The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses its “Internet Army” to publish articles promoting its political positions. A recent article posted on Chinese platform Net Ease stated that a Chinese Frigate ship had recently intimidated Malaysia.

“There’s been another incident in the South China Sea, but this time it’s not the Philippines — it’s Malaysia.” The article stated that Malaysia had been “secretly engaged in ‘stealing oil’ in the South China Sea.”

“However, in Chinese waters, you can’t just do as you please,” the article said. “The People’s Liberation Army responded swiftly, dispatching a 1,000-ton 053H3-class frigate and Coast Guard vessels to the area, with the frigate’s main guns on display. This was China’s practical response: any actions that infringe on China’s rights in the South China Sea will be met with a strong counterattack.”

Source: Net Ease, September 19, 2024
https://www.163.com/dy/article/JCDVNPIR05568UZV.html

Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that independent and non-partisan British think tank British Foreign Policy Group just released its poll results on China. Overall, the British public has clear doubts about China.

About 71 percent of the British public do not trust China as a responsible international actor, and 43 percent support reducing dependence on Chinese technology and resources. Only 13 percent of British people support allowing Chinese technology companies (such as TikTok) to operate in the UK, and only eight percent support China developing infrastructure in the UK, including nuclear power plants and 5G telecommunications. Last year, 15 percent of British people believed it was necessary to cooperate with China in the fields of technology and infrastructure. However, 25 percent of British people aged 18 to 25 support allowing Chinese technology companies to operate in the UK.

Regarding the areas to be given priority in UK-China interaction, the results show that the British people believe that “seeking to reduce dependence on China’s technology and resources” is the most important. The second most important item is “seeking cooperation in addressing common global challenges such as climate change”. The third is “challenging China’s human rights record.”

In addition, 56 percent of British people believe that the UK should reduce trade with China.

Source: CNA, September 21, 2024
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/202409210003.aspx

Global Times recently reported that Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said in a Hong Kong press interview that Saudi Arabia is “open to new ideas” including the use of Chinese currency RMB in cross-border crude oil transaction settlements, and is willing to cooperate with China to “try new things.” Alkhorayef also said that Saudi Arabia “welcomes Chinese companies to invest”, and “we try not to mix politics with business.”

Alkhorayef described Saudi Arabia’s “positive” view on using the “Petro-Yuan” instead of US dollar in transactions, but he did not give a specific timetable for the implementation. “From a commercial point of view, between suppliers and customers, I think such an arrangement can be realized according to the free will of both parties,” Alkhorayef continued, “this is not a problem that we look at from a policy point of view.” He looks forward to more cooperation with China, mainly in the form of Chinese investment, in areas such as metals, pharmaceuticals, smart cities, robotics and renewable energy. “We welcome Chinese companies to invest in electric vehicles too,” he added.

The Saudi industrial and mining delegation led by Alkhorayef visited China and Singapore from September 1st to 8th. Alkhorayef’s office said, “The goal of the delegation’s visit to China is to strengthen cooperation with China and make Saudi Arabia a key automotive center in the region.”

Source: Global Times, September 9, 2024
https://hqtime.huanqiu.com/article/4JN7P2H87FS