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Concern for Son’s Education Drove North Korean Diplomat to Defect

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that one of the main motivations for the defection of Thae Young Ho, North Korea’s high ranking diplomat and minister to Britain, was his worry about the education plan for his second son. Thae was due to return to Pyongyang this summer; however, his 19-year-old son, Kim Hyok was about to enter college this year for math and computer engineering. Kim Hyok is an A+ student who was born in Denmark and lived in Sweden and Britain for much of his childhood. Thae Young Ho made his decision to defect to South Korea for the sake of his son’s future. Meanwhile, some other sources reported that a significant financial burden could be another issue for Thae Young Ho. He complained in a public speech some time back that the monthly cost of rent in Britain meant he could only afford a public housing unit with two bedrooms with a very narrow kitchen. The Sina report did not mention any political motivation for the defection. 
Source: Sina, August 18, 2016
http://dailynews.sina.com/gb/news/int/chosun/20160818/23347479604.html

Global Times: Australian Politicians’ Paranoia about Chinese Investors

Global Times recently reported that the Australian government has refused the Chinese bid to acquire a controlling interest in Ausgrid, which is Australia’s largest electricity network. The government cited worries over national security. China’s State Grid Corp and Hong Kong’s Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings (CKI) were jointly attempting to buy a 50.4 percent controlling stake in Ausgrid, which is New South Wales’s electricity distribution network. Australia’s nationalist politicians and the media continued to hype the national security “threat” and asked, “Why does communist China want to own our electricity grid?” Some Australian analysts thought that the decision might hurt Australia’s relationship with China. In 2012, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Strengthening Cooperation in Infrastructure Construction in 2012. Now that the Chinese companies have come up with the money, Australia suddenly has gotten this paranoia about “long term strategic risks.” 
Source: Global Times, August 13, 2016
http://world.huanqiu.com/exclusive/2016-08/9303137.html

BBC Chinese: The British Government Delayed Decision on China’s First Nuclear Project in Britain

BBC Chinese recently reported that the new British administration decided to delay the decision on whether or not to approve the Hinkley C Nuclear Power Plant Project which had heavy Chinese investments. Given the importance of the project to Britain’s future energy security, the British government explained that it needed more time to review the entire project. The China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (CGN) released an announcement to express its understanding and respect for that decision. Hinkley C is Britain’s first new nuclear power plant in 20 years. Once in place, it is expected to supply seven percent of all of Britain’s electricity. China committed six billion British pounds to its investment in the project, which is one third of the total amount. 

Source: BBC Chinese, July 29, 2016 http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/business/2016/07/160729_hinkley_nuclear_delay

People’s Daily: Japan’s Defense White Paper Is to Pave the Way for Revising the Constitution

In response to the Japanese government’s approval of the 2016 “Defense White Paper” at its cabinet meeting on August 2, China’s State-run media People’s Daily published a report saying that [the paper] is repeating the same old nonsense. It is continuing to stir up the “China threat theory” and maritime safety controversies and it exaggerates, saying that Japan’s security environment is deteriorating. The purpose is to find excuses for its new security law issued in March of this year and it strengthening of the military.

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China Rejected the US-Japan-Australia Joint Announcement

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that the Foreign Ministers of Japan and Australia joined with the U.S. Secretary of State and issued an announcement in Laos while attending the Foreign Ministers’ Conference of East Asia Cooperation Series. The announcement mentioned the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, especially the conflict in the South China Sea. In response, the Chinese spokesperson stated in a press conference that these three countries are known for using a double-standard on international law. They only use these laws to their advantage when there is an advantage to using such abuse. None of these three countries were directly involved in any sovereign rights dispute; China once again called for direct one-on-one peace talks between the countries with sovereignty claims. China also denounced the validity of the recent South China Sea case that the Philippines won [at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague].
Source: Sina, July 27, 2016
http://dailynews.sina.com/gb/chn/chnpolitics/phoenixtv/20160727/08197441240.html

Some Content of the Deal between Vatican and China Revealed

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently referred to a Reuters report on the story that the Pope is determined to change the Vatican’s relationship with China. Some details regarding the agreement were revealed. Multiple sources said a working group with members from the two countries was formed in April. The key argument focused on who had the power to appoint bishops in China. So far China has appointed eight bishops without approval from the Vatican. One potential major breakthrough of the new agreement may include the Pope forgiving these eight China-appointed bishops. However, people in a number of Catholic parishes, including Hong Kong, have expressed different opinions. The Catholic University of Milan’s researcher Elisa Giunipero pointed out that, if the Vatican can establish a formal relationship with China, it will improve China’s international image and will reduce the amount of human rights criticism against China. 
Source: Sina, July 19, 2016
http://cj.sina.com.cn/article/detail/1010236564/30656?column=china&ch=9

China News: Japan is Making Trouble in the East China Sea Again

China News recently reported, based on information from Japan’s Kyodo News, that the chairman of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party East China Sea Development Committee has decided to recommend to the Abe Cabinet that Japan bring the East China Sea oil field conflict with China to The Hague Tribunal. For a long time, Japan has held a grudge against China for its oil and natural gas development in the East China Sea. Now the Japanese just want to try their luck and get a free ride on the recent South China Sea Arbitration case that the Philippines filed. China had a peaceful agreement with Japan to develop the natural resources in the East China Sea jointly. However, Japan destroyed the agreement by provoking the Diaoyu Islands dispute. Japan took the Chinese development on the Chinese side of the East China Sea as a violation of Japan’s rights to the resources. It seems Japan will not learn a lesson from its past failures; China has no choice but to be prepared to defend China’s interests all the way to the end.
Source: China News, July 16, 2016
http://www.chinanews.com/mil/2016/07-16/7941421.shtml

BBC Chinese: Hong Kong Fell Deeper into Ideological Control

BBC Chinese recently reported that the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) published its 2016 Annual Report on Freedom of Speech. The Annual Report observed that Hong Kong has fallen deep into an “ideology war” that has made the “one country, two systems” policy seem to be facing an “unprecedented threat.” Among 26 mainstream media companies in Hong Kong, the Chinese government or the Mainland capital currently control 31 percent directly. Many journalists and media companies have been asked to “edit their reports” by “orders from high up.” However, Carrie Lam, the Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration, said in a press forum that she did not see any practical examples of Hong Kong having a worsened freedom of speech environment, although she heard many foreign agencies perceive that things are getting worse. The HKJA Annual Report reported that 85 percent of the journalists and 45 percent of the residents surveyed agreed that the level of freedom of speech in Hong Kong is on the decline. 
Source: BBC Chinese, July 3, 2016
http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/china/2016/07/160703_hongkong_press_freedom