International

Taiwanese factory in Myanmar caught up in anti-China protest

factory on fire in Myanmar
International 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Taiwanese enterprises in Myanmar to hang up the national flag and signs in Burmese to avoid being misidentified as Chinese after a Taiwanese shoe factory was caught up in protests last night, March 14. Ten Taiwanese staff were trapped in the Tsang Yih Company’s shoe factory in the Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone in Yangon while a nearby Chinese-owned factory burned. Protestors anger turned toward Chinese enterprises, as China is viewed as being supportive of

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Orwellian vibe: China’s Foreign Minister takes to the big screen to lord it over the little people

Wang Yi press conference
International 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi took to the big screen, rather than the usual podium to speak to the media, yesterday, in a scene reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984. The 3:00 pm press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing was held “in line with COVID-19 containment measures,” according to official speak. China’s Foreign Minister appeared larger-than-life on multiple screens at the venue, spookily akin to Orwell’s fictional character “Big Brother.” The biggest highlight

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Xi Jinping awkwardly takes praise for his “Toilet Revolution” policy

Xi Jinping at plenary session of national people's congress, March 2021
International 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping appeared to squirm a little embarrassedly when a representative heaped praise on the paramount leader for his thoughtful “Toilet Revolution” policy, at the fourth session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), yesterday, Monday, March 8. Xi was attending a forum for deputies of the National People’s Congress when a female representative made flattering remarks about the policy, perhaps unaware of the controversies that have hounded implementation of the grand

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“Patriots” will replace “the people” governing Hong Kong, to align with Xi Jinping Thought

one country replacing two systems
International 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

Statements at a press conference ahead of today’s March 5 meeting of China’s National People’s Congress suggest that changes will be made to Hong Kong’s electoral system to ensure that only Chinese patriots will be eligible for election in the “Special Administrative Region.” The changes will help align the former British colony with Xi Jinping Thought. On the agenda will be “improvements” to help Hong Kong’s election system “keep up with the times,” and provide a guarantee for the comprehensive

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Plane crash in China’s Jiangxi Province leaves 5 dead, one injured

firefighters at site of plane crash on house in Jiangxi Province, China, March 1, 2021
International 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment ,

Five people died, and one person was injured after a plane engaged in cloud-seeding operations crashed into houses in Jianxi Province, China, Monday, March 1. All five people aboard the aircraft died, while a resident of one of three houses affected by the crash suffered minor injuries. According to Chinese language media reports, a twin-turboprop Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft, registered B-10GD, belonging to Great Northern wilderness General Aviation Company (中國北大荒通用航空公司) crashed in a residential area of Ji’an County at

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Member of the audience attacks actor during Shanghai Disneyland stage performance, shouting “American Pig!”

International 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A woman visiting Shanghai Disneyland jumped onto the stage during a performance of Pirates of the Caribbean, and slapped an actor on the head, while calling him “debauched”, and saying, “you are not worthy of being Chinese,” and “you are an American pig,” Saturday, February 20. Video footage of the incident circulated on Chinese social media websites, Sunday, leading to lively discussions about the incident. Pudong Public Security Bureau said that at about 5:00 pm, February 20, a woman took

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Chinese professor: There were no ancient western civilizations; just modern fakes made to demean China

Jean-Baptiste Auguste Leloir painting Homère, 1841
International 
Phillip Charlier 50 Comments , ,

A Chinese professor claims that the Egyptian pyramids, the Parthenon, and other remnants of ancient civilizations in the West, were all faked by Western scholars in order to fabricate an ancient history, and diminish the glory of China. Hong Kong News outlet Hong Kong 01 is just one of many Chinese language media who reported on the farcical claims after Professor Huang Heqing broadcast one of his lectures live to the internet recently. While ultranationalist conspiracy theories are not rare

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Beijing adds anal swab tests to COVID arsenal, but citizens are not taking it lying down

Anal swab test diagram, China
International 
Phillip Charlier 3 Comments , ,

Some Chinese citizens are avoiding going home for the Lunar New Year holidays after Beijing health authorities introduced anal swab tests for COVID-19. Citizens were quoted in various media reports including Apple Daily, as saying that they would prefer to miss the holidays rather than undergo what they consider to be an intrusive, insulting, and humiliating procedure. “Everyone involved will be so embarrassed,” one user wrote on Chinese social media site ­Weibo. A poll on Weibo showed that 80% of

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MAC warns of danger for travelers to Hong Kong, Macao, China

police at Hong Kong Airport
International 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , ,

In response to the Hong Kong national security law issued by the government of the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has set up an online registration system for nationals traveling to Hong Kong, Macao, and China. The MAC website lists groups at high risk of “being disappeared,” including people who have expressed solidarity with Taiwan independence, Hong Kong independence, Tibet independence, and Xinjiang independence. Also at risk are critics of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the

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Letter from Italy: Life under lock-down

map of quarantined areas of Italy
International 
Joshua Rasia 0 Comment , , ,

After living in China and Thailand, Joseph Rasia is in Italy, and plans to come to Taiwan later this year. LIFE IN THE RED, LOCK-DOWN AREA OF ITALY The ambient light and the clock ticking faster than before awake me. It’s 1:00 am and the TV screen shows the last decree from the Prime Minister: Lombardy is a red zone, and nobody without special permission, which could only be an emergency situation or working reasons can move to different areas.

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