138 satellites by year-end, Cultural Regulation, Defense Diplomacy, Tech Privacy, Infrastructure Expansion, and U.S. Policy Evolution

 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 continues to assert its influence over Taipei/Taiwan, maintaining a dynamic power balance with the United States. Moreover, a noticeable trend of monetary settlements is emerging, with an apparent attempt to undermine the dollar as the global benchmark. Observations from Twitter, CCP social media, and various news outlets demonstrate that the People's Republic of China skillfully presents itself as a modern, thriving, and expanding nation. This narrative starkly contrasts with the portrayal by many Western media outlets.  China continues to move closer to Russia, according to the Chinese Defense Ministry: Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu met with Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Nikolai Yevmenov in Beijing. They agreed to deepen bilateral military cooperation and communication and regularly hold joint exercises and patrols.

The warm reception of notable figures such as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates suggests that China sees an opportunity to foster relations and uphold its ascent. Recent news shows that China's rise continues unabated, with significant investments in infrastructure such as high-speed rail, shipping, and space exploration. The successful launch of the Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft to the Tianhe core module of the China Space Station is a testament to this claim. Similarly, the launch of the new high-speed Fuxing bullet train, capable of reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h, further substantiates China's advancement in infrastructure. Thus, China's progress is not just rhetoric but evidenced in tangible development.

• China has recently conducted a series of military exercises near Taiwan and challenges US shipping and aircraft in the Taiwan Straits, raising tensions between the two countries.

• China has been increasing its use of digital yuan, a central bank digital currency, in international transactions. This could challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency.

• China has been rapidly expanding its space program in recent years. In 2022, it became the first country to land a spacecraft on the moon's far side.  Massive satellite launches and continuous space exploration continue.

• China invests heavily in infrastructure projects such as the Fuxing CR450 high-speed train test in East China's Fujian province.  During a June 28th test, the train operated at a speed of 453 km per hour.  

Here are the articles for your consideration in July 2023:

I’ll provide a one-paragraph summary of each of these stories, and if you continue listening, there follows a more in-depth exploration of each story.

1. Beijing's comedy crackdown is hitting its music scene

2. Li Shangfu: War with the US would be an unbearable disaster, says China's defense minister

3. ByteDance denies tracking users' personal data for China

4. China sends a record 41 satellites to join Jilin-1 hi-res constellation

5. Blinken offers a blend of U.S. policy on China

A recent joke by a Chinese stand-up comedian, seen as mocking the military, has triggered a crackdown on the country's burgeoning comedy and music scenes. The stringent controls come as the live entertainment industry rebounds from years of Covid restrictions. Despite the careful monitoring of cultural events by the Communist Party, the underground music scene in Beijing has remained vibrant and innovative. However, this independent spirit has come under threat as the government seeks to impose stricter control.

China's Defense Minister, General Li Shangfu, has stated that war between China and the U.S. would be a global disaster in his first major address since assuming his position. Speaking at a security summit, General Li accused some countries of escalating an arms race in Asia but also affirmed that the world is large enough for both China and the U.S., urging the two superpowers to seek common ground. 

ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, has vehemently opposed allegations accusing it of assisting the Chinese mainland government in tracking radical protesters in Hong Kong. The allegations stem from a court filing by Yintao Roger Yu, ByteDance's former head of engineering in the U.S., who claimed that a special committee from the Chinese government was installed at ByteDance's Beijing offices to monitor all data, including U.S. users' information. 

China has successfully launched a Long March rocket carrying 41 satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, setting a national record for the number of satellites launched in one operation. These satellites have joined the Jilin-1 satellite constellation, the world's largest satellite for high-resolution Earth observations. 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserts that the primary aim of American policy toward China is to achieve peaceful coexistence. In a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations, Blinken acknowledged the long-term competition between the two nations but emphasized that neither country is going away, thus necessitating peaceful coexistence as the foundation. 

Segment 1: Beijing's comedy crackdown is hitting its music scene

A recent joke by a Chinese stand-up comedian, seen as mocking the military, has triggered a crackdown on the country's burgeoning comedy and music scenes. The stringent controls come as the live entertainment industry rebounds from years of Covid restrictions. Despite the careful monitoring of cultural events by the Communist Party, the underground music scene in Beijing has remained vibrant and innovative. However, this independent spirit has come under threat as the government seeks to impose stricter control. 

Comedian Yang Li's joke, which invoked an expression used by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to praise the People's Liberation Army, led to his being detained and facing a possible prison sentence. His employers, Xiaoguo Culture, were heavily fined, and their shows have been suspended in Beijing and Shanghai. This crackdown has broadened to encompass live music, with bars and cafes hosting such events without the proper permits under scrutiny. Foreigners performing in bands without specific live performance visas are also in trouble. The harsh measures are causing concern among venue owners and artists about how long this repression will last and its impact on China's vibrant arts scene.

1. The crackdown on China's comedy and music scene began with a joke by a stand-up comedian seen as mocking the military.

2. Beijing's underground music scene, despite close monitoring of cultural events by the Communist Party, has remained vibrant and innovative.

3. Comedian Yang Li was detained and faced a possible prison sentence for his joke, which used an expression employed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to praise the People's Liberation Army.

4. The government's crackdown has expanded to include live music, with bars and cafes hosting live events without the correct permits and foreigners playing in bands without specific live performance visas now targeted.

5. This crackdown's duration and potential impact have raised concerns among venue owners and artists, who still determine the future of the live entertainment industry in China.

Segment 2: Li Shangfu: War with the US would be an unbearable disaster, says China's defense minister

China's Defense Minister, General Li Shangfu, has stated that war between China and the U.S. would be a global disaster in his first major address since assuming his position. Speaking at a security summit, General Li accused "some countries" of escalating an arms race in Asia but also affirmed that the world is large enough for both China and the U.S., urging the two superpowers to seek common ground. Tensions recently flared after a Chinese warship allegedly executed "unsafe" maneuvers near a U.S. destroyer in the Taiwan Strait, with both sides accusing each other of provocation.

In his speech, General Li criticized the U.S. for its "Cold War mentality," saying it significantly heightens security risks. He also indicated that China would not tolerate the U.S. and its allies' naval patrols as an excuse to exercise navigational hegemony. Responding to the Taiwan Strait incident, he accused countries outside the region of stoking tensions. The U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson desired a predictable relationship with China and avoidance of a new Cold War.

General Li's sanctions from 2018 over purchasing Russian weapons present an obstacle to dialogue with his U.S. counterpart. According to Zhou Bo, a retired People's Liberation Army officer, Washington must lift these sanctions to facilitate talks. Despite the diplomatic row, a senior U.S. state department official has embarked on a week of talks in Beijing. Strained U.S.-China relations center around contentious issues like Taiwan and the South China Sea.

1. China's Defense Minister, General Li Shangfu, warns that war with the U.S. would be a global disaster and calls for the two superpowers to seek common ground despite escalating regional tensions.

2. Li criticizes the U.S. for its "Cold War mentality" and pledges that China will not allow naval patrols by the U.S. and its allies to serve as a pretext for asserting navigational dominance.

3. A recent incident in the Taiwan Strait, involving alleged "unsafe" maneuvers by a Chinese warship near a U.S. destroyer, has exacerbated tensions between the two countries.

4. U.S. sanctions imposed on General Li in 2018 over weapons purchases from Russia are seen as a significant hurdle to potential dialogue between the Chinese Defense Minister and his U.S. counterpart.

5. Despite ongoing diplomatic friction, a top U.S. state department official has arrived in Beijing for a week of extensive discussions, indicating efforts to maintain communication channels amidst the increased aggressiveness of China's military.

Segment 3: ByteDance denies tracking users' personal data for China

ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, has vehemently opposed allegations accusing it of assisting the Chinese mainland government in tracking radical protesters in Hong Kong. The allegations stem from a court filing by Yintao "Roger" Yu, ByteDance's former head of engineering in the U.S., who claimed that a special committee from the Chinese government was installed at ByteDance's Beijing offices to monitor all data, including U.S. users' information. Yu alleges that Chinese officials tracked device identifiers, network information, SIM card identifications, and IP addresses of users who posted content related to Hong Kong protests. 

ByteDance dismissed Yu's allegations as baseless and clarified that Yu worked for less than a year on a discontinued app, Flipagram, and left the company in July 2018. ByteDance expressed surprise that Yu never raised these allegations in the five years since his employment ended and suggested that his claims aim to attract media attention. 

Amid growing U.S. scrutiny and pressure over supposed security concerns and alleged links to the Chinese government, ByteDance consistently asserts that it has never shared data with the Chinese government and would not comply if requested to do so. Several U.S. states have banned TikTok on government-issued devices following an FBI warning about potential national security threats. In May, Montana implemented a total ban on TikTok, restricting public access to the platform. 

In response to the U.S. crackdown on TikTok, Chinese authorities have criticized the U.S. for its unreasonable actions. Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, urged the U.S. to halt the spread of misinformation and unwarranted suppression of relevant firms, asserting that no evidence has been provided to support claims that TikTok threatens U.S. national security.

1. ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, vehemently rejects allegations that it has helped the Chinese government track radical protesters in Hong Kong, arguing that the claims are baseless and fabricated for media attention.

2. The allegations originated from a court filing by Yintao "Roger" Yu, a former ByteDance employee in the U.S., who asserted that a special Chinese government committee was installed at ByteDance's Beijing offices, to monitor all user data, including that of U.S. users.

3. ByteDance points out that Yu worked for the company for less than a year on an app that has been discontinued and that he didn't voice these allegations during the five years since his employment ended.

4. Amid mounting U.S. scrutiny and pressure, ByteDance affirms that it has never shared user data with the Chinese government and would refuse to do so if requested.

5. The controversy comes as several U.S. states have banned TikTok on government-issued devices, citing potential national security threats. Montana is going further by imposing a total public ban on the app.

Segment 4: China sends record 41 satellites to join Jilin-1 hi-res constellation

China has successfully launched a Long March rocket carrying 41 satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, setting a national record for the number of satellites launched in one operation. These satellites have joined the Jilin-1 satellite constellation, the world's largest satellite for high-resolution Earth observations. Chang Guang Satellite Technology, the manufacturer and operator of the satellites, intends to expand the constellation to 138 satellites by year-end, offering a global revisit time of 10 minutes. The company expects 300 satellites in orbit by 2025, operating as a comprehensive space-based monitoring network.

1. China launches a Long March rocket carrying 41 satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, setting a national record.

2. These satellites join the Jilin-1 constellation, the world's largest for high-resolution Earth observations.

3. Chang Guang Satellite Technology is expanding with the Jilin-1 constellation, aiming for 138 satellites by year-end.

4. The company plans to have 300 satellites in orbit by 2025, offering high-resolution, daily global imaging.

5. The satellites are primarily used for panchromatic imaging and have been used by the United Nations for disaster assessment and mitigation.

Segment 5: Blinken offers a blend of U.S. policy on China

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserts that the primary aim of American policy toward China is to achieve "peaceful coexistence." In a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations, Blinken acknowledged the long-term competition between the two nations but emphasized that neither country is going away, thus necessitating peaceful coexistence as the foundation. This principle aligns with Chinese President Xi Jinping's recommendation for Sino-U.S. relations in the new era. Blinken's comments come amid the aggressive rhetoric frequently aimed at China by U.S. presidential contenders.

1. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken advocates for peaceful coexistence with China.

2. Blinken acknowledges long-term competition but stresses the need for peaceful coexistence as a baseline.

3. The idea aligns with Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision for bilateral relations in the new era.

4. This stance contrasts with U.S. presidential contenders' aggressive rhetoric toward China.