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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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Out of control local governments across China grabbing medical supplies from armoured vehicles 1/5


(8 Feb) In the past two days, information was widely circulating on the Internet that provincial and municipal governments in China are snatching surgical masks from each other. “Robbery notices” stamped with official seals of the corresponding local governments are issued to the affected parties. Using armoured vehicles and riot police to transport the masks is not at all an overstatement. The robbing side, a local government, will dispatch tens of dozens of police vehicles to raid the shipment, ignoring dispatch documents issued by the State Council. No one cares where the goods should be shipped. The epidemic is completely out of control and Beijing is gradually losing its control of the various regions.

Source: Vision Times, by Liu Xiang https://www.secretchina.com/news/b5/2020/02/08/922385.html

#MedicalSupplies #Beijing #OutOfControl
“Serial robbery" in Sichuan (Image source: Pinion screenshot)

Out of control local governments across China grabbing medical supplies from armoured vehicles 5/5

A case of "serial robbery": On 6 February, news about various #Sichuan cities broke out on the Internet. #Jinjiang city government deployed armoured vehicles and more than 30 heavily armed riot police to transfer 300,000 surgical masks from #Bazhong city. On their way to Jinjiang, they were intercepted by dozens of police vehicles of #Mianyang City Public Security Bureau and were forced to leave 200,000 masks.

Source: Vision Times

#MedicalSupplies #OutOfControl
#Newspaper

China raises export requirements for medical supplies. Over 1 million RMB worth of PPE delayed at customs.
Ministry of Commerce researcher states, "This is in answer foreign intentions. We will see the consequences in the EU and US in a week"


(1 Apr) China's medical supplies exports received international criticism for its low quality. The Ministry of Commerce reacted by increasing the requirements for export. Starting from 1 April, all businesses must obtain registration certificates for exporting medical supplies. This includes testing kits and face masks.

Compared to previous requirements of only obtaining FDA certification from the US or CE certification from the EU, the new conditions for export are more stringent.

A businessman who manufactures PPE in Shandong said that he has over 1 mil RMB worth of PPE currently held in customs. He expects the inspection report to take 10 to 15 days, after which he can ship the goods. However, it will have already violated some terms in the contracts between him and his foreign buyers.

He believes that due to the previous lack of monitoring and quality control, the government is now responding to international criticism with the new rules, "We (China) used to export to America and Europe with FDA and CE (certifications). But after obtaining these certifications, some manufacturers went on to create products below certification standards."

Mei Xinyu, a Ministry of Commerce researcher, stressed that raising export requirements was in answer to international intentions and a self-defence mechanism. "You [US and EU] did not use our products according to instructions. Without even checking them yourselves, you blame Chinese products for everything. We want to use China’s production capability to save lives and do good. We have no interest in being smeared for helping others. Per your request, we are tightening our controls (to export requirements)."

He added, "In a week, let's see what consequences you people in the EU and US will face for airing your troublesome opinions. The Chinese government puts the lives of Chinese people first. Yet, in the EU and US, politicians, media and public opinion simply disregard the lives of their people. Then, you want to talk about human rights issues in China. Just shut your mouths!"

#MedicalSuppliesExport
#IcabelChinaGroup

Source: Icable News
https://bit.ly/2RcfGSk

#China #MedicalSupplies #Quality #Masks #TestKits
#Newspaper

Mark Green: Chinese-made medical supplies to France conditional upon adopting Huawei technology

//Rep. Mark Green said the Chinese told France it would provide 1 billion protective face masks only if the French let Huawei implement its 5G capabilities.

//“That’s who China is, and it’s time the world wake up and recognize it.”

Full Article: The Washington Times, (06-Apr)
https://bit.ly/3c7t6a4

#France #MedicalSupplies #China #5G #Hauwei
#Newspaper

Swedish media used full-page "Xi Jinping virus" to diss China

(3 Apr) [International Center/Comprehensive Report] The pandemic of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China has swept the world. However, China, as the source of the pandemic, has controlled the spread of the virus. This allows China to start the propaganda agenda, provide various medical supplies, and even begin to smear other countries as being the cause of the virus. These moves angered many countries. The Swedish paper media displayed their anger toward China in the form of a full page coverage to blame China’s leader Xi Jinping, asking China to stop fake news.

COVID-19 has recently broken out in the world, and the number of confirmed cases has grown from 500,000 to 1 million in just 8 days. The severe pandemic has made many countries in need of medical supplies. China, as the origin country of the spread, starts to have some control over the situation. Seeing other countries are now suffering from the virus, she has begun to donate materials for global propaganda. However, it creates negative impacts as the quality of the materials provided to various countries has been quite poor.

In addition to this, China has also continued to make noises accusing that the virus was brought into China by the US military. It even insinuated that the Italian epidemic broke out earlier than China. It wanted to "destigmatize" itself, which upset many countries.

On Mar 30, The Swedish media "Dagens industri", using the headline "Kinas desinformation ett bevis pa angslighet" (Misinformation from China are causing anxiety), published a full-page report accusing China of citing the speeches of scholars and experts from other countries out of context to minimize responsibility. They are also angry at China's attempts to control public opinion. For this reason they even combining Xi Jinping's photos with the virus, spoofing the appearance of "Xi Jinping virus" and condemned the CCP.

Source: Setn
https://www.setn.com/m/news.aspx?newsid=719261

Further reading
Swedish Former Representative to European Parliament: China Should Apologize to the World for Coronavirus
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/19425

#Sweden #Xi #XiJingpingVirus #CCP #ChinesePropaganda #MedicalSupplies #FakeNews
#Newspaper

Chinese manufacturer threatened to sell fake infrared thermometers to harm the Americans but later apologised for it's “patriotic act”

(30 Mar) The quality of the Chinese made medical supplies are in great doubt. Days ago, some Chinese manufacturers claimed to manufacture fake infrared thermometers and sell them to the United States, so the Americans cannot test their temperate accurately. The manufacturer said that they did it out of “patriotism”. Researchers found that in the last few months, the Chinese government has stirred up many public opinions, and nationalism has become part of the preventive measures. Some mainland Chinese residents said that many businessmen cashed in on the pandemic and made huge amount of money during the suffering of the nation. They took advantage of the epidemic, and that many medical supplies are fake with bad qualities.

//Many countries have found quality issues in the medical supplies from China.

//Through shifting the blame or speaking about nationalism, it resolves some pressure for the authority. “

I believe the authority pushes theses nationalistic thoughts among citizens, and it actually boosted the world’s distrust and suspicion on China. The “made in China” tag, the sincerity of donating face masks, etc, all these diplomatic moves have casted doubts on China's purposes.

//there are many other medical supplies without any certifications.

Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/Chinese-manufacturer-threatened-to-sell-fake-infrared-thermometers-to-harm-the-Americans-but-later-apologised-for-its-patriotic--04-14

Source: Rfa
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/cn-fake-03302020093609.html

Further reading:
Thermometer Only Gives Reading Below 37°C, Thai Police Arrest Chinese Smugglers of Fake Thermometer and COVID19 Test Kits
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/1948

#Patriotism #Nationalism #Masks #InfraredThermometer #Holland #Fake #MedicalSupplies #ZhangXuandong #MotherYangCongeeRestaurant
The Chinese Government has FOOLED you!

Youtuber SerpentZA recounts some of his friends' experiences dealing with the recently intensified racism in China. State-endorsed discrimination comes in the form of segregation on flights reminiscent of Rosa Parks, being called an "American virus", evicting Africans from apartments and forcing them to leave the country on short notice, among other examples.

When China first realised that the epidemic was a crisis, the government put Wuhan on lockdown but allowed departing international flights. It "didn't care that the virus… spread to your country", only that it did not spread within its borders.

At the same time, "China banned the export of masks and vital medical supplies". Foreign products manufactured in China were hoarded locally. The government also “ordered all state-linked companies abroad to… liberate” them from foreign countries.

He calls attention to China's attempt to save face, "the appearance that something is more important than its substance [by] spending immense amounts of money and state resources on soft power". The state-run media talks about racism and xenophobia against Chinese and Asians overseas to divert attention away from the "very real racist policies" within. "If you have ever… looked at China in a positive light… it means that their manipulative ways have worked on you."

"This is only the tip of the iceberg. China does not have this thing under control."

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Watch
https://youtu.be/KQaNdTKQyLY

Further reading:
A bot network arrived in Serbia along with coronavirus
https://bit.ly/34yZeRB
Chinese government asks Wisconsin Senate for a commendation
https://bit.ly/2XAcpQL

#Coronavirus #Racism #Xenophobia #ChinesePropaganda #African #Mask #MedicalSupplies #Selfishness
#CoronavirusPandemic #InternationalRelations
Russia, China and the European Union vie in Serbia

As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, rival powers are deploying soft power and aid to advance their own foreign policy goals in Belgrade, major players are looking to use soft power and aid to fulfil their foreign policy goals.

//First, the Chinese came to Belgrade, with planeloads of equipment and six medical experts to help coordinate national coronavirus policy. An emotional Serbian president kissed the Chinese flag in gratitude and slammed Europe for its lack of assistance; For China, it is changing the narrative to present the country as the solution to COVID-19, not its cause.//

//For Russia, it is using more modest resources for maximum effect, with Russian military vehicles driving through Italy or a planeload of equipment dispatched to the US partly produced by a sanctioned company.//

//For the EU, it is trying to prove that talk of European values and solidarity is not just empty words.//

//The Americans, focused internally under US President Donald Trump’s administration, have largely been absent from the COVID-19 diplomacy game.//

// Serbian officials said the Chinese experts, who have remained in the country, are now running the government’s coronavirus policy. Serbia is following the Chinese model of isolating even mild cases of COVID-19 in large field hospitals, rather than trusting people to self-isolate.//

//A survey carried out in December last year showed that many Serbs believed Russia or China to be the country’s largest donor over the past two decades, while in fact the EU had given about 100 times more than either.//

Source: Taipei Times #Apr14

Full Article:
https://taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2020/04/14/2003734593

#Serbia #China #Russia #Coronavirus #MedicalSupplies
#Newspaper #OpinionArticle

Reflections from the virus crisis: Should the world take "cost" as the sole consideration for manufacturing?

(7 Apr) Many country relies heavily on manufacturing in China. When a crisis arises, huge demand of products is created. Country with enormous manufacturing capability has the power to make decisions.

Crisis creates opportunity. I believe that after this time, the world will hold a different view!

After the Netherlands and Spain, the medical-grade masks shipped by Austrian Airlines at the end of March are completely unusable.

After a review, the Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that the masks provided to South Tyrolean did not meet FFP standards. At present, the Austrian army has taken over the logistics of these masks.

Following the criticisms of the Netherlands and Spain on the poor quality of the protective equipment produced in China, South Tyrolean is also experiencing the same situation. The Ministry of Economy confirmed in Vienna that the large number of FFP2 and FFP3 masks that will be shipped to South Tyrolean are not usable. Initially, these masks were ordered from China through a sporting goods company and shipped by a private plane of Austrian Airlines.

In addition to the masks, 400,000 sets of protective clothing were transported to the Vienna International Airport. When the Red Cross carried out a visual inspection of masks at the airport, they were shocked. Later when the Ministry of Economy sent the items to the German laboratory for examination, the results showed that they did not meet the FFP standards.

Austrian Minister of Economy Margarete Schramböck (ÖVP) also criticized publicly at a press conference that nine out of ten medical masks provided by international suppliers were unusable.
Fortunately, a consortium of Vorarlberger has invested in the manufacture of masks. If there are enough tailors, they will be able to produce 500,000 masks per day. This is not an unachievable target. Up to now, there are 1,700 tailors. You just have to find 700 more.

#RelyOnYourselfIsTheMostReliable

Source: Facebook
https://bit.ly/3brvjNy

Further reading:
Chinese manufacturer threatened to sell fake infrared thermometers to harm the Americans but later apologised for it's “patriotic act”
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/19516

#MedicalSupplies #Masks #ProtectiveClothing #Austria #Netherlands #Spain #Unusable #MadeInChina
#Newspaper #OpinionArticle

Making abnormal profits in the Pandemic: CCP makes big money from selling ventilators 1/2

(9 Apr) The share price of Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co. Ltd. has skyrocketed by 50%. To increase profits, it used pro-Beijing media to advocate that the global demand of ventilators is reaching a million. New York State, alone, needs 60,000 units. By exaggerating demand, the company seeks to create the illusion of supply shortage to justify price inflation. How does the CCP play a part in mercantile predation? The Foreign Minister of the PRC Wang Yi called the Foreign Minister of Switzerland, requesting that the latter increase its supply of critical spare parts for manufacture of ventilators in China. The conversation exposed how the CCP cannot make the qualified spare parts themselves. However, the CCP can manipulate the trading of ventilators. Switzerland sells the essential spare parts to China at a cost demanded by the CCP on "humanitarian" basis. However, the predicament is it will effectively facilitate the CCP in making abnormal profits.

News has been surfacing around the world of the CCP soliciting the sale of medical supplies at high prices while holding out and being 'the white knight' to other countries in the pandemic crisis.

Excerpt: Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/yhmetblogspot/posts/3101215879928529

#CCP #Pandemic #Ventilator #Shenzhen #MindrayBioMedicalElectronics #MedicalSupplies #AbnormalProfit #ChinaInfluence #SharpPower