Reuters: US planned to ban technology sales to 89 PLA-related Chinese companies

The Trump administration will announce restriction to 89 Chinese military related entrepreneurs from purchasing U.S. goods and technology, Reuters reported, according to a draft copy of the list it've seen. The list covers areospace and other industries, including Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and 10 related entities.

According to Reuters, the relevant list was compiled by the U.S. Department of Commerce, including 89 China and 28 Russia companies recognised by U.S. as a “military end users”. U.S. suppliers must obtain permission to sell commercial products to these companies. The Reuters quoted the draft, that controlling the flow of U.S. technology to the listed companies is “vital for protecting U.S. national security interests”.

Source from: Stand News #Nov23

#Reuters #UnitedStates #China #Russia #USChinaRelation #PLA

US Defense Adds SMIC and CNOOC to Blacklist

The US Department of Defense added four more Chinese companies, including SMIC and CNOOC, with alleged ties to the Chinese military restricting them from receiving certain goods and services from the US.

According to the US Department of Defense, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC), China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), China International Engineering Consulting Corp., and China Construction Technology Co. are controlled or owned by the Chinese military, bringing the total number of blacklisted Chinese firms to 35.

In September, the US Department of Defense indicated that it was working on a decision on blacklisting SMIC. In the same month, the US Department of Commerce informed some companies that they need to obtain a license before supplying goods and services to SMIC as the products or equipment supplied could be used for military purposes and pose an “unacceptable risk”.

Source: Stand News #Dec04

https://bit.ly/3gGSNle

#US #DepartmentofDefense #Blacklist #PLA #SMIC #CNOOC

#Pentagon blacklists China chipmaker SMIC and oil producer CNOOC

The Department of Defense designated a total of four companies as being either owned or controlled by the People’s Liberation Army, including China’s largest chipmarker, SMIC and national offshore oil and gas producer, CNOOC. The total number of blacklisted firms is 35 after adding these 4 companies.

U.S. officials have long complained that Chinese companies are beholden to the People’s Republic of China and collect sensitive information on behalf of the People’s Liberation Army.

The U.S. Commerce Department informed some firms that a license is needed before supplying goods and services to SMIC which equipment could be used for military purpose. SMIC replies heavily on U.S. suppliers.

Source: CNBC #Dec03

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/03/pentagon-blacklists-china-chipmaker-smic-and-oil-producer-cnooc-.html

#USSanction #SMIC #CNOOC #China #PLA #CCP

Global Affairs objected to Canadian military decision to cancel training with People's Liberation Army

Classified Canadian government documents released to media outlets, including The Globe and Mail, reveal that the department of Global Affairs disagreed with the Canadian military to cancel the winter military exercises with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China in 2019.

In a memo to Ian Shugart, then deputy foreign minister, it was said that the "unilateral decisions" by the military to cancel previously agreed co-operation with the PLA "risk being interpreted by China or others in an unintended (and unhelpful) way" and "could also damage Canada's long-term defence and security relationship with China."

The diplomats feared that any reductions in military ties between the PLA and the Canadian army may be viewed as a "retaliatory move" concerning the cases of Meng Wanzhou and the two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, detained by China.

The revelations triggered a public outcry among Canadians. Critics said the disagreement indicates that Canada's China policy has been contradictory and incoherent. "It is more urgent than ever, in the context of an increasingly belligerent and assertive China, to present a united political front," said Charles Burton, a China expert. "This is really about the defence of our sovereignty and security on matters over which there is consensus across the political spectrum in Canada."

Sources: The Globe and Mail #Dec09

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-global-affairs-objected-to-canadian-military-decision-to-cancel/

CBC/Radio-Canada #Dec12

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-china-pla-peoples-liberation-army-1.5838658

#Canada #China #PLA

#Huawei #MengWanZhou Caught Wearing 'Made in Taiwan' Mask

//Meng Wanzhou, who is the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, appeared in a Canadian court on Dec 21, 2020.

Most notable to Taiwanese observers was the fact that she was wearing a purple surgical face mask with the words "Made in Taiwan" in plain sight on the lower righthand corner of the face covering.

The fact that she was wearing a mask manufactured in Taiwan was extraordinary given that Meng is at the eye of the storm for an intense geopolitical rivalry between China and the U.S. and its ally — Taiwan. Meng's company, which is a national champion for China and has numerous ties to the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) and People's Liberation Army (#PLA), has become a major target of sanctions and litigation by the Trump administration amid the trade war between the U.S. and China.//

Source: Taiwan News #Dec21

Read full article:
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4019525

#WuhanPneumonia

60 Chinese and Hong Kong Enterprises Including SMIC and DJI Added to US Department of Commerce Entity List

US Department of Commerce added 60 Chinese and Hong Kong companies, including chipmaker SMIC and drone manufacturer DJI, to its Entity List on 18 December for their ties to the Chinese military.

The US Department of Commerce has added 77 companies to the Entity List recently, including 59 Chinese companies and one Hong Kong company. The Department of Commerce stated that these companies have been involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States, include enabling China human right abuse, supporting the militarization and unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea, acquiring U.S.-origin items in support of the People’s Liberation Army’s programs, and engaging in the theft of U.S. trade secrets.

Among these entities, SMIC has been accused of being involved in China's military-civilian fusion (MCF) program, with evidences of activities tied to the Chinese military industrial complex. The Secretary of Commerce Department Wilbur Ross stated that it is making sure that China is not able to leverage U.S. technologies, through SMIC, to support its military modernization, and emphasized that it is a necessary measure.

Source from: Stand News #Dec19

#UnitedStates #China #CCP #HongKong #SMIC #DJI #NationalSecurity #HumanRights #USChinaRelation #PLA #SouthChinaSea #EntityList

#TaiMoShan #CCPRules
Simplified Chinese Slogans and #PLA Occupy Hong Kong's Highest Peak: “Listen to CCP and Follow CCP's Order"

Tai Mo Shun, which is the highest mountain in Hong Kong, is a hiking attraction for many people. It is where one can view Miscathus in Autumn and frost in Winter.

Lately, civilians found slogans written in Simplified Chinese characters, a script which is used in China but not Hong Kong, on the wall of the Radar Station on Tai Mo Shan. The discovery has surprised many Hongkongers.

These China-style slogans in red read "Listen to the CCP, Follow the CCP” and “Strict Law and Discipline, Correct Social Atmosphere”. Another simplified Chinese slogans, “loyalty and Perseverance” written in yellow was found on kerbs. A China flag in a map form was even painted on the hillside, which is a typical characteristic found in state-owned buildings in China.

Photos: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27860

A warning sign outside the steel gate of the radar station labels it as a “restricted area”. It warns: “No entry without permission in this restricted area”, and “No photo and painting on any building in this restricted area”.

On Jan 8, 2021, a journalist sighted a man in a camouflage-style military uniform walking from a dome-shaped building to another building on the mountain. A car with a license plate “ZG”, which stands for People’s Liberation Army (#PLA) was also sighted. The administrator let the vehicle come in and go up to the mountain.

In 2011, the Hong Kong government had granted 100k sq. ft land in Tai Mo Shan to the Chinese PLA.

Source: Apple Daily; Stand News #Jan8
https://bit.ly/38pLn3n

#CCP

#TaiMoShan #Propaganda
More #CCP-styled Slogans Found on Hong Kong's Highest Peak, #XiJinping's order: "Be ready to the war and win"

In January 2021, Chinese Communist Party-style slogan written in Simplied Chinese, which read "Listen to the Party and Follow the CCP's order", "Strict Law and Discipline, Correct Social Atmosphere", and "Loyalty and Preseverance" were found on the wall of the PLA-occupied Radar Station on Tai Mo Shan in Hong Kong, shocking the local population.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27861

Recently, hikers found another newly added simplified Chinese slogan on this highest mountain in Hong Kong. The new slogan reads "Be ready to the war and win".

The Stand News reporter visited Tai Mo Shan on the evening of 16 January, 2021 and saw related simplified Chinese slogan.

According to the website of People's Liberation Army (#PLA) News, the command "be ready to the war and win" was made by Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) leader in 2007. Xi told the Chinese militants that the army is "to fight", "maintain a state of high alert" and "be ready to the war, And win."

The Hong Kong's Security Bureau responded to the media inquiries about the land use regarding the Radar Station where the simplified Chinese slogans and the PLA troops were found in Hong Kong.

It was revealed that the Radar Station was the government's land, but was not zoned for military use. The land is supposedly used as a communication facility for different organisations, including the purpose of defence. However, the Hong Kong authorities refused to disclose the name of the organisation and the purpose of the security in details.

Source: Stand News #Jan16
Photo: Joey Kwok

#RadarStation #SimplifiedChinese

Brazil to Look into Banning Companies that Use 5G Equipment from Huawei

In support of the US’s Clean Network Program, Brazil was looking into legal procedures to restrict national telecommunication companies from using 5G network equipment developed by Huawei. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s national security advisor was looking into whether or not the government should ban Huawei with a presidential decree. However, as many major telecommunication companies have partnered with Huawei for years, the move was expected to be met with strong opposition.

A report stated that the Secretary of Institutional Security Augusto Heleno was in discussions with the Ministry of Communications to set up security provisions that telecommunication companies and equipment suppliers must comply to. They were also studying into the feasibility of a presidential decree. The US has criticised Huawei for its ties with China’s People’s Liberation Army and has expressed concerns over the leaking of confidential information to the Chinese government, which presents threats to national security.

As China has been Brazil’s most important trade partner, the ban on Huawei was expected to be met with strong oppositions from the industry and even from within the government, including the Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourao. The Brazilian Minister for Communications Fabio Faria refused to comment on the report, while Heleno has said that he was not involved in affairs pertaining to 5G.

#Brazil #5G #Huawei #JairBolsonaro #AugustoHeleno #HamiltonMourao #FabioFaria #Telecommunication #NationalSecurity #Beijing #ChineseGovernment #PLA #CleanNetwork

Source: Apple Daily #Dec09

https://bit.ly/3sRiRzP

U.S. Navy Condemns China on its Lack of Integrity after China's Absent in the Military Meeting

The U.S.-China relations continue to deteriorate. Senior military officials of the two countries originally scheduled a video conference on Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) this week. However, China was absent unexpectedly for no reason. The U.S. criticised its absence as a reflection of its lack of integrity. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs counter-accuse the U.S. for the meeting's failure.

The meeting was scheduled for Dec 14-16 in a video conference format, but the absence of PLA representatives did not attend. The U.S. representatives Phil Davidson, the General of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, criticised the PLA as "another non-compliant example from China". At the same time, they also "remind all nations that they may pursue agreements with China in the future".

The U.S. military said that China and the U.S. have held a regular meeting since 1998 to conduct the MMCA dialogue. This year's talk was expected to address China's recent military actions in the South China Sea, but the Chinese representatives were absent without reason. General Davidson emphasised that the U.S. will strive to safeguard the MMCA and called on the PLA to hold the MMCA dialogue under the framework of MMCA.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stated at a regular press conference on Thursday that "it is to our understanding that the responsibility of the failure in holding meetings regarding maritime safety lies solely in the hands of the U.S. The U.S. military's accusations are completely untenable and irresponsible." He prompted reporters to enquire with the Chinese Ministry of Defence.

#China #US #MMCA #PLA #USNavy #PhilDavidson #WangWenbin

Source: Apple Daily #Dec17

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201217/4Z63VNH5BZGIRAHVM3WXV6XFFY/

US media: #BGI and the People’s Liberation Army collaborate to collect DNA data

According to reports of The Reuters and current affairs program "60 Minutes" of CBS, BGI Group – the world’s largest biotechnology company, is ties to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including working with PLA supercomputer experts on research that range from respiratory pathogens to brain science. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, BGI sells millions of COVID-19 test kits in Europe, America, and Australia. US security officials have warned American labs against using Chinese test kids, concerning China on gathering foreign genetic data for its own research, though BGI strongly denied.

By searching over 40 publicly available documents and research papers in Chinese and English, the Reuters showed the links between BGI Group and PLA are closer than previously understood, reflecting how China integrates private technology companies into military-related research under President Xi Jinping.

Source: The Stand News #Jan30

https://bit.ly/3rGBGVj

#China #CBS #Reuters #Biotechnology #BGIGroup #COVID19 #WuhanVirus #Military #60Minutes #PLA

#Censorship #PoliticalArrest #ThisisChina
Chinese Authorities Arrest Former Reporter and Netizen for Weibo Comments

On February 19, 2021, China’s state broadcaster released footage of China-India border clash in June 2020, in which four Chinese #PLA soldiers were killed.

On the same day, former Chinese reporter Chou Ze-ming (仇子明) wrote on his #Weibo page ridiculing the Chinese troop commander who survived the clash. He also questioned the casualties of the clash could be more than four.

Chao’s Weibo account was reportedly put to freeze for one year. On February 20, 2021, Chao was even arrested and detained on suspicion of "provoking disturbances". Another citizen, surnamed Chan was also arrested for spreading comments denigrating Chinese soldiers.

Source: Stand News; #Feb20

#MassSurveillance #ChineseNetizens #ChaoZeMing #SocialMedia

CCP's recklessness put the world at risk

China neglected biosafety, destructed virus samples collected from the earliest patients, banned the release of critical data, and silenced journalists, doctors and scientists.

Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) poses a huge risk to global health. China resisted international monitoring at WIV and abrogated its promise to allow French scientists to participate in essential research in WIV, which was built with French assistance. WIV was accredited through its agency as its only level 4 facility and then was quickly approved by the National Health Commission to handle some of the world's most dangerous viruses.

WIV was conducted secret bioweapons research with The People's Liberation Army (PLA)

In 2011, China informed the International Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Review Conference that its military experts were working on creating synthetic pathogens, genomics laying the foundation for pathogen transformation, population-specific genetic markers, targeted drug-delivery technology, making it easier to spread pathogens.

The world must hold CCP accountable and punish Beijing if it fails to uphold global biosafety standards and fulfil basic transparency requirements.

Source: WSJ #Feb23

https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-reckless-labs-put-the-world-at-risk-11614102828

#WuhanVirology #China #PLA #WIV

US Announces Lifting All Restrictions on Taiwan Relations. 
Global Times: If Pompeo Visits Taiwan, PLA Fighter Jets Will Fly into Taiwan
 
Less than 2 weeks before the end of the Trump administration, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced to lift all restrictions on Taiwan relations. Global Times warned that People’s Liberation Army fighter jets would fly into Taiwan to declare China’s sovereignty over Taiwan if Pompeo were to visit Taiwan before the end of his term. Global Times also threatened the possibility of waging war. Xinhua News Agency criticized Pompeo of his “malicious intentions” and his “very poor handling of the affair with Taiwan”.
 
On 9th January, US Secretary of State Pompeo issued a statement announcing the lifting of self-imposed restrictions on contacts between US officials and their Taiwanese counterparts, pointing out that the US State Department had imposed such restrictions on the interaction with Taiwan on their own diplomats and government officials in the past few decades in an attempt to appease Beijing.
 
In response to Pompeo’s announcement, Global Times stated that the lifting of all restrictions between US and Taiwan officials would place US and China in opposing positions. If US were to “refuse to pull back before it’s too late”, and if Pompeo were to visit Taiwan before the end of his term, China would “arrange PLA fighter jets to fly into Taiwan at once” and “declare its sovereignty over Taiwan in a way that has never been done before”. Overreaction from either US or Taiwan would likely “trigger a war”. Critics warned if Taiwan were to follow US’s “absurd madness” and attempt to go “independent”, Taiwan would likely be “summoning complete annihilation”. The article also stated that China would “defend and protect the basic rules and righteousness of human interactions”, and that “those who offend China would end in self-destruction.”
 
#US #Taiwan #China #Pompeo #PLA
 
Source: Stand News #Jan10

 https://bit.ly/2NzKo9n

H&M, Nike Face Boycotts in China as Xinjiang Dilemma Deepens

U.S. and European retail brands in China are suddenly facing a dilemma: Embrace cotton from the contentious Xinjiang region and come under attack in the West, or reject it and risk a boycott in the world’s second-biggest economy.

After social-media users dug out an undated company statement accusing of forced labor in Xinjiang, the Communist Youth League and the People’s Liberation Army calls to boycott the Swedish retailer, Hennes & Mauritz AB. This campaign spreads quickly to Nike.

H&M shares fell as much as 4.4% in Stockholm. Nike shares fell as much as 5.4% in New York before the start of regular trading on Mar 25.

Source: Bloomberg #Mar25

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-25/h-m-nike-face-boycotts-in-china-as-xinjiang-becomes-wedge-issue #HM

#Xinjiang #HM #Nike #PLA #ForceLabor #China #XinjiangCotton

#PoliceState #PLA
Chief of China's Anti-terrorism special forces in #Xinjiang appointed to head the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong

Sources: RFI, RFA, HKFP; #Jan10

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️

#PoliceState #PLA
Chief of China's Anti-terrorism special forces in #Xinjiang appointed to head the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong

Paramilitary chief of the Xinjiang region in China Peng Jingtang has been named the new commander for the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong, as Beijing further tightens its grip on the territory.

It was reported that the commanders of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison have all come from the major military regions of the PLA.

It is unusual for Peng to be appointed, given his background as the deputy chief of staff of China’s paramilitary police force.

Critics said the appointment is the latest sign of Beijing remoulding the international business hub in its own authoritarian image after the mass pro-democracy protests of 2019.

#Military #Suppression #FailedState #XinJiang

Sources: RFI, RFA, HKFP; #Jan10
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/hk-force-01102022061719.html#
https://www.rfi.fr/tw/港澳台/20220110-武警新疆參謀長彭京堂接掌駐港解放軍-評論料為香港引入武警經驗作準備
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/01/10/ex-xinjiang-paramilitary-anti-terror-chief-appointed-commander-of-china-militarys-hong-kong-garrison/

China Fires Back at Reports of U.S. Commandos in Taiwan

See whether the PLA will launch a targeted air strike to eliminate those U.S. invaders!’ the chief of the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda outlet threatened on Thursday.

Some leaders in China almost immediately expressed outrage Thursday at a new report indicating the U.S. has secretly stationed forces on Taiwan in an attempt to bolster the island nation's defenses against the increasing likelihood of an attack from the mainland.

Source: USNews #Oct07

https://t.co/1Y0o3JNnje

#China #Taiwan #US #PLA #CCP #Report

China Claims Missiles Struck All Targets Accurately; Japan Claims Missiles Hit Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone

China had launched missiles at multiple designated zones to the east of Taiwan and had struck all targets accurately, says People's Liberation Army (#PLA) Eastern Theater Rocket Force spokesperson Shi Yi in an announcement in the afternoon of August 4, 2022

These are part of China's announced military exercises from August 4 to 7, 2022, in which its military had designated 6 exercise zones in waters surrounding Taiwan. These are closer to Taiwan than China's military exercises during the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis.

The same evening, Japan's defense minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters that five of China's ballistic missiles had landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone (#EEZ). He had lodged a protest with the Chinese embassy in Japan, demanding the military exercises be halted immediately.

See also:
Chinese missiles suspected of landing in Japan’s economic zone
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/33083

The areas China designated for its exercise is within 30km of areas where Japanese fishing vessels regularly operate, according to an announcement by the fishery association of Okinawa’s Hateruma Island. The association issued a warning to the island's fishermen the day before the exercise. "This is much closer than any regular exercises by Taiwan," the association's spokesperson said in a troubled voice. "The PLA is holding an exercise here for the first time. It's hard to say how it would turn out."

Sources: China Times; UDN #Aug4
https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20220804003539-260409

https://udn.com/news/story/6809/6513222

#ChineseMissile #Taiwan #PelosiVisit #Japan