Foreign Policy

• Global climate summit: US sets emissions target for 2030; China offers no new commitments (SCMP)
• Ministry, legislature oppose new US act (China Daily)
• China makes Belt and Road a public road open to all (Xinhua)
• Xi calls for "unprecedented ambition, action" to build community of life (People's Daily)
• China condemns terror blast at Pakistan hotel hosting Chinese envoy; 'West hype won't hold back BRI project' (Global Times)
• Australia faces serious consequences for unreasonable provocation against China over BRI deals: observer (Global Times)
• China, India hold candid exchange on promoting settlement of remaining issues in western section of border: Chinese FM (Global Times)
• China, Russia's ruling parties meet amid rising US pressure (Global Times)
• Xi delivers keynote speech at Boao forum (China Daily)
• 'It will be bloody': Philippines' Duterte threatens to 'stake a claim' over South China Sea energy resources using military ships (SCMP)
• Full Text: China-U.S. Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis (Xinhua)

Domestic Policy

• Xi: Reading cultivates noble spirit (China Daily)
• 'Carbon neutrality', 'emission peak' becoming buzzwords shows China is taking its 2060 climate change goal seriously (China Daily)
• Chinese universities should produce inquisitive thinkers who are totally loyal to the Communist Party, says Xi Jinping (SCMP)
• China sets up new national security research center (Xinhua)

Xinjiang

• British parliament declares Uygurs are suffering 'genocide' in Xinjiang (SCMP)
• Human Rights Watch's call for an enquiry over Xinjiang shows biased Western narrative (Global Times)
• Xinjiang govt denies foreign media reports of 'tearing down mosques,' says it is reconstructing them for safety of Muslims (Global Times)

Hongkong

• Will national security law force exodus of Hong Kong's teachers, students over fears of shrinking academic freedom? (SCMP)
• HK political figures back national security efforts (China Daily)
• Commissioner's office of Chinese foreign ministry says interference with judicial proceedings in Hong Kong tramples upon rule of law, int'l law (Xinhua)

Taiwan

• Shanghai, Guangdong expand vaccination to Taiwan compatriots (Global Times)
• Mainland rejects DPP slander on criminal convictions of Jimmy Lai, others (China Daily)
• 1st reported Taiwan arms sales under Biden admin come early, 'further strain situation' (Global Times)

Economy

• China stock bears push short bets to record high as tech clampdown, policy tightening and Huarong add to CICC's five sell signals (SCMP)
• Shanghai bets on carbon finance (China Daily)
• China's foreign trade sees stable and improved performance in first quarter of 2021 (People's Daily)
• China establishes e-commerce cooperation mechanisms with 22 countries (Xinhua)
• China set to expand digital currency trials (China Daily)

DPRK

• Exclusive: China-N.Korea border remains closed despite signs of possible trade resumption (Global Times)

^ top ^

Global climate summit: US sets emissions target for 2030; China offers no new commitments (SCMP)
2021-04-23
Leaders from around the world called on Thursday for cooperation to reduce greenhouse gases towards an eventual goal of net-zero carbon emissions in a bid to tamp down a rapidly warming planet. Addressing 40 leaders from six continents, summit host US President Joe Biden cited the need to balance costs and responsibilities, while Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored the role of developing countries in sustainable development. And European leaders called for greater use of innovative financing and disruptive green technologies as the global economy recovers. In a bid to spur other major polluters to take more ambitious steps, and signal that the US is keen to reclaim its climate leadership role, Biden pledged that the US would cut greenhouse gas emissions in half from 2005 levels by 2030. "This is a moment of peril but also a moment of extraordinary possibilities," he said in a short speech to world leaders. "We really have no choice. We have to get this done." Biden's commitment compares with a pledge during the Barack Obama administration to cut US greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2025. Biden on Wednesday also urged countries to draw on their political capital to come up with meaningful emission-reduction commitments. But the payoff, he added, will be new jobs, industries and technologies. Washington's hosting of the summit on Earth Day, and Biden's commitment to increase financial aid for developing countries that curb emissions, comes after the US signed back on to the Paris Agreement that former president Donald Trump pulled out of. That lapse allowed China to bolster its status as a global climate leader. Speaking from Beijing, Xi cited the importance of sound environmental policies for development, social equity and justice. "We should protect nature and preserve the environment, like we protect our eyes," he said, adding that developing nations were crucial to global progress. "We must be committed to a people-centred approach." The Chinese president also pledged to "strictly control" coal-fired power plants in China's current five-year plan and "phase it down" over the following five years. These and other steps by China – including efforts to build a green Belt and Road Initiative, China's signature infrastructure programme – "requires extraordinary hard efforts from China", he added. European leaders, meanwhile, offered some of the day's more forceful and detailed commitments as German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on nations to view the post-pandemic economic recovery as an opportunity to invest in renewables and reshape their economies. Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the European Union's agreement on Wednesday to target cutting net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Macron followed with calls – echoed by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen – to recognise the crucial role of green financing in paying for and providing incentives for altered behaviour. "If we don't set a price for carbon, there will be no transition," he said, adding: "Let's move more quickly on our cooperation on innovation and disruptive technologies, which will enable us to rise to the challenge, and drive down our costs." Biden's climate pledge is less ambitious than the EU's target and falls below a coming UK goal for a 78 per cent reduction by 2035 from 1990 levels. Japan and Canada each offered new pledges while major emitters India – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke after Xi – and China did not offer new commitments. Li Shuo, senior adviser for Greenpeace in Beijing, described Xi's latest pledge as "underwhelming". "More ambitious actions are needed," Li said. "The domestic conditions for faster emission reduction [are] becoming mature. It is in China's self interest to announce and implement further plans." But in a press conference after the summit, Chinese officials defended Xi's lack of concrete new pledges saying that climate change should not be used as a "geopolitical tool". Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking during the virtual climate summit. Photo: Kyodo Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking during the virtual climate summit. Photo: Kyodo "We are at a different development stage than the US and Europe," said Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy for climate change, adding that China's progress toward carbon neutrality was faster than US and European plans despite "immense difficulties" in restructuring its economy. Xie said Beijing and Washington have resumed their climate dialogue, adding that a joint working group on climate change may be created soon even as both countries agreed to unveil their respective plans before November. The 40 heads of state taking part in the virtual conference represented countries that account for over 80 per cent of the global economy. The summit's first hours also featured some of the world's poorer nations already forced to weather the harsh realities of climate change. Leaders from countries like Bhutan and the Marshall Islands warned in stark, detailed terms how a warming climate has already begun to upend life with floods, fires and droughts. "Over half of Africa's countries are predicted to experience climate-driven conflict," said Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba. The environment represents one of the few issues on which Beijing and Washington have found common ground as the economic giants face off over defence, technology, trade, culture and a range of other issues. China and the US, the world's two biggest carbon polluters, agreed last week to cooperate to curb climate change with "urgency" after US special envoy for climate John Kerry met his Chinese counterpart Xie in Shanghai. "There are many issues on which we don't all see eye to eye," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, referring to the global community. "This is not one of them." China is the world's largest carbon emitter, followed by the United States, and together the two powers pump out nearly half of the fossil fuel fumes that are warming the planet's atmosphere. European leaders welcomed Washington's return to a climate leadership role. "I'm delighted to see that the United States is back," said Merkel. "There can no doubt about the world needing your contribution if we really want to fulfil our ambitions goals." But the US political flip-flop also has made leaders wary that a new US president in 2024 could reverse policy again. In response, the Biden administration has argued that market forces will soon give energy efficiency and cleaner fuels irreversible momentum. Thursday's speeches were replete with sweeping language and lofty goals. But the real test will come when various nations commit to – or balk at – detailed targets that impinge on vested interests and upend economies. The United Nations is expected to hold talks in Glasgow, Scotland in November where some 200 governments will be asked to spell out what each is willing to do. Beyond speeches, this week's two-day gathering includes sessions on climate financing, innovation, and opportunities for economic growth. While international summits generally include bilateral meetings on the periphery, this summit will not, US officials said speaking on background, because the "technical challenge" posed by a virtual forum. Biden has been in no hurry to sit down with Xi Jinping as he pursues a strategy of conferring with allies and partners similarly frustrated with Beijing in hopes of adopting a more united front on various economic, security and technology issues. Congressional Republicans have expressed concern that cooperation with Beijing on climate issues could weaken the US hand in its negotiations with Beijing involving other concerns, including human rights, chest thumping in the South China Sea and the role of state-owned firms in the economy. Last year, Beijing announced that it aimed to reach peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2060, targets Xi repeated on Thursday. In March, the Communist Party pledged to reduce carbon emissions per unit of economic output by 18 per cent in its next five-year plan, matching its goal over the previous five years. US officials have expressed hope that China – which continues to build and finance coal-fired power plants – can strengthen its environmental targets, but China has pushed back, citing its status as a developing country. ^ top ^

Ministry, legislature oppose new US act (China Daily)
2021-04-23
China's top legislature and Foreign Ministry both voiced strong opposition on Thursday to the United States' Strategic Competition Act of 2021, a bipartisan package designed to confront China's economic and geopolitical power globally. Both bodies urged the US to stop the lawmaking process. The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee overwhelmingly passed the act on Wednesday. It has been sent for consideration by the Senate. The act is seen as the US lawmakers' latest move to intensify their efforts to counter China as the country takes aims at China on multiple fronts, including human rights, economic competition and international influence. "The act is fueled with Cold War thoughts and ideological bias. It has deliberately distorted and smeared China's development strategy as well as domestic and foreign policies. It's a move grossly interfering with China's internal affairs and with sinister intentions," You Wenze, spokesman for the National People's Congress' Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement on Thursday. The act calls for over $1 billion to increase Washington's global influence, which includes providing funds to counter Chinese influence around the world and a program to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative. You said the act goes against promoting world peace and global stability and development, and so is doomed to fail. China has always upheld the international order based on international laws, he added. Certain articles in the act severely violate the one-China policy and send the wrong signal to Taiwan separatists, he said. "The one-China policy is the red-line for China. We strongly oppose any form of official contacts between the US and Taiwan. Also, issues related to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Hong Kong are China's internal affairs, which shouldn't be interfered with by any country," You said. Even though China and US are competing in certain fields, the two sides should compete fairly and stick by the rules, he said, adding that China is committed to nonconflict, nonconfrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation with the US, and the US should stop passage of the act. On Thursday afternoon, the Foreign Ministry said it was strongly dissatisfied with and opposed to the act. Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the act seriously distorted facts, exaggerated the China threat theory and advocated comprehensive strategic competition between the world's two major economies. "Is the purpose of US development to defeat China in competition? This distorted and narrow-minded mentality is not in any way compatible with the mindedness of a world power," Wang said at a daily news briefing, calling on Washington to reconsider the act and stop advancing it. ^ top ^

China makes Belt and Road a public road open to all (Xinhua)
2021-04-23
Belt and Road cooperation pursues development, aims at mutual benefits, and conveys a message of hope, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 20 when addressing the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2021 via video. His remarks chartered course for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and envisioned bright prospects of closer partnerships of Belt and Road countries for health cooperation, connectivity, green development, and openness and inclusiveness. Building a closer partnership for health cooperation protects the lives and health of people in all countries, and to develop the Silk Road of Health amid COVID-19 is in line with the interests of all people around the world. Attendants to the BFA annual conference called on the world to mobilize all resources to make a comprehensive plan for the health of mankind and sustainable development. The Silk Road of Health exactly responds to the common aspiration of all countries, and marks an concrete contribution to opposing vaccine nationalism, conquering the pandemic and building a global community of health for all. Building a closer partnership for connectivity will help open up a bright prospect for integrated development of regional economy. The Asian Economic Outlook and Integration Progress Annual Report 2021 released at the BFA said facing a new situation where the world is going through both huge changes unseen in a century and the global spread of COVID-19, Belt and Road countries have enhanced policy coordination and alignment of rules, so as to make their cooperation more institutional. Belt and Road countries have enhanced "hard connectivity" of infrastructure and "soft connectivity" of rules and standards, and ensured unimpeded channels for trade and investment cooperation to build more new engines for economic and trade cooperation, offering solid support for the economic recovery of the world in the post-pandemic era. Building a closer partnership for green development is conducive to advancing global ecological progress. China always champions the philosophy of open, green and clean cooperation, and seeks no exclusionary blocs. It has made green a defining feature of development, and is working to promote green infrastructure, green investment and green finance, so as to protect the Earth which we all call home. In recent years, China has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN Environment Programme on the construction of a green Belt and Road, established BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) International Green Development Coalition, initiated the Green Supply Chain Platform for Belt and Road cooperation, and launched the Green Investment Principles for the BRI. China's efforts to build a green Belt and Road are injecting important impetus that makes the world more low-carbon and greener. Building a closer partnership for openness and inclusiveness helps with sustainable development of the world. According to a recent UN report, some 114 million jobs have been lost, and about 120 million people have been plunged back into extreme poverty amid COVID-19. What the Belt and Road construction brings to participating countries are anti-pandemic materials in urgent demand, secured jobs and a bright future. China's proposal to build the BRI into a pathway to poverty alleviation and growth marks a positive contribution to the common prosperity of mankind, as well as a sense of responsibility. Xi said at the opening ceremony of the BFA Annual Conference 2018 that the BRI may be China's idea, but its opportunities and outcomes are going to benefit the world. China has no geopolitical calculations, seeks no exclusionary blocs and imposes no business deals on others. This year, he once again stressed that the BRI is a public road open to all, not a private path owned by one single party. All interested countries are welcome aboard to take part in the cooperation and share in its benefits. Going forward, China will continue to work with other parties in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. It will follow the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and champion the philosophy of open, green and clean cooperation, in a bid to make Belt and Road cooperation high-standard, people-centered and sustainable. The firm steps taken to advance the Belt and Road cooperation exactly reflect the participating countries' common aspiration for win-win results, and bear their hope for common prosperity and a bright future. ^ top ^

Xi calls for "unprecedented ambition, action" to build community of life (People's Daily)
2021-04-23
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on the international community to work together to foster a community of life for man and nature with "unprecedented ambition and action." "Faced with unprecedented challenges in global environmental governance, the international community needs to come up with unprecedented ambition and action," he said while addressing the Leaders Summit on Climate via video link from Beijing. COMMUNITY OF LIFE To build a community of life for man and nature, Xi made a six-pronged proposal, including staying committed to harmony between man and nature, green development, systemic governance, a people-centered approach, multilateralism, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. "We should protect nature and preserve the environment like we protect our eyes," the Chinese president said, adding that failure to respect nature or follow its laws will only invite its revenge. Reiterating the idea that "green mountains are gold mountains," Xi said that protecting the environment is protecting productivity, and improving the environment is boosting productivity. "The truth is as simple as that." Aerial photo taken on Feb. 24, 2020 shows the Haizhu wetland and the Canton Tower in the distance in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province.(Photo by Xie Huiqiang/Xinhua) He also stressed that protecting the ecosystem requires more than a simplistic, palliative approach, calling for following the innate laws of the ecosystem and properly balancing all elements and aspects of nature. "We need to look for ways to protect the environment, grow the economy, create jobs and remove poverty all at the same time," he said, adding that the goal is to deliver social equity and justice in the course of green transition. JOIN HANDS, NOT POINT FINGERS In the journey toward global carbon neutrality, Xi called for strengthening partnerships and cooperation, learning from each other, and making common progress. "We must join hands, not point fingers at each other; we must maintain continuity, not reverse course easily; and we must honor commitments, not go back on promises," he said. China and the United States issued a joint statement a few days ago, vowing to cooperate with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis. China welcomes the United States' return to the multilateral climate governance process, and looks forward to working with the international community, including the United States, to jointly advance global environmental governance, Xi said. Calling the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities "the cornerstone of global climate governance," he said that developed countries need to increase climate ambition and action and make concrete efforts to help developing countries strengthen their capacity and resilience against climate change. Xi urged developed countries to support developing countries in financing, technology and capacity building, and refrain from creating green trade barriers. "The historical responsibility, development stage, and coping capacity of developed and developing countries are different, and that's why the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities should always be followed," said Xu Huaqing, director of the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation. CHINA IN ACTION Reiterating China's goal of striving to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, Xi said that the period of China's commitment to move from carbon peak to carbon neutrality is much shorter than what might take many developed countries. "That requires extraordinarily hard efforts from China," Xi said. The targets of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality have been added to China's overall plan for ecological conservation. An action plan toward carbon peaking is being formulated, and China's national carbon market will also start trading. "China will strictly control coal-fired power generation projects, and strictly limit the increase in coal consumption over the 14th Five-Year Plan period and phase it down in the 15th Five-Year Plan period," Xi said. As a participant, contributor and trailblazer in global ecological conservation, China has also been doing its best to help developing countries build capacity against climate change. A number of green action initiatives have been launched, covering wide-ranging efforts in green infrastructure, green energy, green transport and green finance to bring enduring benefits to the people of all Belt and Road partner countries. "I am confident that as long as we unite in our purposes and efforts and work together with solidarity and mutual assistance, we will rise above the global climate and environment challenges and leave a clean and beautiful world to future generations," Xi said. ^ top ^

China condemns terror blast at Pakistan hotel hosting Chinese envoy; 'West hype won't hold back BRI project' (Global Times)
2021-04-23
A deadly car bomb explosion that rocked a hotel, supposedly well-fortified, in Quetta, capital of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province late Wednesday, has become the latest material for some Western media to exploit hours after the tragedy and to hype local resentment against the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in the region, citing the facility was hosting Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong. The explosion took place in the parking area of the only four-star Serena Hotel in the region, which left at least five dead and 12 injured as of press time, according to media reports. Local Pakistan officials, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the Chinese envoy was not present when the tragedy took place, as Nong was leading a delegation on a visit in Quetta. Following the incident, Nong took to Twitter on Thursday to call his trip to the province an "impressive visit," and said he had held "effective communication with all stakeholders with regard to the SEZ [special economic zone] to secure its development and growth." There have been no casualty reports of Chinese nationals from the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a routine press conference on Thursday. Wang said China strongly condemns the terror blast and sent condolences to those affected. China believes the ongoing investigation by Pakistan authorities will find out the truth, bring culprits to justice and ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutes in Pakistan, the spokesperson stressed. The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the blast. Some Western media have painted a different picture, exploiting the tragedy against Chinese BRI projects in the region. For example, The Guardian reported hours after the tragedy that resentment has been fueled by billions of dollars of Chinese money flowing into the region through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - a key part of China's Belt and Road Initiative - which locals say gave them little benefit as most new jobs went to outsiders. Refuting such reports, Chinese observers pointed out that there are no political forces or rebel groups in Pakistan who identify themselves as anti-China and anti-BRI, and the overwhelming majority of Pakistani civil society is friendly to China. It is too early to draw a conclusion on whether the attack in Quetta was targeting the Chinese delegation, observers said. They believe that the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in the region will and must carry on, as local support overwhelmingly prevails and Beijing will not flinch against any attacks. However, the possibility that the local terrorists wanted to create bigger noise by targeting Chinese nationals cannot be ruled out to advance their malicious domestic agenda, observers said. "Especially in the last few years, some countries have been capitalizing on terrorist forces in the region, including the use of black markets and hiring people to launch terrorist attacks to achieve certain political objectives," Wang Shida, deputy director of the South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania Research Institute of Contemporary International Relations Research Academy of China, told the Global Times on Thursday. Wang pointed out that as China's overseas interests continue to expand, more security risks may surface. Many Pakistani netizens sent heartfelt prayers and thoughts to those killed and wounded from the incident, while stressing the incident will not weigh on development toward prosperity and the "PakChina friendship." Local people have also expressed their confidence in the BRI project despite the unexpected explosion in the province, home to the newly expanded Gwadar deepwater port that is key to the multi-billion investment in the BRI flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the region. Fazal Kareem, a shopkeeper in Quetta, told the Global Times on Thursday that "We are very confident that these terrorists cannot gain from their bad motives and CPEC will grow and move forward with more strength and resilience of people." Kareem added that as a friend to Pakistan, China has been trying hard to build the Gwadar port, which will ultimately change the economic situation of the locals for the better, as they will be the first to benefit from the development. ^ top ^

Australia faces serious consequences for unreasonable provocation against China over BRI deals: observer (Global Times)
2021-04-22
Australia has essentially fired a major shot in what could lead up to a potential trade conflict with China and could face serious consequences for its "unreasonable provocation" against China, Chinese experts said on Wednesday after Canberra moved to use what has been viewed as an anti-China law to revoke agreements signed between Victoria state and China on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). By tearing up the agreements, Australia's federal government is not only going over its head to provoke China but also stepping over its state jurisdiction for its own political interests which could be a serious blow to both federal and local economies, observers said. Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marise Payne said that a memorandum of understanding and framework agreement the state of Victoria signed with China in relation to the BRI had been cancelled under the new Commonwealth veto laws, claiming that "the arrangement is inconsistent with Australia's foreign policy or hurts its foreign relations." It was the first time the Australian federal government used the new veto law, which allows it to cancel agreements states and territories strike with other countries, according to media reports. The law has been widely regarded as a move primarily targeting China. Responding to the Australian move, a spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in Australia expressed on Wednesday a "resolute opposition" to the Australian move, calling it another "unreasonable and provocative" action taken by Australia against China. "It further shows that the Australian government has no sincerity in improving China-Australia relations. It is bound to bring further damage to bilateral relations and will only end up hurting itself," the spokesperson said. "The move is not only unreasonable to China but also to Victoria. It is also a deliberate provocation that goes beyond Australia's strength and could result in serious consequences," an observer told the Global Times on Wednesday. While bilateral relations have already plunged to a near frozen state due to a series of hostile actions from Australia against China, including banning Chinese firm Huawei and interfering into China's internal affairs regarding Xinjiang and Hong Kong, the latest move marks a significant escalation that could push icy bilateral relations into an abyss, experts noted. "By using this domestic law, Australia basically fired the first major shot against China in trade and investment," Chen Hong, a professor and director of the Australian Studies Center at the East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Chen said that despite previous moves by Australia against China, Beijing has not taken "official response" in terms of trade and investment. However, the latest move appears to be a calculated and deliberate step taken by Australia against China and could prompt a response from Beijing. "China will surely respond accordingly," he said. Australian officials have repeatedly claimed that they have been reaching out to Chinese officials to resolve issues but have not received any response from the Chinese side. Chinese officials criticized Australia for its anti-China policies and urged Canberra to take concrete actions to rectify its mistakes. "Australian officials are fully aware of the consequences of the move, but they went ahead with it… that clearly shows Australia's intention to further escalate tensions with China rather than deescalate," Chen said. That could inflict damage on not only Victoria's local economy but also bilateral trade between China and Australia, experts said. "To tear up the BRI cooperation agreement from the federal perspective is a gross intervention in the development policy of the state which will inevitably have a negative impact on the economic development of Victoria in the future," Song Wei, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Wednesday adding that "it would also worsen the China-Australia trade relationship." Joining the BRI has brought considerable economic benefits to Victoria and created a large number of employment opportunities for the region, officials have said. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews also defended the agreement as offering "more jobs and more trade and investment for Victorians." Some Australian businesses, including winemakers and timber firms, have already reported losses in trade with China due to tense diplomatic relations. Last month, China imposed up to 218 percent anti-dumping duties on Australian wines for five years. China also suspended imports of timber and beef from Australia, citing violations of Chinese regulations. Chinese officials stressed that those measures were taken in accordance with its domestic law and regulations to protect Chinese consumers. "China has not officially responded to Australia's actions against China in terms of trade and investment," Chen said. However, Australia's intention to pick up a trade conflict with China is clear which warrants a response from China, according to Chen. ^ top ^

China, India hold candid exchange on promoting settlement of remaining issues in western section of border: Chinese FM (Global Times)
2021-04-22
China and India recently had candid and in-depth exchanges of views on promoting the settlement of the remaining issues in the western section of the border on the basis of realizing disengagement in the Galwan Valley and Pangong Lake, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. We hope that India will work with China to meet each other halfway, bear in mind the larger picture of the long-term development of China-India relations, place the border issue at an appropriate place in bilateral relations and bring bilateral relations back to the track of sound and steady development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at Wednesday's media briefing. Wang said that China and India are maintaining close communication through diplomatic and military channels. Wang made the remarks after Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri's recent comments on the China-India border issue. Misri said in a recent dialogue with Chinese scholars that there was a tendency in some quarters to sweep the situation at the border under the carpet and characterize it as just "a minor issue and a matter of perspective," and called the tendency "running away from the problem," thehindu.com reported. Wang said that China hopes India will abide by the relevant agreements between the two countries, so as to safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas through concrete actions. ^ top ^

China, Russia's ruling parties meet amid rising US pressure (Global Times)
2021-04-21
The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the United Russia party, the ruling political party of Russia, held their ninth meeting of dialogue via video links on Tuesday to communicate and exchange opinions on inter-party cooperation amid the COVID-19 pandemic and rising pressure from the US. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday sent congratulatory letters to the ninth meeting of the dialogue mechanism between the ruling parties of China and Russia, held via video link. The attendees included Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Boris Gryzlov, head of the Supreme Council of the United Russia party, as well as senior officials and representatives from both sides in the fields of diplomacy, publicity, law enforcement and local governments in bordering regions. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, and the 20th anniversary of the founding of the United Russia Party, as well as the 20th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the CPC and the United Russia party. After the meeting, the two ruling parties reached consensus that they will attend the crucial anniversary celebrations of each other this year, and will firmly oppose the behavior and attempts of "some countries," which use the pretexts of "democracy and human rights" to interfere in the internal affairs of other sovereign countries, to conduct unilateral sanctions, to promote bullying and hegemony, and to create chaos and unrest. Xi said in the letter that the long-term institutionalized exchanges between the two parties have consolidated political and strategic mutual trust and promoted mutually beneficial cooperation in all dimensions between the two countries. The combined forces of changes and a pandemic, both unseen in a century, have brought the world into a phase of fluidity and transformation, he said. Xi called on China and Russia, as major powers of global influence, to deepen comprehensive strategic coordination in the new era, and to play an underpinning role in safeguarding international fairness and justice, maintaining world peace and stability, and promoting common development and prosperity. In his letter, Putin noted that dialogue between the two parties has always been an important component of the two countries' comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership, and despite the impact of the pandemic, the two parties have maintained comprehensive exchanges from the central to local levels. Putin said the two sides have engaged in in-depth discussions on major issues of bilateral cooperation, and have coordinated to form numerous socio-political initiatives on party building and legislative work that meet the needs. Song said the ruling parties of the two countries should mutually support the core interests of each other, to actively show the political consensus of the two parties, and strike back at the attempt of "some countries" who are trying to create trouble in China, Russia and their neighboring regions. Gryzlov criticized the US in his speech, saying that US leaders are, in fact, pursuing unilateralism and have increased sanctions on China and Russia when the US found it can't bully China and Russia into submission. US pressure can only make Russia and China, as well as the two ruling parties, more powerful. Gryzlov also praised Chinese senior diplomats' confidence and firmness at the China-US "2+2" dialogue in Anchorage, Alaska last month. He said Russia and China are able to directly influence the international situation while the US, the UK and France don't always hold a constructive stance. Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui and Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov also spoke on the achievements of China-Russia cooperation in various fields via video link. ^ top ^

Xi delivers keynote speech at Boao forum (China Daily)
2021-04-20
President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 via video link on Tuesday and delivered the keynote speech. Xi extended a warm welcome via video to all the guests participating, both in person and online, in the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 on Tuesday morning. He said that 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA). The forum has borne witness to the extraordinary journey of China, of Asia and of the world, and has exerted a significant influence in boosting development in Asia and beyond, Xi said in a keynote speech delivered via video at the opening ceremony of the BFA Annual Conference 2021. China achieves progress, development in tandem with rest of Asia, world China has achieved progress and development in tandem with the rest of Asia and the world, Xi said. As an important member of the Asian family, China has kept deepening reform and opening-up while promoting regional cooperation, Xi said. Significance of BFA annual conference theme Xi underscored the significance of the theme of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021, which he said is convened against "a very special background." The theme -- A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation -- is most opportune and relevant under the current circumstances, Xi said. We live in an age rife with challenges, full of hope The combined forces of changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century have brought the world into a phase of fluidity and transformation, said Xi. Instability and uncertainty are clearly on the rise, Xi said, adding that while we live in an age rife with challenges, it is also an age full of hope. Making responsible, wise choices for humanity's future Xi called on the world to make responsible and wise choices when trying to answer two important questions regarding the future of humanity. When answering the questions of where humanity should go from here and what kind of future to create for future generations, it is crucial that we bear in mind the shared interests of mankind, Xi said. No fundamental change in trend toward multi-polar world Xi stressed that there is no fundamental change in the trend toward a multi-polar world. Economic globalization is showing renewed resilience, and the call for upholding multilateralism and enhancing communication and coordination has grown stronger, noted Xi. Upholding true multilateralism Xi stressed following the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and upholding true multilateralism. Justice, not hegemony needed in the world Xi said that justice is needed in today's world, not hegemony. "World affairs should be handled through extensive consultation, and the future of the world should be decided by all countries working together," Xi said. "We must not let the rules set by one or a few countries be imposed on others, or allow unilateralism pursued by certain countries to set the pace for the whole world," Xi stressed. Big countries should behave in a manner befitting their status and with a greater sense of responsibility, he added. Building open world economy Xi called for building an open world economy. Openness is essential for development and progress, and holds the key to post-COVID economic recovery, Xi said. "We need to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, deepen regional economic integration, and enhance supply, industrial, data and human resources chains," Xi said. Turning fruits of sci-tech innovation into benefits for all Xi called for turning the fruits of scientific and technological innovation into greater benefits for people in all countries. He said efforts must be made to boost the digital economy, and step up exchanges and cooperation in areas including artificial intelligence, biomedicine and modern energy. Decoupling hurts others' interests without benefiting oneself Xi said that in the age of economic globalization, attempts to "erect walls" or "decouple" run counter to the law of economics and market principles, and would hurt others' interests without benefiting oneself. WHO's key role must be given full play Xi said that the key role of the World Health Organization (WHO) must be given full play in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. "We must put people and their lives above anything else, scale up information sharing and collective efforts, and enhance public health and medical cooperation," he said. Stronger int'l vaccine cooperation Xi called for efforts to bolster international cooperation on the research and development, production and distribution of vaccines in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. He said that efforts should be made to ensure that everyone in the world can access and afford the vaccines they need. Int'l cooperation on climate change Xi stressed the importance of advancing international cooperation on climate change and doing more to implement the Paris Agreement. "The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities must be upheld, and concerns of developing countries on capital, technology and capacity building must be addressed," Xi said. Diversity is what defines our world Xi said that diversity is what defines our world and makes human civilization fascinating. Opposing new 'Cold War,' ideological confrontation Xi stressed opposing a new "Cold War" and ideological confrontation in whatever forms. "The COVID-19 pandemic has made it all the more clear to people around the world that we must reject the cold-war and zero-sum mentality and oppose a new 'Cold War' and ideological confrontation in whatever forms," Xi said. Equality, mutual respect and trust in state-to-state relations The principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual trust must be put front and center in state-to-state relations, Xi said. "Bossing others around or meddling in others' internal affairs would not get one any support," Xi said. "We must advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are common values of humanity, and encourage exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations to promote the progress of human civilization," Xi said. China to host 2nd Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations Xi said China will host the second Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations once the pandemic gets under control. Xi said the hosting of the conference will be part of China's active efforts to promote inter-civilization dialogue in Asia and beyond. China to expand health cooperation Xi said China will expand cooperation with various parties in infectious disease control, public health, traditional medicine and other areas. China to promote "hard," "soft" connectivity with others Xi said that China will work with all sides to promote "hard connectivity" of infrastructure and "soft connectivity" of rules and standards in an effort to build a closer partnership for connectivity. Xi stressed high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Making green a defining feature of Belt and Road cooperation Xi called for efforts to strengthen cooperation on green infrastructure, green energy and green finance. Xi also called for improving the BRI International Green Development Coalition, the Green Investment Principles for the Belt and Road Development and other multilateral cooperation platforms "to make green a defining feature of Belt and Road cooperation." Building Belt and Road into pathway to poverty alleviation, growth Xi said that China will work with all willing participants to build the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into a pathway to poverty alleviation and growth. By 2030, Belt and Road projects could help lift 7.6 million people from extreme poverty and 32 million people from moderate poverty across the world, Xi said, citing a World Bank report. "We will act in the spirit of openness and inclusiveness as we work with all willing participants to build the BRI into a pathway to poverty alleviation and growth, which will contribute positively to the common prosperity of humankind," he said. BRI a public road open to all, not private path Xi said the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a public road open to all, not a private path owned by one single party. "All interested countries are welcome aboard to take part in the cooperation and share in its benefits," he said. China will never seek hegemony, expansion, sphere of influence China will never seek hegemony, expansion, or a sphere of influence no matter how strong it may grow, Xi said. China will promote new type of international relations China will develop friendship and cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and promote a new type of international relations, Xi said. CPC leads Chinese nation in making notable contribution to human civilization, progress Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese nation has made a notable contribution to human civilization and progress, Xi said. Noting that the year 2021 marks the centenary of the CPC, Xi said that over the last century, the CPC has striven forward against all odds in a relentless pursuit of happiness for the Chinese people, rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and the common good for the world. As a result, the Chinese nation has achieved a great transformation from standing up to growing rich, and to becoming stronger, and has thus made a notable contribution to human civilization and progress, according to Xi. All are welcome to share in opportunities of Chinese market Xi said that all are welcome to share in the vast opportunities of the Chinese market. China will take an active part in multilateral cooperation on trade and investment, fully implement the Foreign Investment Law and its supporting rules and regulations, and cut further the negative list on foreign investment, said Xi. Also, China will continue to develop the Hainan Free Trade Port and develop new systems for a higher-standard open economy, Xi added. China committed to making vaccines a global public good Xi said China will honor its commitment of making vaccines a global public good. China will continue anti-COVID cooperation with the World Health Organization and other countries and do more to help developing countries defeat the virus, Xi said. ^ top ^

'It will be bloody': Philippines' Duterte threatens to 'stake a claim' over South China Sea energy resources using military ships (SCMP)
2021-04-20
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he is prepared to send military ships to "stake a claim" over oil and mineral resources in the South China Sea – while noting that challenging Beijing in the disputed waters will only lead to violence. "If we go there to assert our jurisdiction, it will be bloody," Duterte said in a televised briefing late on Monday, his first remarks after hundreds of Chinese vessels were spotted at a disputed reef in March. "I'm not so much interested now in fishing. I don't think there's enough fish to quarrel about," he said, adding that in future disputes over marine resources he would send "five coastguard ships, and they can chase … They can play with each other, and see who's faster". "But when we start to mine, when we start to get whatever it is in the bowels of the China Sea, our oil, by that time I will send my grey ships there to stake a claim," he said, referring to Philippine naval ships. "If they start drilling oil there, I will tell China, is that part of our agreement? If that is not part of our agreement, I will also drill oil there," he said. "If they get the oil that would be time that we should act on it." Since coming to power in 2016, Duterte has sought to build an alliance with China and has been reluctant to confront its leadership, having been promised billions of dollars of loans and investments, much of which have yet to materialise – frustrating nationalists. He has repeatedly said the Philippines was powerless to stop China, and that challenging its activities could risk a war his country would lose. The firebrand leader said there was no way for the Philippines to enforce "without any bloodshed" a landmark 2016 arbitral ruling that clarified the Philippines sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone. The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Philippines has filed several diplomatic protests against China's actions in the South China Sea, with the latest accusing its giant neighbour of undertaking illegal fishing and massing more than 240 boats within its territorial waters. ^ top ^

Full Text: China-U.S. Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis (Xinhua)
2021-04-19
China and the United States have issued a joint statement addressing the climate crisis after talks between China Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry from Thursday to Friday in Shanghai. The following is the full text of the statement: 1. China and the United States are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis, which must be addressed with the seriousness and urgency that it demands. This includes both enhancing their respective actions and cooperating in multilateral processes, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. Both countries recall their historic contribution to the development, adoption, signature, and entry into force of the Paris Agreement through their leadership and collaboration. 2. Moving forward, China and the United States are firmly committed to working together and with other Parties to strengthen implementation of the Paris Agreement. The two sides recall the Agreement's aim in accordance with Article 2 to hold the global average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees C. In that regard, they are committed to pursuing such efforts, including by taking enhanced climate actions that raise ambition in the 2020s in the context of the Paris Agreement with the aim of keeping the above temperature limit within reach and cooperating to identify and address related challenges and opportunities. 3. Both countries look forward to the US-hosted Leaders Summit on Climate on April 22/23. They share the Summit's goal of raising global climate ambition on mitigation, adaptation, and support on the road to COP 26 in Glasgow. 4. China and the United States will take other actions in the short term to further contribute to addressing the climate crisis: a. Both countries intend to develop by COP 26 in Glasgow their respective long-term strategies aimed at carbon neutrality/net zero GHG emissions. b. Both countries intend to take appropriate actions to maximize international investment and finance in support of the transition from carbon-intensive fossil fuel based energy to green, low-carbon and renewable energy in developing countries. c. They will each implement the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbon production and consumption reflected in the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. 5. China and the United States will continue to discuss, both on the road to COP 26 and beyond, concrete actions in the 2020s to reduce emissions aimed at keeping the Paris Agreement-aligned temperature limit within reach, including: a. Policies, measures, and technologies to decarbonize industry and power, including through circular economy, energy storage and grid reliability, CCUS, and green hydrogen; b. Increased deployment of renewable energy; c. Green and climate resilient agriculture; d. Energy efficient buildings; e. Green, low-carbon transportation; f. Cooperation on addressing emissions of methane and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases; g. Cooperation on addressing emissions from international civil aviation and maritime activities; and h. Other near-term policies and measures, including with respect to reducing emissions from coal, oil, and gas. 6. The two sides will cooperate to promote a successful COP 26 in Glasgow, aiming to complete the implementation arrangements for the Paris Agreement (e.g., under Article 6 and Article 13) and to significantly advance global climate ambition on mitigation, adaptation, and support. They will further cooperate to promote a successful COP 15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, noting the importance of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, including its relevance to climate mitigation and adaptation. ^ top ^

Xi: Reading cultivates noble spirit (China Daily)
2021-04-23
It is through books that Xi learned the importance of being loyal to one's country. "When I was a boy, about five or six years old, my mother took me to buy books. At a bookstore, she bought a picture-story book series titled, The Legend of Yue Fei. One of the volumes illustrates Yue Fei's mother tattooing four characters meaning 'serve the country with the utmost loyalty' across his back. I said that must hurt so much! Mother replied, yes it did hurt, but Yue Fei kept that in his heart. Since then, the four characters have been embedded in my heart, and it has become my life-time pursuit," Xi said. In terms of literary and art creation, Xi Jinping emphasized a people-centered philosophy. He said the fundamental purpose of literary and art works is to serve the people. He cited the story of Liu Qing in explaining it. "In 1982, before I went to work in Zhengding county, Hebei province, among those who came to see me off was a scriptwriter named Wang Yuanjian. He told me that after I went to the countryside, I should mingle with the masses, just like Liu Qing did," Xi said. Liu Qing was a writer who served as deputy Party chief of Chang'an county in Northwest China's Shaanxi province during the early 1950s. To better learn about the life of farmers, he quit his position as an official and settled in a village named Huangfu and stayed there for 14 years. During that time he was devoted to creating a novel titled Chuang Ye Shi, or The Story of Entrepreneurship, which depicts the socialist transformation of agriculture in rural China. "Because Liu Qing had a deep understanding of the lives of local farmers, he created vivid characters in his book. He was so familiar with the life of farmers that once a new government policy was rolled out, he could immediately figure out whether the farmers would welcome or oppose the new policy," Xi said. Not only Chinese literature fascinates Xi, he also is a fan of foreign literature. During an interview with media outlets from BRICS countries in March 2013, Xi said, "When I was young, I read a lot of Russian literature. The books by Russian writers such as Pushkin, Lermontov, Turgenev, Dostoyevsky, Nekrasov, Tolstoy, Chekhov, and Sholokhov had a huge influence on me." There is another anecdote about Xi's passion for reading foreign literature. When Xi worked and lived in Liangjiahe village in northern Shaanxi province from late 1960s to 1970s, he once walked 15 kilometers to borrow a copy of Faust. And later, the owner of the book walked 15 km to take back the book. During a visit to Washington in 2015, Xi also shared his enthusiasm for American literature. Xi said, "As a young man, I read The Federalist Papers and Thomas Paine's Common Sense. I also like the stories and thoughts of Washington, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. I read Thoreau, Whitman, Mark Twain, and Jack London. In The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway, the depiction of storms, huge waves and a small boat, an old man and a shark left deep impressions on me." ^ top ^

'Carbon neutrality', 'emission peak' becoming buzzwords shows China is taking its 2060 climate change goal seriously (China Daily)
2021-04-20
The whole Chinese state system has been mobilised towards self-imposed milestones in reducing carbon emissions, with "carbon neutrality" and "emission peak" becoming catchphrases, defying doubts that its pledge is a trick to win short-term goodwill from the Biden administration. President Xi Jinping told a meeting earlier this month that China's efforts to achieve carbon neutrality would bring a "far-reaching and deep systemic social and economic transformation" and it matters for the "external development of the Chinese nation". Beijing's attitude towards climate change has gone through big changes over the past years. About a decade ago, the mainstream view was that China must not accept any caps on its carbon emissions. Any pleas for China to restrict carbon emissions were seen as a conspiracy by developed countries to slow its development, and Beijing cited concepts such as "emission per person" to justify its emissions. This contributed to the collapse of Copenhagen climate change talks in 2009 – although Beijing denied that. Since Xi took power, he has been trying to give considerable weighting to the environment and climate in the country's development. It was against this background that China has started to take part in, and even try to lead, global efforts in fighting climate change. With Washington also keen on climate change, it can offer Beijing a potential diplomacy bonus, but if Washington disregards climate change as nonsense – just like the Trump administration did – Beijing's commitment to cutting carbon emissions will not be swayed. Xi's 2060 pledge has sent a clear message to the country's massive bureaucratic apparatus and whipped them into action, and an unannounced competition among Chinese provinces to cut carbon emission has already started. Shanghai is aiming to lead the country to peak carbon emissions by 2025, five years ahead of the national goal, while Inner Mongolia has kicked out all bitcoin mining sites to control carbon emissions. It is not strange for some people to doubt whether China, which has been relying on burning coal to empower its growth for decades, can really cut its coal obsession At the moment, it is not strange for some people to doubt whether China, which has been relying on burning coal to empower its growth for decades, can really cut its coal obsession, and there are technical questions such as how to calculate China's carbon emissions. The Chinese government, which has abundant experience in making plans for big-ticket projects, is also still a green hand in factoring carbon into production and investment. But the political will from Beijing to reach the destination of carbon neutrality is beyond doubt, and that is why everyone is getting serious about carbon in China. ^ top ^

Chinese universities should produce inquisitive thinkers who are totally loyal to the Communist Party, says Xi Jinping (SCMP)
2021-04-20
China's universities should aim to train a new generation loyal to the socialist cause and with an inquisitive and innovative mindset, President Xi Jinping said on Monday. "This year will mark the centenary of the Communist Party … the party and the state's need for higher education, for knowledge and science and great talent, is greater than at any time before," he said during a trip to Tsinghua University in Beijing, according to state news agency Xinhua. He added that the aim of China's education system is to train the "builders and successors" of socialism. Xi, an alumni of the university, made the trip as the Communist Party ramps up its preparations for the celebration of the party's centenary on July 1. The anniversary is Beijing's most important political event this year and Xi has promised a "grand celebration" to mark the occasion. Officials across the country have been told to ensure social stability for the event. A campaign to study the party's history is being rolled out among party members as well as the general public. Films and television dramas featuring the party's history will be aired. During Monday's trip, Xi praised Tsinghua for its tradition of training students who were "both red and professional", a phrase coined during the Mao Zedong era. The university will celebrate its 110th anniversary next Sunday. "[We] must continuously improve the quality of training, [we] must think of what the country thinks of, worry about what the country worries about, and meet the needs of the country," he said. He added that Chinese universities should explore the frontiers of technology, improve their ability to innovate and encourage an "inquisitive mindset" that challenges existing scientific theories. But the president added that while Chinese universities strive for excellence, they should also keep their doors open and cooperate with their foreign counterparts. Beijing has made innovation a top priority in the new five-year plan unveiled last month. The plan identified seven sectors given priority in research funding, including artificial intelligence, quantum information, integrated circuits, brain sciences, genetics and biotechnology, clinical medicine and health care, and deep earth, sea, space and polar exploration. The policy blueprint document stressed that innovation and technological self-sufficiency were at the core of China's strategy to "develop new advantages" in the face of increased hostility and decoupling pressures from major Western countries. During the trip, Xi visited a laboratory in Tsinghua that focused on micro/nano photonic devices among other areas. Xi spent four years in his twenties studying chemistry at Tsinghua University, after six years of hard labour in rural Shanxi in northwest China during the Cultural Revolution. He obtained a doctorate from Tsinghua in 2002, when he was the governor of Fujian province. Tsinghua later became an important power base for Xi from which he has picked talent to fill key positions. Chen Xi, a former classmate of the president who has spent more than two decades working in the university, is now head of the Central Organisation Department of the Communist Party, overseeing its apparatchik. Chen Jining, mayor of Beijing, was the president of the university before he entered politics in 2015. ^ top ^

China sets up new national security research center (Xinhua)
2021-04-19
A research center dedicated to the systematic study of the holistic approach to national security was inaugurated Wednesday in Beijing. The center's principal tasks are supplementing the system of relevant theories, promoting and explaining the approach in the country and abroad, and providing suggestions to policymakers. As the first outcome of the center's studies, a set of books introducing the approach will be published Thursday. ^ top ^

British parliament declares Uygurs are suffering 'genocide' in Xinjiang (SCMP)
2021-04-23
The British parliament has passed a non-binding motion declaring that Uygurs and other ethnic minorities in China's Xinjiang region "are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide", even as the government made clear it did not back the resolution. The motion called on the British government "fulfil its obligations" under relevant United Nations conventions "to bring it to an end" and follows similar votes taken in the parliaments of the Netherlands and Canada. While it ratchets up pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the motion does not represent a change in the government's definition of the situation. Minister for Asia Nigel Adams told parliament that declaring genocide is "a matter for the courts", such as the International Criminal Court or the International Court of Justice. "A finding of genocide requires proof that relevant acts were carried out with the intent to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. Proving such intent to the required legal standard can be incredibly difficult to achieve in practice," Adams said. "For these reasons, we do not believe it's right for the government to make a determination in this or any other case where genocide or crimes against humanity are alleged," he added. Adams reiterated the Johnson government's "grave concern of the serious and widespread human rights violations occurring in the region", calling for China to admit independent United Nations inspectors into Xinjiang. Last year the US under the Trump administration became the first government to declare the situation in Xinjiang "genocide" – a stance backed by the new Biden administration after it assumed control in January. Motions have been introduced in a host of legislative chambers around the world hoping to force their respective governments to do the same, including Belgium, Japan and Italy. In the instances of Canada and the Netherlands, where it was put to a vote, the sitting governments either abstained or voted against it. It is alleged that one million Turkic-speaking Muslim Uygurs have been interned in re-education centres and subjected to indoctrination, torture and forced labour – charges denied by Beijing. The Chinese Embassy in London did not respond to a request for comment. A group of Uygur activists gathered outside parliament on Thursday urging members to back the motion, which could lead to a further ratcheting up in Sino-British tensions. In March, the situation spiralled when Britain joined Canada, the European Union and the United States' sanctions of four individuals and an organisation for their involvement in alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang. China responded with sanctions on nine individuals and four entities in Britain, accusing them of "maliciously spread lies and disinformation" about Beijing's actions in Xinjiang. Among those sanctioned were seven British MPs, one of whom – Nusrat Ghani of the Conservative Party – introduced the motion on genocide and called for the British government to do more to hold China to account. "The UK parliament has assessed the evidence and spoken of the industrial scale human rights abuses being perpetrated by the Chinese government in what is the largest mass incarceration of a minority since the Second World War. This now must be brought before an international court. Sadly, all routes to a court are blocked by China," Ghani said. A procession of MPs accused the British government of prioritising commercial ties with China over human rights. While the government laid out plans to try to exclude goods suspected of being made using forced labour in Xinjiang from British supply chains, it has yet to materialise into concrete policy. "Why hasn't the Modern Slavery Act been strengthened to ensure that the UK consumer supply chains do not include workers subject to forced labour in Xinjiang? And why are we not calling this what it is: genocide?" said Siobhain McDonagh, a Labour MP. Others called for Boris Johnson's government to expand sanctions on Chinese officials to include the Communist Party's top official in Xinjiang, Chen Quanguo. This sentiment was reflected in a letter signed by more than 100 British lawmakers calling for an expansion of the sanctions earlier this month. "Once the government finally announced the Magnitsky sanctions, why did they leave out 'the organ grinder', Chen Quanguo, who is believed to be the architect of the Xinjiang atrocities, and indeed before those in Tibet," said Yasmin Qureshi, another Labour member, referring to Chen's former role as party secretary for Tibet. "Once the government finally announced the Magnitsky sanctions, why did they leave out 'the organ grinder', Chen Quanguo, who is believed to be the architect of the Xinjiang atrocities, and indeed before those in Tibet," said Yasmin Qureshi, another Labour member, referring to Chen's former role as party secretary for Tibet. Earlier this year, lawmakers failed in efforts to reform Britain's trade law in a way that would prevent it from cutting deals with countries deemed to have committed genocide. Having cleared the House of Lords in February, the genocide amendment bill did not pass parliament. 'Genocide' clause clears British legislative hurdle, may affect China trade deals Anna Rosenberg, head of Europe and the UK at the political advisory group Signum Global, said that the British-China relationship had "taken a turn for the worse" as London "tries to find a new role for itself within the world post-Brexit, it is circling in on the threat posed by China". "Britain under Johnson has been far more hostile towards Chinese investment than ever before, and that is mainly because it is a thorny issue for many Conservatives. I am not sure it will necessarily deteriorate significantly, after all, the British government is pragmatic, but it certainly won't improve," she said. Behind many parliamentary motions has been the cross-party Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), an increasingly influential international pressure group that has been adding members rapidly. Rahima Mahmut, director of the World Uygur Congress and an adviser to IPAC, said that "statements of solidarity mean a lot, but Uygurs need them to be followed up with meaningful action". "Only when the Chinese government faces the consequences of its actions will it be deterred from further abuses. The Chinese government cannot be allowed to continue to carry out crimes against humanity and genocide with impunity," she said. ^ top ^

Human Rights Watch's call for an enquiry over Xinjiang shows biased Western narrative (Global Times)
2021-04-23
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a new report calling for an investigation by the UN into the alleged crimes against humanity committed in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, citing groundless accusations that China has refuted repeatedly, which demonstrates that the alleged impartial NGO is biased, and reveals the Western human rights narrative's hegemonic nature, observers said on Tuesday. The HRW claimed that there are detention centers, demolition of mosques, forced labor and sterilization programs targeting Uygurs and other Turkic Muslims, turning a blind eye to repeated rebuttals by Chinese authorities and Xinjiang locals. The report actually made a mistake starting in headline, by listing Uygurs as descendants of Turks because Uygur language is of Turk origin. The narrative replicates that of East Turkestan Islamic Movement, an extremist, terrorist and separatist organization that challenges China's sovereignty and stability in Xinjiang. China issued a white paper in 2019 to refute the wrong claim, which aims to separate ethnic minorities in Xinjiang from the big family of Chinese by distorting the linguistic connection and anthropological lineage, Jia Chunyang, an expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Tuesday. The recent insults over Xinjiang are just the beginning, and their aim is to lobby sanctions against Chinese officials and companies, engage with more countries to join the US and bring up the topic in multiple forums like the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly to humiliate China. The report is just one piece of the opinion war machine that the US and the West have skillfully used. These reports are usually followed by media exaggeration, proposals from politicians and government sanctions, Jia said, noting the West does not cover up the coordination of the different pieces. The reports usually come from scholars and "impartial" NGOs, as HRW claims itself to be. The HRW alleges it does not accept governmental funding as a prove of its impartiality and credibility. But observers found HRW does not refuse money from organizations like Oxfam Novib, which has a government background. Global human rights scholars are increasingly aware of the organization's bias in its reports and personnel composition as ideological favoritism of leading and central figures in HRW inevitably affect the organization's stance, Peng Qinxuan, an associate research professor at the Wuhan University Institute of International Law, told the Global Times. Peng also mentioned HRW's major sponsor, Open Society Foundations, established by the financial shark George Soros, who has long been holding hostility against China, opening the possibility of HRW being used by financial moguls to limit the Chinese market. West's financial hegemony and narrative of superiority are intertwined and mutually reinforcing, and human rights issues have extended beyond politics and diplomacy, Peng said. A recent investigative report by the Global Times found that some Western media, including Bloomberg, launch attacks on forced labor claims against Xinjiang's PV industry, similar to Western coercion tactics on the cotton and textile industry. The campaign is targeted at Xinjiang's rapidly ascending economy and attempted to ultimately obstruct the development of China. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said on Tuesday's press conference that the organization has always been full of prejudice and the report is pure slander. "We welcome foreign friends with fair and objective view to visit Xinjiang and other places in China. What we oppose is the so-called 'investigation' based on presumption of guilt and fabrication of lies with attempt to smear China," Wang said. ^ top ^

Xinjiang govt denies foreign media reports of 'tearing down mosques,' says it is reconstructing them for safety of Muslims (Global Times)
2021-04-20
The government of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region refuted rumors fabricated by foreign media claiming China is forcibly tearing down mosques in this region, explaining it is just reconstructing or removing dilapidated mosques that pose a danger to Muslims. "There's no so-called forced demolition of mosques problem in Xinjiang," said Elijan Anayat, a spokesperson for the Information Office of the Xinjiang government at a press conference on Sunday. The spokesperson said that most mosques in Xinjiang were built between the 1980s and 1990s, and some of them are adobe houses, some are very small, and some are decrepit. Religious activities cannot be carried out in buildings in such condition, and they pose a great danger to Muslims if an earthquake strikes, said Elijan Anayat. Furthermore, the location of some mosques makes it inconvenient for Muslims to conduct religious activities, said the spokesperson. He noted that with the speeding up of urbanization and implementation of rural vitalization, some local governments, at the request of Muslims, have begun to tackle the problems of the dilapidated mosques with measures including the reconstruction, relocation or expansion of those buildings. He said such measures are being welcomed by religious people, and mosques in Xinjiang can now meet Muslims' needs. His remarks came after some Western media, including the New York Times and Voice of America, used satellite images to prove their claims that Xinjiang is tearing down mosques. Some other foreign media also claimed that some religious people, who are not recognized by the government, were detained by the Xinjiang government. Elijan Anayat said that those so-called "detained religious people" are actually terrorists who were spreading religious extremism, and seeking to incite separation and terrorist activities. Some decent religious people have been expelled, or even killed by those terrorists. For example, under the influence of religious extremism, Xinjiang has suffered thousands of terrorist acts, in which a large number of innocent people, including well-respected religious clerical figures, were killed. Those extreme acts have caused great damage to people from all ethnic groups, including Muslims, and disparaged the image of Islam, according to the spokesperson. He said that China is a country ruled by law, and the government cracks down on all sorts of criminal activities according to law, including those done in the name of religion, and China has never specifically targeted any religion during this process. Now that Xinjiang hasn't seen terrorist acts for four consecutive years, people from all ethnic groups all back the government's measures, said the spokesperson. ^ top ^

Will national security law force exodus of Hong Kong's teachers, students over fears of shrinking academic freedom? (SCMP)
2021-04-23
Veteran primary school teacher Eva* will be leaving Hong Kong with her husband and child by summer to start a new life in Britain. Changes in the city's education scene since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong last June prompted the family's decision to move. "My husband and I originally planned to send our child overseas while we continued working in Hong Kong, or maybe I would retire early and accompany our child there," said Eva, whose child is in primary school. She lamented that teachers now had limited autonomy in the classroom and that some educators were practising more self-censorship following guidelines issued by the authorities. Schools and universities have been told to promote national security education among their students in keeping with the new law, which bans acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, and carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Eva, who was born and raised in Hong Kong, said many of her friends had been planning to leave over the past few months, and some had already gone, along with their families. "There are so many uncertainties ahead … but I feel that I can always find another job," said Eva, who is in her 40s and has taught general studies for more than 10 years. "Many parents like us are more worried about what kind of education our children will receive in future," she added. The Education Bureau issued wide-ranging guidelines on national security education to schools in early February, covering aspects ranging from management issues to teaching and pupils' behaviour, with children as young as six years old expected to be able to name the offences under the law. Teachers have been told to call police in "grave or emergency" situations, such as students chanting or displaying slogans or forming human chains on campus, acts of youthful defiance that were common during the anti-government protests of 2019. Since the security law came into effect, two teachers have been stripped of their lifetime registration, with one accused of touching on Hong Kong independence in a class worksheet on freedom of speech. Schools, meanwhile, have been told to review their libraries and remove titles that might violate the law. Last month, education officials announced that liberal studies – a senior secondary subject that pro-Beijing politicians have blamed for radicalising youth – would be renamed "citizenship and social development", with a new syllabus focusing on national security, identity, lawfulness and patriotism. In recent months, Beijing has laid out its vision for Hong Kong's schools, highlighting the need for patriotic education for young people, removing "toxic" teaching materials and implementing the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong" for educators. At the university level, fears that the national security law would lead to self-censorship and affect academic freedom had already come to pass, according to some students and teachers. Some institutions have begun looking into making national security a mandatory subject for all students. In February, Chinese University effectively severed ties with its student union over concerns that its electoral platform possibly breached the national security law. On Monday, Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily lashed out at the University of Hong Kong's student union following its criticisms of the security law, calling it "a malignant tumour" that should be removed. Earlier this month, local pro-Beijing media attacked Polytechnic University's student union, accusing it of "beautifying" the 2019 protests by setting up street counters to promote an exhibition showcasing photographs from the months of social unrest. On April 15, Hong Kong schools marked their first National Security Education Day since the law's passage, with many holding flag-raising ceremonies and some kindergartens teaching pupils as young as three about the legislation. School heads have until August to tell education authorities what they have done on national security education and describe future plans, which Eva described as a rushed campaign that had put more pressure on teachers and schools, while the guidelines themselves were overly strict. "Many guidelines have been introduced abruptly, and there is simply no way for schools to get around them," she said. Guidelines from the bureau include inserting elements of national security education into various other subjects, such as Chinese language, general studies and civic education at the primary level, and biology, physics, history, geography and economics at the secondary level. For example, the bureau said, older primary pupils could learn to appreciate the importance of national security by understanding campus security, as well as being taught about historical events and the geography of mainland China. Despite all the advice from the bureau, Eva said many teachers were still uncertain about the boundaries resulting from the security law and what they should look out for. "We wonder what can be taught and what is banned, and how far and deep we can go in approaching a topic," she said. "We also don't know what pupils will tell their parents about what they've learned at school. And what if some parents have strong political affiliations?" She said at least 10 of her friends and colleagues were either planning to leave or have already emigrated with their families as of last month. Dozens of pupils have also withdrawn from her school over the past six months, including many who moved overseas. A recent survey of 98 schools by the city's biggest secondary school principals group found that the number of teachers who resigned to emigrate doubled last year compared to 2019. At least 37 educators quit and emigrated between July and November last year, compared with 18 over the same period of 2019, according to the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools. More than 723 secondary school students withdrew from the 98 schools to move overseas, a 52 per cent increase from 2019. Secondary school principal Tony* said many schools had seen one or two teachers resigning in the middle of the school year – something that did not happen before. "In the past, most teachers usually would not resign in such a hurry," he said. "But now, many are leaving immediately, or after giving just one month's notice." Taking care to avoid 'red lines' Some of the dozen teachers and school heads who spoke to the Post said they noticed increased scrutiny of school-based teaching materials this year. Concerned about the national security law, at least one school decided to do away with commemorative events such as talks marking the anniversary of Beijing's crackdown on student protesters at Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. But education minister Kevin Yeung Yun-hung this month dismissed teachers' concerns about the security law, saying they "need not worry" as long as they "love the country". Asked if teachers could still tell their pupils about events such as the June 4 crackdown or discuss corruption in mainland China, he said teachers could use their professional judgment to decide. In one of his blog posts, Yeung said the fact that many teachers and students were arrested during the 2019 protests showed the need to strengthen concepts pertaining to national identity in schools. Official figures showed about 40 per cent of more than 10,000 people arrested were university or secondary school students, and more than 100 educators were detained. In October 2019, at the peak of the protests, as many as 350 secondary school student concern groups were formed with the aim of pushing for greater democracy. But with the introduction of the national security law, many have dissolved or disbanded, fearing reprisals from authorities. One of the most active groups, Ideologist, helped to organise at least two citywide class strikes along with other concern groups and urged their peers to stage campus protests. Spokesman Carson Tsang Long-hin, a Form Six student, said members discussed last June whether the group should stop operating but voted to carry on. "Even if we disbanded, the authorities could still arrest us if they wanted to," said Tsang, 17. "Perhaps taking one step at a time and playing it by ear might be another way forward." The group has about 10 members, all senior secondary school students. Tsang said the national security law had affected how they went about their activities now, as they had become cautious about crossing "red lines". "When writing social media posts, we are now more careful and check for any wordings that might violate the security law," he said. University staff, students more cautious too Under the security law, universities also have to promote national security, although they have more leeway than primary and secondary schools and have not been issued specific guidelines by the authorities. The University of Hong Kong recently proposed forming a committee to probe alleged violations of academic freedom under the legislation, an idea one senior staff member described as "well intended". Undersecretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin said last month the authorities would look into whether university management staff would be required to take an oath and swear allegiance to the city, after government school teachers were required to do so. Even before the institutions could roll out their plans, some have already noticed lecturers and students being more cautious in class. Lingnan University visiting assistant professor of cultural studies Ip Iam-chong said he noticed that local students appeared to have become more reticent about expressing their views on political issues in Hong Kong. "For example, last year when some mainland Chinese students were presenting about the 2019 protests … many local students were not really willing to respond, which felt weird as many of them had personally experienced the protests," he said. Ip added that the university's management had not issued teaching staff any guidelines or advice so far about teaching under the national security law. He said some of his colleagues had left Hong Kong in recent months and others were considering doing the same, worried about restricted academic autonomy under the law. Polytechnic University student union president Alan Wu Wai-kuen, a Year One student, recalled that the teacher of a class he took on Chinese politics was cautious with topics considered sensitive on the mainland, such as the Tiananmen Square crackdown and the human rights activist and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo. "He was discreet and reminded us that there were things which could be difficult to say publicly," Wu recalled, adding that the lecturer touched on Tiananmen Square only briefly, although it was part of the course's lecture notes. Hong Kong has already slipped significantly in a global ranking of academic freedom in universities for last year. Last month, the Germany-based Global Public Policy Institute's latest index of academic freedom gave Hong Kong a score of 0.348 out of 1 (one) – down from 0.442 in 2019. This was lower than the score for Singapore, Russia and Cambodia. Scholars at Risk, a US-based network of more than 500 institutions in 40 countries that contributed to the report, cited the arrest of academics and students under the security law among concerns about the pressures on the higher education community in research and international collaboration. Those arrested include legal scholar Benny Tai Yiu-ting, as well as university lecturer and former opposition lawmaker Claudia Mo Man-ching. Fung Wai-wah, president of the 100,000-strong Professional Teachers' Union, said he was concerned about the ongoing impact of the national security law on teachers and students. Not only might more of them emigrate, but fewer young people might be drawn to the education sector given the increasing restrictions and fears of "white terror", he said. But Wong Kam-leung, chairman of the 40,000-member Federation of Education Workers and a primary school principal, disagreed, saying Hong Kong needed to plug the gap in safeguarding national security for the good of the country. "Teachers and schools, like others, have the responsibility to promote national security education," he said. "Even though some parents may feel unnecessary fear and choose to emigrate, Hong Kong's development is definitely going in a positive direction … Some of them might even come back." Secondary school student and concern group leader Carson Tsang said he was among those who had no plans to leave Hong Kong, even though the future seemed gloomier now. "Many people have been put in prison for what we were fighting for [in 2019], while others had been on remand, prosecuted or fled overseas," he said. "If I choose to emigrate at this stage only because of the negative mood, I would feel guilty. I would not want to give up at this stage." ^ top ^

HK political figures back national security efforts (China Daily)
2021-04-19
Hong Kong political figures expressed firm support for the city to ramp up efforts in defending against national security risks. They noted that it is the city's constitutional obligation and also the precondition of smooth development. Their remarks came after Luo Huining, the central government's top liaison official in Hong Kong, pledged on Thursday's National Security Education Day that the central government will fully support the city to lawfully crack down on national security offenses and counter foreign intervention. Brave Chan Yung, Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, said although the National Security Law has restored the city's social order, national security risks still exist, with disruptive activities shifting toward a softer and more flexible manner. He cited the example that some people have recently been encouraging voters to cast blank ballots in elections after the city starts practicing electoral improvements. Noting such confrontational measures are of greater difficulty to deal with, Chan cautioned that Hong Kong really needs to raise alerts and strictly prevent and crack down on related offenses. Yiu Chi-shing, a Hong Kong member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the sharp contrast before and after the implementation of the National Security Law clearly demonstrated that only by safeguarding national security can social stability and development be guaranteed. He stressed that Hong Kong society should understand the significance of national security and actively fulfill its statutory obligation to safeguard it. He also encouraged local residents to cooperate with the government's endeavor to protect political security with the electoral revamp, and to support it to regulate disruptive activities by secessionist and foreign forces. Another NPC deputy, Maggie Chan Man-ki, who is also a law expert, noted that Hong Kong is now equipped with robust laws and mechanisms to safeguard national security. She hopes the authorities could better take advantage of them to prevent the city from degenerating into a pawn for external forces to contain China. ^ top ^

Commissioner's office of Chinese foreign ministry says interference with judicial proceedings in Hong Kong tramples upon rule of law, int'l law (Xinhua)
2021-04-19
The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Sunday voiced its strong disapproval of and opposition against some foreign politicians' trampling upon both the rule of law of Hong Kong and international law. A spokesperson for the office made the remark in response to some politicians in the United States, Britain and the European Union who made groundless accusations against the sentencing of anti-China disruptors Jimmy Lai, Martin Lee and several others by the Hong Kong judiciary and clamored for the release of them. The spokesperson said that Hong Kong is governed by the rule of law, and it is based on solid evidence and with a completely legitimate and transparent procedure that the Hong Kong judiciary has sentenced the relevant people to prison for organizing and participating in unauthorized and unlawful assembly. Some interfering foreign forces who pay lip service to the rule of law, however, have kept glorifying the criminals as "democracy fighters," tried to obstruct the judicial proceedings, and put political manipulation above the law of the HKSAR. While claiming to "stand with the Hong Kong people," they have shown total disregard for the popular will in Hong Kong and acted against the people by repeatedly undermining the rule of law and prosperity and stability in Hong Kong, the spokesperson said. Also, these self-proclaimed "champions of international rules" have once and again meddled with Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs, in violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations, laying bare their double standards and selective application of international rules based solely on their self-interest, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson emphasized that the essence of the rule of law is that laws shall be strictly abided by, that any lawbreaker shall be held accountable, and that no one shall be above the law. The office urged the relevant countries to abide by the principle of non-interference in international law and other basic norms governing international relations, earnestly respect the rule of law, and shake off hypocrisy and double standards. The office urged those countries to stop condoning and whitewashing criminals, stop undermining Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial independence, and stop interfering with Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs as a whole. They should be sure that any interference or pressure is doomed to be futile and only self-defeating. ^ top ^

Shanghai, Guangdong expand vaccination to Taiwan compatriots (Global Times)
2021-04-23
Shanghai and South China's Guangdong Province have expanded COVID-19 vaccine provision to residents from the island of Taiwan with the same treatment as locals, as the mainland accelerates mass vaccination and tries to develop herd immunity as soon as possible. Since Monday, residents from the island of Taiwan in Shanghai aged between 18 and 57 have been able to apply for vaccination and they can get the vaccines for free, just like local Shanghai residents. In Guangdong, online reservations for people from the island of Taiwan also opened on Monday. Teachers and students from Taiwan at schools in the province can get the same arrangements as their mainland counterparts. Lee Cheng-hung, president of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland (ATIEM), received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a community health center in Shanghai on the first day that the reservations opened. "I was very much looking forward to this so I made a reservation immediately," Lee told the media. Both Guangdong and Shanghai, home to myriad Taiwan-funded companies and joint ventures, have registered a large number of investors, business representatives and their family members, as well as scholars, tourists, teachers and students from Taiwan. The moves in Shanghai and Guangdong came after Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on April 14 that people from the island of Taiwan on the mainland can get COVID-19 vaccines with the same treatment as their mainland counterparts. Before the announcement, some of the people from the island of Taiwan living on the mainland who face a high risk from infection had already got COVID-19 vaccines during the country's emergency vaccination program. In Tianjin, residents from the island of Taiwan who work in the cold chain and logistics industries became the first group allowed to make appointments for vaccination in the northern port city in March, while all the more than 5,000 Taiwan compatriots in Tianjin have been able to register in their residential communities and with neighborhood committees for the vaccination since the beginning of April. ^ top ^

Mainland rejects DPP slander on criminal convictions of Jimmy Lai, others (China Daily)
2021-04-23
A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Monday rejected the slander brought by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority on the convictions of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and other instigators of Hong Kong riots on illegal assembly charges. Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, urged the DPP to stop its political manipulation under the disguise of democracy and human rights, which aims to seek "independence" by destabilizing Hong Kong. Ma said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government's efforts to bring the culprits to book are legitimate and brook no interference. ^ top ^

1st reported Taiwan arms sales under Biden admin come early, 'further strain situation' (Global Times)
2021-04-20
The Biden administration's first arms sales to the island of Taiwan, featuring some howitzers, are proceeding, Taiwan media reported Monday, which sent a wrong and dangerous signal to Taiwan secessionists and "added fuel" to highly strained China-US and cross-Straits relations, Chinese mainland experts said. But the experts pointed out that no matter what kind of weapons the island buys, the gap in the military capability across the Straits cannot be changed. The American Institute in Taiwan informed the separatist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that the deal of the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers will be submitted to the US Congress "soon" and the weapons are expected to be commissioned between 2023-25, Taiwan news website udn.com reported. It did not specify the amount of the equipment or value of the deal. The alleged deal may become the first arms sales to Taiwan by the Biden administration, three months after Joe Biden took office. There is no official confirmation about the sales from the US as of press time. Observers noted the process of the deal comes earlier than previous US administrations, even the most "radical and provocative former Trump administration." Donald Trump's approval of the first arms sales to Taiwan, which totaled $1.4 billion, was released in June 2017 by the US. Xin Qiang, deputy director of the Center for US Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, told the Global Times on Monday that the early sales are in line with the Biden administration's strategy of visibly playing the "Taiwan card." The deal will meet few barriers at the administrative level. Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times on Monday that by selling arms to the island of Taiwan, the US is not only instigating Taiwan secessionists to create more estrangement and trouble between the Chinese mainland and the island, but also letting US arms dealers earn huge amounts of money. Xin noted that the Biden administration, through the arms sales, wanted to show promises to the island, deter the Chinese mainland amid the intense situation and pacify the US' China hawks, but the action "added fuel to flames" when both cross-Straits and China-US relations are highly strained. Biden has sent an "unofficial delegation" of a former senator and secretaries of state to the island last week and mentioned Taiwan in a joint statement with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the first since Eisaku Sato and Richard Nixon's meeting in 1969. After increasingly frequent Taiwan secessionist activities and US provocations, the PLA recently has been conducting nearly daily exercises near the island of Taiwan. On April 12, 25 PLA aircraft including fighter jets and bombers reportedly entered Taiwan's self-proclaimed southwest air defense identification zone, the largest number of warplanes ever recorded. On April 5, the PLA Navy announced that the Liaoning aircraft carrier task group was conducting exercises near the island of Taiwan. Compared to the sales of 135 precision-guided cruise missiles during the former Trump administration, the deal of self-propelled howitzers, weapons more defensive in nature, is less provocative. But the mainland should be alert on possible sales of offensive equipment in the future, Xin stressed. Though arms sales are usually announced by the US first, it is possible the DPP authority and Washington communicated ahead and arranged to let Taiwan media release the information first, Xin said. Wei said that the report of the possible deal is an attempt by the DPP authority to showcase its "special" relations with the US in front of the mainland. But no matter what kind of weapons the island buys, the gap in the military capability across the Straits cannot be changed, Wei said. While the possible deal will be the first time Taiwan purchases the M109A6 from the US, the island has previously received a number of M109A5s and M109A2s, which are previous editions of the M109 series howitzer. The udn.com report claimed that compared with them, the newer M109A6 is more powerful. But Wei pointed out that because the island's military cannot seize control of the sea and the air, the self-propelled howitzers will only become live targets of the PLA in battle. While Taiwan media claimed the M109A6 are the main howitzers used by the US Army, Wei said that the US Army actually has a decreasing demand for M109 series howitzers. By selling second-hand equipment to Taiwan with a high price tag rather than weed them out directly, the US can spare funding to purchase newer weapons, Wei said. ^ top ^

China stock bears push short bets to record high as tech clampdown, policy tightening and Huarong add to CICC's five sell signals (SCMP)
2021-04-23
China stock bears have driven up short bets to an all-time high this week, reflecting demand for hedging against the risks of policy tightening and further fallout from the nation's antitrust crackdown on technology companies. The combined value of stock shorts on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges climbed to 152 billion yuan (US$23.4 billion) on Tuesday, according to data published by state agency China Securities Finance. That's the highest since local brokerages were allowed to officially start securities lending and borrowing in 2010. The bearish bets came after China's economic growth accelerated to 18.3 per cent in the first quarter in a full recovery from the pandemic, raising expectations that policymakers will further put the brakes on excessive credit expansion. Since late last year, Beijing has also been stepping up its scrutiny of Internet-platform operators. A months-long probe into anti-monopoly practices culminated this month in a record US$2.8 billion fine being imposed on e-commerce group Alibaba Group Holding, which is also the owner of this newspaper. "There are near-term risks in China including an anti-monopoly drive that threatens large-cap Internet companies that push us to favour more cyclical and domestically oriented exposures," strategists including Wei Li at BlackRock wrote in a report on April 19. BlackRock manages about US$8.7 trillion globally. Stock watchers are also following the unfolding distress at bad-loan manager China Huarong Asset Management, whose dollar-denominated bonds plunged over the past three weeks amid a cash crunch and speculation about a debt restructuring. The poor view of the market follows an April 12 quant strategy report by analysts at China International Capital Corp, which said its technical and timing indicators on five local stock benchmarks have started flashing "sell" signals since late March and early April. "We expect the market to enter a phase of bottom building and range-bound trading considering softening market sentiment and inadequate market momentum," they said in the report. The firm did not reply to an email seeking comment. The CSI 300 Index, which tracks the biggest companies listed on both exchanges, has declined 12.4 per cent since reaching this year's high on February 10. While the bearish bets reached an unprecedented level, the amount is small compared with the level of margin trading. The latest outstanding value of leveraged bets amounted to 1.52 trillion yuan. They are also paltry relative to the US$11.1 trillion of capitalisation of more than 5,000 listed companies on both exchanges, according to Bloomberg data. Some major shareholders of a slew of companies have recently agreed to lend their shares to China Securities Finance, a state-backed agency to aid brokerages' leveraged trading and short-selling businesses, adding to the supply of stocks that can be shorted. The biggest shareholder of Shanghai International Airport said earlier this month it planned to lend as many as 43 million shares, or a 2.23 per cent stake, to the agency. Its stock has slumped 36 per cent from a record high set in August 2019, punished by slumping travel during the pandemic. ^ top ^

Shanghai bets on carbon finance (China Daily)
2021-04-23
Shanghai will actively explore more carbon finance products, position the city as a global center for carbon financing, and look to peak carbon emissions by 2025, officials said on Thursday. Chen Yin, executive vice-mayor of Shanghai, said during a news conference that the city is formulating an action plan to help achieve the nation's goal of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and the plan would be launched later this year. He said Shanghai will continue to focus on expanding its green finance footprint and achieve laudable outcomes. Several carbon finance products have debuted in Shanghai, and so also a number of key platforms, including the carbon emissions trading market and the national green development fund. Chen said Shanghai will make carbon finance an integral part of its plans to become a leading international finance center, while also stepping up efforts to become a global center for carbon financing. The city will advance innovation efforts in carbon finance and actively explore financial products and incentivize innovation in carbon funds, carbon bonds and carbon trusts. Efforts will be made to create investment and financing mechanisms for meeting the goal of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. At the same time, the city will also work to guard against financial risks and follow up on any problems that may arise in the process. The government will actively explore and build mechanisms for financial risk management and better serve businesses in their green transformation, Chen said. Liu Baokui, deputy director of the Institute of Spatial Planning and Regional Economy at the National Development and Reform Commission, said green finance is an important measure for the 2030 carbon emission goals, and Shanghai is well-positioned to lead the same. Carbon finance products will help optimize the allocation of financial resources and effectively incentivize different industries to lower their carbon emissions. Vice-Mayor Wu Qing said green finance will be an integral part of the city's financial center plan during the next five years. At present, 17 of the world's 20 top asset management firms have set up offices in Shanghai, which provides the city with opportunities for international cooperation in green finance development, said Wu. ^ top ^

China's foreign trade sees stable and improved performance in first quarter of 2021 (People's Daily)
2021-04-23
China's foreign trade got off to a good start at the beginning of the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, with the total volume of imports and exports of goods reaching 8.47 trillion yuan (about $1.31 trillion) in the first quarter of 2021, up 29.2 percent year on year, according to official data. In the first three months this year, China's exports of goods rose 38.7 percent from the same period last year to 4.61 trillion yuan, and its imports of goods expanded 19.3 percent year on year to 3.86 trillion yuan, suggested data released by the country's General Administration of Customs (GAC). The scale of China's foreign trade in the first quarter not only far exceeded that of the same period last year, but showed growth rates of 25.3 percent and 20.5 percent compared to the first quarter of 2018 and 2019, respectively, as the official data indicated. "In the first quarter, China's foreign trade achieved a great increase unseen for many years, showing strong resilience and vigorous vitality," said Liang Ming, head of foreign trade research institute under the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation. China has constantly expanded imports of high-quality goods to meet the huge domestic demand. In the middle of last year, China's Ministry of Finance, the GAC, and the State Taxation Administration jointly released a notice to raise the annual offshore duty-free shopping quota for outbound tourists in south China's Hainan province in a bid to meet the needs of consumption upgrading. During this year's Spring Festival holiday that lasted from Feb. 11 to 17, the combined sales volume of offshore duty-free shops in Hainan exceeded 1.5 billion yuan, doubling that achieved during the Spring Festival holiday in 2019. The continuous and stable economic recovery in China has given a boost to the import of new and high-tech products and basic materials including energy products. Customs data showed that the country imported 155.27 billion units of integrated circuits in the first quarter this year, up 33.6 percent from the same period last year. Meanwhile, the country's crude oil and copper imports grew by 9.5 percent and 11.7 percent year on year to 139 million tons and nearly 1.44 million tons, respectively. While promoting stable growth in the volume of foreign trade, China has tried to improve the value-added of exports by optimizing the structure of export goods. A vast number of foreign trade firms have made great efforts to bring into better play their core competitive advantages in such aspects as technology, brand, and service, improve the quality and structure of export products, and foster new strengths in export. In the first three months of 2021, China exported 2.78 trillion yuan worth of mechanical and electrical products, which marked a growth rate of 43 percent and accounted for 60.3 percent of the country's total export volume in the period. During the period, the country saw its exports of automatic data processing equipment and its parts and accessories, mobile phones, and automobiles (including chassis) increase by 54.5 percent, 38.5 percent, and 98.9 percent, respectively. "This is our newest computer numerical control (CNC) precision machining center. You put raw materials in it and get finished products. The precision of its holes and screws can reach one hundredth the size of a human hair," said Hu Lijun, general manager of a foreign trade company based in Cixi, east China's Zhejiang province. According to Hu, the production lines of his company have never stopped running since the beginning of this year, and the orders the company has received are scheduled for April 2023. Hu's company mainly produces braking systems of high-end bicycles. Its products have been sold to Europe and South America. Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, some countries encourage citizens to shift from their previous transportation means to bikes, leading to a significant surge in the market demand for bikes. Although Hu's company is running at full capacity, it still can't meet the huge demand of oversea markets. "The reason why we can seize the great opportunity for foreign trade now is that we have been continuously increasing financial input in the research and development of products and technological transformation," Hu explained. "We spend more than 50 percent of our annual profits on research and development every year. Since last year, we used an additional 30 million yuan to upgrade our equipment, which enabled us to reduce the error rate of the equipment to around one thousandth and reach the advanced level in the industry," said Hu. Recently, a food company based in Huanghua, north China's Hebei province, sent 100 cases of local winter jujubes it processed to Brunei, one of the countries along the routes of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It was the first time the company exported products to Brunei. "During the pandemic, relevant government departments actively reached out to us to help. They came to our company for multiple times to conduct investigations and surveys and helped us find new markets and stabilize foreign trade orders," said an executive of the company. At the beginning of this year, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) proposed promoting Silk Road e-commerce so as to boost the integrated development of new business forms and models like cross-border e-commerce and the BRI and add new driving forces to the Chine-Europe freight trains and the construction of major foreign trade channels including the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. In the first quarter this year, China's foreign trade with countries along the routes of the BRI totaled 2.5 trillion yuan, an increase of 21.4 percent year on year. In particular, foreign trade between China and countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, and Poland enjoyed fast growth. Various parts of China have made active efforts to attract leading enterprises through such platforms as comprehensive bonded zones and comprehensive cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, and eventually bring together a good number of upstream and downstream firms in and near these zones. From January to March, comprehensive bonded zones across the country witnessed an increase of 41.1 percent in imports and exports, while the country's pilot free trade zones logged an 28.4-percent growth in foreign trade and the volume of duty-free goods imported by Hainan free trade port rose by 162.5 percent. ^ top ^

China establishes e-commerce cooperation mechanisms with 22 countries (Xinhua)
2021-04-23
In recent years, countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have constantly enhanced policy communication and coordination to benefit cooperation in and sound development of e-commerce, with the number of countries that have established bilateral e-commerce cooperation mechanisms with China rising to 22, according to official data. China is home to 26,000 cross-border e-commerce enterprises in business or in existence, among which 5,688 were newly registered in 2020 and 3,130 are from provinces and cities of countries participating in the BRI, revealed data from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC). Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many European citizens changed their way to commute from taking trains to cycling. The important shift gave Chinese bicycle brands, which had already joined cross-border e-commerce platforms for a long time, a great opportunity to promote sales. Not long ago, a student of Ghent University in Belgium bought a bike of the Chinese brand Fenghuang via a cross-border e-commerce platform. The bike is not only stylish, but highly cost-effective, according to the student. Chinese consumers have also shown increasingly growing enthusiasm for imports. Chen Tingting, a resident in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, is used to buying cosmetics via a cross-border e-commerce platform. "The platform sells authentic products of famous brands, and they can be delivered within one or two days. It's very convenient," Chen said. The platform's WeChat mini-program now offers several thousand types of goods. A China-Europe freight train fully loaded with furniture, auto parts, and daily necessities departed from Ganzhou International Land Port in Nankang district, Ganzhou, east China's Jiangxi province, to countries including Hungary recently. "In the past, Ganzhou didn't have customs clearance channel for cross-border e-commerce, so we had to go to Shenzhen to submit export customs declarations. Now we can have our products cleared through customs at the Ganzhou International Land Port and directly transported to overseas warehouses by China-Europe freight trains," said Hu Daofeng, an executive of a company based in Nankang district. Hu's company has sent goods via China-Europe freight trains for five times this year. "The prosperity of Silk Road e-commerce is the result of active win-win cooperation among countries participating in the BRI," pointed out Wang Wen, executive dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. As more and more countries join the construction of the BRI and digital infrastructure constantly improves, countries participating in the BRI have gained tangible dividends of development, Wang explained. The sound development of Silk Road e-commerce has benefited from the online interactions between Chinese and foreign e-commerce platforms and the offline connectivity between logistics services providers represented by the China-Europe freight trains and industrial parks at home and abroad built under the framework of the BRI, according to Wang. Domestic industrial structural transformation and upgrading and accelerated new infrastructure construction in China have facilitated the forming of international industrial systems across the country, with each having its own distinctive characteristics, Wang said. Chinese e-commerce platforms, including JD.com, Suning, and Tencent, have intensified efforts to expand business in overseas markets in recent years. Data suggest that Chinese e-commerce enterprises have taken up half of the market share of cross-border e-commerce business in Russia and scored eye-catching performance on top e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia. As the construction of Silk Road e-commerce is continuously advanced, it's believed that more Chinese and foreign consumers will see how convenient it is to shop for products produced around the globe at home and Silk Road e-commerce is becoming quite a powerful new engine for economic and trade cooperation in BRI construction. To continue to achieve solid progress in promoting Silk Road e-commerce, relevant countries participating in the BRI should reduce restrictions on cross-border e-commerce in such aspects as customs clearance, inspection, tax, and foreign exchange, establish and improve international rules for e-commerce in areas like data flow and settlement of dispute, and speed up the construction of integrated, efficient, and low-cost channels, and further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation mechanisms, experts pointed out. ^ top ^

China set to expand digital currency trials (China Daily)
2021-04-20
China will further expand trials of e-CNY, the digital currency floated by the People's Bank of China, the central bank, and tighten regulations on privately-created cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Stablecoin, according to officials and experts. Bitcoin is a digital or virtual currency that uses peer-to-peer technology to facilitate instant payments, while Stablecoin is a cryptocurrency where the value is tied to an outside asset, such as the dollar or gold. China considers Bitcoin and Stablecoin as cryptoassets, which means they are not seen as real currencies, but only as investment assets. The nation is planning to improve the regulatory environment for these alternative investments, to ensure that speculative activity will not result in serious financial risks, said PBOC Vice-Governor Li Bo. "Before the launch of any regulatory measures, we will maintain what we are doing right now," Li said during a session discussion of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021. Unlike for Bitcoin, the regulations for some types of Stablecoin should be tighter, as they need to follow the regulations for payment tools issued by private sector banks or quasi-banking financial institutions, said Li. Zhou Xiaochuan, former governor of the central bank, said the financial sector should continue to serve the real economy. "Whether it is a digital currency or a digital asset, it should closely integrate with and serve the real economy," Zhou said. Zhou also said that digital currency could benefit the real economy and support a large number of payments. The Bitcoin fell by as much as 15 percent on Sunday with rival coins like Ether and XRP also losing sheen. The retreat came after Bitcoin hit a record high of more than $64,000 on Wednesday. On early Monday, the Bitcoin was trading in Asia at around $57,000, which was still down about 12 percent from last week's intraday peak. Though financial regulators have expressed concern about cryptocurrencies, they are promoting the launch of the central bank digital currency. According to Li, authorities are planning to expand trials of the digital yuan, or e-CNY, in more cities and for various scenarios. "For example, in the pilot program of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the digital yuan will not only be offered to domestic users, but also for international users," said Li. In addition, China is finding ways to exchange of various digital currencies issued by world's leading central banks, which is a complicated issue. "We are not in a hurry to find a solution. We are choosing different options to experiment with various technologies. We are open-minded. The goal is to build a very solid domestic digital yuan and a healthy ecosystem," Li added. ^ top ^

Exclusive: China-N.Korea border remains closed despite signs of possible trade resumption (Global Times)
2021-04-23
China and North Korea have yet to resume cargo and passenger traffic, but there are signs that trade may resume in the future, the Global Times has learned. A report by Reuters citing a cross-border transportation company, claimed the bridge linking the city of Dandong with Sinuiju, across the Yalu River in North Korea, will partially reopen to allow cargo train service around May 1. An official in port transportation management in Dandong told the Global Times on condition of anonymity that they have not received any notices to make preparations for border reopening, including epidemic control and prevention preparations. On Thursday afternoon, the Global Times also learned from an employee from the Dandong Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station that cargo and passenger traffic are still temporarily closed. Asked if China Railway has any information on the freight resumption between the two countries on Thursday, they said they're unclear over the matter. The Global Times learned from sources that a batch of imported food was put on the shelf of a grocery shop in the diplomatic district of Pyongyang in recent days. "Just days earlier, the shop imported some products for daily use, such as cooking oil, milk power and seasoning," a source in Pyongyang said. Another source in Pyongyang confirmed there were only a few imported varieties on the shelves. Those imported products were sold out very quickly. "They are Chinese products," the source said. Other stores in the capital city of North Korea have yet to see more imports, they said. But resuming freight traffic is probably soon to come, said Lü Chao, a research fellow at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences. Lü, who had been to Dandong days earlier, told the Global Times that staff at border checkpoints have been disinfecting and cleaning cargo facilities, and he learned from Chinese companies that they started to prepare for trade resumption between China and North Korea. North Korea closed its border since the beginning of the epidemic. As spring plowing approaches, agricultural products like fertilizers may be in high demand, Lü noted. A trade fair organizer, surnamed Qi, who had been organizing Chinese companies to Pyongyang international trade fair, told the Global Times that he's waiting for an official announcement. "I believe North Korea wants to re-embracing Chinese market but they have to also take COVID-19 epidemic control into consideration," Qi said. Qi had been organizing Chinese business representatives to the Pyongyang international trade fair every year but the fair was suspended starting 2020 due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Many manufacturing-type enterprises from the southern part of China are also eyeing North Korea as a new emerging market for their products, according to Qi. Cargo vessels are suffering a loss due to the close of the border. Dandong has more than 100 registered vessels and 500 border trade vehicles engaging in trade with North Korea. The daily passage rate was 100 to 200 on average, the Global Times learned from the anonymous official from the port transportation department. China and North Korea as friendly and close neighbors have a demand for normal economic and trade exchanges, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson of Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday. China respects North Korea's anti-epidemic measures and is ready to enhance exchanges and cooperation across the board with the country on the basis of ensuring safety in the context of COVID-19, Wang said. ^ top ^

Embassy of Switzerland