China Tweets #9
A look back on the heatwave and drought that became lost among other stories:
A seriously overlooked story: PRC drought and heatwave of 2022. https://t.co/rpy1ZUVD8U
— James Millward 米華健 (@JimMillward) September 11, 2022
China is giving the IMF a run for its money:
Having outstripped the World Bank in lending for development projects around the world, China is now turning into a formidable competitor to the IMF. New data from @AidData https://t.co/13vrSKIARP
— James Kynge (@JKynge) September 11, 2022
In response, it appears China is doomed if it does and doomed if it doesn't:
Critics shifted seamlessly from complaining about China playing hardball with low-income borrowers ("debt-trap diplomacy") to complaining that China's ball is too soft. You almost have to admire the sheer audacity. https://t.co/yxfpXL9Frl pic.twitter.com/miy7iOi3Hg
— Gabriel Wildau (@gabewildau) September 13, 2022
More about China's loans:
Not quite right. The emergency loans don’t call for behavioural change, just extend and pretend, and end up with countries having to go to imf later when things are worse https://t.co/RRqQ2Tr24u
— George Magnus (@georgemagnus1) September 11, 2022
Despite fraught Sino-Australian relations, China is importing large quantities of Australian wheat:
China is importing Australian wheat in record volumes…making it by far our biggest customer. Indonesia is a long way back in second place…”: China wheat sales hit record despite trade tension https://t.co/T31nF84K38
— James Laurenceson 罗震 (@j_laurenceson) September 11, 2022
Zhou Enlai and Henry Kissinger in Beijing in 1973:
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai during dinner in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, 1973. pic.twitter.com/M7IzDCjSe3
— China in Pictures (@tongbingxue) September 12, 2022
On semiconductor supply chains:
What does the semiconductor supply chain look like? Here's one view of it. https://t.co/6Ec2jCxq8S pic.twitter.com/dfijYvpW60
— David Barboza (@DavidBarboza2) September 12, 2022
Stymieing China's innovation by curbing the sale of semiconductors for AI and chip-making equipment:
"The strategy is to choke off China and they have discovered that chips are a choke point. They can't make this stuff, they can't make the manufacturing equipment" https://t.co/5aYZvjWjOI
— Tom Hancock (@hancocktom) September 12, 2022
A strengthening USD against the RMB leaves the People's Bank of China with some hard decisions:
1/6
— Michael Pettis (@michaelxpettis) September 12, 2022
Good article. Soaring USD puts the PBoC in a tough position. The USD value of the RMB may matter to Chinese capital flows, whereas the trade-weighted value of the RMB matters more to Chinese trade.https://t.co/cabcJKw7lT
Voters have spoken: China is not at all in decline now!
Is China in decline now?
— Chen Dingding (@ChenDingding) September 12, 2022
The Queen's death, mourning, protest, and the law
Mourning as a form of protest in Hong Kong and China:
In Hong Kong, mourning Queen Elizabeth is an artful protest against the CCP.
— Sabina Knight 桑稟华 (@SabinaKnight1) September 11, 2022
In 1976 morning Zhou Enlai signaled dissent against Mao's policies and the Gang of Four. https://t.co/CclXnOvbVk
In 1989 mourning Hu Yaobang's death began anti-corruption protests in Tiananmen Square. pic.twitter.com/c9RvHlK0Vp
Is this China or the UK?
Astonishing. What could the charge possibly be? “Picking quarrels and stirring up trouble”? Welcome to China. https://t.co/yjEA3C3NWA
— Donald Clarke (@donaldcclarke) September 12, 2022
It actually seems like Hong Kong?
Just went to Parliament Square & held up a blank piece of paper. Officer came & asked for my details. He confirmed that if I wrote “Not My King” on it, he would arrest me under the Public Order Act because someone might be offended.
— Paul Powlesland (@paulpowlesland) September 12, 2022
Oh no wait, that was England, this is Hong Kong:
Thousands of HongKongers queued in the heat to pay tribute to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
— Bao Choy (@Baochoy) September 13, 2022
“You will be remembered for your elegance and legacy: a once free and civilized Hong Kong.” A HongKonger wrote. pic.twitter.com/5LZj0MHeM8
Apologising for mourning the Queen:
Probably one of the first men on earth made to openly apologise for mourning #QueenElizabethII - HK veteran actor Law Kar-Ying published a video on Weibo today apologising for praising HK being a blessed land under the Queen’s reign, and swearing his unwavering loyalty to China. pic.twitter.com/5v1ASCoK6F
— Xinqi Su 蘇昕琪 (@XinqiSu) September 15, 2022
When people draw a definitive line between the people of China and the CCP:
when you're looking at the uk right now remember that the regime doesn't represent most British people. most British are just like you; they have families, loved ones, and worries. they dream of one day living freely. love the people, hate the government.
— yoshimi battles the xiaofenhong (@nise_yoshimi) September 15, 2022
Here is an interesting thread on the available scholarship of a fascinating segment in China's history – the land reform period:
Scholarship on China's land reform (土地改革; 1946-52) has exploded in the past few years. A quick 🧵on the field. For too long we only had #Fanshen, one of the most influential books ever written on China. Let's start with the inside scoop about Hinton's masterpiece 🧵: 1/ pic.twitter.com/QGeeTKbTWp
— Brian DeMare 江旷 (@BrianDeMare) September 13, 2022
A thread on China's senior military leadership:
#Xi Jinping commands the PLA, but who advises him on military matters? What kinds of officers sit atop the pyramid? How do their careers unfold? What leadership challenges would they face in a war? I address in a new @NDU_EDU monographhttps://t.co/DYKiwV3fF2
— Joel Wuthnow (@jwuthnow) September 13, 2022
Thread 1/11 pic.twitter.com/9NPGglFikc
Here's something to get involved in – Fantasy Politburo Standing Committee selection!
The Selectorate is here: built for the China nerd, playable by anyone.
— MacroPolo (@MacroPoloChina) September 13, 2022
You've got 32 days before the game closes. If you need help, use our fully updated The Committee database as your cheat sheet.
Ready to draft the new rulers of tomorrow? Play on:https://t.co/Xeaad6uZGE pic.twitter.com/whYvKZeHiK
Does Twitter have a PRC spy among its ranks?
NEW: The US government's tip to Twitter about a possible spy on its payroll was about a suspected Chinese agent, Sen. Grassley says. More here: https://t.co/MAhIfoJGpZ
— Brian Fung (@b_fung) September 13, 2022
If you have the time to plug in your earphones and listen to Michael Pettis talk about Chinese economic growth then here's your chance:
We’re all still grappling with the richness of @michaelxpettis’ insights today, plus all the outstanding audience Qs, so for sure we’ll be listening back to the recording of this morning’s conversation too, available at the link below for the next 30 days: https://t.co/QkNyqbzgTr
— Zhengfawei 政法委 (@Zhengfawei80) September 13, 2022
Xinjiang has been experiencing a tough lockdown
Residents of China’s west, frustrated by monthslong Covid restrictions that have failed to squelch outbreaks, are airing their grievances online. “Korla City has been locked down for over a month…Why hasn’t the outbreak come under control?”@selina_chenghttps://t.co/o43BTmj9Xu
— Jonathan Cheng (@JChengWSJ) September 14, 2022
Only seven countries on the UN Human Rights Council showed support for China's statement on Xinjiang in the face of the recently released UNHRC report on the region:
China is already paying a price for the (much decried) UN Human Rights report on #Xinjiang:
— Nicholas Bequelin (@bequelin) September 14, 2022
Only 7 members of the UN Human Rights Council were willing to endorse Beijing's statement on Xinjiang--dramatically below the level of support China generally getshttps://t.co/wXkE1mgdHQ
Funding from China for EU academia will come under greater scrutiny:
Chinese funding for EU academia will be screened under a new Defence of Democracy package announced by EU chief Von der Leyen.
— Stuart Lau (@StuartKLau) September 14, 2022
"We need to better shield ourselves from malign interference We will not allow any autocracy's Trojan horses to attack our democracies from within." pic.twitter.com/55hDblOGYk
Nuclear power continues to expand in China:
MORE new nuclear in CN! Announced yesterday at an executive meeting of the State Council: 4 more nuclear power plants are approved to be built.
— David Fishman (@pretentiouswhat) September 14, 2022
- Zhangzhou Phase II (2 x HPR1000) in Fujian
- Lianjiang Phase I (2 x CAP1000) in Guangdong
The press release was remarkably succinct: pic.twitter.com/rlvIsecpmM
Foreign medical equipment makes will be left out in the cold as China seeks to focus on self-reliance in this area:
China moves to shut out foreign medical equipment makers https://t.co/zDSLIBgg5T "China's move to ban overseas-made medical equipment is forcing multinational corporations to choose between leaving the market or handing over their core technologies." Reform and Opening...
— Bill Bishop (@niubi) September 14, 2022
MERICS has recently released a report on China's Comprehensive National Security concept:
As the CCP's 20th National Congress approaches and #XiJinping prepares for an anticipated third term, @KDrinhausen & @HelenaLegarda look at an important aspect of Xi’s tenure: the expansion of the concept of national security. Key findings:🧵1/6 https://t.co/TVKfmZqpmx pic.twitter.com/peL4hSEk9A
— MERICS (@merics_eu) September 15, 2022
Starbucks is booming in China:
Starbucks plans to open 3000 stores in China in the next 3 years to reach a total of 9000 in 2025. That’s one every 9 hours. And China is expected to overtake US as largest market by then. Well someone has confidence in the Chinese consumer! At least when it comes to coffee.
— Rui Ma 马睿 (@ruima) September 14, 2022
Here is an interesting thread on how a hashtag of Tibet's Covid outbreak is being handled on Weibo:
A Weibo hashtag on Tibet’s covid outbreak (#西藏疫情防控#) has repeatedly surged up Weibo’s trending searches only to be batted down again. It purports to show now-familiar but still grim scenes: haphazardly arranged quarantine centers, barely edible food, no potable water
— Alexander Boyd (@alexludoboyd) September 15, 2022
Li Zhanshu's comments
At first, it looked like China was showing more support for Russia:
This seems to go farther than official CN govt statements in 1) endorsing the "necessity" of the invasion of Ukraine; and 2) admitting they are providing "assistance". What a time for China to start getting off the fence on Russia's side. https://t.co/Pdci8jUNHw
— Julian Ku 古舉倫 (@julianku) September 11, 2022
Here is a translation of Li Zhanshu's remarks relating to Russia's invasion of Ukraine: