China’s propaganda machine People’s Daily published a commentary on the Russian-Ukraine war under the title, “Who Is Intentionally Perpetuating the Conflict?” The author’s name is Zhong Sheng. This is a pen name that sounds like “The voice of China.”
The article states, “The Russian-Ukrainian conflict broke out and the stock prices of U.S. military industry companies rose sharply. Who is making a fortune from this war? Who is intentionally perpetuating the conflict? It is a self-explanatory fact.”
The commentary continued, “The Ukrainian crisis has put more pressure on the already burdened world economy. However, according to a former U.S. Department of Defense official, in Washington, many lobbying companies, military enterprises and people in the Capitol are quietly popping champagne to celebrate. The U.S. stock market data showed that, from February 24 to March 28, Lockheed Martin shares rose more than 13 percent, Northrop Grumman rose more than 13.4 percent, and General Dynamics rose more than 10 percent. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict broke out and the stock prices of U.S. military industry companies rose sharply. Who is making a fortune from the war? Who is intentionally perpetuating the conflict? The answer is self-explanatory.”
“Provoking the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and profiting from it is the desired wish of the U.S. military-industrial complex. It influences U.S. foreign policy through interest groups. It constantly challenges Russia’s bottom line. By exaggerating the “military threat from Russia.” It sells security anxiety and exaggerates the need for European countries to increase defense spending significantly and to strengthen “military deterrence.”
The article concluded, “The United States has long regarded itself as a ‘beacon of democracy.’ In recent years it has tried to exaggerate the narrative of ‘democracy against authoritarianism.’ However, a strong contrast between the lack of U.S. domestic anti-epidemic funding and the huge profits that the military industry makes, as well as the U.S. history of creating wars and conflicts all over the world, have eroded the democracy and human rights appearance it has so promoted with holes and scars everywhere. The United States, which has such interest groups as the military-industrial complex, is a hegemonic chariot corrupted by money. What it brings to the world and its ordinary people is only turmoil and harm.”
Source: People’s Daily, April 2, 2022
http://world.people.c.om.cn/Tn1/V2022/0402/c1002-32390419.html
The CCP Has Turned the Chinese People to the Dark Side
During the 2022 Beijing Olympics Games, an incident beyond the Chinese government’s control aroused much ire and heated discussion on social media. Continue reading
He Lifeng Took Some Powers from Wang Hu’ning
Hong Kong’s Ming Pao reported that He Lifeng (何立峰) might have taken certain powers away from Wang Hu’ning (王沪宁).
He Lifeng heads the National Development and Reform Commission. Ming Pao received information that he has taken over the CCP Central Committee for Deepening Reform Office, which seems to be separated from the CCP Central Committee Policy Research Office that Wang Hu’ning oversees.
The Wall Street Journal quoted from its source that Xi Jinping is thinking about letting He Lifeng take over China’s economy and financial system in the future, and possibly giving him the first Deputy Prime Minister position.
Wang Hu’ning, according to a Washington Post report, “is almost certainly the most dangerous man in the world that most people have never heard of. He is a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party but is best understood to be the big thinker in President Xi Jinping’s inner circle.” Wang has a “considerable influence over Xi.” He also advised two previous CCP heads, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao.
There is infighting between Jiang Zemin’s faction and Xi Jinping. Some political observers have the view that Wang has stayed in Jiang’s camp and has been misleading Xi Jinping to get him to make irrational decisions.
Source: Epoch Times, April 1, 2022
https://hk.epochtimes.com/news/2022-04-01/24028216
Global Times Editorial: Don’t Let the “Bucha Incident” Be Used to Fan the Fire
Below is an excerpt from an editorial that China’s state-run media Global Times wrote on the “Bucha killing” in Ukraine:
“The United Nations Security Council held a meeting on April 5, discussing the Ukraine situation, with the ‘Bucha incident’ being the focus. Ukraine alleged that the Russian army killed a large number of civilians during the occupation of Bucha which is located in the western suburbs of Kyiv. Russia resolutely denied it and submitted the evidence of the Ukraine side’s fake propaganda to the Council.”
“Unfortunately, after the ‘Bucha incident’ was exposed, the initiator (the United States) of the Ukrainian crisis has not shown any signs of urging peace and promoting talks. On the contrary, it is ready to exacerbate the Russia-Ukraine tensions and create obstacles to the peace talks between the two sides by increasing sanctions against Russia, providing more weapons to Ukraine, and continuously pressuring Russia in diplomacy and in public opinion. In particular, Washington expressed that it will provide a series of heavy weapons systems to Ukraine. The U.S. national security consultant, Jake Sullivan, said that the extent and depth of sending weapons and military equipment to Ukraine will be ‘unprecedented.’ We have to say, it is very irresponsible to fan the flames.
“Many Western media describe the ‘Bucha incident’ as the turning point in the Russian conflict. This is a vague judgment. Is it a direction in which the situation is further deteriorating? This is precisely why the peace-loving people need to be vigilant. At present, the direction of the ‘Bucha incident’ seems to have deviated from the normal orbit, and the elements of a public opinion war and psychological war are getting stronger. However, any attempt to use the Ukrainian crisis so as to unilaterally occupy the ‘moral high-ground,’ and continuously push up conflicts to extract the geostrategic interests, will in the end, trigger a larger humanitarian tragedy.
“People have reason to suspect that some people in the U.S. and the West are hiding a ‘double standard’ and a not so simple political purpose over the ‘Bucha incident.’ The reason is that, over the years, the military forces of some countries have committed numerous crimes in killing civilians with impunity. According to incomplete statistics, as many as 100,000 Afghan civilians have died under U.S. gunfire, and a significant number of them were children. The Australian special forces have killed 39 unarmed Afghan civilians, including juveniles, by slitting their throats only for ‘practice.’ What’s more, in order to obstruct the International Criminal Court’s (ICC’s) investigation of U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan, the U.S. government went so far as to restrict the issuance of visas for ICC staff and threatened to impose sanctions on them.”
The “‘Bucha incident’ once again reminded the international community that, while having a serious investigation, it is also necessary to avoid fanning the flames and ‘passing the knife.’”
Source: Global Times, April 5, 2022
https://opinion.huanqiu.com/article/47UHALnFtHl
Top U.K. Judges Resigned from the Hong Kong Court
Robert Reed, the President of the U.K. Supreme Court, and Patrick Hodge, the Deputy President of the U.K. Supreme Court, resigned with immediate effect from their positions as non-permanent judges on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (CFA), the highest court in Hong Kong.
They took this action because of the severe deterioration in Hong Kong’s political environment and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) intervening in the judicial process in Hong Kong.
Reed said, “I have concluded, in agreement with the (U.K.) government, that the judges on the Supreme Court cannot continue to sit in Hong Kong without appearing to endorse an administration which has departed from the values of political freedom and freedom of expression.”
Source: Radio Free Asia, March 30, 2022
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/gangtai/al2-03302022131611.html
Sharp Drop in Travel during China’s Qingming Festival Due to Covid-19 Flare-up
A recent COVID-19 flare-up and the authorities’ lockdown policy have depressed travel and tourism during the Qingming Festival from April 2 to 4. The Qingming Festival, also called Tomb Sweeping Day in China, is a time to remember and pay respect to ancestors.
According to China’s Ministry of Transportation, on April 5, 53.781 million traveled by railway, highway, waterway, and air combined during the Qingming Festival holiday, a sharp drop of 62.7 percent compared year on year with 2021.
Among those who traveled, those who chose to use the railways fell by 83.7 percent compared with the same period in 2021. Travel by highways declined by 53.2 percent; trips via waterways were down by 77.0 percent, and air travel was down by 87.0 percent.
According to China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism data center, 75.419 million domestic trips took place across the country during the three-day festival, a year-on-year decrease of 26.2 percent. Domestic tourism revenue was estimated to be around 18.78 billion yuan, a decline of 30.9 percent, year on year.
Sources:
Jiamian, April 6, 2022
https://www.jiemian.com/article/7298725.html
China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, April 6, 2022
Pandemic: Unconfirmed Report: 100,000 People Sent to Help Shanghai
During the day on April 4, China reported 16,412 COVID cases (1,173 confirmed infection cases and 15,239 asymptomatic cases). Shanghai reported 13,354 cases (268 confirmed infection cases and 13,086 asymptomatic cases). Jilin province reported 2,472 cases (792 confirmed infection cases and 1,680 asymptomatic cases). The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is known for hiding COVID information, so the actual infection count remains unknown.
Shanghai previously announced a lock-down in Pudong (the east half of the city) from March 28 to April 1 and in Puxi (the west half of the city) from April 1 to April 5. The whole city remained in lock-down after the planned dates.
An Internet article titled “A Great Battle to Determine the Fate of China Is about to Start in Shanghai” mentioned the following:
- Almost every street in Shanghai has COVID positive patients.
- The top CCP leadership is mobilizing the whole nation’s resources to fight the prevention of COVID and to control the battle. The military and 16 provinces are sending 100,000 people to Shanghai to help. Among them, the military is sending about 10,000 people.
- The whole state machine is running at full speed to send people and supplies to Shanghai. By April 3, over 150 civilian planes, over 10 military planes, and several dozen high-speed trains had brought many people to Shanghai.
- Shanghai will move tens of thousands of infected patients out to neighboring provinces (Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province) to quarantine them and to reduce Shanghai’s case count. Shanghai set a target of having a zero COVID count by April 11 and will reopen on April 18.
Another article on the Internet showed an urgent official document that the CCP ordered six cities in Zhejiang Province (Hangzhou, Ningbo, Huzhou, Shaoxing, Jinhua, Taizhou) to prepare to receive 30,000 people from Shanghai.
Related postings on Chinascope:
- Pandemic: E.U. Asked Shanghai Government Not to Separate Parents and Children
- Pandemic: Official Lies and Tragedies Associated with COVID
- Pandemic: Shanghai Started Half-City Locked Down
Source:
1. Epoch Times, April 5, 2022
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/22/4/5/n13696233.htm
2. Epoch Times, April 6, 2022
https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/04/06/a103393636.html
China-Europe Railway Express Arrived in Moscow
On March 25, a local Chinese newspaper, Hubei Daily, reported that the China-Europe Railway Express, “Yangtze River,” carried 41 containers of goods, left the train station in Xianning, a city located in China’s Hubei province, and departed for Europe.
The contents of the containers on this China-Europe rail train include auto parts, medical supplies, household appliances, and household goods. 41 containers weighed about 770 tons, with a total value of more than 14 million yuan (US$2.20 million). The train hummed through the port of Manzhouli, a city in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and was expected to arrive in Moscow in 14 days after a journey of 9700 kilometers, or about 6000 miles.
Compared with sea freight, railway freight saves at least a month in travel time.
Source: Hubei Daily, March 26, 2022
https://epaper.hubeidaily.net/pc/content/202203/26/content_160930.html