HIGHLIGHTS
EXTERNAL
Japan, the Philippines, and the US concerned over Chinese actions in the South China Sea
On 12 April, Japan, the Philippines, and the US leaders voiced serious concerns over China’s actions in the South China Sea. The three leaders issued their joint statement at the end of their first trilateral summit between the three countries in Washington, DC. In March, the Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos called for increased countermeasures against China after a confrontation near the Second Thomas Shoal, which injured Filipino soldiers and navy vessels. Beijing claims the entire South China Sea as its own through its nine-dash line claims, which were rejected by the ICJ ruling in 2016. The joint statement reiterated the need to respect the sovereignty of other states within their EEZ as part of the 1982 UNCLOS. (“Japan, Philippines, US rebuke China over ‘dangerous’ South China Sea moves,” Al Jazeera, 12 April 2024)

CHINA & THE AMERICAS
The US becomes the largest export destination for Taiwan, reports Taiwanese’s Foreign Ministry
On 10 April, according to data from the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry, the US became Taiwan's largest export destination. The data indicated that Taiwan’s exports to the US grew by 65.7 per cent year on year in March to USD 9.1 billion, whereas its exports to China grew by 6 per cent to USD 7.9 billion. This shift in trade was due to the changing priorities of the successive US administrations, which were to reduce dependence on China. The data also reveals that China remained Taiwan’s number one export destination since 2003, which fell recently to second position. Overall exports to China and Hong Kong still remain the largest export places for Taiwan. (Samson Ellis and Miaojung Lin, “US Buys More Taiwan Exports Than China for First Time Since 2003,” Bloomberg, 11 April 2024)

CHINA READER DAILY WIRE 
ECONOMY
20 countries ambassadors extend support towards China’s policies in Xinjiang
On 11 April, ambassadors from 20 countries extended their support for China’s policies in China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to develop close economic ties amid allegations of human rights violations. In the event organized by Xinjiang officials, more than 50 diplomats from 49 countries, including 21 ambassadors, attended the reception. The ambassadors from South Africa, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Syria, and Turkey told Xinjiang officials that they hoped to strengthen economic ties with the region. Xinjiang is home to 25.85 million people, 14.93 million of whom are members of ethnic minority groups comprising the Muslim Uygurs and Kazakhs. China’s vice-minister of foreign affairs, Chen Xiaodong, said that Beijing would actively promote Xinjiang to the outside world and would resist lies about forced labour. (Yuanyue Dang, “China finds foreign support for Xinjiang policies as the region seeks to boost economic ties,” South China Morning Post, 11 April 2024)

EXTERNAL
The US and Japan had “smeared and attacked” China at the summit, says Chinese Foreign Ministry
On 11 April, China’s spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, said that the US and Japan had “smeared and attacked” China during the recent Washington summit. On 10 April, both countries agreed to restructure the US command in Japan, marking a significant upgrade in US-Japan defence ties. This plan enables the US and Japanese forces to respond to the potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan quickly. President Biden said the move was purely defensive and not directed against China. The Spokesperson also said that the US-Japan ties must not harm other countries' interests and threaten regional peace and stability. She further added that Taiwan is China’s internal affairs, and Beijing won’t allow any external force. (“Beijing says US, Japan ‘smeared and attacked’ China at summit,” The Straits Times, 11 April 2024)

CHINA & EAST ASIA
China willing to work with North Korea to help relations reach a “higher level,” says NPC Standing Committee head Zhao Leji
On 11 April, the head of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, Zhao Leji, said that China is willing to work closely with the North Korean legislature to help relations reach a “higher level.” Leji also says maintaining close ties with the DPRK is part of China’s overall strategic priority. (“China says it is ready to work closely with North Korea to help relations reach higher level,” Reuters, 11 April 2024)

CHINA & SOUTH ASIA
“India and China must urgently address their border disputes to improve bilateral relations,” says PM Modi
On 10 April, in an interview with Newsweek magazine, PM Modi said, “India and China must urgently address their border disputes to improve bilateral relations.” In the interview, PM Modi did not respond to the opposition party’s allegation but stated the importance of India’s ties with China. He also said that the peaceful relations between the two countries were important for the entire region and the world. On India’s role as a global manufacturing hub, PM Modi said, “India, as a democratic polity and global economic growth engine, is a natural choice for those looking to diversify their supply chains.” India’s opposition Congress party accused the ruling government of giving clean chit to China’s illegal encroachment of Indian territory. According to Newsweek magazine, the interaction with PM Modi was a written interview, followed by a 90-minute conversation. (“India’s Modi urges peace at China border,” BBC, 11 April 2024)

CHINA & EUROPE
China opposes EU’s investigation into Chinese wind turbine makers
On 10 April, the Associated Press reported China’s opposition to the ongoing EU’s investigation into Chinese windmakers and referred to it as protectionism and reckless distortion of the definition of subsidies. EU’s investigation on 09 April is the latest move against Chinese companies under a new EU regulation. The EU Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, said that the investigation will find out whether Chinese subsidies are giving wind turbine companies an unfair advantage in the competition for projects in five member countries: Spain, Greece, France, Romania, and Bulgaria. The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU mentions the investigations as an act of economic coercion undermining the EU’s own goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. China’s Ministry of Commerce said that the “EU’s investigation undermines the motivation for Chinese companies to invest and trade in Europe and affects global efforts to combat climate change.” (Ken Moritsugu, “China protests EU’s investigation of subsidies in green industries, calling the move protectionist,” Associated Press, 11 April 2024)

2500 Chinese victims asked Beijing to return EUR 3 billion worth bitcoin seized in the UK
On 12 April, the Financial Times reported that 2500 Chinese people who are victims of investment fraud seek China’s help to retrieve the amount worth up to EU3bn bitcoin seized in the UK. The victim’s representation group, Chinese company Tianjin Lantian Gerui Electronic Technology, submitted a letter this week to the foreign ministry in Beijing to retrieve the seized money in the UK. The request comes after the conviction in conviction in Southwark Crown Court in March of British-Chinese woman Jian Wen on one count of helping her employer Zhimin Qian convert some of the bitcoin into cash, jewellery, and property. The Tianjin task force said that 8 per cent and 5 per cent of their investment capital had been repaid using assets confiscated from Lantian Gerui and its former employees that were worth a total of Rmb2.8bn. The victims said that their financial loss had resulted in family breakdown, separation from their children, indebtedness, and no money left for medical treatment. (Eri Sugiura and Wenjie Ding, “Chinese fraud victims seek the return of £3bn in bitcoin seized in UK,” Financial Times, 12 April 2024)

CHINA & THE AMERICAS
China sanctions two US companies over arms sales to Taiwan, says China Foreign Ministry
On 11 April, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that China sanctioned two US companies for arms sales to Taiwan. The sanction includes a ban on the senior executives of two US defence companies, namely General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems, from entering the country and freezing their property. It said that Taiwan's arms sales interfere with China’s internal affairs and threaten its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Similar sanctions were imposed against US defence companies named Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin for exporting weapons to Taiwan. The ministry also said that the arms sales to Taiwan violated China’s One China principle, the provisions of the three joint communiques of the United States and China. (“China sanctions two US defence firms for selling weapons to Taiwan,” The Straits Times, 11 April 2024)

Bill to establish Open Translation Centre in the US
On 11 April, some bipartisan lawmakers introduced a bill to establish an Open Translation Centre meant to create publicly accessible English translations of open-source materials from China. The initiative would train analysts and linguists to specialize in China and other countries. Democratic congressman Joaquin Castro of Texas said, “The United States can’t afford to be in a position where our competitors know more about us than we know about them.” He further said that Russia and China’s investment in open-source translation programs has put the US at a strategic disadvantage. The initiative would ensure that contextual information is provided to the public, including biographical sketches of key leaders, descriptions of political processes, military weapons systems, important government bodies and companies, and analysis of significant concepts and phrases. Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher said, “Our adversaries, namely the Chinese Communist Party, continue to grow increasingly aggressive across the world stage.” The bill comes as the US faces challenges in getting accurate information out of China, as Beijing recently tightened restrictions on access to academic and corporate databases. (Bochen Han, “Bill to set up US research centre translating open-source China materials unveiled by lawmakers,” South China Morning Post, 12 April 2024)

EAST ASIA & THE PACIFIC READER
EAST ASIA
New Security law silences Hong Kong, says an opinion in The Guardian
On 12 April, according to an opinion in The Guardian, the new security law silenced any dissent by the pro-democratic groups against the government due to the national security law. Some publishing agencies have said that Hong Kongers are adjusting to the lack of freedom of expression. The Hong Kong government claims that the national security law is aimed at restoring stability, while critics argue that the law’s describing crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces effectively criminalize dissent. According to Professor Jeffrey Wasserstrom, more than 800 people have been arrested, while 300 people have been targeted. The law comes from the provision in Hong Kong’s 1997 Basic Law. According to The Guardian, the arrest of well-known activists such as Joshua Wong and Benny Tai were arrested in 2020, accused of plotting to bring down the government by holding informal pre-election primaries. Beyond arrests, the government plans to host events to attract locals and tourists to showcase Hong Kong’s normalization. (Amy Hawkins and Helen Davidson, “‘The old days are no more’: Hong Kong goes quiet as security laws tighten their grip,” The Guardian, 12 April 2024)