#Analysis

One day, Hong Kong will be kicked out from the West for sure

I used to say that - China is fully committed to strengthen her economy to the point where the entire world must also suffer losses when she collapses. Assume today there is an economic recession , or even an economic disaster in China; how big of an impact will this have on the global economy? This is a topic that will be considered by many who are interested in political ecosystem, and it is also one of the reasons why the other countries are not in sync with the US as Trump wages an all-out trade war.

'You can bear the consequences and reap the benefits, but the consequences may be too heavy for me."

But as long as the US manages to persuade the majority of countries to overcome the above two points and impose sanctions of the same intensity, China will suffer a massive setback. Whether China will open up or self isolate herself is hard to predict.

For Hongkongers, there is little room of 'self-preservation' regardless of the situation. In the worst-case-scenario, internally the Hong Kong Government will side with the CCP for its survivability through constantly evacuating Hong Kong citizens’ assets and transferring Hong Kong reserves, may even be made to act as the 'white gloves' of China. On the other hand, China will assimilate, banished, and oppressed the people of Hong Kong.

Internationally, due to Hong Kong being considered as 'part of China', she will lose her independent economy and her special status among other countries, and possibly even be sanctioned under this consideration. When the western world deprives Hong Kong of its economic status and special treatment, the foundation of which 'Hong Kong' was built on will be lost.

The reason Hong Kong is what it is today is built on the recognition from the West, but not the protection and blessing of our great motherland. When Hong Kong loses that recognition, we will be of no value to them.

We must prepare ourselves for this inevitable day: the dark days only gets darker. For Hong Kong to turn the tables, a group of people must insist on the sole identity of 'Hongkonger', relinquishing all connections to Greater China. However...

What should we do when even Hongkongers corrupt and let this identity perish? That is another problem.

Source: Polymerhk, (03-10-2018)
http://polymerhk.com/articles/2018/10/03/41373/

Further reading:
U.S. Allows Google Internet Project to Advance Only if Hong Kong Is Cut Out
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/19409

#HongKong #Ecomony #CCP #TradeWar

China hit Australian barley, beef and now wine

China launched an investigation into allegations that Australia dumped wine, or sold it below the cost of production.

The Australian Government, winemakers and farmers denied any wrongdoing, that the allegations are perplexing as the wine-making process is expensive.

The China market takes up more than one-third of Australia's wine exports by value.

In May, China announced huge tariffs on Australian-grown barley typically used to make beer, and suspended exports from four Australian abattoirs selling beef to China for not meeting labelling requirements.

Australian politicians said that the incidents are not linked to broader political tensions. Yet, Chinese officials said earlier this year that they could boycott Australian exports because of Canberra's push for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak.

Source: ABC #Aug19
#Wineexports #tariffs #tradewar #Food

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-19/china-eyes-australian-wine-export-in-latest-trade-move/12571672

US further tightens export restrictions on Huawei, calls for allies to do the same

As tensions rose between Beijing and Washington, the US Department of Commerce announced further restrictions on Monday (17 August) aimed at cutting China's access to telecommunications resources. It would add 38 Huawei affiliates from 21 countries to its Entity List.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a statement announcing that the US government has enacted several measures to protect national security and the privacy of US citizens. At the same time, 5G infrastructure would be shielded from Beijing's influence. The Department of Commerce has expanded its Foreign Direct Product Rule to bar Huawei from acquiring chips produced with exploited US technology. Pompeo stated that he would not tolerate efforts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to undermine the privacy of US citizens or the intellectual property of its businesses. He claimed that the US would continue restricting exports to Huawei and its blacklisted affiliates. He also urged US allies and [trading] partners to do the same.

Reuters first reported on the news, stating that the new restrictions were aimed at preventing Huawei from obtaining semiconductors without permission. Even foreign firms that make chips using US software and technology were banned. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Fox News that since last May, when amendments were made to the Entity List, Huawei had adopted some evasive measures that included purchasing through third parties.

Richard Yu Chengdong, CEO of the Huawei Consumer Business Group, revealed that due to US pressure, Huawei would no longer produce its flagship Kirin chipsets from 16 September. He admitted that although China has made strides in industrial research and development as well as in its market economy, a gap still exists in technology when compared with Europe, the US, Japan and South Korea. Huawei's HiSilicon semiconductor company, for example, possesses considerable research and development capabilities. However, the production of its chips, including its packaging, sourcing raw materials, manufacturing facilities and software continue to rely on cooperation with other businesses, many of which depend on US technology. As the situation unfolds, serious challenges confront its development.

#Huawei #China #US #TradeWar #technology
Source: Stand News #17Aug

#TradeWar #Australia #CCP
Beijing is not happy with deal cancellations between Australian and Chinese companies

The $600 million takeover of Australian drinks company Lion by Chinese company Mengniu Dairy has been blocked by Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on national security grounds.

Mengniu Dairy has 25 per cent owned by the Chinese government.

Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board cleared the deal in February 2020 but Frydenberg stepped in to prevent it, as the political tensions and trade war between the two nations escalated.

Chinese state-run news, Global Times, wrote: 'Banning a Chinese company from buying an Australian dairy brand doesn't make much economic sense. It would show that bilateral relations will continue on a downward spiral, with the Australian side willing to risk its global reputation in order to maintain a tough line against China in all aspects.' 

Source: Daily Mail #Aug25
https://trib.al/9gaouuZ

#JoshFrydenberg #MengniuDairy #Lion #China #NationalSecurityThreat

U.S. House of Representatives to propose banning imports of forced labour products from Xinjiang next week

The human rights issue in Xinjiang has recently become a new point of contention between the U.S. and China. On Monday (14 Sept), the U.S. announced that it will ban imports of five goods from Xinjiang, including cotton and tomatoes, for violating the rights of ethnic minorities in the region.

#Xinjiang #HumanRightsAbuse #USChinaRelations #Uyghur #Uighur #TradeWar #Cotton #Tomatoes

Source: Apple Daily #Sep19

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20200919/UZATUFOPMRCOJO2YJA463CAFDA/

US State Department Reportedly Recommends Putting China’s Ant Group on Trade Blacklist

As US-China relations remain tense, sources have indicated to Reuters that the State Department had proposed placing Ant Group on the trade blacklist to the Trump administration ahead of its listing on the US stock market.

A financial technology firm, Ant Group is planning to be listed on stock markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong with an estimated market value of a record-breaking 35 billion US dollars. It is unclear at the moment as to when the US government will add the firm to its Entity List, but it is believed that this is a sign from hardliners in Washington that American investors should refrain from taking part in the firm’s initial public offering.

While the local law makes it difficult for US firms to sell high-tech products to companies on the Entity List, how this latest move actually affects China is still a matter of debate. Reuters noted that while telecom companies like Huawei may suffer from being blacklisted, placing a fintech firm on the list could be more of a gesture.

Source: Stand News #Oct15

#US #China #AntGroup #EntityList #TradeWar #Finance

https://bit.ly/34cR2Yu

US election analysis - China wants Biden to soften stance on China; Scholar: whoever is the president should not go soft

The relationship between China and the United States is at its worst in decades. It is widely believed that the Beijing government would prefer to see Democratic presidential candidate Biden defeat Trump in the White House, where conflicts over trade, technology and security are expected to ease. But many scholars believe that even if Biden were to take the stage, it is unlikely that he would go easy on Beijing because American politics across the spectrum are now disappointed with Beijing. No matter who ends up as president, his stance will not soften by much.

There is a long list of issues currently in dispute between China and the United States, including the COVID-19 epidemic, technology, trade, security, and spies; as well as matters involving Hong Kong, Taiwan, and human rights issues in Tibet and Xinjiang. Trump's trade war, which imposes punitive tariffs on Chinese goods, and his blocking of leading Chinese technology and Internet companies such as Huawei, TikTok, and WeChat, as well as his allies' efforts to blockade China, have put Beijing on a collision course. A Pew Research Center survey in March found that two-thirds of the U.S. public has a negative view of China, the highest since the survey began in 2005.

Source: Apple Daily #Oct23

#US #China #USelections #Biden2020 #Trump2020 #Covid #TradeWar #TikTok

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201023/VWYZFJ646BA7NMY37PA22RU6NU/

Germany Former BND President Warned that China Almost Dominates the World, and Urged Europe to Reduce Reliance on China

The former President of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) in Germany, Gerhard Schindler, spoke to the British press The Times that China was almost ‘dominating the world’, and that all European countries should be alert to this issue, lowering the ‘tactic reliance’ to China, especially for Germany.

Schindler, who served as the President of BND between 2011 and 2016, raised that China becomes more proactive in recent years, including aggressive actions in the South China Sea, the monopoly in the economy of African countries, and the Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects in Eurasia. He said, 'China is very clever and silent in conducting these dominating actions activities that we can hardly spot in Europe.'

China is the largest trade partner of Germany which the bilateral import and export trade volume reached EUR 206 billion (HKD 1.9 trillion) last year. Schindler pointed out that Germany must reflect on the situation of 'Business relationships dominate the stance on China'. He believed that there was a need to revise the Germany-China relationship. ‘We have some industries relying on China, such as our vehicle manufacturing industry, but we should not rely more heavily on others to reduce this reliance. We should try to reduce dependence.’ Schindler said.

Source: Apple Daily #Oct26

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201026/YCUISDO4CFDGHG3H3EXBLYVX3A/

#China #Germany #TradeWar #GerhardSchindler #BND #TheTimes #DominatingActions

WTO complaint “next step” in tariff dispute between Australia and China, trade ministery says.

The trade minister Simon Brimingham said on 29 November the trade conflicts were not just harming Australia but threated global trade confidence. Canberra will take its complaints to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Due wine tariffs imposed after barley tariffs announced in May, at least 60 ships laden with coal from Australian producers have also been denied permission to enter Chinese ports, leaving them waiting off the coast while Australian authorise attempt to find a resolution to the standoff.

The wine decision would not be part of any immediate complaint to the WTO as it was still being described as an “interim application of tariffs”.

Source: The Guardian #Nov29

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/29/wto-complaint-next-step-in-tariff-dispute-between-australia-and-china-trade-minister-says?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

#Australia #China #WTO #AntiDumping #Tarrif #TradeWar

'If you make China the enemy, China will be the enemy': Beijing's fresh threat to Australia

Chinese and Australian relations have taken a skydive after China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian leaked a document which contains a list of 14 grievances, including government funding for “anti-China” research at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, cancellations of Chinese journalist and academic visas, organizing a “crusade” against China’s policies for Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang, investigating the origins of COVID-19, banning Huawei in 2018, blocking 10 Chinese investment deals, and “unfriendly” reports on China in Australian independent media.

The Department of Foreign Affairs sees the 14 items as entirely non-negotiable, but that “The Australian government is always ready to talk directly in a constructive fashion about Australia's relationship with China, including about our differences, and to do so directly between our political leaders.”

But a Chinese official asked, "Why should China care about Australia?”. Phone calls would be “meaningless” when the “atmosphere is bad”, further adding that "China is angry. If you make China the enemy, China will be the enemy.”

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald #Nov18

https://amp.smh.com.au/world/asia/if-you-make-china-the-enemy-china-will-be-the-enemy-beijing-s-fresh-threat-to-australia-20201118-p56fqs.html?fbclid=IwAR17BJIjLBGIu8b006hS_Cw8v4s8Z0gQwjIaybGa7fQfAXnfVQZrUWyOcc4

#Australia #AustraliaChina #China #tradewar

China Suspends Beef Import from the Sixth Australian Supplier as Trade Disputes Escalates

As the Australia-China Trade War gets worsened, China announced more Australian beef import suspension, without providing any reason for the import ban.

China has successively banned five Australian beef suppliers this year. One of which was accused of using Chloramphenicol, a prohibited antibiotic banned in Australia and China, the other four were accused of violating quarantine requirements.

China Customs stopped application and registration for beef exports from Meramist, the sixth Australian beef supplier, from 7 December without any explanation. Meramist General Manager Mike Eathorne said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) yesterday, "I was advised five minutes ago and I have been given absolutely no reasons."

#China #Australia #AustralianBeefSuppliers #TradeWar #Meramist #MikeEathorne

Source: Stand News #Dec08

https://bit.ly/2KKwyPB

Australian Minister Urges People to buy local,
McDonald’s and Domino’s Use of Local Ingredients against China’s Trade War

As the Australia-China trade dispute is getting worse, an Australian minister said that the public could help local farmers by buying local ingredients and praised fast-food chains, such as McDonald’s and Domino’s Pizza, for displaying country of origin information on their websites and food packages. It allows consumers to understand how many ingredients are from Australia so that the public could support local products.

Australian Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said to the audience in a radio interview, “You have the power. We’ve given it to you.” He praised that displaying country of origin information could help customers purchase food made from local ingredients. “McDonald’s and Domino’s have joined the campaign. Once you enter the shop, they will disclose how much of their food are actually from Australia.”

Australia and China have started a trade war, in which China has imposed restrictions on Australian exports like beef, sugar, wine and barley. The trade war has hit Australian agricultural industries.

#Australia #China #TradeWar #DavidLittleproud #McDonld #Dominos #Localfood

Source: Apple Daily #Dec14

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201214/BRBQINJTHVDCRC65L6XTRHTC7I/

Losing China Market, Australia Lobsters Sale to Local, and About to Explore European, American and Japanese Markets.

China has imposed trade restrictions on several Australian goods in recent months and even stopped importing some Australian products. Australia lobsters, which mainly exported to China, have been hit hard, but fishermen managed tried to save themselves by selling the lobsters to local customers at relatively low prices. In the long run, they plan to explore other markets such as Japan, the United States and Europe to reduce dependence on Chinese consumers.

Local Consumers Rush to Buy, Supermarkets Limited Purchasing

94% of Australia lobsters used to sell to China, so after China stopped the importation of Australia lobsters, the industry has been hit hard. The local government of Western Australia has introduced special measures, allowing fishermen to sell lobsters directly from fishing boats in December and January. One of them is Fedele Camarda, whose family has been fishing lobsters for three generations, has joined the lobster sales.

Australian consumers actively supporting fishermen that have been affected by the trade war. Many people take the opportunity of preparing Christmas dinners to buy local lobsters for the festive season. The lobster sales were so good that local supermarket has to limited the purchasing quantity. Camarda’s fishing boats have no shortage of customers. Nick Van Niekerk, queued up for 30 minutes before he could buy lobsters, “I came down to support the local fishermen and show that we as a community care,” he said. He also pointed out that Australian lobsters used to be quite expensive, but now the price has been reduced, which is good for the community. “It's important to be able to get lobsters directly from the boats and know what you're actually getting,”, he said.

Source: Apple Daily #Dec27

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201227/HFRJ45OVFNHRXEFTV2LS4ONN74/

#Australia #China #Lobsters #TradeWar

The Five Eyes plans to sanction China to counter Beijing's trade war against Australia

China has been making moves to put pressure on Australian trade. The Australian media reported that the Five Eyes Alliance, which consists of Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, has recently discussed how to deal with the situation and has not ruled out imposing trade sanctions against China. Australia has just formally filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization today against the China-initiated trade war.

According to reports, the Five Eyes Alliance is negotiating to respond to China’s trade sanctions against Australia. The U.S. is actively considering the possibility that each of the five countries may impose trade restrictions on Chinese goods or services, or that only Australia may impose punitive tariffs on China. The other four countries are open to express their support.

Fergus Hanson, the Director of International Cyber Policy Centre of Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said that the Five Eyes could also refer to Article 5 of NATO. It establishes a collective defence mechanism for member states which can respond to China's trade sanctions against Australia. “Only in this way can let the CCP realize that it (the trade sanctions) is a two-way street. Our current approach is not a solution to this problem."

Source: Apple Daily #Dec16

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201216/JR6ZDIMKLJCKJF7LS7G4CT4AEY/

#FiveEyesAlliance #AustralianChinaRelations #Australia #US #UK #Canada #NewZealand #tradewar #WTO #FergusHanson #ASPI

Australia Universities are “Addicted” to the Income of Chinese Students, Feared to Fall Out of the World's Top 100 Rankings Due to China's Ban

Many Chinese students study aboard in Australia every year, bringing massive benefits to Australian universities. Some universities principals describe that the industry has already “addicted” to the Chinese market. As China-Australia relations deteriorated, China publicly called for not to study in Australia. Some analysis believes that this action massively reduces the universities research expenditures due to the drastic reduction in income. And eventually, it leads to domestic universities falling out of the top 100 in the world.

“Addicted” in relying on the Chinese market
From the start of last year, China-Australia relations become more worsen, Australian President Scott Morrison publicly called out for having an independent investigation into the origin of COVID-19. However, the Beijing government regards this action as a move against China. Afterwards, China launches a trade war against Australia, imposing import bans or tariffs to Australian products such as beef, red wine, coal and lobsters. Chinese Education Department called out to students not to study in Australia, and Australia banned international students from entry due to the pandemic.

Chinese international students contributed around AUD 7 billion (HKD 41.8 billion) to Australian universities each year. Greg Craven, Principal of Australian Catholic University, said the industry is over-relied on the Chinese market, it even brought sovereign risks to Australia. He said helplessly, “They (principals from other universities) all knew about the issues of China, and I have also mentioned in the expert group or publicly, but they chose to remain silent, which is like being addicted to drugs.”

Source from: Apple Daily #Jan05

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210105/S7F6EFJHDZDD3EJ4GUKZPEEPEE/

#China #Australia #TradeWar #Universities #internationalstudents #ranking #ScottMorrison #GregCraven #Education

#PreferentialTradeTreatment
32 countries cancelled China’s preferential trade treatment

China will no longer be eligible for Gereralised System of Preferences (#GSP) trade benefits from 27 EU nations, the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, Ukraine, and Liechtenstein as of December 1, leaving the country with only three options: Norway, New Zealand, and Australia.

On October 28, the General Administration of Customs of the Communist Party of China (#GACC) issued the “Announcement on No longer issuing GSP certificates of origin for goods exported to EU member states, the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, Ukraine, Liechtenstein and other countries.”

Although the GACC louds the action as "an acknowledgement by other advanced economies, economists have predicted that labor-intensive enterprises will face the brunt of the change.

#China #EU #TradeWar

Sources: Taiwan News, Epoch Times; #Nov2
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4333651