Protests in Taiwan against Nancy Pelosi’s visit [Weibo]
Dear reader,
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast launches its third episode, and Mika and Amadeus unpack the “debt trap” myth through recent studies (listen in English on Spotify and Apple).
After the visit to Taiwan by the US Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, Dongsheng members provide a broader analysis on the heightening tensions between US and China. Gisela Cernadas speaks with Barricada Tevé in Argentina (Spanish), Marco Fernandes with TVT’s Bom Para Todos in Brazil (Portuguese), and Tings Chak with Abby Martin and Mike Prysner in their new show, Dosed (English).
–Dongsheng editorial collective
Geopolitics
Nancy Pelosi conducts visit to Taiwan and escalates diplomatic tensions, despite sharp criticism from Beijing over violation of “One China Principle”
Speaker of the House of Representatives is the highest US official to visit the island since 1997 and receives a medal from local leader Tsai Ing-wen; according to analysts, disregard for the “Three Communiqués” signed by both countries could mean the end of an era in Sino-US relations
China sanctions Pelosi and her family and suspends cooperation and dialogue with the US on issues such as climate change, maritime security, and transnational crimes
Meanwhile, the PLA holds military exercises and training activities in six areas surrounding Taiwan from August 4-7, sending over 100 aircraft into Taiwan’s airspace and ballistic missiles over the island, for the first time
China will investment less in Belt and Road infrastructure megaprojects in Africa, giving more attention to smaller but profitable ventures
Beijing aims to reduce African countries’ debts to Chinese banks, and projects a greater role for private entities in small, low-risk projects; loans to Africa dropped from US$28.4 billion (2016) to US$1.9 billion (2020)
National Politics
Beijing bans mainland entities and individuals from cooperating with Taiwanese separatist foundations
Imports of 2,066 food items from more than 100 companies in Taiwan and the export of sand, key to its construction sector, were also banned; China does not rule out more severe punishments such as a ban on industrial and high-tech products
People’s Life and Culture
Pelosi’s visit triggers widespread public discussion and anger, with up to 83 million viewers following her flight radar
Weibo servers were overloaded temporarily with 25 of 50 related trending topics and “There is only One China” hashtag receiving 320 million views; meanwhile several Taiwan-based groups held rallies opposed to the visit at an US institute, airport, and hotel
Chinese people’s relationship with the English language has shifted over last decades, from the symbol of imperialism to economic progress
During the Cold War, English was deemed the “imperialist language” before relations with the USSR soured but afterreform period, more Chinese studied abroad and English entered national core curriculum; recent reforms targeting private education industry brought English learning back into public debate
Local governments give “snail awards” to public officials to correct their behavior and better serve the people’s needs
Citizens and officials themselves voted anonymously for those who act slowly, inefficiently, and irresponsibly; experts argue that the measure should be temporary and that a comprehensive, scientific, and effective evaluation and oversight mechanism is needed
Economy
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in China increases 22% year-on-year in in first half-year of 2021, reaching US$112.4 billion
FDI increased from South Korea (37%), the US (26%), and Germany (14%) and high-tech industries received almost 34% more investment and the service sector (9%) in FDI; the number of ventures over US$ 100 million grew 30% from the previous year
Manufacturing PMI falls to 49 in July (50.2 in June), despite recent signs of moderate recovery
The index – below 50 – projects contraction in manufacturing and insufficient market demand is the main difficulty facing sector firms, in addition to the impacts of COVID-19 and power supply disruptions; however, construction sub-index rose to 59.2 in July (56.6 in June)
Agriculture and Environment
China’s medical waste management is approved by international authorities and its experience has been useful for other countries
China established a comprehensive and standardized system for the collection, transportation, and disposal of medical waste generated by mass COVID-19 testing; by the end of 2021, China had 540 units that could dispose of 2.15 million tons of medical waste annually, 39% more than it generated in 2019
Medical waste at the west campus of Wuhan Union Hospital [Xinhua]
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