World must be more wary than ever of China’s growing economic power
"China might, by some, be considered the great provider, but its pseudo-communist regime is a malign actor on the international stage, much as Russia has become, and its search for ways to thrive must be strictly circumscribed. Without tough action, its voracious appetite for resources, information and intellectual capital will eat all of us. There are spies in every major university syphoning information back to Beijing about new developments and business opportunities. When intellectual property and patents can be hacked, they are duly stolen. Digital information is harvested on a vast scale and put into huge databases, waiting for developments in AI to allow for a more systematic analysis by Chinese officials."
--- & this comes from the Guardian, some of whose authors still have a rather naive, lefty view of China.
"Keeping China at bay when it has so much to offer won’t be easy. It pays the wages of university lecturers by sending tens of thousands of students to the UK. It sends us cheap electric cars and much else from its vast warehouse of electrical and electronic products. That shouldn’t be an excuse for adopting a breezy, laissez-faire attitude."
--- Yep.
US demands clarity from allies on their role in potential war over Taiwan
"The Pentagon is urging Japan and Australia to clarify what role they would play if the U.S. and China went to war over Taiwan [...] the reported request caught both Tokyo and Canberra off guard, as the U.S. itself does not offer a blank cheque guarantee to defend Taiwan"
--- Well, I doubt that the US will get any blank cheque from Japan & Australia. But we will see...
China says Japanese ‘harassment’ behind close encounter with ASDF spy plane
"Chinese JH-7 fighter-bombers came within 30 meters of the Japanese YS-11EB electronic intelligence aircraft on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Defense Ministry in Tokyo, making “unusual approaches” over international waters. But Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin called the move “entirely justified, reasonable, professional and up to standard” after ASDF aircraft “repeatedly entered China's East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) for close-in surveillance.” “The close-in reconnaissance and harassment by Japanese vessels and aircraft are the root cause of maritime and aerial security risks between China and Japan,”"
"China announced its East China Sea ADIZ in November 2013, saying aircraft entering the zone must obey its rules or face "emergency defensive measures.” The move, which encompassed the area over the Senkakus and overlaps with Japan’s own ADIZ, was strongly protested by Tokyo."
--- So, Japan is essentially patroling its own territory & Chinese planes are intercepting & flying dangerously close, but Japan is the one harassing. China at its best.
Why China’s high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors
"Across China, from Hangzhou to Changsha, more high-end domestic hotels are swopping chandeliers for street lamps, setting up food stalls outside their doors to sell hotel-made dishes at bargain prices as their dining rooms sit empty."
--- Well, I wouldn't call that bargain prices, although compared to their normal hotel cuisine prices it probably is. But you can eat for much less in China, if you want to.
"In the third quarter of 2024, five-star hotels across China averaged just 60.7 per cent occupancy, leaving nearly 40 per cent of rooms empty. Overall revenue dropped 9.3 per cent year on year to 16.95 billion yuan, with food and beverage revenue falling 14.6 per cent, according to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism."
--- How come? The CCP media keep telling us that tourism in China is booming. They wouldn't be lying, now would they?
Russian and Chinese foreign ministers discuss Ukraine war and US ties
--- China Uncensored: "I thought China's military is weak. I was wrong."
--- DW News: "Taiwan looks for smart ways to tackle military threats from China"
--- ABC News (AUS): Prime minister lands in China for talks with Xi Jinping
Falls China Taiwan attackiert: Australien verweigert USA Vorab-Truppenzusage für Kriegsfall
"Australien wird sich im Falle eines Konflikts um Taiwan nicht vorab auf eine militärische Beteiligung an der Seite der USA festlegen. "Die Entscheidung, australische Truppen in einen Konflikt zu entsenden, wird von der jeweiligen Regierung getroffen und nicht im Voraus""
--- Erwartbare Antwort. So eine Frage öffentlich zu stellen, ist an sich schon hirnrissig.
China maskiert mysteriöse Militär-Fahrzeuge vor großer Peking-Parade
