Geo-Strategic Trend - 136. page

On March 27, The Epoch Times reported on a bill on foreign interference that was introduced in Australia on December 7. A week ago, a group of Chinese scholars demanded that the Australian government withdraw the bill. The group claimed that the bill is a “threat to academic freedom. … The statement that a foreign force would interfere in Australia is over-the-top and is racist. … It could create hostility toward the Chinese population.” In responding to the demand, a group of 27 scholars in Australia published an open letter stating that the fact that the Chinese Communist Party is exercising its influence in Australia is unacceptable and warned that (those making the demand) are using racism as an accusation to end the open debate about the activities that the Chinese Communist Party has been conducting in Australia. The open letter included a list of espionage activities that the Australian government needs to be aware of and stated, “In recent years the CCP’s efforts to influence and interfere in Australia have become increasingly bold, including an overt agenda to influence Chinese communities in Australia. … The CCP seeks to position itself as the protector of overseas Chinese and drive a wedge between Chinese communities and the rest of Australia. … This debate is valuable and necessary.”

The scholars who signed the response include James Leibold, Associate Professor of Politics and Asian Studies, La Trobe University; Feng, Chongyi, Associate Professor in China Studies, University of Technology, Sydney; and Kevin Carrico, Lecturer, Chinese Studies, Macquarie University.

Source: The Epoch Times & sbs.com.au, March 27, 2018
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/18/3/27/n10254901.htm
https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/mandarin/zh-hans/audiotrack/open-letter-accusing-ccp-actively-restricting-free-speech-australia?language=zh-hans

Major Taiwanese news network Liberty Times Network (LTN) recently reported that U.S. President Trump appointed former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton to be his new National Security Advisor. Since Bolton is widely seen as a political “hawk,” it is getting clearer that the Trump administration will be packed with hard-liners. Bolton has had a very good relationship with Taiwan for a long time. He once suggested allowing Taiwan to join the United Nations. He also met with then Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian when he visited Taiwan in August 2007. In January 2017, Bolton wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal suggesting that the United States send troops to Taiwan. Last December, in an interview with Breitbart, Bolton criticized China’s rough attitude and activities in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

Source: LTN, March 23, 2018
http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/2374024

According to an article Duowei News published, on March 18, following Xi’s appointment to the new presidency, in section V of the paper, People’s Daily published a number of greeting letters from foreign leaders. The greeting letter from Kim Jong-un was placed on the top. Compared to the greeting letter in 2013, the number of words in the greeting letter from Kim Jong-un this time was only 111 words compared to 213 words in 2013. The content was also missing words such as “strengthening the close friendship between our two countries.” The article further commented that the existing neutral relationship between the two countries is a reflection of the existing trade relationship. In 2017, North Korea had a trade surplus due to the export of electricity to China in the amount of US$10.8 million compared to US$2.6 million in 2016. The article ended with the statement that, “On one hand, China is following the international community in imposing sanctions against North Korea. On the other hand, under the table, it is still assisting North Korea by buying electricity from them, which has enabled North Korea to make tens and millions of dollars. This could be the reason that Kim Jong-un is still sending warm wishes to Xi, although there was an obvious distance between the lines in his letter.”

Source: Duowei News, March 20, 2018
http://news.dwnews.com/china/news/2018-03-20/60047085.html

According to an article that Duowei News published, Dong-A Ilbo, the South Korean newspaper, reported that, unlike 2017, when North Korean diplomats discontinued all of their external activities, in 2018, as the conflicts between North Korea and the EU escalated, North Korean diplomats have displayed a completely different image. They have been actively participating in foreign diplomatic events with EU countries. At a number of events, they have been spotted having dialogues or even posing for pictures with ambassadors from South Korea. The article reported that there was speculation that, since King Jong Un wants North Korea to be recognized as a “normal country,” his foreign diplomats have been actively participating in foreign events in an effort to reshape North Korea’s image on the worlds stage.

Source: Duowei News, March 16, 2018
http://news.dwnews.com/global/news/2018-03-16/60046274.html