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Geo-Strategic Trend - 153. page

The Americans Entered Russian Nuclear Submarine in India

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported, based on Russian media sources, that representatives from the U.S. Navy were allowed to enter the Russian nuclear submarine Chakra, which has been serving in the Indian Navy under a long-term lease agreement. Earlier, the Americans had been allowed to visit the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier (formerly named Admiral Gorshkov), which caused Russia to protest. However, it is India that owns the aircraft in its entirely. The Russians considered the Chakra entry to be a political gesture and questioned why the Indians created such an unfriendly incident. Some members of the U.S. Navy delegation were well-trained submarine experts. Observers expressed their concerns about any serious impact it might have on the on-going negotiations between India and Russia for a second submarine lease as well as the plan for the joint construction of fifth-generation fighter jets.

Source: Sina, November 10, 2017
http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2017-11-10/doc-ifynsait6953976.shtml

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

South Korean Newspaper: China Arrested North Korean Agents

According to South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo (English: The Central Times), China arrested two North Korean agents who attempted to murder Kim Han-sol, son of Kim Yong-nam. Kim Yong-nam was Kim Jong-un’s elder brother. North Koreans murdered him in Malaysia in February.

Seven members of North Korea’s intelligence agency tried to carry out the murder plan against Kim Han-sol. China tightened its security control during the 19th National Communist Party Congress, which helped the discovery of this attempt.

Source: DW News, October 30, 2017
http://news.dwnews.com/global/news/2017-10-30/60020546.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Lianhe Zaobao: 27 Countries on “The Belt and Road” Have “Garbage” Level Sovereign Credit Ratings

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that a number of international studies have shown that most of the projects under China’s grand “The Belt and Road” plan do not show sound financial returns. When the top three international rating agencies ranked the 68 partner countries China included in “The Belt and Road” plan, 27 showed they suffered from “Garbage” level sovereign credit. Among the rest of the countries, 14 (including Afghanistan, Iran and Syria) either were not rated, or the respective governments withdrew their rating requests. “The Belt and Road” plan estimates that, over a ten year period, it will achieve a spending level of US$1.2 trillion on such infrastructure projects as railways, roads, ports, and power grids. Financial and banking experts suggested that it would be a better idea to classify the plan as a geopolitical investment rather than a profitable financial program. China has so far spent or committed to spend over US$500 billion, which does not include large commercial bank loans. The source for most of this spending is China-backed investment funds.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, October 28, 2017
http://www.zaobao.com.sg/finance/china/story20171028-806533

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

North Korean Nuclear Test Site Collapses Causing 200 Deaths

Major Taiwanese news group Eastern Media International recently reported, based on sources from North Korea, South Korea, and Japan that North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site suffered a major mountain structural change. This resulted in large-scale collapses of the underground tunnels for nuclear tests. North Korea completed its sixth nuclear test on September 3. A collapse occurred around September 10 burying around 100 workers. During the rescue mission, a second collapse took the lives of roughly another 100, mainly rescue staff. South Korean officials thought that, after the last test, the nuclear site had a big hole, the size of around 100 meters. If North Korea conducts more nuclear tests under the current conditions, serious radioactive leaks may occur. Three small scale earthquakes occurred after the last nuclear test. Scientists expressed the belief that structural collapses caused those quakes.

Sources: Eastern Media International, October 31, 2017
https://www.ettoday.net/news/20171031/1042620.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Taiwan Leader’s Intention is Obvious When She Stops in the U.S.

According to a recent article, People’s Daily reported on a Press Conference that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held on October 28, in which a question was raised about Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, stopping at Hawaii and Guam when she visits three diplomatic allies in the Pacific Ocean: “Does China plan to raise its concerns or negotiate with the U.S?” The answer was that “One China” is commonly recognized internationally and has always been the principal when China deals with Taiwan’s foreign policy. As to the Taiwan leader making a stop in the U.S., her real intention is obvious. We wish that the U.S. would comply with the “One China” policy as well as the rules contained within the Sino – US Joint Communiqué and not let her enter the U.S. It will send a false signal to the “Taiwan Independence” forces. The U.S. should take necessary action to safeguard the big picture of the Sino-U.S. relationship and the peace and stability in the Taiwan region. China has lodged solemn representations to the U.S.

Source: People’s Daily, October 28, 2017
http://world.people.com.cn/n1/2017/1028/c1002-29613565.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend US-China Relations

SINOPEC Is Selling Its Argentina Assets at a Loss

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that SINOPEC (China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation) is looking for buyers for its assets in Argentina. The primary asset is located in the Santa Cruz region and is priced at US$0.75~1 billion. This asking price is not even half of the cost SINOPEC paid in 2010 when it first bought this asset from U.S. Occidental Petroleum at US$2.45 billion. SINOPEC has been losing money (around US$2.5 billion as of 2015) in Argentina and it is also facing labor troubles. It is estimated that there may be 15 potential buyers mainly from the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Latin America. However, Russia and Mexico are also interested. The SINOPEC selling plan has not yet been announced publicly, so all information sources remain anonymous. New oil fields have been found near the SINOPEC fields that sold recently. This may further hurt SINOPEC’s deal. SINOPEC is the largest oil refiner in Asia.

Source: Sina, October 9, 2017
http://finance.sina.com.cn/stock/hkstock/ggscyd/2017-10-09/doc-ifymrcmm9556742.shtml

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

Global Times: The U.S. Alone Cannot Decide on the Status of the Iranian Agreement

Immediately after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would refuse to certify Iran’s compliance with the nuclear agreement, the Global Times published a commentary. The commentary stated that Trump is determined to go down the path of unilateralism and once again triggered a global disagreement with the EU, Britain, France, Germany, and Russia. The Agreement is the fruit of negotiations between six countries (the U.S., China, Britain, France, Russia, and Germany) and Iran. The final agreement was a UN registered international multilateral agreement. However, since day-one, the United States has treated it like a deal in which the U.S. can do anything it wants. If a single country can easily overturn an agreement, it will set a poor example for the North Korean issue, which may never arrive at a trust-worthy deal. The commentator questioned the benefit of driving Iran to restore its nuclear program. Isn’t the nuclear threat from North Korea bad enough?

Source: Global Times, October 14, 2017
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2017-10/11325889.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Attack of Taiwan Student’s Protest Is Example of Mainland Threat to Democracy and Security in Taiwan

According to an article that Duowei News published on September 25, National Taiwan University rented out its track field for an event called Sing! China – – Shanghai Taipei Concert, a cultural exchange program set up between the mainland and Taiwan. During the preparations, the field was damaged. A group of students from National Taiwan University went to the university track field to protest the Sing! China – Shanghai Taipei Concert.  The students planned to seek repairs of the damage  to the track field and to question the approval process of renting the university venue to a third party. At the scene, members of the pro-mainland Unionist Party physically attacked them. The protest turned into a bloody sight. Police arrived 40 minutes after the initial phone call and several students were hospitalized.

The incident that took place at National Taiwan University concerned people who recognized that the Chinese Communist Party controlled the local gang members who carried out the action. They observed that the concert has become part of the mainland’s United Front effort in Taiwan. In a news article Taiwan Central News Agency reported that the police department launched an investigation into incident at National Taiwan University. The article also stated that the police department arrested a few gang members who participated in political protests using certain political groups as a cover. In a separate article, Taiwan United Daily News reported that a group under the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office is alleged to have hired gang members to execute plans to attack democracy in Taiwan. The Minister of the Interior vowed that such an espionage effort would not be tolerated in Taiwan.

Source:
1. Duowei News, September 25, 2017
http://news.dwnews.com/taiwan/news/2017-09-25/60014452.html
2. United Daily News, September 29, 2017
https://udn.com/news/story/6656/2729464
3. Central News Agency, September 29, 2017
http://www.cna.com.tw/news/asoc/201709290154-1.aspx

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend