China news roundup / Nachrichten 2020-08-19
English news:
A US WeChat ban could hurt many in America, not just China
"Many Chinese businesses don’t even take credit cards anymore, just WeChat."
--- Many Chinese businesses have never accepted credit cards in the first place. Credit card use was never widespread in China, only some international hotels & perhaps luxury shops would accept credit cards. Nobody I knew or know in China ever used a credit card.
"the app is irreplaceable for him and his China-born wife. He could lose roughly 500 WeChat contacts, few of which he could reach without the app"
--- Irreplaceable? Then he must be a moron.
Taiwan announces ban on Chinese streaming services Tencent and iQiyi
"new rules that would prohibit Taiwanese individuals and companies from providing services to mainland Chinese streaming operators and distributing their content"
--- Only reasonable, I suppose. If China allows Taiwanese programs to be streamed there, they can complain.
Demba Ba calls for Uighur solidarity protest over treatment by China
"Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has said the league's support for players' anti-racism message this summer does not set any precedent for similar displays being approved for different causes."
--- Just like for the NBA: Black lives matter, Uighur lives not so much.
China record floods wet feet of Leshan Giant Buddha
"the area has been hit by the worst flooding in 70 years.
More than 100,000 people have had to be moved to safety"
--- Only in this particular area. The floods this year have caused millions of evacuations.
China Issues Guidelines on Developing a Sci-Fi Film Sector
"To make strong movies, the document claims, the number one priority is to “thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought.”"
--- After all, emperor Xi is the foremost authority on science fiction.
China has wine in its firing line – will Scott Morrison bail out Australian producers?
"The decision [...] to open an anti-dumping investigation into Australian wine imports is the latest in a series of measures designed to punish Canberra over political disputes"
--- Surely, it's absolutely not political. China would never stoop so low as to punish a country's economy for China-critical statements of politicians. Right?
cf.: Australian Relations With China Deteriorate As Beijing Probes Wine Imports
China Doesn't Need 125,000 Miles of Track
"only five out of the 15 fastest 350kmh lines cover their operating and capital costs, while six are unable to pay the interest on their loans. The situation is worse for the 250kmh lines that make up the bulk of high-speed traffic: Just five of 16 lines were able to cover their operating and maintenance costs"
--- Irrelevant! Building railways helps to grow the GDP & that's what we want. A proper economy doesn't need efficiency, it needs growth at all cost.
Ecuador says Chinese fishing boats turned off tracking systems near Galapagos protected zone
"nearly half of the Chinese fishing boats that roam the Galapagos Islands have turned off their tracking systems"
--- Surely, that's just an innocent mistake. Absolutely not because these boats want to do anything illegal. Chinese are never involved in any illegal activities abroad. Never. Ever.
--- Other news:
Hong Kong censorship fears as protest slogans removed from some textbooks
Trump gives nod to Oracle buyout of TikTok in US
Apple removes thousands of games from the Chinese App Store, alarming observers
GM to launch 5G-connected vehicles in China starting in 2022
Using a public restroom? Mask up!
Video News:
--- China Uncensored: "US Targets China’s Confucius Institute Propaganda"
--- Sky News (AUS): "The 'omens aren't good' with communist China"
--- Sky News (AUS): "China is a bullying ‘parody’ of a free enterprise economy"
Not in the news (yet):
Chinese-made food as you may not know it
--- Don't know how accurate that is, but the video in the thread about artificial eggs is quite close to what happens in China.
Deutsche Nachrichten:
China nimmt australische Weinimporte ins Visier
"Die Chinese Alcoholic Drinks Association [englischer Name für eine chinesische Behörde?] wirft australischen Weinproduzenten vor, sich mit zu niedrigen Preisen unrechtmäßig Vorteile auf dem chinesischen Markt verschafft zu haben."
--- Was natürlich rein gar nichts mit chinakritischen Äußerungen australischer Politiker zu tun hat. Australische Weine in China sind immerhin im Schnitt nur die zweitteuersten.
Am Eingang gilt Maskenpflicht, im Bierzelt nicht mehr
"Doch nicht nur in Wuhan wird inzwischen wieder ausgelassen gefeiert. In der Küstenstadt Qingdao findet gerade das größte „Oktoberfest“ Asiens statt. Am Eingang gilt noch Maskenpflicht, im Bierzelt nicht mehr."
--- Ach, wird schon nix passieren. Ist ja nicht so, als wären erst kürzlich tausende Chinesen durch eine Epidemie gestorben.
„Man kann China nicht zu einer Unterschrift zwingen“
"Das dringendste Problem sei Pekings „geheime atomare Aufrüstung“. Die mögliche Neuauflage des „New Start“-Abkommens solle jedoch nicht an einer Weigerung Chinas scheitern. „Wir erlauben China kein Veto in unserer Beziehung zu Russland“"
--- Na, immerhin. Selbst wenn man China zu einer Unterschrift bewegen könnte, besteht das Problem, daß man der KPCh nunmal nicht trauen kann.