Geo-Strategic Trend - 66. page

The Primary Taiwanese news agency, the Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that, in order to strengthen its relationship with Lithuania, the National Development Council will not only set up a US$200 million investment fund for Central and Eastern Europe; it will do more. The Council just announced that it will provide a financing fund of US$1 billion to promote bilateral business cooperation between Taiwan and Lithuania through the two funds. The Council explained that the National Development Fund will supply the US$200 million Central and Eastern European Investment Fund. The Central Bank will provide the US$1 billion in financing to fund to the Export-Import Bank of China.  If the above-mentioned funds are not enough, the government can add more funding. In October last year, when the Taiwan economic and trade delegation visited Lithuania, Taiwanese companies and Lithuanian manufacturers held 240 talks leading to follow-up cooperation and development projects. When President Tsai Ing-wen spoke on New Year’s Day, she mentioned the launch of the “Strengthening European Links Program.” Taiwan will start with Lithuania, and will try its best to promote industrial cooperation and trade links that benefit both sides. As for when the two major funds can be launched, the Council revealed that budgets have been prepared and the administrative procedures will be completed soon. However, it is necessary to see whether there are administrative procedures to be carried out in Lithuania. “The idea is as soon as possible.” At present, many Lithuanian companies have expressed interest in areas such as the laser industry, the semiconductor industry, chip manufacturing and a number of others.

Source: CNA, January 11, 2022
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/202201115018.aspx

On December 30, 2021, Xinhua News Agency and China Central Radio and Television conducted a joint interview of China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi. Some of the questions and answers follow:

Reporter: This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation. What significance do the roles of China and Russia, as two major powers, have on global strategic stability and development? How do you evaluate the current Sino-Russian relations?

Wang Yi: Both China and Russia are major countries with global influence. Strengthening strategic coordination and pragmatic cooperation between the two sides is of global significance and irreplaceable.

We set a “China-Russia example” for the global fight against the epidemic. The two sides have always stood by each other and are at the forefront of the world in vaccine R&D, production and external supply; we jointly oppose the stigma and politicization of the epidemic and virus traceability and lead the international community to unite and fight the epidemic in the right direction.

We contribute “China-Russia responsibility” to global governance. The two sides firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at the core and the international order based on international law. We jointly oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs, unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. We let the world see what a great power should be like.

We firmly believe that, as long as China and Russia stand side by side and deepen cooperation back-to-back, the international order will not run into chaos, the justice of the world will not fall, and hegemonism will not win.

Source: Sina.com.cn, December 30, 2021
https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/dgby/2021-12-30/doc-ikyakumx7306289.shtml

Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that the Taiwanese Representative to Lithuania said that the Taiwan National Development and Reform Commission will set up a US$200 million “Taiwan Central and Eastern European Investment Fund” to invest in Lithuanian industries. The initial plan will give priority to the technology sector and the relevant details will be discussed with the Ministry of Economic Innovation of Lithuania. Initial investments will focus on industries that will strategically benefit both parties and will start to operate in a few months. The Taiwanese central bank will support the new fund. After last year, when Lithuania  allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in the country under the name “Taiwan,” it has been facing pressure from China to reverse its decision. However, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that he had not been consulted on the naming issue. The spokesperson for Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis confirmed that the Government of Lithuania looks forward to developing business, scientific, technological and cultural relations with Taiwan, and that the people of Lithuania and Taiwan are close because of shared values and an open society based on the foundation of innovation.

Source: CNA, January 5, 2022
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/202201055013.aspx

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that the North Korean Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports sent a letter to the Chinese Olympic Committee, the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Paralympics Organizing Committee, and the General Administration of Sports of China. The letter said that, due to the conspiracy activities of hostile forces as well as the global epidemic of infectious diseases, North Korea could not participate in the coming Winter Olympics Games. The North Korean Ambassador to China conveyed the letter when he met with the responsible officials of the General Administration of Sports of China. North Korean also pointed out in the letter that the United States and its followers are trying to hinder the smooth holding of the Beijing Winter Olympics. North Korea sent the letter to the General Administration of Sports of China on the day when they tested a hypersonic missile. In theory, North Korean athletes can still participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics as individuals, but based on North Korea’s travel ban, their athletes won’t be able to go abroad to participate in the competition.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, January 7, 2022
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20220107-1230472

Major Taiwanese news group Eastern Media International recently reported that, ever since Lithuania and Taiwan set up representative offices in each other’s capital last year, the Chinese Communist Party has been angry. Chna launched an economic and trade retaliation against Lithuania. On December 18 last year, Taiwan Liquor Company received a message from the Taiwan representative in Lithuania, and the Taiwanese Ministry of Finance, saying that there were 20,400 bottles of Lithuanian black rum blocked by Chinese Customs and the rum was about to face the fate of drifting in the Pacific. Taiwan Wine Company immediately approached the seller and acquired this shipment of black rum. In the meantime, Lithuanian beer has its own wholesaler in Taiwan. Together with private resellers, the sale of Lithuanian beer in Taiwan has exploded 24 times. Taiwanese consumers are cheering for Lithuania’s support of Taiwan’s position on the world stage.

Source: ETToday, January 3, 2022
https://finance.ettoday.net/news/2160176

The Cyber Administration of China (CAC) announced on its website on January 4 that the agency, as well as 12 other government bodies, including the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of State Security, have revised the “Cybersecurity Review Measures.”

The original regulation already took effect in June 2020. CAC pointed out that the revision is due to the implementation of the “Data Security Law” in September 2021, which requires that the state establish a data security review system.

After the revision, article 7 of the Measures stipulates that online platform operators that possess personal information about more than 1 million users must report to the Office of Cybersecurity Review when they go public abroad.

The Measure also specifies that operators of “critical information infrastructures” such as transportation, communications, and finance must also apply for security a review when purchasing network products and services that may affect national security.

It also lists key national security risk factors, including illegal control, the interference or disruption of “critical information infrastructure, possible disruption of product services due to political, diplomatic and trade factors, and the possibility of core data or substantial personal data being influenced, controlled and maliciously used by “foreign governments.”

The revised regulation is to be effective on February 15. It also adds the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) to the cybersecurity review mechanism.

Source: Cyber Administration of China, January 4, 2021
http://www.cac.gov.cn/2022-01/04/c_1642894602144070.htm