Current Events

[Randy W]

As I understand this, a six year old today, on average, is 3 cm taller and 1.5 kg heavier than a six year old 10 years ago, for both boys and girls.

At 15 years of age, boys are 7.5 kg heavier and 6.5 cm taller than a fifteen year old boy ten years ago. Girl are 3.2 kg taller and 3 kg heavier over the same period.

The average height and weight of China's rural children aged 6 to 15 have increased over the past 10 years. 12-year-old girls and 13-year-old boys have grown the fastest.

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[Randy W]

Garland announces charges against 13 alleged Chinese spies

Mon, October 24, 2022 at 10:44 AM·

from NBC News via Yahoo

Quote

Attorney General Merrick Garland rolled out three different cases involving separate alleged schemes during a press conference on Monday. One case charges seven Chinese nationals with trying to forcefully repatriate a Chinese national. Two others were charged with interfering in a criminal prosecution. And four others were charged with charged in an intelligence scheme that allegedly targeted individuals to act on China's behalf.

 

Edited October 24, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

U.S. Claims Chinese Intelligence Seeking Confidential Huawei Information Were Duped by FBI Double Agent

from Gizmodo via Yahoo 

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A criminal complaint unsealed on Monday accuse two Chinese intelligence officers of attempting to bribe someone they believed to be a U.S law enforcement official with $61,000 worth of bitcoin to provide confidential information about a U.S. criminal case against Huawei. It turns out that law enforcement official was actually a double agent working for the FBI. Though the complaint does not specifically name Huawei, sources familiarly with the indictment speaking with ABC News and Bloomberg reportedly confirmed the company’s name.

 . . .

The two defendants charged, Guochun He and Zheng Wang reportedly attempted to acquire information related to witness, trial evidence, and potentially new charges levied against Huawei. The two Chinese agents allegedly paid the FBI double agent $41,000 for a single page they believed was classified as “SECRET.” In reality, those documents were prepared by the U.S. government for the investigation. He and Wang were both charged with attempting to obstruct a criminal prosecution. He was also charged with money laundering related to his bitcoin bribe.

 . . .

U.S. law enforcement officials went on to reveal two additional criminal cases allegedly involving Chinese intelligence officials.

The first, filed in New Jersey, charged three Chinese intelligence agents in the United States for allegedly acting as illegal agents on behalf of a foreign government. Those individuals allegedly used the cover of a purported Chinese academic institute to “target, co-opt, and direct individuals in the United States to further the PRC’s intelligence mission,” Garland said on Monday. Garland claims those alleged agents tried to procure technology from the U.S. and ship it to China.

The other case, filed in the Eastern District of New York, charged seven individuals allegedly working on behalf of the Chinese government who allegedly spent years threatening and harassing a U.S. resident and alleged fugitive with the aim of convincing them to return to China.

In that campaign, called “Operation Foxhunt” the agents working on behalf of the Chinese government allegedly used intimidation tactics to force the U.S. resident to return to China. Garland, during the press conference claimed the agents showed up at the victim’s son’s New York home, filed “frivolous lawsuits,” and said it would be, “endless misery” for the victim and his son to defend themselves. Garland claims they made clear their harassment would not stop until the victim returned to China.

 

 

[Randy W]

Chinese ‘overseas service stations’ under scrutiny after claims they are illegal police stations

Dutch police are investigating reports that Chinese police centres are operating illegally as a base to intimidate critics of Beijing in the Netherlands.

from the SCMP on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/2402738686569672/

[Randy W]

TikTok says staff in China can access UK and EU user data

from the BBC

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The social media giant said the "privacy policy" was "based on a demonstrated need to do their job".

 . . .

TikTok said the policy applies to "the European Economic Area, United Kingdom and Switzerland".

Elaine Fox, the platform's head of privacy for Europe, said in a statement on Wednesday that a global team helped to keep the user experience "consistent, enjoyable and safe".

Although TikTok currently stores European user data in the US and Singapore, "we allow certain employees within our corporate group located in Brazil, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States remote access to TikTok European user data," Ms Fox said.

 . . .

She also said the approach was "subject to a series of robust security controls and approval protocols, and by way of methods that are recognised under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)".

It came in the same week that a top official at the US communications watchdog said TikTok should be banned in America.

"I don't believe there is a path forward for anything other than a ban," said Brendan Carr, a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

 

 

[Randy W]

Chinese fishing vessels involved in standoff with US Coast Guard on the high seas

from SeafoodSource
November 3, 2022

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This summer, as China fired missiles into the sea off Taiwan to protest U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island, a much different kind of geopolitical standoff was taking shape in another corner of the Pacific Ocean.

Thousands of miles away, a heavily-armed U.S. Coast Guard cutter sailed up to a fleet of a few hundred Chinese squid-fishing boats not far from Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands. Its mission: inspect the vessels for any signs of illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing.

Boarding ships on the high seas is a perfectly legal, if little-used, tool available to any sea power as part of the collective effort to protect the oceans’ threatened fish stocks.

But in this case, the Chinese captains of several fishing boats did something unexpected. Three vessels sped away, one turning aggressively 90 degrees toward the Coast Guard cutter James, forcing the American vessel to take evasive action to avoid being rammed.

 . . .

As revealed in an AP-Univision investigation last year, the Chinese flotilla includes some of the seafood industry’s worst offenders, with long records of labor abuse, illegal fishing and violations of maritime law. But they’re being drawn to the open ocean around the Americas – where the U.S. has long dominated – after depleting fish stocks closer to home and fueled by an increasingly fierce race between the two superpowers to secure access to the world’s dwindling natural resources.

The illegal fishing patrol, which took place over 10 days in August, was initially kept quiet. The Coast Guard, more than a month later, released a brief statement celebrating the mission along with photos from two ships it did manage to successfully board. But it made no mention of the three that ran away or gave any clue to the vessels’ nationality – a posture the Coast Guard maintained in its conversations with the AP.

But the incident didn’t go unnoticed in China.

Within days, Beijing fired off a formal written protest, according to the U.S. officials. Additionally, the issue was raised when U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns was summoned by China’s foreign ministry for an emergency meeting over Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, one of the officials said.

China’s foreign ministry told the AP that it has zero tolerance for illegal fishing and said it was the U.S. that is flouting international norms by carrying out unauthorized inspections that don’t follow COVID protocols, potentially putting seafarer’s lives at risk.

 

 

[Randy W]

Germany’s leader and top CEOs have arrived in Beijing. They need China more than ever

from CNN Business

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport on November 4, 2022.
 

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in China on Friday with a team of top executives, sending a clear message: business with the world’s second-largest economy must continue.

Scholz met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People after landing in the capital Friday morning and was received by Premier Li Keqiang in the afternoon.

Joining Scholz for the whirlwind one-day visit is a delegation of 12 German industry titans, including the CEOs of Volkswagen (VLKAF), Deutsche Bank (DB), Siemens (SIEGY) and chemicals giant BASF (BASFY), according to a person familiar with the matter. They were expected to meet with Chinese companies behind closed doors.

 . . .

Now, some in Scholz’s coalition government are growing nervous about Germany’s ties with China.

The tension was highlighted recently by a fierce debate over a bid by Chinese state shipping giant Cosco to buy a 35% stake in the operator of one of the four terminals at the port of Hamburg. Under pressure from some members of the government, the size of the investment was limited to 24.9%.

The potential deal has raised concerns in Germany that closer ties with China will leave critical infrastructure exposed to political pressure from Beijing, and disproportionately benefit Chinese companies.

 

 

[Randy W]

EU chamber in China intent on getting Beijing to ‘move the needle’ as ideology curtails commerce

• ‘I can hardly leave my doorstep’: chamber president laments in fresh call for substantial action to restore business confidence among EU firms operating in China
• Comments come a month after 20th party congress raised concerns among foreign investors and stoked uncertainties over China’s future economic policies

from the SCMP

Beijing’s mass-testing requirements illustrate how China’s zero-Covid policy is still adversely affecting business operations. Photo: Reuters

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European businesses are becoming increasingly concerned about the overriding ideological impact on the business environment in China, and they are looking to Beijing for a “real booster” to restore business confidence in the country.
“[We worry that] China is leaving this kind of successful pathway of opening up and reform and actually has a more politicised environment,” said Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.
Speaking at the Caixin Summit in Beijing on Thursday, Wuttke also reiterated a belief that the chamber expressed in its annual position paper in September, saying: “‘Ideology trumps the economy’ basically sums up the worries we have.”
But he said he still believes in China’s huge market and ability to reform, as “there is no second China”, as China remains the world’s largest auto market and contributes to nearly half of the growth of the world’s chemical market.

 

[Randy W]

Ever since 23-year-old Zhou Guanyu officially joined Alfa Romeo F1 Team Orlen on Jan. 1 this year and became China’s first-ever full-time Formula One driver, he has been writing history in real time.

from the Sixth Tone on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/sixthtone/posts/pfbid02ooUDeSNRJvVBZRKf6stuEBJxonxEBkryjAAfkVzE73SxBT7MdUHMLZjzBW22Dpr6l

Zhou Guanyu: How China’s First F1 Driver Proved His Doubters Wrong
The 23-year-old has had to deal with enormous pressure since becoming China’s first Formula One driver this year. But he appears to be gaining momentum heading into the final race of his debut season.

Zhou Guanyu during the Formula 1 Honda Japanese Grand Prix 2022, Oct. 8, 2022. Florent Gooden/DPPI

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The first time Zhou spoke with Sixth Tone, he had only just signed with Alfa Romeo. Back then, his excitement about what was to come, mixed with a little trepidation, was palpable. Ten months and 21 races later, and Zhou, at 23, is due to finish his first Formula One season in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 20. He now has the air of an F1 pro, giving measured answers tinged with cool confidence.

“It’s a lot of fun. I love racing, I love motorsport, and it’s been my dream since I was a kid to race in Formula One, so to attain my dream is already a good achievement,” says Zhou. 

Zhou’s place racing against the world’s best is the culmination of a lifetime’s singular focus on motorsport, as well as the crowning achievement — so far, at least — of a career that began when Zhou was 8 years old. It was then that he slid into the driver’s seat of a go-kart for the first time at a track on the fringes of his hometown Shanghai, at the urging of his father, an avid motorsport fan.

At the time, China had yet to emerge as the world’s largest auto market, and the country’s relationship with international motorsport was still in its early, tentative stages. A Chinese driver would not take the wheel of an F1 car until 2012, when Ma Qinghua spent two seasons serving as a test and practice driver for the now-defunct HRT and Caterham teams.  

 

 

[Randy W]

“Yangtze River Estuary II,” at over 8,800 tons the largest shipwreck ever found in Chinese waters, was successfully salvaged on Nov. 21. The ship, which sunk in the late Qing dynasty, has already produced more than 600 cultural relics.

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from the Sixth Tone on Facebook 
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https://www.facebook.com/sixthtone/posts/pfbid02JQ3ZmaRqtT1BrpJgDLebicyfcucgEBj19aob1H9WWVW1BywTDZ6xatmueLWkvagtl

Shipwreck Remains From 150 Years Ago Surface in China
The discoveries include thousands of exquisite porcelain, clay wares, and hookah pots.

A graphic image shows the the Yangtze River Estuary No. 2 Ancient Vessel buried in sludge 5.5 meters deep. VCG

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Known as Yangtze River Estuary No. 2 Ancient Vessel, the ship was brought to the surface early Monday in an area nearby Shanghai’s Hengsha Island, domestic media reported. The ship is said to have been underwater for some 150 years and is believed to be the largest and best preserved of its kind in China.

Chinese archeologists first detected the wooden ship, buried 5.5 meters deep, in 2015 and launched a high-tech salvage project in March of this year. They found its main structure, measuring 38.1 meters long and 9.9 meters wide at its broadest section, had 31 cabins in total and was largely intact.

Archaeologists have also found numerous cultural relics in and near the shipwreck. They include exquisite porcelain — estimated at about 8,000 pieces per cabin — made in China’s “porcelain capital” of Jingdezhen in the eastern province of Jiangxi, purple clay wares, and hookah pots made in Vietnam.

“The ship was loaded with many goods … It contains so much information that is equivalent to the ‘Along the River During Qingming Festival,’” Chu Xiaobo, director of Shanghai Museum, told domestic media, referring to a famous scroll painting that captures the extensive daily life of people during the 12th century in China.

 

This sure looks like a Printed Circuit Board to me, but the caption says "The site to hoist the Yangtze River Estuary No. 2 Ancient Vessel in Shanghai, Nov. 21, 2022. Xinhua". I guess it's actually the surface ship which found and/or hoisted the vessel.

 

Edited November 22, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

China Factory Fire Kills 38
Officials say an investigation is underway into what caused the tragedy at the two-story facility operated by a wholesaler of industrial equipment, clothing and chemical products.

from the NY Times

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On Tuesday, state media attributed the cause of the fire to electrical welding that violated regulations. In a statement released on Monday, the Anyang police said they had “placed relevant suspects under control.”

A video shared by state media showed a bright-orange fire raging at the end of a street, as firefighters fastened a hose onto a fire truck and a column of smoke billowed up. State media reported on Tuesday that the fire was fueled by the burning of “plastics, cloths, furnitures and medications, among others.”

Kaixinda Trading sells, among others, clothing, furniture, chemical products and industrial equipment. It was established in 2007, according to public records.

The company did not respond to requests for comment.

 

 

[Randy W]

Another picture from Xinhua News, apparently of the re-surfaced vessel looking even MORE like a printed circuit board.

https://www.facebook.com/iChongqing/photos/a.1152396818241348/2502020389945644/

[Randy W]

A Meituan delivery driver’s plea for help has gone viral, prompting his employer to arrange accommodation.

“We can’t afford pricey hotels … We would appreciate it if someone could connect us with rental homes that cost around 50 yuan ($7) per person per day.”

from the Sixth Tone on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/sixthtone/posts/pfbid02rdqDdvXSBim1RPTGQW6Mo7mVQEqWwJhDhCNh2R3R7kb5JuS32XWdh8x9u13Fkbfyl

Fearing Lockdown, Beijing’s Delivery Workers Camp Outside
A Meituan delivery driver’s plea for help has gone viral, prompting his employer to arrange accommodation.

A delivery man waits at a traffic signal in Beijing, Nov. 11, 2022. VCG

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Food delivery drivers in Beijing have said they have been living on the streets to continue working and earning after their residential buildings were locked down amid a surge in coronavirus infections.

In a desperate plea for help, a gig worker surnamed Zhang wrote that he and 15 other drivers were looking for affordable accommodation after their buildings were sealed Sunday. Zhang said the group feared not being able to work if they returned to their apartments, adding that they had been braving the plummeting temperatures and finding shelter wherever they could.

“Even these places are becoming inaccessible for us because people are working from home and restaurants are gradually halting dine-in services,” Zhang wrote in Tuesday’s post, along with a QR code to his WeChat account. “We can’t afford pricey hotels … We would appreciate it if someone could connect us with rental homes that cost around 50 yuan ($7) per person per day.”

 

 

[Randy W]

Only 5,000 to 7,000 tickets have been sold to Chinese fans this year compared with over 40,000 during the 2018 tournament in Russia. Data shows some 100,000 Chinese tourists flew to Russia during the World Cup. #FIFA

from the Sixth Tone on Facebook 
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‘It’s My Dream’: Chinese Soccer Fans Fly to Qatar Amid COVID Curbs
Some 5,000 to 7,000 tickets have been sold to Chinese fans, far less than the 40,000 for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Wang Zhe poses for a photo in Doha in front of the Lusail Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Nov.22, 2022. Courtesy of Wang

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But securing a match ticket would just be the first of several steps ahead, as China doesn’t allow citizens to go abroad except for “essential reasons” and flights to and from the country are still limited and expensive. Xiang said she first took a ferry from Shenzhen to Hong Kong on Wednesday and then flew to Dubai to meet a friend before heading to the Qatari capital Doha on Sunday — all for a 12,000 yuan ($1,680) round-trip ticket.

The COVID curbs at home and chaotic travel itineraries have dampened the spirits of millions of Chinese fans who might have planned to fly to Doha for the World Cup. The ticket numbers are telling — only 5,000 to 7,000 tickets have been sold to Chinese fans this year compared with over 40,000 during the 2018 tournament in Russia. Data shows some 100,000 Chinese tourists flew to Russia during the World Cup.

“Most fans decided a long time ago to stay put, but some still purchased tickets in the hope of a policy shift,” Wang Zhe, another soccer enthusiast who flew to Qatar, told Sixth Tone. “Many potential travelers were reluctant to endure quarantine and the risk of infection.” 

 

 

Edited November 25, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years for rape and 22 months for “gathering people for promiscuous activities,” according to the verdict published by Beijing’s Chaoyang District court Friday. The court also slapped the pop star with a deportation order after completing his prison term.

from the Sixth Tone on Facebook
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Pop Idol Kris Wu Gets 13-Year Prison Term for Rape, Other Crimes
The Chinese-Canadian star was detained last year after being accused of “tricking young women into sex.”

Kris Wu during a film promtion event in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, 2015. VCG

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Wu, a former member of the popular Korean boy band EXO, was detained by Beijing police in July 2021 after investigating complaints that the pop star had “repeatedly tricked young women into sex.” A teenager, who identified herself as his ex-girlfriend, also accused him of raping her while she was drunk.

The singer had denied the allegation at the time, saying that he would “walk into prison myself” if there was “any such behavior.”

Wu rose to fame in China after embarking on a solo singing career in 2014, soon becoming one of the country’s most recognized stars. He amassed millions of fans and banked on brand endorsements through his music and films, as well as coining catchy online buzzwords such as “skr” and “do you freestyle?”

But amid allegations of sexual misconduct, many brands and fans quickly ended partnerships and distanced themselves from Wu. Other celebrities like Wu, often known as “little fresh meat” for their boyish charm, have also been subject to boycott campaigns amid similar allegations.

 

 

China sentences Canadian pop star Kris Wu to 13 years for rape
Wu was detained in Beijing last year after a Chinese student publicly accused him of inducing her and other girls to have sex.

from AL Jazeera English

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A Beijing court has sentenced Chinese-born Canadian pop star Kris Wu to 13 years in jail after finding him guilty of crimes including rape.

The court in Beijing’s Chaoyang district said on Friday investigations showed from November to December 2020, the man also known as Wu Yifan raped three women.

It also found him guilty of the crime of assembling a crowd to engage in sexual promiscuity in July 2018, the court’s official WeChat account said.

The court said the three victims in the rape case had also been drunk and were unable to resist. It said a combined 13-year sentence was agreed upon and Wu would be immediately deported after serving his time.