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India Declined to Join RCEP

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that, according a number of Indian media sources, India has decided not to join The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which is mainly led by China, as an alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) from which the U.S. withdrew under President Trump. The RCEP negotiations started in 2012 and are expected to be signed next year, without India. The Indian announcement sent a shockwave across China. According to multiple sources, India’s decision was mainly based on the concerns that the negotiation neglected some of India’s core interests and the agreement requires opening up the Indian services market to 15 countries as well as lowering tariffs on Chinese products. India is especially worried about China taking advantage of India’s weak economic situation and “eating into India’s breakfast and lunch.” India’s hesitation was the reason for the delayed negotiation and the other 15 countries have been waiting. Several internal sources also said that India raised some tough last-minute new conditions.

Source: Sina, November 4, 2019
https://finance.sina.com/gb/economy/economy_global/huanqiu/2019-11-04/doc-ifzqmtky6730542.shtml

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Petition Asking for Revocation of Citizenship of Carrie Lam’s Family Members Received Significant Support

Major Taiwanese news network Liberty Times Network (LTN) recently reported that an individual named Deeran Kumar submitted a petition on Change.org asking the government of the United Kingdom  to revoke the citizenship of Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s husband and her two sons. The petition was filed after Carrie Lam used her executive power to introduce and enforce the anti-mask law against the pro-democracy protesters. The law bypassed the legislative process under the measure called the Emergency Regulations Ordinance (ERO). The petition declared that this event effectively put Hong Kong into a state of emergency. Thus “the rule of law is dead and it has become rule by law.” The petition said the British government has a moral responsibility to take action. As of November 2, the petition had received more than 100,000 signatures. According to British law, the UK government must respond to this petition. {Editor’s Note: As of November 9, the petition had received 160,000 signatures. The web address of the live petition is: https://www.change.org/p/uk-home-office-uk-home-office-should-revoke-carrie-lam-s-family-citizenship}

Source: LTN, November 2, 2019
https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/2965630

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Cambodia’s Anti-China Sentiment

China’s large-scale investment in Cambodia has won strong support from the Hun Sen government and has benefited some Cambodians as well. However, the influx of Chinese people and money has affected the lives of local people and caused dissatisfaction. People complain that the Chinese drive too fast and drink too much alcohol, that they do not respect Cambodians, and that they do business with Chinese only. NGO’s have put forth the criticism that the Chinese don’t care about human rights, the law, or the environment.

China’s influence has become a major issue for the Cambodian opposition party. Teav Vannol, chairman of the Cambodian opposition Candlelight Party, said that many Cambodians traditionally dislike Vietnamese because of the history of Vietnam’s invasion. Now they are even more unhappy with the Chinese.

China has become Cambodia’s largest investor, donor, and creditor. Many Cambodians worry that China’s “One Belt, One Road” project and the Cambodian government’s growing dependence on Beijing will make the country a vassal of China. Vannol observed, “If you go back to history, King Sihanouk drove out the Americans in 1965 and then China’s Chairman Mao became the big brother. You see what happened next. The war broke out in 1970. In 1975 Pol Pot and the Chinese Communist Party took control of the country, and you saw the destruction of Cambodia. This is my biggest concern. I am worried that history will repeat itself.”

A Cambodian government spokesman said that Cambodia’s constitution, diversity, and the existence of political parties that support the United States have determined that the country will not be completely tied to China. Cambodia must be a neutral and sovereign independent country.

Source: Voice of America, November 6, 2019
https://www.voachinese.com/a/anti-china-backlash-in-cambodia-caused-by-influx-of-chinese-people-and-money-20191106/5155286.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Taiwan TV Hostess Counter-statement against CCTV Hostess Went Viral on the Internet

A video showing a Taiwan TV hostess counter a statement that a CCTV hostess made went viral on the Internet.

Following China’s recent announcement of 26 additional measures “to further promote economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait,” a CCTV hostess stated in her program that the future of Taiwan is national unity and the fate of Taiwan is connected with China. At the end of her program, she said, “Wanwan (meaning Taiwan), please come home.”

On November 6, during a live broadcast, Taiwan’s “Times News” political commentary host Chen Ningguan imitated CCTV’s tone and humorously responded, “Xiangxiang (Hong Kong) is suffering from domestic violence. Please stop it. Both Xixi (Tibet) and Xingxing (Xinjiang) are under surveillance. Since Xiangxiang (Hong Kong) is subject to domestic violence, Wanwan (Taiwan) does not want to go home. Wanwan (Taiwan) is scared to see what is happening to Xixi (Tibet), Xingxing (Xinjiang) and Xiangxiang (Hong Kong). Wanwan (Taiwan) likes Internet freedom and does not like to climb the wall (break through Internet censorship.) Wanwan (Taiwan) is not Zhongzhong (mainland).” Chen’s response draw heated responses on the Internet. Some people posted “Wanwan (Taiwan) has our own home even though we have some garbage from Gonggong (mainland) at home. Xiangxiang (Hong Kong) is just like hell right now after it went back to the mainland. How does the mainland believe that Taiwan will be attracted back to the mainland?” One post said when “Gonggong (the CCP) is collapsed, Wanwan (Taiwan) will come home.”

Meanwhile many Taiwan politicians responded that they can clearly see the intent of the 26 measures that Beijing tried to introduce. Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s president responded that the mainland wants to influence the election in Taiwan and force Taiwan to accept the “one country two system” policy. Taiwan’s response is, “It is impossible.”

Source: Aboluowang, November 9, 2019
http://www.aboluowang.com/2019/1109/1366924.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics

Malaysian Young Man Was Threatened for Complaining about Huawei’s Mobile Phone

A Tweeter’s story revealed that Huawei has tried to silence people when they talk about the problems Huawei phones are having.

Huawei launched its mobile phones Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro in Malaysia on October 3, 2019. A host who has a YouTube channel to evaluate mobile phones bought a Huawei Mate 30 Pro and surprisingly found that all Google software, including YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and Play Store, did not work.

He posted a YouTube video to discuss the problem.

Then he posted another video on October 31, reporting that he received threats from Huawei. “Today I heard that (Huawei) was warning me. Huawei told me, ‘You’d better not talk about this. If you continue talking about it and continue ‘slandering’ Huawei, we can sue you.’”

He reported, “Maybe this YouTube (video) will be my last video.” The host warned the audience that Huawei might have the power to close his YouTube channel.

“I feel that Huawei is a villain. I didn’t do anything (against it). I just used the Huawei’s phone and found the issue. I asked for a solution. Why do you warn me like this? … I used to praise Huawei’s phones. …  When I received this warning, my heart sank. … That’s why many big media didn’t report about these problems from Huawei.”

The following are some reader’s comments on the posting:

Comments by “News Revelation”:

“To help people to recall: A Microblog celebrity (in China) questioned if the moon picture that Huawei claimed to be taken with its P30 Pro phone was edited in Photoshop. Then his company fired him because of pressure from Huawei. A few years ago, Huawei’s ad claimed its phone used a high-end memory card but a person reported on the Internet that his test found it was a low-end memory card; he was arrested.”

Comments by “The List of Guillotine”:

“A few months ago, a person posted on a Microblog that his Huawei phone exploded. Then his post was taken out and his account was deleted. You can only blame yourself and take the loss when you run into a problem (with Huawei’s phone).”

Comments by “Talk in Human’s Language”:

“Even people outside of China are warned. How mighty (Huawei is)! The patriots can boast about it now.”

Source: Twitter, October 31, 2019

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

The Epoch Times: CCP Relies on Heavy Lobbying in Europe

The Epoch Times recently reported that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has funded many think tanks and institutions and adopted savvy lobbying tactics across Europe in order to promote its agenda. However, the Europe Union (EU) has been watching the CCP’s actions.

Chris Devonshire-Ellis, Chairman and Founding Partner of Dezan Shira and Associates, which advises foreign investors on Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), reported, “China has devoted a large number of resources to lobbying the EU and influential persons connected with it.” “It has mapped out the entire EU structure and, via Embassies, managed to piece together a concise map of who is connected to whom and who is likely to be able to further China’s business interests.”

Beijing has also built up its lobbying experience in its investment push into Africa. In 2015, China bid on and won the Budapest-Belgrade railway project from Hungry and Serbia. China was likely to run it in the same way it ran the BRI projects. The EU then intervened, “insisting that the tender be monitored and subject to controls and regulations imposed from Brussels.” The EU’s involvement made it hard for Beijing to run the project as it desired. Therefore, Beijing adjusted its strategy and put more effort into lobbying the EU so that it could get more and better policy support and a green light for its business and other activities.

Malgorzata Jakimow, assistant professor of East Asian Politics at Durham University and Secretary of the Center for Contemporary Chinese Studies (CCCS), said, “China’s think tank networks are huge. They have been recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the predominant tool for soft power.”

A report that the lobbying watchdog, Corporate Europe, published in April noted, “Often, conferences and seminars held in Brussels with a China theme receive Chinese Government sponsorship.” The report also listed dozens of organizations and networks scattered throughout Europe that have substantial ties to China.

Charles Parton, a former British diplomat to China and a senior associate for the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a defense and security institute, said that many Chinese-born academics in the West are cautious about what they can say because the CCP has control over the lives of their relatives back in China and over whether they can visit or return to China. “It would be quite dangerous for these people, for their health, and for their careers, to do anything but talk the party line.” Parton said he could think of one particular person who is frequently called upon to comment on the radio and speak to the media, but what he says is always purely the CCP Propaganda Department’s message.

Source: The Epoch Times, October 16, 2019
https://www.theepochtimes.com/chinas-belt-and-road-lobbying-push-into-europe-flies-under-the-radar_3113447.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics

Huawei to Launch 5G Infrastructure in Southeast Asia

Agence France-Presse reported that China’s telecom giant Huawei is ready to launch 5G infrastructure across Southeast Asia. Zhou Mingcheng, Huawei’s VP for global public affairs, said at the ASEAN meeting in Bangkok on Sunday that China and the United States are engaged in a trade war, as well as a technological war. Zhou said, “We are here to support the 5G development in ASEAN countries.” The 10-members of ASEAN have a total population of more than 600 million. ASEAN countries hope to embark on the latest technology so as to become globally competitive in business, infrastructure, and transportation.

After Huawei set up a regional headquarters in Thailand in 2015, for three years in a row, Thailand has been the company’s largest destination for investments in Southeast Asia. From 2016 to 2018, Huawei won a total purchase order of US$2.09 billion in Southeast Asia. Although the United States has repeatedly issued security warnings against Huawei’s 5G network, traditional American allies Thailand and the Philippines, instead of paying heed, have been anxious to explore the superfast 5G network that Huawei has promised. In early February of this year, Thailand launched Huawei’s 5G test platform, Huawei’s first test platform in a Southeast Asian country. Global Telecom, the Philippines’ largest mobile telecommunications operator, already started to use Huawei technology this summer, launching the first 5G broadband service in Southeast Asia.

However, not all ASEAN countries like Huawei. Vietnam has chosen to side with the United States and has partnered with other companies, including Ericsson and Nokia.

Source: Voice of America, November 3, 2019
https://www.voachinese.com/a/5150592.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

A China Built High-voltage Power Transmission Project in Mongolia

The completion ceremony for the China built 330 kV power transmission project connecting Mongolia’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar to Mandalgovi, the capital of Dundgovi Province in Mongolia, was recently held in Mandalgovi. The power transmission project is the first cross-region high-voltage transmission line in Mongolia, aiming at improving the local power supply, enhancing grid security and stability, and reducing electricity costs. The website of the Dundgovi provincial government claimed that the project achieved the interconnection of the Mongolian central power system and the southern power system, ensuring the safe and reliable operation of the southern power grid in the country.

Mongolia’s Minister of Energy stated that the project will solve the problem of the local power shortage. In recent years, China has launched projects to help the livelihood of those in Mongolia, greatly promoting the economic and social development of Mongolia.

The Chinese ambassador to Mongolia said that China has been providing aid and preferential loans to Mongolia to support the country’s infrastructure and major livelihood projects. It plays an important role in pairing China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” with Mongolia’s “Development Path” strategy and promoting Mongolia’s economic and social development.

Source: People’s Daily, October 31, 2019
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2019-10/31/nw.D110000renmrb_20191031_4-16.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend