A recent dispute within the China-Japan Table Tennis Association highlighted that the Chinese Communist Party can bully other countries over any matter. China plans to host the 2023 Mixed Team Table Tennis World Cup in Chengdu in December. Initially, Japan’s Table Tennis Association refused to participate in it, citing reasons including the absence of world ranking points and short notice (notice came out in August). Beijing responded by recalling Chinese players (a total of 14) who are playing in the Japanese Table Tennis League back to China. In the end, the Japan Table Tennis Association gathered enough players to participate in China’s competition. Soon after, the Chinese players resumed their playing in the Japanese league.

Source: Epoch Times, November 13, 2023
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/23/11/13/n14115239.htm

A report in China’s state newspaper People’s Daily stated that the 2023 World Association for Performing Arts (WAPA) and the Beijing Forum for Symphonic Music launched in Beijing on November 13. Over 300 representatives from 187 international art institutions in 30 countries gathered to “discuss new developments and challenges facing symphonic activities worldwide.”

According to People’s Daily, WAPA is an international, professional, non-profit organization voluntarily formed by theaters, cultural groups, art schools, and other performing arts institutions. It is headquartered in Beijing with its secretariat at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA). WAPA aims to “build an open exchange platform to promote outstanding performing arts, strengthen technology integration, and encourage civilizational exchange and common prosperity.”

NCPA President Wang Ning, also the Chair of WAPA, said that the NCPA has long promoted cultural integration and Sino-foreign communication, and that the NCPA will continue working with global institutions to support WAPA in organizing activities and weaving “a spiritual bond of beauty and commonality in the global performing arts.”

Cormac Sims, Administrative Director of the British Royal Opera House, applauded WAPA’s initiative as “an important link between countries.” He looks forward to “making more progress together.”

WAPA regularly organizes forums on performing arts and symphonic music. The 2023 Beijing Forum for Symphonic Music has the theme “Seeking New Horizons, Sharing and Coexistence.” Discussions will focus on music education and audience expansion, contemporary symphonic music visions, and co-creation platforms. Artists and industry leaders will address symphonic music developments and promote global exchange and mutual understanding.

Source: People’s Daily, November 14, 2023
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2023-11/14/nw.D110000renmrb_20231114_2-04.htm

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey comparing people’s views on China and the United States in 24 countries, most people support the United States far more than China.

Most respondents had a more favorable impression of U.S. President Joe Biden than of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Around 56 percent were more confident in how Biden has handled foreign affairs, while 19 percent were more confident in Xi Jinping than Biden. Across 24 countries, including Japan, Canada and Mexico, more people believe that the United States is more likely than China to consider their own country’s interests.

In countries such as South Korea, the United Kingdom, and India, the greater portion of respondents believe that the United States has contributed more to global peace and stability than China. The survey found that China has a poor image in North America, Europe and Asia, but a better image in Africa and Latin America. High-income countries tend to favor the United States more. In Japan and South Korea there are gaps of 57 percent and 62 percent, respectively, between the portions of respondents who support the United States versus those who support China. Even in the majority of middle-income countries, respondents are more confident in Biden than in Xi Jinping, with the exception of Indonesia and Hungary, where the U.S. and Chinese leaders were nearly tied in terms of respondent perceptions.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, November 7, 2023
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/world/story20231107-1448477

Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that the Estonian government has agreed to allow Taiwan to open an economic and cultural representative office in the Estonian capital Tallinn under the name Taipei. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna issued a statement after a regular review of Estonian policy regarding China. The statement indicated that, like many other European Union countries, Estonia is ready to accept the establishment of a non-diplomatic Taipei economic and cultural representative office to promote bilateral relations. However, Tsahkna also emphasized that Estonia does not recognize Taiwan as a country based on the one-China policy framework. He said that Estonia wants its China policy to be consistent with the EU and supports Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) to fight against global disasters like the pandemic. He pointed out that “Obviously, it is also important for us that we defend fundamental values, including democracy and human rights. We stress this every time we meet with Chinese representatives.”

Source: CNA, November 4, 2023
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202311040003.aspx