Geo-Strategic Trend - 91. page

The Myanmar military’s coup may disrupt China’s rare earth strategy because Myanmar is an important source for China’s imports of heavy rare earths. Hong Kong’s Ming Pao reported that the economic cooperation between China and Myanmar involves many elements, including industrial transfer, deep water ports, hydroelectric power plants, oil and gas pipelines, oil and gas exploration and development, minerals, gems, and timber, to name just a few examples.

In terms of minerals, the reserves of heavy rare earths only account for less than one percent of the total rare earth reserves and about 90 percent of the heavy rare earth reserves that are in China. Although heavy rare earths account for a very small proportion of the total rare earth reserves in the world, The world has a high consumption rate and could run out quickly. From 2017 to 2018, China significantly reduced its mining volume of heavy rare earth mines and used Myanmar as an alternate source. Myanmar is not a big rare earth country, but among its total rare earth reserves, the proportion of heavy rare earth reserves is relatively high, making it a major supplier of heavy rare earths.

In 2018, China imported 25,800 tons of heavy rare earth ore from Myanmar, which was equal to China’s annual production. According to data from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Geological Survey (USGS) and other institutions, in 2019, China’s rare earth mine production accounted for 62.9 percent of the world’s total. The U.S. accounted for 12.4 percent; Australia accounted for 10 percent; and Myanmar accounted for 10.5 percent.

The United Nations will certainly continue to discuss Myanmar issues related to the coup and may even consider imposing economic sanctions. If China were to oppose the U.N.’s decision, it would go against China’s claim that the problem should be resolved within the framework of the United Nations. If the situation calls for sanctions against Myanmar, it will put China in an awkward position considering all the economic ties it has with Myanmar.

Source: Central News China, February 15, 2021
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202102150068.aspx

Radio France Internationale (RFI) Chinese Edition recently reported that the just-finished 17+1 Summit between China and the Central and Eastern European countries is showing a changing relationship. There are now 15 European countries that are connected to China via railway for cargo transportation. It takes only 15 to 20 days to travel by rail from Xi’an or Chongqing to Europe, which is half of the time required by sea. This made the railway topic a major item on the 17+1 Summit agenda. Even with the rapid growth of the railway business, the Europeans didn’t show much warmth toward Xi Jinping. One week ago, Romania launched a regulatory procedure that excluded Chinese companies from its national construction projects. Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania only sent ministers to this summit. Hungary is the only country that clearly expressed its friendship toward Beijing. Last April, it reached an agreement with China on the funding of the Budapest-Belgrade railway. However, the content of the agreement will be kept confidential for ten years. Russia is still a real threat in the region, so the United States remains a natural ally. It appears that the Baltic states care more about their transatlantic relationship. The Central and Eastern European countries have begun to feel tired of China’s “promises” and its potential. China’s investments have been on the decline since 2016.

Source: RFI Chinese, February 10, 2021
https://bit.ly/3dbXgwW

People’s Daily reported on February 11 that the Chinese State Administration of Radio and Television announced a ban on BBC World News in China, citing “serious violations” of the Radio and Television Administration Regulations. China said BBC’s false and unfair reporting “harms China’s national interests and undermines China’s national unity.”

BBC News Chinese Edition reported on February 12 that the BBC officially expressed its disappointment regarding China’s decision. The BBC explained that the BBC is a globally trusted source of news with principles of fearless and unbiased reporting. British authorities cancelled the broadcasting license of China’s CGTN in early February, citing the Chinese Communist Party’s controlling power over CGTN content. This caused China’s strong reaction. The Hong Kong’s government-owned local radio station RTHK also announced on February 12 that it will no longer carry BBC International and BBC’s Cantonese programming.

Deutsche Welle Chinese Edition reported on February 12 that, with the cancellation of CGTN’s British license, CGTN’s German broadcasting permission is automatically cancelled at the same time. Vodafone Germany stopped the CGTN programming due to the fact that its license was granted under a 1989 European license-sharing agreement. Vodafone is currently working with the German authorities to clarify legal matters.

Sources:
(1) People’s Daily, February 11, 2021
http://world.people.com.cn/n1/2021/0212/c1002-32028823.html

(2) BBC Chinese, February 12, 2021
https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/world-56036111

(3) DW Chinese, February 12, 2021
https://bit.ly/3jIrdWw

On February 7, the Japanese Coast Guard announced that two Chinese Coast Guard vessels entered the Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands at about 3:50 am. The ships turned towards a Japanese fishing boat, about 22 kilometers south of Taisho Island, and made an attempt to approach. Since China’s new law, effective starting this month, allows its coast guard to use military force in waters the country claims, the Chinese government ships have sailed into the Japanese territorial waters near the Senkakus for two consecutive days.

According to the Japanese Coast Guard, the Japanese fishing boat had five people onboard, and Japanese patrol boats were deployed to ensure its safety. Japan’s Coast Guard also issued a warning and demanded the Chinese Coast Guard vessels leave their territorial waters. The two ships left one after another around 9:10 am and sailed to the contiguous area outside the territorial waters.

It is the fifth day this year that a Chinese official ship entered Japanese territorial waters near the Senkakus. Two additional Chinese Coast Guard vessels were sailing in the contiguous area outside the territorial waters, one sporting a cannon-like weapon. The vicinity of the Senkakus, including the contiguous area, has seen Chinese official ships for nine consecutive days.

China’s new coast guard law has stoked concern in Japan, with some in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party urging bolstered measures in the area such as joint military exercises between the Self-Defense Force and the U.S. military near the Senkakus.

The islets sit in the rich fishing waters of the East China Sea and are believed to be home to vast mineral and gas deposits.

The new law allows the Chinese Coast Guard to take “all necessary measures,” including the use of weapons, against foreign organizations or individuals that violate Chinese sovereignty or China’s jurisdiction.

Source: Kyodo News, February 7, 2021
https://china.kyodonews.net/news/2021/02/0c5805c975b6.html

Radio France Internationale (RFI) Chinese Edition recently reported that the Taiwanese authorities announced that, in 2020, around 11,000 Hong Kong residents were granted permission to stay in Taiwan. With the background of the Mainland pushing the new Hong Kong National Security Law, this new number doubled the 2019 total and set a record high. In the meantime, 1,576 Hong Kong residents received Taiwan’s permanent resident status. The previous record was set in 2014, with 7,506 Hong Kong residents allowed to stay in Taiwan. At that time, the “umbrella Movement” was taking place in Hong Kong, which was a massive movement against Mainland communist rule. To support the freedom movements in Hong Kong, the Taiwanese government established a special office to handle immigration requests from Hong Kong. The Office is considering easing the restrictions on work permissions for young Hong Kong college graduates and other Hong Kong residents with special skills. However, the Taiwanese authorities are also on high alert to keep Mainland spies from penetrating Taiwan via the immigration process.

Source: RFI Chinese, February 3, 2021
https://bit.ly/3cP7xiq

According to the Ukraine’s official website, on January 29, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of the Ukraine (NSDC) to sanction the Chinese legal persons and individuals that invested in the Ukrainian aerospace company Motor Sich. The sanctions will take effect immediately.

Four Chinese companies — Skyrizon Aircraft Holdings Co., Ltd, Hong Kong Skyrizon Holdings Co., Ltd, Beijing Skyrizon Aviation Industry Investment Co., Ltd, Beijing Xinwei Technology Group Co., Ltd. — along with a Chinese citizen, Wang Jing, born on December 24, 1972, had restrictive measures imposed on them for a period of three years.

The sanctions on Wang also include freezing his assets and temporarily restricting the use, trade and disposal of his property. The order partially or completely suspended his assets from being transported across Ukrainian territory. Wang’s visa status is revoked, and there is a ban on his entering Ukrainian territory.

Skyrizon Aircraft is the company (legal person) that invested in Motor Sich.

At the end of last year, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) added China’s Skyrizon Aircraft to a Military End-User (MEU) List over its ability to develop military products including aircraft engines. The list includes 58 Chinese and 45 Russian companies.

Source: Sputnik News, January 29, 2021
http://big5.sputniknews.cn/china/202101291032991427/