Chinascope – Page 154

Number of Japanese Companies in China Reaches Ten-year Low

According to a survey released by a Japanese data provider, as of June 2022, the number of Japanese companies in mainland China was 12,706, the lowest for the past 10 years. The survey points out that the “Zero Covid” policy has added to the risk of doing business in China. It also points to a trend involving the growing exodus of companies from China.

Compared to the last survey conducted in February 2020, there were 940 fewer Japanese companies (about 7 percent less). Among all the previous surveys, the year 2012 saw the highest number (14,394) of Japanese companies in China.

Among all the cities, Shanghai hosts the largest number (6,028) of Japanese companies. However, the number is 272 lower than it was in the previous 2020 survey. Since late March, and for about two months, Shanghai has been under lockdown and has been closed. Factors such as a delayed supply of parts have dealt a huge blow to the operations of Japanese companies.

The data provider, Imperial Database, observes that the extended lockdown under the “Zero Covid” policy has led to work stoppages, production shutdowns, and logistics and supply chain disruptions. There is an ongoing movement of European and American companies leaving China, with Japanese companies also pushing for supply chain adjustments.

Source: Kyodo News, July 23, 2022
https://china.kyodonews.net/news/2022/07/462eb725f11e.htmlS

Briefings | | July 28, 2022 | Economy/Resources

Beijing Is Buying Lithium Mines Worldwide

The lithium battery is critical for electric cars. Chinese companies have been buying lithium mines around the world.

China’s Ganfeng Lithium announced on July 11 that it will buy 100 percent of Argentina’s Lithium shares for US$962 million. Lithea has two projects at lithium salt lake in Argentina, which can produce 30,000 to 50,000 tons of lithium carbonate. Ganfeng has another four lithium salt lake projects in Argentina, three lithium mines in Australia, two lithium stone projects (one in Mali and one in Ireland) and one lithium clay project in Mexico.

China owns 6 percent of the global lithium reserves and produces 13 percent of the global lithium output. Chinese companies manufacture half of the total lithium batteries.

Chinese companies intensified competition to control the lithium resources outside of China. Six companies, including four Chinese companies, bid for lithium resources in Bolivia. Ganfeng Lithium beat CATL to buy the Canadian company Millennial which has two lithium salt lake projects. BYD, a Chinese electric car company, signed an agreement to buy six lithium mines in Chile. Tianqi Lithium bought 24 percent of the shares of SQM, a lithium mine company in Chile.

Source: Epoch Times, July 17, 2022
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/22/7/17/n13782559.htm

Briefings | | July 28, 2022 | Economy/Resources

U.S. Veteran: How the Chinese Consulate Tries to Control the Voting in U.S. Elections

The U.S. will hold its mid-term elections on November 8. To prevent foreign governments from interfering in the U.S. elections, the State Department offered a $10 million reward for reporting such interfering activities.

Yan Xiong, a candidate running for the U.S. Congress in New York State’s 10th district, said the Chinese Consulate in New York ordered the Chinese diaspora not to vote for him. He told the Epoch Times on July 24, “The Chinese Consulate informed Chinese associations not to let their people vote for me. Many people called me or wrote to me to tell me about it.” There are many in the Chinese diaspora in the 10th district. Mr. Xiong feels his case is solid evidence that Beijing is interfering in the U.S. election.

Mr. Xiong is a Chinese-American human rights activist. He was a law student at Beijing University and a student leader in the Tiananmen democracy movement in 1989. He came to the U.S. in 1992 as a political refugee and served in the U.S. military for 27 years. He retired as a chaplain in the army.

Mr. Xiong told the Epoch Times newspaper about another instance of Beijing’s interference cases in March. He was planning the opening ceremony of his campaign office on March 19. The Chinese Consulate asked Chinese association leaders not to support him, to give him no donation and not to vote for him. The Chinese Consulate called people from Fujian Province and Guangdong Province in for a meeting on either March 17 or 18, giving them a choice: “Would you rather do business in China or support his campaign?” Those people then didn’t come to Mr. Xiong’s gathering. An immigrant from Fuzhou City, Fujian Province confirmed independently to the Epoch Times that the President of a Fuzhou Fellowship Association received a Chinese Consulate’s notice saying not to support Mr. Xiong.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on March 16 that five people were Chinese agents. Their actions included ruining Mr. Xiong’s election. Qiming Lin, a member of China’s State Security Department asked a private detective (who happened to be an FBI undercover agent) to defame Mr. Xiong, such as by digging into his past affairs looking for something to use against him or tax evasion information or by setting him up with a woman, or directly beating him or creating a car accident.

An independent news commentator Ge Bidong shared a story about the Chinese Consulate’s interference on May 12, 2021. Ge and his friend running for a position visited Zhou. The President of the Shanghai Chinese Association was there. Zhou told them that the campaign in New York “cannot do without the Chinese Consulate” and the business associations and fellowship associations won’t let a person pass without the Chinese Consulate’s support for that candidate.

Mr. Ge and his candidate friend had previously been imprisoned in China.

“The (Chinese) Consulate said that your things are an ‘internal conflicts’ but the Falun Gong issue is a ‘conflict with the enemy.’” Zhou told them, “As long as you are not Falun Gong, you will be fine.” Zhou also promised to take them to the Chinese Consulate and “all your things will be resolved.”

Source: Epoch Times, July 26, 2022
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/22/7/26/n13789113.htm.

Briefings | | July 28, 2022 | @CS Government/Politics US-China Relations

China’s Anti-Tank Missiles Will Set NATO Tanks on Fire

In the Russia-Ukraine war, many anti-tank missiles provided by the West have caused heavy losses to the Russian armored forces. However, Russia’s “Free Press” website reported on July 21 that China has developed the most advanced anti-tank weapons. They will set NATO tanks on fire.

The Russian media said Chinese weapons manufacturers are pushing the United States and other NATO members out of the international arms market with similar weapons. “Soon, China will conquer the world market for anti-tank weapons. Many countries, including Iran, Algeria, Nigeria and others … are already buying Chinese anti-tank missiles.

The report refers to the latest model of China’s famous, “Red Arrow” series of anti-tank missiles. The “Red Arrow 12,” which in Chinese is Hongjian-12 (HJ-12) is a third generation, man-portable, fire-and-forget infrared homing anti-tank missile and was developed by China North Industries Corporation (Norinco).

According to the report, China’s ‘HJ-12’ has proven to be more effective than both the U.S. ‘Javelin’ and the Israeli ‘Long Nail’ anti-tank missiles.” Compared to its NATO counterpart, the Chinese HJ-12 has a much longer effective range. It can hit moving targets such as tanks from 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away during the day and up to 2 kilometers at night.

In addition, the “HJ-12” can be launched in a closed space. It is first propelled by a takeoff engine, with a small initial speed out of the tube, and with less tail jet gas. After a certain distance, the main engine starts to speed up and climbs. This “cold launch” technology means that it can even be launched from an ordinary apartment, making it easier to conduct urban warfare. In contrast, the U.S. Javelin anti-tank missile has many limitations when used in urban alley warfare. The tail flame is likely to burn the firer.

In addition, the report also mentions that the “HJ-12” has a powerful strike capability. The operator can choose between different combat modes: direct attack or top-attack mode, where the missile will hit the target from above at an almost vertical angle.

Meanwhile, China has been improving its anti-tank technology. China’s Poly Defense Corporation unveiled its next-generation GAM-10X anti-tank missile at the recent Defense Services Asia exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. This missile is capable of penetrating reactive armor up to one meter thick and can also be used as a man-portable weapon. It can also be fired from an enclosed space. The missile uses uncooled components that significantly reduce the missile’s launch preparation time. “That means that it can lock onto a tank’s infrared signature and fire as soon as it appears.” In addition, another major advantage is its modular design. This makes it easy to be integrated and mounted on a variety of platforms such as light all-terrain vehicles or tracked infantry fighting vehicles. It can also be mounted on a heavy tripod and used as a static defense or assault weapon.”

Source: China.com, July 22, 2022.
https://military.china.com/news/13004177/20220722/42889756.html

Reports | | July 28, 2022 | Defense/Military

HKET: Hong Kong Ranked Second Worst among World’s Best Cities

Hong Kong Economic Times (HKET), the leading financial daily in Hong Kong, recently reported that the British magazine Time Out just released its annual survey showing the results of ranking the 53 best cities in the world. This year the survey results show that the UK’s Edinburgh was selected as the best city in the world. Mumbai, India, was ranked 14th and became the top city in Asia. Hong Kong was second to the bottom, only ahead of Doha, Qatar. With the easing of the Covid pandemic, the Time Out magazine surveyed about 20,000 residents around the world. Then it integrated Internet editorial evaluations to deliver the annual Time Out Index results. This year’s survey focuses on assessing urban tourism and living advantages. It also includes the consideration of traffic and personal safety factors. Hong Kong now ranks at 52nd, far below Taipei’s 16th and Tokyo’s 24th. It lost to Bangkok by one. Hong Kong’s new ranking is a free fall from its previous spot of 20th.

Sources:
(1) HKET, July 12, 2022
https://bit.ly/3S9PZzN

(2) Time Out (HK), July 12, 2022
https://bit.ly/3aZqSyS

Briefings | | July 28, 2022 | Geo-Strategic Trend

Global Times: German Foreign Minister Called Erdogan’s Appearance a Challenge to NATO

Global Times recently reported that the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, attacked a three-person photo taken earlier this week of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Raisi, describing Erdogan’s appearance in this photo as a “challenge” to NATO. The photo was taken on the 19th, when Raisi, Putin and Erdogan held three-way talks in Tehran, the capital of Iran. In the photo, Raisi stood in the middle between Putin and Erdogan smiling, and the three held hands and gestured to the camera. Baerbock claimed that Ankara’s membership in the alliance makes the picture of the Turkish and Russian leaders “incomprehensible.” Although Turkey is a NATO member, unlike other NATO members, Turkey has chosen neutrality in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, while NATO as a whole regards Russia as a threat. According to the Kremlin, Putin thanked the Turkish side for mediating and providing a platform for negotiating the grain exports and transportation issues. In Baerbock’s view, this group photo proves the importance of standing with partners that share the same values because “there are other members who don’t support our values, and they also unite when they have doubts.” Some netizens did not agree with Baerbock, saying that Turkey is not a puppet of the United States.

Source: Global Times, July 23, 2022
https://world.huanqiu.com/article/48wgejrd1Nb

Briefings | | July 26, 2022 | Geo-Strategic Trend

In a Move Seen as a Warning to China, Britain Plans to Deploy Nuclear Submarines in Australia

Well-known Chinese news site Sina (NASDAQ: SINA) recently reported that, as part of the US-UK-Australia Trilateral Security Partnership (AUKUS), the British military plans to send a fleet of nuclear submarines to the Port of Perth in Australia. Some, however, said that the usefulness of the deployment is questionable, considering that China has the largest navy in the world. The Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, Admiral Tony Radakin, is expected to make a decision at a naval meeting in Sydney that will see British submarines deployed in Australia “within China’s striking range,” until 2040. The operation is part of the AUKUS alliance and Australian submarines will be integrated with British submarines to work together to improve Australian personnel’s operational skills on nuclear submarines. The British military declined to disclose the number of nuclear submarines to be deployed in Australia. and the UK Ministry of Defense declined to comment on the matter. Sending nuclear submarines to patrol the South China Sea will be the toughest move the UK has ever taken against China to date. The spokesperson for China’s Embassy to the UK said the move further exposed the deep-rooted Cold War mentality of the US, the UK and Australia, as well as the sinister intention of provoking group confrontation and creating conflict and division. It will also damage the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. China firmly opposes this new development.

Source: Sina, July 23, 2022
https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/china/2022-07-23/doc-imizmscv3129681.shtml

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Briefings | | July 25, 2022 | Geo-Strategic Trend

China’s Reaction to Trump’s Election Win

Xinhua Commentary Series: Spotlight on the U.S. Presidential Election

Wu Guoguang: Xi Jinping’s Reversal of the Course, Will China’s Transition be Peaceful or Marked with Bloodshed?

Cheng Xiaonong: U.S.-China Strategic Relations Have Crystallized