Geo-Strategic Trend - 173. page

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

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 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 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

The Chinese edition of Voice of America reported that a special hearing on organ transplants was held in the UK parliament on June 29, 2016. The hearing came one day after the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission published its report on the range of China’s appalling human rights abuses.

The 68-page report, titled the Darkest Moment: The Crackdown on Human Rights in China 2013-2016 examined the severe repression of human rights lawyers, violations of freedom of expression, suppression of democratic movements in Hong Kong, and topics on Tibet and Xinjiang, Falun Gong, and harvesting organs.

China News recently reported that, with the authorization of China’s central bank, China Foreign Exchange Trading Center announced the official beginning of the direct exchange between the Chinese currency RMB (symbol CNY) and the South Korean Won among Chinese banks. This is considered a major step forward for the RMB internationalization effort. As of now, China has a direct currency exchange arrangement with 12 countries. The other 11 are the United States, the European Union, Japan, Great Britain, Malaysia, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, and South Africa. China and South Korea have a high volume of direct trade. This mutual agreement was designed to improve settlements for these transactions and was aimed at lowering costs. 

Source: China News, June 24, 2016

http://www.chinanews.com/cj/2016/06-24/7916817.shtml

Global Times recently reported that the Special China–ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Foreign Ministers Conference was held in Yunnan, China on June 13 and 14. This was an important meeting, while the heated international arbitration decision on the South China Sea issue was about to reported soon. It’s unavoidable that conferences like this might have disagreements. However, the Western media suddenly came up with the news of a so-called “ASEAN joint announcement” that criticized China and that “slapped China in face.” Global Times found out that there was no official announcement distributed to reporters whatsoever. This is yet another example of the West dreaming on the “isolated China.”

In a further development, on June 14, BBC Chinese reported that the Conference seemed to have suffered a rupture. The China-ASEAN Conference did not reach a consensus announcement between China and ASEAN. The ASEAN foreign ministers issued a separate announcement after the conference closure, with harsh statements. Later the Malaysian spokesperson explained to the media that the ASEAN Ministers decided to revoke the single-sided announcement because it needed “emergency amendments.”

Source: Global Times, June 15, 2016 

http://mil.huanqiu.com/observation/2016-06/9041521.html

BBC Chinese, June 14, 2016

http://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/world/2016/06/160614_china_asean_malaysia