Category: Thinking About China

Why the New Asia-Pacific Economic Pact Cannot Save the Chinese Economy

Commentary The new Asia-Pacific economic pact cannot help China recover from its export market loss with the United States and growing international isolation. In Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s own words, “The wind is strong, and the tides are high.” The Asia-Pacific Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) pact, led by the 10 ASEAN countries, was signed…


Chinese Leader Xi Jinping Faces Pressure From Within the Military 

Commentary Chinese leader Xi Jinping attended a military ceremony on Dec. 18 at the People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s headquarters in Beijing. Four generals were newly appointed and honored at the event. But it appeared as if Xi lacked enthusiasm, judging from the news video footage from Beijing’s mouthpiece Xinhua. What was behind the grim expression…


Chinese Official’s Visit to Suning Holdings Puts the Troubled Conglomerate Under the Spotlight 

Commentary The Chinese regime’s credit information agency disclosed on Dec. 10 that Suning Holdings Group pledged all its shares to Taobao, a subsidiary of Alibaba. On the same day, a high-level Chinese official visited Suning Holding’s headquarters in Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu Province. But it seems the investigation was merely a political show…


Behind the CCP’s Fervent Denial of Interfering in the US Election

Commentary On Dec. 17, a report published on the homepage of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-run media Xinhua website was very eye-catching. It stated, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Refutes Influencing U.S. Presidential Elections: Completely Fabricated.” Chinese state media reports on the U.S. presidential election, and their stated attitudes toward the two candidates, have fluctuated…


How Chinese Leader Xi, Insecure About His Rule, Tried to Resolve Beijing’s Diplomatic Crises

Commentary With U.S. sanctions being announced against Chinese companies and officials one by one, Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping’s attempts to recover after such diplomatic disasters seemed to have failed. Xi did not appear in public for many days. On Dec. 11, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Politburo, comprised of top officials, suddenly met up…


The ‘Made in China’ Quality Crisis

Commentary Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Beijing has used the crisis as a business opportunity to export Chinese-made personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies. However, a large number of Chinese-made COVID-19 testing kits and masks are of inferior quality. And this has once again tarnished China’s international image. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has denied…