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

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“Creative” Fees and Charges Emerge in China

A recent report listed a series of “creative” charges in China, driven either by profit-seeking motives or the necessity to survive a sliding economy.

  • High School Air Conditioning (AC) Service Charges: A high school opted to outsource its AC services to a company. To recoup equipment and installation costs, the company levied a fee of 9.9 Yuan per hour for each classroom and 3.9 Yuan per hour for each dorm room when students used the AC.
  • Hotel Charging Cable Fees: Some hotels have introduced fees for using their charging cables to power mobile devices, a service that was previously complimentary.
  • Massage Chairs in Public Spaces: A train station replaced its standard chairs with massage chairs, and numerous movie theaters have installed massage chairs in its premium seating areas, offering these seats at a higher price.
  • Nap Fees at High Schools: Recognizing the post-lunch nap habit among Chinese people, a high school instituted varying fees for students who wishes to nap on a bed, mat, or desk (where students sit with their arms on the desk and rest their heads on their arms).
  • College Library Study Rooms: Several colleges have transformed library rooms into “private study rooms” and imposed charges for their use, diverging from the traditional concept of libraries as free study spaces.

Source: QQ, September 5, 2023
https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20230905A04WZB00

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China’s First Province-Level Anti-Espionage Regulations

On September 1, 2023, the Chongqing municipal government implemented a set of detailed regulations called the “Chongqing Anti- Espionage Work Regulations.” It is the first local government in China to implement such rules following publication of the central government’s revised “Counter-Espionage Law” in July.

Chongqing’s regulations contain 29 articles. The first three articles echoed the central government’s Counter-Espionage Law. Starting from the fourth article, Chongqing’s regulations emphasize the supervisory role of the municipality’s state security agency. They call for close cooperation of various governmental departments in carrying out counter-espionage work, including the department of cyberspace administration, Taiwan affairs, national defense and science and technology, development and reform, education, science and technology, ethnic and religious affairs, public security, civil affairs, natural resources planning, urban and rural construction, commerce, veterans’ affairs, foreign affairs, postal management, and culture and tourism.

Civil services and public institutions will include counter-espionage propaganda in their training programs, and the education system will include such material in its teaching content.

For individuals involved in foreign exchange or collaboration, the regulations mandate a pre-departure anti-espionage education, a program of “overseas management” while the individual is abroad, and a post-return meeting. They also require that institutions stationed overseas or institutions who send people overseas develop espionage-prevention plans.

Many foreign organizations and individuals have been cautious about engaging with China since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) pushed out the state-level “Counter-Espionage Law.” This has led to a significant reduction in foreign investment and travel to the country.

Source: Epoch Times, September 2, 2023
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/23/9/2/n14065721.htm

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend Government/Politics

700,000 Chinese Villages Owe 900 Billion Yuan in Debt

China Newsweek Magazine published an article stating that “small villages with big debts” have become a problem that cannot be ignored. A survey by China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Development found that, as of the first half of 2019, China’s 700,000 administrative villages have accumulated a total of 900 billion yuan (US$123 billion) in debt. Average debt has reached 1.3 million yuan per village.

Source: China Newsweekly, September 8, 2023
http://www.heb.chinanews.com.cn/zgxwzk/20230908438999.shtml

Briefings | | |   @CS Economy/Resources Government/Politics

Chinese Scholar: China Is Facing The Worst External Environment in 40 Years

Wang Wen, Executive Director of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, published an article stating that China is facing the worst external environment in 40 years.

Wang listed three points regarding the international environment:

  1. China’s annual and quarterly economic growth rate became lower than that of the United States, which has not been seen for more than four decades.
  2. There are signs that production and supply chains are moving out of China, also not seen for more than four decades.
  3. The United States has coordinated a political consensus and comprehensive action among Western countries regarding the “China threat,” also not seen for more than four decades.

Wang gave a few strategic prescriptions for easing China’s situation (a nice way of implying that the authorities have made strategically poor decisions):

  1. Reflect on the long-term, difficult, and complex nature of the rise (of China) as a great power. {Editor’s Notes: The author is suggesting that China has not reached the great power that it wants to achieve; it still needs time to continue building up its power.}
  2. Objectively face the basic fact that the U.S., though it will decline, has not yet declined too much.
  3. Objectively face the basic fact that China, though it will surpass the U.S., has not yet surpassed it.
  4. Chinese society needs to mentally prepare for the worst and most dire scenarios to occur.

Source: Sohu, August 27, 2023
https://www.sohu.com/a/715303788_120094090

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics US-China Relations

China’s Plan to Criminalize ‘Hurting National Sentiment’ Draws Widespread Criticism Online

There has been overwhelming criticism online regarding China’s proposed revisions to its Public Security Administration Punishments Law. The revisions would penalize acts that “damage the spirit of the Chinese nation and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.”

The draft revisions, introduced in late August, add several new punishable acts. They do not precisely define what constitutes “damaging the spirit of the Chinese nation.” The proposed revisions prescribe detention of 5-10 days or fines of 1000-3000 yuan for wearing, forcing others to wear, producing, or spreading items or remarks that have such a damaging effect to the national spirit. Harsher penalties apply in severe cases.

After China’s state media reported on the draft law, Chinese social media erupted with skepticism. Opinion leaders called on netizens to lobby the National People’s Congress opposing the legislation.

Shanghai Fudan University professor Qu Weiguo said there is currently no legal definition of “the spirit of the Chinese nation.” He worried that hastily writing such a law without clear boundaries could lead to confusion in enforcement, abuse of related charges, and vulgarization of the “spirit.” Qu questioned how the law could determine whether the “feelings of the Chinese nation” were hurt, since the subject is the entire nation rather than individual citizens. He said authorities should be prudent about codifying such crimes, which require solid evidence. Vague definitions could enable rampant abuse, with serious judicial consequences.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), September 5, 2023
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202309050404.aspx

Briefings | | |   Government/Politics

China Declines Japan’s Proposed Mechanism to Assess Treated Nuclear Water

According to information obtained by Kyodo News, the Japanese government proposed that China join an IAEA international mechanism for objectively analyzing and assessing monitoring results related to radioactive material in seawater samples taken offshore from the Japanese Fukushima nuclear plant. Beijing declined to follow Japan’s suggestion. This highlights China’s uncompromising opposition to Japan’s release of treated nuclear waste water into the sea, making it difficult for Japan to enter science-based dialogue.

The international mechanism will compare and analyze monitoring results conducted separately by the Japanese government and the IAEA on seawater near Fukushima. Research institutions selected by an IAEA to participate in the organization include entities from the U.S., France, Switzerland, and South Korea. To ensure objectivity, Japan is not part of the mechanism.

According to sources familiar with Japan-China relations, Japan has repeatedly urged China through diplomatic channels to join the international mechanism, enabling China to make scientific judgments. China, questioning the mechanism’s effectiveness and independence, did not accept the proposal.

Regarding the treated water, Japan proposed that China and Japan establish a consultation mechanism composed of experts and officials from both countries. China has not yet responded to this proposal.

Source: Kyodo News, September 5, 2023
https://china.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/28ac08ec5e50.html

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend

Chinese Hackers Infiltrate German Corporate and Private Networks to Attack Government Agencies

The German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution issued a warning that Chinese hacking groups APT15 and APT31 are targeting German small and medium-sized enterprises and home networks, using the hacked networks to hide their identities when attacking German national and government institutions.

The agency’s cyber briefing report on Thursday said that the hacking groups successfully breached the German Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG) two years ago. The BKG is responsible for creating detailed maps and assessing satellite imagery. The report outlined how the hacking groups exploit security vulnerabilities to gain control of terminals, networks and devices in homes and small businesses.

The agency advised that companies and individuals should update their security software, take stock of all devices on their networks, replace old equipment that can no longer be updated, and change default passwords on new devices.

The hackers exploit flaws in routers, printers, smart home devices, lights, heaters, solar panels and more, using the hacked hardware to conceal their attacks on German national and political bodies. Once they control these devices, they can launch cyber-attacks against organizations, companies and government institutions while hiding behind private, inconspicuous networks.

Source: Deutsche Welle, September 1, 2023
https://p.dw.com/p/4Vpmo

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend