Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
China hit Australian barley, beef and now wine
China launched an investigation into allegations that Australia dumped wine, or sold it below the cost of production.
The Australian Government, winemakers and farmers denied any wrongdoing, that the allegations are perplexing as the wine-making process is expensive.
The China market takes up more than one-third of Australia's wine exports by value.
In May, China announced huge tariffs on Australian-grown barley typically used to make beer, and suspended exports from four Australian abattoirs selling beef to China for not meeting labelling requirements.
Australian politicians said that the incidents are not linked to broader political tensions. Yet, Chinese officials said earlier this year that they could boycott Australian exports because of Canberra's push for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak.
Source: ABC #Aug19
#Wineexports #tariffs #tradewar #Food
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-19/china-eyes-australian-wine-export-in-latest-trade-move/12571672
China launched an investigation into allegations that Australia dumped wine, or sold it below the cost of production.
The Australian Government, winemakers and farmers denied any wrongdoing, that the allegations are perplexing as the wine-making process is expensive.
The China market takes up more than one-third of Australia's wine exports by value.
In May, China announced huge tariffs on Australian-grown barley typically used to make beer, and suspended exports from four Australian abattoirs selling beef to China for not meeting labelling requirements.
Australian politicians said that the incidents are not linked to broader political tensions. Yet, Chinese officials said earlier this year that they could boycott Australian exports because of Canberra's push for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak.
Source: ABC #Aug19
#Wineexports #tariffs #tradewar #Food
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-19/china-eyes-australian-wine-export-in-latest-trade-move/12571672
www.abc.net.au
Poisoned chalice: Why China's scrutiny of Australian wine is bad news
While the Australian Government and winemakers deny any wrongdoing in a spat with China over wine prices, there could be more to the latest bump in the rocky relationship with our largest trading partner.
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Internet Slams Chinese Ambassador for “Human Carpet” Controversy: "An Epitome of China Trampling on the World"
Controversies surrounding China’s influence in the Pacific were once again brought to the fore when a photograph of the Chinese ambassador to Kiribati Tang Songgen went viral. The photograph shows Tong walking on the backs of 30 of the island nation’s young citizens at a reception.
An island with a population of only around 110,000, Kiribati broke off its diplomatic ties with Taiwan last September and turned to China to establish alliance. Tang, who became China’s ambassador to the country this March, made a visit to the island of Marakei last month. A photograph shows about 30 young people lying face down on the ground to form a “human carpet”, while Tang, escorted by women on both sides, walked on “the carpet”.
The image has caused a stir, as people pointed out that this was a sign of China’s increasing influence in the Pacific and "an epitome of China trampling on the world" even.
Writing on Twitter on 16 August, the US defense attaché in Kiribati Constantine Panayiotou said, “I simply cannot imagine any scenario in which walking on the backs of children is acceptable behavior by an ambassador of any country (or any adult for that matter!) Yet here we are thanks to #China’s ambassador to Kiribati.”
Some netizens from Kiribati said the ceremony was commonplace in their country. At weddings, they noted, the bridegroom’s family members would lie down and let the bride’s family members walk on them. However, a Kiribati-based independent journalist named Rimon reported that locals had expressed outrage upon seeing the photo. “They were angry, discontented and embarrassed,” he said. “Ask anyone on the streets and they’ll tell you how disgusted they are by the incident.” Having served the former Kiribati president Anote Tong, Rimon recalled that a number of Taiwanese ambassadors had visited Marakei before but were never received in such a ceremony.
The Chinese embassy in Kiribati published a statement from Tang on Facebook, which mentioned that he was greeted in accordance to the customs during the visit and that he hoped more I-Kiribati will benefit from the China-Kiribati relations.
Source: Stand News #Aug19
#China #Kiribati #Diplomacy #humancarpet #TangSonggen #Marakei
Controversies surrounding China’s influence in the Pacific were once again brought to the fore when a photograph of the Chinese ambassador to Kiribati Tang Songgen went viral. The photograph shows Tong walking on the backs of 30 of the island nation’s young citizens at a reception.
An island with a population of only around 110,000, Kiribati broke off its diplomatic ties with Taiwan last September and turned to China to establish alliance. Tang, who became China’s ambassador to the country this March, made a visit to the island of Marakei last month. A photograph shows about 30 young people lying face down on the ground to form a “human carpet”, while Tang, escorted by women on both sides, walked on “the carpet”.
The image has caused a stir, as people pointed out that this was a sign of China’s increasing influence in the Pacific and "an epitome of China trampling on the world" even.
Writing on Twitter on 16 August, the US defense attaché in Kiribati Constantine Panayiotou said, “I simply cannot imagine any scenario in which walking on the backs of children is acceptable behavior by an ambassador of any country (or any adult for that matter!) Yet here we are thanks to #China’s ambassador to Kiribati.”
Some netizens from Kiribati said the ceremony was commonplace in their country. At weddings, they noted, the bridegroom’s family members would lie down and let the bride’s family members walk on them. However, a Kiribati-based independent journalist named Rimon reported that locals had expressed outrage upon seeing the photo. “They were angry, discontented and embarrassed,” he said. “Ask anyone on the streets and they’ll tell you how disgusted they are by the incident.” Having served the former Kiribati president Anote Tong, Rimon recalled that a number of Taiwanese ambassadors had visited Marakei before but were never received in such a ceremony.
The Chinese embassy in Kiribati published a statement from Tang on Facebook, which mentioned that he was greeted in accordance to the customs during the visit and that he hoped more I-Kiribati will benefit from the China-Kiribati relations.
Source: Stand News #Aug19
#China #Kiribati #Diplomacy #humancarpet #TangSonggen #Marakei
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
CCTV Warns "First War Will Be Final” and Military Drills over Taiwan's Airspace. Tsai Ing-wen Says Threats are Meaningless and Has Confidence in National Security
Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said in a public speech last Monday (10 Aug) that the People's Liberation Army’s (PLA) strategy for attacking Taiwan is that "the first war will be final", and that it will not allow Taiwan the chance to wait for the US’s military assistance. China's official media, China Central Television (CCTV), made the same statement in its straits commentary yesterday (18 August), claiming that PLA has the strength, confidence and determination to “enforce unification”, and warned that the PLA may perform military drills around the island and even over Taiwan's airspace. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen today responded that China's incessant military threats are "meaningless," stressing that Taiwan has been closely monitoring the situation and has full control over the military condition. She was confident that Taiwan could protect its national security and believed that the international community would not accept any actions that undermine regional peace and stability.
Following Ma's earlier remarks in a public speech that the PLA's strategy on Taiwan is that "the first war will be final," CCTV published a straits commentary yesterday (18 Aug) mentioning the same statement. Entitled "US-Taiwan Collusion and Provocations Will Face a Decisive Blow", the article stated that the PLA has the strength, confidence and determination to “enforce unification”, and when that happens, “the first war will be final”. It stated that Taiwan could not afford the consequences of war, and that even US interference would not save “Taiwan independence” from that. The commentary also accused Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party of “relying on the US for independence” and “using military force to resist unification”, claiming the more “arrogant” Taiwan assumes in these stances, the stronger the PLA’s counter responses will be, “Today’s drill is in the Taiwan Strait plus its northern and southern ends. For tomorrow, a bigger drill around the island or even over Taiwan's airspace is not out of the question either."
Source: Stand News #Aug19
#Taiwan #TaiwanStrait #PeopleLiberationArmy #PLA #TaiwanIndependence #MilitaryDrill #CCTV #China #TsaiIngwen #Mayingjeou
Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said in a public speech last Monday (10 Aug) that the People's Liberation Army’s (PLA) strategy for attacking Taiwan is that "the first war will be final", and that it will not allow Taiwan the chance to wait for the US’s military assistance. China's official media, China Central Television (CCTV), made the same statement in its straits commentary yesterday (18 August), claiming that PLA has the strength, confidence and determination to “enforce unification”, and warned that the PLA may perform military drills around the island and even over Taiwan's airspace. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen today responded that China's incessant military threats are "meaningless," stressing that Taiwan has been closely monitoring the situation and has full control over the military condition. She was confident that Taiwan could protect its national security and believed that the international community would not accept any actions that undermine regional peace and stability.
Following Ma's earlier remarks in a public speech that the PLA's strategy on Taiwan is that "the first war will be final," CCTV published a straits commentary yesterday (18 Aug) mentioning the same statement. Entitled "US-Taiwan Collusion and Provocations Will Face a Decisive Blow", the article stated that the PLA has the strength, confidence and determination to “enforce unification”, and when that happens, “the first war will be final”. It stated that Taiwan could not afford the consequences of war, and that even US interference would not save “Taiwan independence” from that. The commentary also accused Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party of “relying on the US for independence” and “using military force to resist unification”, claiming the more “arrogant” Taiwan assumes in these stances, the stronger the PLA’s counter responses will be, “Today’s drill is in the Taiwan Strait plus its northern and southern ends. For tomorrow, a bigger drill around the island or even over Taiwan's airspace is not out of the question either."
Source: Stand News #Aug19
#Taiwan #TaiwanStrait #PeopleLiberationArmy #PLA #TaiwanIndependence #MilitaryDrill #CCTV #China #TsaiIngwen #Mayingjeou
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
Selling Luxury Goods in a More Socialist China Becomes a Problem
Beijing’s crackdown on business that doesn’t support its policy goals suddenly looks like it might extend to luxury brands. Investors are only just waking up to the risks.
On Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a speech about growing wealth inequality and the “promotion of common prosperity.” Luxury investors, who didn’t react to intervention in the Chinese tech and private-education sectors in recent weeks, are belatedly concerned that the country’s super rich could be reined in. A selloff that started on Wednesday and gathered pace on Thursday has wiped 60 billion euros, equivalent to $70.26 billion, from the market value of Europe’s big four names, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton , Kering, Hermès and Richemont.
Source: WSJ #Aug19
https://www.wsj.com/articles/selling-luxury-goods-in-a-more-socialist-china-becomes-a-problem-11629378116
#China #Luxury #Beijing #XiJinping #LVMH #Kering #Hermès #Richemont
Beijing’s crackdown on business that doesn’t support its policy goals suddenly looks like it might extend to luxury brands. Investors are only just waking up to the risks.
On Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a speech about growing wealth inequality and the “promotion of common prosperity.” Luxury investors, who didn’t react to intervention in the Chinese tech and private-education sectors in recent weeks, are belatedly concerned that the country’s super rich could be reined in. A selloff that started on Wednesday and gathered pace on Thursday has wiped 60 billion euros, equivalent to $70.26 billion, from the market value of Europe’s big four names, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton , Kering, Hermès and Richemont.
Source: WSJ #Aug19
https://www.wsj.com/articles/selling-luxury-goods-in-a-more-socialist-china-becomes-a-problem-11629378116
#China #Luxury #Beijing #XiJinping #LVMH #Kering #Hermès #Richemont
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
China Aims Its Propaganda Firehose at the BBC
Chinese trolls and fake news websites have been attacking the BBC in a bid to undermine its credibility, new research published today claims. The online influence operation, which is being linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is seemingly a response to the BBC’s reporting on human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims and state-backed misinformation campaigns.
The new research from analysts at cybersecurity company Recorded Future claims that the “likely state-sponsored” operation used hundreds of websites and social media accounts to attack the BBC’s reporting. In particular the network has accused the BBC of adding a “filter” to its reports from China to make the country look dull and lifeless.
Source: Wired #Aug19
#China #Propaganda #CCP #BBC #Uyghur
https://t.co/gNokoAtLPb
Chinese trolls and fake news websites have been attacking the BBC in a bid to undermine its credibility, new research published today claims. The online influence operation, which is being linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is seemingly a response to the BBC’s reporting on human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims and state-backed misinformation campaigns.
The new research from analysts at cybersecurity company Recorded Future claims that the “likely state-sponsored” operation used hundreds of websites and social media accounts to attack the BBC’s reporting. In particular the network has accused the BBC of adding a “filter” to its reports from China to make the country look dull and lifeless.
Source: Wired #Aug19
#China #Propaganda #CCP #BBC #Uyghur
https://t.co/gNokoAtLPb
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Taiwan arrested two retired air force officers, reportedly had contacts with Hong Kong businessman and spy for China
According to Taiwan media reports, a retired Air Force major general and a retired lieutenant colonel suspected of breaching the Taiwan National Security Act were arrested. They were accused of involving in a spy ring in Taiwan, which were organised by a businessman from Hong Kong, surnamed Tse, appointed by the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission (Guangzhou division). Tse secretly build up relationships with retired military officers, including these two suspects, for China under the guise of doing business in Taiwan. The Taiwan media described this as “the largest espionage case in the history”.
Taiwan Apple Daily quoted source as saying that the investigation unit found that the Guangzhou branch of Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission sent a Hong Kong businessman surnamed Tse to Taiwan since 2012, under the pretext of business but recruiting crews for China intelligence unit in reality. The businessman contacted Chien Yao-tung and Wei Hsien-yi in 2016 and start to cultivate relationships with active and retired senior military officers. Besides of arranging banquets and gifts, the military officers were also invited to visit Guangdong to meet China officials.
Source: Stand News #Aug19
https://bit.ly/3DPVmN3
#Taiwan #Airforce #MilitaryOfficer #China #Spy #Espionage
According to Taiwan media reports, a retired Air Force major general and a retired lieutenant colonel suspected of breaching the Taiwan National Security Act were arrested. They were accused of involving in a spy ring in Taiwan, which were organised by a businessman from Hong Kong, surnamed Tse, appointed by the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission (Guangzhou division). Tse secretly build up relationships with retired military officers, including these two suspects, for China under the guise of doing business in Taiwan. The Taiwan media described this as “the largest espionage case in the history”.
Taiwan Apple Daily quoted source as saying that the investigation unit found that the Guangzhou branch of Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission sent a Hong Kong businessman surnamed Tse to Taiwan since 2012, under the pretext of business but recruiting crews for China intelligence unit in reality. The businessman contacted Chien Yao-tung and Wei Hsien-yi in 2016 and start to cultivate relationships with active and retired senior military officers. Besides of arranging banquets and gifts, the military officers were also invited to visit Guangdong to meet China officials.
Source: Stand News #Aug19
https://bit.ly/3DPVmN3
#Taiwan #Airforce #MilitaryOfficer #China #Spy #Espionage
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
China Closes U.S. Auditor as Tensions Mount Over Forced Labor Allegations
Chinese authorities have shut down a U.S. labor auditor’s local China partner, escalating Beijing’s campaign to counter forced-labor allegations in its northwest Xinjiang region and potentially complicating efforts by multinationals to certify supply chains in the country.
China-based Shenzhen Verite, which is affiliated with U.S. labor rights nonprofit Verite Inc., was closed following an April raid on its offices by Chinese security forces, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Source: WSJ #Aug19
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-closes-u-s-auditor-as-tensions-mount-over-forced-labor-allegations-11629390253
#China #US #Auditor #Labor
Chinese authorities have shut down a U.S. labor auditor’s local China partner, escalating Beijing’s campaign to counter forced-labor allegations in its northwest Xinjiang region and potentially complicating efforts by multinationals to certify supply chains in the country.
China-based Shenzhen Verite, which is affiliated with U.S. labor rights nonprofit Verite Inc., was closed following an April raid on its offices by Chinese security forces, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Source: WSJ #Aug19
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-closes-u-s-auditor-as-tensions-mount-over-forced-labor-allegations-11629390253
#China #US #Auditor #Labor
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#MassSurveillance
#TikTok Browser Can Track Users’ Keystrokes, According to New Research
Source: New York Times #Aug19
Read more
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#TikTok Browser Can Track Users’ Keystrokes, According to New Research
Source: New York Times #Aug19
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
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#MassSurveillance
#TikTok Browser Can Track Users’ Keystrokes, According to New Research
// The web browser used within the TikTok app can track every keystroke made by its users, according to new research that is surfacing as the Chinese-owned video app grapples with U.S. lawmakers’ concerns over its data practices.
The research from Felix Krause, a privacy researcher and former Google engineer, did not show how TikTok used the capability, which is embedded within the in-app browser that pops up when someone clicks an outside link. But Mr. Krause said the development was concerning because it showed TikTok had built in functionality to track users’ online habits if it chose to do so.
Collecting information on what people type on their phones while visiting outside websites, which can reveal credit card numbers and passwords, is often a feature of malware and other hacking tools. While major technology companies might use such trackers as they test new software, it is not common for them to release a major commercial app with the feature, whether or not it is enabled, researchers said. //
Read more:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/19/technology/tiktok-browser-tracking.html
Source: New York Times #Aug19
#BigBrother #CreditCard #Privacy
#TikTok Browser Can Track Users’ Keystrokes, According to New Research
// The web browser used within the TikTok app can track every keystroke made by its users, according to new research that is surfacing as the Chinese-owned video app grapples with U.S. lawmakers’ concerns over its data practices.
The research from Felix Krause, a privacy researcher and former Google engineer, did not show how TikTok used the capability, which is embedded within the in-app browser that pops up when someone clicks an outside link. But Mr. Krause said the development was concerning because it showed TikTok had built in functionality to track users’ online habits if it chose to do so.
Collecting information on what people type on their phones while visiting outside websites, which can reveal credit card numbers and passwords, is often a feature of malware and other hacking tools. While major technology companies might use such trackers as they test new software, it is not common for them to release a major commercial app with the feature, whether or not it is enabled, researchers said. //
Read more:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/19/technology/tiktok-browser-tracking.html
Source: New York Times #Aug19
#BigBrother #CreditCard #Privacy
NY Times
TikTok Browser Can Track Users’ Keystrokes, According to New Research
In the web browser used within the TikTok app, supplementary code lets the company track every character typed by users. The company said the capability was for troubleshooting.
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The Countries Most In Debt To China
//Countries heavily in debt to China are mostly located in Africa, but can also be found in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, data from The World Bank shows. China is currently the preferred lender to the world’s low-income countries, which owe 37% of their debt to China in 2022, compared to just 24% in bilateral debt to the rest of the world...
The Chinese "New Silk Road" project, a program to finance the construction of port, rail and land infrastructure across the globe, has been a major source of debt to China for participating countries. At the end of 2020, of the 97 countries for which data was available, those with the highest external debt to China were all involved in the project, namely Pakistan ($77.3 billion of external debt to China), Angola (36.3 billion), Ethiopia (7.9 billion), Kenya (7.4 billion) and Sri Lanka (6.8 billion)...
The idea that China could gain significant leverage over countries and their infrastructure in the case of repayment issues has been cited often, like in the case of a troubled Sri Lankan port that was built with Chinese funds and that China ultimately took a 70% stake in. The Laotian railway that has been burdening the country with debt is also 70% Chinese-owned.//
Read more:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/katharinabuchholz/2022/08/19/the-countries-most-in-debt-to-china-infographic/
Source: Forbes #Aug19
#Debt #RiseofChina #WorldEconomy #InternationalRelations
//Countries heavily in debt to China are mostly located in Africa, but can also be found in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, data from The World Bank shows. China is currently the preferred lender to the world’s low-income countries, which owe 37% of their debt to China in 2022, compared to just 24% in bilateral debt to the rest of the world...
The Chinese "New Silk Road" project, a program to finance the construction of port, rail and land infrastructure across the globe, has been a major source of debt to China for participating countries. At the end of 2020, of the 97 countries for which data was available, those with the highest external debt to China were all involved in the project, namely Pakistan ($77.3 billion of external debt to China), Angola (36.3 billion), Ethiopia (7.9 billion), Kenya (7.4 billion) and Sri Lanka (6.8 billion)...
The idea that China could gain significant leverage over countries and their infrastructure in the case of repayment issues has been cited often, like in the case of a troubled Sri Lankan port that was built with Chinese funds and that China ultimately took a 70% stake in. The Laotian railway that has been burdening the country with debt is also 70% Chinese-owned.//
Read more:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/katharinabuchholz/2022/08/19/the-countries-most-in-debt-to-china-infographic/
Source: Forbes #Aug19
#Debt #RiseofChina #WorldEconomy #InternationalRelations
Forbes
The Countries Most In Debt To China [Infographic]
Chinese loans to developing nations—affecting many in Africa, Asia and the Pacific—have high interest rates and short repayment windows. These "commercial-style" loans are harder to repay and less transparent than other bilateral loans, while questions of…
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong aka BeWater HK
The Countries Most In Debt To China
//Countries heavily in debt to China are mostly located in Africa, but can also be found in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, data from The World Bank shows. China is currently the preferred lender to the world’s low-income countries, which owe 37% of their debt to China in 2022, compared to just 24% in bilateral debt to the rest of the world...
The Chinese "New Silk Road" project, a program to finance the construction of port, rail and land infrastructure across the globe, has been a major source of debt to China for participating countries. At the end of 2020, of the 97 countries for which data was available, those with the highest external debt to China were all involved in the project, namely Pakistan ($77.3 billion of external debt to China), Angola (36.3 billion), Ethiopia (7.9 billion), Kenya (7.4 billion) and Sri Lanka (6.8 billion)...
The idea that China could gain significant leverage over countries and their infrastructure in the case of repayment issues has been cited often, like in the case of a troubled Sri Lankan port that was built with Chinese funds and that China ultimately took a 70% stake in. The Laotian railway that has been burdening the country with debt is also 70% Chinese-owned.//
Read more:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/katharinabuchholz/2022/08/19/the-countries-most-in-debt-to-china-infographic/
Source: Forbes #Aug19
#Debt #RiseofChina #WorldEconomy #InternationalRelations
//Countries heavily in debt to China are mostly located in Africa, but can also be found in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, data from The World Bank shows. China is currently the preferred lender to the world’s low-income countries, which owe 37% of their debt to China in 2022, compared to just 24% in bilateral debt to the rest of the world...
The Chinese "New Silk Road" project, a program to finance the construction of port, rail and land infrastructure across the globe, has been a major source of debt to China for participating countries. At the end of 2020, of the 97 countries for which data was available, those with the highest external debt to China were all involved in the project, namely Pakistan ($77.3 billion of external debt to China), Angola (36.3 billion), Ethiopia (7.9 billion), Kenya (7.4 billion) and Sri Lanka (6.8 billion)...
The idea that China could gain significant leverage over countries and their infrastructure in the case of repayment issues has been cited often, like in the case of a troubled Sri Lankan port that was built with Chinese funds and that China ultimately took a 70% stake in. The Laotian railway that has been burdening the country with debt is also 70% Chinese-owned.//
Read more:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/katharinabuchholz/2022/08/19/the-countries-most-in-debt-to-china-infographic/
Source: Forbes #Aug19
#Debt #RiseofChina #WorldEconomy #InternationalRelations
Forbes
The Countries Most In Debt To China [Infographic]
Chinese loans to developing nations—affecting many in Africa, Asia and the Pacific—have high interest rates and short repayment windows. These "commercial-style" loans are harder to repay and less transparent than other bilateral loans, while questions of…