Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News on disease control, CCP, Taiwan, France
News (1) to (14) / Reporter : Tang Zheng / Editor : Zhu Xinrui / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2023/04/09/a103686593.html
News (1)
50 cases of key virus strains in 8 days in CCP China
Image : The picture shows the data image of SARS-CoV-2 (CCP virus, novel coronavirus, covi). (Shutterstock)
A few days ago, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Communist Party of China (China CDC) reported that within 8 days in CCP China, 50 new cases of local variant strains of special concern were discovered.
In the evening of 8 April 2023, China CDC released the latest situation of the national covi infection. 50 cases of mutant strains are reported
It includes 1 case of BQ.1.1, 1 case of BQ.1.1.13, 1 case of BQ.1.1.53, 5 cases of XBB.1, 19 cases of XBB.1.5, 1 case of XBB.1.9, 14 cases of XBB.1.9.1, 7 cases of XBB.1.9.2, 1 case of XBB.2.4.
News (2)
38,655 local covid cases in CCP China from 26 September 2022 to 6 April 2023
According to the notification, from 26 September 2022 to 6 April 2023, a total of 38,655 effective genome sequences of local cases of covid were reported across the country, all of which were mutant strains of Omicron, with a total of 119 evolutionary branches. For BA.5.2.48 (45.3%), BF.7.14 (25.2%), BA.5.2.49 (9.0%) and DY.1 (8.4%). The composition ratio of 26 evolutionary branches such as BF.7.14.1 is between 0.1% and 3.1%, and the composition ratio of 89 evolutionary branches is less than 0.1% (0.8% in total).
Newslinks
BF.7.14, BA.5.2.48, BA.5.2.49 are new, Past exposure to BA.5 will not help!
New BA.5 sublineages continue to emerge globally as virus evolves rapidly. New DY.1 variant emerges in China
News (3)
It is claimed covid spread in CCP China in a "low-level epidemic state"
On 22 March 2023, the CCP’s official media quoted experts from the National Health Commission as warning that the covid epidemic has not disappeared in mainland China, but is only in a low-level epidemic state.
News (4)
Fever clinics are still full of patients and many schools are closed
Since March 2023, infection waves have reappeared in many places in China. Fever clinics in hospitals around the country are full of patients, and schools in many places have been closed. Although the official claims that the peak of this wave of infections is "influenza A", many netizens said that the symptoms of influenza A infection are very similar to covid including severe illness, white lung and other cases also appeared. People suspect that the authorities concealed the covid epidemic and renamed covid as "influenza A".
News (5)
Suspension of classes in Guangzhou
On 4 April 2023, a copy of the "List of Suggested School Suspensions for Influenza-Like Case Outbreaks" issued by the Guangzhou Haizhu District Center for Disease Control and Prevention (attached on April 3, 2023) was circulated on the Internet. It lists primary schools and kindergartens where outbreaks occurred, and some classes were suspended.
News (6)
CCP claims peak of "influenza A" yet measures to control flu are as drastic as clearing covid
Recently, information from Chinese social platforms shows that Guangzhou, Foshan, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Fujian, Jiangxi, Chongqing and other places have once again ushered in the peak of "influenza A". Due to the high number of infections, many schools and kindergartens have announced the suspension of classes. Pediatric outpatient clinics are overcrowded, and there are rumours that medicines are out of stock in many places.
In addition, recently, news of the deaths of senior CCP officials and celebrities has been reported one after another.
News (7)
People's Daily former chief editor died on 4 April 2023
On 4 April 2023, Xie Guoming, the former deputy editor-in-chief of the People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s media, died of illness in Beijing at the age of 66. His friend revealed that Xie Guoming had a fever in mid-January this year and was hospitalized until his death. Xie Guoming claims to be "politically correct" and has been helping the CCP guide public opinion. He is known as the "gatekeeper of the party newspaper"
News (8)
Anhui Communist member died of "sudden illness" on 3 April 2023
On 3 April 2023, Li Xiusong, a member of the Communist Party of China and former vice chairman of the Anhui Provincial Political Consultative Conference, died in Hefei due to a "sudden illness" at the age of 66.
News (9)
Former vice mayor of Shanghai died on 26 March 2023
On 26 March 2023, Zhuang Xiaotian, a member of the Communist Party of China, former vice mayor of Shanghai, and first chairman of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, died of illness.
News (10)
PLA Lieutenant died on 20 March 2023
On 20 March 2023, Lieutenant General Wang Xugong, a member of the Communist Party of China and former commander of the Navy's Aviation Department (deputy military region), died in Qingdao "due to illness and treatment that failed."
News (11)
CCP general that implemented the "June 4th" martial law order passed away on 12 March 2023
On March 12, Li Laizhu, a general of the Communist Party of China and former commander of the Beijing Military Region, died in Beijing. According to reports, during the June 4th incident in 1989, Li Laizhu, the deputy commander of the Beijing Military Region at the time, forced the military commanders to "state their position" and implement the "June 4th" martial law order.
News (12)
CCP member and university teacher died on 13 March 2023
On 13 March 2023, Professor Fang Yan, a member of the Communist Party of China, a full-time teacher at the School of History, Culture and Tourism of Sichuan Normal University, and a doctoral supervisor, passed away at the age of 53 after "due to illness and treatment that failed".
News (13)
Doctoral supervisor and CCP member died in Jinan on 2 March 2023
On 2 March 2023, Professor Li Haiou, a member of the Communist Party of China, the dean of the School of Music of Shandong Normal University, and a doctoral supervisor, died in Jinan at the age of 52 because of "due to illness and treatment that failed".
News (14)
Hospital president's assistant died on 1 March 2023
On 1 March 2023, Lu Zhong, a member of the Communist Party of China and assistant to the president of the Children's Hospital of Fudan University, passed away at the age of 51.
News (15)
CCP member of Hainan died on 18 February 2023
On 18 February 2023, Niu Ping, a member of the Communist Party of China, former deputy minister of the Ministry of State Security, and member of the party committee, died of "due to illness" in Sanya, Hainan.
News (16)
The CCP military exercise around Taiwan! 24 hours and 70 total planes disrupt Taiwan, the national army monitors missiles on the shore
The People's Liberation Army of the Chinese mainland announced that it will conduct a military exercise around Taiwan from 8 to 10 April 2023. The plane crossed the center line and harassed the Republic of China southwest airspace, and another 11 Chinese warships continued to operate around the Taiwan Strait. The National Army uses mission aircraft, ships and shore-mounted missile systems to closely monitor and respond.
According to the information released by the Ministry of National Defense, the 70 common aircraft models include Sukai 30, J-11, J-10, J-16, TB001 UAV, Yun-9 communication countermeasure aircraft, Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, J-15, Rainbow 4 UAV, and Air Police 500.
Regarding the CCP’s military exercise against Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense also released combat readiness images and videos last night, revealing the combat readiness images of various units of the three armed forces in response to the CCP’s military exercise today, including the aerial reconnaissance footage of the CCP’s Suzhou ship being monitored by the Kite UAV today. The Ministry of National Defense stated that in the face of the CCP’s Eastern Theater Command’s continuous military exercises around Taiwan, which impacted the security of the Republic of China and the region, the National Army has always responded calmly and focused on training to deal with the enemy’s situation.
The Ministry of National Defense pointed out that the ground troops implement normal combat readiness training; land-based anti-aircraft missile and sea-control missile troops are on high alert, adhering to the principle of "not escalating conflicts and not causing disputes". The national army will fully grasp the enemy's dynamics and protect democracy, guard sovereignty, guard the land!
News (17)
European media: Macron caters to CCP, says Europe should not be involved in US-CCP conflict over Taiwan
Image : French President Emmanuel Macron (right) concluded his visit to China and was interviewed on his private plane on his return trip. He said that Europe should avoid being involved in the US-China conflict over the Taiwan issue, and emphasized that Europe should not follow the United States because of its strategic autonomy. The picture shows Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping strolling in Guangzhou to enjoy the scenery on 7 April. (AFP file photo)
[Central News Agency] French President Emmanuel Macron accepted an interview with the European political news website Politico on the presidential plane at the end of his visit to CCP China, saying that Europe should avoid being involved in the conflict between the United States and CCP over the Taiwan issue, and emphasized that Europe's strategic autonomy should not follow the United States.
Macron ended his three-day state visit to China on 8 April 2023. He was interviewed by European media Politico on his special plane to defend his visit to China, which was bombarded by various circles.
According to a special article published today by Politico, for Macron, Europe should reduce its "reliance on the United States" and "avoid being drawn into the US-China conflict over the Taiwan issue".
After a rare six-hour conversation with CCP President Xi Jinping, Macron revisited his near obsession with the concept of Europe's "strategic autonomy" in a media interview, with the aim of making the EU a "third power" and France undoubtedly plays a front-line role.
Macron told the media on the presidential plane from Beijing to Guangzhou that the great crisis in Europe is "being involved in a crisis that does not belong to us, which will prevent us from building strategic autonomy".
Politico analyzed that Xi Jinping and the CCP are keen to support Macron’s concept of strategic autonomy, because both CCP leaders and Beijing scholars are convinced that the West is declining and China is rising, and the weakening of transatlantic relations (the United States and the European Union) will accelerate this trend.
Macron's strategic autonomy seems to be based on the concept of emphasizing not being in league with the United States.
He said, "The question for Europeans is: Is it in our interest to hasten the Taiwan (crisis)? No. What is worse is that Europeans think they should be followers on this issue, gaining from American issues and CCP's overreaction inspired".
A few hours after Macron's plane took off to return to France, CCP China launched a large-scale military exercise around Taiwan in retaliation for President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States to meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
People close to Macron said he was satisfied that Beijing would wait at least until he had left CCP airspace before launching a simulated "encircle Taiwan" exercise.
According to French officials who accompanied Macron on the trip, Macron and Xi Jinping actually had "intensive discussions" on the Taiwan issue. However, compared with the United States and even the European Union, Macron seems to take a more "mediation and appeasement" stance.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Union Executive Committee who accompanied Macron on his visit to China and participated in part of the trip, told Xi Jinping during the tripartite meeting on the 6th, "Stability across the Taiwan Strait is extremely important, and threats to change the status quo by force are unacceptable. "; Xi Jinping replied, "Anyone who expects China to compromise on the Taiwan issue is wishful thinking."
According to Politico's analysis, Macron clearly agrees with Xi Jinping's point of view. "The Europeans can't solve the Ukraine crisis, how can we credibly say on Taiwan: 'Be careful, if you mess around, we'll come forward?' If you really want to escalate tensions, do it," he said. .
Yanmei Xie, a geopolitical analyst at GaveKal Dragonomics, pointed out that "Europe is more willing to accept a world in which China becomes a regional hegemon. Some European leaders even believe that such a world order may be more beneficial to Europe."
Politico revealed that during the nearly two-hour tripartite meeting, Macron and Van der Leyen had similar positions, but during the next four hours of private conversations between Macron and Xi Jinping, Macron's attitude and tone catered to many.
In his visit, Macron stressed Europe's growing dependence on the United States for arms and energy, saying Europe should reduce "the extraterritoriality of the dollar". Politico writes that this mirrors the goals of important Russian and Chinese policies.
Politico emphasized at the end of the article that in order to obtain an exclusive interview, it agreed to give the French presidential palace the right to review, but "many of Macron's more direct remarks about Taiwan were taken down by the presidential palace."
Macron's interviews criticizing the United States and accommodating CCP's stance on Taiwan sparked discussion.
Antoine Bondaz, a researcher at the French Strategic Research Foundation (FRS), wrote on Twitter: "Macron only talks about the risk of CCP's "overreaction", but forgets CCP's ambition to conquer Taiwan and change the status quo. He contradicts the stance of the EU", and criticized Macron for not defining European interests, saying only that they were "different from the United States".
News (18)
On Macron's stance on the Taiwan Strait, European political and academic circles criticize his disqualification and naivety
Editor : He Hongru / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/4265371
[Central News Agency] French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Von der Leyen visited China together, and European public opinion gave them opposite evaluations. European Member of Parliament Borrehan called Macron's visit to CCP China a "complete disaster", and some scholars criticized his remarks on the Taiwan Strait as "naive".
When the wave of European politicians visiting China recedes, who will be the most ridiculed "man without pants"?
Next, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will visit China one after another. However, the tide has not yet receded. Macron, who just returned to France from Beijing on the presidential plane has been negatively criticized for "washing the format" in the European political and academic circles who care about China issues.
Reinhard Butikofer, head of the European Parliament's delegation to China, sternly criticized on Twitter: "Macron's visit to China turned out to be worse than expected. What a total disaster. His position will not win in the EU institutions. The pipe dream of the so-called "strategic autonomy" of the EU to become a "third power" will not be accepted. Von der Leyen shows a better option."
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission (European Commission), delivered a harsh speech on the relationship between the EU and China before her trip. She walked off the red carpet to greet them personally, and there was no state banquet.
At a press conference before leaving Beijing, she explained the content of her conversation with Xi Jinping, including emphasizing to Xi that she would not accept the use of force to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, reflecting the unfair competition faced by European companies in China, and the need for the EU to "de-risk" the Chinese economy.
Macron accepted an exclusive interview with the European political news website Politico on the special plane back to France, saying that Europe should "avoid being involved in the US-China conflict over the Taiwan issue", emphasizing that Europe's strategic autonomy should not follow the United States.
"This stance on China and Taiwan (makes) Macron lose his identity as a European leader," Bowman criticized in another post.
Velina Tchakarova, director of the European think tank "Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy" (Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy), also questioned Macron on Twitter if the United States is also holding on to Russia's war against Ukraine. With the same attitude that it is none of your business, what will happen in Europe? "Without US aid, Ukraine will disintegrate and surrender," she wrote.
Thorsten Benner, executive director of the Berlin-based think tank Global Public Policy Institute, also tweeted that he criticized Macron's Taiwan Strait policy as a "very dangerous and short-sighted attitude", not because he does not want to follow America blindly, but because that attitude does not work.
Benner advocated that CCP should be contained to avoid changing the status quo of peace in the Taiwan Strait, but Macron seemed to have given Xi Jinping a "free pass" and fell into the trap of Beijing's rhetoric that the Taiwan Strait issue was stimulated by the United States. The desire to rule, mistakenly thinking that Europe can be kept out of the conflict in the Taiwan Strait without provoking an overreaction from CCP, is "dangerously naive".
Macron's evaluation of this trip was even worse than last year's criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Banner said that before Scholez's visit to CCP China, he brought a large number of business owners with him because he approved the Chinese state-owned enterprises to take shares in the Hamburg port terminal facilities. "It looked good before the trip, but then it turned into a disaster."
News (19)
Expert: Macron's diplomatic failure in China visit may greatly damage his international image
[Central News Agency] French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to China has come to an end. This time the country's visit was not smooth, and the "pilgrimage" returned empty-handed. Scholars criticize Macron not only for failure in diplomatic missions, but also for the ambiguity of his strategy that will damage his international image, and he may end up becoming a representative of French businessmen.
Emmanuel Macron is coming to the end of a three-day state visit to CCP China, where he met students and had dinner with CCP President Xi Jinping in Guangzhou.
Summarizing the visit to China, Marc Julienne, director of the Asian Studies Center of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), accepted an exclusive interview with franceinfo today, saying that for Macron, nothing met expectations. A failure on stage...a huge image loss".
Alicia Garcia-Herrero, a senior researcher at the think tank Bruegel Institute for European and Global Economics (Bruegel), said in a commentary in Asia Times on 9 April 2023 that "Europe's latest pilgrimage to Beijing has returned empty-handed." Not only did it not bring good news for Ukraine, but there was no guarantee of "de-risking".
Julien points out that the Russia-Ukraine war is considered a priority by the French government, however "asking Beijing for a solution to the war is an illusion, all analysts agreed in advance that Macron would not be able to achieve the task, which he did not. It’s not good for Xi Jinping at all to find a political solution to the conflict, just like military aid for (Russian President) Putin.”
Analysts generally believe that the mission to ask China to press Russia for a ceasefire has failed; Beijing still refuses to recognize that this is a "war" started by Russia.
Julian analyzed that Macron's position on Xi Jinping's military aid to Russia is vague. "Is Xi Jinping a potential mediator or a supporter of the Russian power? Surprisingly, we cannot choose between the two positions." France is sending a negative signal of credibility to its allies by being vague about Xi Jinping.
"Macron undoubtedly thought he could change the situation and it was worth a try. But after trying to dissuade Putin from invading Ukraine, this is the second defeat on the international stage and the loss of image is heavy."
Even Xi Jinping's promise to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was mentioned at a press conference by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Union Executive Committee, who was invited by Macron to visit with him but Julian reserved that Xi Jinping's so-called "time is ripe" is a very broad political term.
Antoine Bondaz, a researcher at the French think tank Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS), pointed out in an exclusive interview with France 24 today that CCP has only repeated its rhetoric on the issue of Russia and Ukraine, and its position has not changed at all. Lensky also already knew something, "nothing new". There is no new progress in the visit, "but it is normal, Xi Jinping has just been to Moscow, it is impossible to change the international strategy immediately."
The joint visit of Macron and Von der Leyen, who originally hoped to convey a message of European unity, unexpectedly became a tool for China to divide Europe. Von der Leyen, who is hardlining on Beijing, was "snubbed" during her trip and the inconsistency between the two men's messages was amplified.
Julian said that it is good for the two to visit together, but the result did not meet expectations. One is that the Chinese do not welcome her; the other is that compared with her confident and tough attitude, Macron seems timid to cater to her.
Macron's position of never mentioning the Taiwan Strait issue also made Julian quite puzzled. He said that France prides itself on being a European leader, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a key figure in the Indo-Pacific, "however, it is deaf to the key security issue in the Indo-Pacific region, namely the stability of the Taiwan Strait."
France is unwilling to mention it, "but if the international trade route of the Taiwan Strait cannot be sailed in the future, France will be directly impacted."
Julian criticized the lack of clarity of the Macron government's "third line" strategy. Macron spends a lot of time saying that he is not with the United States... "But the problem is that Macron does not do the same thing with China. He should be just as frank, even harsh, with Beijing. Differences of opinion should not be hidden under the rug".
Even the several corporate orders that Macron proudly achieved such as Airbus and EDF, Julian does not think it is a victory. “It’s true that it makes money, but Macron also dodges a problem that worries France and Europe a great deal: the trade deficit with CCP China.”
Von der Leyen once warned that due to protectionism, Europe cannot have fair access to the Chinese market. However, this time, no progress has been made in mutual trade and investment reciprocity. "The French president is more like a business representative of a French company, selling business but this is a strategic error."
Many French scholars also criticized Macron for breaking international etiquette several times. For example, speaking at the press conference twice as long as the host, talking about Xi Jinping's apparent impatience, and putting his hands in his pockets when taking a group photo, etc.
Bo Daan said that among the mixed interviews, the only positive thing was Macron's speech at Sun Yat-sen University, which emphasized the importance of critical thinking and research freedom. Although it will not have any impact on China, it will at least bring a positive image and message.
News (20)
Worried about CCP China's possible blockade of Taiwan, U.S. Senate leader Graham: "Strategic ambiguity" is no longer feasible
Reporter : Lu Yongshan / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/4265958 / Image : Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican Senator, publicly expressed concerns about China's possible blockade of Taiwan on the 9th, emphasizing that he is "open" to the US sending troops to defend Taiwan, and that "strategic ambiguity" will not work . (Associated Press)
After President Tsai Ing-wen met with the cross-party congressmen headed by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives McCarthy at the Reagan Presidential Library in California on 5 April, CCP China launched a three-day military operation in the surrounding areas of Taiwan starting from 8 April. Lindsey Graham, a senior U.S. Republican Senator, publicly expressed concerns about China's possible blockade of Taiwan on 9 April, emphasizing that he is "open" to the U.S. sending troops to defend Taiwan, and that the U.S. policy of "strategic ambiguity" towards Taiwan will not work.
Graham said in an interview with Fox News Sunday news anchor Shannon Bream: "I think they are preparing for a possible blockade of Taiwan. The Chinese Communist Party will test us fiercely this year and before the election next year. In 1961, Russia made attempts to isolate Berlin. So I worry that China may set conditions for a blockade of Taiwan in the coming months and weeks, and if they do, we need a strong response."
Bream asked Graham if he would support authorizing the use of military force in Taiwan if tensions between Taiwan and China escalated. Graham responded: "Congress needs to ask itself, should we have a defense agreement with the island of Taiwan? Shouldn't we have one?"
Graham said he is very open to using the U.S. military to defend Taiwan because it is in U.S. national security interests; in addition, Taiwan supplies a large percentage of high-end chips, and a Chinese takeover of Taiwan would jeopardize the supply of those chips .
Graham said Taiwan was not the problem, it was the expansionist Putin and Xi Jinping, but increasing the U.S. presence in the region would likely reduce the threat to the bold duo and he would support aid to Taiwan because Taiwan It is a democratic country and supports increased training in Taiwan and provides the F-16 fighters Taiwan needs.
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