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Harvard Graduation Speech by Chinese Student Sparks Debate Over CCP Rhetoric and Elite Influence

On May 30, at Harvard University’s commencement ceremony, Chinese graduate student Yurong “Luanna” Jiang (蒋雨融) delivered a speech that sparked controversy for allegedly echoing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda. The title of her speech was “Our Humanity”, and it included language reminiscent of the CCP’s “Community of Shared Future for Mankind” (人类命运共同体) doctrine. She stated:

  • “Humanity rises and falls as one”
  • “If we still believe in a shared future, let us not forget…”
  • “Our shared humanity…”

Many Chinese netizens viewed her speech and discussed it, since Jiang was the first Chinese student to deliver a commencement address on behalf of Harvard graduates. Her message calling for the inclusion of more international students was seen by some as a veiled response to ongoing tensions between the Trump-era immigration policies and Harvard’s advocacy for international student rights.

Online sleuths also uncovered her background. According to publicly available information from mainland China, Luanna Jiang’s father, Jiang Zhiming, is the Executive Director of the Green Future Technology Development Fund, part of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF). The organization is described on its official Weibo account as a national public welfare foundation approved by the State Council, overseen by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and registered with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, with a mission focused on biodiversity conservation and green development.

Netizens even found that CBCGDF published a report authored by Luanna Jiang’s father, stating that due to the recommendation of Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General and Vice Chairman of the CBCGDF, Harvard University accepted Jiang as a student. Luanna later posted that though she obtained the recommendation letter from Zhou, she didn’t use it – she submitted three other recommendations instead. Then the interesting questions are why did her father author such an article? Also, can a normal person obtain such a recommendation without a well-connected family?

Some netizens pointed out that this is a case where people with power create opportunities for their children, and that Jiang is likely to return to China to some relatively privileged position (due to her family’s power) as it will be hard for someone who majored in ‘International Development’ to find a job in the U.S.

Sources:
1. CReaders.net, May 31, 2025
https://news.creaders.net/us/2025/05/31/2875141.htmlMay 31, 2025
2. Phoenix, May 31, 2025
https://news.ifeng.com/c/8jp9lWrVji3

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

Lianhe Zaobao: U.S. Restricts Exports of Chip Design Software and Chemicals to China

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that the U.S. Department of Commerce has issued a notice to electronic design automation (EDA) software manufacturers Cadence, Synopsys and Siemens EDA suspending technology supply to China.
It is unclear whether the new U.S. restrictions are intended to create leverage in U.S.-China tariff negotiations, or how extensive the restrictions will be. EDA Software has a wide range of design uses, such as designing high-end processors used by Nvidia and Apple, or designing simple components for power control.

In the meantime, the United States has also suspended the sale of some key chemical products and technologies to China, including butane, ethane, machine tools and aviation equipment. Jet engines were originally sold to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC). COMAC is developing the C919 large passenger aircraft to compete with Boeing and Airbus. China currently does not have suitable domestically produced engines and must rely on imports. This move was reportedly in response to China’s recent restrictions on the export of key minerals to the United States.

Source: Lianhe Zaobao, May 29, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/world/story20250529-6515396

Briefings | | |   Information/Technology US-China Relations

China’s Smartphone Exports to U.S. at Lowest Level Since 2011

Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that, due to the tariff wars, shipments of Apple iPhones and other mobile devices from China to the U.S. fell in April to their lowest level since 2011. Customs data showed smartphone exports to the U.S. tumbled 72 percent in April to just under $700 million, far outstripping a 21 percent drop in China’s overall exports to the U.S. during the same period of time.

In the meantime, according to the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME), in the first quarter of 2025, the United States imported US$42.572 million mobile phones, a year-over-year increase of 29.8 percent. Among them, 11.669 million were imported from India, a significant year-over-year increase of 181.7 percent. In the first quarter, India’s share of U.S. mobile phone imports increased to 27.4 percent from 12.6 percent in the same period last year.

Apple has been adjusting its supply chain capacity allocation based on expectations of U.S. tariffs. Apple is exporting key components from China to India and then exporting the final products to the United States after reprocessing, in order to reduce tariff losses. According to the statistics of China’s General Administration of Customs, China’s exports of mobile phone parts to India in the first quarter increased by 217.7 percent year-over-year to US$2.75 billion.

Sources:
(1) Lianhe Zaobao, May 20, 2025
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/world/story20250520-6431026
(2) CCCME, May 12, 2025
https://www.cccme.org.cn/news/details.aspx?id=06CB753EBD7ABD0B04903CE5CF03A586&classid=2ABB150247542E0E&xgid=F868932F64EB7AAF

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend US-China Relations

Top CCP Advisor Jin Canrong Pushes for “Firm Stance” in Trade Talks with U.S.

Jin Canrong is a Chinese political scientist and expert on U.S. affairs. He is the Vice Dean and Professor at the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China. He has previously provided advice to senior Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership and is often referred to as a “national advisor” to the CCP.

Recently, Jin’s recommendations on China-U.S. trade tariff negotiations have been circulating on China’s internet:

“In China-U.S. economic and trade consultations, we must uphold our principles and not make concessions lightly. In this round of tariff negotiations, the U.S. delegation is not being led by Commerce Secretary Lutnick or trade advisor Navarro, but rather by Treasury Secretary Bessent. Bessent represents Wall Street interests, and we must remain highly vigilant. (This implies) that the U.S. has a major goal beyond just selling goods to us – they want us to open our capital markets and allow free capital flows. This is America’s strength, not ours. We must hold the line firmly: only talk tariffs when discussing tariffs, and only talk trade when discussing trade – the capital market is off-limits.

“Furthermore, the U.S. must cancel the tariffs it imposed on small Chinese packages valued under $800. This is a non-negotiable position.

“Additionally, although we mentioned in the joint statement that we would pause or cancel non-tariff countermeasures imposed since April 2, the interpretation, the pause, or cancellation must be on our terms. We have the right to play the ‘rare earth card’ wisely. Our commitment to pause or cancel non-tariff barriers since April 2 can occur simultaneously with strengthened controls over rare earth exports.

“In summary, the China-U.S. tariff war is complex and ever-changing. Although this round of negotiations has yielded substantive progress, the road ahead remains full of challenges and uncertainties.”

Source: Sohu, May 14, 2025
https://www.sohu.com/a/894694877_121287511

Briefings | | |   @CS Economy/Resources US-China Relations

Beijing Signals Openness to Foreign Investment in Financial Sector

The United States and China recently reached a 90-day temporary truce on tariffs, during which China pledged to further open its market to American businesses.

On May 23, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency and People’s Daily reported that He Lifeng – Vice Premier and member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee – met separately with John Dugan, Chairman of Citigroup, and Harvey Schwartz, CEO of The Carlyle Group, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

He Lifeng emphasized that China’s economy is steadily recovering and maintaining positive growth momentum. He welcomed foreign financial institutions, including Citigroup and Carlyle, to increase investment and expand operations in China. He expressed hope that they would participate more actively in the development of China’s capital markets, deepen cooperation, and share in the country’s development opportunities.

John Dugan said that Citigroup remains committed to the Chinese market and plans to strengthen its investments and partnerships. He noted the bank’s intention to expand into new areas such as securities, futures, and financial derivatives. Harvey Schwartz also expressed optimism about China’s economic outlook, affirming Carlyle’s long-term commitment to the country and plans to further expand its investment footprint.

Source: People’s Daily, May 23, 2025
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2025/0523/c1001-40486519.html

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources US-China Relations

Huanqiu Times: South Africa Criticizes U.S. for Accepting White South African Migrants

Huanqiu Times, a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) state-run media outlet focused on international affairs, reported that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly denounced the 59 white South Africans recently accepted by the Trump administration as refugees. Below are highlights from the report:

Despite the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on immigration and the suspension of refugee admissions, the U.S. accepted 59 white South African “refugees” on May 12. Trump had previously expressed his willingness to resettle white South Africans, claiming they were fleeing a “dire situation” in their home country.

However, during a public event on the same day, South Africa President Ramaphosa criticized the group, calling them “cowards.” He also revealed that he had recently spoken with Trump by phone, during which he conveyed that the U.S. assessment of the situation in South Africa was “inaccurate.” Ramaphosa rejected the notion that Afrikaners are being persecuted or expelled and asserted that the 59 individuals in question did not meet the criteria for refugee status. He stated that he intends to meet with Trump soon to further discuss the issue.

Citing the Sunday Times of South Africa, the report noted that since the end of apartheid in 1994, the white minority has continued to hold the majority of the country’s wealth, amassed during the colonial and apartheid eras. White South Africans still own approximately 75 percent of private land, while Black South Africans – who make up 81 percent of the population – own just 4 percent. In January, Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Bill, a land reform measure that permits the government to seize private land without compensation under specific conditions serving the public interest. Although no land has yet been expropriated under the new law, it has sparked significant controversy, particularly among entrenched economic elites.

Source: Huanqiu Times, May 14, 2025
https://m.huanqiu.com/article/4Mg0YlXMR4I

Briefings | | |   Geo-Strategic Trend US-China Relations

Chinese Companies Advertising “Origin Laundering” Services to Avoid U.S. Tariffs

Amidst the high U.S. tariffs on imported Chinese goods, Chinese export companies are increasingly turning to “origin laundering” to circumvent trade restrictions. On Chinese social media, a growing number of advertisements are openly promoting schemes to reroute goods through third countries – particularly Malaysia – where products are relabeled and issued new certificates of origin to appear as though they come from elsewhere before being exported to the U.S.

The Epoch Times reported several advertisements it found on China’s social media.

  • A Douyin (TikTok’s Chinese version) account “Ruby-Third Country Transshipment” offered services to help exporters ship goods to countries like Malaysia and obtain fresh origin documents for onward shipment to the U.S.
  • Another Douyin account, “Jingwei Consolidated Transshipment Trade Logistics,” posted a video on April 7 declaring: “Many foreign trade companies are now shifting toward transshipment trade – this is the industry trend.” The company claimed to possess extensive resources in major transshipment hubs and promised to issue “authentic, effective, and reliable” documentation to help clients overcome anti-dumping and trade barriers.
  • An account named “Tuolong-U.S.-Canada Line Sam” shared a diagram outlining a competitive transshipment process on April 10, commenting, “There are always more solutions than problems.”

Malaysia has tightened its transshipment and origin certification policies in May.

Source: Epoch Times, May 6, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/5/6/n14500435.htm

Briefings | | |   Economy/Resources Geo-Strategic Trend US-China Relations