China Tweets #4
On Taiwan
On what the PLA’s military drills around Taiwan have not done (as of August 8):
China's military exercises vs Taiwan set new precedents, but it's important to note what they have NOT done, at least yet. So far, based on TW & JP gov reporting, the PLA has not:
— John Culver (@JohnCulver689) August 8, 2022
-- violated 12NM sea/air around Taiwan
-- Overflown the island with aircraft
(more) 1/3
Deng Xiaoping on Taiwan and how it helps us understand China’s stance today:
A thread on Deng Xiaoping's remarks on the #Taiwan question, titled "Our Principled Position on the Development of Sino-U.S. Relations," made in 1981. Looking back at Deng's remarks might provide an angle of understanding China's stance today. #Pelosi https://t.co/XSjoVBg5uA
— Jiang Jiang (JJ) (@JiangJiang43) August 8, 2022
A thread on China’s military drills around Taiwan and what they may mean:
Morning Twitter. First days of PLA exercises completed, new phase just settling in, a few thoughts to recap what we have seen so far and the wider significance -a thread about missiles, joint manoeuvres, and the value of micro signalling hidden behind lots of military activities: pic.twitter.com/xcRtqeq5DF
— Alessio Patalano (@alessionaval) August 8, 2022
Did Pelosi carry out a cost-benefit analysis before making her trip to Taiwan? Perhaps not…
"What was the cost benefit analysis that you conducted?"
— Tobita Chow (@tobitac) August 9, 2022
Pelosi's response suggests there never was one https://t.co/p5sW5ybiip
PRC’s new white paper on Taiwan and how this new release no longer says Beijing will not send troops and administrative personnel to Taiwan upon “reunification”.
Prelim thoughts: China’s new Taiwan White Paper
— Amanda Hsiao 萧嫣然 (@amanda_hsiao) August 10, 2022
While basic principles to CH’s approach on TW are same, details suggest CH's “One Country Two Systems” may involve less political autonomy for TW than before, making an untenable political proposition even more untenable for TW 1/
On self-identity in Taiwan:
Only two percent of Taiwan's 23.5 million people identified as solely Chinese, down from 25 percent three decades ago. https://t.co/3ivUmKmZth pic.twitter.com/paCIpwVGcp
— Bonnie Glaser / 葛來儀 🇺🇦 (@BonnieGlaser) August 11, 2022
A new normal for the PLA Navy in the Taiwan Strait:
Most interesting part of the Eastern Theater Command's annoucment:
— M. Taylor Fravel (@fravel) August 10, 2022
it will "organize normal combat readiness patrols in the direction of Taiwan Strait"
常态组织台海方向战备警巡 https://t.co/nW28KkXolr
Journalist Bill Birtles looks across the bay at Xiamen from Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands:
Back to Kinmen islands for ABC TV. Main differences from last trip 3 yrs ago - Ferries to Xiamen suspended (Covid rules), the Taiwanese & Chinese flags that were hoisted by business groups as a symbol of friendship have been taken down (a while ago, not recently). 1/ pic.twitter.com/LeSqt7Mx5U
— Bill Birtles (@billbirtles) August 14, 2022
An unannounced US congressional delegation visits Taiwan after Pelosi’s visit.
Less than two weeks after US House Speaker @SpeakerPelosi visited #Taiwan, another congressional delegation from the US, led by @SenMarkey has arrived in Taiwan earlier tonight. The visit comes after an intense 7-day military exercise around Taiwan by #China.
— William Yang (@WilliamYang120) August 14, 2022
India’s position on the Taiwan issue:
1/2 India's first official response on Taiwan is interesting. MEA spokesperson says India wants "avoidance of unilateral action to change the status quo." (This could ostensibly apply to the actions of any side.)
— Ananth Krishnan (@ananthkrishnan) August 12, 2022
Apparently, Germany will do nothing if Taiwan is invaded:
"Officials in Berlin acknowledge in private that Germany would not be able to endorse anything beyond token sanctions against China."
— Bonnie Glaser / 葛來儀 🇺🇦 (@BonnieGlaser) August 12, 2022
Why Germany won’t get tough on Beijing — even if it invades Taiwan. https://t.co/uOG0dAZGOW
General China Tweets
Here is a thread highlighting some of 30 Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Stations based in 21 different countries:
Ireland: Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Station in Dublin 福州警侨事务海外服务站 h/t @McWLuke https://t.co/rVO4NhkflC
— Geoff Wade (@geoff_p_wade) August 8, 2022
An anecdote from 14 years ago about “stark contrasts” existing in Beijing and how the fallacy of a liberalising China was always obvious…to some.
Fourteen years ago today, I watched the opening of the Beijing Olympics on a little CRT TV in Tuscany after having lived the previous year just off Beijing’s north-south axis—visa having run out and neighbors having lost a last-minute battle against home demolition for the show.
— Graham Webster (@gwbstr) August 8, 2022
A thread on Jamie P. Horsely’s work on the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and how it is both a CCP Central Commission and a State entity.
NEW IN-DEPTH: The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is a singular force in tech regulation, but it is also a rare form in the party-state system.
— Stanford DigiChina Project (@DigiChn) August 8, 2022
Jamie P. Horsley @YLSChina @BrookingsChina examines the CAC’s unusual status. https://t.co/neDFsHgkD6 1/
A tweet about an issue from the PRC History Group on “Teaching the PRC” with many big names contributing:
Time to revisit the "Teaching the PRC" special issue by @prchistory. Thoughtful essays, including one by Dominic Yang on New Taiwan History. Yang noted in 2021: "PRC specialists can no longer afford to ignore or misunderstand Taiwan." Undeniable in 2022.https://t.co/Xz4bxhplBj
— Brian DeMare 江旷 (@BrianDeMare) August 8, 2022
China Law Translate has translated an Opinion on Promoting the High-quality development of the Foreign Cultural Trade, in other words… China’s Soft Power™ is getting a reboot.
27 Ministries/Departments have released a massive plan for developing cultural soft power https://t.co/WyUvyc4Zx1
— China Law Translate (@ChinaLawTransl8) August 8, 2022
Joseph Torigian tells us how former CCP General Secretary Zhao Ziyang asked the Dalai Lama for his prayers:
This new article reveals, I believe for the first time, that, according to the Dalai Lama, former CCP General Secretary Zhao Ziyang, purged for resisting the June 4 crackdown and by then under house arrest, sent a message to the Dalai Lama asking for his prayers. https://t.co/ekIiyDDOVf
— Joseph Torigian (@JosephTorigian) August 8, 2022
Some big shots in China’s chip industry are suspected of serious disciplinary violations and are currently under investigation by state and/or CCP disciplinary organs.
芯片反腐擴大:华芯投资管理有限责任公司原总监杜洋、投资三部副总经理杨征帆涉嫌严重违纪违法,目前正接受中央纪委国家监委驻工业和信息化部纪检监察组纪律审查,北京市监委监察调查;华芯投资管理有限责任公司投资二部原总经理刘洋(非中共党员)涉嫌严重违法,目前正接受北京市监委监察调查。 pic.twitter.com/49GnfJxRLF
— Mao (@Maoviews) August 9, 2022
Marxist Asian studies academics getting a stern talking to…
I get very very tired of the Cold War teamsmanship of Anglophone Marxists who think that the world can still be read as belonging to the light and dark of Marxism vs. US empire. It's incredibly concerning when it comes from fellow Asian Studies academics.
— Clara Iwasaki (@claraiwasaki) August 9, 2022
Trivium covering Li Keqiang’s meeting readout on the poor employment situation in China
In case you missed it: On Saturday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called a national meeting on stabilizing employment. Li kicked things off with a dire warning about jobs: “Current employment trends are complex and grim.” https://t.co/b9SbtJILCy 1/x
— Trivium China (@triviumchina) August 9, 2022
According to one researcher, Chinese semiconductor exports to Russia have increased YoY by 241% over March-June:
To finish on the bilateral trade data between China and Russia since that outrageous invasion, more granular data on Chinese exports reveal one very striking point: Chinese semiconductor exports to Russia have increased YoY by 241% over March-June, and are accelerating... 1/5 pic.twitter.com/TWgGrQqX7H
— CHIMITS Francois (@ChimitsF) August 10, 2022
On China’s coal consumption as a “necessary evil” for now…
NEW from me, for @LantauGroup
— David Fishman (@pretentiouswhat) August 10, 2022
Everything you need to know about China's coal power in 2022.
Why is China still building coal? Will it ever stop? Are those projects going to make any money?
Answers to 9 key questions here:
Summary thread🧵+ PDF linkhttps://t.co/HePZR3Axez pic.twitter.com/RgHRT82np9
An economics deep-dive on how China’s merchant traders have been building up massive inventories abroad:
Germany, Japan and Korea are all in trade deficit, but China’s surplus is on track to surpass $1tn this year. That shows just how weak domestic demand is. But if China’s trade surplus is blowing out, why isn’t its current account? A very nerdy investigative thread! 1/ pic.twitter.com/4DtujSSiOn
— adam wolfe (@adamkwolfe) August 10, 2022
A rebuttal by a China media academic on Wang Wen’s NYT piece and how he is a propagandist that does not represent the views of the people of China.
I understand why @nytopinion publishes Wang's piece: to show diversity of opinion, to criticize US policies. But I am so sick of hearing Wang Wen speaking on behalf of "China's people". No, he cannot represent us. And I'm disappointed that NYT let him speak on behalf of us. https://t.co/xhtpFY9mMy
— FANG Kecheng 方可成 (@fangkc) August 11, 2022
Wang Wenbin Forgetting about the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum:
Would the UK remain calm and show restraint if Scotland split itself from the UK? pic.twitter.com/tkhDBNFPVi
— Spokesperson发言人办公室 (@MFA_China) August 11, 2022
Here is @SofiaHCBBG’s weekly China business roundup:
All of this happened in China this week. A thread. 1/10
— Sofia Horta e Costa (@SofiaHCBBG) August 12, 2022
Estonia and Latvia leaving China’s 16+1 initiative
⚡️ Estonia and Latvia announced they have quit China's "16+1" initiative for countries in C & E Europe.
— Stuart Lau (@StuartKLau) August 11, 2022
The move, a year after Lithuania's departure, means all Baltic states are now out of the Chinese initiative a decade after its inception.
Story to follow.
Actors are being hired to pretend to work as construction workers amid Zhengzhou’s property crisis
one really can't make this up
— Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻♀️ (@chenchenzh) August 11, 2022
amidst Zhengzhou's crisis of numerous suspended property projects, some projects are hiring "actors" to "performatively resume construction" 表演式复工
JD: pretend to work when there r visitors pic.twitter.com/NHr9j7Qewh
Family-planning poster from 1984
A Family Planning poster in Beijing, 1984.
— China in Pictures (@tongbingxue) August 7, 2022
©️ Liu Heung Shing pic.twitter.com/eFe8kYEylq
Covid-testing and lockdown fears in China
The absurd lengths to which Covid testing has reached in China
Today’s video that went viral on Chinese social media: Chinese pandemic control staffs in a coastal city doing Covid test for the fish and shrimps harvested by fishermen from the sea. Note how carefully they poked into the mouth of the fish.#ZeroCovid pic.twitter.com/tCTPXyJd1D
— Franka Lu (@FrankaLu) August 8, 2022
People reacting to a 48-hour lockdown in their building in Shanghai
Another building in Shanghai's Yangpu District received notice of an abnormal test result and a 48h lockdown.
— Christian Petersen-Clausen (@chris__pc) August 12, 2022
People reacted as expected. pic.twitter.com/fFr8gy07Ib
People are fleeing from a testing point in Danzhou, Hainan to avoid being quarantined because someone’s health code on their phone turned red.
8月13日早上,海南儋州在文化广场做核酸。有一个人打开健康码,发现是红码,于是民众吓得纷纷逃离现场。多么荒诞的一幕。 pic.twitter.com/dhmfYgOIVx
— Jacobson🌎🌸贴贴BOT (@jakobsonradical) August 14, 2022
Professor Huang comments on people’s futile attempts to avoid being quarantined by fleeing from Ikea after someone allegedly tested positive for Covid.
Comment: even those who managed to flee the shopping mall would still be quarantined after they got home because their itinerary codes allowed the authority to easily trace and find them. https://t.co/17Qa5qkafN
— Yanzhong Huang (@YanzhongHuang) August 13, 2022
Tourists trying to leave Tibet for fear of being stuck there after positive Covid cases
Traffic jams for c7-8kms at the border of central Tibet (the TAR) with Sichuan as thousands of people, presumably Chinese tourists, try to leave Tibet. Officials this week identified 28 Covid cases in the TAR and partial lockdowns in 3 TAR cities. Video from Douyin/WeChat. pic.twitter.com/WKqgkHMbyY
— Robert Barnett (@RobbieBarnett) August 13, 2022
Meme for the end
Deadpan PRC navy officer
— yoshimi battles the xiaofenhong (@nise_yoshimi) August 7, 2022
By Alexander Davey