood that among those likely to appear on it were "Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen, key members in her administration pushing for Taiwan-US relationships and key people in Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party". "There will be no statute of limitations on the [offences]," he said. On Monday, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council expressed strong disapproval of the proposed list, saying it was "meant to intimidate people who hold different opinions" and could undermine cross-strait peace and stability. "The Taiwanese will not compromise in the face of these threats and will continue to safeguard our values of freedom and democracy... If the report is true, the list will only backfire," the council said. Wu Junfei, deputy director of Hong Kong's Tianda Institute think tank, said the list was another stern warning to the Taiwanese leadership not to "play with fire" and "try their luck" while the United States transitioned to the next administration. "There have been moves in the US and Taiwan recently – including Pompeo's speech – from people trying to advance ties. But by announcing the list, Beijing is making its stand clearer: it will relentlessly pursue radical pro-independence people and deal with them sternly," Wu said. Lim John Chuan-tiong, a former researcher at Taiwan's Academia Sinica, said the list could complicate links with Taiwan. "Such penalties would certainly scare the average person," Lim said. "Does it mean all those Taiwanese who have any dealings with the independence-leaning ruling party cannot go to the mainland from now on?" ^ top ^
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| Economy |
China to Attack Unfair Competition With New Ministry-Level Task Force (Caixin)
2020-11-20
China will set up a new joint task force backed by 17 central government ministries and departments to combat unfair competition as regulators tighten scrutiny of market dominance built up by tech giants such as Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings. The State Council, China's cabinet, approved the establishment of a new committee led by the State Administration for Market Regulation with participation of ministry-level agencies including the central bank, China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Public Security, according to a statement released Thursday. The new committee will coordinate supervision of unfair competition and lead policy-setting efforts to protect market order, according to the statement. The establishment of the joint task force continued a series of recent regulatory moves targeting market domination led by tech giants, especially in the fintech sector. On Nov. 10, China's top market regulator issued draft rules aiming to prevent and curb anticompetitive practices on internet platforms. The proposed regulations, part of a series of measures the State Administration of Market Regulation plans to unveil to regulate online economic development, aim to stop internet platforms from abusing their dominant position to undermine market competition, the regulator said. Two days later, Zhou Xiaochuan, a former governor of China's central bank, warned in a public speech that internet and tech giants that hold a lot of data and dominate markets are prone to creating monopolies that restrain fair market competition. China's top banking regulator also doubled down on a push to rein in financial technology companies such as Ant Group Co. Ltd., promising to eliminate anticompetitive practices and strengthen risk controls in the industry. Liang Tao, vice chairman of banking and insurance commission, said the country will also strengthen anti-monopoly examinations of the fintech sector. The comments followed the suspension of Ant's would-be record public initial public offering in Shanghai and Hong Kong. China's lawmakers are making major revisions to antitrust law for the first time in 12 years to give it more teeth while reining in the dominance of the country's internet Goliaths. A draft revision of China's Anti-Monopoly Law expands on criteria used to judge a company's control of a market and mentions internet companies for the first time. With the booming online economy, operators of large internet platforms in social networking, e-commerce, travel booking and food delivery have accumulated millions of merchants and hundreds of millions of consumers. Major players such as Alibaba, JD.com, Pinduoduo, Meituan and Tencent have been accused of unfair competitive practices such as colluding on sharing sensitive consumer data, creating alliances to squeeze out smaller rivals and subsidizing services at below cost to eliminate competitors. Meanwhile, concerns are rising as fintech businesses like Ant have built dominant positions in payments and online consumer lending, largely free from the oversight applied to traditional financial companies. ^ top ^
Uniform financial standards to cut risks (China Daily)
2020-11-19
Globally standardized financial risk management has become more important for financial services firms as China accelerates its opening-up efforts, and the country's banking and financial systems look to remain resilient from the COVID-19 pandemic, said the chief executive of a leading global association of risk managers. "I don't believe that there is as much risk of a financial meltdown in the Chinese marketplace as there might be in different parts of the globe," Richard Apostolik, president and chief executive officer of the Global Association of Risk Professionals, told China Daily in an exclusive interview. It will be important for Chinese banking institutions, however, to address credit and liquidity risk issues in the coming months, as their lending has increased quickly to support enterprises, especially smaller businesses, to tackle shocks related to the novel coronavirus pandemic, he said. According to Apostolik, nonperforming loans, rising leverage levels, and the efficiency of financing to small and medium-sized enterprises are the other concerns for financial regulators. A senior Chinese central bank official recently warned that one of the potential risks in the financial system may be the deterioration of banks' asset quality, and measures may be needed to prevent systemic risks and improve the efficiency of financial resource allocation to small and medium-sized enterprises. As global financial markets become more interconnected, there is no singular banking institution that can deal with all of the issues within the local financial sector. Meanwhile, China's financial markets have become more open to international standards. This requires local financial institutions to understand how the rest of the world manages financial risks, said Apostolik. "As China continues to open its economy and its financial services sector, foreign institutions will be excited about the possibility of being able to conduct business in the Chinese marketplace," he said. To attract more foreign companies to operate in the domestic market, the country may need to help institutions better understand how the economic system works, such as its fiscal and monetary policies, as well as the regulatory environment. "A better understanding of this environment will help risk managers to prepare for the challenges," he said, adding there has been growing need from Asia, particularly China, for learning financial risk management that is being used around the world. The Chinese government has been supportive by ensuring people who work in financial services can learn about global standards through education. It is important for people to have skills and knowledge about financial risk sets to compete on a global basis as the market opens, Apostolik said. Beside banking institutions, fintech companies have emerged in China during the past few years, and a number of them are now getting involved in making loans using their own balance sheets. "But it's important that financial regulators understand the effect of their activities on the economy as a whole," the CEO said. ^ top ^
Huawei's Honor Bound for Sell-Off to State-Backed Consortium (Caixin)
2020-11-18
A consortium of over 30 agents and retailers will buy budget smartphone brand Honor from sanctioned Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. for an undisclosed amount in what they described as an attempt to "save Honor's industry chain." The telecommunications equipment giant has signed an agreement to sell all of Honor's business assets to a new company called Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology Co. Ltd. The company was founded in September by the consortium partners and companies affiliated with Huawei's hometown government of Shenzhen, according to the purchasing group's joint statement issued Tuesday. The deal follows the "persistent unavailability of technical elements needed for smartphone business" and "tremendous pressure on (its) consumer businesses," according to Huawei, adding that it will not hold any stake in the new Honor company and will not participate in its operation management and decision-making activities. Honor's current management will continue to run the firm after it is sold, Caixin reported earlier this month, citing sources in some of the companies, reflecting the joint statement that "the change in ownership will not impact Honor's development direction or the stability of its executive and talent teams." The price of the deal has not been disclosed. The divestment plan comes after U.S. sanctions effectively cut off the chip supplies of Huawei, the world's second largest smartphone vendor — behind Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. — including the self-developed Kirin chipsets it makes with a third-party manufacturer and which are vital to its smartphones' competitive edge. Huawei launched Honor in 2013 as a brand targeting the low-end and mid-range smartphone market, while its main Huawei series remained focused on flagship phones meant to compete with high-end rivals like Apple Inc. and Samsung. In 2019, Honor-branded smartphone sales accounted for 26.4% of Huawei's total phone shipments but faced stiff competition from hometown rivals, including Vivo and Oppo, which have taken over some of its market share since the second quarter of last year, according to data from research institute IDC. The U.S. rules, which were ratcheted up over the summer, require chipmakers to obtain a U.S. government license before selling products made using American technology to Huawei. The company is incapable of manufacturing its own chips, and had used contract chipmakers in Taiwan to manufacture its chip designs, but those contractors use American technology. The Honor smartphones use a tweaked version of Huawei's premium chips, a 5G executive at the parent company told Caixin. "There is no way to make profit when there are not enough chips to support the production of both (high-end Huawei and low-end Honor) lines," so it makes sense to sell off the low-end brand, he said. The political risk of Honor being targeted by U.S. sanctions after departure from its founding company is still an uncertainty, according to IDC analyst Will Wong. The sale will bring cash flow to Huawei and allows the possibility of buying Honor back in the future, he said. "It will be easier for them to buy it back from this consortium (which includes their existing Chinese partners), when compared with selling it to (potential competitors like) smartphone vendors or electronics-makers." E-commerce retailer Suning.com Co. Ltd. is listed among the group of buyers, which also includes several state-owned investment firms and government-affiliated entities, like Shenzhen Expressway Co. Ltd. and Shenzhen Energy Group Co. Ltd. ^ top ^
China's economic recovery gathers steam as major indicators improve further (Xinhua)
2020-11-16
China's economy continued its robust recovery in October as effective COVID-19 control and government policies to boost demand and consumption led to broad-based improvements in major economic indicators. Retail sales of consumer goods, the main gauge of China's consumption, climbed 4.3 percent year on year to 3.86 trillion yuan (about 584.5 billion U.S. dollars) last month, quickening from the 3.3-percent gain in September, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. In particular, the catering industry reported a 0.8-percent increase in revenue, the first expansion this year as the hardest-hit sector struggled to recover from the coronavirus impacts, the data showed. Fu Linghui, spokesperson for the NBS, attributed the pick-up in consumer spending to the country's effective epidemic control, increased resident income and pro-consumption policies. The country's value-added industrial output edged up 6.9 percent year on year in October, unchanged from that of September, the NBS said, highlighting the contribution of equipment manufacturing, which logged a 10.8-percent increase year on year. The new energy vehicles (NEV) sector was a bright spot in equipment manufacturing. NEV output surged 94.1 percent year on year in October as unleashed pent-up demand and supportive policies boosted the auto market. Other key economic indicators also showed signs of steady economic revival. Fixed-asset investment went up 1.8 percent year on year in the first 10 months of the year, 1 percentage point higher than the rise in the first nine months. China's surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas stood at 5.3 percent in October, 0.1 percentage points lower than that of September. "The October data mirrored the strong resilience of China's economy and its ability to recover," Fu said. As indicated by the data, imbalances in the economic operation have been adjusted, Fu said, adding that the growth driver is gradually shifting from investment to consumer spending, which will be conducive to developing a more sustained economy. To cushion the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, China has rolled out a raft of measures, including more fiscal spending, tax relief, and cuts in lending rates and banks' reserve requirements to stabilize growth and employment. Looking forward, the country has foundations and conditions to sustain economic recovery, including good prospects of consumption, fast growth in industrial output and increased investment, Fu said. Fu projected China's economic growth to further accelerate in the fourth quarter compared with that of the previous two quarters, as government measures aimed at supporting enterprises in difficulties and financial policies to bolster the broader real economy will continue to be effective. However, Wen Bin, chief analyst at China Minsheng Bank, cautioned that China should still be watchful for the COVID-19 re-emergence as the global pandemic situation remains grave. To further consolidate economic recovery, China needs to step up support for key areas, strengthen weak links, and roll out policies to accelerate domestic demand recovery, Wen said. ^ top ^
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| DPRK |
DPRK leader presides over Politburo meeting on nationwide anti-coronavirus measures (Xinhua)
2020-11-16
Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), presided over a Political Bureau meeting on Sunday to discuss the country's efforts to fight COVID-19, state media reported on Monday morning. The Korean Central News Agency said the 20th enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) "discussed in depth the issue of further tightening the state emergency anti-epidemic system in the face of the ever-worsening worldwide health crisis." At the meeting, Kim analyzed and assessed the serious worldwide spread of COVID-19 and the anti-epidemic situation in his country, and clarified the various tasks on the emergency anti-epidemic front, the report said. "He also stressed the need to keep a high alert, build a tight blocking wall and further intensify the anti-epidemic work, being aware of the important responsibility for the security of the state and the well-being of the people," the report said. The DPRK claims to have zero case of COVID-19 but has stayed on high alert since early this year, when it shut its borders and enforced strict anti-virus measures across the country. ^ top ^
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| Mongolia |
New members of Human Rights Commission assume office (Montsame)
2020-11-18
In accordance with the Law on Human Rights Commission of Mongolia, five candidates chosen through open selection were approved on November 6, 2020, by the State Great Khural – Mongolian Parliament as Commissioners or Members of the Human Rights Commission of Mongolia after a series of discussion of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice and parliament's general debate. The new members of the human Rights Commission of Mongolia, an institution mandated with the promotion and protection of human rights and charged with monitoring over the implementation of the provisions on human rights and freedoms provided in the Constitution of Mongolia, laws and international treaties of Mongolia, are Khunan Jargalsaikhan, Narantuya Ganbat, Enkhbold Batzeveg, Sunjid Dugar and Munkhzul Khurelbaatar. Today, November 18, the new members took an oath of office and received certification and seal of the Members of the Human Rights Commission from Head of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice S.Byambatsogt. As stated in the law, J.Khunan will be serving as Acting Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission in Mongolia until the State Great Khural appoints the next Chief Commissioner. ^ top ^
Prime Minister gives orders to government officials (Montsame)
2020-11-16
At its extended meeting on November 15, the Cabinet backed the State Emergency Commission's proposal to extend the heightened state of readiness for disaster protection or strict-lockdown by 14 days until 6 AM of December 1, approving a resolution. After the meeting, Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh gave the following orders to Cabinet members, state administrative officials, and aimag and capital city governors. To speed up the detection of suspected cases, promptly control and stop the infection spread, and enhance public health protection and risk reduction, To decontaminate infected public spaces, buildings, and surfaces with promptitude and supervise the decontamination efforts, To prevent food supply disruptions, increase food and medication supply for vulnerable communities and dorm students, prevent domestic violence, and improve child protection, To prevent interruption in supply of fuel, power, heat, and water, and oil transport. While giving orders, the Prime Minister said the government must curb the infection spread within the period of heightened state of readiness and instructed citizens to stay at home, wash their hands, and wear masks and keep social distance when outside for essential activities. ^ top ^
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Embassy of Switzerland
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The Press review is a random selection
of political and social related news gathered from various media
and news services located in the PRC, edited or translated by
the Embassy of Switzerland in Beijing and distributed among Swiss
Government Offices. The Embassy does not accept responsibility
for accuracy of quotes or truthfulness of content. Additionally
the contents of the selected news mustn't correspond to the opinion
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