None of the seven Members of the Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC) has appeared in public since July 31. Also, the weekly State Council executive meeting that normally convenes on Wednesdays didn’t take place on August 5. Observers feel these indicate that the Beidaihe meeting is underway. It is expected that China's top leaders will discuss the rapidly deteriorating US-China relations and the Party’s long-term vision for the country among other issues.

(Comment: The Beidaihe meeting will give an indication of whether the top leaders will continue to fully back Xi Jinping or ask him to course correct policies. Thus far, Xi Jinping seems to retain his firm grip on power.)

CHINA-S&T: CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING PRESIDES OVER INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF BEIDOU NAVIGATION SATELLITE SYSTEM 

President Xi Jinping presided over the opening ceremony of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System on July 31, in Beijing. The system’s satellites are used for both civilian and military purposes. From 1983 to 2020, China’s 55 satellites under Beidou have, according to Xinhua, made tremendous contributions to the country’s social, economic, scientific and military advancement. As of 2020, there are 30 advanced Chinese satellites in three types of orbit: 24 in medium-Earth orbit, three in inclined geosynchronous satellite orbit and three in geostationary orbit.