The remarks by Blinken came as he was addressing a joint press conference with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy…reports Asian Lite News
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to carry out his aggressive actions against Ukraine is bolstered by the support he receives from China.
The remarks by Blinken came as he was addressing a joint press conference with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Addressing the joint conference, Blinken said that one of the most important priorities includes providing support to Ukraine. He said, “…The priorities include our resolute support to Ukraine faced with the ongoing Russian aggression. The US, UK, and our leaders are providing security assistance to Ukraine, and together from day one, we continue to say that we stand strongly with our Ukrainian partners.
Criticising Russia for escalating its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilians, Blinken said, “We will be travelling to Kyiv this week and I think it is a critical moment for Ukraine. In the midst of worries… with Russia continuing to escalate its aggression against civilians, critical infrastructure, and of course against Ukrainian forces, we see ramping up of attacks on cities and people, in particular targeting the energy infrastructure, electricity, all these in the coldest months.
Targeting China for supporting Russia during the war against Ukraine, Blinken said, “One of the reasons that Putin (Russian President Vladimir Putin) is able to continue this aggression is because of the provision of support from the People’s Republic of China. China is the biggest supplier of machine tools, the biggest supplier of micro-electronics, all of which are helping Russia sustain its defence industrial base.”
Notably, on September 11, Blinken will travel to Ukraine with Lammy, where they will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior Ukrainian government officials to discuss continued support for Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s aggression and ways to ensure Ukraine can thrive militarily, economically, and democratically in the long term, a press release by the US Department of State said.
Blinken further said, “This joint trip reflects strong transatlantic support, … with our Indo-pacific partners, with more than 50 nations that continue to support Ukraine. Together, we are making sure that Ukraine can defend its territory…, that it would be able to stand strongly on its feet, economically, democratically…”
Meanwhile, David Lammy in a post on X said, “It’s a pleasure to welcome US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to London. The special relationship has been cherished on both sides of the Atlantic for more than 80 years, but together we are committed to supercharging our alliance to bring security and growth.”
On September 12, Secretary Blinken will travel to Poland, where he will meet with senior Polish government officials to discuss a range of important bilateral issues, including deepening our defence and energy cooperation, and our work as NATO Allies to support Ukraine’s defence. (ANI)
It is no wonder that in Hong Kong, like in Beijing, the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989 was marked by silence in the graveyard this year, writes Anirudh Jain
The case of pro-democracy activist of Hong Kong Joshua Wong in the biggest case under the National Security Law brought to trial in the former British colony is a glaring instance of how the new law imposed by Beijing is being used against democracy activists in the island city.
Wong was one of 47 activists charged in 2021 under the NSL with conspiracy to commit subversion for their involvement in an unofficial primary. The activists were accused of attempting to paralyse the government in Hong Kong and topple the Leader of Hong Kong by aiming to win a legislative majority and using it to block the budgets of the city indiscriminately.
Wong first became a household name in Hong Kong as a teenager in 2012 for leading protests against the implementation of national education in schools in Hong Kong.
In 2014, he rose to fame as one of the student leaders in the Occupy Movement in the city, during which demonstrators occupied streets for 79 days and brought traffic in some areas to a standstill, demanding direct elections for Hong Kong’s leader.
Hong Kong police conduct a dispersal operation outside the Hong Kong International Airport. (Xinhua/IANS)
In the leaderless pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong in 2019 against a law for extradition of accused citizens of Hong Kong to mainland China for trial, Wong helped drum up overseas support for the protests. His activism resulted in Beijing calling him as an advocate of the independence of Hong Kong who had “begged for interference” from foreign forces. When the security law was enacted on June 30, 2020, “Demosisto,” a political party he had co-founded, was disbanded.
The convictions have drawn concern from foreign governments. The United States has said it plans to impose new visa restrictions on both Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for implementing the security law. A British judge has said the verdict “is symptomatic of a growing malaise in the Hong Kong judiciary,” days after resigning from a post on the top court in Hong Kong. In fact, a series of resignations of British and Australian judges from top courts in Hong Kong has put a serious question mark on the independence of judiciary in the island city. Courts in Hong Kong may soon be reduced to the status of kangaroo courts.
A former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada stepped down from the top court of Hong Kong last year, following a series of resignations by other overseas judges from the court. Beverly McLachlin ended her term serving as a non-permanent overseas judge at the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong. Jonathan Sumption, a British judge who has resigned from the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong, has subsequently mentioned about a growing “paranoia of the authorities” and judges being intimidated by a “darkening political mood” in the Asian financial hub. “Hong Kong, once a vibrant and politically diverse community, is slowly becoming a totalitarian state. The rule of law is profoundly compromised in any area about which the government feels strongly,” he has written. “The least sign of dissent is treated as a call for revolution.” He has written that he had remained on the court in the hope that the presence of overseas judges would help sustain the rule of law, but “I fear that this is no longer realistic.”
Another British judge, Lawrence Collins, resigned last June; saying his departure was “because of the political situation in Hong Kong.” In 2022 another British judge, Robert Reed, stepped down while saying the administration “has departed from values of political freedom, and freedom of expression.”
In fact, the NSL enacted by the Chinese government in 2020 has eroded the judicial independence of Hong Kong and all but wiped out public dissent. Many pro-democracy activists have been arrested under the NSL.
In the latest of such outrage, at the end of August two former editors of a news outlet already forced to down its shutters were convicted on the charge of sedition. Former Editor-in-Chief Chung Pui-kuen and former Acting Editor-in-Chief Patrik Lam of Stand News were arrested in December 2021. Stand News was one of the last media outlets that had openly criticized the government for the crackdown on dissent that followed the massive pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2019.
One of the most prominent detainees has been publisher Jimmy Lai, the 76-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper. He was arrested in 2020 during a crackdown on the pro-democracy protests in 2019. He was charged with colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to put out seditious publications. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
Last month, Lai’s lawyer Robert Pang argued before a Hong Kong court his client had no case to answer because the evidence of the prosecutors was insufficient and that the prosecution had failed to prove Lai’s intent and had stressed the importance of freedom of speech. But a three-judge bench ruled against him last week, without any elaboration. “Having considered all the submissions, we rule that the first defendant has a case to answer on all charges,” was all that the judges said.
Observers say Lai’s high-profile case is a trial of press freedom and a test for judicial independence in the Asian financial hub. When Britain handed back Hong Kong to China in 1997, the city was promised to have its Western-style civil liberties kept intact for 50 years. The freedoms that once set Hong Kong apart from mainland China, including freedoms of press and assembly and judicial independence, has however drastically shrunk since the enactment of the NSL of 2020.
On the other hand, the Hong Kong authorities are devising new ways every second day to crush civil liberties and voices of dissent. They have lately cancelled the passports of six overseas-based activists under the NSL, stepping up its crackdown on dissidents who have moved abroad. Among them are former pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, unionist Mung Siu-tat and activists Simon Cheng, Finn Lau, Johnny Fok and Tony Choi; all accused of endangering national security by authorities in Hong Kong. The government has said they have “absconded” to the UK. The Hong Kong police have offered rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars each for information leading to their arrests; a step that has drawn sharp criticism from Western governments.
It is no wonder that in Hong Kong, like in Beijing, the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989 was marked by silence in the graveyard this year. Tiananmen memorials have been scrubbed out in Hong Kong. A carnival organised by pro-Beijing groups was held in a park that for decades was the site of a huge candlelight vigil marking the anniversary of the massacre.
As Beijing’s toughened political stance has effectively extinguished any large-scale commemorations within its borders, overseas commemorative events have grown increasingly crucial for preserving memories of the Tiananmen crackdown. Over the past few years, a growing number of talks, rallies, exhibitions and plays on the subject have emerged in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Taiwan. These activities foster hope and counteract the aggressive efforts to erase reminders of the crackdown.
Ambassador Xu underscored China’s commitment to making significant contributions towards lasting peace and global prosperity through the SCO platform….reports Asian Lite News
China has officially taken over the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and will be responsible for hosting the 25th meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council in 2025.
Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, emphasised that the SCO’s core mission remains to foster unity among member states, enhance regional and global coordination, and contribute to global development, security, and civilisation initiatives.
Ambassador Xu underscored China’s commitment to making significant contributions towards lasting peace and global prosperity through the SCO platform.
This upcoming meeting in 2025 will be a significant event for the SCO, providing a platform for member states to discuss and coordinate on various global and regional issues. China’s leadership in this role reflects its growing influence and commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation within the SCO framework.
Recently, the 2024 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit was concluded in Astana, Kazakhstan and brought together leaders from across the region.
India played a prominent role, with the External Affairs Minister delivering the Prime Minister’s message that highlighted combating terrorism and addressing climate change as key priorities.
The 24th SCO Summit in Astana adopted the Astana Declaration and approved 25 strategic agreements on energy, security, trade, finance, and information security.
During the 24th SCO summit, China proposed that 2025 be designated as the SCO Year of Sustainable Development so as to help the SCO members focus on fostering new forces for growth, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
In a related development, India has received an official invitation from Pakistan to attend the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in-person meeting scheduled for October this year. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the receipt of the invitation but has not yet provided detailed updates regarding India’s participation.
Pakistan will host the meeting in Islamabad on October 15-16. This meeting is anticipated to be a crucial event for discussing key economic and political issues among SCO member states.
The SCO, founded on the principles of the Shanghai Spirit, is the largest regional cooperation organisation in terms of geographical coverage and population.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, initially included Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It has since expanded to include nine member states, with India and Iran joining the organisation.
The SCO also has three Observer States–Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Belarus–and 14 Dialogue Partners, including countries like Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
The organisation focuses on regional security, economic collaboration, and cultural exchange, reflecting its broad and evolving role in global affairs. (ANI)
China’s massive spy network boasts various agencies that encompass party, state and military, all of which are dedicated to prolonging CCP rule. Of course, this setup differs from the majority of other countries, where intelligence agencies pledge support to the nation and not to a single political party….reports Asian Lite News
Espionage is a fundamental part of how nations operate, collecting information and parrying foreign influence. China has arguably one of the world’s largest intelligence agencies, utilizing paid employees, a host of proxy organizations like the United Front Work Department (UFWD) and even civilians that collect data for the government.
Western countries spent years focusing on Islamic terrorism, especially after the 9/11 attacks. Yet many intelligence agencies were slow to transition to the threat from China, whose spies have three main aims – to shape political and economic trends to advance Chinese interests; to gather information on sensitive industries (e.g. defence technologies); and to monitor diaspora populations (e.g. Uyghurs).
Whenever caught in nefarious activities, where hacking remains a preferred modus operandi, China screams phrases like “malicious slander” or “groundless accusations”. However, the FBI states on its website: “The counterintelligence and economic espionage efforts emanating from the government of China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are a grave threat to the economic wellbeing and democratic values of the United States … The Chinese government is employing tactics that seek to influence lawmakers and public opinion to achieve policies that are more favorable to China.”
It added that a whole-of-society response is necessary to counter Chinese efforts targeting “businesses, academic institutions, researchers, lawmakers and the general public”.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in the USA surveyed publicly known cases of Chinese espionage from 2000 till March 2023. It discovered 224 incidents, excluding 1,200+ cases of intellectual property theft. This figure greatly surpassed those of any other country, including Russia.
The survey’s authors noted: “When Xi Jinping took office…one of his first acts was to repurpose and reorient China’s collection priority to better serve long-term goals, clamping down on what appeared to be collection by some People’s Liberation Army (PLA) units intended for personal gain (i.e. stealing commercial technology and providing it to private companies for cash or favours) as part of his larger campaign against corruption. Of the 224 incidents, we found that 69 per cent were reported after Xi took office.”
The CSIS survey added: “The long-term cost to the American economy and national security cannot be precisely measured, but estimates run into the billions of dollars for commercial and technological espionage. Chinese espionage also created immeasurable damage to national security with the theft of weapons technology, including nuclear weapons test data. In the last few years, China has added the theft of massive quantities of personal information, political coercion and influence operations to its espionage activities.”
It also noted, “Chinese nationals who come to the US to work or study are a fertile ground for recruitment. Often they intend to return to China or have close family members resident in China, making them more susceptible to coercion.” Indeed, China can recruit citizens by offering financial incentives, or even threatening to punish family members still in China.
CSIS data found that 49 per cent of incidents directly involved Chinese military or government employees; 41 per cent were private Chinese citizens; 10 per cent were non-Chinese actors (usually Americans recruited by China); 46 per cent of incidents involved cyber espionage (usually by state-affiliated actors); 29 per cent of incidents sought to acquire military technology; and 54 per cent sought commercial technologies.
Interestingly, there was a sharp dip in Chinese spying activity after a 2015 agreement between President Barack Obama and Chairman Xi Jinping to restrict commercial espionage by government entities. However, this decline quickly reversed within a year of the agreement.
Taiwan is particularly riddled by people spying for China. For example, three retired members of Taiwan’s Military Intelligence Bureau were sentenced to imprisonment on September 6 after being found guilty of creating a spy ring and passing classified information to China. Two colonels and a major general, plus another officer later acquitted for lack of evidence, had been indicted in 2021 for leaking information about Taiwan’s intelligence sources, organizations and personnel, and for developing the spy ring. China recruited them with offers of business incentives, cash and free trips.
Also in Taiwan, the High Court convicted eight current and retired military officers on August 22 for developing a separate Chinese spy network. This even involved an audacious plot to fly a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong in the Taiwan Strait! With such malfeasance within Taiwan’s military, it is little wonder the US has refused to sell it top-tier platforms like the F-35 fighter.
Their sentences varied from 18 months to 13 years, and defendants included members of the 601st Brigade of the Aviation and Special Forces Command. They had been recruited by two Taiwanese businessmen working in China. Two junior officers had also been paid to film themselves saying, “In time of war, I agree to surrender to the Chinese PLA.”
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense admitted China is targeting its military and personnel for infiltration and espionage, and therefore all units must enhance national security education and training to safeguard information. Furthermore, all personnel must protect classified material, report suspicious activities promptly and cooperate with officers to prevent infiltration by spies.
New Zealand, a Five Eyes member and a country who rarely speaks out against China, is also becoming more vocal about malicious Chinese activity. The NZ Secret Intelligence Service recently released a report entitled “New Zealand’s Security Threat Environment” that specifically called out China. “The intelligence arm of the People’s Republic of China is well known for using professional social networking sites to identify unwitting candidates, including New Zealanders.
Bogus consultancy jobs are offered or similar roles that can be co-opted for reporting privileged information. Often this begins as an innocuous request for an article or a report on a benign topic and slowly progresses into more sensitive questions. By the time the unwitting candidate becomes aware that they are engaging with an illegitimate actor they have often already shared information they otherwise would not have.”
The report warned of foreign interference that uses deceptive, coercive or corruptive methods too. This includes long-term influence building, where “foreign states seek to use the relationship to influence a New Zealand official to undertake or cease an activity in a way that may be seen as a conflict of interest or even bribery”. Self-censorship is one example how this can happen.
The NZSIS gave a case study of this too. “A New Zealand-based Chinese language news outlet is almost certainly responsive to PRC direction and repeats approved talking points in New Zealand. Its publisher has attended PRC-organized media forums and signed content sharing agreements with organizations that also conform to the narrative. The news outlet routinely republishes material from sources that are directly or indirectly controlled by the PRC. While this type of state-influenced outlet is the norm in some countries, it runs contrary to widely accepted journalistic norms in New Zealand.”
China’s massive spy network boasts various agencies that encompass party, state and military, all of which are dedicated to prolonging CCP rule. Of course, this setup differs from the majority of other countries, where intelligence agencies pledge support to the nation and not to a single political party.
Formed in 1983, China’s secretive Ministry of State Security (MSS) is responsible for counterintelligence, foreign intelligence, domestic surveillance and national security intelligence. Its motto is “serve the people firmly and purely, reassure the party, be willing to contribute, be able to fight hard and win”. Its only website is a reporting platform where “good” citizens can dob in suspected spies.
Yet the MSS, for all its girth, still depends on organizations like the UFWD to gather intelligence. In a 2014 speech, Xi described the UFWD as a “magic weapon” for the “Chinese people’s great rejuvenation”. The UFWD is designed to look benign, often taking names like “friendship association”. Xi said, “Presently, our situation and our mission have undergone significant change. The larger the change, the more the United Front under the ‘new situation’ needs to be developed, the more United Front work needs to be carried out.” Xi said students studying abroad were a valuable, new focus in this work.
Chinese spying in the US was recently brought into sharp relief by the case of Linda Sun, a naturalized American citizen born in China and who had worked for New York state. Her roles included deputy chief of staff for Governor Kathy Hochul, and as an aide to her predecessor. A 64-page indictment said Sun, along with husband Chris Hu, conspired and violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act, accusing her of money laundering, visa fraud and alien smuggling.
Sun allegedly and consistently blocked access by Taiwanese officials to New York officials, and shaped the state’s policy towards China and Taiwan. She delivered data to the Chinese consulate general in New York, all the while failing to disclose her connections with Chinese government officials to US authorities.
Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu poured scorn on US accusations against Sun: “In recent years, the US government and media have frequently hyped up the so-called ‘Chinese agents’ narratives, many of which have later been proven untrue … We firmly oppose the groundlessly slandering and smearing targeting China.” American and other officials are often reluctant to accuse someone of being a foreign agent and, as China did here with references to “slandering and smearing”, it pours fuel on the fire by playing the racism card. State and municipal governments in the USA are at greater risk of Chinese penetration because they do not require the strict vetting that occurs at the federal level.
Other recent US cases of Chinese spying are two men accused of running a covert police station in Lower Manhattan; three men convicted of stalking a family in New Jersey on behalf of the Chinese government; plus a 73-year-old activist convicted recently for acting and conspiring as a Chinese agent. Beijing has created covert police outposts all around the world, these being used to monitor and harass Chinese dissidents.
FBI Director Chris Wray warned in January that Beijing poses a “multi-pronged assault on our national and economic security”. Referring to Linda Sun’s case, Heather McMahon, a former senior director at the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, also noted, “This is the tip of the iceberg – it’s not a one-off incident.”
Ironically, rather than admitting its role in pervasive spying, Beijing claims to be the victim. In mid-August, the MSS posted on WeChat that it had uncovered more than 1,000 cases of Taiwanese espionage. In a “strike hard” crackdown, the ministry stated it had destroyed “a large number of spy intelligence networks” set up by Taiwan in mainland China. It “severely punished spies who carried out intelligence theft, infiltration and sabotage activities, in accordance with the law, effectively safeguarding the security of our country’s core secrets,” the MSS gleefully reported.
One person known to be arrested was Taiwanese political activist Yang Chih-yuan. Detained in Wenzhou in August 2022, Beijing accused him of being a Taiwan independence leader. The MSS said his arrest “dealt a heavy blow and become a strong deterrent” to pro-independence separatist forces. Sentenced to nine years in jail in late August, Yang is the first Taiwanese person sentenced by a Mainland court for secession.
The MSS added, “[We have] promptly thwarted the provocative plots of Taiwan independence separatists and external forces, effectively countering the intervention of foreign countries in the Taiwan Strait situation and meddling in the Taiwan issue.”
Earlier, two Canadians – former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor – were both detained by the MSS in December 2018 for “endangering national security”. Many saw their detention as retribution for Canada’s arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou. They spent 1,019 days in prison, being released shortly after Meng was freed from house arrest in Canada.
Their case illustrated how China is increasingly paranoid about Western influence, and how it also freely tramples on human rights in order to make political statements. Unfortunately, there is no paucity of Westerners and Chinese citizens willing to serve such a regime in order to gain financial or some other form of benefit. China’s big, red eye continues to roam as it hoovers up every scrap of intelligence it can. (ANI)
For Xi Jinping, the primary objective of purging senior officials and rivals is to eliminate any obstacles to his authority. However, the recent expulsion of loyalists, such as the former Defence Minister, indicates a shift in his strategy, writes Lt Col JS Sodhi…reports Asian Lite News
Two months ago, President Xi Jinping dismissed two former Chinese defence ministers, marking one of the most significant purges during his tenure.
Li Shangfu, a former close aide to Xi Jinping, and his predecessor Wei Fenghe were both expelled from the Communist Party of China due to allegations of corruption.
Over the past 12 years, such purges have become increasingly common in Chinese political life. They serve multiple purposes, including addressing the pervasive corruption undermining Chinese institutions; however, their primary function is to signal to other officials that similar consequences could befall them should they act in ways that displease Xi Jinping.
It is important to note that purges are a fundamental strategy employed by leaders of Communist totalitarian regimes.
Li_Shangfu
Prior to Xi Jinping, Joseph Stalin had perfected the technique of eliminating officials perceived as threats to his authority.
Similarly, China has a longstanding tradition of purges, notably under Mao Zedong, with Deng Xiaoping being one of the most significant figures to be ousted during that era. Deng later ascended to the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and amended its constitution to limit the presidency and general secretary to two terms.
In contrast, Xi Jinping has altered this rule, reflecting the numerous changes that have occurred in China over the past decade. To fully grasp the implications of purges, it is essential to identify the prominent individuals who have been adversely affected by these actions.
Whom Xi Jinping purges
To comprehend the individuals targeted by Xi Jinping’s purges, it is essential to examine the CPC’s recruitment and training mechanisms. The party systematically cultivates its future leaders, politicians, and bureaucrats from a young age, drawing heavily from Confucian principles.
These trainees often come from families with deep Communist roots, with many being third-generation members whose fathers and grandfathers were active in the party. Xi Jinping himself is no exception, as his father, Xi Zhongxun, was unjustly purged by Mao for 16 years, forcing Xi Jinping to spend his childhood in relative obscurity for someone of his stature.
Notably, he did not attend the elite schools operated by the CPC. This background likely contributes to his distrust of those who held power before his tenure and his desire to surround himself with loyal supporters. To consolidate his authority fully, Xi Jinping has found it necessary to place his allies in key decision-making positions.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, waves to journalists at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei/IANS)
Purging other officials on various criminal charges has proven an effective means of creating vacancies and opportunities for his loyalists to ascend.
By taking these actions, Xi Jinping has effectively suppressed any potential opposition or dissent within the CPC, resulting in the removal of several notable figures. One such individual was Bo Xilai, who was once regarded as one of China’s most promising politicians before his abrupt downfall.
At 64 years of age, Bo served as the Party Secretary of Chongqing and was a member of the Politburo. He faced serious allegations, including corruption, abuse of power, and complicity in the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood by his wife, Gu Kailai.
In 2013, Bo was sentenced to life imprisonment, marking one of the most sensational political scandals in recent Chinese history.
Another significant figure was Zhou Yongkang, previously considered one of the most powerful individuals in China. As a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, Zhou was convicted in 2015 for bribery, abuse of power, and leaking state secrets.
His trial was unprecedented, as it was the first time a former member of the Politburo Standing Committee had been prosecuted in the history of the People’s Republic of China. Zhou also received a life sentence, further illustrating Xi Jinping’s strategy of consolidating power by eliminating potential rivals and dissenters within the party.
Similarly, numerous CPC officials, including Ling Jihua, a close associate of former President Hu Jintao, Xu Caihou, the former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Sun Zhengcai, a Politburo member once regarded as a potential future leader of China, have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms under Xi Jinping’s regime.
In addition to these high-profile cases, Xi Jinping has also targeted prominent figures from various sectors, including actors, industry leaders, and mid to senior-level military officials, who have faced purges during his administration.
Wei Fenghe
What objectives purges serve
For Xi Jinping, the primary objective of purging senior officials and rivals is to eliminate any obstacles to his authority. However, the recent expulsion of loyalists, such as the former Defence Minister, indicates a shift in his strategy.
These purges are advantageous for both Xi Jinping and the CPC, as they hold individuals accountable for their transgressions. Furthermore, such actions serve a populist function; when wealthy Chinese figures are removed, the public often perceives it as a form of justice being enacted by the authorities.
Prior to Xi Jinping’s leadership, the CPC was regarded as an untouchable entity in Chinese politics. Xi Jinping has effectively embodied the party, viewing rivals who could otherwise contribute with equal loyalty as threats that must be eradicated.
Nonetheless, a critical question arises: In a system centred around a single individual, how can these purges be rationalised as a pursuit of justice? There may come a time when the discontent stemming from these purges among CPC officials leads to Xi Jinping’s downfall, particularly as the fragile state of the Chinese economy exacerbates this crisis.
(Lt Col JS Sodhi, Retd, is the Editor of Global Strategic & Defence News, and the author of ‘China’s War Clouds: The Great Chinese Checkmate’. The views expressed are personal)
In a reflection of China’s broadening relationship with Africa, Xi outlined 10 “partnership actions” at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation that included $140 million in military assistance…reports Asian Lite News
Dozens of African leaders gathered in Beijing for a summit that signals China’s influence in a continent that it hopes will be a key ally in pushing back against a US-led global order.
Chinese President Xi Jinping promised the leaders billions of dollars in loans and private investment over the next three years, and proposed that relations with all African countries that have diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the “strategic” level.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with each other to firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests,” he said at the opening ceremony of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
China has become a major player in Africa since the forum was founded in 2000. Its companies have invested heavily in mining for the resources Chinese industry needs, and its development banks have made loans to build railways, roads and other infrastructure under Xi’s Belt and Road program.
African leaders have welcomed China’s assistance but are pushing for a closer alignment of aid with the continent’s development goals. They are seeking to industrialize their economies and expand agricultural exports to reduce a trade deficit with China, which has become sub-Saharan Africa’s largest bilateral trading partner.
“In the context of our industrialization effort, the portfolio of private investments in Africa should be sufficiently diversified to extend beyond the traditional field of mining and energy resources,” Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chair of the African Union Commission, said, addressing the forum in French.
In a reflection of China’s broadening relationship with Africa, Xi outlined 10 “partnership actions” that included training for African politicians and future leaders, further opening of Chinese markets, agriculture demonstration areas, vocational and technical training, green energy projects and 1 billion yuan ($140 million) in military assistance grants.
Xi said China would eliminate tariffs on products from most of the world’s poorest countries, including 33 in Africa, in an expansion of existing exemptions.
“While commending the overall progress so far achieved, we also appreciate the announcement of further areas of partnership actions,” said Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, speaking on behalf of eastern Africa. “We salute a new characterization of China-Africa relations.”
China is training more military professionals in Africa than anyone else, and its widespread leadership and governance training gives the country an extra layer of influence by putting it in touch with consecutive generations of politicians, said Paul Nantulya, who specializes in relations with China at the African Center for Strategic Studies in Washington.
The relationship has moved beyond trade and investment to take on political overtones.
“Modernization is an inalienable right of all countries,” Xi said. “But the Western approach to it has inflicted immense sufferings on developing countries. Since the end of World War II, Third World nations, represented by China and African countries, have achieved independence … and have been endeavoring to redress the historical injustices of the modernization process.”
China has tried to position itself as a leader of the Global South, a catchphrase for the developing world. While others don’t necessarily see China as the leader, its message of rewriting the international order resonates with African nations that feel frustrated and abandoned by their traditional Western partners.
Many African nations have been openly critical of the US role in the war in Ukraine and refused to condemn Russia’s invasion, taking a non-aligned stance that has led to political frictions with the US.
“As our history demands, South Africa will continue to pursue progressive internationalism,” South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa said during talks with Xi earlier this week. “Building on the firm foundation of solidarity, we continue to provide support in promoting our interests, those of the African continent and the Global South.”
Xi voiced hope that based on the Dar es Salaam Consensus between China and Africa, both sides will step up research and exploration on the development path of Global South countries, China-Africa and South-South cooperation, and continue to provide important intellectual support for building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future and safeguarding the common interests of the Global South.
“It is very humbling to receive feedback that indeed our letter has been signed by President Xi Jinping. The rise in African voices is of great importance to safeguarding the benefits of Global South countries, and I attribute the recent rise in African voices when it comes to scholarly exchanges on Sino-African relations to initiatives by the Chinese government led by President Xi,” said Paul Frimpong, executive director of the Africa-China Center for Policy and Advisory, a think tank based in Ghana.
“China-Africa academic exchanges have yielded fruitful results, many African scholars like me could access various platforms to do field research and exchange academic ideas with other African and Chinese counterparts, enabling the two sides to deepen our mutual understanding and foster better policies to boost the bilateral cooperation,” Frimpong said.
US government spokesperson highlighted Beijing’s ongoing efforts to limit Taiwan’s international presence…reports Asian Lite News
The US has condemned China’s demand for the removal of a Taiwan reference from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) communique, calling it an attempt to limit Taiwan’s international presence.
On Wednesday, a US government spokesperson highlighted Beijing’s ongoing efforts to limit Taiwan’s international presence, Focus Taiwan reported.
The PIF, an intergovernmental organization consisting of 18 member countries, convened its 53rd summit in Tonga last week. Although Taiwan was not a formal participant, it has been actively engaged as a “development partner” with the forum since 1993.
The Pacific Islands Forum — a group of 18 island nations, plus Australia and New Zealand — initially included a reassertion of the standing of self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, in a public communique Friday outlining leaders’ agreements after their weeklong annual meeting.
Taiwan’s involvement has been recognized and reaffirmed in various PIF communications, notably in the 1992 PIF Leaders’ Communique, with subsequent affirmations in 1999 and 2010. The summit concluded on August 30, and the PIF initially published a joint statement that included a reaffirmation of the established arrangements concerning Taiwan.
The original communique included a statement in paragraph 66, which read: “Leaders at the forum reaffirmed the 1992 Leaders’ decision on relations with Taiwan/Republic of China.” However, the communique was removed from the PIF website later that evening, only to be republished the next day with paragraph 66 removed, reported Focus Taiwan.
Before this change, New Zealand media reported that during the summit, PIF Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown had assured China’s Ambassador to the Pacific, Qian Bo, with the comment, “We’ll remove it,” regarding the reference to Taiwan.
Qian Bo remarked to journalists that the mention of Taiwan “must be a mistake” and needed correction. Shortly after, the document was updated to exclude the reference to Taiwan. In response to the incident, a US State Department spokesperson confirmed in an email that the US has been monitoring reports about changes to the PIF communique and the removal of references to Taiwan, reported Focus Taiwan.
This episode underscores the ongoing geopolitical struggle over Taiwan, rooted in the Chinese Civil War. The conflict began in 1949 when the Communist Party established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland, while the Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan, continuing to assert sovereignty over all of China.
The tumultuous conclusion to the annual summit, where member nations stressed regional unity and resisted great powers’ attempts to exert influence, highlights the daunting challenge faced by some of the world’s smallest countries as they navigate the competing demands of larger nations that view them as strategic pawns in the global geopolitical landscape. (ANI)
Chinese envoy Feihong reflected on the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, drawing parallels between India and China as “fellow travellers.”…reports Asian Lite News
The Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, on Thursday remembered Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Gujarat’s Ahmedabad and praised the relationship between India and China.
Sharing a post on X, Feihong wrote, “Ten years ago, President Xi Jinping and PM Modi walked along the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, beautiful park and pleasant China-India relationship.”
“Today the park is still expanding its construction, and no efforts could be spared to advance our relationship,” the post added.
During his three-day visit, Chinese President Xi was accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan. During the visit, PM Modi and President Xi were seen sitting together on a swing on the banks of the Sabarmati River.
Sabarmati Riverfront is a waterfront developed along the banks of Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad.
Proposed in the 1960s, the construction began in 2005. Since 2012, under Phase 1, the waterfront has gradually been opened to the public as and when facilities are constructed.
The iconic Sabarmati Riverfront symbolises the very essence of Ahmedabad. The riverfront complex not only adds to the beauty and infrastructure of the city but also encourages a culture of fitness and sports amongst the general public.
Meanwhile, Chinese envoy Feihong also reflected on the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, drawing parallels between India and China as “fellow travellers.”
In a post on X, he wrote, “Mahatma Gandhi observed that China and India are fellow travellers sharing weal and woe in a common journey. Yes, we supported each other fighting for independence and liberation. We share common dream of development and revitalization.” (ANI)
Preselling a home is making it available for purchase before it is ready to move in, and this has become the main method of purchasing houses in China..reports Asian Lite News
The Chinese real estate market which once was a major contributor to the Chinese economy has reached the lowest share of new-home sales in 18 years as potential home-owners are shying from making purchases as after a string of cash-strapped developers halted construction, Nikkei Asia reported.
Reportedly, preselling of real estate properties allows the developers to recover their investments faster, and provide them cash and cash equivalents for their future projects.
Preselling a home is making it available for purchase before it is ready to move in, and this has become the main method of purchasing houses in China.
However, presales operations of homes had decreased by around 30 per cent. Additionally, new-home sales in the country also fell 21 per cent for the January-July period this year, Nikkei Asia reported citing the National Bureau of Statistics.
The housing recession in China has led to a prolonged economic crisis in real estate developers, most of which have halted constructions on presold properties since 2022. This resulted in homebuyers being kept away from moving in because of construction delays. This delay has caused a pushback with protests and mortgage strikes.
According to Nikkei Asia, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) currently worries that dissatisfaction over delayed delivery could lead to high criticism. In its third plenum, held in July this year, the party had proposed plans for presales reforms and promoting sales of completed properties in China.
Reportedly, local governments have crafted measures based on this policy from the third plenum, which includes giving real estate developers tax breaks and increasing banks’ credit lines. But on the condition that, the homes are sold to owners after completion only.
If the developers in China increase the number of properties sold after completion, the time needed to recover investments will drastically increase. Additionally, the construction costs for homeowners could also rise 20 per cent to 30 per cent compared with presales, the Nikkei Asia report stated.
According to the report, even if the real estate sales improve, prices continue to see downward pressure, and it is unclear if the country’s developers would be able to recover the necessary funds and improve their cash flow amid the sinking real estate market in China.
“The turnover of funds will slow, making it difficult for real estate companies to manage their business as aggressively as before,” said Yusuke Miura, a senior researcher at the NLI Research Institute.
Furthermore, the new-home sales show no signs of bottoming out. The prices have continued to decline in 66 of 70 major cities this July, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
The prices for properties have fallen in more than half of the cities for the 14th consecutive month this year. Prices declined by an unweighted average of 0.6 per cent across the 70 cities. With the negative trend continuing since June 2023, real estate developers are struggling to secure funds for projects, the Nikkei Asia report added. (ANI)
The Tanzanian and Zambian president are in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC…reporst Asian Lite News
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Wednesday jointly witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on revitalization project of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) railway, state media reported.
The Tanzanian and Zambian president are in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Xinhua reported.
The 1,860-km-long railway from Dar es Salaam in east Tanzania to New Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia. China had provided a USD 400 million interest free loan to build the railway,
The three-day (September 4-6) summit marks the ninth editon of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and is being held amidst ongoing conflicts in Africa in its neighbouring West Asia, Ukraine, and China’s growing assertiveness in the Pacific region.
As per American news outlet CNN, Chinese officials have touted the gathering as the largest diplomatic event they’ve hosted in recent years.
Xi Jinping and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Wednesday attended a signing ceremony of cooperation documents.
As per Xinhua, Xi also today met with Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. Further, the Chinese president met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Xi held talks with Senegalese president Bassirou Diomaye Faye and stated the bilateral cooperation has yielded tangible results and benefited the people of the two countries over the past years.
Chinese state media cited Xi as saying that China is willing to work with Senegal to realize their respective modernization, and advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries to a new level, Xi said.
On Tuesday China and Nigeria issued a joint statement elevating their ties to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday held talks in Beijing ahead of the opening of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
As per a report in Al Jazeera, China’s State Council said that Tinubu expressed his hope that Nigeria would become China’s largest trade and investment partner in Africa.
The Nigerian President also welcomed Chinese companies to increase investments in the country, expand cooperation in fields such as agriculture, manufacturing and mineral energy, and help poverty reduction efforts, according to the State Council.
As per the Al Jazeera report the Chinese state-run Export-Import Bank of China is financing 85 per cent of the cost of the USD 5.8bn Mambilla hydroelectric plant, which will be the Nigeria’s biggest power plant upon its scheduled completion in 2030.
Chinese premier Li Qiang on September 3 met with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is on a State visit.
Also Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday agreed to elevate bilateral relationship between the two countries.
As per CNN, this week marks Beijing’s chance to position China as a champion of the Global South and alternative leader to the US amidst Beijing’s rising frictions with Washington.
Beijing, said the US news outlet, is also expected to push to make Africa’s market a destination for its prolific production of green tech like solar panels and electric vehicles.
In 2021, China made ambitious pledges to Africa, including a commitment to import USD 300 billion worth of goods by 2024.
The CNN pointed out that a number of leaders attending the three-yearly Forum on China and Africa Cooperation are from countries grappling with heavy international debt, including from Chinese loans, and seek more investment and trade to boost their economies.
Since 2013, Xi has made five visits to Africa, traveling to Tanzania, South Africa, the Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Senegal, Rwanda and Mauritius. Since 2023, he has hosted at least 20 African leaders in China, the country’s state media reported. (ANI)
