Around the period of the CCP CC's Sixth Plenum the official Chinese media, including Xinhua and the People's Daily, has been replete with articles eulogising Xi Jinping and his leadership. The state-run CCTV on November 9 said "The key to managing China's affairs lies in the party. The leadership of the party is the “sacred needle” of the continuous development of the party and the country. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping personally planned, personally deployed, and personally promoted a series of key decision-making decisions, led the party and the people to overcome a series of major risks and challenges, and solved many long-term problems that have not been resolved. It has accomplished many major events that we wanted to do but failed to accomplish in the past, and created the great achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. Ten thousand mountains are majestic, and there must be a main peak. General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly pointed out that the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the greatest advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, the fundamental and lifeblood of the party and the country, and the interests of the people of all ethnic groups across the country."

The Beijing Daily (November 8) published a frontpage article titled 'What are the historical mission and contemporary value of the "two resolutions"?'. It explained the significance of the resolution to be passed at the Sixth CCP CC Plenum when it meets from November 8-11, 2021. The CCTV (November 8) similarly telecast a programme but added an account of the successes achieved during the CCP's "leadership". Xinhua (November 8) published an article titled 'An irreversible historical process-the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation from the transformational practice of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core leading the new era'.

Hongkong's Ming Pao (November 5) reported speculation in Beijing that the Sixth Plenary Session of the Central Committee, which starts on November 8, may be the first to approve members of the new Central Military Commission. It added that personnel adjustments will be an important part of its agenda. The Ming Pao reported also that on the eve of the Sixth Plenary Session, in late October as many as seven provincial party committee secretaries were appointed and that 21 provinces have now got new Party and Government leaders. It said no changes had occurred in the top leadership in the 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government, in Guangdong and Beijing and Sichuan, Qinghai, Ningxia, Hebei, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia.

The South China Morning Post (November 5) disclosed that China’s state prosecutor had ordered the arrest of Sun Lijun, former Chinese Vice Minister of Public Security. Sun Lijun was placed under disciplinary investigation in April last year and a month earlier had been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party membership and all official posts. (Comment: The CCP's investigation into Sun Lijun lasted 17 months, far longer than most such investigations which take 6-9 months. Sun Lijun's case was not only one of corruption, but of apparent active opposition to Xi Jinping as he was accused of forming "political gangs"!)

In a lengthy post (in Chinese) on Weibo on November 8, the Editor-in-Chief of Global Times, He Xijin commented on China's increasing restrictions on the media. He wrote that while "Many times I feel that I live a very fulfilling life and have a strong sense of integration in this era", "Yet I’ve experienced changes in the media industry as well, and feel deeply it’s becoming ever more difficult for media. Society has high requirements and hopes for the media, but many fail to grasp its fundamental nature, or the political role it should play in promoting social progress".

The South China Morning Post (November 3) reported that Zhang Yiming, the founder of ByteDance, has officially stepped down from the company’s board after an announcement in May 2021. ByteDance owns the popular platform TikTok. South China Morning Post added, citing sources, that Zhang Yiming remains “powerful behind the scenes”. The CEOs of technology companies have been trying to cash out their shares in anticipation of tightening controls. Financial Times recently reported that at least two heads of Chinese tutoring companies started selling their shares right after Xi Jinping criticised private tutoring earlier in March.

Caixin disclosed that Zhang Ruimin, the founder and Chairman of Chinese home appliances and electronics giant Haier Group, is stepping down, the company announced in a statement on November 5. It said Haier President Zhou Yunjie will succeed him as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Vice President Liang Haishan will replace Zhou as President

The Asia Times (November 10) claimed that China, the world’s biggest emitter, is planning at least 150 new nuclear reactors in the next 15 years, more than the rest of the world has built in the past 35 years. According to Bloomberg, the effort could cost as much as US$440 billion. The Chairman of the state-backed China General Nuclear Power Corp. said the goal is to generate 200 gigawatts by 2035, enough to power more than a dozen cities the size of Beijing.

The Global Times (November 2) disclosed that Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping, had signed a new set of regulations on military equipment procurement, focusing on war preparedness and combat capabilities, to facilitate the PLA acquire the best weapons and equipment that are most needed on future battlefields at a faster pace. It said the PLA Daily (November 1) said the regulations, comprising 42 articles in eight chapters, standardize the management of military equipment procurement, based on the general principle that the Central Military Commission takes charge of the overall administration, the theatre commands concentrate on combat, and the service branches focus on their own development. It said the regulations give clear, concrete measures to generate combat capabilities rapidly, and optimize management procedures including submitting requests, planning, setting up of projects, the signing of contracts, and delivery and supervision.

Timed to coincide with the Party's Sixth Plenum, CCTV (November 9) highlighted Xi Jinping's personal involvement with the PLA. It said "Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, profoundly pointed out that the Chinese people’s freedom from suffering and liberation of the Chinese people depend on a heroic people’s army; the Chinese people’s great rejuvenation, the Chinese people to achieve a better life, we must accelerate the building of the People's Army into a world-class army. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has led the entire army to conduct in-depth theoretical exploration and practical creation in the magnificent practice of strengthening the army, forming Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Army, and the cause of strengthening the army in the new era has made historic achievements. , A historic change has taken place. The People's Army has taken firm steps on the road to a strong army with Chinese characteristics, and has made important contributions to safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests". It added that "Training is in full swing on the military exercises in the north and south of the river: the army has carried out extensive assessments and competitions, and the navy has repeatedly refreshed its open sea and ocean combat training records. The air force has highlighted all-weather and critical combat." It said "With a new system, a new structure, a new structure, and a new look, this is the people's army today. What kind of a strong people's army to build and how to build a strong people's army have always been a major issue for the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission to focus on, think about, and plan. In the new era, Chairman Xi Jinping stands on the strategic height of realizing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and clearly put forward the party’s goal of strengthening the army in the new era—building a people’s army that listens to the party’s command, can win battles, and has a good work style, and puts the people in the army is built to become a world-class army." It particularly added "The party's absolute leadership over the army is the foundation of the people's army and the soul of a strong army. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has insisted on building and controlling the army politically, incorporating the party building of the army into the strategy of comprehensive and strict governance of the party. ... The officers and soldiers of the whole army deeply cherish their absolute loyalty to the party and always obey the party's command, focus on preparing for war with all their strength, and continuously improve the level of actual combat training and the ability to win." The CCTV programme also said "Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Chairman Xi has taken warships, boarded chariots, and boarded warplanes to drill down to the front line of exercises, put forward a series of important discourses on training and preparations, made a series of major decisions, commanded a series of major actions, and provided actual combat training for the troops. ... At the beginning of the new year in 2018, the Central Military Commission solemnly held a training and mobilization meeting. Chairman Xi, dressed in a uniform, boarded the main hall of the school reading stage, and issued instructions to the whole army: “The whole army must strengthen training and preparations with a clear orientation and unswervingly place military training."

The Global Times (November 8) reported that the PLA, after the Indian military launched a major exercise along the border with China at the start of the month, had conducted multiple drills in the western plateau over the past week. Quoting the state-owned CCTV, it said an artillery regiment affiliated with the PLA Xinjiang Military Command recently conducted a comprehensive, cross-day-and-night exercise in a high-altitude region, involving live-fire shooting of PCL-181 155mm self-propelled howitzers and PHL-11 122mm multiple rocket launchers. In another recent exercise held in the plateau region at an elevation of 5,100 meters, the PLA Xinjiang Military Command organized a joint fire strike confrontation drill, as PHL03 300mm multiple rocket launchers and China's latest type of multiple rocket launchers capable of firing 370mm rockets teamed up with reconnaissance drones and artillery radars to launch precision strikes on the enemy. JH-7 fighter bombers affiliated with the PLA Western Theatre Command Air Force also joined the exercise. CCTV (November 2) also reported that a combined arms brigade of the PLA Xizang (Tibet) Military Command recently conducted an assault training at an elevation of more than 4,000 meters. It said advanced PLA main battle equipment, including the Type 15 light tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled howitzers, and auxiliary vehicles, took part in the drill. The Global Times quoted military expert Song Zhongping as observing that the PLA is also enhancing its combat preparedness as India keeps making provocations along the borders, and proper military approaches are needed, when necessary, in order to safeguard national sovereignty and security.

The Chinese government-owned Bauhinia Culture (Hong Kong) Holdings Ltd. is negotiating with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. the acquisition of Hong Kong’s influential South China Morning Post. Bloomberg News had reported in March that Alibaba has come under pressure from the Chinese government to divest some of its media assets, including SCMP. (Comment: Bauhinia Culture (Hong Kong) Holdings Ltd. is owned by The Liaison Office -- the Chinese government’s main office in the former British colony -- via its Sino United Publishing Holdings Ltd. unit. Its General Manager and Chairman are Wen Hongwu exSecretary General of the Liaison Office, and Mao Chaofeng, former Executive Vice Governor of China’s Hainan province.)

Taiwan's Central News Agency reported (November 5) that the head of a first ever official European Parliament (EP) delegation's visit to Taiwan, its head Raphaël Glucksmann, said on November 5 that he believed Taiwan would be a perfect partner for the European Union (EU) as it considers building a hub to combat disinformation campaigns launched by authoritarian regimes. At the press conference at the end of the delegation's three-day trip to Taiwan, he said "We can benefit a lot as Europeans form a closer cooperation with Taiwan in the fight against disinformation." "That actually makes a lot of sense, the partnership should grow and get deeper and deeper." He added "We are really convinced that the more you have interaction between international community and Taiwan, the less dangerous the situation would be in the Strait." The EU is now considering building a hub to combat disinformation and the whole delegation agreed that "it should be Taiwan." The delegation consisted of members of the EP's Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE). China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi reacted angrily to the visit and warned that Europe "will pay the price" for the visit

Reuters reported (November 4) that National Security Bureau Director-General Chen Mingtong, while referring to a scenario of China capturing the Pratas Islands located almost 250 miles (400 Kms) from the Taiwan mainland, disclosed to a parliamentary meeting on November 4 that "Attacking and capturing the Pratas Islands - this scenario where war is being used to force (Taiwan into) talks - our assessment is that this will not happen during President Tsai's tenure." He added "Frankly speaking, they have internally debated this before. We obviously have some understanding." He did not elaborate or mention when such a discussion occurred. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

Taiwan's Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng confirmed on the sideline of a Legislative hearing on November 2 that a group of Taiwanese marines have been sent to undergo one-month training in Guam as part of a Taiwan-U.S. defense cooperation and exchange program. He said the program is one of a number of "long-standing" bilateral exchange projects between Taipei and Washington. Apple Daily separately said that Taiwan's Marine Corps has recently sent a platoon of 40 marines for a month-long amphibious landing training at the U.S. military base in Guam to enhance their combat capabilities. Both countries' marines will also undergo training for joint operations to learn the latest tactics from the U.S. Marine Corps, it added.

A Global Times (November 2) report claimed that during an exclusive interview on November 2 with Chinese tech giant 360 Security Technology, it learnt that hackers from India have been caught actively launching cyberattacks targeting China's multiple sectors as well as individuals in the past two years during the epidemic, and their attacks are largely on the rise in the first half of 2021. It said the company's experts believe that intelligence analysis is likely behind these hacking groups as they are taking advantage of trendy affairs and topics, such as politics and economy related topics, epidemic situation, and professional activities from industries, so as to accurately launch their attacks. The hackers were identified by China's official media as an "Indian hacking group called ‘Evil Flower’ and accused of targeting “government, defence and military units, as well as state-owned enterprises in China, Pakistan, and Nepal”. Global Times has claimed in an investigation that the hacking group has the support of the Indian government. It said in 2020, the company monitored and captured more than 100 of initial payloads mostly from India and they induce users to execute malicious payloads through harpoon emails in various fields. It added that hackers from India have been caught actively launching cyberattacks targeting China's multiple sectors as well as individuals in the past two years during the epidemic, and their attacks are largely on the rise in the first half of 2021. Two Global Times articles (November 9) highlighted that India lacked border infrastructure and was incapable of building the required roads and logistical support. They claimed that the Indian Army was hampered by the poor logistics.

The Global Times (November 8) reported that on November 8, China delivered to Pakistan the largest and most advanced Type 054A/P frigate named the PNS Tughril. Designed and built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC), the frigate was delivered to the Pakistan Navy in a commissioning ceremony in Shanghai. The PNS Tughril is the first hull of four Type 054 frigates being constructed for the Pakistan Navy.

The Deputy Head of the CCP CC International Liaison Department, Chen Zhou met via video link with Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) (CPN (Unified Socialist)) Chairman and former Nepali Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on November 5.

Taiwanese media reported that four senators and two members of the House of Representatives including Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama made a 'surprise' visit to Taiwan when they landed at Taiwan's Taipei Songshan Airport aboard a US Navy C-40A plane from Manila at around 6pm on November 9. The group included senators Mike Crapo of Idaho and Mike Lee of Utah, as well as Representative Jake Ellzey of Texas, also all Republicans. Beijing said the visit amounts to ‘rude interference in China’s internal affairs’ and an act of provocation and later conducted a combat readiness patrol in the region

Caixin reported (November ) that two Chinese energy majors announced bumper long-term deals to import liquid natural gas (LNG) from U.S. firms this month, continuing a trend that comes amid skyrocketing prices of the fuel source. Sinochem Group Co. Ltd. announced a 17 1/2-year deal to buy as much as 1.8 million tons annually from Cheniere Energy Inc. on November 5, while China’s largest oil refiner, Sinopec, announced a 20-year contract with Venture Holding LNG to import 4 million tons of LNG annually on November 4.

In a step towards enforcement of the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which became law at the end of last year and stipulates that any foreign companies listed on US exchanges face delisting if they fail to turn over audit results for three straight years, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved a framework to determine which US-listed Chinese companies fail to fully allow auditing inspection and, therefore, will be delisted from American capital markets. It will allow the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s (PCAOB), a non-profit entity that deals with accounting issues of public companies, to determine whether a delisting process needs to be triggered.

Yahoo Inc. announced (November 2) that it has pulled out of China, citing an increasingly challenging operating environment. (Comment: The withdrawal was largely symbolic, as many of the company’s services were already blocked by China’s digital censorship. But recent government moves to expand its control over tech companies generally, including its domestic giants, may have tipped the scales for Yahoo.)

A senior Chinese intelligence officer of China's Ministry of State Security, Xu Yanjun was convicted by an American Federal jury in Ohio of trying to steal secrets from General Electric. He was accused of asking a GE Aviation employee who had travelled to China to help him obtain proprietary information in Washington. This is the first time a Ministry of State Security official was extradited to the US for trial. Xu Yanjun was arrested in Belgium in 2018 after being lured there by US agents who were tracking his efforts to obtain aviation-related technology, in particular a composite aircraft engine fan that is made exclusively by GE Aviation.

Associated Press reported (November 9) that commenting on the German frigate Bayern's passage through the South China Sea, Germany's Navy Chief Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schonbach said the frigate’s dispatch was to show support for Japan, the US, and other partners. He underscored Germany's concerns that freedom of navigation and the rule-based international order were being threatened in the region, apparently referring to its biggest trading partner, China.

The state-run CCTV (November 3) telecast the "grand national science and technology awards conference" organised jointly by the CCP CC and the State Council in Beijing on November 3, which was attended by Party and state leaders including Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng. PBSC member and Premier Li Keqiang delivered a speech at the conference where PBSC member Han Zheng presided. CCP CC General Secretary Xi Jinping first awarded medals and certificates to Academician Gu Songfen of China Aviation Industry Corporation and Academician Wang Dazhong of Tsinghua University, who won the highest national science and technology award in 2020. Later, Xi Jinping, the Party and state leaders, together with the two top prize winners, issued certificates to the representatives who won the National Natural Science Award, the National Technological Invention Award, and the National Science and Technology Progress Award. A total of 264 projects, 10 scientific and technological experts and 1 international organization were selected for the 2020 National Science and Technology Awards. Among them, there are 2 national top science and technology awards; 46 national natural science awards, including 2 first prizes and 44 second prizes; 61 national technological invention awards, including 3 first prizes and 58 second prizes; There are 157 national science and technology progress awards, including 2 special prizes, 18 first prizes, and 137 second prizes; 8 foreign experts and 1 international organization are awarded the People’s Republic of China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award.

The People's Daily (October 27) reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a speech at the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Military Equipment Conference held in Beijing on October 25 and 26. In his speech, Xi Jinping said, “I hope that comrades implement the Party’s thinking about building a strong army, … and that they build the management system for weapons and equipment modernization in order to make positive contributions to the PLA’s one hundred year anniversary (August 1, 2027).” Xi Jinping emphasized the “breakthrough development” of military weapons and equipment construction during the 13th Five-Year Plan period under the Central Military Commission’s (CMC) strong leadership and expressed hope that “comrades will thoroughly implement the Party’s thoughts on strengthening the military in the new era, thoroughly implement the guidelines on military strategy in the new era, speed up advancing the implementation of the ‘14th Five-Year’ Plan’s tasks, and speed up the construction of a modernized management system for weapons and equipment,” among other things. General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission, said “We must focus on national security needs, keep an eye on the realistic military struggle, focus on technological self-reliance and self-improvement, and make every effort to speed up the modernization of weapons and equipment, to advance the PLA’s weapons and equipment work to another great level.”

The People’s Daily (November 2) published its second Episode of the “Crucial choices in the New Era” series, intended to boost Chinese President Xi Jinping's image before the Party's Sixth Plenum, which starts on November 8. this episode is titled 'Xi – the protector of the people’s lives' and credits him with taking the tough decision regarding the lockdown during the Covid pandemic.

In a very unusual and explosive post on China's social media, which the Wall Street Journal (November 2) claims was seen by it before it was taken off within 20 minutes, China's top ranking professional Tennis star 35-year old Peng Shuai accused 1946-born ex-Vice Premier and Politburo Standing Committee member Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault. In her post she described an on-and-off relationship with Zhang Gaoli lasting for some years that she said was sometimes consensual and sometimes involved coercion, including forced sex. Peng Shuai said she couldn't offer any proof. but 'vowed' to tell the truth. (Comment: Peng Shuai was ranked No. 1 in women’s doubles with the Women’s Tennis Association in 2014. Her post comes at an increasingly sensitive time before the 20th Party Congress. She has a Taiwanese partner, Hsieh Su-wei)

Caixin (November 4) reported that local Covid-19 outbreaks in the Chinese mainland have spread to 19 out of 31 provincial-level regions, the widest distribution nationwide since the Wuhan outbreak early last year, as the number of infections mostly linked to trips in northern China since mid-October continues to grow. It said as of November 3, China had recorded more than 700 locally transmitted infections in dozens of cities in 19 province-level regions since October 17 when Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi province, confirmed two cases in a group of eight who had visited Inner Mongolia and Gansu province. The widest spread prior to this began in Nanjing on July 20 before reaching 16 provinces in a month.

On November 1, the CCP CC General Office and State Council issued a 9-section notification restricting the storage, consumption etc of food. The Beijing Municipality issued a notification repeating the notice and its sections: Overall requirements; 2. Improve the conservation and loss reduction in the agricultural production chain; 3. Improve the loss reduction in food storage; 4. Improve the loss reduction in food transportation; 5. Improve the conservation and loss reduction in food processing; 6. Resolutely curb the waste in food and drink consumption; 7. Push for innovation on food conservation and loss reduction; 8. Strengthen the propaganda and education on food conservation and loss reduction; and 9. Strengthen the food safeguarding measures. Separately, the Global Times (November 1) reported that the Chinese government had issued a rare public advisory asking people to store essential daily necessities for “emergency needs” sparked concern of possible food shortages, new COVID-19 outbreaks or a likely offensive by China to capture Taiwan. It quoted a statement issued by China's Ministry of Commerce on November 1, about ensuring stable supplies and prices of vegetables and daily necessities during the upcoming winter and spring seasons. The Ministry said that it “encourages families to store a certain amount of daily necessities in accordance with their needs to meet daily and emergency needs.” The rare public advisory sparked off speculation after it was widely posted on social media, while official media too began highlighting it on Tuesday though in the form of playing it down saying that the public should not read too much into it or wrongly interpret the statement. (Comment: The timing of the notification has prompted speculation whether China is headed for a food shortage or preparing for war with Taiwan or any similar eventuality.)

On October 28, the 4th Population Development Strategy Seminar with the theme of "actively responding to population aging and promoting long-term balanced population development" was held via a hybrid mode. He Wei, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and Executive Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Peasants and Workers Party, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech in Beijing. He Wei said the concept of aging has been integrated into the whole process of economic and social development, accelerated the implementation of the three-child policy, and improved the supporting measures for the whole process of "birth-nurture-nurture” and China needs to promote long-term balanced population development. Yang Zhen, full-time Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Peasants and Workers Party, presided over the opening ceremony. The seminar was co-sponsored by the Central Committee of the Peasants and Workers Party, the Chinese Association of Aging and the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee of the CPPCC. The seminar was broadcast live on the Internet, and the majority of Peasants and Workers Party members and relevant experts and scholars listened to the live broadcast of the meeting online.

Tang Wensheng, also known as Nancy and daughter of Tang Mingzhao, a founding member and editor-inchief of China Daily News, visited the exhibition organised by China Daily in Beijing on November 1. She said "China Daily News was designed to be a progressive newspaper made by overseas Chinese people. Although some members of the Communist Party of China joined the preparation, it was not a paper of the CPC. But it was one that aimed to give a voice to overseas Chinese". (Comment: American-born Chinese diplomat Tang Wensheng was Mao Zedong's chief interpreter during U.S. President Richard Nixon's historical 1972 visit to China. Born in 1943, she also served as Premier Zhou Enlai's interpreter.)

Lin Shangli (林尚立) is a protege and former student at Fudan University of Politburo Standing Committee member and China's leading theoretician Wang Huning. He is the author of an early think-piece that touched on ‘common prosperity’. Lin Shangli (林尚立) moved from a Vice Presidency at Fudan (where he had been a student, and later junior colleague of Wang Huning) to Secretary General of the Central Policy Research Office in 2017. (Comment: Lin Shangli authored the book 'Institutions and development: political logic of self-confidence in China’s institutions' (Zhonggong zhongyang dangxiao xuebao, 2 December 2016 [林尚立：'制度与发展： 中国制度自信的政治逻辑'，中共中央党校学报，2016年12月 2日. Professor Dr. Lin Shangli was born in Fuzhou in 1963. In 1981, he studied at the Department of International Politics, and after graduating in 1988 started his teaching career in the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University. He became Associate Professor in 1993 and Professor in 1997. He received a Ph.D. from the School of Law at Fudan University in 1998. He has been a visiting scholar at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Keio University in Japan, Georgetown University in the U.S.A. and at the University of Munich in Germany. Apart from Fudan, Prof. Lin is also a guest researcher at Shanghai CCP College and the Shanghai Administration Institute, and Vice Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Institute of East Asia, Shanghai. ).

Xinhua (October 26) announced the appointments of six officials to higher posts among who were: Deng Li (邓励) was appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Hua Chunying (f) (华春莹), MoFA spokesperson, was appointed Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Li Yifei (李邑飞) was appointed Political Commissar of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and Chairman of the China Xinjian Group.

A commentary by former Foreign Minister and Politburo member and current Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi was published by Qiu Shi (Seeking Truth - (2021/21) with the title 'Fifty years of deepening cooperation with the United Nations to build a community with a shared future for mankind'.

Chen Zhou, Vice Minister of the CCP CC International Liaison Department (ILD), on October 26 afternoon addressed the “Looking at the CCP from a Cloud” activity for South and Southeast Asian political parties via videolink. Over 100 people, including young politicians from nearly 30 political parties and organizations and representatives from the media, think tanks, and colleges and universities in 10 South and Southeast Asian countries, participated in the activity.

Recalling that November 1 is the 7th anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the Antiespionage Law, the state-owned CCTV on November 1 telecast a special programme titled 'Secretly detect dangerous leaks'. It said public security agencies have discovered that "some overseas data companies have long-term, large-scale, and real-time collection of data" and added that "The phantom of "commercial espionage" in the field of data security is full of domestic ship data". The programme disclosed that since 2020, national security agencies have carried out special operations and found that a group of foreign-related maritime data companies and radio enthusiasts in Beijing, Shanghai, Shandong and other places have built more than 700 AIS (automatic identification system for ships) base stations on the important islands and inland ports of China's coastline. Security agencies acted in accordance with the "Anti-espionage Law" and "Data Security Law" related regulations, seized a large number of base station equipment, intercepted more than 10,000 GB of outgoing maritime data, promptly cut off the data leakage channels, and required relevant organizations and individuals to make rectifications. Eliminate hidden dangers. The programme stated in conclusion that data resources are of great value to the country's economic and social development, and data security governance and data security protection are also important elements of competition among major powers.

Sina (October 27) reported that on October 26, China’s Foreign Investment Department of the Development and Reform Commission, together with the Capital Department of the Foreign Exchange Bureau, held a forum with some key industry players to discuss their foreign debts. It also disclosed that nine Chinese real estate companies have missed the payments on their U.S. dollar debts, including Oceanwide Holdings (泛海控股), Fantasia (花样年), China Fortune Land Development (华夏幸福), Sunshine 100 China (阳光100中国), The Tianfang Group (天房集团), The Sannong Group (泰禾集团), Sinic Holdings (新力控股), Languang Dev (蓝光发展), and Modern Land (当代置业). The combined unpaid debt is US$ 28.073 billion. (Comment: Fantasia (花样年) is owned by former PBSC member Zeng Qinghong's niece -- brother's daughter. Zeng Qignhong was a very close associate of Chinese President Jiang Zemin. )

Following up on the earlier two commentaries of October 19 and 22, the PLA Daily published three additional commentaries on the USS Connecticut collision in the South China Sea under its Jun Sheng (钧 声) byline. The third commentary on October 25, titled “The United States Is the Greatest Source of Disaster in Stirring Up the South China Sea (SCS)” reiterated that "the US's vagueness and cover-ups after the accident have made the international community full of doubts about the truth of the accident and the US intentions. the threat posed by the USS Connecticut nuclear submarine’s collision and the United States’ subsequent lack of transparency, saying the incident had elicited a “high degree of concern” from the international community". The commentary added that "the United States was not content with peace but “only wanted to fish in troubled waters (浑水摸鱼),” making trouble for its own gain". The fourth commentary (October 27) titled “The United States is the Greatest Destroyer of World Peace” noted that the USS Connecticut is one of three Seawolf-class submarines currently in service in the U.S. Navy and one of the most powerful and sensitive attack submarines currently available in the U.S. Navy. It said the incident "once again reflected the "belligerent gene" in the bones of American politicians". Jun Sheng added that the United States has an “‘interference addiction’ (干涉 成瘾) regarding other countries’ political affairs,” citing its involvement in “color revolutions” following the Cold War and, referring to AUKUS, called for the world to “maintain a high degree of vigilance toward the ‘warlike’ and ‘interference-addicted’ United States.” The fifth commentary (October 29) was titled “The Ugly Face of ‘US-Style Double Standards’” and focused on the US’ lack of transparency regarding the USS Connecticut collision. Ironically, while the United States has touted military transparency, “some US politicians for whom telling lies is second nature have been ridiculed by people the world over as political ‘Pinocchios’ (匹诺曹)” stemming from their failure to be forthcoming about the submarine accident.

Lan Jianxue, Director of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at China Institute of International Studies, reacted to India's successful test of the 5000kms range Agni-V ICBM. In an article in the Global Times (October 30) he warned against India being carried away by the US and West and getting into an arms race with China. He also claimed that "Many Indian people have complaints toward their government on various issues, and many contradictions can be seen at home. For example, the daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases are still as high as more than 10,000. The epidemic continues to severely impact India's economy, and the Modi government appears to lack an effective approach to deal with it. Furthermore, a yearlong series of ongoing protests by farmers against the Indian government has also stepped up. Against this backdrop, the Modi administration is eager to find a new external hotspot issue to divert domestic attention. This has been one of the Modi administration's old tricks, which China has got used to". He added "The root of the ChinaIndia tensions over the recent two years lies in the series of provocative practices by the Indian government on its borders with China. The incitement by Indian and Western media outlets have also played a big role, adding fire to the tensions between China and India. In the face of increased nationalist sentiment and the fanning of flames from the West, the Modi government seems to lack a clear strategy on how to deal with the tensions with China. If the Modi government could remain sober, it should stay away from the incitement from the West and the mounting populist mind-set, and those asking it to resort to military actions to deal with the border tensions with China."

Writing in the Global Times (November 1) Qian Feng, Director of the Research Department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, referred to a co-signed article in Foreign Policy entitled "It's Time to Formalize an Alliance with India" by former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley and Republican congressman Michael Waltz calling it "an attempt to form a clique in the modern era". He described Nikki Haley as "having the political capital to return to politics and is a possible frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination" and said Michael Waltz, "a veteran from Florida, a Republican stronghold, has always shown his strong anti-China attitude". Qian Feng said the proposal will not be acceptable to the Generals in the Pentagon and that the idea of the US and India combining to contain China has always been popular in strategic circles in India. The article said, in conclusion, "The Modi government is committed to leading India to become a global power. It has its own plans and logic for the country's future development and foreign policy. The so-called ideology and democratic values are nothing more than tools to achieve India's goals. With the help of the US, it may be possible for India to obtain the recognition and endorsement for a "great power identity. However, if India is arranged by Quad to take the lead in charging in the anti-China front, and becomes "cannon fodder" of US strategy, Indians will not accept it". It ended with the warning: "For India, China is the biggest neighbour that cannot be moved away. It is also a major country vital to India's security and development. In fierce competition between China and the US, if Indian leaders are tempted by some anti-China forces at home and abroad, put China-India ties behind, abandon its principle of nonalignment, establish formal alliance with the US, this will undoubtedly be tantamount to turning itself to the enemy of China. And if so, such an India will never become a true global power"

A sharply worded article in Global Times (November 4) criticised a Tweet by an Indian comparing Prayagraj with Shanghai. Objecting to such comparison, it said, "Indian elites’ misconception of China exposed in a tweet comparing Prayagraj and Shanghai" and said once more Indians begin travelling to China, they will realise how far advanced China is compared to India. Another Global Times article criticised Modi's speech at the COPS Summit saying it is unachievable. It quoted the "recently released Global Hunger Index 2021 where India was ranked 101 out of 116 countries and regions, behind such economies as Sudan and Mali, and was one among the nations in which hunger was classified as "serious." Although the Indian economy is estimated to be one of the fastest-growing in the world in 2022, many of its people still live in extreme poverty". It added "Even though some in the West expressed disappointment that India's climate target is 20 years behind that of most other countries, the willingness of India, with its large poor population, to make a step forward toward limiting global warming is still commendable. However, it is an open question as to whether India's economy can support its ambitious emissions-reduction target". The last paragraph of the article said, "Under these circumstances, if any one from the advanced economies still think that the developing world needs to commit more to the climate action, they should go to India to experience the real hunger before lecturing others".

The US Government announced that President Joe Biden and Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping will meet in a virtual summit meeting before the end of the year. The announcement followed the meeting in early October in Zurich between US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese Politburo member Yang Jiechi. This indicates that Sullivan and Yang Jiechi likely found issues on which their bosses could reach agreement. The Straits Times (October 30) said the US government dropping its attempt to prosecute Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in September might also create more space for Xi Jinping to be magnanimous at the summit. It assessed Beijing will have two main goals at the summit: (i) a return to the level of economic, educational and scientific exchange that prevailed before the bilateral relationship soured and specifically the restrictions on granting of US visas to members of the Communist Party of China and to Chinese students and researchers with PRC military connections. (ii) Beijing's demand that Washington ceases using the issues of Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and human rights to "interfere in China's internal affairs". This means Beijing will insist that Washington stop supporting the Republic of China (ROC) government on Taiwan as Beijing says the US has taken new steps since the downturn in US-China relations to encourage Taiwan's political separation from China. The United States main objectives are to get China's assent to what the Biden team calls "responsible competition" or relationship "guardrails", meaning the two countries pursue their objectives within the (US-sponsored) rules of international behaviour without taking actions that raise military tensions and the second US objective is to dissuade China from linking climate change cooperation to other issues. Third, the Biden administration has elevated the specific issue of Chinese military pressure on Taiwan as a high-priority concern. "We need to see China stop these actions," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said recently. The Japan Times (October 29) published a similar assessment of the objectives of the likely Summit.

Sandra Oudkirk, the new Director of the American Institute in Taiwan's (AIT) Taipei office, told Taiwan's CNA (October 29) that the United States considers peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait "central to the security and stability of the broader Indo Pacific region and to the U.S." She said, "Our commitment to Taiwan is rock solid and contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region." Asked specifically about President Joe Biden's recent pledge to defend Taiwan in case of a Chinese attack, Oudkirk said there has been no change in U.S. policy. The U.S., she said, will continue to help Taiwan boost its self-defence capability as part of America's commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), which has served as the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations since official diplomatic ties were severed in 1979, adding "We engage with our partners in Taiwan on a routine basis to access vulnerability, to access ways we can support Taiwan in mounting its own self defence."

120 UN member states voted on November 17, in favour of a resolution in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly reiterating a call for a moratorium on the use of capital punishment. The General Assembly plenary is expected to adopt the resolution in December. China is among the 39 countries which voted against the resolution. (Comment: The 11 countries from the Asia-Pacific region who voted against the resolution are: Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, China, India, Japan, the Maldives, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and Tonga.)

The state-owned CCTV (October 25) reported that on October 25, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 50th anniversary meeting of the People's Republic of China to restore the legal seat of the United Nations in Beijing and delivered an "important" speech. In his speech Xi Jinping emphasised that "China will adhere to the path of peaceful development and always be a builder of world peace; adhere to the path of reform and opening up and always be a contributor to global development; adhere to the path of multilateralism and always be a defender of the international order". He asserted that China strives unremittingly for a community with a shared future for mankind. PBSC member and Secretary of the CCP CC Secretariat Wang Huning attended the meeting as did Ding Xuexiang and Yang Jiechi. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi presided over the meeting which was attended by over 2000 officials from different departments

Chinese President Xi Jinping and the entire PBSC and Vice President Wang Qishan visited the 13th FiveYear Plan Science and Technology Innovation Achievement Exhibition in Beijing on October 26. The theme was “Innovation Driven Development, Towards a Powerful Country in Science and Technology.” Displays of China’s scientific achievements during the plan (2016-2020) included: The “Nine Chapters” quantum computing prototype; the Tiangong space station; and the Guohe No. 1 nuclear power unit. (Comment: Their visit demonstrated the importance the Chinese leadership is giving S&T.)

The Wall Street Journal (October 21) reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s last foreign trip was to Myanmar in January 2020. In March 2020, he hosted Pakistan’s president in Beijing, but since then has not been noticed to have met in person with any foreign leader

At a meeting of the NPC Standing Committee on October 23, the South China Morning Post (October 24) quoted PBSC member and NPC Chairman Li Zhanshu as saying “We need to learn from the beneficial achievements of foreign political civilisations, but we must not abandon the fundamentals of China’s political system. We should resolutely oppose, resist and prevent the erosive influence of so-called ‘constitutionalism’, multi-party elections, the tripartite system, the bicameral system and the independence of the judiciary in the West" and “We should strengthen theoretical research and the propaganda interpretation of socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics and the People’s Congress system, and tell good stories about China’s democracy.” Xie Maosong, a political scientist at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said top leaders had made similar remarks in the past, such as referring to “the story of Chinese-style democracy” and that this “looks much the same, but in fact, there are subtle differences, now they will just say ‘telling the story of China’s democracy’, which is more precise and straightforward, and more confident. What all this means is that China’s leaders believe that democracy in China is real democracy, whole-process democracy, that fulfils commitments. It is not a fake democracy where Western politicians make high-profile promises during election campaigns and then don’t deliver afterward. China is now confident that its democracy is real compared to the fake democracy of the West.”

The closing meeting of the 31st session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee on October 23 voted to adopt a new Land Borders Law. The new law empowers the state to: Use the police apparatus and weapons for illegal border crossers under certain circumstances; close China’s borders if war or armed conflict threatens border security; and build border facilities “for the purposes of blockade, transportation, communication, monitoring, deterrence, defence, and assistance”. The law also makes the People’s Liberation Army responsible for “Guarding the land border, resisting armed aggression, [and] dealing with major emergencies, and terrorist activities.” (Comment: China has 14 international land borders, and shares that statistic with Russia. The full text (translated from Chinese) reads: during the period of deepening the reform of the national defence mobilization system , Temporarily adjust and apply the "National Defence Mobilization Law of the People's Republic of China", "People's Air Defence Law of the People's Republic of China", "National Defence Traffic Law of the People's Republic of China", and "National Defence Education Law of the People's Republic of China" related to national defence mobilization and the people's armed mobilization and economic mobilization , Civil air defence, traffic readiness, national defence education leadership and management system, military and local functional configuration, work organization settings, and national defence mobilization resources command and use regulations. The specific measures shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant decisions of the Party Central Committee and the relevant regulations of the State Council and the Central Military Commission. After the reform measures have matured, relevant laws should be revised and improved in a timely manner.)

The South China Morning Post (October 25) disclosed that China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate had decided on October 25, to formally arrest Yin Jiaxu, former Norinco Chairman, “on suspicion of accepting bribes and making illegal gains for relatives and friends in accordance with the law”. His formal arrest came seven months after he was put under an internal party probe by China’s top anti-corruption body, the Central Discipline Inspection Commission (CDIC), for “serious violations of discipline and the law”. Yin Jiaxu had been the Party Secretary and Chairman of China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) until his sudden retirement in 2018, three years ahead of his official retirement age of 65. He was formally handed over to prosecutors on September 30 after being expelled from the party and stripped of all official positions and benefits. The CDIC accused Yin Jiaxu of receiving “huge sums” of money and gifts, using his official capacity to benefit others and transferring the profitable business of the company to relatives and friends for personal gain, “resulting in huge losses in national interests” and being “obsessed with golfing” and having long held a golf club membership illegally. Before rising to Norinco’s top management position in 2013, Yin Jiaxu spent more than 14 years at Changan Automobile Co, a subsidiary of Norinco that manufactures passenger cars, minivans, commercial vans and light trucks, where he was regarded as key to the group’s rebound from near bankruptcy in 1998. (Comment: The CDIC has previously arrested Hu Wenming, Chairman of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China and later China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), which oversaw the development of China’s aircraft carriers. There was suspicion that he may have been spying on behalf of a foreign power. Hu Wenming was expelled from the party for taking bribes and abusing his power. He faced trial in February in a Shanghai court and is now awaiting sentencing. Before Hu, Sun Bo, former General Manager of CSIC, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for taking bribes and abuse of power in July 2019.)

Xu Yousheng, Deputy Director of the CCP CC United Front Work Department (UFWD), published an article in the People's Daily on October 25 where he discussed the UFWD's ideological and political work. The article said that since the 18th Party Congress the UFWD's central and provincial (regional, municipal) levels have organized more than 300 classes of non-party intellectuals, trained nearly 20,000 people, and organized more than 5,000 people on the job. It added that since 2018, the CCP CC United Front Work Department has organized more than 20 new training courses for people from social strata, training more than 1,000 representatives.

Foreign Policy magazine (October 28) reported that a record 2 million applicants have registered for the Chinese civil service examinations next month, the first stage in a conventional career as a government official. That is up from 1.5 million applicants last year, which was already a record, illustrating the growing trend of young Chinese seeking official jobs rather than employment in the private sector. It added that under Xi Jinping, China has followed a consistent pattern of “the state advances, the private sector retreats”—a slogan originally coined to describe state-owned enterprises’ advances that is now ideologically pushed from the top. It’s not surprising that a cynical generation of young people are seeking the comfort and stability of government positions. It also suggests that despite a decade of anti-corruption campaigns, the official and unofficial perks of government jobs remain substantial.

The NPC Standing Committee on October 23 approved pilot projects in 10 cities for at least five years in a step towards enacting a nationwide “real estate tax”, or “property tax”. PBSC member and Vice Premier Han Zheng has been tasked to steer the pilot projects. (Comment: Meanwhile a vigorous debate has erupted in China over the issue of "common prosperity" and the property tax is being viewed as a step in the direction of implementing common prosperity. Opposition to common prosperity, enunciated by Xi Jinping on August 17, has also resulted in the pilot projects for property tax being confined to only 10 cities instead of the originally approved 30.)

The Beijing Chaoyang District Justice Bureau issued a notice on October 19, stating that "In accordance with the spirit of the document of the Ministry of Justice and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice on cleaning up and regulating outstanding issues in the establishment and management of law firms, from midOctober to the end of December, the legal team will carry out cleaning up and regulation of outstanding issues in the establishment and management of law firms". It said the inspecting units can accept reports, complaints, clues etc in connection with their investigations

China's Ministry of Commerce (MofCom) released its 32-page Five-Year Plan (FYP) on foreign investment on October 18, where it indicated it hoped that foreign direct investment (FDI) into China will hit US$ 700 billion between 2021 and 2025. This is just 0.2% higher than the US$ 698 billion that landed between 2016- 2020. MofCom’s target allows for a 100 billion dollar decline, but FDI into China is still on track to hit US$ 160 billion in 2021 – meaning that, even if investment stayed flat, the total would hit USD 800 billion in five years. Zong Changqing, head of MofCom’s Foreign Investment Department, said: “The current external environment for stabilizing foreign investment remains complex and grim.” He added “We will strengthen coordination [of national security reviews] with anti-monopoly and anti-unfair-competition reviews to build a solid defensive line on national security.” Wei Jianing, a former research fellow at the Development Research Centre under the State Council, said it was hard to envisage a large amount of foreign investment coming into China due to deteriorating international relations. “What we are worrying about is not only deglobalisation, but also globalisation without China,” he said at a virtual forum in August.

The PLA Daily published two successive commentaries on the USS Connecticut collision in the South China Sea under its Jun Sheng by-line on October 21 and 22. The commentaries titled “What Exactly Does the US Side Want to Cover Up?” and “The Source of the Greatest Risk to International Nuclear Security” urged the U.S. to clarify the circumstances and nature of the collision on October 2, of the USS Connecticut nuclear submarine in the South China Sea (SCS).

Ao Liuquan was appointed the new Party Secretary of Nyingchi Prefecture of TAR. Nyingchi is witnessing considerable dual-use developmental activity. (Comment: Ao Liuquan is of Han nationality. He was born in May 1974 in Guiyang, Guizhou, and joined the Communist Party of China in July 1996. He graduated from Sichuan Business Administration Institute.)

China's Nanya Yanjiu (South Asian Studies Quarterly) Issue No. 2, 2021, published an article by Li Tao and Yuan Xiaojiao assessing the theory and practice of the Modi administration’s economic diplomacy. They assess that under the Modi administration, India’s economic diplomacy seeks to attract FDI, build relationships with the global Indian diaspora, and elevate India’s status in regional and multilateral forums. Stating that India’s economic diplomacy is grounded at a theoretical level in a mixture of neoliberal institutionalism and nationalism, Li Tao and Yuan Xiaojiao argue that India’s economic diplomacy is grounded at a theoretical level in a mixture of neoliberal institutionalism and nationalism. On the one hand, Modi has pursued a pragmatic strategy of cooperation via bilateral and multilateral agreements. Through “selective multilateralism,” India can participate in global multilateral forums while placing some limitations on the impact of globalization and India’s integration into a free and open global economy. At the same time, Modi’s economic diplomacy reflects Hindu nationalism, urging citizens to limit their material consumption and protect the domestic economy. In this view, India’s economic development is a “duty” of both the Indian individual and the Indian government. According to Li and Yuan, this mixture of neoliberal institutionalism and Hindu nationalism is evident in India’s economic diplomacy. They say that at the core are India’s interests. India’s relations with its South Asian neighbours reflect “defensive economic nationalism,” as India uses its influence to protect its national economic interests, and its economic diplomacy is characterized by asymmetric interdependence. As the largest economy in South Asia, India seeks to increase its neighbours’ economic dependence on India by encouraging the adoption of a common market and offering commercial aid. In its relations with great powers such as China, the United States, Russia, and Japan, India mixes neoliberal institutionalism with economic nationalism; it balances and free rides in an attempt to maintain strategic autonomy and assert regional leadership. For example, India has accepted the US “Indo-Pacific” strategy as a way to fend off pressure from China’s Belt and Road Initiative. With regard to China, India’s policy has shifted from “soft checks and balancing” to “comprehensive decoupling” in the wake of the 2020–2021 skirmishes in the Galwan valley. At these peripheral and global levels, India adopts liberal economic policies by seeking to expand economic partnerships. Modi has focused on building relations with Asian countries to attract foreign capital and provide employment opportunities for India’s vast working-age population. Farther afield, Modi has pursued military, energy, and trade deals with Australia and countries in Western Europe and promised credit lines and aid to much of the African continent. Modi has also affirmed India’s commitment to multilateral economic institutions by pursing leadership roles and seeking to reshape global economic governance to reflect a multipolar world order. (Comment: Nanya Yanjiu, also called "International Forum", was founded in 1999 as a bimonthly by the University of International Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies.)

Another article published in Guoji Luntan (No. 5, 2021), Li Qingyan, Associate Research Fellow at the Department for Developing Countries Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, explored US efforts to incorporate India into its Indo-Pacific strategy, which he said is motivated by the U.S. desire to contain China, and Indian motivations for pursuing closer ties with the United States, and the inherent limits to US–Indian relations. He said under Modi, India has shifted from its traditional “non-alignment” policy to a “multi-alignment” approach that emphasizes building strategic relations with multiple great powers. Politically, the United States, operating under what Li criticizes as flawed zero-sum Cold War thinking, views India as a key pillar of its Indo-Pacific strategy. India is happy to acquiesce to the Indo-Pacific strategy because it views cooperation with the United States as a way to achieve its great power ambitions. Consequently, India has increased its dialogues and cooperation with the members of the Quad. In the security field, the United States regards India as a “defence partner” and treats it much as it would treat a formal ally. The two countries share technology and some intelligence, have worked to integrate military operations, and participate in joint military exercises. Li Qingyan contends that India and the United States have teamed up to oppose the Belt and Road Initiative, painting its projects as “debt traps” and “neocolonialism,” and promoting their own initiatives as an alternative. Despite the strengthening of US–Indian relations, however, Li asserts that geopolitical, security, and economic differences will hinder the development of formal alliance relations. US–Indian relations are limited by conflicting objectives and a lack of mutual trust. India participates in the Indo-Pacific strategy not because it wants to take the United States’ side in the US–China strategic competition, but because India views cooperation with the strategy as the best way to achieve its great power ambitions and establish its regional significance as the world transitions to multipolarity. He points to India's continuing purchase of weapons from Russia and trade frictions that are undermining Indian–US relations. Li Qingyan anticipates continued tension between US policies first developed under Trump’s “America First” approach and those promoted by Modi’s “Made in India” strategy of domestic protectionism. He argues, the “China factor” is not enough to push the United States and India toward alliance relations: India remains unwilling to sacrifice its strategic autonomy for US interests. India’s willingness to cooperate with the United States is motivated by India’s perception that China poses a threat to India’s regional dominance and its global influence. Li Qingyan argues, this analysis is completely flawed; if India “abandons ‘strategic autonomy’” and aligns with anti-Chinese elements in the West, it will lose its opportunity to become a great power. He contends that over the long term, China and India as emerging markets with enormous populations have many common interests and face similar development challenges, which might push the two countries closer together. The two countries have extensive trade relations. They also share the view that the Global South should have a far greater say in global economic governance than it currently does and anticipate that their countries will play increasingly significant roles as the world transitions toward a multipolar order. Furthermore, Li Qingyan expects India’s decision to pursue closer relations with the United States for geopolitical reasons to shift over the longer term. He expects that the United States and China will eventually learn to coexist in a multipolar world, decreasing India’s opportunity to advance its own interests by playing off China and the United States against each other, and strengthening the value of strategic autonomy. Li Qingyan predicts that the IndoPacific strategy ultimately will fall away as China and India rise together.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken issued a Press Statement on October 26 describing Taiwan as a "democratic success story" and "critical to the global high-tech economy and a hub of travel, culture, and education". He said "We are among the many UN member states who view Taiwan as a valued partner and trusted friend". He asserted that "As the international community faces an unprecedented number of complex and global issues, it is critical for all stakeholders to help address these problems. This includes the 24 million people who live in Taiwan. Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UN system is not a political issue, but a pragmatic one". "Taiwan’s exclusion undermines the important work of the UN and its related bodies, all of which stand to benefit greatly from its contributions. We need to harness the contributions of all stakeholders toward solving our shared challenges. That is why we encourage all UN Member States to join us in supporting Taiwan’s robust, meaningful participation throughout the UN system and in the international community, consistent with our “one China” policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances". (Comment: Twice this year, President Biden has made commitments that the U.S. is prepared to defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion, but the White House promptly issued clarifications walking back on his statements and leading to confusion over a high-stakes U.S. national security policy.)

On October 26, Chinese Vice Premier and economic czar Liu He held a video call with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Few details are available, but the US Treasury’s summary said: “[T]hey discussed macroeconomic and financial developments in the United States and China” and that “Secretary Yellen also frankly raised issues of concern.” Equally succinct was China's Ministry of Commerce (MofCOM) statement which said: “The two sides had pragmatic, frank and constructive exchanges on the macroeconomic situation and bilateral and multilateral cooperation.” It added, though, that “The Chinese side expressed concern about the lifting of tariffs and sanctions imposed by the United States and the fair treatment of Chinese enterprises.”

In a long-expected move, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously agreed to rescind the license for the state-run firm China Telecom to operate in the United States, citing security risks. The Biden administration hasn’t shown the same level of enthusiasm as its predecessor for picking new Chinese technology targets, but it hasn’t backed off, either. Foreign Policy observed (October 28) that the FCC vote and other reports show, anti-Chinese Communist Party (CCP) action remains one of very few areas of strong bipartisan agreement in Washington.

The South China Morning Post (October 28) reported that Cao Yanzhong, a researcher with the People’s Liberation Army Academy of Military Science, divulged at the 10th Xiangshan forum that United States warships and planes carried out over 2,000 close spying operations aimed at China this year. The targets of these missions include Chinese controlled islands and reefs in the South China Sea, as well as the coastal area of the Chinese mainland. Cao Yanzhong also said “The high frequency of such close reconnaissance endangers China’s sovereign security and heightens regional tensions, which will inevitably trigger firm opposition from China and undoubtedly increase the risk of gunfire.” He added that “The most urgent task at the moment is that the US immediately ceases its frequent close reconnaissance to reduce the possibility of misfires.”

The People's Daily (October 25) reported that Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi is to visit Qatar to meet Taliban's Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Acting Deputy Prime ,Minister of the (newly restored) Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi from October 25 to 26. The talks in Doha, Qatar, on October 25-26 were the first high-level engagement between China and the Taliban since the group resumed power in August. Xinhua (October 26) said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Afghanistan to “Master its own destiny, achieve reconciliation and tolerance, and advance national reconstruction” and also asked the Taliban to crack down on terrorist groups, notably the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a separatist group Beijing blames for attacks in Xinjiang. Mullah Baradar thanked China for its respect and friendliness during difficult times. He recognized China’s security concerns and reaffirmed the Taliban’s promise to never allow any force to use Afghan territory to harm China. Baradar reportedly added: “For now, women in medical institutions, airports and other places have resumed their work, and girls in primary and secondary schools in many provinces have returned to school, but they still face difficulties such as lack of facilities and funds.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi started his trip in Greece and will visit Serbia, Albania, and Italy from October 27 to 29, ending his trip just ahead of the G-20 Summit in Rome. On October 27, Wang Yi met Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. The same day, he travelled to Belgrade, Serbia, for meetings with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and National Assembly Speaker Ivica Dacic. Explaining the logic behind Wang Yi’s choice of destinations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said: “Greece, Serbia, Albania and Italy are important cooperation partners of China in Europe. China and these four countries boast profound traditional friendship, have close cooperation across the board and share fruitful outcomes in BRI cooperation.” At a press conference (October 27) in Greece, Wang Yi said his trip was meant to “send three clear messages to my friends in Greece and Europe.” “First, China hopes to work with Europe to carry forward the Olympic spirit”. “Second, China hopes to work with Europe to boost connectivity” and “Third, China hopes to work with Europe to promote dialogue among civilizations”: He said “We hope that more European partners will join us in injecting stability and positive energy into China-Europe relations and international cooperation"

Xinhua (October 18) and the state-run CCTV announced (October 18) that the 19th CCP Central Committee will hold its sixth plenary session in Beijing from Nov. 8 to 11, during which a key resolution on the major achievements and historical experience of the Party's 100 years of endeavours will be reviewed. It said this was decided at a Politburo meeting on October 18, which was presided over by CCP CC General Secretary Xi Jinping. It said Xi Jinping also chaired a symposium to hear from the central committees of the non-CPC political parties, the head of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and individuals with no party affiliation. Xinhua added that the draft has won wide recognition from various regions, departments, and sides, along with delegates to the 19th CCP National Congress. Xinhua observed "The Party, the military, and the public became united as never before. China’s international status has further consolidated". It also said, “The CPC and the Chinese people have solemnly declared to the world through heroic and tenacious struggle that the Chinese nation has ushered in a great leap from standing up, becoming rich to becoming strong, and the realisation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has become a historical inevitability.” CCTV added "The meeting emphasized that in the long course of the party’s struggle, the Chinese Communists, with Comrades Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao as the main representatives, have united and led the entire party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country to promote revolution, construction, and reform, and have made major achievements and accumulated valuable resources." The meeting also cautioned that "the whole party must bear in mind that it was born in trouble and died in peace, always think about it, and be prepared for danger in times of peace, continue to promote the new great project of party building in the new era."

The Politburo held its monthly study session on October 18 to discuss promotion and development of China’s digital economy. It was presided by Xi Jinping who, in his speech, described "the digital economy as fundamental to China's future development" and said “We must seize the opportunities, and seize the commanding heights of future development.“ He added “We must use new Internet technologies to carry out all-round and full-chain transformations of traditional industries.” Xi Jinping also spoke of the integration of digital technology into the “real economy”, like manufacturing, services, and agriculture. He suggested: Accelerating the construction of new digital information infrastructure; Enhancing the competitiveness of key links in the industrial chain; Improving the supply chain system of key industries; and accelerating the iteration of products and services. He said China must also: Investigate and deal with monopoly and unfair competition and strengthen tax supervision and tax inspection.

The CCP's leading theoretical fortnightly Qiu Shi (October 15) published an article by Xi Jinping captioned 'Solidly promoting common prosperity', which contained remarks on common prosperity made in his speeches in 2021. Xi Jinping said that "After the reform and opening up, our Party profoundly summarized both positive and negative historical experiences, realized that poverty is not socialism, broke the traditional institutional constraints, allowed some people and some regions to get rich first, and promoted the liberation and development of social productive forces". Since the 18th Party Congress, it said, the Party Central Committee has "put the gradual realization of common prosperity for all people on a more important position, promoted coordinated regional development, taken strong measures to protect and improve people's livelihood, won the battle against poverty, and built a moderately prosperous society, creating good conditions for promoting common prosperity". It said that "Now, it has reached the historical stage of solidly promoting common prosperity". It added that the promotion of common prosperity for all people must be the focus point for the people's happiness and continuously strengthen the Party's long-term ruling foundation. Pointing out that "the global income inequality problem is prominent, some countries are divided between the rich and the poor,", the article emphasised: "Our country must resolutely prevent polarization, promote common wealth, and achieve social harmony and stability". It added "At the same time, it must be soberly recognized that the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development in China is still prominent, with a large gap between urban and rural regional development and income distribution". Xi Jinping said "Common prosperity is the essential requirement of socialism and an important feature of Chinese-style modernization. The common affluence we are talking about is the common affluence of all people, the affluence of both the material and spiritual life of the people, not the affluence of a few, nor the neat and uniform egalitarianism". The article identified this as the goal for the middle of this century.

The Cyberspace Administration of China announced on October 21 an approved list of some 1,300 domestic media outlets, social media accounts and government agencies, banning internet news providers from using other sources. Caixin -- a financial news organization that has reported on official corruption, pollution issues and public anger at the government -- has been put on this banned list meaning its articles cannot appear on the internet platforms such as Sina.com that are popular ways for the Chinese public to consume news. Meanwhile, Ant has exited its stake in Caixin.

The Olympic torch lighting ceremony, held on October 18 in Ancient Olympia, Greece, prior to the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, was disrupted by three people protesting China's treatment of Uyghurs and Tibetans. A press conference organized by a separate group of activists in Athens the following day denounced China's human rights violations as the Olympic torch heads to Beijing. The torch-lighting ceremony had a small audience due to COVID restrictions, though top figures such as Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach attended. The torch will also be taken directly by plane from Greece to Beijing this year instead of being transported by relays of athletes traversing 20 countries

The Legal Daily (October 19) reported on the enlarged meeting of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Public Security on October 16 to convey the spirit of the Ministry of Public Security’s third work report and the spirit of the Ministry of Public Security’s third work report. State Councillor, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Public Security, and Minister Zhao Kezhi presided over a meeting of the Party Committee. The Legal Daily said "the bureau and 8 bureau-level units under the Ministry promoted investigation, correction, rectification, and report on the work of eliminating the effects of poisoning". Zhao Kezhi stressed the need to "thoroughly study and implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the spirit of the CPC Central Committee decisions and arrangements, to enhance the "four consciousness" firm "four self-confidence", so that "two maintenance", continued to deepen political Sun Lijun eliminate the pernicious influence of gangs Work, continue to advance the work of investigation, correction and rectification, to ensure that the goals and tasks set by the Party Central Committee are completed with high quality". It said, "the education and rectification of the second batch of political and legal teams across the country entered the stage of investigation, correction and reform". It included repeated references to "Sun Lijun political gangs" and their serious violation of law, elimination of "the pernicious influence of political gangs as a top priority" and regard practically clarifying the serious violation of law by the Sun Lijun political gangs. The meeting asserted: "We must focus on political loyalty, persist in learning and education throughout, thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the important precepts of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech, and earnestly build the foundation of faith, supplement the spirit of the spirit, and stabilize the ideological rudder, from the ideological, political, and organizational In the above and work style, thoroughly eliminate the poisonous influence of Sun Lijun's political gang, and strive to build a loyal and vigilant soul", insisting "We must continue to deepen the rectification of stubborn diseases". Wang Xiaohong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Security, and members of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Public Security attended the meeting.

Chen Zhimin, China’s Vice Minister for Public Security until 2017 and currently a member of the CPPCC, was quoted by South China Morning Post (October 21) as telling a panel organised by the Beijing-backed Boao Forum in Changsha, Hunan province, on October 18 that “In the face of challenges, countries need to establish a concept of mutual security. [Nations should] agree to share intelligence, rules, education and experiences – including hi-tech and big data components – on security matters, in order to achieve a new model of global development.” The South China Morning Post added that China’s latest five-year plan identified “protecting the rights and interests of Chinese overseas investments” as a key goal to ensure national “economic security”, acknowledging that there were increasing risks and uncertainties regarding the safety of China’s wide range of overseas projects under its Belt and Road Initiative. Lu Wei, an expert at Zhongan Security Services, a government-backed company that was among the first to provide security training and protection for Chinese investment overseas, was quoted as telling Beijing Youth Daily it was clear that the belt and road scheme had been facing bigger security threats due to rising global terrorism threats and growing negative impressions about China. “There needs to be speedy legislation on protecting overseas investment, so there can be legal grounds for taking action. Secondly, there needs to be a government-level warning mechanism that issues alerts, guidance, and emergency response protocols for any huge security risk, in order to minimise the loss of life and financial costs related to overseas Chinese investments. Thirdly, there needs to be a functioning international cooperation mechanism with the investment recipient country, as their public security abilities are always critical to the safety of Chinese-funded projects.”

Xinhua (October 21) reported that the CCP CC and State Council issued a Notification on October 20, publicising the Master Plan for the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle in southwest China. The plan aims to turn the Chengdu-Chongqing area into an economic circle with its own strengths and distinctive features, as well as a new driver and an important growth engine of the country's high-quality development. It said by 2025, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle will witness significant increases in economic strength, development vitality and international influence, and about 66 percent of its permanent residents are expected to be living in urban areas. In five years, it will take only an hour to travel between Chongqing and Chengdu, it said. The area will enjoy a railway network of more than 9,000 km that covers all the cities with a population of over 200,000, while a shipping centre and a logistics centre for the upper Yangtze River will be basically established. All urban areas and key scenes will be covered by the 5G network, and the economic circle will see a marked improvement in new infrastructure and stronger capabilities in safeguarding energy security. The area is expected to see spending on research and development reach around 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product, while the contribution rate of scientific and technological progress will hit 63 percent. Breakthroughs will be made in the construction of major opening-up platforms such as the pilot free trade zones in Chongqing and Sichuan by 2025, providing stronger support for the joint construction of the Belt and Road, according to the document. By 2035, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle will become an active growth pole and a powerful driver with international influence, it said.

A new report released on October 18 by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), an Australian research organization, reveals new details about how the Chinese Communist Party — and specifically who within the party — is carrying out its campaign of repression in Xinjiang. The report uncovers the actual offices and individuals implementing the Chinese government's forced labour policies in Xinjiang. Entitled "The Architecture of Repression: Unpacking Xinjiang's Governance," the report maps out 170 government bureaus in Xinjiang, identifies 440 top local officials, and reveals a return to mass political campaigns there.

The South China Morning Post (October 17) said the PLA Daily has called for a “people’s war” to defeat American espionage after the CIA set up the China Mission Centre on October 7, which CIA Director William Burns said was aimed at countering “the most important geopolitical threat” of the century, has gone viral on Chinese social media. A widely circulated video clip in the past few days, carried by many state-controlled media outlets, claimed that the CIA was recruiting Chinesespeaking operatives who understood Mandarin as well as Cantonese, Hakka, and Shanghainese. The PLA Daily post on social media says, ‘no cunning fox can defeat a good hunter’ and says the military is relying on the people to look out for spies.

The Financial Times reported (October 17) that China secretly tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile which orbited the globe before returning to Earth to strike its target in a technological development that would overcome US anti-ballistic missile systems. The report, which cited five unnamed intelligence sources, said the Chinese military launched the Long March rocket in August carrying a “hypersonic glide vehicle” into low orbit. It circled the globe before descending towards its target, which it missed by about two dozen miles. It quoted sources as saying the system would be able to overcome US anti-ballistic missile defence systems that are based in Alaska and set up to shoot down projectiles coming over the North Pole — the Chinese system would be able to strike the US from the south. It added the incident has left US intelligence officials at the Pentagon stunned, sources say, as it shows China has made astonishing progress on the development of its hypersonic weapons.

The South China Morning Post (October 15) cited satellite photos captured by Planet Labs and first published by American tech and military site The Drive, which revealed that China is upgrading and reinforcing three airbases closest to Taiwan along its southeastern coast in Fujian province. It said that the airbases in Fujian province will give long-term logistical air combat support to the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), which mounted a record 149 sorties into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone over four consecutive days from October 1. It suggested this could be an indication that Beijing may be stepping up its plans to take the island by force.

The South China Morning Post (October 17) said that retired PLA Senior Colonel Ouyang Wei, who after retiring from the PLA National Defence University is now working with the Grandview Institution, said in a recent report that China faces increasingly serious challenges at its land and sea borders on almost every side and must urgently reinforce its defences in these regions. The assessment from Ouyang Wei, a retired professor with the PLA National Defence University, in a report written on October 12 and titled 'Current Situation in the Building and Development of China's Border and Coastal Defence' has been published as the US steps up its military presence in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, and uncertainties grow on China’s land borders with India, Afghanistan, Myanmar and North Korea. In the report, Ouyang said the country was facing encroachment, secession, and terrorism in some border areas. India-specific comments by Ouyang Wei state "India takes China as a strategic contestant and adopts an approach of “defending the north and advancing eastward”. It has deployed forces of comparative advantage against China in the disputed land border areas, intensifying its encroachment on China's territory. At the same time, it has increased its budget in naval forces and implemented the “Act East Policy” to push into the Pacific Ocean. Joining the “Indo-Pacific Strategy” system, India vigorously interacts with the United States, Japan, and Australia. It keeps monitoring and preventing China from expansion into the Indian Ocean.

China has demanded US$ 38 million compensation for the nine dead Chinese engineers at the Dasu Dam Project.

A hard-hitting Global Times (October 14) editorial reacted to US officials describing US-Taiwan relations as "rock solid" and as having "condemned the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s drills in the Taiwan Straits region as "destabilizing and only increase the risk of miscalculation."

A Global Times article (October 14) and a Global Times editorial (October 15), both reporting on the MoU signed between China and Bhutan on October 14 agreeing to a three-step plan for settling the boundary issue, were very critical of India. Reflecting the current tensions and strained bilateral relations, the Global Times articles accused India of preparing to play the spoiler when actual negotiations begin or reach a crucial stage. They also stated that: "According to a list of facts released by the Xinhua News Agency, the 1890 Convention has made it clear that the China-India boundary in the Sikkim sector commences at Mount Ji Mu Ma Zhen on the Bhutan frontier.

The Global Times (October 17) said the new Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a "bad start" by sending a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, where the war criminals are enshrined, on October 17, only two weeks after he took office. It said by following in the footsteps of his predecessors Shinzo Abe and Yoshihide Suga, he had demonstrated again the rise of rightwing conservative forces in Tokyo. Chinese observers warned that the foundation of China-Japan ties is being eroded through a series of provocative moves.

Sina Finance published its interview (in Chinese) with CICIR President Yuan Peng on Sino-US relations on October 21. In his interview Yuan Peng said, "There is a deep-rooted tradition in the United States in dealing with international relations "from a position of strength".

The London Times (October 18) disclosed that their investigation revealed that leading English private schools are making tens of millions of pounds from franchises with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The board of Harrow International School Hong Kong, whose sprawling campus was built with an interest-free £22.5 million loan from the Hong Kong government, includes four senior Communist Party members.

Professor Anming Hu, who was arrested last year for wire fraud and false statements but was acquitted by a judge in September, has been offered his position back at the University of Tennessee. Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick said in a letter to Anming Hu on October 14 that he could have his job back with tenure an as engineering professor. He was also given support for his work visa, back pay, payment for an immigration attorney and $200,000 over the next three years to get his research started again. Federal prosecutors went after Hu for not saying he worked part-time at a Chinese university in an application for a NASA-funded research grant. The judge said that Hu never had anyone from China work on the project, nor did he ever take money from China. The judge also said that NASA’s funding restrictions were unclear

Addressing the central People's Congress work conference in Beijing on October 13 and 14, Xi Jinping delivered an "important speech", emphasising that the People’s Congress system conforms to China’s national conditions and reality, reflects the nature of a socialist country, ensures that the people are the masters of the country, and guarantees the realisation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Describing it as a good system and "a brand-new political system of great significance in the history of political development in China and even in the history of world political development", he said the people's congress system must be strengthened and improved. Politburo Standing Committee Members Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, and Vice President Wang Qishan attended the meeting. Li Zhanshu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the concluding speech "around studying and implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech". CCTV (October 14) said that "Party secretaries and comrades in charge of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, deputy directors of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress at the provincial level, major comrades in charge of various departments of the central and state organs, relevant people’s organizations, and relevant departments of the Central Military Commission, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and various specialized Relevant responsible comrades of the committee and the working committee of the Standing Committee attended the meeting".

Xinhua (October 8) reported that Politburo member and secretary of the CCP CC's Central Political and Legal Committee chaired the second national political and legal team education and rectification work promotion meeting on October 8 where he emphasised that he firmly supported the Party Central Committee's decision to thoroughly implement the Party Central Committee's deployment and increase efforts to promote the education and rectification of political and legal teams. Guo Shengkun also expressed firm supports for the Party Central Committee's decision to deal with Sun Lijun's serious violations of discipline and law and the decision to conduct disciplinary review and supervision and investigation of Fu Zhenghua's suspected serious violations of discipline and law. He added "We must resolutely and thoroughly eliminate the poisonous influence, insist on real hard work, and resolutely clean up in place". Zhao Kezhi, Zhou Qiang and Zhang Jun were present.

In a post to his WeChat public account on October 9, Li Guangman, who came to prominence for his article declaring China to be in the midst of a “profound revolution” and which was reproduced by China's prominent official newspapers, reiterated that a “profound transformation” is underway in China, with deep implications for politics, business, culture and the media. He first quoted the notice issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of new draft rules unambiguously prohibiting the involvement of all “non-public capital” (非公有资本) – meaning private capital of any kind, domestic or foreign – in news gathering, production and dissemination. While restrictions on news content and its production are of course not news in China, these new rules are so salient and broad in their prohibitions that they seem to remove all strategic ambiguity. The second media case he cited was the detention on October 7 in Hainan of well-known entrepreneur and former professional journalist Luo Changping, who was charged with insulting and defaming the martyrs of Chinese history by criticizing a new film about China’s involvement in the Korean War. Luo’s detention, widely reported by state-run media, underscores the resolve of the Chinese Communist Party leadership in policing the bounds of the CCP’s official narratives, the stories and mythologies that undergird its power and legitimacy.

Reuters reported (October 11) that the PLA had carried out beach landing and assault drills in the province directly across the sea from Taiwan. It said that in a brief report on its Weibo microblogging account, the official People's Liberation Army Daily newspaper said the drills had been carried out "in recent days" in the southern part of Fujian province. The PLA Daily added that the action had involved "shock" troops, sappers and boat specialists. Troops were "divided into multiple waves to grab the beach and perform combat tasks at different stages". It provided no further details. It showed a video of soldiers in small boats storming a beach, throwing smoke grenades, breaking through barbed wire defenses and digging trenches in the sand. The drills appeared to involve a small number of troops. (Comment: China routinely carries out military exercises up and down its coast as well as in the disputed South China Sea.)

On October 14, China disclosed a young crew for its coming Shenzhou-13 mission, including Wang Yaping, who will be the first female Chinese astronaut to visit the country’s first space station and carry out extravehicular activities. Zhai Zhigang, 55, Ye Guangfu, 41, and Wang Yaping, 41, have been selected to carry out the mission. The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) said at a press conference that Zhai Zhigang is the commander. The Shenzhou-13 spacecraft is scheduled to blast off at 00:23 a.m. on October 16 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northern China. (Comment: This will be China's longest space mission.)

The Canton Fair, China’s biggest twice-yearly trade exposition, has for the first time sent invitations to eligible domestic buyers as the country’s pandemic control measures prevent foreign buyers from attending in person. Caixin (October 14) commented that the China Import and Export Fair, held every spring and fall in Guangzhou, is widely seen as a barometer of China’s foreign trade. The theme of this year’s fair is China's “dual circulation” strategy for building up the domestic consumer economy.

A second Global Times (October 11)article referred to the PLA Western Theatre Command statement released on October 11 saying that "China has made tremendous efforts to ease and calm the border situation, while India insisted on unreasonable and unrealistic demands, adding difficulties to the negotiations". It quoted the PLA Western Theatre Command statement that "China's determination to safeguard sovereignty is unwavering, and China hopes India will not misjudge the situation". It said "the "status quo" that India referred to is to legitimize their continuous encroachment on Chinese territory. India's statement said the "resolution of the remaining areas would facilitate progress in the bilateral relations." This shows the Indian side's current attitude of linking border disputes with overall China-India relations and trying to coerce the Chinese side to make concessions". It said the border issue between China and India remains stuck because the "Indian side still hasn't developed a correct attitude in the negotiations. It always makes unrealistic demands not in line with the real situation or its strength". It added that "New Delhi anticipates Beijing softening its stance over the border issue and yielding to its demands to prevent New Delhi from aligning itself with Washington against Beijing" and that "such an opportunistic attitude has lowered India's status in international politics as a major power, because this tactic will not work between great powers. The border issue is related to the dignity of all nations.

Prof. Wu Guoguang (吴国光), Zhao Ziyang's former aide, was interviewed by Yomiuri Shimbun (Yomiuri News) about China under XJP in July and August and the interview was published by Intium News on October 9. In response to the question that some experts in Japan have analysed or predicted that the CCP will attack the outlying islands around Taiwan in the near future, such as Taiping Island or Dongsha and that might entail the CCP paying a higher price for Taiwan’s actions, such as the United States, Prof. Wu Guoguang replied "I don't understand military strategy and tactics.

On October 8, Chinese President Xi Jinping telephoned his new Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida. They agreed that maintaining stable relations is the best way forward – for both countries, and for the global community. The South China Morning Post Quoted Xi Jinping as having said“[Our] two countries…should properly handle major sensitive issues concerning history and Taiwan among others, [and] properly manage [our] differences.” It said Kishida agreed, but noted that Japan would“’[S]ay what needs to be said’ regarding China’s perceived shortcomings in upholding human rights and the rule of law.”

The official website of China's powerful Political and Legal Affairs Commission on September 22, disclosed that Chen Yixin, Secretary General of the CCP CC's Political and Legal Affairs Commission (PLAC), recently visited the city of Shenzhen.

Within days of the announcement that former Vice Minister of Public Security Sun Lijun had been expelled from the CCP and is to face trial, the Central Discipline Inspection Commission notified on October 2 that a former Chinese justice minister has become a target of President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign. Fu Zhenghua, who was also a former vice minister of public security, is under investigation for severe violations of party discipline and law. It is unclear why 66 year old Fu Zhenghu would become a target of the campaign. He was the long time head of public security for Beijing and Vice Minister of Public Security from 2013 to 2018. He then served as Minister of Justice from 2018 to 2020. When he was Vice Minister for Public Security, Fu Zhenghua led the probe against Politburo Standing Committee member Zhou Yongkang, one of the most senior officials convicted in the anti-corruption campaign. An interesting aspect of these investigations of senior Public Security officials is observation of the Central Discipline Inspection Commission that Sun Lijun had “extremely bloated political ambition, vile political quality.” The allegations levelled against him are grave and stated that to fulfil his personal political goals, Sun Lijun groomed rebels within the Chinese Communist Party, spent much effort forming interest groups to control key government departments, and seriously undermined the unity and political security of the party, according to the allegations. He is also accused of blatantly selling official posts and inserting his trusted minions in positions, which severely damaged the political and legal environment of the Public Security Ministry. Sun Lijun was secretary to Meng Jianzhu, a former Minister of Public Security, and a close ally of Deputy Prime Minister Han Zheng, who heads the central leading group on Hong Kong and Macau affairs.

China News (October 1) reported that since August, over 20 provinces in China have issued notices to limit electricity usage. This has caused blackouts in certain regions. The power plants are faced with increased electricity demand while there is a coal shortage and thus coal prices are higher. They are operating at a loss because the electricity price is set according to State Council guidelines. Starting in July, over eight provinces have increased the price of electricity, but they are still within the 10 percent ceiling previously required by the State Council. Several provinces introduced peak demand pricing to normalize the usage. Currently the electricity price increase is aimed at business electricity consumption rather than at residential use. On September 29, the National Development and Reform Commission issued a notice calling for increased coal production while enabling the coal power plants to set a price that is market driven and reflects the changes in demand and cost. The central authorities said it is expected that this wave of price increases will continue to expand.

A Chinese researcher Tan Hao, Associate Prof. at the University of Newcastle Business School recently (September 28) challenged in the FT Chinese that international estimates that China had funded 70 per cent of the world's coal-fired power plants. He said "China provided financial support to a total of 81GW of coal-fired power stations worldwide from 2009 to 2020. Meanwhile, a total of 335 GW of coal-fired power projects outside of China have been completed during this period. In other words, in the past 12 years, Chinese-funded projects accounted for only about 11% of the world’s newly operating coal power projects. Only in three years (2013, 2018, and 2020), more than 20% of the completed coal power projects involved Chinese funds. In seven of the 12 years, China-funded overseas coal-fired power projects accounted for less than 10%."

Penpa Tsering, Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala, met Taiwan's Representative to India Ambassador Baushuan Ger at the latter's office on October 4 for an hourlong meeting when they discussed issues of mutual interest and concern. Penpa Tsering was on a three-day visit to Delhi from October 3-5.

Beijing marked its National Day on October 1, with its biggest aerial show of force against Taiwan to date, buzzing the self-ruled democratic island with 38 warplanes, including nuclear-capable H6 bombers. First 25 PLA aircraft (J-16*18, SU-30*4, H-6*2 and Y-8 ASW) entered the Taiwan's southwest ADIZ and later the same day another batch of 13 fighter aircraft (ten J-16s, two H-6s and one KJ-500) flew into Taiwan's ADIZ. On October 2 another 39 aircraft of different types entered the ADIZ. The 20 PLA aircraft were fourteen J-16 fighter jets, four Su-30 fighter jets, and two Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Last week 24 Chinese warplanes flew into the area after Taiwan applied to join a major trans-Pacific trade pact. On October 3, a US State Department statement reiterated the interest of the United States in ensuring regional peace and security and said it "is very concerned by the People’s Republic of China’s provocative military activity near Taiwan, which is destabilizing, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability. We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan". (Comment: Last year, PLAAF jets made a record 380 incursions into Taiwan's defence zone, and the number of breaches for the first nine months of this year has already exceeded 500.)

The Global Times (October 10) published a hard-hitting article using language warning India.

The Indian newspaper Print quoted the Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong as saying on the occasion of China's 72nd National Day on October 1 that “China and India should properly handle differences. We should place the boundary question in an appropriate position in bilateral relations and speak a fair, reasonable mutually acceptable solution through dialogue and consultations.” He said “Both sides need to meet each other halfway to move the situation towards stability and shift it from urgent dispute settlement to regular management and control, so as to jointly safeguard the peace and tranquillity of the border area,” and “should stick to the right direction of bilateral relations.” He added “We should view the bilateral ties from a historical and strategic perspective, and uphold the strategic consensus that China and India are opportunities of development and cooperation partners to each other instead of being threats or competitive rivals. ”Both sides need to meet each other halfway to move the situation towards stability and shift it from urgent dispute settlement to regular management and control, so as to jointly safeguard the peace and tranquillity of the border area.

After the US Central Intelligence Agency launched a China Mission Centre, Chinese Ambassador to the US, Qin Gang said in an article published (October 10) by the South China Morning Post, that “Some people in the US, immersed in their delusions that they are James Bond, simply can’t resist the urge to act out their own drama. Haven’t they been worn out by such meaningless and harmful actions? Why not give themselves a break?” He said both countries should “avoid miscommunication, miscalculation and unintended conflict” to put bilateral relations back on track. Saying "It is normal for us to have economic competition and trade frictions. The key is how to deal with them,” he added “We are willing to have further communication with the US side, properly manage differences, and jointly create conditions to expand the positive side of our relations on the basis of mutual respect and win-win cooperation.” Qin Gang also said Chinese firms are finding it more difficult to invest in the US and list on US stock markets and that more than 900 Chinese companies were subject to various restrictions and the US had used national security as an excuse to target Chinese firms.

The Global Times (October 2) said that due to the turbulent political situation and worsening coronavirus infection, over 10,000 Chinese nationals are waiting at the China-Myanmar border city of Ruili, to turn themselves in, in order to return to China, putting great pressure on the border city Ruili as it struggles to fight imported COVID-19 cases. It quoted an anonymous Ruili government official as saying the flow of Chinese nationals, who plan to turn themselves in, waiting to cross the border into China hasn't stopped since June.

The US-based pro-Xi Jinping overseas Chinese news outlet, Duowei, on October 3, while assessing the situation after the general elections in Germany described Merkel as "a rather stable and mature leader, rather than an open leader who is determined to make progress". It called her leadership style more than conservative and less enterprising. In the process, it said, "the Merkel administration was conservative and missed the opportunity of a new round of industrial revolution represented by digital information technology". This misstep has caused Germany and the EU as a whole to lag behind China and the United States in the emerging digital technology industry. Taking the Internet industry as an example, there is currently no leading Internet company in the EU that is capable of supporting global competition. At the same time, the entire European Union's Internet market is under the monopoly control of US Internet giants. It added that outside the field of digital technology also, Germany under Merkel did not have any forward-looking policy in the field of new energy. The most obvious of these was the decision to hurriedly abandon the nuclear power plant after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan. However, this expedient measure caused Germany's to lag in the field of new energy, and brought a profound negative impact on Germany's own energy security. This is a serious challenge for Germany, which has long used thermal power generation as the mainstream, and nuclear power, which was originally the first choice for new energy sources, was completely abandoned by Berlin after the Fukushima accident. In this situation, the Merkel authorities have to turn to rely on natural gas that is scarce in the European Union-according to the European Commission's 2019 data, 77% of the EU's natural gas demand depends on imports-for the "green power generation transition." This in turn provides the two major powers outside the EU, the United States and Russia, with the "natural gas" brand that they dream of and can directly influence the EU's foreign decision-making.

The Hongkong-based Ming Pao (September 9) asking whether this year's Sixth Plenary Session will really pass a third "historical resolution", observed that the earlier two such resolutions by Mao and Deng had negated the line of the former 'dynasty'.

Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the 13th BRICS Summit on September 8. He noted that China will chair the BRICS Summit in 2022, and looked forward to deepening cooperation in various fields with its BRICS partners to build a closer, more pragmatic partnership, and to jointly tackle common challenges. Leaders of the five BRICS countries - China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, and India - met virtually on September 8 for talks chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Politburo member and Guangdong Party Secretary 1956-born Li Xi and Guangdong Governor Ma Xingrui led a Guangdong Party and Government delegation to Linzhi (Nyingchi) City and Lhasa from September 2 - 4, 2021. (Comment: Li Xi was named a member of the CCP Politburo at the 19th Party Congress. Shortly after the Party Congress in October, Li Xi was transferred to take over the politically important province of Guangdong from Hu Chunhua. Born in 1959, Ma Xingrui is recognised as one of China's top scientists. He received a bachelor's degree at Fuxin Mining College (now Liaoning University of Technology) in 1982, and went on to graduate school for general mechanics at Tianjin University. He earned his doctorate in mechanics at Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT). He was named a Professor at HIT in 1991. He joined the CCP in January 1988.) - Cai Qi, Party Secretary of Beijing, led a delegation to TAR from September 5-6, 2021, to inspect 'counterpart' assistance to Tibet. - Yu Cenxi, Vice Minister of the CCP CC Propaganda Department and Director of the State Administration of Radio and Television, also travelled to Tibet for inspection visits to Nyingchi and Lhasa.

An article posted on the official website of the Central Discipline Inspection Commission (CDIC) on August 31, declared that the entertainment industry must not harm the state’s interest. The article comes in the wake of the CCP crackdown on the entertainment industry and recent broader clampdown on the private sector. Private capital has been blamed for contributing to the risks of data breaches, education inequality, the disintegration of the Chinese culture, threatening social stability, harming state security, among other deep seated concerns. According to the State Council Information Office in 2019, the value-added of China’s entertainment industry reached 4,436.3 billion yuan, accounting for 4.5 percent of China’s GDP. Stating that money has been driving the growth and the chaos in the entertainment industry, the article said entertainment stars induce and influence fans’ consumption habits (particularly young people), ultimately eroding the socialist ideology. It said “Entertainment is by no means mere singing, dancing, and playing music, but an important battlefield for ideological and cultural work. It is an important part of the superstructure [a Marxist term referring to culture, political power, and the state], and it is critical to Party [CCP] work. If capital is allowed to expand unfettered, entertainment will fail its role of serving the people and socialism, and it will disintegrate the spiritual homeland of the Chinese nation.” It said the entertainment industry "cannot harm state interests; and it cannot corrupt Party members and leading cadres, let alone seek improper political gains.”

The U.S.-based China Aerospace Studies Institute in its report in August 2021, stated that on 13 August, the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) conducted a live fire missile launch, likely from the 1st Test and Training District in Jilantai. The missiles impacted at least two targets parked on the apron of the runway at the PLARF’s Ruqiang Target Impact Area which is roughly 1400km west of Jilantai. It said the lack of observed cratering beyond two target impacts suggests the PLARF used unitary warheads for both missiles. The two targets were almost certainly simulating unsheltered aircraft at an airbase. Given the PLA’s wide definition of jamming, the warheads could be fitted with electro-optical, infrared, or a radar-based guidance system that is jam-resistant. Individuals associated with 613 Brigade have published articles discussing radar signal processing, suggesting that some of the warheads used by 613 Brigade have a radar guidance system, although there is no way to determine if such research efforts are tied to the warheads used on 13 August. The impact area also reveals no substantive improvements to warhead accuracy or destructive power. This missile launch event almost certainly featured a new system of some kind and indicates that the PLARF has modernized yet another missile brigade with a Taiwan-centric mission set. The China Aerospace Studies Institute assessed, however, that this new system does not appear to represent a dramatic improvement in PLARF capabilities. Rather, the PLA likely intends to create a deterrent effect by highlighting what is a relatively limited improvement in capability. The PLA openly talks about revealing advanced weapons and conducting military exercises as ways of deterring or coercing its adversaries. With each deterrent activity, the PLA emphasizes the need for there to be some real capability behind the activity, demonstrated resolve, and for the information on the activity to be transmitted to the adversary’s population. In this instance, there is some limited capability behind the activity, in that the weapon system in question is real and marginally improves the PLARF’s overall capabilities.

Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the International Research Centre of Sustainable Development for Big Data, which launched a forum on big data and sustainable development goals in Beijing on September 6. He said establishment of the international research centre underpinned his promise to support the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the letter Xi Jinping said “At present, the world is suffering from the huge impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic. Technological innovation and the application of big data will help the international community overcome difficulties and implement the 2030 Agenda.” Separately, Xinhua (September 6) reported that Vice Premier Liu He delivered the opening remarks at the 2021 China International Digital Economy Expo via video link on September 6. In his remarks he said the digital economy is key to innovation (Xinhua) and “[We] need to develop the digital economy with a strong sense of innovation and urgency.” He also emphasised the importance of cultivating tech talent to provide the imagination and ingenuity necessary to build an innovative economy adding that the government will look to support the development of the tech industry by improving the legal environment, including by protecting fair competition and opposing monopolies. Liu, He assured the gathering that “[Our] policy of supporting the development of the private economy has not changed…and will not change in the future!” The South China Morning Post (September 6) quoted Jia Kang, a former Director of the Ministry of Finance’s Research Institute for Fiscal Science, as having said in a speech last month at a Chengdu forum that “Under the current complex and changing situation, we need to give the public, especially those leading private companies a sense of direction, safety and hope.” A People's Daily (September 8) editorial reinforced their message and explained that “The regulations and policies introduced treat [everyone] equally” and that “[They’re] aimed at violations of laws and regulations, and by no means single out specific industries or companies.” The Editorial said in conclusion that “The commitment to create a good environment and provide more opportunities for the development of the non-public sector of the economy have not changed.”

Following Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at a meeting of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs (CCFEA), in which he vowed to tackle inequality and promote “common prosperity", China's tech companies have begun funding "common prosperity" initiatives. On September 2, the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. pledged RMB 100 billion to fund “common prosperity” initiatives. Earlier other wealthy tech companies like TenCent have pledged RMB 100 billion for a raft of social responsibility programs.; Pinduoduo has pledged RMB 10 billion for farmers; and the founders of Xiaomi and Meituan both donated over RMB 10 billion in equity shares.

China’s biggest chip maker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), announced (Reuters-September 3) that it will invest nearly USD 9 billion to expand production capacity. This is good news for China’s tech over the long term, given current short-term chip shortages and an overall strategic dependency on foreign chip makers. However, it will be a few years before the plant comes online. The new factory will be producing chips at 28nm and above – not exactly cutting edge. (Comment: For the highest-grade hardware out there, there is no end in sight to foreign dependency.)

Speaking at the China International Trade in Services Fair on September 2, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China would set up a new stock exchange in Beijing dedicated to small and medium-sized firms (SMEs). He said the Beijing Stock Exchange will create a platform for 7 innovative SMEs and that the authorities will also further deepen reform of the National Equities Exchange and Quotation (NEEQ) board. In a statement following Xi Jinping’s speech, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said that certain innovative firms currently listed on NEEQ will move across to the new Beijing exchange

The latest intrusion of Taiwan's ADIZ by China's PLAAF occurred in September in an area northeast of Pratas Island. Taiwan's Defence Ministry released a map showing that the Chinese aircraft flew in an area closer to the Chinese than Taiwanese coast. The PLAAF sent 10 J-16 and four Su-30 fighters, as well as four H-6 bombers, which can carry nuclear weapons, and an antisubmarine aircraft. Taiwanese combat aircraft were dispatched to warn away the Chinese aircraft, while missile systems were deployed to monitor them.

54-year old German Ambassador Jan Hecker died suddenly within days of presenting his credentials in Beijing on September 5

Japan's former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, one of two declared candidates to serve as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s next leader, said on September 3 that Japan should seek to cooperate with Taiwan and countries that share its values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law, as authoritarian countries wield more power. He said, “Taiwan is at the front line of the standoff between the U.S. and China,” he said. “Looking at the situation with Hong Kong and the Uyghurs, I have a strong feeling that the Taiwan Strait will be the next big problem.”

The South China Morning Post (September 10) reported that US President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke over the phone on September 10 when, according to the White House they had “a broad, strategic discussion” intended to manage the increasing rivalry between Beijing and Washington. The White House said Biden had made clear the discussion was “part of the United States’ ongoing effort to responsibly manage the competition” between the two countries. It said, “President Biden underscored the United States’ enduring interest in peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and the world and the two leaders discussed the responsibility of both nations to ensure competition does not veer into conflict.” A senior White House official said Biden’s message was that the US wanted to ensure “the dynamic remains competitive and that we don’t have any situation in the future where we veer into unintended conflict.”

A federal judge in Tennessee on September 9 acquitted Professor Anming Hu who had been accused of hiding his China ties when applying for research grants to work on a NASA project, saying the U.S. government hadn’t proven its case. The judge’s ruling comes as the Justice Department is facing increasing criticism from groups representing Asian-Americans and some Democrats in Congress over whether it is improperly targeting Chinese academics while looking into allegations of fraud in U.S. grant programs.

The Global Times (Chinese-September 8) in a sharply worded article criticised the USS "Benford" guided-missile destroyer for entering waters "adjacent to China's Nansha Mischief Reef on September 8 without permission". The statement issued by the United States acknowledged that the "Benford" entered 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef. Calling it "a naked provocation by the 9 US", it said "The United States deliberately provoked the South China Sea dispute, and it must in turn endure the PLA's increasingly strong countermeasures against it. The game between the two sides will continue to be limited. Except in the not too distant future, the United States will definitely see the People's Liberation Army appear at its doorstep. It will also face uncertainties that are increasingly difficult to control with China". The article warned: "If things go on like this, sooner or later there will be trouble between China and the United States in the South China Sea." Urging China to prepare for conflict with the US, it said "Once the situation is out of control, leading to short-term battles between China and the United States, we must give full play to our "home field advantage", so that we can do nothing if we fight, and we will win if we fight!"

Speaking at the National Committee on US-China Relations on August 31 in Washington, on the 50th anniversary of Dr Henry Kissinger's 'secret' visits to China, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Qin Gang said there are three wrong beliefs on China-US relations in the United States. He enumerated these as: Some people believe that China is betting against America, and China's goal is to challenge and displace America.

The US publication TechCrunch reported (September 2) that the FBI has issued an unclassified bulletin warning that the Chinese government is using both in-person and digital techniques to intimidate, silence and harass U.S.-based Uyghur Muslims and other Chinese refugees and dissidents, including Tibetans, Falun Gong members and Taiwan and Hong Kong activists.

The CCP CC Politburo announced that the 6th plenum will be held in November. It said the main agenda is that the Politburo will present its work report to the plenary session, which will focus on comprehensively summarising/reviewing the major achievements and the historical experience accumulated during the Party's 100 years of struggle.

Xinhua (September 1) reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed a training session for young and middle-aged officials at the Central Party School on September 1.

The state-run CCTV (August 30) telecast a report that CCP CC General Secretary and Director of the Central Comprehensive Deepening Reform Commission, Xi Jinping hosted the 21st meeting of the Central Comprehensive Deepening Reform Commission on August 30.

52-year old Shi Xiaolin has been appointed Party Secretary of Sichuan's capital city Chengdu at a meeting of the city’s leaders and cadres on August 26. Shi Xiaolin Shi is the first female party chief of Chengdu in 40 years, the youngest party chief in any provincial capital city and is the youngest female standing committee member of any provincial party committee. Born in 1969 in Zhejiang province, Shi Xiaolin has studied and worked in Shanghai for more than three decades.

A hard-hitting and important People's Daily article on August 29, 2021, by Li Guangman, former Editor-in-Chief of Central China Electric Power News, which began its trial publication on October 1, 1995, and ceased publication in 2012, targeted China's entertainment industry and prominent personalities like Wu Yifan, Ho Zun, Zhang Zhehan and Hunan TV host Qian Feng, Zheng Shuang, Zhao Wei and others for politically incorrect and unacceptable behaviour and tax evasion.

The People's Daily published a commentary on August 30, on Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the Central Ethnic Conference where he stressed that "forging of the Chinese nation’s community consciousness must be the main line of the party’s national work in the new era, and promote all ethnic groups to be firmly committed to the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, and the Communist Party of China". It quoted Xi Jinping as saying only "by all ethnic groups jointly safeguarding national security and social stability, can we effectively resist the infiltration and subversion of various extreme and divisive ideologies. In order to continuously realize the yearning of the people of all ethnic groups for a better life, and to realize, maintain, and develop the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups; only with a strong sense of community of the Chinese nation can we effectively deal with the risks that may occur in the ethnic field in the process of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. .... only by forging the sense of community of the Chinese nation can the conscious identification of all ethnic groups with the Chinese nation be strengthened." He asserted that "In the big family of the Chinese nation, only if all ethnic groups hug each other like pomegranate seeds, kiss each other and help each other, can the great dream of national rejuvenation be realized smoothly, and the flower of national unity and progress can last forever".

The Ming Pao Daily (August 25) reported that on the eve of the autumn semester in the Mainland, the National Textbook Committee issued a number of textbook guides. Among them, the "Xi Jinping New Era Socialism Thought with Chinese Characteristics" (hereinafter referred to as "Xi Thought Guide") clearly requires to be fully integrated into the curriculum and teaching materials of universities, middle schools, and primary schools. Xi Jinping's thought, it said, infiltrates teaching materials at all levels, and elementary schools emphasize "political enlightenment". 9 topics of revolutionary tradition, national security, and labour education are "integrated" into universities, middle schools, and primary schools.

An article in the publication 'Markets Heard on the Street' (August 28) said that on August 24 internet commerce firm Pinduoduo reported its first quarterly profit since listing in 2018. It also said it would donate it all—$374 million—to support agriculture and rural areas, and would do the same with any future profit up to a total of 10 billion yuan. Its shares rose 22% that day. On Aug. 18, Tencent pledged to contribute 50 billion yuan, the equivalent of $7.73 billion, to low-income groups, basic healthcare, and education—on top of a separate 50 billion yuan charitable pledge in April. Meituan founder Wang Xing donated 10% of his stake in the food-delivery company to his philanthropic foundation in June. The publication added that the weak recovery in services—where most college students head after graduation—has also further exacerbated already high youth joblessness: Surveyed unemployment among the 16 to 24 set, which averaged 11% in 2018 and 2019, has since then averaged 14%. (Comment: In a speech on August 17 aimed at China's big business, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke on “common prosperity” and called for rationally “adjusting” excessive incomes and for high-income individuals and companies to contribute more to society. He also called for more aggressive measures to expand the middle class and the social safety net, including health and elderly care.)

An article in South China Morning Post (August 31) by Gregory Mitrovich reported that the global wealth report issued each year by the investment bank, Credit Suisse, this year showed that the US remain at the top. According to its 2021 report, the US’ total wealth stands at US$126.3 trillion; China is a distant second with US$74.9 trillion. Furthermore, instead of declining, America’s share of total global wealth has increased over the past decade, from 25 per cent in 2011 to 30 per cent today. It cautioned Beijing to understand that the US is abandoning Afghanistan in 2021 to concentrate on its contest with China.

The Global Times (August 31) reported that the PLA Air Force will display its latest achievements that have transformed the Chinese military into a strategic force on its way to becoming world class, at the Airshow China 2021. It said military observers predicting that the "20 family" aircraft, namely the J-20 fighter jet, Y-20 large transport aircraft and Z-20 utility helicopter, will likely again be in the spotlight.

Chongqing Party Secretary and Politburo member Chen Mine'r visited Chamdo, in eastern Tibet, at the head of a delegation from August 25-26, 2021. Among the delegation from Chongqing were Zhang Xuan, Director of the Standing Committee of Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress, Li Mingqing, Member of the Standing Committee of Chongqing Municipal Party Committee, Secretary-General and Director of the General Office, and Chen Jinshan, Vice Mayor of Chongqing, and Director of the Municipal Economic Commission. Wu Yingjie, TAR Party Secretary, Liu Jiang, Secretary-General, and Member of the Standing Committee of TAR, Doto, Deputy Party Leadership Group of TAR, Deputy Director of TAR People’s Congress, and the Party Secretary of Chamdo, Norbu Dhondup accompanied the delegation during their visit

Radio Free Asia (RFA-August 27) reported that Qinghai province authorities arrested two 19-yearold Tibetan Middle School students of Darlag county for opposing the use of the Chinese language as the only medium of instruction in Tibetan schools. The two students, identified as Gyuldrak and Yangrik, spoke out on the WeChat social media platform against the Chinese policy mandating, beginning in September, that all classes in local schools be taught only in Chinese. The students are presently being held at the Darlag county police station.

Citing Tibetan sources inside China, Radio Free Asia (RFA) on August 26 reported that police in Dza Wonpo township in the Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province on August 22 arrested about 60 Tibetans found with photos of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, intensifying a campaign against possession of the banned images. The arrested included 19 monks from a local monastery and 40 laypeople whose homes were thoroughly searched by police. (Comment: The arrests come in the wake of the recent high-level visits by Chinese President Xi Jinping and CPCC Chairman Wang Yang to the Tibet Autonomous Region.)

Reacting to BJP MP Subramaniam Swamy's remark that India should go to war with China, the CCP-owned Global Times (August 30) in a sharp article said "the 81-year-old dotard's words are utter nonsense and crazy. The PLA is stationed on China's own territory. It's the Indian side that has long surreptitiously engaged in salami-slicing tactics to gradually occupy China's territory. Politicians like Swamy have deliberately confused right from wrong". Pointing out that China's comprehensive national strength is way ahead of India's and that Indian politicians and officials are trying to divert the people’s attention from their mismanagement of the Covid pandemic, it said "regrettably, after the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, ultra-nationalism has been surging in India. It has even become "political correctness" for politicians to make irresponsible anti-China remarks". It quoted Lan Jianxue, head of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at China Institute of International Studies, as telling Global Times: "The BJP should have the wisdom and rationality to restrain the politicians and officials from making anti-China belligerent speeches. Otherwise, India will leave the region and world a belligerent ultra-nationalist image, which is detrimental to India's development and rise in the long run." He added "India should understand that China exerted great restraint regarding the Galwan Valley clash; otherwise, India's casualties would have been severer." Lan Jianxue said India should learn a lesson from its Galwan fiasco, knowing what kind of policy is in its best interest.

Japan News (August 27) reported Japan's Defense Ministry as announcing on August 26, that the ASDF scrambled planes in response to three Chinese military aircraft spotted in the airspace between the main island of Okinawa and Miyakojima Island in Okinawa Prefecture. Although there were no airspace violations, one of the aircraft seen on August 27 is believed to have been an unmanned TB-001, making it the third consecutive day of Chinese drone sightings in the area from August 24. The three aircraft flew from the East China Sea to the Pacific Ocean on August 26, and then returned to the East China Sea. The ministry is looking into possible motives behind China’s actions.

Japan-Taiwan relations took a big step forward on August 27, with virtual talks between Japan's LDP and Taiwan's DPP where both sides emphasized the convergence between their governments on the perceived threat from China – and reaffirmed their desire to increase cooperation to counter that threat.

Taiwan's Representative to the United States Hsiao Bi-khim threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the 16th annual Mets Taiwan Day in New York on August 29. Hsiao Bi-khim is the first Taiwanese envoy to the U.S. to have been invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on the New York Met's annual Taiwan Day, and wore a No. 11 jersey that symbolized "keeping both feet on the ground." After throwing the pitch, she said it was an honour to perform that part of the ceremony and she appreciated the opportunity to advance Taiwan-U.S. relations, along with TaiwaneseAmericans and baseball fans. Prior to the ceremonial first pitch, President Tsai Ing-wen gave a pre-recorded address to the 20,000 baseball fans at the Citi Field Park in Queens, and she commended the "inspiring" Taiwanese athletes who competed at the recent Tokyo Olympics. Tsai also thanked the U.S. for extending a much-needed helping hand to Taiwan by donating 2.5 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. At the end of the video, Tsai and Hsiao appeared together, cheering for the Mets and Taiwan.

Michael Chase, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, spoke on August 27 with Chinese Major General Huang Xueping, Deputy Director for the People's Liberation Army Office for International Military Cooperation, vis the U.S.-PRC Defense Telephone Link to conduct a secure video conference. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "Both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between the two militaries". This was the first contact between the US and Chinese militaries for managing risk since US President Joe Biden took office in January.

In an article in the Wall Street Journal (August 30), John Bolton wrote that America’s retreat from Afghanistan is ending tragically—and that has sweeping strategic implications.

Chinese authorities have instructed an American Chamber of Commerce in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, to cease operations, officials with the organisation said on August 31. The chamber notified members on August 30 that, in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, it had to stop operations and “no longer carry out any activities in the name of the American Chamber of Commerce in Southwest China.” The Chinese authorities had closed the US consulate in Chengdu in retaliation for being ousted from its Houston consulate in July 2020.

AFP (September 3) reported that Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen had tweeted on September 1, that Abdul Salam Hanafi, a member of the Islamist group's political office in Doha, Qatar, "held a phone conversation with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China." His tweet said "The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister said that they would maintain their embassy in Kabul, adding our relations would beef up as compared to the past. Afghanistan can play an important role in security and development of the region."

Reuters reported (September 1) that China's Special Envoy for Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang visited Myanmar on August 21 to August 28 for talks with its military ruler Min Aung Hlaing as well as Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin and Minister for the Union Government Office Yar Pyae. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on August 28 that they "exchanged views with them on the political landscape in Myanmar". He added "We will work together with the international community to play a constructive role in Myanmar's efforts to restore social stability and resume democratic transformation at an early date." The visit coincided with the opening of a new route connecting Myanmar with Chinese trade flows to the Indian Ocean.

Even as the Israeli cell phone hacking company Cellebrite tries to go public next week, and said it withdrew from China and Hong Kong, an Intercept investigation has found that police in Mainland China continued to buy the company’s Universal Forensic Extraction Device, or UFED, products, which allow officers to break into phones in their possession and siphon off data. It said while Cellebrite did deregister its Chinese subsidiary earlier this year, it appears to have done little about the brokers that peddle its hacking technology. Chinese government procurement award notices and posts on resellers’ websites show that police have continued to purchase powerful Cellebrite software, while resellers have continued to provide updates for the software. In one case, a reseller reported delivering the Israeli company’s software to border guards in Tibet and demonstrating how it could be used to search people’s WeChat accounts. The Intercept claims the findings follow reports of abuses involving Cellebrite technology elsewhere in the world — including in Bahrain, Botswana, Indonesia, India, and Saudi Arabia — that the company has not meaningfully addressed. Natalia Krapiva, tech legal counsel for AccessNow, said “Cellebrite hasn’t demonstrated that they have made serious efforts to investigate the misuse of their technology,” said Natalia Krapiva, tech legal counsel for AccessNow

On September 23, Taiwan’s defense department issued two consecutive military intelligence bulletins stating that two batches of 24 PLA military aircraft entered Taiwan’s "southwest airspace" that day. The notice mentioned that in the morning, there were 12 sorties of J-16 fighters, 2 sorties of Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, 2 sorties of H-6 bombers, 1 sortie of Y-8, and 2 sorties of J-11 fighters, totaling 19 sorties; and in the afternoon, 2 sorties of J-11 fighters. -16 fighters, 1 sorties of Air Police -500 early warning aircraft, 2 sorties of J-11 fighters, a total of 5 sorties. The report said that the Taiwan Air Force dispatched air patrol troops to respond, used broadcasts to drive away, and dispatched ground guidance troops to track it. According to Taiwan media statistics, this is the third largest PLA aircraft group to enter Taiwan’s "southwest airspace" this year. The two previous largest flights were 28 sorties on June 15 and 25 sorties on April 12.

The release of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei's daughter, has raised many questions in the US and West on China's "hostage diplomacy". Meanwhile, documents released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) reveal that Meng Wanzhou's prosecution has been deferred for four years and the charges have not been dropped.

Qiu Shi (2021/18 dated September 15) published an article by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which reproduced his speech at the first collective study of the 18th Politburo on November 17, 2012, under the caption 'Unswervingly persist in and strengthen the party's overall leadership'. Its main theme was that "The Communist Party of China is the core of leadership for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen and improve the leadership of the party, and give full play to the party's role as the core of leadership in overseeing the overall situation and coordinating all parties."

The CCP CC and State Council jointly issued a guideline on developing a more civilized and wellregulated cyberspace environment on September 14. It said the country aims to consolidate the guiding status of Marxism in the ideological cyberspace sphere, foster a common ideology among the whole Party and the Chinese people, and interiorize core socialist values".

The Global Times (August 17) published an Opinion piece on countering US propaganda efforts and how China should win the discourse rights and change the current trend of China’s weak position in international public opinion.

Pursuant to the People's Daily article of August 31, instructing primary and secondary schools in the fall semester to reduce the pressure of student examinations and strengthen the management of education and teaching and promote the "double reduction" policy to fully implement, provinces and counties have started convening meetings to finalise a policy. On August 30, at the Ministry of Education press conference, Director Lv Yugang of the Ministry of Education's Department of Basic Education stressed "We should make great efforts to strengthen and improve in-school education, improve the quality of school education service system, and effectively achieve that teachers should teach as much as possible; students learn enough to learn well." The Forest City 4 Campus of Hefei 45 Middle School convened a meeting on September 9, to exchange ideas on how to improve teaching quality in the context of "double reduction", implement the "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era" teaching work, and further to summarize the work of teaching and research in the last semester and plan the teaching and research activities in this semester.

China Tibet News (September 13) disclosed that Chen Wenqing, the Minister of National Security, and a team of the delegation visited Tibet and met top TAR leaders like TAR Party Secretary Wu Yingjie, Chairman of TAR People's Government Che Dalha, Chairman of TAR People's Congress, Executive Deputy of TAR Party Committee and Secretary of TAR PPCC Zhuang Yuan, Commander of the Tibet Military Region Wang Kai, and Standing Members of TAR Party Committee, He Wenhao, and Liu Jiang. The dates of the visit were not mentioned. In his speech Wu Yingjie said, "there will be policies and actions to further consolidate the campaign to draw clear-cut lines from and eliminate the negative influence of the 14th Dalai Lama, his use of religion to influence people". He went on to add TAR will implement policies and guide people to treat religion "rationally, and dilute the negative influence of religion, and live this life happily". He also talked about strengthening border development, ensuring border defence, consolidating border security, and speeding up of infrastructural constructions in border areas. Wu Yingjie reported that at present, "Tibet's border defence had consolidated border security, the overall social situation has become stable, and sense of security among people have improved". He appreciated the Ministry of National Security for their "strong support". Wu Yingjie also pointed out that protecting Tibet's 1.2 million square kilometres of land and safeguarding national security is a major task entrusted by Xi Jinping and the CCP Central Committee. He said protecting and safeguarding 1.2 million square kilometres of Tibet's land is also a duty of all people in Tibet. Chen Wenqing in his speech said the Ministry of National Security attaches great importance to Tibet-related work. The purpose of the inspection that he and his team are undertaking is to oversee the proper study and implementation of Xi Jinping's speeches during his Tibet visit.

The Uyghur Tribunal concluded on September 13 after eight days of public hearings in London in June and September in which the tribunal heard from over 70 witnesses and after over 30 researchers spent over 10,000 hours reviewing hundreds of thousands of pages of documents, including 500 fact witness statements. The Tribunal’s judgment is due on 9 December.

On September 10, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecast that China's domestic corn crop would hit a record 273 million tons this year. It said that China's policy support had helped nurture the bumper harvest.

In a notification issued on September 16, China's Ministry of Commerce said that China had applied for membership of TPP/CPTPP.

China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on July 22 and Tencent on September 5 disclosed that China has a shortage of 20 million senior technicians.

A joint venture between multinational car giant Stellantis NV and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd. is shutting down one of its two Jeep factories in China, the world’s largest vehicle market, after years of sluggish sales. GAC Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Co. Ltd. said on September 8 that it will close the factory in Guangzhou and transfer all the production to the city of Changsha in Hunan province. Reuters said the transfer will be completed by next March.

The People's Daily (September 16) published an important article on 'Questions and Answers on 'Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics', asserting that the PLA is 'An important guarantee for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation'. The article had excerpts from Xi Jinping's speeches.

The PLA website Sina.com on September 9 reported that at 8:30 on August 24, affected by continuous heavy rainfall, a 110-meter roadbed collapsed near Jiaoba Village, Songzong Town, Bomi County, Sichuan-Tibet Line, rendering the section impassable. After the disaster occurred, a detachment of the Second Mobile Corps of the Armed Police Force immediately dispatched troops and large-scale emergency repair equipment to the scene to perform road repair and emergency construction tasks. From August 29th to 31st, the armed police officers and soldiers carried out the widening of the inner mountain rock, the optimization of the sidewalk descending slope, and the dangerous rock removal work of the high slope. As of September 2, large trucks could pass.

According to a Chinese military media report (September 9) a long-range fire unit of a brigade of the Tibet Military Region conducted day and night, multi-type, ultra-limit range firepower strike drills, and a group of well-trained and heroic female soldiers also participated in the exercise. The officers and soldiers took advantage of the high accuracy and destructiveness of long-range firepower, and effectively destroyed multiple fixed targets and moving targets at extremely long distances! The exercise was held at an altitude of 4600 metres.

An air defence brigade of the Tibet Military Region was reported on September 8 to have organized a live-fire drill in a mountainous area at an altitude of 4,700 meters. During the exercise, after the radar successfully detected the position of the simulated fighter, the cruise missile and the air-to-surface missile hit the target one after another.

Lin Minwang, Professor with the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, in an article published in Global Times on September 13 warned that "with the intensified strategic competition of the US against China, Canberra and New Delhi have formed a consensus on the policy of jointly containing Beijing. Australia is willing to be a US pawn to charge forward in a series of issues to discredit China. It not only vigorously advocates the "China threat theory," but also unreasonably accuses and attacks China, creating antagonism. India, on the other hand, regards the long-term competition between China and the US as a major opportunity for its own rise, and thus makes a strategic adjustment. India is shifting from pursuing a balanced diplomacy to the path of cozying up to the US to jointly contain China". Stating that "Although India has not formally joined the Five Eyes, it has established different forms and levels of intelligence sharing with members of the group" and advised that "China must be vigilant against the future impact of intelligence sharing between India and the Five Eyes".

Writing in the Global times on September 16, Long Xingchun, senior research fellow with the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at the Beijing Foreign Studies University and president of the Chengdu Institute of World Affairs, referred to Indian media reports citing US Secretary of State Blinken's remarks to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that US is in touch with India about using it as a staging post for aerial strikes in Afghanistan, and warned India that the US will continue its relationship with Pakistan, that the US is trying to draw India into a quasi-alliance and that by agreeing to it India will lose its strategic autonomy and independence.

Reuters (September 9) reported that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had promised to provide nearly US$ 31 million emergency funding to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The emergency aid will include food, winter weather supplies, vaccines, and medicine. Wang Yi also announced a donation of 3 million vaccine doses to Afghanistan. He simultaneously called on Taliban to crack down on terrorism and build an “inclusive political structure".

The new deal, dubbed 'Aukus' and unveiled on September 15, by which London and Washington will help Canberra to build nuclear-powered submarines as well as swap knowledge on cyber information, artificial intelligence, undersea technology, and other cutting-edge sciences, has rattled Beijing. A Global Times article pointed out that so far, the US had shared such technology, and that too on a limited scale, only with Britain. It said by now including Australia China will consider Australia a target for nuclear attack in case conflict breaks out with the US.

The US-based pro-Xi Jinping Duowei News (September 10) commenting on the 90-minute telephone conversation between US President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 10, pointed to a press release issued by the Chinese official media which said Biden stated that "the two countries have no reason to fall into conflict due to competition, and the United States has no intention to change the one-China policy."

After the White House issued a statement that US President Biden will host the first-ever Quad Leaders’ Summit at the White House on September 24, the Global Times (September 15) criticised the proposed meeting and quoted Chinese experts as saying that the summit will make no big change on its hostility against China.

The new Chinese ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, was on September 14 barred from parliament by the Speakers in the Commons and Lords after the imposition of sanSpeaking at a video conference to the 12th China-US Political Party Leaders Dialogue, which included representatives from the US Democratic and Republican parties, Yang Jiechi, Politburo 12 member and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, urged the US to correct its wrong China policies and get bilateral ties back on track.

The new Chinese ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, was on September 14 barred from parliament by the Speakers in the Commons and Lords after the imposition of sanctions on British MPs by Beijing. Zheng Zeguang was due to attend a meeting of the broadly pro-Chinese all-party group in China, but following a letter from MPs who were subjected to sanctions by China, including the former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith, the Commons Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, has said the meeting is not appropriate. A similar decision has been endorsed by the Lords Speaker, Lord McFall.

Reuters reported (September 16) that China has denied the German frigate Bayern, currently on a six-month mission to the contested South China Sea, entry into a Chinese harbour. , a German foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. The Chinese harbour was not identified.

Caixin (September 10) reported that in mid-May local authorities in towns and cities across China issued notices urging their citizens living in the border regions of Myanmar to return by June 30, 2022. Many of them, working in places like Muse, Kokang, Mongla and Wa State, crossed the 13 border illegally, often to engage in scams such as telephone and online fraud. In exchange, the state is offering leniency, as long as the migrants return by certain deadlines. According to China's Ministry of Public Security, Chinese scammers, working in gangs to fool unsuspecting phone users back home into handing over their personal details, have become adept at theft. In 2019, a total of 2,553 suspects were extradited to China for their alleged involvement in telecom fraud. Fraud cases originating in northern Myanmar accounted for 50% to 60% of total cases in China.

China's State Council celebrated the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on the evening of September 30, and hosted a National Day Reception in the Great Hall of the People. Party and state leaders such as Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan and nearly 500 Chinese and foreigners gathered together to celebrate the birthday of the Republic.

The CCP CC Politburo held its 33rd collective study on strengthening China's biosafety construction on September 29. Presiding over the study session, CCP CC General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an "important" speech when he emphasized that biosecurity is related to people's lives and health, to the long-term stability of the country, and to the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.

On September 24, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the 2021 Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing via video.

CCTV (September 26) reported that PBSC member and leader of the Central Inspection Work Leading Group Zhao Leji, attended the CCP CC's eighth round of inspection work mobilization and deployment meeting on September 26 and gave a speech. Zhao Leji pointed out that 3 inspections are political supervision and a powerful tool for comprehensively and strictly governing the party.

Politburo Member, Propaganda Department Head, and Party History Study and Education Central Leading Group Head Huang Kunming attended and spoke at a Party History Study and Education Central Leading Group symposium in Beijing on September 22.

On the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year on September 26, Xinhua published a lengthy article captioned 'Why we can succeed' outlining the successes achieved under the guidance of the party.

The South China Morning Post (September 29) reported that Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) on September 29 published a notice China laying out a three-year plan to rein in the use of algorithms, marking Beijing’s latest effort to bring the country’s internet industry firmly under state control. Under the new policy guidelines, local governments are urged to tighten the regulation of algorithms, while companies are told that they will be held accountable for misusing the technology.

The Paper (September 27) reported that the Party Center had approved Central Inspection Groups to carry out the 8th round of inspections of the following finance-related institutions--regulators

China's official media reported on September 30 that 52-year old Sun Lijun, a former Chinese Vice Minister of the Public Security Bureau, has been sacked and expelled from the Communist Party, and will face trial for “serious violation of discipline rules and law”.

Recently, more than 20 of China’s 31 provinces completed soliciting public opinions on delaying the retirement age. The process started last December. The statutory retirement ages – 60 for men, 55 for white-collar women, and 50 for blue-collar women – were set 70 years ago. A Beijing government statement said since then life expectancy in urban China has increased by a whopping 40 years.

The China News (September 21) reported that Temporary Chinese Communist Party (CCP) branch offices have been established in 11 cast teams that are currently filming TV and movie dramas in the Hengdian World Studios in Zhejiang Province, China’s film and television production center and also known as China’s Hollywood.

China has been hit by a power shortage compelling at least 21 provinces and local governments to ration power to enterprises and residences to limit and manage electricity demand. The provinces include: Hunan, Guangdong, Hebei, Anhui, Shandong, Tianjin, and Liaoning. Last month, China's top economic planning agency the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), criticised the “energy consumption intensity” of nine provinces – Guangdong, Jiangsu, Yunnan, Fujian, Shaanxi, Guangxi, Ningxia, Qinghai and Xinjiang – for actually increasing their energy use instead of reducing it.

The Wall Street Journal (September 28) reported that on September 26, AidData, a research center at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., released an in-depth report on China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which counted 42 low- and middle-income countries that now have debt exposure to China exceeding 10% of their annual gross domestic product.

The Hongkong-based pro-Xi Jinping HK01 newspaper on September 21 reported that, in 2018, Xi Jinping made a clear statement in an internal meeting of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) Hong Kong and Macau Coordination Group.

In a congratulatory letter to Eric Chu -- the newly elected leader of the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang (KMT) party on September 26 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said the Chinese Communist Party and the KMT should collaborate under a "shared political basis." In the letter released by the KMT, he said "In the past our two parties insisted on '1992 consensus' and opposing 10 'Taiwan independence' ... to promote peaceful developments in cross- strait relations." Xi Jinping added "At present the situation in the Taiwan Strait is complex and grim," and urged the parties to jointly seek peace and "the unification of the country."

The South China Morning Post (September 26) cited a report released by the Knowfar Institute for Strategic and Defence Studies, a think tank founded by retired Chinese military officers, on September 23.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman announced (September 20) that Chinese President Xi JInping will attend the General Debate of the 76th UN General Assembly by video on September 21 and delivered an "important speech".

The state-run CCTV (September 17) reported Xi Jinping's speech at the 21st meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Beijing on September 17. He urged the member states to strengthen coordination to promote a smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan and truly embark on the path of peace, stability and development. He also asked them to promote the in-depth integration of the "Belt and Road" initiative with the development strategies of various countries and regional cooperation initiatives such as the Eurasian Economic Union, maintain the stability and smooth flow of the industrial chain and supply chain, and promote economic integration, development linkage, and sharing of results among countries. He said China will provide 1,000 poverty alleviation training places to Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries, build 10 Luban workshops, and carry out 30 cooperation projects in the fields of health, poverty alleviation, culture and education within the framework of the "Silk Road One Family" initiative . China will host the organization’s youth science and technology innovation forum next year. CCTV said the meeting initiated the process of accepting Iran as a member state, and absorbed Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar as new dialogue partners. The meeting decided that Uzbekistan would take over as the rotating chairman of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, He Lifeng and others attended the meeting. Xi Jinping also attended the Joint Summit on Afghanistan among the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Beijing on September 17 and delivered an 'important' speech. Pointing out that the situation in Afghanistan has undergone fundamental changes recently, which have had an important impact on the international situation, regional structure, and security and stability, he asked SCO member states and the Collective Security Treaty Organization to work together at such critical moments to maintain peace and stability. He said it is important to promote the smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan as soon as possible and support all parties in Afghanistan to reach an inclusive political arrangement at an early date through dialogue and consultation; it is necessary to pay attention to the trends of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, and urge relevant parties in Afghanistan to carry out resolute strikes and prevent the terrorist forces holding Afghanistan from causing disaster to the Quartet.

PBSC member, State Council Vice Premier, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Construction Leading Group Head Han Zheng attended an inauguration ceremony in Zhuhai, Guangdong for the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone (hereafter referred to as “the Zone”) on September 17 and gave a speech.

PBSC member and Head of the Central Discipline Inspection Committee (CDIC) Zhao Leji conducted investigation work in Inner Mongolia from September 15 to 17.

According to the state-run CCTV News on September 18, PBSC member Hu Chunhua travelled to Sichuan from September 16 to 17, to supervise the work of "Key counties for rural revitalization to help counties to consolidate and expand the results of poverty alleviation". This is the first time that Hu Chunhua went to supervise work in key counties for rural revitalization after China's national rural revitalization key assisted counties work conference.

Xinhua (September 21) disclosed that the CCP CC's General Office had recently issued the "Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Marxist Colleges in the New Era" and issued a notice requesting all regions and departments to conscientiously implement them in light of actual conditions.

Jingbo of the National Defense University Learning Jinping New Era Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Research Center authored a lengthy article titled 'Vigorously inherit and carry forward the great spirit of the party' published in the PLA Daily on September 20. Jingbo commented on "Chairman Xi’s important article "The great spirit of the party is always the precious spiritual wealth of the party and the country", in the 17th issue of Qiu Shi (Seeking Truth) magazine in 2021.

A PLA Daily (September 14) Commentator's article on Chinese President Xi Jinping's letter of September 13 to a PLA Battalion guarding the border in Tibet, said 'Xi’s letter “fully embodied the core of the Party and [his] deep love and concern for the border guard troops as military commander” and his high degree of emphasis on building the grassroots'.

The PLA Daily (September 14) disclosed that an Air Force aviation unit of the Western Theater Command in late August carried out airdrop and airborne training in unfamiliar areas to comprehensively improve the multi-domain cooperative combat capability of the unit.

China's Global Times (September 21) quoted a report released by the PLA South Sea Fleet in its social media account, which disclosed that in two recent, separate moves in the South China Sea, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) dispatched Y-20 large transport aircraft to reefs for troop transport missions, and conducted amphibious landing drills under complex conditions, showing the PLA's capabilities in safeguarding peace and stability in the region.

At the weekly press briefing on September 9, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian reacted to Indian media reports that India is set to conduct its first user trial of nuke capable intercontinental-range ballistic missile Agni-V, which has a 5,000-km range.

The Global Times (September 17) highlighted warnings by Chinese experts on September 10 that India not be "poison" for cooperation under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The South China Morning Post (September 18) quoted diplomatic and military observers as saying that Beijing is likely to step up its military activities to deter Taiwan while retaliating diplomatically against the US if the island’s de facto embassy in Washington gets renamed, but these countermeasures are likely to be limited.

Quoting Taiwan's official Central News Agency, Reuters reported (September 22) that Taiwan has formally applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), less than a week after China said it too had submitted an application. Taiwan's Deputy Economy Minister Chen Chern-chyi was quoted as sayingthe Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua will give details on September 23.

A report, prepared by law firm WilmerHale at the request of the World Bank's ethics committee, raises concerns about China's influence at the World Bank.

At the weekly press briefing on September 9, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian reacted to Indian media reports that India is set to conduct its first user trial of nuke capable intercontinental-range ballistic missile Agni-V, which has a 5,000-km range.

The Global Times (September 17) highlighted warnings by Chinese experts on September 10 that India not be "poison" for cooperation under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Ms Meng Wanzhou, daughter of the Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, charged by the US of wrongdoing in accounts in dealings with Iran, has been released after 3 years house arrest in Canada and is on her way home following "resolution" on September 25 of the case between the US prosecutors and her lawyers. The two Canadian nationals, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, imprisoned since 2018 have similarly been released by the Chinese authorities.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made an inspection tour of Chengde a popular tourist spot and the prefectural-level city just north of Beijing, on August 24.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presided over a meeting of the State Council Leading Group for Revitalizing the Northeastern Region and Old Industrial Bases on August 23.

The Beijing Daily (August 23) published an article by Shi Zhongquan, former Deputy Director of the Central Party History Research Office, on CCP CC General Secretary Xi Jinping's July 1st speech.

The Chinese Communist Party released a publication on August 26 titled "The CPC: Its Mission and Contributions" at a press conference in Beijing attended by senior officials of the Party. Xu Lin, Vice Minister of the CCP CC Publicity Department and Minister of the State Council Information Office chaired the conference.

A People's Daily editorial (August 19) recalled President Xi Jinping’s July visit to Tibet commemorating the 70th anniversary of its “Peaceful Liberation,” pointing out that this is the first such visit by a CCP or Central Military Commission (CMC) chair.

On August 20, the NPC appointed Huai Jinpeng (怀进鹏) Minister of the Ministry of Education.

Politburo member and Xi Jinping’s chief-of-staff Ding Xuexiang chaired a meeting of the Party's special working mechanism for rectifying formalism and alleviating burdens on the grassroots on August 20, Xinhua reported that “While highlighting the problem of unnecessary and repetitive meetings, paperwork and performance evaluations, the meeting asked localities to guard against and rectify newly-emerged practices of formalities for formalities sake.”

The Central Discipline Inspection Commission said in a statement on August 21 that Hangzhou Municipal Party Committee Secretary 53-year old Zhou Jiangyong, has been placed under investigation for serious disciplinary violations.

China’s National People's Congress (NPC) passed an amendment to its Population and Family Planning Law on August 20, legitimising the recent three-child policy.

Following the decision on July 24, of the Party Central Committee and the State Council to essentially eliminate China’s for-profit education sector, the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission on August 24 issued the 'Implementation Opinions on Further Reducing Students’ Homework and After-school Training Burdens During the Compulsory Education Stage'.

Reporting on the Smart China Expo 2021 and the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on the Digital Economy Industry, both held in Chongqing this week, Xinhua (August 25) said the scale of China's digital economy hit 39.2 trillion yuan in 2020, accounting for 38.6 per cent of the country's GDP.

Yi Gang, Governor of the People's Bank of China said, in the latest and clearest signal of monetary easing, on August 23 that China will increase the support of bank lending to the real economy and especially SMEs.

China plans to set up a national pension company in Beijing with registered capital of 11.15 billion yuan ($1.72 billion) as the country’s population rapidly ages.

Han Wenxiu, Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, clarified at a press conference in Beijing on August 26, that China’s efforts to build a society of “common prosperity” are not about achieving egalitarianism and do not mean “robbing the rich to give to the poor”.

The Global Times (August 24) disclosed that the PLA held more than a hundred military exercises across all major Chinese sea areas over the past three months.

The Global Times (August 26) quoted the state-run CCTV to report that the Tibet Military Command recently organized large-scale joint exercises at an elevation of about 4,500 meters in a snowy plateau region, in which the troops operated some of the PLA's latest weapons and equipment and practised multidimensional tactics with the goal of target elimination.

The US-based overseas Chinese Mainland media Duowei said (August 24) that Jiang Qichen, who is running for the Chairman of the Kuomintang, said in an exclusive interview with Huang Weihan on August 24, "a senior media player" in Taiwan, that he did not rule out the possibility of a second Xi - Ma meeting.

The Global Times (August 24) reported that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) dispatched a powerful naval flotilla led by a Type 055 large destroyer to the Sea of Japan for the second time this year on August 22.

The state-run CCTV while reporting the conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Putin on August 25, said that the two had exchanged in-depth views on the situation in Afghanistan.

Mei Yixin a respected world geopolitics scholar at the Chinese Ministry of Commerce think-tank 'Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC)' wrote in Aisixiang on August 18, that "The U.S. military is leaving Afghanistan in defeat; yet China must not indulge in a delusional dreamlike carnival".

China's Xinhua news agency disclosed that China held joint anti-terrorism exercises with Afghanistan’s neighbour Tajikistan on August 18 and 19 to counter a growing regional terrorist threat.

On August 20, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan issued a statement confirming that on the same day, a convoy carrying Chinese personnel was attacked by a suicide bomber on the Gwadar East Bay Expressway project in Balochistan, Pakistan, "slightly injuring" 1 Chinese personnel.

Chairing a session of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs (CCFEA) on August 17, Xi Jinping said that the Party must expend more efforts in tackling inequality and promoting “common prosperity”.

Many Chinese netizens greeted former Chinese President Jiang Zemin on his birthday on August 17. They wished him long life and "hundred years"!

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang inspected Henan Province on August 18-19 to discuss disaster relief work.

The 4th ranking PBSC member and Chairman of the CPPCC, Wang Yang, arrived in Tibet on August 19 at the head of a delegation for the 'grand celebrations' of the 70th anniversary of the 'peaceful liberation' of Tibet outside the Potala Palace in Lhasa, which was attended by over 20,000 people.

The CCP's leading theoretical fortnightly journal Qiu Shi (Seeking Truth) on August 15 (Issue 2021/16) published an article by CCP CC General Secretary Xi Jinping which included excerpts from 16 speeches given by him between June 2015 and February 2021.

Chinese media reports speculating on the annual Beidauhe meeting of China's veteran leaders said that among the indications of this year's Beidaihe meeting was the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcement on July 31 that the regular press conferences will be adjourned from August 2 to August 13 and would resume on August 16.

On August 11, 2021, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s Central Committee (CC) and the State Council unveiled a 10-point five-year (2021-2025) plan titled "Implementation Outline for the Construction of a Government under the Rule of Law (2021-2025)" and issued a notice requesting all regions and departments to conscientiously implement it in light of actual conditions.

The People's Daily (August 18) quoted a public security official as saying on August 18 that China will roll out digital driver's licenses across the country by 2022.

Quoting the National Bureau of Statistics, the state-run CCTV News reported (August 16) that since the beginning of this year, the employment situation has remained generally stable. Commenting on the employment situation of college graduates, it mentioned that many college graduates entered the labour market in July and, therefore, the unemployment rate will rise "relatively sharply from June to July".

Politburo Standing Committee Member Wang Huning presided over the 27th National Conference on Party Building in Colleges and Universities on August 17.

The South China Morning Post (August 16) reported that China’s education authorities terminated 286 cooperative programmes between Chinese and foreign universities last week as part of a routine assessment of collaborative arrangements with foreign institutions.

According to the once-a-decade census, which was conducted last year of China's 330-plus prefecture-level cities, 149－or 44.7 percent had smaller populations last year than in 2010.

During an interview in a safe house in Ukraine on June 30, 2021, 26-year old Wu Huan claimed that she was held for eight days at a Chinese-run "black site" in Dubai along with at least two Uyghurs, in what may be the first evidence that China is operating a secret detention facility beyond its borders.

According to China's state-run CCTV (Military channel) on August 13, in the final stage of the Sino-Russian joint exercise, joint land and air operations were launched.

The People's Daily (August 15) published an article by Liu Guoshun of the Political Work Bureau, National Defense Mobilization Department, Central Military Commission, on the PLA's recruitment policy.

Radio Free Asia (August 11) citing Tibetan sources reported that Tibetan students ages 18-21 are being offered reimbursement of their school fees in exchange for enrolling in a two-year course of military training.

The People's Daily (August 16) reported the cautious and short statement of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Hua Chunying that China will respect the choice and will of the Afghan people.

A statement issued by the Chinese Embassy in India on August 12 "strongly opposed the repeated provocative acts by the US" after the Chargé d'Affaires at US Embassy in New Delhi met with Ngodup Dongchung, representative of the Dalai Lama in New Delhi and said that the US respects "the Dalai Lama's vision for equal rights of people."

Reuters (August 12) reported Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as saying on August 12 that the bus blast on July 14 that killed 13 people, including nine Chinese workers, was a suicide bombing by Islamist militants backed by the Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies.

The Japan Times disclosed (August 18) that in the first such initiative, Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is planning to hold online talks on security issues with Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) within this month at the earliest.

A Chinese origin Japanese woman who was detained in Shanghai in June 2015 and sentenced in December 2018 by the Shanghai Intermediate People's Court to six years in prison for spying has been released after serving the six-year prison sentence in Shanghai.

On August 12, China’s newly arrived Ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang met US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

With China having carved out a dominant position in multiple supply chains on which the US is uncomfortably reliant, there are efforts in the US to decouple this reliance, especially in rare earths.

According to Pasaxon, the newspaper of the ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the Laotian Minister of Planning and Investment Sonexay Siphandone on August 11 during a meeting of 10th Laos-China Railway Project Construction Committee, said that as of July 25, construction of the railway, which runs from the town of Boten on Laos’s border with China to the capital Vientiane, was 93.82 per cent complete.

The People's Daily (August 7) published an interview with Li Jinbin, Party Secretary of Anhui Province, under the caption 'Break a new path in the rise of Central China'.

China's Central Discipline Inspection Commission posted a notification on its official website on August 7, stating that over 90 leading cadres of the political and legal system at the department level or above were investigated and dealt with in the first half of the year.

Xinhua (August 1) reported that Politburo Member and State Council Vice Premier Sun Chunlan travelled to Nanjing, Jiangsu to investigate epidemic prevention work amid the city’s COVID-19 outbreak.

The South China Morning Post (August 10) quoted a peer-reviewed study published in the domestic journal Infrared and Laser Engineering on August 4, by Chinese military scientists of the Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telecommunication Technology affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), stating that a global early warning system being built in the US to track hypersonic weapons will be an improvement on its existing system but will have to overcome several big challenges to be effective.

The Qiushi Editorial Department published (2021/15 dated 31 July) an article directed at the army, saying that it is critical for it to be built up politically and ideologically as well as militarily and that understanding the vital role of the Party’s leadership in the military’s success is crucial.

China’s maritime authorities cordoned off a large section of waters from Hainan to the Paracels from August 6 for a military drill on a scale that analysts say could involve tests of carrier-killer ballistic missiles.

Sina.com reported on August 4 that newly recruited soldiers of a border defence regiment of the Xinjiang Military Region visited the Kangsiwa Martyrs Cemetery, the highest altitude cemetery in the whole army, to have a special party class.

Reporting on the 'Western Joint 2021 Exercises', Sina.com (August 9) disclosed that the Army Aviation Combat Group in the Western Theatre uses helicopters as its main equipment, and uses low-altitude and ultra-low-altitude as the main battlefield to implement three-dimensional, full-depth, and mobile operations.

Sina.com reported on August 5 that Global Times reporters set off from Xinjiang and followed the general route of the People's Liberation Army that entered Tibet from Xinjiang from mid-July to early August.

An article captioned 'How to suppress and counter India's information war against China' by Liu Zongyi, Secretary-General, China and South Asian Studies Center, Shanghai Institute of International Studies, was posted on the guancha news portal on August 5, 2021.

On August 3, Pakistan appointed Khalid Mansoor to the top position responsible for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), replacing retired Pakistan Army General Asim Saleem Bajwa.

An article in the Diplomat (July 6) reported that Japan’s Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo confirmed plans this week to deploy several hundred Self-Defense Force personnel and anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles to another of its southwestern islands of Ishigaki-jima sometime in 2022, to deter and defend against a potential threat from China’s growing military.

Bloomberg (August 4) reported that amid rising tensions with China, the Biden Administration has approved its first arms sale of a potential $750 million to Taiwan.

In an article in the Global Times (August 100), its Editor-in-Chief Hu Xijin said China had decided to recall its Ambassador to Lithuania and demanded that the Lithuanian government recall its Ambassador to China.

The Diplomat reported (August 11) that China’s government today transferred more than $6 million to Myanmar’s military government to fund a range of development projects, in the latest sign that Beijing is accommodating itself to the junta that seized power in February.

The court in Dandong has sentenced Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison on charges of spying.

The Washington Post (August 13) said that according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the total number of Chinese students in the government’s database declined by a fifth from 2019 to 2020 and that while international applications to the United States plunged across the board for the 2019-2020 school year, they rebounded this year — with the exception of China.

The state-run CCTV reported the 32nd session of the CCP CC Politburo on July 30 afternoon. It reported that the meeting insisted on the party’s absolute leadership over the People’s Army and the goal of achieving the 100-year army’s struggle.

Xinhua (July 31) disclosed that an article by Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published on August 1 in this year's 15th issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee.

Xinhua (July 30) reported that the CCP CC held a non-party forum in Zhongnanhai on July 28 to listen to the leaders of the democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and representatives of non-party personalities on the current economic situation and economic work in the second half of the year.

On August 1, Ms. Wang Lixia was appointed Deputy Party secretary of Inner Mongolia.

The People's Daily on August 4, 2021, gave 2 full-page coverage, starting from the front page, of the 'Chinese Communist Party's Inner Party Regulation System' updated till July 2021.

As the death toll from the floods rose to 302, with 50 missing by August 2, the Global Times reported that of the total 292 died and 47 are missing in Zhengzhou alone.

Among the 14 draft Bills up for review by the 13th NPC Standing Committee when it convenes for its 30th session from August 17 to 20, are draft decisions to add one or more national laws to Annexes III to Hong Kong and Macau Basic Laws.

The Guangming Daily (August 1) published a lengthy article on the "correct" way of teaching ideological and political theory and cautioned that international and domestic negative textbooks should be avoided.

Reuters (August 2) reported that Chinese sprint cyclists Bao Shanju and Zhong Tianshi wore badges featuring Mao Zedong during their gold medal ceremony on August 2 in a potential breach of Olympic rules regarding the display of political paraphernalia.

The spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defence Colonel Wu Qian announced (July 29) that starting August eligible military personnel will begin receiving parental support benefits of RMB 600 per month.

The US magazine National Interest (July 30) cited a Global Times report publicising that the PLA had recently issued a notice that "invites tenders for a theory-testing and a launch system for magnetized plasma artillery.”

A commentary published in Qiu Shi (August 3) said General Secretary Xi Jinping had "profoundly clarified that the party’s command of guns is an unbreakable truth".

On PLA Day on August 1, the People's Daily published a frontpage article captioned 'The People's Army listens to the party, follows the party, keeps in mind its original mission, inherits the red gene, and assumes the responsibility of being a strong army——The military flag always floats with the party flag'.

The CCP's leading theoretical fortnightly journal 'Qiu Shi' (Seeking Truth) published (2021/15 dated August 1, 2021) an important 4429-word article by CMC Vice Chairman General Zhang Youxia.

A Chinese website reported (July 30) that the border defence forces of the Tibet Military Region have been equipped with many advanced weapons, such as the 'Red Arrow 12' anti-tank missile, and a new type of precision shooter rifle.

Sina.com (July 29) quoting an article in the 'North Xinjiang Guardian' reported that an artillery battalion of a combined brigade of the PLA 78th Group Army recently held a live ammunition tactical exercise where it displayed the new four-wheel drive 122mm vehicle-mounted howitzer with which the combined brigade is now equipped.

The Party theoretical journal Qiu Shi (Seeking Truth 2021/15) published an article on August 1, by Lu Dongfu, Chairman and Party Secretary of China National Railway Group Co., Ltd, who highlighted the advantages of China's high-speed railway.

The Financial Times (July 30) reported that after French nuclear operator EDF publicly recommended its closure last week, China announced it would shut the Taishan nuclear reactor after fuel damage.

Ren Yi, an influential Chinese blogger who has more than 1 million followers on Weibo, in an article in Caixin on July 30 wrote that "Stocks of offshore-listed Chinese companies have slumped recently amid Beijing’s sweeping regulatory actions targeting a range of industries from fintech and ride-hailing to after-school education."

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. unveiled its P50 smartphone series after a months-long delay, though the squeeze of U.S. sanctions means the handsets contain 4G microchips instead of the 5G-ready chips that the Chinese technology giant initially touted.

Quoting a Chinese diaspora media outlet Mingde, the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) reported (August 4) that the authorities are closing the Kharmar (Chinese: Hongcheng) Monastery and video clips depict officials carrying out forced evictions, monastics staging a sit-in to protest having to leave their monastic lives, nuns crying as an elderly teacher walks down an aisle and a monk threatening to jump off a roof.

Hongkonger Tong Ying-kit, 24, became the first person to be convicted under Hong Kong’s national security law on July 29 to nine years in jail on two charges.

Quoting Xinjiang Regional Government spokesman Xu Guixiang, the Global Times (July 30) disclosed that China is "actively coordinating" the visit of EU diplomats to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region but some of their demands, including visiting Ilham Tohti, a Uygur sentenced to life imprisonment for provoking social unrest, disrespect China's sovereignty.

PLA Colonel Wu Qian, spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defence announced at a press briefing on July 29, that Russia and China will be holding the 'Zapad/Interaction-2021' exercise in the Qingtongxia Joint Tactical Training Base in China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from early to mid-August.

The Chinese PLA-maintained website Sohu.com (July 30) reported the posting on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan that on July 29, General Bajwa, Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Army, held a reception at the Army Headquarters to celebrate the 94th anniversary of the founding of the PLA with the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) at Nyingchi’s Mainling Airport on July 21 at the start of a two-day (July 21-23, 2021) visit, without prior public notice.

Wang Yang, PBSC member and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) toured Xinjiang from July 21 - 24, 2021. The focus of his visit was on prosperity and security.

Quoting Tibetan sources Radio Free Asia (July ) reported that Gyaltsen Norbu, the Chinese appointed Panchen Lama, who had gone to Sichuan’s Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture on July 12 to participate in a religious conference, was ignored by ordinary Tibetans who had been told by authorities to turn out to greet him, with only hand-picked officials present to show him respect.

The Nanjing outbreak of the pandemic is still growing and local officials are under a lot of pressure for poor epidemic prevention. The authorities have traced cases to tourists in Zhangjiajie, Hunan.

The Human Rights Journal Dui Hua on July 26 reported that all judgments and judicial decisions in cases for endangering state security (ESS), including those for reduction of sentences, have been purged from the Supreme People's Court (SPC) online judgment website China Judgements Online (CJO, 中国裁判文书网).

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) on its blog on July 26 reported that Satellite images reveal that China is building a second nuclear missile silo field near the prefecture-level city of Hami in Eastern Xinjiang.

On July 5, General Ju Qiansheng was promoted to full general and named the new Commander of the PLA Strategic Support Force (SSF). He is the third PLA SSF commander in almost six years, succeeding General Li Fengbiao and General Gao Jin, who assumed command in 2019 and 2015, respectively.

The People's Daily (July 21) publicised the Central Military Commission (CMC)'s “Regulations on Military Mass Work,” which will come into effect on 1 August.

An article published in The Economist on July 28, stated that the number of asylum seekers from China had increased sharply since Xi Jinping took over.

The Golden Dragon index, which tracks Chinese technology stocks, has fallen by 15 percent this week amid the introduction of private education regulations and fears of further action against tech firms. Chinese stocks are now the worst-performing in Asia.

A Chinese court in Gaobeidian City in Baoding on July 28 sentenced 67-year old Sun Dawu, an outspoken farming magnate, to 18 years in jail for allegedly causing public disorder and a multitude of other offences.

In an article in Foreign Policy (FP-July 28) titled “China Is Using Tibetans as Agents of Empire in the Himalayas,” Robert Barnett said nearly 250,000 Tibetans coerced into new border fortress-villages in the Himalayas follows on FP’s earlier revelation of Chinese annexations in northern Bhutan.

On July 28, a gunman opened fire on a car carrying two Chinese engineers in the city of Karachi. One of the engineers was hit four times, mostly in the arm, police said, but was in stable condition.

On July 28, a gunman opened fire on a car carrying two Chinese engineers in the city of Karachi. One of the engineers was hit four times, mostly in the arm, police said, but was in stable condition.

The readouts from the US State Department and China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Shrerman-Xie Feng meeting were quite different with the US stressing that the meeting was with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Chinese that it was between Wendy Sherman and Xie Feng.

China's yet-to-be-announced new ambassador to the United States, 55-year old Qin Gang, left for Washington on July 27, amid worsening relations between the world's two largest economies.

Newsweek reported (July 29) that the US House of Representatives passed a bill on July 28 that included a motion to ban the use of public funds to buy, make or display any map of China that shows Taiwan as part of its territory.

A week before US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman's arrival in Tianjin, China on July 23 released its list of US officials it has sanctioned in response the sanctions imposed by the US.

The Lowy Institute released (July 28) a report stating that more world leaders have visited China as compared to the US in the decade 2010-2019. It said a sharp turnaround was noticed from 2013 after China's economy picked up.

Xinhua (July 22) disclosed that Chinese President Xi Jinping had arrived (July 21) at Nyingchi's Mainling Airport where he was "warmly welcomed by local people and officials of various ethnic groups".

CCTV News (July 17) reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the informal meeting of APEC leaders in Beijing by video on the evening of July 16 and delivered a speech.

China Daily reported that nearly 300 Marxist scholars from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony of the 2-day Third World Congress on Marxism on July 18, which was held both online and offline by Peking University in Beijing.

In a speech at the China Internet Conference in Beijing on July 13 which he attended as a guest professor at Tsinghua University, the former Mayor of Chingqing Huang Qifan said that existing business models of internet firms will no longer work in the coming decade.

Sputnik News (July 14) disclosed that according to a study by scientists involved in Chinese missions to Mars and the Moon, China is developing a supersonic aircraft that is larger than the Boeing 737.

The Global Times (July 20) publicised that in response to recent US "consecutive military provocations against China", the People's Liberation Army (PLA) held exercises in all major Chinese sea areas over the past week in moves that military experts said on July 20 could be seen as countermeasures that displayed the PLA's determination and preparedness.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported (July 12) that recently civil servants and school teachers in Henan, Jiangxi, and Guangdong provinces received orders to give the performance bonuses they received back to the government.

Incessant rains since July 16 have caused major flooding in large areas of Henan and are threatening its capital Zhengzhou. Chinese media reports that more than 35 people have been killed and the subway in a couple of cities is submerged.

China's Ministry of Water Resources said that two dams in the Inner Mongolian city of Hulunbuir, collapsed on July 18 afternoon in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region after torrential rain. They had formed reservoirs with a combined water storage capacity of 46 million cubic metres.

Chairman of TAR People’s Government Chedak/Che Dalha (Ch: Qi Zhala) inspected the borders of Ngari (Ch: Ali) from June 20-21, 2021.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) on July 13 quoted Golog Jigme, an escaped Tibetan political prisoner who now lives in Switzerland, that Chinese police arrested two Tibetans in their 40s—a man named Kunchok Tashi and a woman named Dzapo—on “suspicion of being part of a group on social media that shared images and documents, and encouraged the reciting of Tibetan prayers on the birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”

China's media reported the bus explosion in Pakistan on July 14 that caused 9 deaths and 28 injuries to Chinese citizens and which attracted "high attention" from senior Chinese officials.

During the meeting between India's External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yii on July 14 on the sidelines of the SCO Meeting at Dushanbe, Wang Yi said that "after the two foreign ministers' meeting in Moscow in September last year, the frontier troops of both countries disengaged in the Galwan Valley and the Pangong Lake areas, and the overall situation in the border area was de-escalated.

The Central News Agency observed (July 14) that Japan’s annual defense whitepaper, released on July 13, has for the first time explicitly cited the importance of Taiwan’s stability.

The Taiwanese government on July 18 announced that the planned visit to Japan by Audrey Tang, Taiwan''s Digital Minister, for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games has been cancelled. Audrey Tang was scheduled to visit Japan from July 19.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called the President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh on July 16, the eve of US Deputy Secretary of State Diplomat Wendy Sherman's visit to Mongolia.

Well-known Chinese news site Sina (NASDAQ: SINA) reported on July 17 that the Hawaii-based U.S. Pacific Air Force Command said that it will deploy approximately 25 F-22 Raptor fighter jets to Guam and Tinian to participate in an exercise named 'Pacific Iron 2021'.

In a detailed 4-part article the U.S. online publication ProPublica on July 22 said that in April, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the FBI has over 2,000 active China-related investigations, with a 1,300% increase in economic espionage cases alone.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang invited (July 12) economic experts, business leaders, and top government officials to share their thoughts on the economy.

CCTV News (July 12) disclosed that on the 100th anniversary of the CCP's founding, the CCP Central Committee and the State Council issued the "Opinions on Strengthening and Improving Ideological and Political Work in the New Era".

A Chinese Ministry of Education notification on July 8, announced that the Ministry of Education had organised and compiled the "Xi Jinping New Era" for universities, middle schools and primary schools.

Xinhua (July 12) announced that China's central authorities have released a plan on modernizing the system and capacity for primary-level governance.

Xinhua (July 14) reported the release by China's State Council Information Office of a Paper on 'Respecting and Protecting the Rights of All Ethnic Groups in Xinjiang'.

Reports emerging almost a month after two aerospace experts were violently attacked by an aerospace company executive on June 6 and hospitalized have created a sensation on China's social media — raising questions about corruption and cover-up within the prestigious industry.

Xinhua (July 15) publicised the statistics released by China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and quoted it as saying China's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 12.7 per cent year on year in the first half of 2021 as recovery continues to consolidate.

The South China Morning Post (July 16) reported that China’s universities produce millions of graduates each year, but many can’t get a decent job and end up unemployed or in factories.

Land Matrix, a European land monitoring organization, has assessed that Chinese companies have in all gained control of 6.48 million hectares of land devoted to agriculture, forestry and mining around the world from 2011 to 2020.

People's Daily (July 12) disclosed that China’s 12th Arctic Scientific Expedition organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources set sail on July 12, from Shanghai on the "Snow Dragon 2" ship to perform scientific expeditions in the Arctic.

CNN-Hong Kong Business (July 7) reported that WeChat has deleted more than a dozen LGBT accounts run by university students, sparking fears that safe spaces for China's sexual and gender minorities are going to shrink even further.

As Beijing continues to tighten its grip over the country’s once-freewheeling tech sector, including measures to prevent risks arising from cross-border data transfers by foreign-listed companies, draft changes to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review were revealed on July 9 by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and are open for public comment until July 25.

Chinese troops reportedly ingressed at Demchok in Ladakh to protest against celebrations of Tibetan religious leader Dalai Lama’s birthday on July 6 in Indian villages.

The Washington Post (July 14) reported that the foreign ministers of India and China met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization foreign ministers’ meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on July 14 where New Delhi stressed that a military standoff along a mountainous border area was profoundly disturbing their ties, and warning that any unilateral change in the status quo by Beijing was unacceptable.

A bus carrying 30 Chinese engineers to the site of the Dasu dam, a hydroelectric project being built as part of the BRI’s associated US$60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), were injured and nine died when the bus plunged down a high mountain ravine in northern Pakistan.

The U.S. Department of State, alongside the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the U.S. Department of Labor on July 13 issued an updated Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory to highlight the heightened risks for businesses with supply chain and investment links to Xinjiang.

TVBS reported that a U.S. military C-146A Wolfhound arrived in Taipei on July 15 morning to deliver a package to the new American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) director, Sandra Oudkirk.

Caixin (July 10) reported that Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan had called for dialogue between China and the U.S. on July 9.

Prof. Huang Renwei, Executive President of the Fudan Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance and former Vice President of SASS, recently spoke on "What does the decline of American hegemony mean to the world?".

Australia’s military is monitoring the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's intelligence-gathering vessel Tianwangxing that is sailing towards the Australian coast, to monitor the country’s biannual Talisman Sabre joint exercise involving the United States and a number of US allies.

CCTV News (July 11) reported that PBSC member and Secretary of the Central Discipline Inspection Commission Zhao Leji visited Jilin from July 9 to 11.

China's Study Times published an article captioned ''Deeply implement Xi Jinping's diplomatic thinking and hold high the torch of true multilateralism' by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on July 9.

China’s official Xinhua News Agency, on July 6, disclosed that CCP CC General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the summit of the Chinese Communist Party and world political party leaders through video conferencing and delivered a speech.

On July 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping called German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron in a bid to improve the tense EU-China relationship.

Leading cadres of the State Council attended a study session presided by Premier Li Keqiang on July 2 to study Xi Jinping’s major speech from the July 1 celebration of the Party’s 100th founding anniversary.

Caixin (July 3) reported that over the past few weeks, provincial education departments have issued orders to reduce the presence of private players in primary and middle schools and cut the percentage of children enrolled in private school to just 5% within two to three years.

CCTV and Xinhua (July 5) announced the promotion of 4 PLA officers to the rank of full General.

The Beijing Daily (July 7) reported that Wang Donghai, Deputy Director of the National Defense Mobilization Department of the Central Military Commission, is appointed Political Commissar of the Army in the Southern Theater Command.

99 Advanced and Grassroot Party organisation workers in the PA were awarded on the occasion of the CCP's hundredth founding anniversary on July 1, 2021.

The Kaifeng, China's fourth Type 052 Destroyer with Hull No: 124, was reported on July 2 to have been commissioned into service in the PLA Navy.

The South China Morning Post (July 8) disclosed that a research team in China has unveiled an underwater drone that can recognise, follow and attack an enemy submarine without human instruction.

The South China Morning Post (July 7) disclosed that according to draft regulatory changes released by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs on the weekend China had finalised wartime conscription plans.

On July 2, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) announced it will conduct a “cybersecurity review” of ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing. New account registrations were suspended. Later on July 4, the CAC announced that the investigation revealed “serious violations of laws and regulations in collecting and using personal information.”

On July 5, Caixin reported that Beijing has issued a national mandate instructing provinces to reduce crude steel output within their jurisdictions in 2021.

On July 7, the Dalai Lama thanked all those who had wished him on his birthday and said "According to some of my dreams and predictions, I will live till 110 years and some say 113".

Asia Times (July 9) quoting the Guardian said that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had ordered a review of the recent takeover of Newport Wafer Fab, the UK’s largest producer of semiconductors, byNexperia, a Dutch-based firm wholly owned by China’s Wingtech.

In an interview with Guancha, the news outlet owned by the CCP CC Propaganda Department, China's Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said “The US decline is not a decline in strength but a decline of hegemony". “No matter a country’s strength, hegemonic power is bound to wither, hegemony is not popular.”

The South China Morning Post (July 9) reported that Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said on July 7 that the Taliban welcomes Chinese investment in Afghanistan’s reconstruction and promises to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel.

The Economic Times (July 7) reported that Chinese firms in Pakistan had raised concerns over the CPEC projects for the first time, and have also threatened to shift their headquarters in Pakistan to a safer place.

China's state-owned CCTV News on July 11, reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Chairman of the State Council, and Supreme Commander of the North Korean Armed Forces on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the China-North Korea Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance.

The CCP CC General Office issued a notice on July 3, requesting all regions and departments to "earnestly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech" at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

The People's Daily (July 3) published an article by Politburo member Yang Jiechi captioned "Continuing a hundred years of glory, creating a chapter of the times: Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy Guides the Party's Foreign Affairs Work to Achieve Brilliant Achievements".

The Chinese media publicised that 29 Chinese Communist Party members had been awarded the newly instituted 'July 1' medal this year. Only one was a Tibetan ethnic minority.

China's Central Literature Publishing House released a new book on June 28 captioned 'Excerpts from Xi Jinping's Expositions on Comprehensive and Strict Party Building Work' for nationwide distribution. It contains Xi Jinping's thoughts on the full and strict governance of the Party.

The CCP CC Organisation Department on June 30 issued a notice stating the total membership of the Party is: 95.148 million, a 3.5% increase from 2019.

The Chinese government has launched (July 2) a new website for diplomacy: http://www.chinadiplomacy.org.cn The site consists of some news on China's diplomatic initiatives but mostly carries remarks or news about Xi Jinping.

The South China Morning Post (July 2) disclosed that a research team in Shanghai has achieved a technological breakthrough that allows them to build the most powerful laser on the planet.

Writing in Caixin, Zhang Ming, Director of the International Investment Research Division of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said "Data on the family backgrounds of Peking University students from 1978 to 2005, compiled by Liu Yunshan, a professor in the university’s Graduate School of Education, show approximately 30% of fresh students there came from rural families between 1978 and 1998.

An article in the 'Yunnan Social Sciences' issue (2/2021) said "China’s border security is challenged by both internal and imported risks". It said in the new era of promoting the formation of a new pattern of comprehensive opening up, border security has become more and more important in the overall national security structure.

Lt General Qiao Xianji was identified on June 28 as the new Deputy Commander of the PLA Western Theatre Command. He was attending the inauguration ceremony of the new Terminal at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport.

The People's Daily (June 24) reported that at the regular press conference of the Ministry of National Defense on June 24, its spokesman Ren Guoqiang disclosed that according to this year’s military college enrollment plan, a total of 27 colleges and universities recruited more than 13,000 ordinary high school graduates.

The Chinese magazine Naval and Merchant Ships, published a detailed outline of a three-stage surprise attack which could pave the way for an assault landing on Taiwan.

Coinciding with the centenary celebrations of the CCP and Xi Jinping's speech on July 1, the Global Times (July 2) cited the results of a poll released by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation (TPOF) on July 1, apparently showing that among adult Taiwan residents, favourable views of the CCP have increased by 4 per cent and negative views decreased by 16 per cent as compared to October 2020.

Pointing to a report in the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg about the movement of 50,000 troops by India to the LAC "and is implementing an "offensive defense" against China, which will give Indian forces "more options to attack and seize territory in China", Hu Xijin, Editor in Chief of the Global Times (July 3) dismissed these reports as " intended to set off the tension in the China-India border area and stir conflict".

The US Justice Department confirmed (July 6) that China Daily’s disclosure submitted to the Justice Department for the time period between November 2016 and April 2020, had revealed that the CCP paid US$ 19 million to some major media houses like the New York Times and Washington Post.

Writing in Foreign Affairs (July/Aug 2021) Chinese academic and Americas expert Wang Jisi said "In the past decade, the consensus in Washington has shifted decisively in favour of a more confrontational posture toward Beijing" and that "The recent change in U.S. administration has produced a different tone, but not a dramatic shift in substance".

Radio Free Europe (RFE) reported that police in Kazakhstan on July 1, detained a handful of activists long involved in protesting Chinese policies in Xinjiang.

Dressed in a grey Mao-style suit Xi Jinping, BBC said, delivered a defiant speech at the event marking the centenary of the ruling Chinese Communist Party on July 1.

Xinhua (June 22) reported that the CCP CC Organization Department held a “grand oath-taking ceremony” in Beijing on June 22, for representatives of new party members, with Politburo Member and Head of the Central Organization Department Chen Xi presiding over the swearing-in ceremony and delivering a speech.

The People's Daily (June 22) reported that the CPPCC National Committee's Standing Committee held its 13th meeting in Beijing on June 21.

Cai Xia, former senior Professor at Beijing’s Central Party School and sharp critic of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a 28 page paper for Stanford University's Hoover Institute and captioned an “Insider’s Perspective,” has said that four decades of U.S. bridge-building has merely entrenched a Chinese leadership inherently hostile to the U.S. And under President Xi Jinping, China no longer finds engagement useful.

Cao Xin, Secretary-General of the International Public Opinion Research Center of the Chahar Institute; researcher at the Peninsula Peace Research Center and Deputy Director of Southern Newspaper Group Beijing Office, Deputy Chief Editor of Southern Weekend Newspaper Network and current Chief Correspondent in Beijing, published an article recently captioned “Does China’s Diplomacy Need a Big Adjustment?”.

At its second press conference on June 28, Xiao Pei, Deputy Secretary of the Central Discipline Inspection Commission (CDIC) and Deputy Director of the State Supervision Commission; Xu Yousheng, Deputy Director of the CCP CC United Front Work Department; Guo Yezhou, Deputy Minister of the CCP CC International Liaison Department (ILD); and Han Wenxiu, Deputy Director of the Central Finance Office in charge of daily work briefed the reporters and fielded their questions.

A lengthy Beijing Daily (June 28) commentary said "In the 10 years of the "Cultural Revolution", the party has repeatedly corrected the "Left" and turned the tide, making Chinese socialism stand firm in the East of Asia.

In an article in the Washington Post on June 30, Jefffrey Lewis stated that China is building a huge nuclear launch site in Gansu, with more than 100 ICBM missile silos.

Hongkong's Sing Tao Daily reported June 28) that the cross-border use of digital Chinese currency will be fully rolled out for testing in Hong Kong.

According to the Economic Times (June 28), China has pipped India to bag the post of Deputy Director General (DDG) at the World Trade Organization, allegedly by using its good offices with director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The state-owned CCTV reported (June 27) that on the occasion of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the Politburo "used red resources and continued red blood" for its 31st collective study on June 25.

China Daily (June 26) reported that seven new research centres, approved by the CCP CC, have been established to further study, research and promote 'Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era'.

On June 25, the People's Daily published an article by Wang Xiaohong, Vice Minister and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Public Security and member of the 19th CCP CC, titled ' Absorbing forge ahead from the history of the party and show new deeds on the new journey (a monograph celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China)'.

Beijing has tightened security as the CCP celebrates its 100th anniversary on July 1.

The People's Daily (June 21) published an interesting article by Bao Xinjian, Professor at the School of Marxism, Shandong University, captioned 'Demonstrate the most distinctive character and greatest advantage of self-revolution (a monograph celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China)'.

The People's Daily (June 23) reported that since the 18th Party Congress when Xi Jinping had stressed the importance of young people going to the front line of the countryside to build their careers and that ‘talent is the key to rural revitalization, the CCP CC's Organisation Department has been working to guide “all localities to actively select college graduates to work in villages.”

The People's Daily (June 27) announced that the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport was put into operation on June 27.

CMC Vice Chairmen General Xu Qiliang and General Zhang Youxia attended a special study session on party history on June 24.

The Guangming Daily (June 27) published an article by Liu Zhengbin, Professor of the School of Political Science, National Defense University, and Researcher of Shanghai Xi Jinping Research Center for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era, titled: 'The leadership of the party'.

The Associated Press (June 25) disclosed that China had pressured Ukraine into withdrawing its support for a call for more scrutiny of human rights in China’s western region of Xinjiang by threatening to withhold Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines destined for Ukraine unless it did so.

Reuters (June 25) reported that activists and Western diplomats are asking Michelle Bachelet, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, to document her own findings on the plight of Uyghurs in Xinjiang even without China’s blessing for a visit.

The People's Daily (June 23) reported that on June 21, Chinese President Xi Jinping replied to the international students of Peking University, which aroused an enthusiastic response among the universities and foreign students in China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping took a dozen Politburo members on June 18 to the new Museum of the Communist Party of China.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang chaired a meeting of the State Council’s Leading Small Group (LSG) for developing the western region on June 21. This is the first time this LSG has met in three years.

The People's Daily (June 18) reported that Politburo member Sun Chunlan attended the finale of the “Online Retrace of the Long March”, an event for college students.

State Council Information Office released a 14,000-word, 9-chapter, White Paper on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) this (June 25) morning in Beijing.

The Business Standard of the U.S. reported (June 19) that Zhang Zhijian, who was one of China's top nuclear scientists and the Vice-President of Harbin Engineering University and Vice-President of the Chinese Nuclear Society died after falling from a building.

On June 23, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to the three astronauts Nie Haisheng (56), Liu Boming (54) and Tang Hongbo (45) via video link, and congratulated them on their successfully entering the space station while thanking them for their work.

People’s Daily (June 16) reported on the United Front Work Department Research and Consultation Symposium held in Beijing on June 16. The symposium was held to review the research results on strengthening national strategic capacity in science and technology carried out by relevant party groups. PBSC Member and CPPCC Chairman Wang Yang delivered a speech when he described how Xi Jinping and the CCP had contributed to strengthening the national strategic capacity in science and technology.

The WeChat Official Account of the Ministry of National Security at 1600 hrs on June 18, 2021 said, "It is necessary to catch spies as well as "traitors" and "behind the scenes" and this was repeated by the "Central Political and Legal Committee Chang An Jian" WeChat official account the same day.

Xinhua (June 18) disclosed that on June 15, more than 4000 Spring recruits to the recruits brigades of the Tibet Military Region in three camps lined up neatly for their swearing-in ceremony in front of the military flag, and completed the transition from local youth to qualified military personnel.

People’s Daily (June 15) published a Commentator's article on the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of the Status, Rights and Interests of Military Personnel,” passed by the National People’s Congress on June 10.

A total of 28 PLAAF and PLAN aircraft intruded into Taiwan's ADIZ on June 15.

On June 23, China held a virtual conference on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), formally titled the “Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation.”

Caixin (June 22) reported that halfway through what’s supposed to be the final year of a transition to sweeping new rules covering asset management in China, the $3.9 trillion bank-based sector of the industry is deeply mired in a struggle to accomplish all it needs to by the end of 2021.

Caixin (June 22) reported that China has moved ahead with its plans to open the country’s financial markets and increase its pricing power over globally traded commodities with the launch of yuan-denominated crude oil options contracts, the first in the energy sector available to foreign investors.

Gao Li, a spokesperson of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), was quoted by Caixin (June 22) as saying that the Guangzhou Futures Exchange will accelerate efforts to launch a carbon futures market.

Hongkong's independent Apple Daily shut down on June 24 as the authorities refused to 'unfreeze' its assets.

The US Seventh Fleet said that the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit on June 22 through international waters in accordance with international law.

The Tibet Daily (June 22) reported that the District Party Committee held an Ideological and Propaganda and Ideological Work Leadership Group Meeting on June 21, to thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on ideological work, propaganda and ideological work, and Tibet work, as well as the party’s strategy for governing Tibet in the new era.

TAR Chairman Che Dalha inspected the borders of Ngari (Ali) on June 20-21, 2021. After the inspection he convened a forum and discussed consolidation of borders, strengthening and the speeding up of border infrastructures.

A PLA website on June 22 observed that "One year has passed since the Sino-Indian border conflict, but India is still not reconciled to the initial failure and has been making small moves. The Chinese Air Force dispatched more than 20 fighters to conduct large-scale exercises near Ladakh.

The People's Daily (June 15) published a 'Zhong Sheng' article calling on the United States to honour its commitments from the Three China-US Joint Communiqués, in which the United States officially maintains a one-China policy.

The state-owned CCTV (June 19) telecast a report giving insights into Xi Jinping's personal qualities and emphasised that he had learnt a lot from his father, Xi Zhongxun.

The People's Daily (June 18) reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping has set the key points for running the ideological and political class well.

The "Seeking Truth" magazine published on June 16, 2021, published an "important" article by General Secretary Xi Jinping captioned "Taking History as a Mirror, Taking History to Mingzhi, Knowing History and Loving the Party, Knowing History and Patriotism".

CCTV (June 18) reported that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presided over an executive meeting of the State Council on June 18 and decided to provide one-off subsidies to actual grain farmers in response to the rapid increase in the price of agricultural materials this year; and decided to expand the full cost insurance and planting of food crops.

A front-page article in the People's Daily (June 18) highlighted the need to 'Ensure food security is placed in a prominent position so that grains are basically self-sufficient and food rations are absolutely safe'.

The Guangming Daily (June 18) published an article by Liu Baodong, researcher of the Central Party School [National School of Administration] Xi Jinping Research Center for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era, and Deputy Director of the Party Building Education and Research Department of the Central Party School.

Asia Times (June 21) reported its interview with former Tsinghua University lecturer Wu Qiang at his apartment in Beijing on June 10.

Global Times (June 18) reported that outspoken Chinese ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, said he is proud to be endowed with the title of "wolf warrior" and is determined to stand in the way of "mad dogs" that attack China.

The Times reported (June 16) that after the Chinese state-owned CGTN had its broadcasting licence revoked and was taken off the air in Britain in February, the network has launched a “media challengers” campaign to recruit internet influencers and vloggers globally, some of whom will promote China and counter western narratives that damage its image.

The current social issue called 'Lying Flat', which Chinese psychologists have said denotes the feeling of helplessness among China's youth of today has attracted notice in academic circles.

The People's Daily (June 19) reported that the State Council’s Financial Committee meeting on May 21 called for cracking down on Bitcoin mining and trading.

The 13th Lujiazui Forum, co-hosted by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, the People's Bank of China, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, was held in Shanghai on June 10, 2021.

Zichen Wang of Pekingology translated a speech by Jin Liqun, President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and once China’s Vice Finance Minister, at the 3rd symposium of the China International Finance 30 Forum, on May 16, 2021.

Since May this year, the Chinese seem to have mounted a disinformation campaign in Taiwan aimed at weakening the DPP. The DPP's image is being affected not only by the campaign but also by internal dissatisfaction with the DPP government in its handling of the Covid pandemic.

A speech by Zhang Weiwei, now heading Fudan's China Research Institute and a Senior Research Fellow at the Shanghai-based think tank Chunqiu Institute and Wu Xinwen, a Senior Research Fellow at the Chunqiu Institute, to Fudan University students delivered on June 13 was reported by the popular Chinese online portal Guanchazhe.

A post (June 14) on a popular Chinese social media site (June 14) reported that the BrahMos missile, which has Russian technology and is claimed to be fast, multi-ballistic, anti-jamming, and difficult to be intercepted, has been deployed with the fourth "BrahMos" missile regiment in the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh which is the southern part of Tibet".

On June 20 morning the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Kabul have asked Chinese citizens in Afghanistan to leave because of the security situation.

The first jury trial of Anming Hu, a former Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, tried as part of the Department of Justice’s controversial China Initiative ended in a hung jury and a mistrial on June 16, prompting renewed calls for the department to suspend the initiative and investigate concerns about racial profiling and targeting of Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited Jilin Province. on June 15. In Jilin he visited Panpan Foods, a leading food processing company and official sponsor of the 2022 Beijing Olympics and a China-South Korea International Cooperation Demonstration Zone.

On June 15, the Secretary-General of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission (PLAC) Chen Yixin, chaired a PLAC meeting on implementing the Party’s recent directive to improve supervision of top bosses at Party and state organisations.

Unconfirmed reports have been in circulation since June 17 that Dong Jingwei (董经纬), former Vice Minister of China's Ministry of State Security (MoSS) defected in mid-February, flying from Hong Kong to the United States with his daughter, Dong Yang.

The United Front Work Department held a seminar on June 16, to discuss the results of the “Strengthening National Strategic Science and Technology Forces” research campaign.

On June 10, 2021, the NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) adopted the Revised new Law on the Protection of the Status, Rights, and Interests of Military Personnel [军人地位和权益保障法] to be effective from August 1, 2021).

On June 15, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) sent 28 warplanes on sorties into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

On June 17 morning the Hong Kong police used the National Security Law for arresting five editors and executives on charges of collusion with foreign powers.

Citing media reports a PLA website on June 3 posted an article captioned "The Medog Expressway in Tibet is about to open, becoming an important guarantee for the recovery of southern Tibet'.

The PLA Daily (June 11) reported that Qi Fabao, the Regimental Commander of the PLA Xinjiang Military Command, who suffered a serious head injury while fighting bravely in the Galwan Valley border skirmish on June 15, 2020, spoke at a high-level military meeting organized by the CMC's Political Work Department in honour of heroic border troops on June 11.

The draft Japan's Defence Ministry White Paper released on June 16, for the first time mentioned the strategic importance of Taiwan while heavily focusing on maritime moves by China’s military.

Caixin (June 15) reported that Australia’s National Science Agency had decided to end its research partnership with a top Chinese lab next year following a warning that the tie-up could impact the country’s national security, according to Australian media.

The Chinese embassy in the U.K. on June 14, criticised a statement by the leaders of the Group of Seven (G-7) for the “deliberate slandering” of China, accusing the countries’ leaders of “gross interference” in its internal affairs.

Writing in the South China Morning Post (June 12) its former Editor-in-Chief Wang Xiangwei said "If China’s leaders want to engage the international media, learn from Mao, Deng and Jiang".

The Global Times (June 13) reported that the PLAAF's new J-20 stealth fighters, the new Z-8L helicopters and the Z-19 gunship and the Z-10 gunship will perform a flypast at the CCP's centenary celebrations on July 1.

The Foreign Languages School of Hubei University for Nationalities' released an English rendition of a music video titled "Without the Communist Party, There Would Be No New China" on Twitter on June 14.

Tibet's first electrified railway line 435 kms in length and a major part of China's second rail line with Tibet is to begin operation from June 30.

Nikkei-Asia reported (June 13) that China's income inequality has grown despite village modernization.

In an article published on June 12, 2021, in "Marxist Studies" (Issue 3/2021) Prof. Yang Yunxia, Dean, Professor, and Doctoral Supervisor of the School of Marxism, Northwestern Polytechnical University, and a special researcher at the Center for Innovation and Development of Ideological and Political Work of the Ministry of Education of Northwestern Polytechnical University, described National economic security as an important content of national security.

Executive Vice Chairman of TAR People’s Government and Standing Member of TAR Party Committee, Jiang Jie convened a special meeting recently to evaluate the preparatory work for the “Global Promotional Event on Tibet by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”.

The Washington-based Duowei News reported on the G7 summit. Observing that it had concluded its three-day agenda on June 13, and issued a communiqué after the meeting.

Radio Free Asia (June 9) reported that on June 7, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, in his annual speech to German diplomats, criticized Hungary without naming it.

CCTV (June 12) reported that the US Department of Defense published a newsletter on June 9 that US Secretary of Defense Austin issued an "internal directive" requesting the Department of Defense to take a series of actions to better respond to so-called China as America’s primary challenge Security threats.

ANI reported (June 11) from Islamabad that Pakistan has gifted boxes of mangoes to 32 countries, including China.

During a three-day (June 7-9) tour of Qinghai province, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the importance of Qinghai by stressing its importance for maintaining order in neighbouring Xinjiang and Tibet.

The state-owned CGTN telecast a report (June 8) showing Madame Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, calling for global efforts in AIDS and TB prevention and treatment in order to benefit all mankind and build a global community of health for all.

PBSC member and Secretary of the CCP CC's Central Discipline Inspection Commission (CDIC) Zhao Leji visited Shandong from June 6 to 8.

On May 31, Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired a Politburo meeting to listen to reports on major policy measures to actively respond to the ageing population in the “14th Five-Year Plan” period and to deliberate on the “Decision about Improving Birth Policies to Promote Long-Term Balanced Population Development”.

CCTV reported (June 10) that Chinese President Xi Jinping had signed the Chairman's Order No: 90 approving the “Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law". Xinhua had reported that, on July 7, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China was deliberating the “Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law (Draft).”

The People's Daily (May 29) reported that on May 28, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed a large national conference for the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) solemnly convened at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

The Global Times (March 14, 2021) had reported an NPC delegate saying on the sidelines of the NPC Plenum on March 11 that a single-function biology experiment platform payload, Sparkle-1, is expected to be launched via a Long March carrier rocket by September, while a multi-functional platform supporting biological experiments may be put into orbit by 2022.

Caixin (June 7) reported that China, which has largely recovered from the pandemic since last summer, reported a new wave of flare-ups in Guangzhou that is testing the city’s ability to contain a stronger version of the virus.

10.78 million candidates appeared for China's annual college entrance exam, better known as the 'Gaokao', which began on Monday morning.

Chinese social media revealed a stabbing incident in Shanghai's Fudan University on June 7 when 39-year Jiang Wenhua stabbed to death Wang Yongzhen, Party Secretary of the Fudan Mathematics Department. Jiang Wenhua is a colleague in the same department.

China's Ministry of Finance and several ministries on June 4, jointly issued a notice ordering four kinds of non-tax revenues to be collected by central tax authorities.

A Chinese news portal reported (June 3) that officers and soldiers of a certain unit "on the battlefield in eastern Tibet" of the Tibet Military Region conducted offensive combat training to temper their handling methods and coordinated combat capabilities in complex battlefield conditions, and further improve their actual combat level.

The US-based Duowei news portal reported (June 4) that the Xinjiang Military Region has recently launched live ammunition exercises. It said the latest news from military sources indicates that the heavy artillery squad of a certain regiment of the Xinjiang Military Region has launched live ammunition training.

A PLA news portal revealed (May 30) that a brigade of the Xinjiang Military Region of China is stationed on a snow-covered plateau at an altitude of 4,500 meters in difficult combat conditions.

The South China Morning Post (June 7) reported that the PLA Southern Theatre Command disclosed on June 5 that a fleet under its command had travelled more than 6,700 nautical miles (12,400 km) over the past month, passing through the Celebes Sea — which separates Indonesia and the Philippines — and the western Pacific.

Australia's Cairns Post revealed (June 8) photographs 'leaked' on Chinese social media on May 31 that provide a pretty good estimate of the flight deck layout for Type 003 CATOBAR CV once completed overlaid on the current stage of construction.

The Global Times (June 9) published an article captioned 'India may create new border conflict to shift attention from worsening economic, pandemic conditions: expert'.

ARS Technica reported (June 6) that in Bahrain officials are now offering high-risk people who have already received two doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine a third vaccine dose—but one made by Pfizer-BioNTech.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the fourth session of the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue with his respective counterparts on June 3.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his ten ASEAN counterparts on June 8 at Chongqing when they discussed restoring tourism and other economic exchanges battered by COVID-19, to more coordinated efforts in fighting the pandemic and the feasibility of creating a vaccine passport to allow freer travel among them.

The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed an expansive 2,400-page 'US Innovation and Competition Act of 2021' to invest almost $250 billion in bolstering U.S. manufacturing and technology to meet the economic and strategic challenge from China on June 8 by 68-32 votes.

Three US Senators, Ladda Tammy Duckworth (D), Daniel Scott Sullivan (R) both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Christopher Andrew Coons (D) a member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, travelled to Taiwan on a USAF C-17 Globemaster rather than an unmarked private jet.

The jury trial in the US against Hu Anming, an Associate Professor in the University of Tennessee’s department of mechanical, aerospace and biomedical engineering in February 2020, on charges of defrauding NASA by hiding his relationship with a Chinese university began in the Knoxville federal court on June 7.

In his article published in the People's Daily (May 31), Politburo member Wang Chen highlighted the significance of the Yan’an Spirit, and how “Yan’an has also become a red beacon that will always inspire the Chinese Communists to march forward courageously.”

Recent reports (June 5) reveal that The Weekend Australian reported that according to documents obtained by it, Zhou Yusen, a respected military scientist for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who collaborated with the controversial Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and American experts, submitted a patent for a Covid-19 vaccine on 24 February 2020.

The US-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) published an article (May 24) reporting that Shi Yinhong, Director of the Center for American Studies at the Renmin University's School of International Studies, enumerated "eight strategic goals of China" for the next 20 years.

The Guangming Daily (June 6) published a lengthy article titled: 'The Experience and Enlightenment of the Innovation of Military Theory of the Big Party in the Past Hundred Years".

The People's Daily (June 2) published a signed article by TAR Party Secretary Wu Yingjie titled: "The Glory of the Party Illuminates the People of the Frontier and the People in the Frontier".

Caixin (June 4) reported that Liang Qiang, the new president of bad-debt manager China Great Wall Asset Management Co. Ltd., was named deputy Communist Party chief of troubled China Huarong Asset Management Co. Ltd. on June 4.

Caixin reported (June 4) that Wang Xing, the billionaire founder of internet giant Meituan, will transfer $2.2 billion of his company holdings into a separate charitable fund, stock exchange filings showed, adding his name to a growing list of high-tech billionaires using their fortunes for philanthropy.

The People’s Daily (June 3) reported the official launch of a 100 MW solar power plant in Kaposvár, Hungary last week.

Nikkei Asia reported (June 6) that the Japanese authorities will conduct a review of the Beijing-funded educational organization known as the Confucius Institutes that operates on university campuses in light of concerns that the group is a propaganda tool of China.

On the afternoon of May 31, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) flew 16 aircraft consisting of Ilyushin Il-76 and Xian Y-20 multi-role airlifters over Malaysian maritime zone airspace close to Sarawak.

The Global Times (June 2) reported that the office of the leading group of the CCP centennial celebrations had announced that the CCP Central Committee will for the first time award honorary medals to over 7.1 million veteran Party members, as the CCP marks the 100th anniversary of its founding.

Addressing a Politburo group study session on May 31, Chinese President Xi Jinping was reported by Xinhua (May 31) as saying that China needs "to develop a voice in international discourse that matches China's comprehensive national strength and international status."

The People's Daily (May 26) reported that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, accompanied by Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary Yuan Jiajun and Governor Zheng Zhajie, inspected Ningbo from May 24 to 25.

The People's Daily (June 3) published an article Liu Qi, Party Secretary of Jiangxi Province, captioned 'Actively explore the path to realize the value of ecological products (in-depth study and implementation of Xi Jinping’s thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era)'.

The People's Daily (June 3) published an article by Yin Hong, Party Secretary of Gansu Province captioned: 'Keep in mind the entrustment to write a new chapter and forge ahead on a new journey'.

A lengthy article in the People's Daily (June 3) reported that on June 1, the Party Central Committee published a document on stepping up supervision of the "top boss" at various Party organizations and state agencies.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China this year, the Shanghai Daily has decided, starting June 1, to publish daily 100 Q&As about the CPC and its members.

The China Education News (June 3) published an article on the newly revised "Regulations for the Implementation of the Private Education Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China" recently issued by the State Council and which will come into force from September 1 this year.

An article in the Guangming Daily (June 3) emphasised that "colleges and universities are important positions for carrying out party history education.

Caixin (June 3) reported that Chinese Infectious disease specialist Zhang Wenhong has estimated that China may wait until the first half of 2022 to begin relaxing restrictions on international travel.

On May 31, China announced that married couples would be allowed to have up to three children, raising the official two-child limit in a widely anticipated move.

Caixin (June 3) reported that the rapid rise of the $15 billion Chinese fast-fashion business, which now challenges industry titans like Zara and H&M, has prompted questions about who controls the company and the sustainability of its business model.

The PLA Daily (May 26) reported that some officers and soldiers of an unidentified Regiment posted in the harsh climate of the high altitude plateau experienced psychological discomfort and greater pressure.

Z-10 Medium Attack Helicopters of an Army Aviation Brigade of the Xinjiang Military Region were reported on May 28 to have carried out high-intensity, multiple-type combat exercises in the hinterland of the Karakoram Plateau, which is nearly 5,000 meters above sea level.

China Forum Executive Committee member and Peking University Prof. Han Hua's interview of retired PLA Senior Colonel Zhou Bo and Senior Researcher, Center for Strategic and Security Studies, Tsinghua University; China Forum Contributing Expert, was published by China's high-circulation portal Guancha (Observer) on May 29.

The CCP and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI) held an online event on May 26 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan and the 10th anniversary of the exchanges between the two parties.

The CCP held a video conference on May 26, with major Nepalese political parties on the theme of "Jointly Combating the Pandemic and Jointly Protecting People's Safety - China and Nepal Join Hands to Fight the Pandemic."

On May 24, China's PLA Southern Theatre Command claimed that the U.S. warship USS Curtis Wilbur had illegally entered its territorial waters near the Paracel islands in the South China Sea without permission and was expelled by its forces.

Xinhua (May 28, 29) reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the opening of the Tenth National Congress of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST) in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 28 when he delivered an "important speech".

Executive Vice Premier Han Zheng chaired the first plenary meeting of the newly-formed Leading Small Group (LSG) for Peak Carbon and Carbon Neutrality on May 26.

The People's Daily (May 29) published an article by Sichuan Party Secretary Peng Qinghua captioned 'Firmly implement the new development concept, Strive to draw a new picture of governing and rejuvenating Sichuan in the new era'.

The People's Daily (May 30) published an article by Guizhou Party Secretary Chen Yiqin captioned 'Breaking new roads, opening new games, seizing new opportunities, creating new achievements, creating a colourful new future in Guizhou where the people are rich and ecologically beautiful'.

The South China Morning Post (May 30) disclosed that the gathering pace of the PLA’s modernisation has given its instructors and recruiters the challenge of how to train a newer breed of soldier.

The state-owned CCTV reported (May 30) that at 20:55 on May 29th, the Long March 7 Yaosan carrier rocket carrying the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft was successfully launched at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China.

Washington Post (May 29) reported that last month Zhou Hong, President of Huawei’s European and Russian research institutes, visited Novosibirsk State Technical University in Siberia and discussed how Russian universities could help the Chinese tech giant.

Yang Yuanqing, CEO of Lenovo Group Ltd. said (May 27) that he expects the global semiconductor shortage to persist for as long as another 18 months as the unprecedented scarcity continues to squeeze production across a wide range of sectors.

Caixin (May 29) reported that China’s big tech companies, which made aggressive forays into financial services, all now have their eyes firmly fixed on the sector’s two dominant players — Ant Group Co. Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. — and how they are following regulators’ orders to overhaul their multibillion-dollar financial operations.

Caixin reported (May 29) that China’s market regulator, State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), slapped a 1.5 million yuan ($235,302) fine on Alibaba Group-backed community group-buying platform Nice Tuan, citing violations including product dumping and deceptive pricing.

Ma Shengchang, Party Secretary of Nyingchi went to the border villages and duty stations in Metok County (Metok also known as Pema Ko in Tibetan borders Arunachal Pradesh, India) on inspection on May 18 and 19.

The People's Daily (May 27) publicised that an 'International Symposium on "Progress and Development of Human Rights in the 70 Years of Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" was held in Chongqing on May 26, around the 70th anniversary of the "peaceful liberation" of Tibet.

ANI (May 27) reported that the Pakistan Federal Cabinet on May 25 approved a special China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) business visa to facilitate Chinese investors in the country.

The Foreign Ministers of Ireland, Poland, Hungary and Serbia visited China from May 29 to 31 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said during the visit Wang Yi will separately meet the four ministers and discuss bilateral and China-Europe relations.

A source close to Chinese Vice Premier Liu He and his team posted a brief comment (Taoran Notes, May 27 & 28) on a WeChat account of the talks between USTR Katherine Tai and Liu He on May 27.

The Dubai authorities, who had detained 19-year old student Wang Jingyu, a permanent resident of the United States at China's behest, was freed on May 27.

The Washington Post (May 30) reported that the U.S. has banned seafood imports from China's Dalian Ocean Fishing Co., Ltd. accusing it of using forced labour.

The People's Daily (May 27) published an article by Hainan Party Secretary Shen Xiaoming with the caption 'Those who have the country in mind are determined to reform and innovate: To steadily advance the construction of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics'.

The People's Daily (May 24) published an article by Hunan Province Party Secretary Xu Dazhe captioned 'Keep in mind Yin Yin's entrustment to carry forward the revolutionary spirit and walk the Long March in the new era'.

A People's Daily (May 27) commentary pointing to its major achievements extolled the CCP's choice of a development path for China. It stated "A hundred years of overcoming obstacles and thorns, a hundred years of great changes.

The People's Daily (May 20) reported the inspection visit by a team led by PBSC member and CPPCC Chairman Wang Yang to Ningxia from May 17-19, 2021.

The People's Daily (May 20) reported the visit of the Head of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) to Henan province between May 17-19.

The CCP CC General Office issued a Notice on May 25, on "Carrying out Propaganda and Education on the History of the Party, the History of New China, the History of Reform and Opening-up and the History of Socialist Development in the whole society", and said arrangements had been for carrying out publicity and education on the "Four Histories" on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region's Regional Development and Reform Commission issued eight draft measures against mining activities in the region.

Radio Free Asia reported (May 25) the death in custody of Ms Mihray Erkin, a graduate of Shanghai’s Jiao Tong University with a degree in plant biotechnology who had gone on to complete a related master’s degree in Tokyo University before becoming a researcher at Japan’s Nara Institute of Science and Technology, returned to the XUAR in August 2019 after authorities in Kashgar put her parents under pressure to call her home.

South China Morning Post (May 24) disclosed that Beijing’s top office overseeing Hong Kong affairs will be expanded to create two new departments covering national security and propaganda.

The state-owned CGTN's 'First Voice' reacted to an article in Foreign Policy (May 7) by Robert Barnett saying that "News of the construction of the Chinese villages is neither stealthy nor secretive."

Asia Times reported (May 25) that the Sri Lankan cabinet on May 24, awarded the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) a contract to build a 17-kilometre (10.5-mile), four-lane highway in Colombo.

Speaking at the Stanford Shorenstein Center, Stanford University, Kurt Campbell, the US coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the National Security Council, on May 26 said “The period that was broadly described as engagement has come to an end,” and US policy towards China will now operate under a “new set of strategic parameters”.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and China’s Vice Premier Liu He had a “candid” first conversation as the two sides began to try to resolve some of their differences on trade.

A statement issued by the White House quoted US President Biden as saying on May 26 that he had asked for an additional follow-up to the Intelligence Community's report on the origins of COVID-19, including whether it emerged from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident.

The South China Morning Post (May 25) citing analysts and sources said misunderstandings and protocol disagreements have affected dialogue between the Chinese and US militaries, but without causing an immediate crisis.

National Pulse on May 26 reported that current Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, US President Biden's reported choice for US Ambassador to India, has a "long history of collaboration with groups tied to the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department (UFWD)".

A federal court in Washington issued a final order Tuesday vacating the designation by the U.S. Department of Defense of Smartphone-maker Xiaomi as subject to sanctions for alleged ties to China’s military, the Hong Kong-listed company said in a securities filing.

Fiame Naomi Mataafa, Samoa's opposition leader who is set to take over as Samoa's new prime minister has pledged to cancel a $100 million Chinese-backed port development, calling it excessive for the small Pacific island that is already heavily indebted to China.

Japan Times reported that Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry issued a warning last month to Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. and a subcontracted firm after the latter leaked blueprints for parts of a military-use prototype machine gun to a Chinese company.

Writing on May 20, 2021 in the publication of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Zhang Yuyan, Professor of the School of International Relations, examined Sino-US relations and observed that "Looking to the future, China and the United States must evade the terrorist balance based on mutual destruction between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and continue to lay a solid foundation for the healthy and stable development of Sino-US relations by ensuring mutual dependence (Mutually Assured Interdependence)".

The South China Morning Post (May 23) reported that Wang Jisi, President of the Institute of International and Strategic Studies at Peking University and one of China's top America experts, while addressing a ceremony attended by former Chinese diplomats to launch the new American Studies Centre at Zhejiang International Studies University in Hangzhou on May 15, regretted that American studies in China are "too weak".

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on May 23 that Chinese Politburo member and Director of Office of Foreign Affairs Commission, Yang Jiechi will attend the 16th round of China-Russia strategic security consultation and visit Slovenia and Croatia on May 24-27, 2021.

A PLA-maintained website on May 21, indicated revived Chinese interest in Arunachal Pradesh, which it said were in India's "illegal" occupation.

China issued a White Paper on Tibet comprising ten chapters and captioned 'Tibet Since 1951: Liberation, Development and Prosperity' on May 21, 2021.

China announced the completion of construction of a US$ 310 million strategically important highway connecting Pad Township in the Chinese city of Nyingchi with the Baibung Township in Medog County,through the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, which is known as the world’s deepest gorge with a maximum depth of 6009 metres.

The popular Chinese social media chat site 'qq' on May 21 carried a post stating that India is currently looking for a light tank that can fight against China’s Type 15 light tank.

Radio France International (May 15) reported that an article on the website of the French weekly magazine Le Nouvel Observateur described a hacking competition, secretly organized by the Chinese government, which offered a reward of $200,000 to anyone who could hack into an iPhone.

The People's Daily (May 21) reported that the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) has, since the launch of the Party History Study and Education campaign, "solidly carried out party history learning and education".

The People's Daily (May 21) reported that the CCP CC and State Council had jointly issued a document on the struggle against the triads and “evil” forces.

The Central News Agency reported (May 14) that China’s State Council had announced (May 14) new, revised regulations for private school education, which will be implemented in time for the new school year on September 1.

The People's Daily (May 13) published an article by the CCP CC's Organisation Department under the pseudonym Zhong Zuwen captioned 'Vigorously select outstanding cadres who are loyal and clean'.

Hubei Party Secretary Ying Yong's article captioned 'Build a fulcrum and walk in the forefront to write a new chapter' was published by the People's Daily on May 23.

A New York Times investigative report (May 17), which includes accounts from former employees, states that Apple Inc. made compromises with the Chinese government which make it “virtually impossible” to prevent the authorities from accessing the data stored on Chinese servers—which, under 2016 laws, includes all of Apple’s Chinese users.

At the weekly press conference in Beijing on May 18, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian in reply to a question said China has repeatedly expressed its serious concerns about the US military’s use of overseas laboratories to engage in biological militarization activities.

A lengthy article in the Global Times (May 16) titled 'US embassy increasingly offensive in pushing ‘peaceful evolution’ in China by roping in activists with money' pointed to the recently announced programme of the US Embassy in China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a videoconference on May 19, to initiate a series of nuclear energy projects and where they announced the start of construction of Russia-designed reactors at China’s Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in Jiangsu Province and two at Xudapu Nuclear Plant in Liaoning province.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held telephonic talks on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China on May 20 and reaffirmed their resolve to further diversify and deepen strategic cooperation between the all-weather allies.

ANI (May 19) reported that the Nepalese Home Ministry had reported the removal of border pillars in the Daulkha district in village-Vigu of District-Daulkha to Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Pope Francis named 61-year Stephen Chow, head of Hong Kong's Jesuit order, as the new bishop of Hong Kong on May 17.

The South China Morning Post (May 18) disclosed that Taiwan has "temporarily" suspended operations in Hongkong in what Taipei called a regrettable unilateral move that went against the established convention.

Liu Guangyan, former Ambassador to Poland, was named the new head of the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) office in Hongkong. Liu Guangyan's previous postings include San Francisco and Washington.

Xinhua (April 9) reported that with aid from Shenzhen City of Guangdong Province, construction of a new border defence village (Ch: Xiaokang) was completed in early April in Zayul County, southwest of Nyingtri.

The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) Public Security Bureau of Chushul County of Lhasa organised a play with the theme “Policing into villages and maintaining zero distance” on May 10 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party and the 70th anniversary of the “Peaceful Liberation of Tibet”, and demonstrate “maple-bridge style” policing system.

The Serthar Buddhist College, the Larung Gar Temple Management Committee, the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau of Serthar County and the Serthar County Civil Affairs Bureau on April 27, 2021, issued a public notice explicitly dispelling the hype surrounding the well-known Larung Gar Buddhist Academy and the Nubzig (Ch: Luoruo) sky burial site, both in Serthar (Ch: Seda) County in eastern Tibet, as tourist attractions.

A report of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)' Reconnecting Asia Project released on May 17, disclosed that CSIS researchers found 70 agreements in 41 countries between governments (or state-owned enterprises) and Huawei for its Cloud services.

The Chinese leadership is grappling with creating jobs for the record 9.09 million students who will graduate from Chinese universities in 2021.

The People’s Daily (May 12) reported that 15 inspection teams had deployed to 32 work units for the 19th CCP CC's seventh round of inspections by 10 May.

The People's Daily (May 12) disclosed that the CCP CC General Office had published its “Suggestions on Continuing to Select and Send First Secretaries and Working Groups to Key Villages” to help “win the fight against poverty,” “comprehensively promote rural revitalization,” and “consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation.”

Vice Premier and Politburo member Sun Chunlan held a discussion on May 10, with provincial- and ministerial-level cadres to promote the construction of a “healthy China.”

The People’s Daily (May 12) reported that 15 inspection teams had deployed to 32 work units for the 19th CCP CC's seventh round of inspections by 10 May.

The Liberation Army Daily on May 20 published an article by a member of PLA Unit 31006 captioned 'Party members must enhance their sense of honour'.

In an article in 'China Social Science News' (Issue 2169, May 20, 2021), Ren Long and Lin Wenjie of the Political College of National Defense University and Joint Logistics Support Force Longyan Comprehensive Warehouse Support Team respectively, disclosed that there are serious concerns about the PLA rank and file adhering to the policy of the Party's absolute leadership over the Army.

The People's Daily (May 20) published an article by Liu Jiayi, Secretary of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee, captioned 'Open up a new situation in building a modern and powerful province in a new era', which recalled General Secretary Xi Jinping's remarks at the Party History Study and Education Mobilization Conference.

The state-owned CCTV.com's "People's Leader Xi Jinping" column launched a series of special articles called "Party of the Communist Party Xi Jinping".

Nikkei Asia (May 16) reported that Japan's National Police Agency Commissioner-General Mitsuhiro Matsumoto at a meeting of senior police officers from across the nation on April 23 in Tokyo, for the first time identified China as responsible for a cyberattack on Japan.

Sina.com (May 8) said that on May 8, Counselor Wang Xiaojian, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, issued a "solemn statement" on the recent wrong practices of the Indian media on Taiwan- related issues, refuting the wrong arguments and reiterating China's principled position.

On May 13, China inaugurated a new National Administration for Disease Prevention & Control 国家疾病预防控制局, a Vice Ministerial-level agency within the National Health Commission.

A 'qq' chat post (May 10) claimed that the Chinese domestically-made FN6 air defence missile "won the first battle, which made the Pentagon pale" because in a battle in northern Myanmar it had shot down a Myanmar Mi35 heavy-armed helicopter.

China's state-owned CCTV quoted a 'qq' chat report (May 5) as stating that a certain combined brigade in the PLA 72nd Group Army of the Eastern Theater Command launched an urban offensive and defensive exercise in cities and towns, with drones and unmanned vehicles playing a key role.

Asia Times (May 14) reported that Guizhou province had established massive, underground online state-of-the-art data banks where racks of servers are leased to tech giants ranging from Alibaba to Apple.

Xinhua (May 15) reported that China’s probe to Mars touched down on Mars, the Red Planet, to deploy its Zhurong rover.

Wang Dan, a Chinese dissident who was one of the student leaders during the Tiananmen protests and is now resident in Taiwan, wrote an Op-Ed in the Apple Daily on April 14, where he said that "Today a new “Axis Power” alliance is gradually taking shape" with China and Russia at its core and Iran, North Korea as other members.

Qiu Shi (Seeking Truth - 2021/10 dt May 16, 2021) published a lengthy article by Politburo member and Director of the CCP Foreign Affairs Committee Yang Jiechi.

The latest issue of the Party theoretical journal Qiu Shi (Seeking Truth - 2021/10 dated May 15, 2021) published an editorial entitled 'The red country never changes colour' which contained excerpts of Chinese President Xi Jinping's speeches delivered during visits and inspections between December 2012 to March 2021.

On May 12-13, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Henan province when he went to several sites related to the central route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Reporting his meeting with resettled residents of Zouzhuang village, Xi Jinping thanked them for their contribution to the country.

The Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, left Portsmouth on May 1, along with a strike group for the beginning of a seven-month deployment that will bring it to the Indo-Pacific.

Taiwan's United Daily News (UDN) (May 6) reported from New Delhi that Chinese workers in India have complained about not being able to return home.

A recent AmCham survey released on May 12, revealed that 42% of the respondents are considering or planning on moving out of Hong Kong citing concerns over China’s imposition of harsh national security law and the local government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In early April, the Hongkong Education Bureau confirmed that four core subjects of the senior secondary curriculum – Chinese and English languages, mathematics and liberal studies – would be “optimised”, in order to address Beijing’s concerns.

The International Campaign for Tibet (May 12) reported that the Lhasa City Buddhist Association had issued a notice dated May 9, 2021, urging Tibetan Buddhists in Lhasa to restrict their traditional religious practice during the holy fourth month of the Tibetan calendar, which began on May 12.

The state-owned CCTV on May 8, reported that a unit affiliated with the PLA Xinjiang Military Command deployed in a high-altitude plateau recently replaced its outdated artillery with 10 new PHL-03 self-propelled digital long-range heavy rocket launchers, greatly enhancing its all-weather combat capability in the border region.

Writing in Asia Times David Makichuk (May 12) cited a report by Explica.co, which said that China's 'Station of Extreme Light', which China has been developing in Shanghai since 2018, has made significant progress in its goal of manufacturing lasers so powerful by 2023 that they could break through empty space and create matter.

An article captioned 'US-China tech war: Beijing’s secret chipmaking champions' in the Financial Times (May 12) on China's efforts to eliminate dependence on foreign components and sources for making chips highlighted the efforts of Yangtze Memory Technologies Co.

Global Times on May 7, released a commentary on the U.S. Biden Administration’s position on waivers on the vaccine as intellectual property.

The World Health Organization on May 7 authorised China’s Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, making it the sixth vaccine to receive clearance from the global health agency.

Ning Jizhe, Deputy Head of the Leading Group of the State Council for the Seventh National Population Census, Commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics of China, released data on China's 7th National Population Census on May 11.

Brad Glosserman, Deputy Director of and Visiting Professor at the Center for Rule-Making Strategies at Tama University as well as Senior Advisor (nonresident) at Pacific Forum, commented on reform of China's State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) and said that rather than being pruned, they are expanding. Citing one report, he said the average size of the largest 100 conglomerates in China increased from 500 companies to more than 15,000 between 1995 and 20.

With China's U.S.-based state-run media outlets finally registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), China's foreign agent spending has skyrocketed from just over $10 million in 2016 to nearly $64 million last year.

The China Daily (May 11) in a box captioned ''The Path to Glory" commented "Two-Party meetings in May and August 1966 mark the beginning of the "cultural revolution".

The People's Daily (May 13) published a box item on its front page to remember the dead on the 13th anniversary of the Wenchuan Earthquake which occurred on May 12, 2008, and killed nearly 70,000 people, injured more than 370,000 with 18000 were missing.

The China Education Daily (May 13) published an article by Zhang Xiaojing and Qiao Kai, Associate Professor of Anhui University of Finance and Economics and Professor of Bengbu Medical College respectively who are both Special Researchers of the Anhui Research Center for Socialist Theory with Chinese Characteristics, captioned 'Study party history well and enhance ideological immunity'.

The People's Daily (May 11) publicised that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) carried out "in-depth study and education of party history" with the theme "Consolidate the forces of great country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics (Struggle for a hundred years and set sail on a new journey, learn from the party’s history, comprehend thoughts and do practical things to create a new situation)".

The state-owned CCTV reported (May 13) that In the study and education of Party history, the Central Political and Legal Commission regards party history as the best textbook for strengthening the party, governing, educating people, and casting the police.

64-year Shi Taifeng, Party Secretary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, wrote an article titled 'Strive to write a new chapter in the development of Inner Mongolia on a new journey' which was published by the People's Daily on May 10. In the article, Shi Taifeng said "The most fundamental reason why Inner Mongolia has achieved today’s historic achievements and changes lies in the leadership of the Communist Party of China

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presided (May 11)over a symposium on high-level and high-skilled talents under the special government allowance system, where he affirmed their contribution to the development of the country.

Hu Xijin, Editor-in-Chief of the Global Times wrote (May 7) in the paper: "Given that Australian hawks keep hyping or hinting that Australia will assist the US military and participate in war once a military conflict breaks out in the Taiwan Straits, and the Australian media outlets have been actively promoting the sentiment, I suggest China make a plan to impose retaliatory punishment against Australia once it militarily interferes in the cross-Straits situation.

The U.S. Senate is presently considering the exhaustive Strategic Competition Act of 2021 which, if it becomes law, will be a very important and comprehensive document guiding US-China relations.

7 May marks the anniversary of the "mistaken" targeting of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade on May 7, 1999, the capital of erstwhile Yugoslavia when 3 Chinese journalists (2 of Guangming daily and 1 of Xinhua) were killed and 20 injured.

Caixin (May 7) reported that Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. has said it will buy out London-listed Mexican mining company Bacanora Lithium PLC for as much as 190 million GBP ($264 million), becoming China’s latest natural resource asset purchase to feed its booming demand for new-energy products.

The first China International Consumer Goods Fair opened in Haikou City, Hainan Province on May 6, 2021.

The state-owned CCTV (May 9) reported that as per the "14th Five-Year Plan" and the 2035 long-term goal outline the construction of major scientific and technological innovation platforms such as the comprehensive national science centre is accelerating.

The China Manned Space Engineering Office announced (May 9) that the last stage of the Long March 5B Yao-2 carrier rocket had reentered the atmosphere at 10:24 and the landing area was at 72.47° east longitude and north latitude.

The “Administrative Measures of Religious Clergy” promulgated by China’s State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA) on February 9, 2021, came into effect on May 1.

The latest issue (2021/09; April 30, 2021) of the Party theoretical journal Qiu Shi published the full text of CCP CC General Secretary Xi Jinping's hitherto unpublished speech entitled 'Grasp the new development stage, implement the new development concept, and build a new development pattern'.

An article by Chou Zejing, a researcher at the Beijing Xi Jinping Research Center for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Lecturer in the Department of International Politics, School of International Relations in the Guangming Daily (May 3) warning that "experts generally predict that the epidemic in India has not yet reached its peak, and a larger storm is still to come" castigated "some countries" for "vaccine nationalism".

Reuters (May 6) reported that a post of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing created a furore on Chinese social media.

China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a notice on May 5 suspending all contacts and activities with its Australian counterpart and the Australian Government.

The Guadian (May 5) reported that Foreign Ministers from the G7 group of countries refrained from spelling out any concrete steps to confront China, amid concern among some members – especially Italy and Germany – over reprisals if their language was too threatening.

A post on the Chinese media platform Ifeng.com on May 2, 2021, stated that Pakistan's JF-17 fighter jets are already equipped with the "most advanced" missiles of the same type as the J-20.

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on May 4 granted permission to mobile carriers including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio), Vodafone Idea and MTNL to conduct a six-month trial for the use and application of 5G technology.

A post on the Chinese site "qq" on May 5, captioned "100,000 Indian troops in Ladakh vaccinate collectively: things are going on again, infrastructure continues to advance" said that "India’s 100,000 troops stationed in Leh have given priority to vaccinations, and the injection rate has basically reached 100%. Now the time when the mountains are covered by heavy snow in winter has basically passed, and traffic will be reopened from May.

As China takes over the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for May, China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun told the press on May 3 that its “first priority” is upholding the multilateral system with the U.N. at the core.

An article in The Diplomat (May 5) reported that the construction by China particularly of 4 dams along a 200-kilometer stretch on the upper Mekong River between 2011 and 2019 had diverted the course of the river.

Taiwan's Central News Agency reported (May 2) that Baidu, Xiaomi, Huawei, OPPO, Evergrande and other Chinese companies recently announced their commitment to doing electric vehicle research and development.

Caixin (May 6) revealed that He Xin, son in law of the owner of the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV network is under investigation on suspicion of illegally taking deposits from the public.

Xinhua reported that, on April 29, four financial regulatory agencies including the People’s Bank of China, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and the Administration of Foreign Exchange summoned 13 top online financing companies including Tencent and Meituan Finance.

Taiwan's Central News Agency on April 29, reported that China passed a newly amended Maritime Traffic Safety Law, over which a Taiwanese scholar expressed the concerns that Beijing is using the law to expand the gray zone of potential conflicts.

The Chinese social media platform "qq" (May 5) claimed that the "current J-16 has been improved many times and has reached the top level of the fourth-generation semi-fighter ranks, greatly surpassing the J-15E and Su-30MKI.

China's state-owned CGTN TV quoted (May 6) Wu Weiren, Chief Designer of China's lunar exploration program as telling China Space News that Chinese scientists are evaluating the feasibility of a project to send spacecraft to the edge of the solar system He said the Chinese spacecraft will cover a distance about 100 times than that between the sun and the Earth by 2049, when China celebrates its 100th founding anniversary.

Caixin (May 7) reported that five provincial capitals announced the appointment or departure of top officials during the month, including Changchun in Jilin province, Nanjing in Jiangsu, Nanchang in Jiangxi, Shijiazhuang in Hebei and Lanzhou in Gansu.

On May 4 to mark the 102nd anniversary of the May 4th movement, the People's Daily printed a full-page article -- starting on page 1 and going on to the entire page 2 -- with mainly just quotes from Xi Jinping himself regarding Chinese youth.

The CCP's theoretical fortnightly journal published an article on May 5, to mark Karl Marx's 203rd birth anniversary.

CCT (May 6) reported that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang chaired an executive meeting of the State Council on May 6 to discuss and promote the stable development of grain production and improve food security.

China's social media has been reporting that 55-year old Qin Gang will replace Ambassador Cui Tiankai, who at 68 years old is now headed for retirement, as China's Ambassador to the U.S. Interesting is that this is Qin Gang's first appointment as Ambassador.

The CCTV (April 30) in a special programme commented on the US destroyer "Mustine" approaching the PLAN aircraft carrier Liaoning and quoted China's Ministry of National Defense as saying "it was bad in nature" and that it had warned it to leave and made protested.

Writing in the Asia Times (May 2) former Indian diplomat MK Bhadrakumar wrote on the roadmap reached on April 29, by the United States, Russia, China and Pakistan in consultation with President Ashraf Ghani’s government and the Taliban on the immediate terms for reaching a peace settlement for the way forward.

China Changan, the official website of the CCP CC's Political and Legal Affairs Commission, carried a photograph on May 2, depicting China's space launch on the left and crematorium sites in India.

Taiwan's Labor Ministry has told staffing companies to remove all listings for jobs in China, in a move to prevent the outflow of vital tech talent to the mainland amid rising tensions between Taipei and Beijing.

A new poll by the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies released on April 29, indicated that 60% of people under 30 want to leave the city.

The Global Times (Chinese) published (April 30) an article titled "The EU threatens to cut off Russian SWIFT system" (in case of invading Ukraine).

Caixin (April 30) reported that China’s financial regulators had summoned 13 tech companies on April 29, including Tencent Holdings Ltd. and ByteDance Ltd., and imposed a raft of requirements on their financial businesses in an expanded effort to rein in the fast-growing fintech sector.

Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng attended the opening ceremony of China Satellite Network Group Co. Ltd. at its headquarters in Xiong’an New Area, 100 kms south of Beijing in Hebei Province on April 28.

PBSC member and NPC Chairman Li Zhanshu presided over a meeting in Beijing on April 29, to exchange discussions and listen to the work of strengthening and improving the work of the People’s Congress in the new era.

The latest edition of Qiu Shi (2021/09 dt: May 1)) published an article by Song Tao, head of the CCP CC International Liaison Department captioned 'Continuing a hundred years of glorious foreign work and serving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation'.

The Party theoretical fortnightly journal Qiu Shi (May 1) published a message sent on April 30, on the occasion of the "May 1st" International Labor Day, by General Secretary Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Party Central Committee.

The state-owned CCTV reported (April 30) that on April 30 afternoon, Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over the 29th collective study of the Politburo on strengthening China's ecological civilization under the new situation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired a Politburo meeting on April 30.

A lengthy special Xinhua article (May 5) captioned: "Studying in progress｜"He is really super kind"-Xi Jinping in the eyes of college students" listed students in different years at varying stages of Xi Jinping's career in different places and colleges praising different personal qualities of Xi Jinping.

Taiwan's China Times reported (April 22) that Morris Chang, Chairman of TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), at a speech at a think tank conference expressed the view that China’s semiconductor industry is still far behind Taiwan while South Korea’s Samsung is a strong competitor.

Sina.com disclosed that a PLA military aircraft entered the southwest airspace of Taiwan at 8:30, 8:55, and 9:47 on April 25, morning. The altitude was between 3000 and 7000 meters, but it was only low at 9:47 when it flew at a height of "30 meters" setting a new low altitude record.

Ticket prices for flights from China to the U.S. increased sharply after the U.S.government lifted travel restrictions on April 26 for students from China and several other countries.

The Paper (April 29) published an Op-Ed by Politburo member Yang Jiechi on improving fraught Sino-American ties.

An article in the South China Morning Post (April 30) by Alex Ho and captioned 'Beijing must prepare for a drastic reversal ahead of China’s rise and America’s fall' candidly warned China not to underestimate the US.

China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported (April 29) that China's population continued to increase in 2020 amid wide expectations of a population decline in the last decade.

The Global Times (April 29) reported that the latest, upgraded version of the JF-17 fighter jet was recently spotted equipped with China's most advanced air-to-air combat missile that is also used by China's J-20 stealth aircraft.

The South China Morning Post (April 29) disclosed that Lieutenant General Wang Kai has been appointed a new Commander of the Tibet Military Region.

On 24 April, the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Shenzhen announced the departure of eight senior officials and their replacement by cadres from other cities. The list included Shenzhen's Mayor, 59-year-old Chen Rugui.

The Central Discipline Inspection Commission (CDIC) announced (April 28) that in its latest round of 'discipline inspections' the CDIC will 'inspect' 31 universities and the Ministry of Education.

The People's Daily and Xinhua on April 26 publicised that China’s Ministry of State Security (MoSS) released a new anti-espionage regulation on April 26, 2021, which was to be effective immediately.

Wang Chen, Politburo member, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and Chairman of the Chinese Law Society, wrote a very lengthy article in the People's Daily on April 20 which was published under the caption 'Xi Jinping’s thought on the rule of law is a new development and leap in the sinicization of Marxist theory of rule of law'.

The state-owned CCTV news on April 29, reported that the China Space Station Sky and Core Module was launched into space and accurately entered the scheduled orbit.

In a sharply worded editorial in the Global Times (April 24) its Editor-in-Chief Hu Xijin said "Japanese State Minister of Defense Yasuhide Nakayama has talked nonsense to provoke China from time to time, poisoning the Japanese society's understanding of China" and that the "Japanese media also openly predicted "three situations" under which the Japanese Self-Defense Forces can assist the US military, should a war occur in the Taiwan Straits".

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi communicated with the US Council on Foreign Relations via video link on April 23.

The Asia Sentinel (April 22) reported that Beijing is encouraging the take-over of the Hongkong media by pro-Beijing businessmen.

Chairman of TAR People’s Government and Deputy Secretary of TAR Party Committee, Chedak la aka Che Dalha (Ch: Qi Zhala) made an inspection tour to Ngari (Ch: Ali) from April 15-17, 2021.

The 'Stars and Stripes' (April 22) quoted US AFRICOM’s Gen. Stephen Townsend as saying on April 21 that China’s naval base in the East African nation of Djibouti is now large enough to host aircraft carriers.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the commissioning ceremony of three naval vessels, the Changzheng-18, the Dalian, and the Hainan.

Economic compensation for demobilised and retired Chinese veterans in 2019 alone was estimated at 139.8 billion RMB (US$21.4 billion), almost 12 per cent of the official military budget that year.

The Washington-based think-tank Centre for Global Development Studies released in late March, in collaboration with AidData, a research lab at the College of William and Mary, a study of China's lending practices by offering a first-of-its-kind analysis of 100 contracts across 24 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, including Montenegro, Kyrgyzstan, and Serbia.

Radio Free Asia on April 21 quoted the 21st Century Business Herald, a Chinese business news daily newspaper, to say at least 26 prefecture-level cities have disclosed their population data.

The New York Times (April 24) reported that Sun Dawu, an outspoken rural businessman who has been a critic of Xi Jinping, was formally arrested on April 21 on a number of charges, months after being taken into detention.

At the Climate Summit hosted by US President Joe Biden on April 22, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China, which has more than half of the world’s total coal-fired power plants, would start to phase down coal consumption from the 2026 to 2030 period.

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan spoke via video at an event on April 24 in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of China-US "ping pong diplomacy".

The state-owned CCTV (April 25) reported that PBSC member and Vice Premier Han Zheng was on an inspection tour of Guangzhou, Shantou, and Chaozhou, Guangdong from April 23 to 25.

The Japan Times (April 20) reported that investigators had uncovered on April 19, that China’s military is thought to have instructed “Tick,” a Chinese cyberespionage group, to conduct cyberattacks on nearly 200 companies and research institutes in Japan, including the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

The South China Morning Post (April 22) disclosed that despite American bans on key products and sanctions on major companies, Xinjiang’s direct exports to the United States more than doubled in the first quarter of 2021.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on April 21, that Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was invited by US President Joe Biden to the leaders’ climate summit on the 22nd April, will attend and also deliver a speech.

In an article in Global Times (April 19), its Editor-in-Chief Hu Xijin revived China's assessment that the disintegration of the Soviet Union came about because it thought that its "problems could be resolved through reforms".

China's Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong and a 4-member Chinese delegation escaped when a bomb blast took place in the car park of the luxury Serena Hotel in Quetta, capital of Balochistan province, on April 22.

A Global Times (April 21) article by Lan Jianxue, head of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at China Institute of International Studies, captioned 'Be wary of India’s provocation amid worsening pandemic' quoted "Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri, who said on April 15, that sweeping the border issue under the carpet and characterizing it as a "minor issue" is "tantamount to running away from the problem".

The Tibet Daily on April 10, 2021, identified three new airports namely, Lhuntse in Lhoka (Ch: Shannan), Dingri in Ngari (Ch: Ali) and Burang/Purang in Ngari as those among the 20 'border airports' to be built by 2025.

Quoting a PLA Daily report (April 18) the South China Morning Post (April 19) said that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has deployed an advanced long-range rocket launcher to the Himalayas, in a move aimed at reinforcing China’s border defence and acting as a deterrent to India.

The Global Times (April 19) publicised the comments of Li Gang, the pilot of the J-20's first flight, to Phoenix TV on April 18.

An article in Foreign Policy (April 19) by Ryan D. Martin and Andrew S. Erickson confirmed, on the basis of photographs released by the Philippines authorities, that the fishing fleet deployed at the Whitsun Reef against the Philippines comprised units of the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM).

A notice issued on April 20, jointly by China's Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration and the General Administration of Customs, announced the cancellation of import taxes on a range of scientific, technological, medical and analytical equipment and publications for the next five years as part of the government’s strategy to boost innovation and technology self-reliance.

People’s Daily (April 16) issued a report on the activities of the Central Propaganda Group for Party History Study and Education, which has been travelling to various parts of China to spread the education campaign to the masses.

Xinhua (April 22) disclosed that the CCP CC had on April 16 promulgated the revised "Regulations on the Work of Primary Organizations in Ordinary Higher Education Institutions of the Communist Party of China" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"), and issued a notice requesting urgent compliance to all regions and departments to earnestly comply with them.

The Wall Street Journal (April. ) reported that Beijing plans to appoint Qin Gang, a diplomat who has acted as President Xi Jinping’s chief protocol officer, as the next ambassador to Washington.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang travelled to Sichuan to visit Shahe, a small rural township near the borders with Shaanxi and Gansu.

The National Work Conference on Combating New Types of Telecom and Online Criminal Activity was held virtually in Beijing on April 9. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and the Deputy Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi spoke at the meeting.

Xi Jinping visited his alma mater, Tsinghua University, on April 18 ahead of its 110th founding anniversary.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered the keynote speech at the Boao Forum for Asia in Beijing on April 19. This year’s theme for the Boao Forum was 'Join hands to advance Belt and Road (BRI) cooperation'.