Chinascope – Page 502

VOA Chinese: Australian Department of Defense Banned WeChat

Voice of America (VOA) Chinese recently reported that the Australian Department of Defense has decided to ban the use of Chinese instant messaging app WeChat across all of the Department’s mobile devices. In the Department’s announcement, WeChat was described as “unauthorized software.” However, in the same announcement, the Department allowed limited use of the U.S. social app Facebook. It is also evaluating the security profile of WhatsApp. The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee held a hearing in which the U.S. CIA Director explained that he was very much concerned about the communications products from countries with a different social value system. Apparently, the Australian Department of Defense shares the same concern. Australian network security experts have expressed their observation that the Department not only worries about the close relationship between WeChat vendor Tencent and the Chinese government, but also believes apps like WeChat have very strong capabilities of collecting and monitoring information. Since last December, the Indian Department of Defense has also banned all Chinese communication software.

Source: VOA Chinese, March 13, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/wechat-20180312/4296068.html

Briefings | | March 19, 2018 | Geo-Strategic Trend Information/Technology

China’s Largest Battery Manufacturer Took Control of a Canadian Lithium Mine

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that China’s largest lithium manufacturer, CATL, recently acquired a controlling interest of over 90 percent of Canadian lithium mine owner, North American Lithium. The Quebec government also owns five percent of the shares. CATL is rapidly expanding its capacity to manufacture electric car batteries, aiming to become the largest battery manufacturer in the world. Industrial analysts expressed their belief that CATL’s recent move is to secure the supply of raw resources needed for its products. This deal is still pending approval from the Chinese government and the Quebec government. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is also currently performing its assessment. The mine is capable of producing 23,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate. In terms of global lithium resource control, China is currently ahead of the United States and Europe.

Source: Sina, March 13, 2018
http://cj.sina.com.cn/articles/view/1887344341/707e96d5020006tfz?cre=tianyi&mod=pcpager_fintoutiao&loc=34&r=9&doct=0&rfunc=100&tj=none&tr=9

Briefings | | March 19, 2018 | Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

Duowei News: To Reshape Their Image, North Korean Diplomats Display Warm Gestures When Participating in Foreign Events

According to an article that Duowei News published, Dong-A Ilbo, the South Korean newspaper, reported that, unlike 2017, when North Korean diplomats discontinued all of their external activities, in 2018, as the conflicts between North Korea and the EU escalated, North Korean diplomats have displayed a completely different image. They have been actively participating in foreign diplomatic events with EU countries. At a number of events, they have been spotted having dialogues or even posing for pictures with ambassadors from South Korea. The article reported that there was speculation that, since King Jong Un wants North Korea to be recognized as a “normal country,” his foreign diplomats have been actively participating in foreign events in an effort to reshape North Korea’s image on the worlds stage.

Source: Duowei News, March 16, 2018
http://news.dwnews.com/global/news/2018-03-16/60046274.html

Briefings | | March 19, 2018 | Geo-Strategic Trend

People’s Daily Opinion Article: Xi Jinping Is the “Helmsman” of the Nation and “Leader” of the Chinese People

On March 17, People’s Daily published an opinion piece in which it praised the fact that Xi was appointed as the President of the country as it represents “the wishes of the party, the people, and the nation.” The article called Xi “helmsman” of the nation and “leader” of the Chinese people. The article claimed that the trinity position that Xi holds demonstrates that socialism with Chinese characteristics is a unique political and also a superior system. It asked all nations to unite around Xi’s leadership to achieve the “great victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era.”

Source: People’s Daily, March 17, 2018
http://opinion.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0317/c1003-29873350.html

Briefings | | March 18, 2018 | Government/Politics

Xinhua Commentary Claims Solving the Korean Peninsula Problem Requires “China‘s” Wisdom

After the PyeongChang Winter Olympics opened its “window,” the North-South Summit of the Peninsula and the DPRK-U.S. dialogue were announced. A commentary by China’s state media Xinhua stated that “the issue of the peninsula ushered in new opportunities, which are inseparable from China’s persistence and promotion.”

The commentary stated, “All parties, including the United States and South Korea, are fully aware that the current positive trend in the situation on the peninsula has benefited from China’s persistence. When the Korean peninsula was caught in a vicious cycle of ‘verbal attacks’ and ‘exhibiting muscles’ last year, when North Korea and the United States clamored and shouted at each other, China insisted on the ‘double suspension’ and ‘dual-track process’ approach, pointing out a reasonable direction to break the deadlock. The North-South and North Korea-American interactions after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics showed that as long as the ‘double suspension’ and ‘dual-track process’ were implemented, the situation on the peninsula would usher in a turning point.”

“On the peninsula issue, China has done a lot of work, provided a Chinese plan, and brought together all parties involved. Looking ahead, even though the dawn appeared at the end the tunnel, the settlement of the peninsula issue will not be an easy path. However, regardless of the way ahead, solving the peninsula problem cannot be separate from the wisdom of China and it is inseparable from China’s determination. China will, as always, play a unique role in resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, urging all parties to talk and making the talks continue, hoping the talks will bring about a peaceful, stable, non-nuclear Korean Peninsula.”

Source: Xinhua, March 15, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/world/2018-03/15/c_1122543844.htm

Briefings | | March 15, 2018 | Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics

Xinhua: What Is the Mystery behind the U.S.’s Revision of Its Nuclear Strategy?

Xinhua published an article in its military section, “analyzing” the United States’ new strategic plan for its nuclear technology. The article stated, “The United States has recently hinted that it will revise its nuclear strategy. Specifically, it is developing tactical nuclear weapons while loosening up the conditions for the use of tactical nuclear weapons and even issuing threats about using tactical nuclear weapons. Why is the U.S. revising its nuclear strategy?” “To sum it up, the United States’ revision of its nuclear strategy is to make full use of existing technological advantages to improve its strategic position (in the world). This is the same means that the United States has always used.”

The article continued, “At present, the United States has turned its attention to the field of nuclear technology. Nuclear technology is a double-edged sword. Using this advantage will have benefits and it will have a significant impact on the U.S. and even on the world. Although the United States has only talked about its nuclear plan, it has a long way to go to implement it in a concrete way. It already has this intention, which indicates that the United States has already had to use its technological advantage with a double-edged sword to create its own strategic status. This also shows that, in recent years, the United States has been in a state of distress in the fields of technology, capital, and comprehensive national power. At the same time, it also shows that the United States is currently dissatisfied with its strategic position in the world and hopes to use a field with technological advantages to improve its strategic situation in a more powerful way. The state of Russia in previous years is similar to the current state of the United States. In those years, Russia was once in rapid decline in its national strength. The core element to maintain its status as a major power is nuclear power. The United States has also fallen into the use of nuclear advantages to maintain its strategic advantage. This is the mystery behind the United States’ nuclear strategy.”

Source: Xinhua, February, 9, 2018
http://www.xinhuanet.com/mil/2018-02/09/c_129809577.htm

Briefings | | March 15, 2018 | Defense/Military

LTN: China’s One Belt One Road Plan Brought Economic Trouble to Eight Countries

Major Taiwanese news network Liberty Times Network (LTN) recently reported on China’s grand One Belt One Road plan, which involves a potential investment total of US$8 trillion and involves 68 countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. The report showed however, that it actually has brought an economic crisis to eight countries: Djibouti, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Montenegro, Pakistan and Tajikistan. Not long ago, the Center for Global Development (CGD) published its analysis on the impact of One Belt One Road. The analysis indicated that many countries developed significant dependency on China and their debt level increased significantly. For example, the African country Djibouti’s Chinese debts are now as large as 91 percent of its GDP. Another example is Pakistan’s development plan of its Port of Gwadar. Now China has pocketed around 91 percent of the Port’s income with only 9 percent left for Pakistan. The income was obtained significantly based on the deep tax cut that Pakistan offered. Sri Lanka had to rent its port city Hambantota to China for nearly one century due to the fact that the government could not pay back its debt (US$1 billion) to China.

Source: Liberty Times Network, March 6, 2018
http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/2356725

Briefings | | March 13, 2018 | Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend

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

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

The CCP’s Performing Arts Troupes in the U.S.