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

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

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

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Xinhua Commentaries: “Exposing the Three Major Political Deficits of the U.S.”

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China Times: Huawei Will “Optimize” Its Workforce

Major Taiwanese newspaper China Times recently reported that, according to Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, to ensure competitiveness, Huawei must refresh ten percent of its upper management every year. The goal is to replace all the “lazy people” on the management team in three to five years. Also, according to leaked internal news, Huawei is planning to lay off around 6,000 people by the end of September, under the name of workforce optimization. Multiple Huawei employees confirmed that they themselves were asked to leave the company by the end of September. Some internal sources also said that new college graduates hired by Huawei with less than one and a half years of service time would be fired directly. Every day, the company’s internal employees’ forum is full of negative discussions. Huawei declined to make an official comment. Founder Ren Zhengfei suggested that, those who may be laid off can make themselves useful. For example, they can join new product development “death squads” for a final chance.

Source: China Times, September 17, 2019
https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20190917004240-260410?chdtv

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

RFA: Macao Installs Skynet System; Over 1,600 Facial Recognition Cameras to Be Installed by 2020

Macao has been installing the “Skynet” system in its public areas. The version being installed has a facial recognition function. About half of the total 1,620 cameras have been installed and the installation of the remaining cameras will be completed next year. Even though Macau’s Security chief claims that the Skynet system has a strict supervision mechanism, if there is an illegal act in the course of the operation, the law will punish the perpetrator. People are still concerned, however, that the government surveillance systems tend to be tools used to suppress dissidents’ voices and to violate the people’s freedom and their privacy. An article that Radio Free Asia published questioned whether the Macao of today’s world will become the Hong Kong of tomorrow.

According to the information from the Macau Police Headquarters, the local “Skynet” project is divided into four phases. The first to third phases were put into use in 2018. They involved 820 cameras. The locations include the areas around the entry and exit to customs, major roads, transportation hubs, tourist attractions, important facilities, and black spots in a number of districts. The final phase will be completed in the first quarter of 2020. It will be set up in a remote location that has security issues. The four phases will include a total of 1,620 cameras.

Source: Radio Free Asia, September 20, 2019
http://https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/Macau-surveillance-09202019110839.html?encoding=simplified

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

Xinhua: President Xi Had Phone Conversation with King of Saudi Arabia

Xinhua recently reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman. Saudi Arabia is China’s “comprehensive strategic partner” and a key partner of the One Belt One Road Initiative. Saudi Arabia firmly supported China’s “One China” policy on the issue of Taiwan. King Salman provided more information on the recent attack against Saudi Arabia’s oil refineries. Xi Jinping strongly condemned this attack and the damage it caused to the region and the international energy market. Xi called for a fair investigation and asked all parties to remain calm to avoid an escalation of the crisis.

Source: Xinhua, September 20, 2019
http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/leaders/2019-09/20/c_1125021138.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

DW Chinese: Global Times Chief Hu Xijin Complained about the Great Firewall

Deutsche Welle Chinese Edition recently reported that Global Times (Huanqiu) Editor in Chief Hu Xijin just posted a complaint on social media Weibo that it has been really hard to get onto the “foreign Internet.” Hu and the Global Times are strong defenders of the Communist Party’s propaganda policies and Internet access control policies. However, they were often given privileges to get outside the Great Firewall to speak for the Party. Hu has been actively posting pro-Mainland messages on twitter for over a year now. It appears he just lost his access to the outside Internet world. China is currently in preparing for the celebration of the Communist government’s 70th anniversary. Internet access controls have been tightened up. Within two hours, Hu’s complaint on Weibo was quickly deleted. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently pointed out that the Chinese internet needs to be “safe and controllable.” China has also been cracking down on VPN providers recently. Hu Xijin also defended the Great Firewall himself when he had an interview with Hong Kong TVB, saying controlling access to outside networks is necessary.

Source: DW Chinese, September 18, 2019
https://bit.ly/2ksBcoB

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology Social Stability

The Epoch Times: As the Third National Parade Rehearsal Takes Place, Beijing Seems to Be in a Security War

As the National Day Parade is getting closer, a number of regions in China have tightened up their security surveillance. This is especially so for Beijing. Cai Qi, the Beijing Municipal Party Committee Secretary, spoke at the Beijing Security Work conference on August 31 and said that the security work in Beijing must be “excellent and perfect, with no loses.”

On September 21 and 22, Beijing held the third National Day Parade practice rehearsal. The authorities blocked the road near Chang An street and shut down the No.5 subway that passes through Chang An street. In addition, starting from the end of August, fruit and kitchen knives were removed from the shelves and petitioners in Beijing were arrested. The authorities imposed strict control over the personnel entering Beijing to ensure that “they are clean.” Hospitals in Beijing were notified that they could only release patients and could not admit patients. They also could not operate if there were non-emergency surgeries. One resident shared a notice he received from the building management office. The notice read as follows: Per the notification from the police, the gas supplies to this residential building will be temporarily shut off from 8 pm on September 30 until the celebration activities are concluded. Residents who live on 8th floor and above and who have a street view of Chang An street must put reflective stickers on their windows. Residents must gather on the ground floor at 8 am on October 1 and are not allowed to return back home until the activities are concluded. For seniors who lack mobility, the police will come to their homes to assist them.

Source: The Epoch Times, September 19, 2019
http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/19/9/22/n11538985.htm

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

State Media Promoted Website That Leaks Personal Data of Hong Kong Protesters

A Russian registered website called “HK Leaks” has recently been collecting and posting the personal data of the Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protesters. On September 18, China’s state TV network China Central Television (CCTV) shared the video of the “HK Leaks” website on Weibo and encouraged netizens to forward it to others. In response, the Hong Kong pan-democratic district councilor Sunny Chiu made a posting on Facebook and suggested that the Chinese police were behind the website.

The personal data exposed on the “HK Leaks” website includes each person’s name, personal photo, occupation, birthday, phone number, and Facebook account. Some people’s residential addresses were also posted. In addition to some media reporters, the list also includes members of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, social activists, and even ordinary Hong Kong citizens who participated in the parades. The website called these people “poisonous reports,” “Hong Kong independence thugs,” and “ringleaders that ruin Hong Kong.”

The website also leaves an email address to send tips. The list continues to grow. CCTV posted a video on its Weibo account around 1 p.m. on September 18, saying that “some netizens have created a website called HK Leaks.” They suggesting netizens “take off their masks and act together! Forward!” As of the morning of September 19, the video could not be seen.

Hong Kong pan-democratic district councilor Sunny Chiu shared a story on Facebook. The website showed that a violent thug accused a Hong Kong citizen, who was not a well-known social activist, of participating in illegal gatherings and also published his personal information. Chiu said that, two months ago, the police detained the victim for five hours when he entered mainland China from Hong Kong. During the detainment, the police confiscated the victim’s mobile phone, checked the photos, identified him as a participant in illegal parades, and took away the information on his phone. The victim told Chiu that he had deliberately filled in two errors in the address bar on the confession paper requested by the police. Later, the exact same mistakes showed up on the “HK Leaks” website. The victim believes that it must be the police who have been leaking the personal information of the Hong Kong people.

Source: Central News Agency, September 19, 2019
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/201909190055.aspx

Briefings | | |   Social Stability

RFI: Low Postage on Goods from China Costs German Online Merchants Five Billion Euros Each Year

According to German TV 2, Germany’s Business Daily and other media reports, unfair competition from China has caused huge losses for Germany’s online merchants. According to the statistics of the German Industry Association, the loss in the electronic products industry alone is as high as five billion euros (US$5.51 billion) each year. Gero Furchheim, chairman of German E-Commerce and Distance Selling Trade Association (BEVH), told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, “This has caused tremendous losses to Germany and has cost thousands of jobs.” Since China’s cargo transportation surged three years ago, Deutsche Post DHL has estimated that it has lost 120 million euros (US$132 million dollars). The value of China’s sale of electrical appliances to German private homes alone is estimated to exceed 1 billion euros (US$1.1 billion) per year.

The postage for goods sent from China is very low. The U.S. and other developed countries hope to solve this problem during a special meeting in Geneva that the Universal Postal Union will hold on September 24 where they will raise China’s postage. Meanwhile White House trade adviser Navarro will lead a delegation to Geneva, Switzerland, next week, demanding reforms to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) which has been around for 145 years. The U.S. could withdraw from the UPU as early as October 17, if the negotiation fails.

Source: Radio Free Internationale, September 22, 2019
http://www.rfi.fr/tw/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/20190922-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E4%BD%8E%E9%83%B5%E8%B2%BB%E5%B0%8E%E8%87%B4%E5%BE%B7%E5%9C%8B%E7%B6%B2%E5%95%86%E6%90%8D%E5%A4%B150%E5%84%84%E6%AD%90%E5%85%83

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Hangzhou Sent “Government Affairs Representatives” to 100 Companies Including Alibaba

According to “Zhejiang Online,” the news portal of the Zhejiang Provincial Government, on September 20, Hangzhou City held a comprehensive implementation of the “New Manufacturing” mobilization meeting. The “New Manufacturing Plan” was released at the meeting.

As part of the New Manufacturing Plan, the Hangzhou Municipal Government will assign 100 officials to 100 large private enterprises such as Alibaba, Geely Holding, and Wahaha as “government affairs representatives.”

The Hangzhou Municipal Government explained that the purpose of the move was for the so-called “service-oriented enterprises,” “to coordinate different types of government affairs for enterprises,” and “to promote project implementation.”

Source: Sina.com, September 20, 2019
https://finance.sina.com.cn/chanjing/gsnews/2019-09-21/doc-iicezzrq7425544.shtml

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics