China-Taiwan Tensions, Population Shifts, and AI in Literature

Intro

Welcome to the China Update, where we summarize curated selections of the latest news on China from open sources and the Communist Party of China's official proclamations. We cover politics, the economy, society, technical innovations, cultural outreach, and international relations.  

Links to the source materials can be found at assured information.blogspot.com

From the Editor: China-Taiwan Tensions, Population Shifts, and AI in Literature

We explore the investigation launched by China into a Taiwan-based publisher over alleged national security concerns, highlighting the strained relations between China and Taiwan. Next, we examine the anticipated shift in global population dynamics, as India is projected to surpass China as the world's most populous country. We then shift our focus to a controversial incident involving a Chinese comedian arrested for a joke deemed humiliating to China's military, shedding light on the challenges stand-up comedy faces in the country.

We also cover the evolving landscape of modern warfare, as emphasized by General Wang Haijiang, who underscores the importance of national strength and preparedness for potential military conflicts. This comes against deteriorating relations between China and the United States and growing concerns over territorial disputes, particularly in Taiwan and the South China Sea. Lastly, we explore a unique intersection of literature and artificial intelligence, as Chinese Nobel laureate Mo Yan utilizes an AI language model to craft a prize citation for fellow author Yu Hua, exemplifying the increasing influence of technology in creative endeavors.

• China's investigation of a Taiwan-based publisher for an alleged national security threat.

• India is projected to overtake China as the world's most populous country.

• The arrest of a Chinese comedian for a joke allegedly humiliating China's military.

• General Wang Haijiang's emphasis on preparing for potential military conflicts.

• Chinese Nobel laureate Mo Yan using ChatGPT to write a prize citation for author Yu Hua.

Here are the articles for your consideration in June 2023:

Segment 1  China Investigates Taiwan-based Publisher for Alleged National Security Threat.

China has announced that it is investigating a Taiwan-based publisher, Li Yanhe (pen name Fucha), for allegedly "endangering national security." Li has published books about Beijing through his publishing company, Gusa Press. Li's detention is confirmed after days of speculation about his whereabouts. Taiwan has criticized China's "arbitrary arrests" of Taiwan residents as human rights violations. Li, born in China but relocated to Taiwan in 2009, traveled to China earlier this month to visit relatives and participate in the Qing Ming festival. Reports of his disappearance emerged. Chinese authorities have stated that Li's rights will be respected during the investigation, but dozens of writers, scholars, and activists have called for his release. China's focus on individuals with ties to Taiwan has grown recently, with the arrest of Taiwanese National Party founder Yang Chih-yuan on charges of "separatism." Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council has repeatedly requested his release but has not received a positive response from China. In addition, two Taiwan-based reporters for EBC News were detained by Chinese authorities while filming military exercises in Fujian province. These incidents contribute to the strained relations between China and Taiwan, as China considers Taiwan a breakaway province that should be reunified with the mainland.

Segment 2 India's population to surpass China in April (BBC).

According to the United Nations, India is projected to overtake China as the world's most populous country by the end of this week. By the end of April, India's population is anticipated to reach 1,425,775,850 people. The UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) has announced that the exact date is subject to change due to uncertainties with population estimates and projections. Nevertheless, the UN Population Fund projected that by mid-2023, India would have 2.9 million more people than China. China's birth rate has recently decreased, causing its population to shrink for the first time since 1961. DESA suggests China's population might fall below 1 billion by the end of the century. In contrast, India's population is predicted to continue growing for several more decades, despite its fertility rates dropping from 5.7 births per woman in 1950 to 2.2 births per woman today.

Segment 3 Chinese comedian arrested after joke about the army.

Chinese comedian Lee Haoshi, known by his stage name House, has been arrested following a joke he made that allegedly humiliated China's military. During a performance in Beijing, Lee compared the behavior of his dogs chasing a squirrel to a military slogan introduced by President Xi in 2013. The joke shared on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, has since gone viral and sparked offense among some nationalists. As a result, Lee's Weibo account has been suspended, and the company that hired him, Shanghai Xiaguo, has been fined 14.7m yuan (£1.7m) and suspended its activities in Beijing. The severity of the fine has led to speculations that stand-up comedy could face significant challenges in China due to fears of similar punitive actions.

Segment 4 Chinese general calls for the military to prepare for ‘hybrid’ modern warfare.

General Wang Haijiang, commander of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theatre Command, stated that modern warfare is now a contest of national strength, not just traditional battlefield engagements. This statement, made in an official newspaper, reveals Beijing's perspective on the year-long conflict in Ukraine. Wang emphasized that China needs to integrate its strategic forces better and fully prepare for potential military conflicts, especially given the increasing suppression and containment from Western nations. This announcement comes amidst deteriorating relations between China and the United States and growing concerns over potential conflicts in areas such as Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Segment 5 Chinese Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan turns to ChatGPT to help write a prize citation for famous writer Yu Hua.

Chinese Nobel laureate Mo Yan has utilized the AI language model ChatGPT to craft a prize citation for fellow author Yu Hua during the 65th anniversary of the Chinese literary magazine Shouhuo in Shanghai. Yu Hua, acclaimed for his novels 'To Live' and 'Brothers,' recently won the top prize for the novel ranking in 2021 with his latest work, 'The Lost City.' Mo Yan, who was presenting the award to Yu, employed ChatGPT to write the citation after several unsuccessful attempts. The key phrases he inputted into the AI were "To Live," "Extract a tooth," and "Wen Cheng," which respectively symbolized one of Yu's most famous novels, his previous profession as a dentist, and his prize-winning novel.