Kinaforum : 11. aug. 2021

onsdag 11. august 2021

China elephants: 150,000 evacuated from path of trekking herd

More than 150,000 people have been evacuated from the path of a herd of migrating elephants, Chinese officials have said. Authorities in south-western Yunnan province feared conflict between residents and the 14 Asian elephants which have been on the move for months. More than 25,000 police officers using vehicles and drones have monitored the herd, state media report.

he protected animals left a nature reserve in Yunnan about 17 months ago. Since then they have made international headlines with an extraordinary 500km (300-mile) trek that has seen them wander through fields, towns and cities, eating millions of dollars worth of crops and damaging buildings. As the herd approached settlements, people were temporarily relocated to prevent conflict as local residents tried to protect their crops and homes.

By June the animals had reached the outskirts of the provincial capital of Kunming. Efforts to head them off and send them back to the Mengyangzi Nature Reserve initially failed but eventually the herd turned around and began to head home.

China’s Presence in Africa Is at Heart Political

For all the talk of China’s growing presence in Africa, its economic engagement is surprisingly limited. In 2020, Africa accounted for 4 percent of China’s trade with the world (4.4 percent for its exports and 3.6 percent for its imports). In 2019, the continent accounted for just 2.9 percent of Chinese direct investment flows in the world. Since Africa is made up of 54 countries, 53 of which recognize Beijing, economic relations are even less important by country.

On the other hand, China accounted for 16.4 percent of Africa’s trade with the world in 2020 (12.8 percent for its exports and 19.2 percent for its imports), but there is no direct African investment flow to China. China was also the source of $153 billion in cumulative loans to African countries between 2000 and 2019.

China’s Vaccine Diplomacy in Latin America

As millions tuned in last month to watch Lionel Messi secure his first international trophy with Argentina in the Copa America final, flashy football was not the only thing illuminating the pitch. In stark capital letters, the word “SINOVAC” blazed across the perimeter advertising screens. The Chinese vaccine giant’s presence at South America’s biggest football tournament reflects the reality that China is taking a more active role in helping the region, while the United States stands on the sidelines.

Chinese vaccine diplomacy in Latin America has skyrocketed in recent months. In preparation for the Copa America tournament, Sinovac donated 50,000 vaccinesto the South American football governing body CONMEBOL. Beijing is investing in vaccine diplomacy to enhance its regional soft power. It’s time for the United States to pay more attention to a region that it often takes for granted.

China recalls its ambassador to Lithuania

China recalled its ambassador to Lithuania on Tuesday, in response to Vilnius' move to set up a new diplomatic office in Taiwan. Beijing is also demanding Lithuania recall its top envoy from China, according to a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, state media Xinhua reported.

"China solemnly declares to the world that there is only one China in the world, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China," the spokesperson said. The escalation over Lithuania's trade office in Taipei comes hot on the heels of another diplomatic tussle between Vilnius and Beijing. Lithuania has also quit China’s “17+1” platform for dealing with Central and Eastern European countries, and has criticized Beijing for causing disunity among EU countries.

Lithuania said China’s decision was “disappointing," with Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis telling Reuters: “We are considering our next moves." He added: “Obviously we got the message but we stated our own message as well, that Lithuania will continue with its policy because it is not only Lithuania’s policy we are pursuing, it is also the policy of many European countries.”

Noting this is the first time Beijing reacted this way to member countries’ offices in Taiwan, EU foreign affairs spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said: “We regret the Chinese action, and are following developments closely … We do not regard the opening of a representative office in or from Taiwan (as opposed to an embassy or consulate) as a breach of the EU’s One China policy.” She also warned about impact on overall EU-China relations.

Tesla sales cratered in China, but investors don't seem to mind

Tesla sales dropped sharply in China, according to a trade group report, suggesting it is losing ground in the world's largest market for both traditional and electric vehicles. The China Passenger Car Association reported that Tesla's sales in China fell to 8,621 cars in July, down nearly 70% from June. But the export of cars built at Tesla's Shanghai plant jumped to 24,347 for July, compared with 5,017 in June. That means total sales of Chinese-built Teslas fell less than 1% overall.

Critics say the steep decline of sales to Chinese consumers is yet another sign of the growing problems the company faces in the country. Tesla is contending with increased competition from Chinese EV makers as well as a run of bad publicity, including a recall of virtually all of the cars that have been built in Shanghai. The company also faced protests by Telsa owners at this year's Shanghai auto show over poor car quality and various safety concerns flagged by Chinese regulators.

China has punished dozens of officials for failing to control the Delta outbreak

China has punished more than 40 local officials for failing to control a spiraling Delta variant outbreak, as authorities scramble to curb the worst resurgence of Covid-19 the country has seen in over a year. The current outbreak, which first emerged in the eastern city of Nanjing, has spread to over half of China's 31 provinces and caused more than 1,000 symptomatic infections in three weeks, according to a CNN tally of the National Health Commission's daily reports.

Authorities have rushed to impose stringent lockdowns, mass testing, extensive quarantine and travel restrictions -- a strict playbook it has previously used to swiftly stamp out sporadic flare-ups. Such measures have been deployed at a scale and intensity unseen in China since the initial outbreak in early 2020. Those officials who failed to implement the measures promptly or thoroughly enough are now finding themselves facing disciplinary actions.

Across the country, at least 47 officials, ranging from the heads of local governments, health commissions, hospitals and airports, have been punished for negligence, according to official statements and state media reports. In Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province,15 officials were held accountable for allowing infections to spread at the Nanjing Lukou International Airport, according to a statement from the Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).

Swiss embassy urges Chinese media to remove articles about scientist

The Swiss embassy in China has urged Chinese media to take down articles and posts it says contain "false" news. In a Twitter post, the embassy said an alleged Swiss biologist who had been quoted in Chinese media in recent days likely did not exist. State media outlets were among those that carried articles with comments from "Wilson Edwards" on the origins of Covid-19 and the WHO's independence. Many outlets have since removed any reference to him.

"While we appreciate the attention on our country, the Embassy of Switzerland must unfortunately inform the Chinese public that this news is false," the Swiss embassy said in a statement posted on Twitter. Organisations including CGTN, Shanghai Daily and Global Times had cited the so-called biologist based on his Facebook profile. However, the Swiss embassy said the Facebook account was opened two weeks ago and only had three friends. "It is likely that this Facebook account was not opened for social networking purposes," the Swiss embassy added.

China to ban karaoke songs with 'illegal content'

China is set to ban karaoke songs that contain "illegal content", its Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced. Songs that fall under this category include those that endanger national unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity. Those who provide content to karaoke venues have been urged to review the songs and flag up to the ministry those that are potentially harmful. The rules are due to come into effect on 1 October.

Other songs that are set to be banned include those which: Incite ethnic hatred and ethnic discrimination, endanger national security or harm national honour and interests, violate the state's religious policies, propagate obscenity, gambling, violence and other criminal activities.

China has more than 50,000 "song and dance entertainment" venues across the country, according to the ministry. It added that it was difficult for venue operators to identify illegal songs, given that some had music libraries of more than 100,000 songs - which was why they were encouraging content providers to take more responsibility.

Michael Spavor: Canadian jailed for 11 years in China on spying charges

A court in China has convicted a Canadian businessman of espionage and sentenced him to 11 years in prison. Michael Spavor has been detained since 2018, after being arrested with fellow Canadian ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig.

The verdict will test a strained relationship between the Canadian and Chinese governments. It comes as an extradition battle involving Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei, takes place in Canada. Critics have accused China of treating both Spavor and Kovrig as political bargaining chips, held as part of what is known as "hostage diplomacy".

In a statement published on Wednesday, the Dandong court said: "For the crime of spying and illegal provision of state secrets abroad [Spavor] has been sentenced to 11 years in jail, confiscation of 50,000 yuan ($7,715: £5,578) worth of personal property and deportation." The statement did not explicitly state when the deportation would take place but China typically deports convicted foreigners only after they have completed their prison sentence.

Sp-profil krever stans i Kina-forhandlingene

– I dagens situasjon mener jeg det må være åpenbart at Norge ikke bør sluttføre noen frihandelsavtale med Kina, sier Gjelsvik til NTB.

Han har i lang tid fulgt forhandlingene på vegne av Senterpartiet i Stortinget. Gjelsvik understreker at Sp ikke formelt har tatt stilling til saken. Men får partiet makt etter valget i september, er det ingen tvil om hva Gjelsvik vil anbefale: Forhandlingene må stoppe. – Jeg tror det vil vekke internasjonal oppsikt hvis Norge inngår en frihandelsavtale med Kina nå, sier Gjelsvik til NTB. – Det vil åpenbart være en fjær i hatten for det kinesiske regimet.

Forhandlingene om frihandelsavtalen begynte allerede i 2008, men stoppet opp da den kinesiske dissidenten Liu Xiaobo fikk Nobels fredspris to år etter. Først i 2016 ble samtalene gjenopptatt, etter at Norge og Kina inngikk en avtale om normaliseringa av forholdet der Norge erklærte støtte til «ett Kina»-politikken og lovte at Norge ikke vil støtte handlinger som undergraver «Kinas kjerneinteresser og hovedbekymringer». I dag er store deler av avtaleteksten ferdig. Men krevende forhandlinger pågår fortsatt om noen siste spørsmål. Verken Kinas ambassade eller Nærings- og fiskeridepartementet utdyper hva uenigheten gjelder.

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Myanmar Is Not a Failed State, But a Failed Coup

Since the military coup in Myanmar in February of this year, fears have grown that the country is becoming a failed state, or even sliding into all-out anarchy. While the murderous junta has certainly tried its best to drive the country to the brink of ruin, the fact is that it has not been able to do so. Myanmar is not a failed state, but a failed coup – thanks to the resourceful and resilient people of the country.

Across Myanmar, an almost parallel state has emerged, comprised of a broad coalition of democratic forces. This network provides healthcare, safety, and other vital services in the vacuum left by the illegal junta over the past six months. With a deadly wave of COVID-19 ravaging the country, it is crucial that the international community works with the National Unity Government (NUG) and other actors who are trying to save lives.