Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News on CCP, Taiwan, Japan, U.S., Russia, Iran, Syria, Turkiye
News (1) to (10) / Editor : Guan Shuping / Image : Victims of the Henan Rural Bank fraud case in Zhengzhou on 10 July 2022. (Reuters)
New York Times: Rural bank fraud crackdown a heavy blow to CCP's credibility, a major test for the CCP's legitimacy
The fraud cases of Henan Rural Banks in CCP China involved collusion between bank shareholders and criminal groups, using third-party platforms to attract money, and after the incident involved victims who were suspected of police looking for thugs to deal with the victim depositors. The New York Times reported on 19 July 2022 that the fraud case brought a heavy blow to the CCP's core promise of providing a better future for the people, and may pose a major test of the CCP's legitimacy.
News (2)
Bank fraud shows how vulnerable people's money is
The report pointed out that the CCP has always valued stability and its ability to control any threats to stability. Although the amount involved in this fraud is small relative to the size of the CCP Chinese economy, it has already struck a blow to the CCP’s core commitment to the people. For Chinese under CCP's control and humankind, the incident revealed how vulnerable their money is, even for seemingly routine transactions in savings accounts. While CCP China only reported its slowest economic growth last week since its first covid outbreak, financial issues have grown more sensitive amid a weakening economy.
News (3)
CCP Chinese citizens disappointed with indifferent response of local governments
The indifferent response of local governments to the scandal has also upset many citizens. The case involved five village banks, which police said were controlled by a criminal syndicate that illegally transferred funds to other accounts, a scheme that began 10 years ago. Officials have largely declined to guarantee that the funds in question will be returned to victims, suggesting that some depositors were also involved in fraud.
News (4)
CCP Police harassed the petitioners
When the victims made petition protests in Henan in early July 2022, but were attacked by a mob, the police stood idly by, and many petitioners later said they were harassed by the police.
News (5)
Victim depositor: World view has been destroyed
The report quoted a victim depositor surnamed Sun as saying, "The government took our tax money and then beat us." "My world view has been destroyed."
News (6)
Slow economic growth and failure to stem bank fraud challenge Xi Jinping's further attempts to control China
Maintaining people's trust in the government is especially critical for the party this year, as CCP President Xi Jinping is expected to strengthen his authority at the party's 20th National Congress this fall. Before the village bank scandal, however, slowing economic growth in China was already testing Xi Jinping's further attempts to seize power.
News (7)
Problems in CCP China's financial system exposed
The village bank scandal has exposed more systemic problems in China's financial system, including possible corruption and lax regulation of rural banks. "If they can no longer trust any bank, and they no longer trust the housing market, what effect will this have on people's sense of livelihood security?" said Chen Zhiwu, a finance professor at the University of Hong Kong.
He added, "A rapid rise is not good for social stability.”
News (8)
CCP has not revealed the amount of frozen deposits
The report pointed out that the unusually large-scale demonstrations have clearly shown the sensitivity of the matter. The government has not yet stated the amount of the frozen deposits, but the petitioners claim that the amount is in the billions of renminbi.
News (9)
CCP promised to advance less than 50,000 RMB provided depositors will not obtain high interest or violate laws and regulations
Amid the continued anger among the people, the government last week promised to advance the amount of less than 50,000 RMB but if depositors have "additional channels" to obtain high interest, or violate laws and regulations, such funds will not be advanced for the time being. The report pointed out that these statements by the authorities seem to agree with the police's statement about the criminal group involved in the case, that is, the group involved in the case set up an illegal online platform to attract customers.
News (10)
Local governments unwilling to help troubled banks anymore, thus leading to more victim depositors
Chen Zhiwu said that village and township governments often exert undue influence on local bank management, leading banks to make risky and even fraudulent lending. In the past, the resulting losses were manageable because the central government was willing to lend a helping hand to troubled banks but in recent years, the central government has signaled that those days are over, he said, “I expect more village banks to face the same problems as Henan village banks.”
News (11)
Former U.S. Defense Secretary visits Taiwan, emphasizing asymmetric warfare to deter CCP
Reporters : Hu Zonghan and Zhang Ruizhen / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/07/19/a103482753.html
A delegation from the US think tank "Atlantic Council" held a press conference at the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday (19 July 2022). Former U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper suggested that Taiwan should strengthen its investment in asymmetric warfare capabilities.
Bobelli, senior vice president of the Atlantic Council, said, "As Esper said, Taiwan is on the front line, and now it has more and more support, not only in this region, but also in Europe. Therefore, it is Taiwan that shines now but when."
In the United States, Europe and Japan, think tanks and dignitaries have recently organized delegations to visit Taiwan. After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait has become the focus of the world's attention. Former US Defense Secretary Mark Esper put forward four proposals to Taiwan's national defense on 19 July, including increasing the defense budget; extending compulsory military service to more than one year; strengthening the mobilization of reserve soldiers capabilities; and enhancing asymmetric warfare.
Image : Video Screenshot
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Esper said, "I think the focus should be on asymmetric warfare, once again making sure that Taiwan as a country, as a nation, is well-armed, a well-armed country, and is first and foremost prepared to prevent a Chinese invasion or some form of attack."
Esper said that the United States, whether Republican or Democratic, has a consensus on the challenges posed by the CCP and supports the defense of allies such as Taiwan. When Taiwan implements national defense reforms and enhances its asymmetric warfare capabilities, it sends a good signal to the outside world and the Beijing authorities that Taiwan is actively defending itself.
Former U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said, "I think (Abe) is right. He said that if there is something wrong with Taiwan, there is something wrong with Japan, and that is something wrong with the Japan-US alliance."
Esper also expressed condolences at the passing of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a press conference, praising Abe as a visionary leader. Esper pointed out that the Taiwan Strait affects many U.S. supply lines in the Western Pacific, and the Taiwan issue can be said to be a global issue. He believes that Abe's political legacy will be continued, such as strengthening the defense force and further amending the constitution.
News (12)
USS Banford passes Taiwan Strait on "freedom of navigation" mission
Image : The U.S. destroyer "Banfold" passed through the Taiwan Strait on the 19th. (The picture is taken from the Facebook fan page of the US Seventh Fleet)
The U.S. Navy Seventh Fleet issued a press release on 19 July 2022 stating that the Burke-class missile destroyer "Benfold" (USS Benfold DDG-65) passed through the Taiwan Strait on 19 July to implement the "freedom of navigation" routine task. Task.
The U.S. Seventh Fleet said the USS Banford's freedom of navigation operations through the Taiwan Strait demonstrated the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Seventh Fleet emphasizes that U.S. forces will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.
News (13) to (15) / Reporter : Xia Yu / Editor : Li Muen / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/22/7/20/n13784908.htm
News (13)
After the South China Sea voyage, the US warship crossed the Taiwan Strait again, and the CCP was angry again
The destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) of the Seventh Fleet of the US Navy passed through Taiwan Strait once again on Tuesday (19 July 2022) local time. It annoyed the CCP. Less than a week ago, the warship's freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea also made CCP China jump.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold made a routine Taiwan Strait transit in international waters on 19 July in accordance with international law, the Seventh Fleet said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The passage of the ship through the (Taiwan) Strait does not belong to the territorial waters of any coastal state. The passage of this warship through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. U.S. forces fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows." the statement said.
The CCP military is once again annoyed at the US warship crossing the Taiwan Strait. On Wednesday, local time, the Eastern Theater of the People's Liberation Army said that it had tracked and monitored the US destroyer USS Benfold through the entire Taiwan Strait"
Taiwan's Defense Ministry said the U.S. warship sailed northward through the strait and the channel conditions were "normal."
News (14)
It is rumoured that Pelosi will lead a delegation to visit Taiwan, Zhao Lijian jumps
On Tuesday, the Financial Times, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi will lead a delegation to Taiwan, as well as Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore and stay in the Pacific Command Headquarters.
CCP Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian later expressed dissatisfaction with reports that Pelosi would visit Taiwan. "If the U.S. insists on going its own way, China will take resolute and forceful measures to resolutely defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. "The U.S. must take full responsibility for all the consequences."
Image : The picture shows U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking at the U.S. Capitol on March 1, 2022. (Saul Loeb – Pool/Getty Images)
"I believe the (CCP) foreign ministry is weighing a hypothesis," State Department spokesman Ned Price said Tuesday when asked about China's response.
In response to the Financial Times report on Tuesday, Pelosi's deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill said: "We will not confirm or deny (the Speaker's) international travel in advance because of the long-standing security agreement."
This month, CCP China sent fighter jets across the median line of the Taiwan Strait, a move that Taiwan called a provocation. The incident occurred during a visit to Taiwan by Senator Rick Scott, a Republican on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.
On Monday, CCP China demanded that the United States immediately cancel a possible sale of military technical assistance worth about $108 million to Taiwan.
News (15)
USS Benfold sails in South China Sea twice a week
Last week, the Benfold sailed twice in the waters off the disputed Spratly Islands. On 16 July 2022, the U.S. Seventh Fleet stated that the guided-missile destroyer USS Benford sailed near the Nansha Islands "in compliance with international law" and claimed the right and freedom of navigation.
On 13 July, the Benfold sailed into the waters of the Paracel Islands, and the Seventh Fleet pointed out that this was an action in accordance with international law. The move annoyed the CCP, which said China warned the U.S. destroyer to leave its "territorial waters" and showed a photo of the "Benfold" destroyer taken from the deck of the CCP's "Xianning" frigate.
Image : The picture shows the destroyer USS Benfold. (Michael S. Kelly/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
The Seventh Fleet then countered by saying that CCP's statement about the mission was "wrong" and that CCP military "distorted the legitimate U.S. maritime operations and defended its excessive and illegal actions at the expense of its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea, the latest in a long line of maritime claims.
The Seventh Fleet also added that the United States is defending every nation's right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, and that CCP "can say nothing can stop us."
Freedom of navigation claims involve navigating within 12 miles of the territorial waters of a country's coastline recognized by international law. CCP China has claimed almost the entire South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei all have competing and often overlapping claims.
China has built artificial islands, including airports, on some South China Sea territories, raising concerns in the Indo-Pacific about Beijing's intentions.
News (16)
Exclusive: The Communist Army's "Monster" sticks to the west of the middle line of the Taiwan Strait and is suspected of being locked by the U.S. military through the sea off the coast of Kinmen
Reporter : Cai Zhongxian / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/3997857 / Image : The Communist "monster" sticks to the west of the central line of the Taiwan Strait, passing through the sea off Kinmen to attract attention. (The picture is provided by Taiwan Southwest Fans)
The CCP Shandong aircraft carrier (Xian No. 17 Mogua), dubbed a "monster" by military fans, was recorded on 19 July 2022 as appearing west of the middle line of the Taiwan Strait, heading south along the coast of China through the sea off Kinmen, followed by an aircraft carrier. The suspected supply ship was also suspected of being targeted by the U.S. Air Force RC-135 circling in the southwest airspace, and the picture was also recorded.
This morning, the eight anti-submarine aircraft of the Chinese military also appeared in the southwest airspace to be harassed and harassed by our military broadcast. According to the broadcast and track records, the total aircraft entered our ADIZ (Southwest Airspace) at 7:39, at an altitude of 4,000 m. The air was alerted and broadcast to drive away. The content was "Republic of China Air Force broadcast, attention to the CCP military aircraft located at an altitude of 4,000 meters in the airspace southwest of Taiwan! You have entered my airspace, affecting my flight safety, immediately turn around and leave!"
It is worth noting that the track of the anti-submarine aircraft once was 20 miles away from the territorial sea line, and the closest distance to Hengchun was 40 miles.
The fan page of "Taiwan Southwest Airspace" recorded a total of 12 days of entry into my airspace this month, and a total of 42 broadcast expulsions this month. In 2022, it has entered the Republic of China airspace for a total of 141 days, and broadcast a total of 507 expulsions.
News (17)
Former U.S. Defense Secretary meets Tsai Ing-wen: Fighting against the Communist Party
Reporters : Hu Zonghan and Zhang Dongxu / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/07/20/a103483082.html
Former U.S. Defense Secretary Esper and Stefanini, who once served as a diplomatic adviser to the Italian President, met with President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China on 19 July 2022. Esper expressed the hope that Taiwan will demonstrate its determination to resist the CCP, and the global democratic camp will also support Taiwan.
Former US Secretary of Defense Esper said, "Taiwan is on the front line of this epic contest." "For today's Western democracies, the biggest challenge is not in Russia but in Asia. A rules-based global order that threatens all freedom-loving peoples across the region."
Secretary of Defense Esper during the Trump administration met with President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China and praised the courageous leadership. He greeted the freedom-loving Taiwanese people at the presidential palace, emphasizing that the CCP is destroying the global order, Taiwan is at the forefront, and the United States should not maintain a middle school ambiguous policy and strategy. The people of Taiwan must win the support of the global democratic camp and show their determination to resist the CCP. For example, it is suggested that Taiwan should significantly increase its defense budget, increase its asymmetric combat capabilities, extend the period of conscription and military service, and increase its reserve combat capability and mobilization force.
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Esper said, "I personally think that the one-China policy is outdated and useless, and it is time to move away from strategic ambiguity." "It is important that the American people and the Washington leadership fully see the full commitment of the Taiwanese people. Therefore, stand up to Communist China (fully committed to standing up to Communist China) and defend yourself, then the global camp of democracies will also support Taiwan.”
President Tsai Ing-wen thanked the Atlantic Council and Esper for supporting Taiwan. Taiwan looks forward to deepening its economic partnership with the United States, and is also strengthening the European Link Program, echoing the European Union's "Global Gateway" program. She said that there have been many changes in the United States, Europe and Taiwan recently.
Tsai Ing-wen, President of the Republic of China, said, "In addition to facing the challenges brought by the epidemic, the expansion of authoritarianism, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it reminds us that among our democratic partners, we must strengthen the strength of alliances and jointly defend the value of peace and democracy and freedom."
Esper said that Washington has a consensus on the current policy to resist the threat of the CCP facing Taiwan. This message has also been passed on to partners in Europe and NATO. The United States is pleased to see NATO put forward relevant strategic concepts. This visit to Taiwan also covers further discussions on trade, diplomacy, economic integration and strategic issues.
News (18)
The European Parliament's first high-level visit to Taiwan Deputy Speaker: Only the people of Taiwan can decide Taiwan's own future
Reporter : Su Yongyao / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/3997913 / Image : European Parliament Vice-President Bill (middle) took a flight to visit Taiwan early yesterday morning. (file photo)
European Parliament Vice President Nicola Beer arrived in Taiwan on 19 July 2022 for a three-day visit. President Tsai Ing-wen received the delegation at the Presidential Palace this morning. Beer is the first official visit to Taiwan by a current senior executive of the European Parliament. She stressed that Europe is expressing its solemn concern over China's gradual tendency to unilaterally change the status quo. Unilateral changes to the status quo will never happen, no matter what they say. "Only the people of Taiwan can decide Taiwan's own future", calling on China to stop intimidating and not undermine Taiwan's flourishing development.
In her speech, Tsai Ing-wen first said that the first official visit of the European Parliament to Taiwan is of great significance. Deputy Speaker Beer is a good friend of Taiwan. He has been speaking for Taiwan in the European Parliament for a long time. He not only supports Taiwan's international participation, but also attaches importance to the peaceful and stable development of the Taiwan Strait. With the support of Bill and MEP friends, 20 Taiwan Friendship Resolutions have been passed since January last year. Taiwan and the EU are partners with similar concepts, and have continuously strengthened cooperation and exchanges in various fields. In terms of economic and trade exchanges, the EU is Taiwan's largest source of foreign investment, and Taiwan's investment in Europe has also reached a record high. Both parties hope to speed up the bilateral investment agreement to create more benefits for the people of both sides.
Tsai Ing-wen also said that in the face of authoritarian expansion, Taiwan is at the forefront of the democratic defense line. We are able and willing to share our experience with other countries in the world, and look forward to strengthening cooperation with democratic countries to build a resilient democratic front.
Beer then delivered a speech and said that she first expressed her gratitude on behalf of the President of the European Parliament. The European Parliament has passed many Taiwan-friendly resolutions, which is not only the belief of the European Parliament, but also her personal philosophy. Although Taiwan and Europe are geographically distant, they share values and connect with each other, and feel Taiwan's closeness. She is very pleased to see that Taiwanese society has chosen a bottom-up democratic system, and that Taiwanese citizens, regardless of political affiliation or political affiliation, can unite and continue to develop a vigorous democracy.
Beer believes that Taiwan is an active and confident democracy that protects freedom of speech, economic prosperity and people's right to self-determination. Europe is convinced that Taiwan deserves global support and recognition, and that Taiwan's expertise plays a key role in the world. Taiwan deserves global recognition. It is not only strategically important, but also a responsible and reliable international partner. Whether it becomes an observer of the World Health Assembly, negotiates and signs a bilateral trade and investment agreement with the EU, or upgrades its European economic and trade representative office in Taiwan, it is worthy of support.
Beer stressed that the global concept is similar to the democratic camp, and Taiwan's demands should be squarely faced, "The policy direction of the European Parliament is to consolidate and develop diverse relations with Taiwan. The two sides are very compatible, including similar ideas and shared values, and should develop together on this basis. Based on the continuous maintenance of democracy and stability, we oppose any provocative actions that try to change the status quo. Although we are willing to maintain friendly relations with China, Europe expresses its solemn concern over China's gradual tendency to unilaterally change the status quo and unilaterally change the status quo. This absolutely cannot happen. Only the people of Taiwan can decide Taiwan's own future. We call on China to stop intimidating, not to undermine Taiwan's vigorous development, and to actively safeguard the status quo on the basis of mutual respect and dialogue with Taiwan."
Beer also said that Taiwan has the strength, dignity, and potential to develop freely and peacefully, and to enable democracy to thrive through an active civil society. The European Parliament supports Taiwan's pursuit of democracy, peace and sovereignty, and she has made a vow here to fulfill her and the European Parliament's beliefs, promote regional peace, security and stability, and work for the region, the world and Europe.
News (19)
Vice President of the European Parliament: Hope that Taiwan will join international organizations and urge Taiwan and the EU to sign economic and trade agreements
Reporter : Li Xinfang / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/3997352 / Image : Vice President of the European Parliament Bill (pictured left) expressed to Su Kui that she hoped that Taiwan could join various international organizations. (The picture is taken from the public information screen)
European Parliament Vice President Nicola Beer arrived in Taiwan this morning for a three-day visit. In the afternoon, he met with Executive President Su Zhenchang. Beer said to Su Kui that, as President Su said, "The European Parliament and the relationship between Taiwan and the European Union (EU) is already very close and friendly but we need to further deepen the cooperative relationship." She hopes that Taiwan can join various international organizations, not only because of Taiwan's success in fighting the epidemic, but also because Taiwan can share many experiences in these international organizations. She hopes to facilitate the signing of a bilateral economic and trade agreement between Taiwan and the EU.
Beer emphasized that the Speaker of the European Parliament is a woman, and the President of your country, Tsai Ing-wen, is also a woman. This is a good sign of cooperation between the two sides. Let us move forward together!
Beer led a delegation to the Executive Yuan to visit Su Zhenchang this afternoon. This is the first official visit of a senior European Parliament to Taiwan, showing strong support.
Su Zhenchang first delivered a speech, saying that he welcomes the Deputy Speaker of the European Parliament, Beer, who has come from afar. Two years ago, Deputy Speaker Beer promised to visit Taiwan if the epidemic slowed down, and today it really came true. Although Taiwan and the EU are far apart, they both adhere to the universal value of democracy and freedom. The European Parliament has passed 20 resolutions on friendship with Taiwan since last year, and they should strengthen further mutual assistance and cooperation.
Su Zhenchang pointed out that under the leadership of President Tsai, Taiwan not only protects the health of Taiwanese people during the epidemic, but also protects national sovereignty and national health. China says that Taiwan cannot participate in international organizations, and the health of Taiwanese is taken care of by China. It's a lie. I look forward to sharing my successful experience with my good friends in the European Parliament, and I also look forward to Bill's successful trip.
Beale said that the European Parliament and Taiwan need to further deepen the cooperative relationship. She hopes that Taiwan can join various international organizations, not only because of Taiwan's success in fighting the epidemic, but also because Taiwan can share many experiences in these international organizations. She is also very I hope that the European Parliament will continue to work hard with Taiwan in this direction. The acting director of the European Economic and Trade Office is also here. I hope that the European Parliament will continue to cooperate with Taiwan and facilitate the signing of a bilateral economic and trade agreement between Taiwan and the EU.
However, she said that there are many challenges at the moment, including climate change and many global challenges. This trip represents democracy against dictatorships. She questioned that dictatorships do not abide by the international order, do not maintain peace, and do not respect sovereignty. She said, "Due to our shared values, we can work together and work hard."
News (20) to (28) / Reporter : Zhong Yuan / Editor : Wang Ziqi / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/07/19/a103482616.html
News (20)
The CCP's gray invasion of Taiwan has long crossed the border to steal sand
Image : Video Screenshot
Chinese sand pumping vessels have long crossed the border and invaded the waters around Taiwan to pirate sea sand, causing the "Taiwan Shallow Dump", which is rich in fishery and quartz sand, to face ecological catastrophe. Senior U.S. national security experts pointed out that this is a typical example of the CCP's "gray aggression", which can not only seize precious sand and gravel resources, but also force Taiwan to use its financial and military resources for the coast guard.
Although the Taiwan Coast Guard has banned it every year, China has been despatching pumping sand ships every year, and these mainland ships that have crossed the border to steal sand have made Taiwan unbearable.
Taiwan Beach, southwest of Penghu, is China's "favourite" for ships stealing sand. The sand wave area with an area of about 10,000 square km, also known as "Taiwan Shallow Dump", is rich in sea sand and breeds various fishes, making it a treasure trove of Taiwan's oceans.
According to data from the Taiwan Coast Guard, Taiwan will expel nearly 4,000 Chinese sand dredgers and sand carriers in 2020. In other words, on average, more than 10 boats illegally pump sand on Taiwan beaches every day.
News (21)
Ecological impact on Taiwan is quite large
Zheng Mingxiu, a researcher at the Biodiversity Research Center of the Academia Sinica, said: "The ecological impact on the sea area is quite large. Now, the sand pumping ships in the mainland are pumping more than 30 m deep. Many fish in these waters, and Prawns and crabs, etc., its environment has been changed.”
In October 2019, the Taiwan Coast Guard joined the Penghu County Government on an expedition to "Taiwan Beach" for the first time, detained two Chinese sand-pulling ships and sand-carrying ships, detained and sentenced all 28 Chinese crew members, and seized the ships for auction. After sending the stolen sand and gravel for inspection, it was found that 99% of it was sand from mainland China. Experts worry that in the long run, Taiwan's beaches will be hollowed out.
Xie Hengyi, director of the Penghu Marine Biological Research Center of the Fisheries Research Institute of the Taiwan Council of Agriculture, said: "If this behaviour of sand pumping continues, for the biological ecology in a balanced state, the original habitat, such as aquatic life, changes, and the composition of the substrate changes. If its food source has changed, or its original breeding ground has disappeared, there is scientific evidence to prove that it will indeed affect the resources of these sea areas."
News (22)
Taiwan fines Chinese ship owners for illegal sand mining
In order to crack down on cross-border sand mining in the mainland, Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed the "Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Reef Law" amendments three times at the end of 2020. Illegal sand mining can be suspended for up to 7 years and a fine of NT$100 million.
Zheng Mingxiu said, "The intensity of law enforcement in Taiwan is very strong now, but there are more ships stealing sand. They say that I can only steal one of the several ships. For the business owner, the benefits he earns should be greater than the punishment. Therefore, it is also a headache for the Taiwanese government at present. Because we have to tow the ship back, we have to auction it, and this ship has to be kept."
News (23)
CCP supports sand theft and "will collect information" on Taiwan
He Chenghui, deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan Security Association, believes that the mainland's repeated behavior of stealing sand is mainly due to the support of the CCP.
He Chenghui, deputy secretary general of the Taiwan Security Association: "On the one hand, it can grab precious sand and gravel resources, and on the other hand, it does not rule out that China (the CCP) will collect information."
News (24)
Sand theft is cunning "gray zone aggression" by the CCP regime
On 11 July 2022, Elisabeth Braw, a senior national security expert at the American Enterprise Institute, wrote in Foreign Policy magazine that the CCP’s theft of sand is a cunning act and a “gray zone aggression” by the CCP regime. Although not of a military nature and not large enough for the target state to respond militarily, it is very harmful. It not only plundered Taiwan's most precious marine resources, but also brought huge expenses to Taiwan and the deterioration of the marine environment.
News (25)
Taiwan to add 12 maritime patrol ships to detain sand pumping vessels
In recent years, in response to the CCP's theft of sand, Taiwan plans to add 12 maritime patrol ships, which cost nearly US$400 million alone.
News (26)
CCP shirks responsibility, 40% of the world's sand and gravel used by China alone
He Chenghui commented, "China can argue such a behaviour as a private behavior of the people, and easily shirk responsibility. Expansion behavior in the gray field is a typical common pattern in maritime disputes in China since 2014."
According to data from the Global Aggregates Information Network, CCP China is the country with the largest amount of sand and gravel, and nearly 40% of the world's sand and gravel is used by China alone.
An important part of Hong Kong's expansion of infrastructure - land reclamation, requires a large amount of river sand or sea sand.
News (27)
CCP prohibits sand pumping on the mainland, Taiwan does not sell the sand pumped
Zheng Mingxiu: "Sand is not allowed to be pumped along the coast of the mainland, because it is afraid that the coast will be eroded, and even typhoons and waves will wash away the houses in the future, so the mainland's control is very strict. Later, they discovered that in the shallows of Taiwan, there is no need to pay or go to the sand to pump the sand here. Who to apply for, so the number of sand pumping boats and the carrying boats are getting bigger and bigger."
News (28)
CCP accuses Taiwan of rough law enforcement, sowing seeds of future conflict
In November last year, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China also investigated and punished China's illegal mining of sea sand in Taiwan, accusing Taiwan of rough law enforcement and causing trouble.
He Chenghui said that the CCP's statement is very absurd but such accusations may sow the seeds for future escalation of the conflict by the CCP.
News (29) to (33) / Reporter : Xia Song / Editor : Sun Yun / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/22/7/19/n13784484.htm
News (29)
Taiwanese student drew a map of the CCP's military forces, experts praise it, and millions of people watch
Image : Joseph Wen, a graduate of the Department of Music at Soochow University in Taiwan, used Google Maps to create a website called "People's Liberation Army Bases and Facilities". Over a year, he marked 1,600 garrisoned locations of the CCP. (Web Screenshot)
Joseph Wen, a graduate of the Department of Music at Soochow University in Taiwan, used Google Maps to create a website for the CCP's military bases and facilities covering 1,600 Chinese military garrison sites and has now garnered nearly 1.1 million views.
Many Taiwanese and foreign experts and netizens, including many mainland netizens, praised Joseph Wen's ability to coordinate the war situation, but there were also suspected CCP little pinkies who sent death threats to him on Twitter.
News (30)
Young musician draws a map of the CCP's military power
Voice of America reported that Joseph Wen, 23, from Taipei, is about to study at the Graduate School of Music at Soochow University in Taiwan, where he majors in composition. However, the musician used Google Maps to draw a map of the CCP's military forces, which convinced millions of netizens.
Using Google Maps, Joseph Wen created an interactive map of "Communist Army Bases and Facilities", and organized and marked the locations of more than 1,600 PLA bases, training grounds, military schools, and military industries. The content of the interactive map remains updated, and as of mid-July, the number of views has approached 1.1 million.
Joseph Wen single-handedly created the CCP's military force map, which was affirmed by military experts inside and outside Taiwan, and said that the map should be 70% to 80% accurate.
News (31)
When he was young, he became a military fan and paid attention to the situation in the Taiwan Strait
In an exclusive interview with VOA, Joseph Wen said that when he was a junior high school student, he became an amateur military fan under the enlightenment of his friends and became an amateur military fan. In high school, he began to pay attention to the situation in the mainland.
After entering the high school threshold, he began to pay attention to the political and economic development of the mainland. When he was a freshman in high school, Joseph Wen, who was only 15 years old, wrote a paper titled "On the political struggle in Zhongnanhai and the future development of the Asia-Pacific political situation from the perspective of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China".
In the article, he listed in detail the distribution map of the high-level factions of the CCP leadership, including the organization members of the Shanghai Gang, the Princeling Party and the Communist Youth League faction.
Joseph Wen also said at the end of the article, "Xi Jinping is not only China's Putin, but more likely to become China's Gorbachev!" This not only greatly affects China, but also benefits Taiwan's future development. He also said that with the political layout of Xi Jinping, the differences between the United States and China cannot be narrowed in the future, and the Taiwan issue is bound to become an important pawn in the wrestling between the United States and China.
As a military fan, Joseph Wen has extensively dabbled in knowledge related to the Chinese military. In June 2021, he saw the so-called "necessary for attacking Taiwan" outline map of Taiwan's military deployment published by the CCP's military publication "Ship Knowledge", which inspired his inspiration and interest. He also began to draw the CCP's military deployment map accordingly.
He said that although it is difficult to determine the total number of CCP military bases and facilities, most of the PLA Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force and other scientific and technological military bases marked on the map are complete. He said that because the information on army bases is relatively undisclosed, it is difficult to obtain but 50 to 60 percent of the information should be found.
News (32)
Wikipedia, CCP official media leaks, outsourcers help a lot
So, what tool did Joseph Wen use to obtain relevant information about the CCP's military and draw a map of its troop deployment?
He told VOA that for more than a year, he has used open-source information, such as public information on Wikipedia or military information unintentionally leaked by official media (official leaks), and then compared satellite maps to locate the CCP Location map of each unit of the army.
For example, he said that the 72nd Army Group in the Eastern Theater Command of the Communist Party of China was an official leaked by CCTV. CCTV once filmed a series of propaganda films, "The Chief Official of the Group Army speaks to strengthen the army", and the title of the film will show the Army Headquarters. He started to compare the frontal photos of the military headquarters shown in the title, and finally established that the headquarters of the 72nd Army was located in Huzhou, Zhejiang.
Joseph Wen's attention is on a wide range of information, including the outsourcers of the Chinese military. For example, in a naval test base near Huludao in Liaoning Province, Joseph Wen found the unit's number on the website of the base's outsourcing company and identified the location of the base.
He said that the map construction technology is not difficult but it is quite challenging to mine, compare and sort out a large amount of relevant data before positioning.
News (33)
Expert netizens praise, a little pinky threatens him
The Voice of America reported that military experts inside and outside Taiwan praised Joseph Wen's map of the CCP's military strength.
Former Taiwanese military officer Huang Pengxiao praised Joseph Wen as "the light of Taiwan", showing the determination of young people to defend Taiwan's security. This means that the younger generation in Taiwan does not care about cross-strait issues, national positioning, and security issues, as some people say.
Huang Pengxiao said that he came into contact with some young people in Taiwan who had their own ideas, and they spontaneously confronted Wumao and Little Pink on the Internet. "Joseph Wen represents the self-awakening of a young Taiwanese who fights against China and protects Taiwan," he said.
Huang Pengxiao believes that although Wen's map may not be of military grade, the Russia-Ukraine war shows the trend of war in the new era, including the development of informationization, electronicization and unmannedization, which may be the areas that young people are good at. A platform must be created so that young people like Joseph Wen can exert "the power of asymmetric warfare."
Yao Cheng, a former lieutenant colonel of the Chinese Navy Command who lives in Los Angeles, USA, also told VOA that Joseph Wen's map is quite accurate, including the air force or missile launch bases such as airports and docks.
However, he also reminded that in order to avoid satellite detection and become a target for precision strike missiles, the deployment of the CCP's military should have been motorized. Therefore, many of the deployments of the CCP's military that can be seen from public information may be false targets. He said, for example, that the CCP has set up 101 missile launchers in the northwest but they are all disguised.
Joseph Wen's map was also appreciated by netizens. Some netizens said, "You have completely cracked down on the inferiority complex of Communist wolf warriors and little pinkies. You have made a great contribution." Many mainland netizens also gave him rational feedback and gave him a lot of information about the bases or the corrections suggested by the label, but there is also a small pink threat to him.
Joseph said that a Twitter user who signed the "Department of Handling Affairs of the Taiwan Association" marked the map by name at the end of June, and posted a post saying, "To find Joseph Wen, his relatives and friends,'eliminate' them."
Joseph Wen said he did not care and did not think the tweeter's words were lethal. This is human nature, people hide behind the keyboard and speak anonymously, always speaking out.
News (34)
Reported that Abe was assassinated and was bullied, Chinese reporter in Japan committed suicide
Image : Zeng Ying, a reporter living in Japan, was abused and bullied by a little pinky for reporting the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (taken from Weibo)
Zeng Ying, a journalist based in Japan, reported the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier this month. She was choked with tears during the live broadcast and was scolded by Chinese netizens as a "traitor". Posting an apology was still banned. On 19 July 2022, it was reported that Zeng Ying committed suicide after releasing a suspected "suicide note", and another source alleged that she was currently in the hospital for rescue.
"Li Jifeng", who was certified as an in-depth investigative reporter by the Chinese social platform "Weibo", posted an article alleging that Zeng Ying committed suicide in Japan on the 19th; Zeng Ying allegedly suffered from depression. Chinese writer Chen Lan posted on the same day that Zeng Ying is currently in hospital.
Based on media reports in China and Hong Kong, Li Jifeng's post also attached a "suicide note" suspected to have been sent by Zeng Ying in the "WeChat" circle of friends, writing: "It is very relaxed and calm to announce to everyone that I, 32 years old, decided to I want to leave...at the end of my life...I feel sorry for my parents...", and revealed that she suffered from depression in 2018, which made her unable to support her daily life and work recently.
Chen Lan said, "She (Zeng Ying) was deeply in the agony of being attacked by the Internet a few days ago..." and also revealed that Zeng Ying had committed suicide before and was rescued from a coma for many days; She was worried about her previous experience. Soon, Chen Lan updated the post again, claiming that netizens in Japan had found Zeng Ying, who is currently in the hospital.
Zeng Ying, a 32-year-old Japanese reporter for The Paper, has more than 2 million followers on Weibo. On 8 July 2022, she choked up when she recounted the news of Abe's assassination on a live broadcast, and said that Abe "has brought a huge impact on China-Japan friendship." Contribution", was attacked by a large number of small pinks, scolding her for being "unprofessional", "in the live broadcast, it was like a funeral examination, crying, as if my father died", "is it a Chinese reporter or a Japanese reporter?", "not worthy of being Chinese" .
Zeng Ying later apologized for her "gaffe", emphasizing that she should not put her personal emotions on the public platform, "It was my fault, I'm sorry." However, there is another statement that she is not a reporter from The Paper in Japan, but a special "Japan" media commentator".
Since Abe's friend Taiwan fought against China, he has become a thorn in the eyes of CCP Chinese netizens. After the news of his death by shooting came out, many CCP netizens celebrated in a high-profile manner, saying that he was "dead to death", and even businesses took the opportunity to hold celebration activities, and many netizens also followed suit. It is highly undesirable to accuse such schadenfreude.
News (35) to (39) / Reporter : Jack Newman, Daily Mail / https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11027163/Putin-arrives-Iran-looks-create-new-anti-West-alliance-secure-Tehrans-drones.html
News (35)
War drags on in the midst of his failing health, Putin arrived in Iran to forge anti-West alliance
Image : Web Screenshot
Vladimir Putin hobbled along the red carpet after touching down in Iran on 19 July 2022 as the Russian leader continues to battle rumours about his failing health.
The president, who has been plagued by claims he is suffering from Parkinson's or cancer, limped off the plane while not moving his right arm.
It is not the first time Putin's public appearances have raised questions over his wellbeing, and he has frequently been seen shaking, holding on to objects for support and looking bloated and puffy.
Putin arrived in Iran to forge a fearsome new alliance, with both sanction-hit countries united by their hatred for the West.
The Russian leader is meeting President Raisi and Ayatollah Khamenei, the Islamic Republic's supreme leader, during the talks aimed at boosting ties between the regimes.
It is only the second time Putin has been abroad since launching his brutal invasion of Ukraine five months ago.
News (36)
Iran attempts to sell drones to Russia for war against Ukraine
Image of Iranian drones : EPA
The meeting comes amid warnings from the U.S. last week that Iran is preparing to sell drones to Russia to use in Ukraine.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Tehran is planning to provide 'hundreds' of combat drones to Moscow, and Iranian soldiers will train their Russian counterparts in how to use the drones - with lessons beginning in just a few weeks.
According to the White House, a Russian delegation visited an Iranian airfield on 8 June and 5 July 2022 to inspect the drones, which could be used to direct artillery fire and destroy Ukrainian military hardware.
It has been suggested that Russia will offer unspecified military assistance in exchange for the drones.
The gathering has symbolic meaning for Putin' back home, showing off Russia's international clout as it grows increasingly isolated and plunges deeper into confrontation with the West.
News (37)
An "axis of good" gathers strength for the two countries' survival under sanctions
Image : EPA
Russian state TV propagandist Yevgeny Popov said the two nations will form an "axis of good", mocking George W. Bush's "axis of evil" description of Iran, Iraq and North Korea.
Andrey Kortunov, head of the Russian International Affairs Council, said, "This is an important visit for Putin personally.
"The Kremlin doesn't want to allow itself to be isolated internationally."
It comes just days after U.S. President Joe Biden's visited Israel and Saudi Arabia - Iran's primary rivals in the region.
Iran has rapidly advanced its nuclear program since former President Donald Trump abandoned the atomic accord and reimposed crushing sanctions, while Russia has also frequently issued nuclear sabre-rattling against the West.
Backed into a corner by the West and its regional rivals, Iran is ramping up uranium enrichment, cracking down on dissent and grabbing headlines with optimistic, hard-line stances intended to keep the Iranian currency from crashing.
Without sanctions relief in sight, Iran's tactical partnership with Russia has become one of survival, even as Moscow appears to be undercutting Tehran in the black market oil trade.
Fadahossein Maleki, a member of the Iranian parliament's influential committee on national security and foreign policy, described Russia as Iran's 'most strategic partner' on Monday.
His comments belied decades of animosity stemming from Russia's occupation of Iran during World War II - and its refusal to leave afterward.
Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov called Iran "an important partner for Russia' in a briefing Monday, saying the countries shared 'a desire to take their relations to a new level of strategic partnership."
"'Iran is (the) centre of dynamic diplomacy," Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian wrote on Twitter, adding the meetings will "develop economic cooperation, focus on security of the region via political solution ... and ensure food security."
Fadahossein Maleki, a member of the Iranian parliament's influential committee on national security and foreign policy, described Russia as Iran's 'most strategic partner' on Monday.
His comments belied decades of animosity stemming from Russia's occupation of Iran during World War II - and its refusal to leave afterward.
Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov called Iran "'an important partner for Russia" in a briefing Monday, saying the countries shared 'a desire to take their relations to a new level of strategic partnership."
In his fifth visit to Tehran, Putin will meet Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with whom he has a "trusting dialogue," Ushakov said.
He will also hold talks with President Raisi on issues including Tehran's nuclear deal, of which Russia is a key signatory. The leaders met in Moscow in January and again last month in Turkmenistan.
News (38)
Encouraging a political settlement in Syria
The focus of the talks among the three presidents will be the decade-old conflict in Syria, where Iran and Russia have backed President Bashar Assad's government, while Turkiye has supported armed opposition factions.
Russia intervened in the conflict in 2015, pooling efforts with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants and Iranian forces and using its air power to shore up Assad's fledgling military and ultimately turning the tide in his favour.
Ushakov said the parties will discuss efforts to encourage a political settlement, while Erdogan is expected to take up Turkiye's threats of a new military offensive in northern Syria to drive away U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters from its borders.
The operation is part of Turkiye's plans to create a safe zone along its border with Syria that would encourage the voluntary return of Syrian refugees.
Russia strongly opposes to the planned Turkish incursion, Ushakov stressed. Humanitarian issues in Syria have also come into focus since Russia used its veto power at the U.N. Security Council last week to force a restriction in aid deliveries to 4.1 million people in Syria's rebel-held northwest after six months, instead of a year.
News (39)
Talks to lift a Russian blockade and get Ukraine's grain into global markets
Talks to lift a Russian blockade and get Ukraine's grain into global markets will also be on the agenda.
Last week, U.N., Russian, Ukrainian and Turkish officials reached a tentative agreement on some aspects of a deal to ensure the export of 22 million tons of desperately needed grain and other agricultural products trapped in Ukraine's Black Sea ports by the fighting.
Putin will also meet with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan today, who has sought to help broker talks on a peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as help negotiations to unblock Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.
Turkey, a NATO member, has found itself opposite Russia in bloody conflicts in Azerbaijan, Libya and Syria but Turkiye has not imposed sanctions on the Kremlin, making it a sorely needed partner for Moscow. Grappling with runaway inflation and a rapidly depreciating currency, Turkiye also relies on the Russian market.
News (40)
Putin sends up two supersonic nuclear bombers up over the ocean north of Finland and Sweden
Reporters : Will Stewart etal., Daily Mail / https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11028691/Putin-sends-two-nuclear-bombers-ocean-north-NATO-applicants-Finland-Sweden.html
Putin and other Russian officials on several occasions warned Finland and Sweden, who had long been militarily neutral until their decision to apply for NATO membership, not to join forces with the Western security bloc upon threat of military action.
The despot later rolled back his comments in the wake of the Nordic countries' formal application in May, telling pundits: 'There is nothing that could bother us about Sweden and Finland joining NATO. They can join whatever they want,' in a scrambling attempt to save face.
But the deployment of two aircraft capable of carrying and launching nuclear warheads serves as a stark reminder of Moscow's opposition to the expansion of NATO along the northern Russian border.
MiG-31 fighter jets escorted the Tu-160 aircraft, nicknamed 'White Swans', on a mission lasting more than seven hours.
The flyover comes as the Russian leader arrived in the Iranian capital Tehran on only his second visit outside Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine.
No comments:
Post a Comment