Geo-Strategic Trend - 91. page

Radio Free Asia (RFA) Chinese Edition recently reported on a poll sponsored by the Hong Kong government. The year-end poll showed that Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam once again scored lower than ever before. The record of the Public Sentiment Index recorded “extremely low.” Residents’ Happiness Level reached the lowest since 1992. In the past year of 2020, Hong Kong suffered a deepening antagonism between the government and the people; a greater division in its society, and the young generation’s growing distrust in the government. The researchers interviewed 250 middle school students during the pandemic. The result showed that 87 percent of the students lost confidence in the government. The same poll in 2019 showed an answer of 40 percent on the same question. The researchers called for the government to listen to the young people instead of seeing them as trouble. Analysts in the education field expressed their worry that Hong Kong seems to be entering Culture Revolution 2.0, which encouraged people to distrust each other under the new HK National Security Law. Some basic moral standards and social justice were also shaken. The Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam was given a score of zero by 44 percent of the people polled. Her approval rate is only 18 percent and her disapproval rate is 69 percent. Nearly all indicators of the poll reached record lows.

Source: RFA Chinese, January 5, 2021
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/hj-01042021165712.html

According to Kyodo News, the results of a survey show that more than 40 percent of the 96 Japanese companies that are recognized by the Japanese government as possessing critical technologies are adjusting their supply chains, including parts procurement and their supply networks. They are promoting the diversification of production bases and suppliers away from China.

The survey targeted 150 companies, all of which are listed companies that possess security-related technologies in the field of information and communication. Japan’s “Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law” stipulates that foreign investors need to submit an application in advance when making capital contributions into these firms, whose stocks have been adopted by the Nikkei Index. Among the 96 that responded, 42 companies, or 44 percent, have implemented and discussed the diversification of their supply chains away from China and into Southeast Asia and India.

The Japanese government calls for the overseas production bases to be moved back home as a part of mitigating “China risks.”

Source: Kyodo News, December 30, 2020
https://china.kyodonews.net/news/2020/12/b1ea80573e7c-4.html

Well-known Chinese news site NetEase (NASDAQ: NTES) recently reported that, according to multiple Indian media sources, the Indian government has informally asked all airlines not to fly in any Chinese customers. This includes domestic airlines as well as foreign airlines. Currently there are no direct flights between China and India, but most Chinese travelers come from Europe. Some airlines asked the Indian government to provide them something in writing so that they can offer some official proof when cancelling legitimate customers’ flights. This appears to be a strong retaliatory response from India to China. At the beginning of December, China banned travelers from the UK, Russia and China, citing temporary pandemic related concerns. In the meantime, around 1,500 Indian seamen were stuck in the Chinese port of Jingtang for months since the ships were not allowed to disembark the sailors or to leave the port.

Source: NetEase, December 28, 2020
http://mp.163.com/article/FUUV83DK05503FCU.html

BBC Chinese Edition recently reported, based on a newly released survey report which polled 13 European country residents on British public opinion, that, during this time of the pandemic, the people in Britain have changed their minds significantly about China. The report was published jointly by the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) and the Chatham House. According to the report, currently 62 percent of the British people surveyed have a “negative” impression of China. This number is only behind Russia and North Korea. This is also the highest number among the 13 European countries. In the meantime, over 68 percent of the people polled said China’s image has gotten worse in the past three years. The worsening Chinese image may result mostly from the pandemic. However, the situation and the wide reports on Hong Kong and Xinjiang have also played an important role. The pressure in the UK to take a more hawkish stance against China has not been so strong for a long time. During the pandemic, Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador to Britain, said earlier at an online press conference, “China has not changed. The responsibility for the difficulties between China and UK rests solely with the United Kingdom.

Source: BBC Chinese, January 1, 2021
https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/world-55498296

Xinhua recently reported that the British government finally reached an agreement with the European Union, leaving the “No-Deal Brexit” cloud behind. However, the Brits may have several tough challenges ahead of them. At the top of the list of troubles is Scotland being unhappy with the new agreement and the call for Scotland’s independence has intensified. The second major issue is the agreement’s lack of coverage of financial services. Britain is currently the world’s largest net financial service exporter. Forty percent of its financial services serve the EU, including banking, finance, insurance and telecommunications. It appears the EU may not allow the UK to keep the EU single market benefits without assuming obligations. The third big problem for Britain is the difficulties it has on trade agreements with other countries. Other than Japan and Canada, the British government has made little progress with key trade partners like the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Simultaneous talks are still on-going but moving very slowly. According to the British Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), in the next 15 years, the British economic growth may be four percent less than would be the case if it stayed within the EU.

Source: Xinhua, December 26, 2020
http://www.xinhuanet.com/world/2020-12/26/c_1126911308.htm