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Monthly Archives: January 2023 - 5. page

A “Firecracker Revolution” Took Place in China

After the blank-sheet paper protest, also called the “A4 Revolution” where A4 refers to the paper size, Chinese people started a new protest on the rights to set off firecrackers – some people called it the “Firecracker Revolution.”

Setting off firecrackers is a Chinese tradition to celebrate the new year. It had been a must-have activity for many years. However, in the past decade, the authorities banned it in the cities due to the risk of causing fires.

On Near Year’s eve, people in Xuchang City, Henan Province gathered at a central square. Some set off firecrackers. Police tried to arrest the “offenders,” but were blocked by other people. More and more people set off firecrackers at different spots on the square. In the end, the police gave up and let people enjoy their celebration.

A similar firecracker “offense” took place in Luyi County, Zhoukou City of the same province in central China on the next night. Police came and started arresting people. According to an  online video, a large group of people surrounded the police car, demanding the release of those who had been arrested. People and police officers pushed each other. Some young people smashed the police car, breaking its front windshield. Eventually people flipped the police car upside down. Special police came and arrested six people.

The “Firecracker Revolution” also happened in several cities and provinces including Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Jiangsu, Guangxi, and Chongqing.

Some cities loosened their restrictions on firecrackers. Dalian City, Liaoning Province announced certain districts that could set off firecrackers on Chinese Near Year’s Eve (January 21 this year). Dongying city and Binzhou City in Shandong Province also announced firecrackers were allowed in certain regions and at certain times.

Some commentators felt that from the A4 revolution to the firecracker revolution, the Chinese people showed that they are no longer so afraid of the authorities. They have started to demand their rights.

Sources:
1. Epoch Times, January 4, 2023
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/23/1/4/n13899249.htm
2. New Talk, January 5, 2023
https://newtalk.tw/news/view/2023-01-05/851861

Briefings | | |   @CS Government/Politics Social Stability

Mainland Chinese Media: Patients Are Pouring in Like the Tide! Half of the ICU Patients Have Severe Pneumonia

Below are excerpts from a mainland Chinese report on the current situation of covid patients at Minhang Hospital which is affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai.

“Emergency Department Director Sun Keyu said, ‘We usually have more than 1,000 emergency visits, more than 20 when there are many who stay. The emergency medical department has a maximum of more than 300 people a day. The recent peak of emergency visits reached more than 2,000 people, nearly 1,000 emergency medical visits, and more than 100 stays. Those who stay in the ward come at night, and they will be hospitalized the next day.’”

“Now that the (covid) emergency is peaking, the (covid)-positive medical staff has continued to work including those who have the illness. Those with a high fever may only rest for a day or two, and those with no fever or a low fever have basically persisted.” One day after 9 o’clock in the evening, a nurse found Sun Keyu and burst into tears, ‘I really can’t hold up anymore.’ The pressure was too great; the patients have poured in like the tide. There is no time to do anything; the medical staff members themselves have a fever. I have never encountered such a situation before, .. . ”

“The cell phone of Gao Yuan, director of the critical care medicine department, keeps ringing. In the ICU, patients with severe pneumonia have accounted for half of all patients. Another quarter are patients with underlying diseases that worsened after the infection.”

“‘Things are still at the peak plateau phase and now is the most difficult time. As Director Zhang Wenhong said yesterday, it is expected to last for another two weeks.’ Sun Keyu said that the wards are full now, and only when someone is discharged from the hospital is a bed vacated. The biggest difficulty is that patients need to be hospitalized, but ‘an available bed is hard to find.’ In the future, it is expected that the number of patients coming in by ambulance will decrease, but the patients may be in a more serious condition.”

Sources:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Netease, January 5, 2023                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://www.163.com/news/article/HQA9DSOJ00019B3E.html                                                                                                                    https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/tKQ7nP8oqrnxe00bOr6xsg

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Social Stability

2022 China’s Housing Sales Plummeted by 5 Trillion Yuan

According to China Real Estate Information Corporation (CRIC), a Shanghai based real estate consulting firm, the overall sales in China’s housing sector in 2022 is expected to approximate 13.5 trillion yuan (US$ 1.95 trillion), a 5 trillion yuan (US$ 0.72 trillion) or 27 percent decrease from the 18.19 trillion yuan (US$ 2.63 trillion) in 2021. 90 percent of the top 100 real estate developers under-performed last year. The number of developers with sales above 100 billion yuan (US$ 14.5 billion) dropped from 43 during the peak time to only 20 today.

Against this backdrop of diminishing domestic and foreign financing channels, developers are facing huge amounts of outstanding debt. They are also facing other pressures, such as the pressure to deliver properties on-time. Starting in September, a few housing giants slashed their housing prices. A few reductions were as deep as 40 percent. Although the marketing and sales drive continued into the 4th quarter, Chinese home buyers continued to show little enthusiasm.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), January 1, 2023
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202301010137.aspx percent

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

China’s Official December PMI Numbers Continued Falling

China’s National Bureau of Statistics just released its official PMI numbers for December. Affected by factors such as the impact of Covid-19, China’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) has declined from the previous month. Among them, the manufacturing purchasing managers’ index, non-manufacturing business activity index and comprehensive PMI output index were 47.0 percent, 41.6 percent and 42.6 percent, respectively. The overall level of prosperity of the Chinese economy has declined. The December Manufacturing PMI fell one percentage point from November. Detailed data showed that both the supply and demand sides have declined. A number of price indices have rebounded. The employment index continued to go down. Affected by Covid, the employee attendance rate of manufacturing enterprises is obviously insufficient. PMI sub-indices of people’s livelihood-related industries continue to expand. In December, the non-manufacturing business activity index was 41.6 percent, down 5.1 percentage points from the previous month and the level of non-manufacturing prosperity continued to fall. The level of prosperity in the service industry has fallen. In December, companies surveyed in the service industry reported that the major impact of Covid had reached 61.3 percent, which was 10 percent higher than it was in the previous month. The market activity of the service industry dropped significantly. Of the 21 categories surveyed, 15 are in contraction territory. Only the construction industry stayed above the expansion line. The construction industry business activity index was 54.4 percent, one percentage lower than November.

Sources:

(1) National Bureau of Statistics, December 31, 2022
http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/zxfb/202212/t20221230_1891388.html

(2) China Net Financial News, December 31, 2022
http://m.gxfin.com/article/finance/xw/default/2022-12-31/5922783.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources

CNA: TSMC 3nm Started Mass Production and Factory Expansion

The Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) held a 3nm mass production and factory expansion ceremony. TSMC Chairman Mark Liu clearly stated that the company will continue to develop advanced technologies and expand in Taiwan. TSMC previously held a grand relocation ceremony for the Arizona factory in the United States, and decided to expand investment in the U.S. Not only was the mass production technology of the Arizona Phase One Project adjusted from the originally planned 5 nanometers to 4 nanometers, but also new investment was committed for a 3 nanometers plant. The total U.S. investment increased to US$40 billion. The 3nm mass production demonstrated TSMC’s concrete actions in developing advanced technology and expanding advanced production capacity in Taiwan. Also, TSMC’s global R&D center in Zhuke will be officially opened in the second quarter of 2023, with 8,000 personnel expected to be stationed there. In the meantime, the 2nm plant is scheduled to be launched in Zhuke and Zhongke, Taiwan. TSMC is now building super-large fabs, connecting several fabs together through automatic transfer systems and tube bridges. In response to customer demand, TSMC will expand overseas investment at the same time. TSMC (NYSE: TSM), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, is a Taiwanese multinational semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company. It is the world’s most valuable semiconductor company and the world’s largest dedicated independent semiconductor foundry.

Source: CNA, December 29, 2022
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/afe/202212290385.aspx

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology

CNA: U.S. and Japan Plan to Cooperate in Developing Semiconductor Talents

Primary Taiwanese news agency Central News Agency (CNA) recently reported that, with China’s significantly enhanced military strength, and in view of the rising security tensions with China, the governments of the United States and Japan are planning to cooperate to develop advanced semiconductor technology talents, with the hope of playing a leading role in the global semiconductor market. The governments are scheduled to hold a discussion in Washington in January at the U.S.-Japan Summit and Ministerial Talks to confirm the cooperative relationship. Discussions of the specifics to strengthen the talent development plan are set to kick off in the coming spring. At present, it is the most feasible plan for the United States and Japan to send researchers or students to research institutions or high-tech companies. The scope of enhanced cooperation will include new generation technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and supercomputers. The U.S. and Japan reached a consensus on the principles of semiconductor cooperation in May 2022. That includes promoting the diversification of semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. The two sides have their own strengths in semiconductor technology and will cooperate to complement each other. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry established the Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC) in December 2022. The United States is scheduled to establish the National Semiconductor Research Center under NSTC in February 2023. The two countries will strengthen the exchange of semiconductor talents, the practical application of research results, and the mass production of new-generation semiconductor technologies.

Source: CNA, December 29, 2022
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/202212290373.aspx

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend Information/Technology