Beijing closes border further against int'l travelers, Trump slaps halfhearted ban on 8 Chinese apps, MFA's Hua said in talks with WHO regarding barred scientists
Hong Kong authorities round up 53 under new national security law, Blinken weighs in
Chinese embassy now only accept Covid test result from one U.S. lab, leaving only a crack for Chinese nationals hoping to return
The Chinese embassy in Washington said Tuesday for China bound travelers, Covid testing result from only one U.S. lab will be accepted beginning Thursday.
Starting from 0:00, January 7, 2021 Pacific Time, the Chinese embassy will only accept the nucleic acid rt-PCR and IgM serum antibody test reports from the laboratory on the list attached to this Notice. In case of any inconsistency between this Notice and the previous ones, this one shall prevail.
The approved lab: Ayass Bioscience of Frisco, TX.
Since September, all travelers flying non-stop from the United States would need to provide a negative Covid test before boarding flight. Initially the embassy said it would accept the result of any lab.
On Dec. 19, the embassy said it discovered that some individuals and testing agencies doctored testing results, while others submitted positive testing results. The embassy subsequently limited the number of qualified labs to five, all located in Texas.
The latest restriction came after confirmed cases surged in different parts of China, many of which were said to be spread by international travelers. Both central and local governments are under immense pressure to stem whatever outbreak in the bud, especially before vaccines are inoculated on a large scale.
Public opinion over the move is hyper polarized, with those stranded overseas accusing the government effectively shutting borders against its own citizens, and many in China saying it’s a necessary sacrifice to preserve the health of domestic citizens.
Trump slaps ban on 8 Chinese apps, citing national security concerns
Has Alibaba become the first international corporation to simultaneously anger both Washington and Beijing? Still under pressure from Beijing to break up some of its businesses, Alibaba has also become the target of Trump’s latest ban.
Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order targeting eight Chinese apps on grounds of protecting national security.
The Executive Order prohibits certain future transactions, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), involving the following Chinese connected software applications: Alipay, CamScanner, QQ Wallet, SHAREit, Tencent QQ, VMate, WeChat Pay, and WPS Office.
The vaguely-worded EO looked a lot like a previous effort against TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance. But the previous ban fell apart after a U.S. court said it violated the freedom of speech.
Many saw this move as a last ditch (fingers crossed) effort to antagonize Beijing, but with just two weeks left for this administration, it’s hard to imagine Beijing eager to enter a tit-for-tat with Trump.
WHO expresses disappointment its scientists were denied entry into China, Beijing says due process needed
China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying responded to reports that two WHO scientists were barred from entering China, telling a press conference Wednesday that “there’s a need to go through necessary processes, and make relative arrangements.”
“Both sides are still in negotiations over the matter,” she said.
The remarks came after WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Tuesday two WHO scientists traveling to Wuhan were informed by Chinese officials en route that they have not obtained permission to enter China.
Tedros said he was “very disappointed”.
The bizarre episode raised eyebrows among China watchers as they wonder whether the nature of the incident was technical or political.
The Chinese government has been on amicable terms with the WHO as the two sides have developed a constructive relationship since the outbreak of the pandemic, but Beijing has also been extra-cautious when it comes to having foreign experts conducting investigations in China, in fear of investigation findings results that may give oxygen to what Beijing believes to be intentionally toxic politicalization of the virus by Western capitals.
Hong Kong police arrest over 50 under new national security law
China’s state news agency Xinhua said Wednesday Hong Kong Police rounded up more than 50 people on “on suspicion of committing crimes including subversion under the national security law in Hong Kong”
Those arrested included Benny Tai, former opposition lawmakers Wu Chi-wai, Lam Cheuk-ting, James To and Alvin Yeung.
Ahead of the Legislative Council election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, originally scheduled in September 2020, Tai and others organized the so-called opposition "primary poll" in July, using the "referendum" as a cover to rally public opinion and campaigning for the opposition. Such acts blatantly interfered in the election and defied the Basic Law and the national security law in Hong Kong.
The arrests were believed to be the largest move yet under Hong Kong’s new national security law, underscoring Hong Kong authority’s increasing comfort in wielding the power granted by the legislation.
The actions of Hong Kong authorities naturally won the blessing of the Chinese central government, with both The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Foreign Ministry issuing supportive remarks Wednesday.
Anthony Blinken, presumed incoming U.S. Secretary of State, expressed opposition to the arrests.
Chinese students studying overseas are accelerating their return
An increasing number of Chinese students studying overseas are opting to return to China upon graduation, according to latest numbers.
21st Century Business Herald quoted Ministry of Education numbers as saying that over 800,000 students with foreign diplomas are expected to turn to China in 2020, a 70% yoy growth.
The number is supported by similar findings by Western institutions, indicating that the West is losing its lure for Chinese students.
The Covid pandemic and Western countries’ poor response undoubtedly pushed many to the decision, as did unfavorable visa policies in countries such as the United States. But according to dozens of interviews conducted by your host, the fundamental reason may lie in the structural shift of relative power between China and the West.
Most students studying overseas genuinely believe they would find better job opportunities in Beijing, Shanghai or Shenzhen, compared with New York, LA or London.
Furthermore, many are coming to the realization that China is pursuing a growth path that’s different from the West, rendering some western education, especially in social science disciplines, useless for future career development in China.
The Chinese government is rolling out the red carpet for the returnees, offering cash incentives or other favorable policies to attract foreign trained talents.
This newsletter is penned by Yang Liu, founder of Beijing Channel.