Massive floods threaten tens of millions as intense rains batter southern China;Toxic: How the search for the origins of COVID-19 turned politically poisonous
Chinese Communist Party-affiliated institute compiled profiles of Canadian MPs of Chinese descent
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Massive floods threaten tens of millions as intense rains batter southern China
CNN
Heavy rains have caused widespread flooding in southern China, forcing more than 82,500 people to be relocated and leaving 11 missing. Six of those missing are from the town of Jiangwan, where heavy downpours triggered landslides. The region has faced more intense rainstorms and severe floods in recent years, with last year seeing "more intense and extreme" downpours during the flood season. Since last week, at least 44 rivers in the Pearl River basin have swelled above the warning line, threatening to burst their banks.
Takeaways from AP report on how the search for the coronavirus origins turned toxic
Associated Press
An Associated Press investigation has found that the Chinese government froze efforts to trace the origins of the pandemic, despite publicly declaring it supported an open scientific inquiry. The investigation was based on thousands of pages of undisclosed emails and documents, leaked recordings, and dozens of interviews. The freeze began far earlier than previously known, in the first weeks of the outbreak, and involved political and scientific infighting in China. The AP investigation revealed that crucial initial efforts to trace the origins of the virus were hindered by bureaucrats in Wuhan, who misled the central government; the central government, which silenced Chinese scientists and subjected visiting U.N. officials to stage-managed tours; and the World Health Organization itself, which may have compromised early opportunities to gather critical information. The Chinese government refused to allow the World Health Organization team to investigate the Wuhan Institute of Virology or China's laboratories, and the Chinese government told the WHO that any future missions to find the origins of COVID-19 should be elsewhere.
Toxic: How the search for the origins of COVID-19 turned politically poisonous
Associated Press
The hunt for the origins of COVID-19 has gone dark in China, the victim of political infighting after a series of stalled and thwarted attempts to find the source of the virus that killed millions and paralyzed the world for months. The Chinese government froze meaningful domestic and international efforts to trace the virus from the first weeks of the outbreak, despite statements supporting open scientific inquiry, an Associated Press investigation found. That pattern continues to this day, with labs closed, collaborations shattered, foreign scientists forced out and Chinese researchers barred from leaving the country. Scientists warn the willful blindness over coronavirus’ origins leaves the world vulnerable to another outbreak, potentially undermining pandemic treaty talks coordinated by the World Health Organization set to culminate in May. The investigation drew on thousands of pages of undisclosed emails and documents and dozens of interviews that showed the freeze began far earlier than previously known and involved political and scientific infighting in China as much as international finger-pointing.
Chinese general takes a harsh line on Taiwan and other disputes at an international naval gathering
Associated Press
China's Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, has warned that China will use force to defend its territorial claims if they come under threat. Zhang's comments come during the 19th biennial meeting of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, and amid heightened tensions between China and other countries over its actions in the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and the East China Sea. China has territorial disputes with several countries in the region, including Taiwan, Japan, and five other parties in the South China Sea.
Tesla’s closest Chinese rival, Li Auto, slashes prices as EV discount war spreads to premium market
South China Morning Post
Li Auto, one of Tesla's biggest rivals in China, has cut the prices of all its vehicles by up to 5.7% following a similar move by the US automaker. Li Auto said the price cuts were aimed at providing better value to its customers and improving its offerings for Chinese families. Tesla had lowered the prices of its Shanghai-made Model 3 and Model Y cars by more than 5% in China earlier in the week. Electric vehicle sales in China have slumped by 31% quarter-on-quarter to 1.76 million units in Q1 2024, according to the China Passenger Car Association.
The Chinese Site That Rewired Online Shopping
NY Times
Pinduoduo, a Chinese discount shopping app, has emerged as a major competitor to tech giants Alibaba and JD.com in China's e-commerce market. Initially seen as a gimmick, Pinduoduo's unique selling point of lower prices for group purchases and its combination of gaming, social networking, and shopping has gained traction with consumers. Pinduoduo's sister company, Temu, has also gained popularity outside of China, including in the United States. However, the company has faced scrutiny for its business practices, including concerns about forced labor and labor practices, as well as its failure to enforce intellectual property laws. Within China, Pinduoduo has become a popular destination for affordable groceries and household items and is closing in on JD as the country's second-largest online retailer.
Volkswagen to Face Investors Skeptical of China Turnaround Plan
Bloomberg
Volkswagen faces an uphill battle in convincing investors that it can turn around its business in China, following its 2022 replacement of CEO Herbert Diess. The German carmaker has put in place new partnerships in China, including a tie-up with EV maker XPeng, and initiated an overhaul to lift returns at its struggling VW brand. However, VW's stock has fallen around 13% since then, while that of rival Stellantis has almost doubled. The company's profitability in China has been declining since 2015 and is now roughly half of what it was then.
Mama’s boys and marital strife are no joke in today’s China
Washington Post
China's ultrashort dramas, which are popular among Gen Z, have faced censorship for their plots about evil mothers-in-law and marital strife. The Chinese government is concerned that these plots go against its campaign to encourage families to stay together and have more children. The crackdown will likely slow the rise of the industry in China and accelerate studios' efforts to go global.
Chinese Communist Party-affiliated institute compiled profiles of Canadian MPs of Chinese descent
The Globe and Mail
A Chinese research institute affiliated with the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the ruling Communist Party of China reportedly compiled extensive profiles of ethnic Chinese members of Canada's Parliament in 2022. The institute used large-scale data analytics and artificial intelligence to create these profiles. Fewer than 10 members of Parliament in Canada's House of Commons are of Chinese descent. The profiles were shared with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) after being detected by the Communications Security Establishment (CSE). The CSE is Canada's secret signals intelligence agency. The sources reporting this information have chosen to remain anonymous due to the risk of prosecution under the Security of Information Act. The United Front Work Department is responsible for Beijing's intelligence, propaganda, and influence operations inside and outside China. The profiles are distinct from state disinformation and intimidation campaigns that targeted politicians in the lead-up to and during the 2021 elections, which are believed to have been conducted by China's Ministry of State Security (MSS).
China: At least 3 dead, thousands evacuated in severe storms
Deutsche Welle
More than 53,000 people have been evacuated and 11 are missing due to heavy rainfall in southern China. Three people have been reported dead in Zhaoqing City. Authorities have warned of heavy flooding and floods as high as 5.8 meters are expected. Torrential rain is expected to continue through Monday, with thunderstorms and strong winds predicted in coastal areas. The National Meteorological Center has said neighbouring provinces will also be affected.
Germany arrests 3 suspected China spies
Deutsche Welle
Three German nationals have been arrested on suspicion of working for a Chinese secret service, according to the German Federal Prosecutor's office. The individuals are accused of engaging in espionage at an unspecified time before June 2022. One of the defendants, Thomas R., allegedly acted as an agent for an employee of the Chinese secret service and obtained information on innovative technologies that could be used for military purposes. The other two defendants, Herwig F. and Ina F., are believed to have facilitated the acquisition of this information through their company in Düsseldorf. The company was used as a means to contact and collaborate with German scientists and researchers.
TikTok Vows Legal Battle as the US Presses for App’s Sale or Ban
Bloomberg
TikTok has informed its employees that it will go to court if a US bill forcing a ban or divestiture of the Chinese-owned app is signed into law. TikTok is at risk of losing its most lucrative market as the US House of Representatives has put legislation requiring TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership stake in the app on a fast track to become law. TikTok's head of public policy for the Americas called the law a violation of the First Amendment rights of TikTok's American users and said it would have devastating consequences for small businesses on the platform. TikTok's CEO has led a lobbying effort to persuade lawmakers that the company is not a security risk. ByteDance intends to fight the US ban in court and seek approval from the Beijing government before considering any kind of divestiture.
Raimondo says Huawei’s chip breakthrough is years behind U.S. tech
Japan Times
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has claimed that Huawei's latest smartphone does not represent a breakthrough in chip technology and shows that China is still behind the U.S. in this area. Raimondo highlighted the success of the Biden administration's export controls on China, which aimed to halt the country's technological advances. In August, Huawei unveiled a smartphone powered by a 7-nanometer chip, which is more advanced than what the U.S. had hoped to prevent China from achieving.
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